Job Description

The Brain Tumour Charity is leading the way in research, support, and advocacy for everyone affect by brain tumours. Our mission is simple but urgent: to accelerate a cure for brain tumours and improve life for everyone affected by this devastating disease.

As the Head of Philanthropy and Partnerships, you will play a pivotal leadership role in delivering our ambitious new fundraising strategy through leading a team to build transformational relationships to help achieve The Brain Tumour Charity's mission to defeat brain tumours. Reporting to the Director of Fundraising and leading a high-performing team, you will be responsible for developing and executing a bold, strategic approach to major giving, trusts and foundations, corporate partnerships, and high-value donor engagement.


You will drive growth across a portfolio of income streams by identifying and cultivating long-term, meaningful partnerships with philanthropists, grant-makers, and companies aligned with our values and vision. This is a unique opportunity to influence change and secure significant funding to fuel life-saving research, improve patient outcomes, and raise awareness of brain tumours.

Location:

While contracted to our office in Fleet, Hampshire, our team supports a blend of office and home working provided you have adequate broadband and IT capability, with an average of 2 days in the office each week.

Working hours:

This role is 37.5 hours per week, with some out of hours working.

Benchmarked salary:

c.62,000 (dependent on level)



The ideal candidate will have a strong track record of securing six-and seven-figure gifts, exceptional relationship-building skills, and strategic leadership experience in a charity or relevant sector. Passionate, collaborative, and impact-driven, you will inspire others and champion innovation to help us move faster towards a cure.

Strategic Leadership

Develop and implement an ambitious philanthropy and partnerships strategy aligned with The Charity's overall income generation goals and strategic priorities. Lead and inspire a team of fundraising professionals across major donors, family Led Partnerships, Trusts & Foundations, and corporate partnerships, fostering a high-performance and collaborative culture. Contribute to the organisation's wider strategic planning and represent high value giving at senior leadership level.

Income Generation and Growth

Drive sustainable growth in high-value income, securing significant, multi-year gifts from individuals, companies, and grant-making bodies. Identify new funding opportunities, oversee compelling proposals, and ensure excellent stewardship that strengthens donor relationships and encourages repeat giving. Lead the development of major donor giving programmes, including cultivation events, networks, and tailored engagement plans.

Relationship Management

Personally manage a portfolio of high-value relationships, including major donors, senior corporate contacts, and philanthropic partners. Act as an ambassador for The Brain Tumour Charity, building influential partnerships and representing the organisation at key external engagements. Collaborate closely with the CEO, trustees, and senior volunteers to support their involvement in relationship building and solicitation.

Corporate and Strategic Partnerships

Develop a clear and compelling case for support for corporate partners, building strategic, long-term partnerships that align with corporate social responsibility objectives and mutual value. Oversee the delivery of impactful corporate partnerships, ensuring effective activation, reporting, and relationship management.

Governance and Performance Management

Set and monitor income and expenditure budgets for philanthropy and partnerships, reporting on performance to the Director of Fundraising and other stakeholders. Ensure compliance with fundraising regulations, data protection, and ethical standards in all donor and partner activities. Use data-driven insights and KPIs to evaluate and refine strategies for maximum impact and return on investment.

Team Development and Culture

Recruit, develop, and retain top fundraising talent, ensuring the team has clear goals, access to professional development, and a supportive environment. Champion cross-team collaboration, innovation, and a commitment to the Charity's values and mission.
We encourage you to apply to the role even if you do not meet all of the criteria.

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Experience:

+ Proven track record of securing and managing high-value income (typically six- and seven-figure gifts) from major donors, trusts and foundations, and/or corporate partners. + Substantial senior-level experience in fundraising, business development, or relationship management within the charity, higher education, cultural, or private sectors.
+ Demonstrated success in developing and delivering strategic plans that drive income growth and long-term donor engagement.
+ Strong experience of leading, managing, and motivating high-performing teams, with a collaborative and empowering leadership style.
+ Experience in budget management, financial forecasting, and performance reporting.
+ Skilled in developing compelling cases for support, proposals, and presentations, tailored to diverse audiences including UHNWIs, corporate leaders, and institutional funders.
+ Familiarity with CRM systems (e.g. Salesforce, Raiser's Edge) and data-driven fundraising approaches.
+ Experience working with or influencing philanthropic advisory networks, family foundations, or CSR/sustainability leads in large corporations.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

+ Outstanding relationship-building skills with the ability to influence, inspire, and engage a wide range of stakeholders including major donors, corporate leaders, trustees, and senior colleagues. + Knowledge of the UK charitable funding landscape, including key networks, funders, and partnership models alongside a deep understanding of fundraising best practice.
+ Solid understanding of data protection (GDPR), Fundraising Regulator codes, and ethical standards relevant to high-value income generation.
+ Familiarity with corporate social responsibility (CSR) and ESG trends, and how they relate to strategic partnerships and brand alignment.
+ Awareness of the challenges facing people affected by brain tumours, or the ability to quickly gain insight into the healthcare and research context.
+ Able to balance strategic vision with hands-on delivery, particularly in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
+ Able to work autonomously and collaboratively, fostering a team culture of innovation, inclusion, and continuous improvement.
+ Personal commitment to The Brain Tumour Charity's mission, values and people-first approach, with a deep sense of empathy and purpose.

Please note that the responsibilities listed are not exhaustive and this job description may be subject to change as the role evolves over time.



You'll be joining a

collaborative, bold

and

innovative

team of individuals who put our

community first

and are connected by a passion to make a real difference.

Our amazing benefits:

The Brain Tumour Charity is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in all aspects of our organisation. We particularly welcome applications from individuals belonging to minority ethnic groups, LGBTQ+ communities, people with disabilities, and other underrepresented communities.



We strive to create a workplace that celebrates diversity and provides equal opportunities for all candidates and we encourage all individuals to apply even if they don't meet all the criteria.



Whilst we'd love to have you on board, we want to be upfront as we'd hate to waste your time applying for a role where we can't take you on. At the moment, we're unable to offer visa sponsorship for any of our positions. We're currently seeking candidates who are already authorised to work in the UK without the need for sponsorship, who can remain on a permanent basis.



Please apply by clicking the red 'join our team' button, attaching your CV and a covering letter explaining why you want the role, what you would bring to the team and how your skillset and experience will enable us to make a real impact for those affected by brain tumours. We'd like to encourage you not to use AI to write your cover letter as we want to get to know you, the real you!


We are keen to ensure that our recruitment process is inclusive so if you'd find it beneficial to submit your application in a different format, please drop us a line at careers@thebraintumourcharity.org.

Advert close date:

10th August 2025

First interview date and location:

20th August 2025 over Teams

Second interview date and location:

3rd September 2025 at our office in Fleet


The post holder will also;

Contribute to achieving the objectives of The Brain Tumour Charity*
Live and breathe our values by being

bold, collaborative and

innovative, with a

community-first approach to everything you do*
Undertake any additional and ad hoc tasks as required*
Participate in team meetings and other meetings as required*
Monitor and evaluate activities and provide written reports*
Represent The Charity at external events in a professional manner*
Work within an equal opportunities framework*
Adhere to all The Charity's policies, procedures and working*
Ensure all records are held in compliance with GDPR, The Fundraising Regulator Code of Practice and The Brain Tumour Charity policies.*

We process your data in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018 and the General Data Protection Regulation. For full details, please read our privacy policy for job applicants.