Head of Strategic Partnerships and Development

Head of Strategic Partnerships and Development

Reports to: CEO
Hours: Full-time 35 hours per week (the postholder will be expected to work flexibly to meet the needs of the post - some evening/weekend work will be required.)
Salary: NJC Points 40-43 (£53,051 - £56,293) starting on point 40 (£53,051). It is our normal practice for new employees to start on the first point of the scale.
Contract Type: Permanent
Location: The Foundation currently has a hybrid working approach and therefore your place of work will include both the office location (Belfast) and home-based working. The postholder will be required to travel extensively across Northern Ireland and occasionally to the UK mainland.

About Community Foundation for NI2.1 Background

The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland is a local, independent charitable trust that provides grants, support and leadership to strengthen communities across Northern Ireland.

We have offices in Belfast and Derry/Londonderry and continue to operate a hybrid working approach, recognising the importance of flexibility, collaboration and wellbeing for our staff team.

In May 2026, we renewed our Strategic Plan to reaffirm our mission, vision, values and strategic priorities, ensuring they continue to reflect the needs of communities and the role CFNI plays in creating long-term social change. The Strategic Plan sets out not only what we aim to achieve, but also who we are, how we work and the values that guide our decisions and relationships.

Our approach is rooted in trust-based partnerships, collaboration and social justice. We are committed to working openly and inclusively with communities, partners and donors to build a fairer and more equitable society for everyone.

Vision

Our vision is a fair and equitable society for everyone.

Mission

Our mission is working hand in hand with communities to build a better future.

Values

Our values underpin everything we do:

• We are passionate and ambitious about what we do;

• We act with integrity always;

• We use kindness to drive our trust-based partnerships that support community-led change.

Strategic Priorities

Our strategic priorities are focused on advancing social justice and creating long-term impact for communities across Northern Ireland. We will focus on:

• Tackling poverty and addressing the systemic roots of deprivation;

• Supporting leadership and developing diverse, visionary leaders;

• Protecting and promoting human rights, fairness and dignity;

• Improving wellbeing by supporting the physical, mental and financial health of communities.

Values

Ambitious

Having or showing a strong desire and determination to succeed. Not doing more but doing it smarter and better in a way that puts all communities at the heart of our work.

Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best you are capable of becoming

John R Wooden

Passionate

Having or showing great excitement and interest in our work, our communities, our team and our impact on Northern Ireland society.

What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Integrity

Adherence to moral and ethical principles.

It takes courage to create a meaningful life of integrity. It also requires good company. And practice

Shelly Francis

Kindness

We use kindness to drive our trust-based partnerships that support community led change.

The purpose of human life is to serve, and to show compassion and the will to help others.

Albert Schweitzer

Behaviours

Active listening:
listen, be attentive, reflect, clarify, don't interrupt

Non-judgmental:
engaging without judgement, criticism or personal bias

Collaborative:
working positively together towards a shared goal

We support our staff and Trustees to live our values and behaviours and work together to improve the lives of people in Northern Ireland.

Why work for us?

The Community Foundations aim is to be the best charity to work for in Northern Ireland. We have a great staff team. We treat our staff well, providing excellent salaries and benefits, prioritising staff health and wellbeing, encouraging hybrid working and supporting staff development and growth.

For more details on Employee Benefits, please see Section 9.

About the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland

The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland is an independent grant-making trust. Our vision is for a fair and equitable society for everyone, working hand in hand with communities to build a better future. We are passionate and ambitious about what we do, and we act with integrity.

We have a great staff team, with around 25 staff across two offices, in Belfast and Derry-Londonderry, who are all committed to making a difference to people in Northern Ireland. We treat our staff well, providing excellent salaries and benefits, prioritising staff health and wellbeing, encouraging hybrid working and supporting staff development and growth.

Role Description

The Head of Strategic Partnerships & Development is responsible for leading the Foundation's approach to partnership development, donor cultivation, opportunity management, philanthropic growth and income generation.

Reporting to the Chief Executive, the postholder will work across all directorates to identify and secure new opportunities for investment, partnership and collaboration. The role will strengthen the Foundation's profile, diversify income streams and help build the relationships needed to support long-term sustainability and growth.

The Head of Strategic Partnerships & Development is not a member of the Senior Management Team (SMT) but will contribute to organisational planning and attend SMT meetings when required.

The postholder will also line manage and support the Fund Development Manager, helping to drive fundraising performance while enabling innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Partnerships and Organisational Growth

• Develop and lead the Foundations strategic approach to partnerships, donor cultivation, and philanthropic growth.

• Identify opportunities for organisational growth, collaboration and investment.

• Build a strong pipeline of future funding opportunities.

• Ensure a coordinated organisational approach to donor cultivation and opportunity management.

• Develop and maintain relationships with corporates, trusts, foundations, professional advisers and strategic partners.

• Support colleagues to maximise opportunities arising from programmes, grant-making and policy work.

• Support diversification of income and philanthropic investment.

• Work collaboratively across all directorates to identify opportunities for partnership development and external investment.

• Promote a culture of collaboration and income awareness across the Foundation.

• Contribute to the strategic development and organisational priorities of the Foundation.

Relationship Management

• Lead the Foundations approach to relationship management in relation to prospective donors, ensuring they feel valued, connected, and informed.

• Support the development of engaging donor experiences and opportunities for meaningful philanthropic involvement with prospective donors.

• Cultivate relationships with new supporters and ambassadors for the Foundation.

• Promote a relationship-led culture that values collaboration, responsiveness, and impact.

• Document and regularly review processes, systems and procedures to ensure high standards of fundraising, fund development and donor cultivation across all directorates, with all staff clear on their roles and responsibilities.

Leadership and Collaboration

• Lead, line manage and support the Fund Development Manager and any associated staff.

• Foster innovation and continuous improvement.

• Strengthen organisational capability in partnership development and engagement with prospective donors.

External Engagement and Representation

• Act as a senior ambassador for the Foundation, representing the organisation at events, meetings, and networking opportunities.

• Enhance the Foundations profile, reputation and influence across the philanthropic, voluntary, and business sectors.

• Build strong relationships and strategic partnerships with professional advisors and external stakeholders to strengthen awareness of the Foundations work and services in order to support long term sustainability

Governance and Oversight

• Support monitoring and reporting on fundraising and partnership activity for the CEO, SMT, and Trustees.

• Ensure fundraising and partnership activity across the organisation adheres to the Code of Fundraising Practice and GDPR and reflects relevant legislation, regulation, and best practice.

• Lead the continuous improvement and strategic development of donor and partnership management systems, including Salesforce and related CRM platforms, to support effective relationship management, reporting, insight, and organisational growth.

• Support the effective use of systems, insight, and data to inform relationship management and strategic decision-making.

This Job Description is not intended to comprehensively list the responsibilities of the post, but to indicate the main areas which at this stage appear to be the essential requirements of the post.

Person Specification

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

EXPERIENCE

At least 5 years experience relevant to the role, including:

• A proven track record in achieving income targets and securing income for a charity.

• Developing and managing strategic partnerships, donor relationships, stakeholder engagement, fundraising, business development, or income generation activity.

• Building and sustaining strong external relationships with donors, businesses, trusts, foundations, professional advisors, high net worth individuals and other key stakeholders.

• Identifying and developing new opportunities and cultivating prospective donors.

• Experience of working collaboratively across teams and organisational functions to deliver shared objectives.

• Experience of leading, managing, or supporting staff and fostering collaborative and high-performing working relationships.

• Experience of representing an organisation externally through networking, events, partnership engagement, or stakeholder management.

• Knowledge and understanding of the Code of Fundraising Practice, charitable governance, and best practice in donor stewardship and fundraising.

KNOWLEDGE / SKILLS

• Knowledge and understanding of donor cultivation, relationship management, partnership development, or client/customer engagement principles;

• Understanding of the voluntary, charitable, philanthropic, or community sector and the importance of community impact, gained through professional experience, board or trustee involvement, consultancy, volunteering, partnership working, or other relevant engagement;

• Strong strategic thinking skills with the ability to identify opportunities and contribute to organisational growth and development;

• Excellent interpersonal, networking, influencing, and relationship-building skills;

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including presentation and stakeholder engagement skills;

• Ability to collaborate effectively across teams and build positive working relationships internally and externally;

• Strong organisational and time management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines;

• Strong IT skills, including competency using MS Office and experience using CRM, database, or stakeholder management systems;

• Ability to use insight, data, and reporting information to support strategic decision-making and relationship management.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• Commitment to the Foundations vision, mission, values, and behaviours;

• Committed to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and to working with a diverse range of people and communities across Northern Ireland;

• Full driving licence and access to a form of transport. Consideration will be given to alternative travelling proposals in respect of applicants with a disability who cannot hold a licence;

• Able to work flexibly and attend both daytime and evening events across Northern Ireland, the UK, and Ireland. Travel internationally may also occasionally be required.

QUALIFICATIONS

• A good standard of education with at least 5 GCSEs (Grade A to C) or equivalent, including Maths and English.

DESIRABLE CRITERIA

• Knowledge of the Northern Ireland voluntary, community, and philanthropic landscape.

• Experience of contributing to organisational strategy, growth, or external engagement initiatives.

• Experience of leading the development, improvement, or implementation of CRM or donor management systems.

How to apply

Application forms must be completed in full, signed (electronic signature accepted) and returned by email to

The closing date for applications is Friday 9th October 2026 at 12 noon. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. CVs will not be accepted.

Summary of Main Terms and Conditions

• This is a Full-Time post of 35 hours per week. Working hours are exclusive of meal breaks.

• The post-holder will be required to be flexible and work unsocial hours, including evenings and weekends, to meet the needs of the post. The post is based in the Foundations Belfast Office. However, the Foundation is a flexible employer operating a flexible working policy and therefore some flexibility will be available.

  We are currently operating a hybrid working model and you will be expected to work both from home and the office.

• Holidays are 25 days annually (plus statutory & customary days)

• Staff also get a day off for their birthday each year.

• The post is subject to a probationary period of 6 months.

• The post-holder may be eligible for membership of the Foundations Pension Scheme.

• The post-holder may be entitled to membership of the Foundations BHSF Employee Benefits Scheme.

• The post-holder may be entitled to membership of the Foundations Private Healthcare Scheme.

• The post-holder will not be entitled to on-site parking.

The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified people.

However, as men and members of the minoritized communities are currently under-represented in our workforce, we would particularly welcome applications from these sections of the community.

8. Employee Benefits and Wellbeing Benefits

We offer all employees a rewarding career and value all that they can bring to the role to help us deliver our vision and mission. We want to have the best people working at the Community Foundation, staff who are passionate and ambitious about our work and who act with integrity. We care about our staff and treat them well.

In addition to attractive and competitive salaries, we offer all employees a range of benefits, including our core employee benefits and more recently, we have added our wellbeing benefits. We hope that our benefits show our staff that we put their wellbeing first, to ensure that they are healthy, happy and motivated at work, have a good work-life balance and can perform at their best.

Core Employee Benefits

• 25 days Annual leave, rising to 30 days after 10 years service

• 11 Statutory/Public holidays

• 2 Customary days

• Eligibility for paid carers leave

• Occupational defined contribution pension scheme (salary sacrifice)

• Occupational sick pay scheme

• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave

• Hybrid working arrangements

• Working from Home Allowance

• Flexible working

• On-line staff training portal

• Financial support and time off for training and development

Health and Wellbeing

• Permanent ill-health Insurance

• Life Insurance

• Health cash plan

• Health checks

• Staff wellbeing training, activities and events

• Cycle to work scheme

• Volunteering Leave

Reward and Recognition

• Birthday leave and birthday gift

• Recognition awards linked to values and behaviours

• Rewards linked to financial wellbeing

• Acts of Kindness Rewards

• Office Wellness Hub, with wellbeing resources

WHJS1_NI