Job Description
Head of Development
Job Title: Head of Development
Responsible to: Commercial Director
Responsible for: Fundraising Officer (position currently vacant)
Location: Brixton House, London
Salary: £43,050 per annum. End of FY performance related bonus on income earned over £250,000. Between 1 - 1.5%, capped at an additional £5,000.
Contract: Permanent, full-time
Hours: 40 hours per week (inclusive of breaks), some evening and weekend work required.
Annual leave: 22 days + bank holidays.
About Brixton House
Brixton House is a vibrant cultural venue in the heart of Brixton, championing bold, contemporary work that reflects the diverse voices and experiences of our community. Our spaces welcome artists, audiences, and partners to come together for creativity, conversation, and connection.
About the role
As Head of Development, you will translate Brixton House's inspiring artistic and community work into compelling cases for support across all income streams. With passion, creativity and realism, you will drive income across a diverse portfolio, nurture key relationships and contribute to Brixton House's future - a space for creativity, expression and experimentation that engages local communities and global conversations.
You will work closely across teams to ensure our fundraising strategy is deeply aligned with our artistic, civic and community ambitions, helping us grow sustainably while staying rooted in our mission.
What are we looking for?
We are seeking an experienced, dynamic and strategic Head of Development to lead our development function with a focus on individual giving, major gifts, corporate partnerships and trusts and foundation's.
The Head of Development works closely with the Commercial Director, Trustees and key stakeholders to cultivate relationships with high-value donors, build strategic partnerships and secure sustainable financial support.
Strategic Leadership:
To apply, you should describe what attracts you to this position and provide clear evidence of your ability to meet the criteria outlined in the Job Description and Person Specification.
Visit our website and complete the below:
Interview Dates: First stage: Friday 7th and Monday 10th November.
Second stage: Thursday 13th November.
Job Title: Head of Development
Responsible to: Commercial Director
Responsible for: Fundraising Officer (position currently vacant)
Location: Brixton House, London
Salary: £43,050 per annum. End of FY performance related bonus on income earned over £250,000. Between 1 - 1.5%, capped at an additional £5,000.
Contract: Permanent, full-time
Hours: 40 hours per week (inclusive of breaks), some evening and weekend work required.
Annual leave: 22 days + bank holidays.
About Brixton House
Brixton House is a vibrant cultural venue in the heart of Brixton, championing bold, contemporary work that reflects the diverse voices and experiences of our community. Our spaces welcome artists, audiences, and partners to come together for creativity, conversation, and connection.
About the role
As Head of Development, you will translate Brixton House's inspiring artistic and community work into compelling cases for support across all income streams. With passion, creativity and realism, you will drive income across a diverse portfolio, nurture key relationships and contribute to Brixton House's future - a space for creativity, expression and experimentation that engages local communities and global conversations.
You will work closely across teams to ensure our fundraising strategy is deeply aligned with our artistic, civic and community ambitions, helping us grow sustainably while staying rooted in our mission.
What are we looking for?
We are seeking an experienced, dynamic and strategic Head of Development to lead our development function with a focus on individual giving, major gifts, corporate partnerships and trusts and foundation's.
The Head of Development works closely with the Commercial Director, Trustees and key stakeholders to cultivate relationships with high-value donors, build strategic partnerships and secure sustainable financial support.
Strategic Leadership:
- Contribute to and implement a comprehensive fundraising, membership and partnership strategy to support BH short and long-term goals.
- Work closely with Executive and senior leadership to align fundraising priorities with Brixton House's mission and strategic objectives.
- Lead efforts to secure diversified income, with a particular focus on individuals, trusts and foundations, and corporates partnerships.
- Oversee the development of compelling proposals, pitches, and presentations to corporate and individual supporters, including negotiation of corporate and philanthropic agreements.
- Develop innovative, creative and engaging digital fundraising campaigns and appeal-driven asks, working closely with the Head of Marketing, Communications and Audience Development on campaign planning and delivery.
- Work with trusts, foundations, and statutory funding bodies to secure grants that support Brixton House's artistic programme and creative and civic engagement activity.
- Identify, cultivate and secure new high-value donors of all types, including individuals, corporate partners, trusts and foundations and statutory funders.
- Lead on the stewardship and cultivation of high-net-worth individuals and major donors, ensuring tailored engagement and long-term, meaningful relationships.
- Develop and implement a cultivation and stewardship strategy to deepen relationships with existing and prospective major donors, trusts, and corporate partners.
- Oversee the delivery of high-quality, personalised stewardship to ensure donors feel valued and clearly informed about the impact of their support.
- Lead the team to cultivate the membership base of Brixton House.
- Manage a fundraising team of 1, providing guidance and support to ensure success in meeting income targets.
- Foster a collaborative and results-driven culture within the team, and across the organisation, finding creative and engaging ways to put fundraising on the radar of all staff at Brixton House.
- Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of fundraising activities, ensuring that reporting requirements are met, and that funds are raised in line with Brixton House's mission.
- Oversee the fundraising budget and ensure efficient use of resources.
- Liaise with the Head of Finance to ensure fundraising revenues are accurately tracked and accounted for.
- Work closely with the Creative and Civic Engagement and Producing teams to align fundraising prospects with programme activity, strengthening data collection and insight to inform compelling, evidence-based grant applications and cases for support.
- Ensure complete, accurate and timely processes are conducted around all fundraising activity, including gift administration and acknowledgement, Gift Aid, GDPR compliance, reporting etc.
- Provide regular reports to ELT and the Board of Trustees on Brixton House's progress on key projects and targets against the strategic plan.
- Represent Brixton House at events, donor meetings and public forums.
- Keep up to date on best practice in cultural fundraising and charity sector fundraising and communications and bring this knowledge back for institutional benefit.
- Proven experience, ideally at least 5 years, in a similar role where philanthropic and grant income is central to the success of the organisation.
- Extensive experience of shaping and implementing fundraising strategies that have delivered a step change increase in actual income.
- A substantial fundraising track record in securing income across funding types, including personal experience in securing major gifts and managing teams to do the same.
- A demonstrable history of innovation and entrepreneurial approaches to identifying and landing income generation opportunities and pushing organisations forward to increase income.
- Proven experience of nurturing long and short-term funding opportunities and being the key point of contact for both.
- Leadership experience and collaborating with a wide range of colleagues and stakeholders.
- Proven ability to develop, articulate and champion funding opportunities and gain buy-in among staff and key stakeholders, including board and committee members.
- Significant experience of effective internal communications, working with and across teams to develop innovative, values-aligned fundraising propositions and projects.
- In-depth understanding of relevant UK charity and tax legislation, due diligence processes and policies relating to fundraising.
- Extensive experience of fundraising in arts and / or heritage, preferably in the UK.
- Knowledge of effective fundraising in Europe and the US, including tax-effective giving.
- Thorough understanding of Data Protection legislation as it relates to fundraising, marketing and communications.
- Experience of effective endowment and legacy fundraising strategies.
- Dynamic Ability to lead, motivate and inspire.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Project management skills and ability to remove any organisational roadblocks that exist in relation to development.
- Resilient, diplomatic and resourceful in solving problems.
- Ability to prioritise and focus on the areas of greatest impact.
- Commitment to the highest professional and ethical standards.
- Alignment to the Brixton House values, communicating clearly, transparently and consistently; having accountability and working as part of a collaborative team towards a common purpose.
- Enthusiasm and passion for the mission of Brixton House and for the importance of increasing engagement with and access to the arts.
To apply, you should describe what attracts you to this position and provide clear evidence of your ability to meet the criteria outlined in the Job Description and Person Specification.
Visit our website and complete the below:
- Log into our hire platform (Hireful) and complete the basic information.
- Upload your CV.
- Upload letter of application, no more than two sides of A4, size 12 font.
Interview Dates: First stage: Friday 7th and Monday 10th November.
Second stage: Thursday 13th November.
About Brixton House