Global Head of Development

About the role

This is a role for a dynamic relationship and fundraising professional who wants to cultivate long-term partnerships with a hands-on, "builder" mindset. Someone who can jump from big-picture thinking to cultivating relationships and managing fundraising pipelines.

You'll have some solid technical skills and experience in fundraising at significant scale and with experience in corporate giving and family offices. But your real skill will be in applying those skills strategically and in an agile way to get stuff done. You'll also be relentless in working to achieve targets and driving real impact.

As the Global Head of Development, you'll be leading all of our fundraising within the Global Division. This will include identifying and cultivating new leads, managing pipeline through to completion, and active stewardship for long-term partnerships.

You will play a role in our strategic development and grow a development team over time to match our ambitions while remaining a nimble, focused organisation.

We have big ambitions and your scope to grow, learn and achieve should match that. If you want to benefit from working with an inspiring team, with huge potential for learning, growth and achievement, we want to hear from you.

Key responsibilities

Global fundraising development

You will lead the charge in identifying and securing the key funding partnerships required to reach 10 million individuals by 2030.

• Direct pipeline growth: Relentlessly identify and pursue new funding opportunities with large multinational organisations, global corporate foundations, and private offices.
• Practical prospecting: Map global requirements and rapidly identify where Skills Builder's work can deliver on a partner's strategic social impact goals.
• Writing and pitching: Personally lead on writing compelling proposals and applications at pace and to an exacting standard.
• Negotiating agreements: Negotiate effectively to reach funding agreements, communicating constructively in challenging situations to align partner goals with our mission for systemic change.

Strategic stewardship and growth

You will ensure our global partners are deeply embedded and providing long-term support.

• Global relationship management: Directly lead the maintenance and evolution of our most significant global relationships, ensuring they see the tangible impact of their investment.
• Multinational representation: Act as the primary face of Skills Builder for global stakeholders
• Innovative stewardship: Create and oversee unique stewardship opportunities that bring global funders closer to the impact of the Skills Builder Partnership's work.

Strategy and operational excellence

You will operate as a key part of the "central engine" of the organization, ensuring our development function is professional and data-driven.

• Global fundraising strategy: Work closely with the Global CEO and Global COO to develop and execute multi-country income strategies that support our expansion into 40+ countries.
• Operational rigour: Use systems and processes with precision to manage relationships, ensuring data collection and reporting are best-in-class.
• Builder mindset: Constantly optimise and innovate our philanthropic models, prototyping new ways to generate income through partnership development.

Leadership and team development

You will foster the collaborative, mission-oriented culture that defines the Skills Builder Partnership.

• Direct leadership: Grow and lead a high-performing development team, motivating others and leading adaptively through the complexities of global fundraising.
• Collaborative planning: Involve the development team in developing strategy and making group decisions, ensuring everyone is clear on targets and progress is tangible.
• Cross-divisional work: Collaborate effectively with our Lead Partners in other countries to align on shared fundraising opportunities.

Technical Skills and Experience

Required:

• Strong fundraising capabilities, demonstrated by substantial fundraising experience which ideally includes corporate philanthropy or foundations and private offices.
• Evidence of career progression into roles of increasing seniority and responsibility.

Advantageous:

• Experience of working with partners funding work in multiple countries.
• Professional qualifications related to fundraising.

Benefits

Salary: £50,000 to £60,000 per annum

Term: Permanent

Start Date: As soon as possible

Working hours: Flexible (full-time or part-time)

Team days: We get together in person in Oxford or London 6 times a year for strategy, fun and food

Holidays: 25 days per year, increasing each year, plus bank holidays & potential to buy back up to 5 days

Location: UK remote or London hybrid (with 1+ days in the office per week and £600 London weighting)

Eligibility: You must have an existing right to work in the UK to apply for this role.

Application Process
Applications should be made via our online form The application deadline is 09:00am on Monday 8th June, with first round interviews in the week commencing 14 June.

Applicants are encouraged to explore our work at before applying.