At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead income generation and engagement strategies to support community wellness initiatives.
- Company: Catalyst Support, a leading charity focused on mental and physical health.
- Benefits: Flexible working hours, impactful work, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Join a supportive team committed to kindness, integrity, and community impact.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in communities while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in fundraising, strategic planning, and strong communication skills required.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 £ per year.
Hours 1 FTE (to be worked flexibly for needs of business)
Organisation
Who we are: Catalyst Support is a leading Surrey charity dedicated to championing wellness across communities, transforming lives by addressing mental, physical, and emotional health needs. Guided by the belief that wellness is a right for all, Catalyst Support embodies its motto, Supporting Wellness Together, by empowering individuals and communities with innovative, accessible services. With embedded values of kindness, integrity, and commitment, the charity strives to create sustainable, transformative social impact. Through strong partnerships, ethical governance, and initiatives focused on environmental and financial sustainability, Catalyst Support aligns its efforts with national health priorities, embracing the opportunities to lead the way in integrated, preventative, and community-based care.
Purpose of role
The Head of Income & Engagement provides leadership and delivery of all income-generating and engagement activity across Catalyst Support. The role exists to stabilise, diversify and grow income in a financially constrained environment, reducing reliance on statutory funding, increasing unrestricted income, and strengthening Catalyst Support’s credibility with all sources of non-statutory funding, including trusts, foundations, corporates, individuals and communities. The postholder holds clear accountability for income performance, return on investment and risk management, and plays a critical role in the organisation’s financial recovery and long-term sustainability. The role is designed as a strategic investment, with the expectation that income generated will move the function towards break-even and net contribution over time, supported by clear targets and Board oversight.
- Lead and deliver a multi-year income and engagement strategy covering trusts and foundations, corporate partnerships, major donors, community fundraising and individual giving.
- Take ownership of income targets, pipelines and forecasts, including break-even requirements and risk exposure.
- Actively manage income risk, developing scenario plans and mitigation actions where delivery falls below expectation.
- Work with the Executive and Senior Leadership Teams to align income activity with organisational strategy and service priorities.
- Provide strategic oversight, delivery and quality assurance of all high-value bids, tenders and funding applications.
- Ensure bids are evidence-led, outcome-focused, accurately costed and aligned to service capacity.
- Taking direct responsibility for bid and tender preparation and submission.
- Maintain strong relationships with funders and foundations, ensuring compliance with reporting requirements and effective stewardship.
- Contribute approximately 20% of working time towards partner applications and collaborative projects with key partners, supporting joint funding and shared objectives.
Communications, Marketing & Engagement
- Lead communications and engagement functions to directly support income generation, funder confidence and organisational reputation.
- Ensure all external messaging demonstrates impact, value for money and strategic coherence.
- Grow individual giving, community fundraising and supporter engagement where there is clear return on investment.
- Oversee brand consistency and visibility across digital and offline channels.
Internal Collaboration & Income Culture
- Work closely with service and enabling teams to strengthen funding evidence, case studies and impact data.
- Build organisational understanding that income generation is a shared responsibility.
- Working with services and enabling teams to develop compelling cases for support.
- Equip teams with clarity on how funding, impact and delivery are connected.
Performance, Impact & Governance
- Establish and monitor KPIs covering income performance, ROI, cost-per-£ raised, engagement metrics and pipeline health.
- Report regularly to the Executive team and Trustees, providing transparent assessment of progress, risks and corrective action.
- Support Board assurance through disciplined performance monitoring and review points.
- Provide line management, development and performance oversight for income generation and communications staff.
- Recruit, develop and retain high-quality team capability aligned to organisational needs.
Leadership Contribution
- Contribute as a senior operational leader to organisational planning, change and continuous improvement.
- Work closely with the Director of Services on future service design, positioning and sustainability.
- Undertake other duties appropriate to the seniority of the role and Catalyst Support’s mission.
- Strengthen partnership development with Mary Frances Trust to enhance county-wide support, with particular emphasis on provision for mental health services across both East and West regions.
Person Specification
- Proven experience securing trust, grant and philanthropic income at scale, with clear evidence of income conversion and delivery.
- Track record of leading income strategies that generate net financial contribution, including roles where income targets were explicitly expected to cover or exceed post costs or programme investment.
- Experience operating in financially constrained, recovery-focused or turnaround environments, with responsibility for balancing income ambition against organisational risk.
- Experience of Board-level reporting, accountability and scrutiny, including transparent reporting of income performance against targets.
- Demonstrated ability to build senior relationships with funders, partners and individuals that translate into sustained or repeat income.
- Experience in mental health, wellbeing or community services.
- Experience overseeing communications and marketing functions.
- Experience operating within multi-stream or system-based service environments.
- Commercially and financially astute.
- Strong analytical, forecasting and risk-management capability, including income pipeline assessment and contribution modelling.
- Confident influencer with credibility at senior and external levels.
- Strategic thinker with a strong bias towards delivery, outcomes and financial impact.
- Resilient, solutions-focused and adaptable in high-pressure, performance-driven environments.
Values & Behaviours
- Commitment to Catalyst Support’s values: Kindness, Integrity and Commitment.
- Collaborative, inclusive and trauma-informed approach.
- Commitment to equality, diversity and lived-experience leadership.
We acknowledge the unique contribution that all Catalyst employees, volunteers and clients can bring to our organisation in terms of their culture, race, gender, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital status, nationality, age, religion or belief and any physical disability or history of mental health or additional problems. We recognise the value of lived experience and the unique perspectives that people bring, and we actively encourage applications from women from diverse backgrounds. All appointments are based on merit and no applicant or volunteer will be treated unfairly or discriminated against. All employees and volunteers have equal access to development. Any employee or volunteer who breaches this policy may be subject of grievance and/or disciplinary procedures. This post is subject to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check at an enhanced level. Please note past drug and/or alcohol or criminality history will not necessarily discount you from undertaking this role. Catalyst Support is committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process and in employment. Please let us know if you require any adjustments to support your application.
Amendments: This role description accurately reflects the present position; it may be amended and reviewed. Any change will be made following a period of consultation.
Head of Income and Engagement, Woking (Hybrid) employer: Catalystsupport
Catalyst Support is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in Nankeville that prioritises community wellbeing and employee growth. With a strong commitment to wellness, integrity, and inclusivity, employees benefit from flexible working arrangements, opportunities for professional development, and the chance to make a meaningful impact in the lives of individuals and communities. The collaborative culture fosters strong partnerships and encourages innovative approaches to service delivery, making it a rewarding place to work.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Income and Engagement, Woking (Hybrid)
✨Get Involved Locally
Dive into local volunteer opportunities or social initiatives. This not only beefs up your CV but also connects you with like-minded folks in nonprofits. Plus, it shows your passion for social impact, which is key for getting noticed by Catalystsupport.
✨Tap into Professional Networks
Join networks like the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) or local charities to meet professionals in the sector. Attend events and workshops to build relationships and learn about potential openings at organisations like Catalystsupport.
✨Showcase Your Commitment
When prepping for interviews, be ready to speak about your personal connection to social issues. Dive into specific examples of how you’ve contributed to community projects – this will resonate with the mission-driven vibe at Catalystsupport.
✨Utilise Online Platforms
We’re all about making connections, so use platforms like Idealist and CharityJob to hunt for full-time roles. And of course, you should keep an eye on our website for exciting opportunities at Catalystsupport. Apply directly through us to stand out!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Income and Engagement, Woking (Hybrid)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for the Cause:In the nonprofit sector, it's super important to demonstrate genuine passion for the mission of Catalystsupport. Use your cover letter to showcase any personal experiences or volunteer work that connects you to their social impact initiatives. This emotional connection can really help your application stand out.
Highlight Relevant Experience:When crafting your CV, be sure to include any relevant projects or roles that showcase your skills in social impact. Whether it's community organising, fundraising, or advocacy, highlight what you've done and the difference it's made. Don’t just list tasks; quantify your achievements and the outcomes of your efforts.
Tailor Your Documents to the Role:For a full-time role like Head of Income and Engagement, Woking (Hybrid), ensure your CV and cover letter specifically address the responsibilities outlined in the job description. Use their language to describe your skills and experience, making it easy for the hiring team to see how you fit into their vision.
Emphasise Teamwork and Collaboration:Nonprofits thrive on teamwork, so make sure to emphasise your collaborative experiences. Whether you've worked in a team setting, partnered with community organisations, or facilitated group projects, highlight these experiences in your application. Show them you understand the importance of working alongside diverse individuals to achieve shared goals.
How to prepare for a job interview at Catalystsupport
✨Show Your Passion for Social Change
When we’re prepping for interviews in the nonprofit space, it's vital to demonstrate our genuine passion for social impact. Be ready to discuss not just your skills and experiences but also why you care about the mission of Catalystsupport. Sharing personal stories or insights can really make us stand out.
✨Highlight Project Experience
We should focus on specific projects we've worked on that align with the goals of social impact. Whether that’s a community initiative, volunteering, or a class project, having solid examples that showcase our role and the outcomes will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Familiarity with Relevant Tools and Practices
Let’s brush up on tools and methodologies commonly used in the nonprofit sector, like project management software or outcome measurement frameworks. Being able to speak fluently about these will show that we’re not just passionate but also knowledgeable and ready to hit the ground running.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that evaluate our problem-solving skills in real-world social issues. Think about how we’d handle challenges in the nonprofit environment and prepare stories that demonstrate our critical thinking and adaptability. Role-playing with a friend could help us feel more confident!