Apply to be our Head of Fundraising and Partnerships.

We are seeking a talented and motivated Head of Fundraising and Partnerships to lead the next phase of Upbeat Communities’ income generation, helping us grow and diversify our income and strengthen our long-term financial sustainability.

POST: Head of Fundraising and Partnerships

RESPONSIBLE TO: Chief Executive

RESPONSIBLE FOR: Fundraising and Communications Team

LOCATION: Derby (hybrid)

HOURS: Full time (37.5 hours per week) including occasional evening & weekend work

SALARY: £42,394 - £51,579 (dependent on experience)

CONTRACT: Permanent

About the role.

Working closely with the CEO and Senior Leadership Team, you will develop and deliver our fundraising strategy, securing income across trusts and foundations, statutory funding, corporate partnerships, individual giving and major donors. You will build strong relationships with funders and stakeholders.

As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, you will combine strategic thinking with hands-on delivery, turning opportunities into sustainable income and enabling Upbeat Communities to grow the reach and impact of its work with refugee and asylum-seeking communities in and around Derby.

How to apply.

Please use the ‘Apply Now’ link below to submit your application.

As part of the application process every candidate must submit:

• An up to date CV

• A cover letter (1 to 2 pages long) outlining:

  • Tell us about your track record of growing and diversifying fundraising income. Please give specific examples of income you have personally helped to secure across different fundraising streams, including high-value and/or multi-year funding. We are particularly interested in your experience of working towards or delivering annual fundraising income of approx £500k and the contribution you personally made, and the results achieved.

  • Tell us about a fundraising or income-generation strategy you have developed and implemented. 

  • Give us an example of how you have developed a relationship into a significant funding or strategic partnership. 

  • In addition to addressing the three questions above, please use your covering letter to tell us how your skills, experience and approach meet the wider requirements of the role and job description. We’d also like to understand a little about you – what motivates you, the values you bring to your work, and how these align with the values and ethos of Upbeat Communities.

Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.

The deadline for applications is 9am on Monday 2nd November 2026.

We are part of the Experts by Experience Employment Initiative (www.ebeemployment.org.uk). The network supports inclusive recruitment of people with lived experience of the UK asylum or immigration system. If this is your experience, you can find useful resources here.

Please direct any queries to jobs@upbeatcommunities.org.

As part of the recruitment and selection process Upbeat Communities will take up two references. The post holder will be required to undertake an enhanced DBS check.