Director of Development and Engagement

Salary: £70,000 - £80,000 (depending on experience).

Location: Hammersmith, London (hybrid working, up to 3 days WFH).

Contract : Full time, Permanent.

Travel: Some travel across London and Southeast England required

Eligibility: This post is open to female applicants only as being female is deemed to be a genuine occupational requirement under Schedule 9, Paragraph 1 of the Equality Act 2010.

Pre-employment checks: Any offer of employment will be made subject to references, confirmation of the right to work in the UK, and a satisfactory enhanced DBS check. This role is also subject to Police Vetting.

About us

Advance is a leading women’s organisation with over 25 years of delivering systems change and community-based support for women and girls affected by domestic abuse and other forms of violence and supporting women in contact with the criminal justice system. We also deliver specialist support and interventions to young women and girls in their own right.

Our work is grounded in our values of listening, empowerment, collaboration, innovation and accountability. which shape how we work with women and girls, partners, and each other.

Our vision is a world where women and girls lead safe, just, and equal lives.

About the role

As Director of Development and Engagement, you’ll sit on Advance’s Senior Leadership Team and report to the CEO, working closely with the Board of Trustees. You’ll lead the organisational realisation of our strategic vision through the lens of growth, income generation, communications, external affairs and influence.

At Advance, fundraising, bids, evidence, communications and external affairs aren’t separate lanes. They’re an interdependent ecosystem that either reinforces (or

undermines) strategic direction. We’re looking for a leader who can make these connections and ensure these functions work in synergy.

You’ll provide strategic leadership and oversight across:

· Business Development (including statutory funding and tenders)

· Fundraising (corporate, trusts & foundations, major donors, individual giving, partnerships)

· Communications & External Affair s (profile, influence, positioning, stakeholder relationships)

· Evidence, Development & Insights (evaluation systems, impact reporting, research strategy)

About you

· You’re a systems thinker who spots connections others miss between what we say externally, what we bid for, what evidence tells us, and how we communicate impact.

· You’re comfortable holding complexity and nuance, particularly within women-centred, rights-based work. You understand the voluntary sector context and can balance collaboration, partnership and sustainability without losing sight of the end beneficiary.

· You bring a collaborative, proactive mindset, showing openness to challenge, curiosity about others’ views, and a commitment to shared success.

· Strong experience in income generation and fundraising including bid writing - this is the key non-negotiable.

· A thorough knowledge of issues relating to women experiencing violence and abuse and/ or in the criminal justice system, or wider relevant social justice issues.

· Significant experience in a senior strategic leadership role, ideally at Director or equivalent level.

· Experience of building and sustaining high-level relationships with funders, statutory bodies and external partners.

· Experience of contributing to organisational strategy and translating strategy into operational plans.

If you’re values-led, future-focused, and motivated by both systems change and real-world impact, we’d love to hear from you.

What we can offer you – Employee Benefits

• A 35-hour working week

• An exceptional 30 days of paid holiday per year (pro rata for part time), PLUS public holidays on top (that's nearly 40 days paid holiday per year!)

• Additional days off to celebrate International Women’s Day, and for religious observance and moving home

• Perkbox - an employee discount platform where you can receive free rewards as well as take advantage of savings on clothes, groceries, travel, leisure and more

• Pension scheme

• Enhanced maternity/adoption provision

• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme

• Employee eye-care scheme

• Clinical supervision for front line staff and first line management roles

• Refer a Friend Scheme - £250 for each referral who passes probation

• Organisation wide away days

• Thorough induction and training

• Career development pathways