Job Description

Adoption UK is the leading national voice for adoptive families. We exist to ensure that every child and young person who cannot grow up with their birth parents gets the right support at the right time - from childhood into adulthood.Every year, thousands of children in the UK are adopted - most having experienced trauma, loss, or neglect. Adoption transforms their futures, but it is rarely the end of the story. Adoptive families face unique challenges: children struggling to trust, thrive in school, or feel safe; parents battling to secure the right support; young people navigating identity and belonging. Without the right help, too many families reach breaking point. Adoption UK is there to change this. We are a lifeline for families - offering community, advice, advocacy, and practical support. We champion their voices with government and professionals, driving changes in policy and practice so that no adoptive family feels they are facing the journey alone. With over 6,000 members, strong credibility with policymakers, and a powerful lived experience community, we are uniquely placed to influence change. Our mission is urgent and nationally significant: to ensure that every adoptive family can thrive, and every adopted child has the chance to fulfil their potential.

JOB TITLE:

Director of Fundraising, Marketing & Communications

LOCATION:

Flexible, with regular travel to London

RESPONSIBLE TO:

Chief Executive

DIRECT REPORTS:

Senior Trusts & Grants Manager, Marketing Manager, Fundraising Manager

HOURS OF WORK:

Full time, 35 hours per week

DURATION:

SALARY / GRADE: 65,000 to 75,000 (dependent on experience) plus benefits

TEAM SIZE:

6 FTE (with growth plans of up to 12 fte by 2030)

What you'll be doing

DIRECTORATE PURPOSE

The Fundraising, Marketing and Communications directorate is responsible for:

Income generation across trusts and foundations, corporates, major donors, community fundraising, public donations, and legacies, alongside relationships with commissioners and public sector funders. Partnership development, engaging businesses, philanthropists, trusts, and volunteers. Marketing of services and membership to families, adoptees, commissioners, and professionals in health, education, and social care. Awareness raising and thought leadership, ensuring adoption and permanence issues have a strong voice nationally.
Currently a team of six, the directorate has strong ambitions to grow in size and scope, with scope to re-imagine its structure to meet future needs.

THE ROLE

This is a career-defining opportunity to shape the future of fundraising, marketing and communications at a charity of national importance.

As Director of Fundraising, Marketing & Communications you will:

Build unrestricted income in a competitive funding environment Lead the transformation of Adoption UK's income model, scaling from 500k to 2m+ contribution (by 2030) to organisational income growth from a 4.2m baseline. Develop and deliver a bold, integrated fundraising, marketing, and communications strategy. Build Adoption UK's brand and profile with families, adoptees, commissioners, policymakers, funders, and the wider public. Inspire, coach, and grow a talented team, embedding a culture of confidence, creativity, and innovation. Personally cultivate and steward high-value donor, corporate, and foundation relationships, working with the CEO, Board of Trustees, and ambassadors.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Leadership

Lead the design and delivery of a multi-year fundraising, marketing, and communications strategy aligned to organisational priorities. Act as a cultural change leader, shifting from risk-averse to confident, outward-facing engagement. Contribute fully to the Senior Leadership Team, influencing strategy, governance, and financial planning.
Income Growth & Diversification

Oversee all voluntary income streams - trusts, major donors, corporates, community/public fundraising, legacies - while also strengthening public sector and commissioning relationships. Oversee marketing and growth of membership as a core element of income and impact. Deliver long-term growth targets. Use and promote data-driven decision-making, supporter journeys, and digital fundraising/marketing effectively. Design and deliver a signature annual Showcase event, alongside new products such as a Giving Circle and Corporate Club, ensuring clear ROI and upgrade potential. Personally lead cultivation of transformational donor and partner relationships, supported by trustees, ambassadors, and patrons. Identify and test new funding streams and partnerships to diversify income and reduce risk.

Marketing & Communications

Oversee a comprehensive marketing and communications strategy covering fundraising, membership, services, training, campaigns, and advocacy. Ensure a compelling and consistent case for support and brand identity across all channels. Raise Adoption UK's national profile with media, commissioners, professionals, and the public. Lead digital transformation: CRM upgrade, supporter journeys, analytics, social media, and digital marketing. Manage media relations and reputation, including crisis communications alongside the CEO.

Team Leadership & Culture

Lead, inspire, and grow a team of talented and motivated individuals. Model authentic, adaptive, and inclusive leadership - balancing ambition with staff well being. Act as a coach and mentor, supporting professional growth and building the next generation of leaders. Champion Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and embed values-led behaviours across the team and all external engagement. Foster cross-organisational collaboration so fundraising and marketing are understood and supported across Adoption UK.

Financial & Governance

Lead financial planning, budgeting, and ROI analysis for the directorate. Report regularly to CEO and Board of Trustees on progress, opportunities, and risks. Lead fundraising due-diligence and reputational risk processes, with regular reporting to Trustee-led committees (e.g. Finance & Risk). Ensure compliance with the Fundraising Code, GDPR, charity law, and safeguarding standards. Embed robust CRM, data, and analytics to support continuous improvement.

External Engagement

Act as a visible ambassador for Adoption UK with donors, corporates, trusts and foundations, policymakers, and media. In collaboration with the CEO and Chair, direct ambassadors and patrons to open doors, advocate, and steward transformational relationships. Represent Adoption UK externally at events, forums, and national platforms.

PERSON SPECIFICATIONEssential

Significant experience leading multi-stream fundraising, with success in at least two of: trusts, corporates, major donors, public fundraising. Experience developing marketing and communications strategies beyond fundraising - including brand, service promotion, membership, campaigns, and digital engagement. Track record of delivering growth, innovation, or transformation in income and/or organisational profile. Strong people leadership skills: ability to coach, inspire, and develop staff, including senior managers. Exceptional relationship-builder - credible with philanthropists, corporates, trustees, commissioners, and media. Strategic thinker with financial acumen (budgets, ROI, investment planning). Authentic communicator with excellent storytelling ability. Commitment to Adoption UK's mission and values, with an inclusive and collaborative leadership style. Demonstrates commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of role at all times. Contributes to an open and honest culture Supports, encourages, and motivates colleagues. Encourages challenge, creativity and innovation. Leads by example. Values transparency and consistency. Understands the role of individual and collective accountability. Actively contributes to Adoption UK's mission. Has a clear understanding of other colleagues' roles and responsibilities Shares skills and knowledge. Promotes Cross Functional team working. Offers outstanding service to members. Takes pride in Adoption UK and promotes its values in all interactions with external stakeholders. Identifies and uses the most appropriate form of communication. Communicates clearly, seeking clarity when unclear and valuing the opinion of others. Treats colleagues and other stakeholders with respect, honesty, fairness and courtesy Is responsive to colleagues, third party professionals and service users. Takes pride in own development.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Enthusiastic and committed to achieving high standards and meeting agreed objectives. Takes an active interest in recognising professional and personal development needs and priorities within Adoption UK.

Desirable

Experience in child welfare, family support, education, or adoption. Evidence of leading digital transformation in fundraising, marketing, or CRM. Existing networks in philanthropy, corporate CSR/ESG, or foundations relevant to Adoption UK's mission.
This role profile is a guide to the nature of the work required and may involve other such duties as deemed necessary by the Organisation. It is not wholly comprehensive or restrictive. The role profile will be reviewed with the post-holder at significant points for the Organisation. Postholder is expected to abide by all organisational policies, codes of conduct and practice, and to work within a framework of equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practice.

The Opportunity

This is more than a fundraising role -- it is an opportunity to lead transformational change for a cause of national importance. You will:

Shape and lead a directorate spanning fundraising, marketing, and communications. Deliver transformational income growth and secure Adoption UK's sustainability. Build Adoption UK's brand and reputation as the national champion for adoptive families. Market services, membership, and campaigns so more families and professionals engage with our work. Lead cultural change, inspiring a confident, outward-facing, and innovative fundraising and marketing function.
Few roles offer such scope to combine fundraising growth, brand leadership, and culture change in a mission of such national importance. This is your chance to make a lasting impact - on Adoption UK, on your career, and on thousands of children and families across the UK.

Timetable:

Shortlisting will be carried out on

22 to 24 October 2025

and you should be notified of an outcome within fifteen working days of the closing date. The panel will shortlist based on those applicants who best meet the criteria for the role. The closing date for this role is

20th October 2025

. However, Adoption UK reserves the right to end the application period sooner so we would recommend you complete the application form as soon as possible. The date(s) scheduled for first interviews will be

3rd November 2025

. These dates may be subject to change and applications will be advised in advance should this happen.

If you have any queries on any aspect of the recruitment process please contact People Services either by email peopleservices@adoptionuk.org.uk or telephone 01295 752253.If you would like additional information or wish to have an informal discussion about the role, please contact peopleservices@adoptionuk.org.uk.

This contract is permanent, working 35 hours a week.

The role will be home based with travel to London when required.

We are passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that celebrates and values diversity. We welcome your application whatever your background or situation. Under-representative groups such as ethnic minorities and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to build a career with us. We don't want you to 'fit' our culture, we want you to enrich it.

If you have a passion for making a difference and share in our vision for adoptive and kinship care families, we would love to hear from you

.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: 65,000.00-75,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Company pension Flexitime Free flu jabs Health & wellbeing programme Sick pay Work from home
Work Location: Remote