Head of Engagement & Fundraising in Leeds

The Head of Engagement & Fundraising will play a pivotal role in driving the charity's mission forward by developing and implementing innovative fundraising strategies. This position is essential for enhancing community engagement and building lasting relationships with donors, ensuring the sustainability and growth of our initiatives in North Leeds, Yorkshire. The successful candidate will lead a dedicated team, fostering a culture of collaboration and excellence in fundraising efforts.

Why This Role Matters

As Head of Engagement & Fundraising, you’ll be the strategic force behind the charity’s mission — developing and delivering an ambitious engagement and income‑generation strategy that strengthens long‑term sustainability. You’ll lead a passionate team, champion the charity’s voice across all channels, and build meaningful relationships with funders, partners, community groups and local networks. This is a rare opportunity to step into a senior role where your ideas, leadership and creativity will directly shape impact across the region.

What You Will Do:

• Strategic fundraising growth — Create and deliver a forward‑thinking fundraising strategy that increases and diversifies annual income.
• Marketing & engagement leadership — Oversee all marketing activity across digital, social, PR, campaigns and events.
• Team development — Coach, inspire and develop a high‑performing team across marketing and fundraising.
• Funding applications — Lead and project‑manage compelling bids to trusts, foundations and grant‑making bodies.
• Stakeholder relationships — Build trusted partnerships with funders, community groups, local networks and internal teams.

Who we’re looking for

We’re looking for an experienced, values‑driven professional who combines strategic thinking with the ability to deliver in practice. You’ll be:

• An experienced fundraising and engagement manager from the UK charity, social care or community sector.
• A confident, inclusive leader with a coaching mindset and proven experience of managing and developing teams.
• A strong grant writer with a successful track record of securing funding from trusts, foundations and grant‑making bodies.
• A digitally savvy marketer with hands‑on experience across social media, email, CRM systems and online fundraising platforms.
• A natural communicator and relationship‑builder who thrives in community‑focused environments.
• A creative storyteller able to craft compelling campaigns and messages that inspire action.
• Someone with a proactive, can‑do attitude, excellent time‑management skills and the ability to get things done in a fast‑paced setting.
• A values‑driven professional who wants their work to make a genuine and lasting difference.

Why join us?

• Salary up to £55,000, depending on experience.
• Early finish every Friday at 2pm.
• Supportive, values‑driven and collaborative culture.
• Senior leadership role with real influence and autonomy.
• The opportunity to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.

How to apply

To apply, please submit your CV along with a supporting statement outlining how your experience, skills, and values align with this role. We actively welcome applications from people with lived experience and from under‑represented communities. Closing date: 26 May 2026 at midday. We may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications. Please note: no recruitment agencies or third‑party applications, thank you.

Our values

• Collaboration - Working closely with our residents, customers, locality and service users to understand and respond to their needs.
• Caring - Caring for others and the environment.
• Respectful - Treating people with respect.
• Efficiency - Using resources effectively and efficiently.