Head of Partnerships and Engagement

• Salary: £28,999.46 to £32,221.62 per annum
• Category: Office Management
• Contract type: Permanent
• Working hours: 30 hours per week
• Posted on: 17 April 2025
• Directorate: Partnership
• Location: Godalming, Guildford and Farnham offices

Please note that this vacancy is not part of Surrey County Council, we are advertising this on behalf of a partnership organisation.

The salary range for this role is £28,999.46 to £32,221.62 per annum based on a 30 hour working week.

Are you an experienced leader with a passion for building partnerships, driving strategic growth, and delivering impactful campaigns?

Rewards and Benefits

• Pay progression opportunities
• Employee pension scheme with employer contributions of 5% of the applicable earnings amount into this scheme.
• Through our partnership with TELUSHealth (formerly LifeWorks), we are able to support our colleague's financial wellbeing with savings on everyday purchases and important life events, such as getting married, buying a home or car, family outings and holidays.
• Free on-site tea, coffee and milk
• When you're ill we offer enhanced sick pay of up to 2 weeks during your probation period, 1 month's full pay and 2 months' half pay after this and up to 2 years, 2 months' full pay and 2 months' half pay, after 2 years of service.
• CASWS will cover subsistence and travelling expenses reasonably and properly incurred in the course of your employment and with prior approval in line with an updated expenses policy. This will cover business travel only and not regular commuting costs.
• We are open to discussion about flexible working, which may include arrangements such as part-time working, fixed (non-standard) working hours, working from home and job sharing.
• Colleagues are given 26 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, pro rata per year from 1 January to 31 December. Two days of long service leave are also awarded, with one additional day after completion of 4 years' service, and a further day after completion of 6 years' service.
• We offer maternity, adoption and shared parental leave schemes in line with statutory entitlements.

About the Organisation

Citizens Advice South West Surrey covers the areas of Waverley and Guildford Boroughs. Both borough areas are often considered to be affluent with high levels of employment and rates of home ownership. However, there are significant pockets of deprivation. We're an independent local charity and limited company supporting some of the most vulnerable in our community.

We have 6 offices, in Ash, Cranleigh, Farnham, Godalming, Guildford and Haslemere, as well as delivering services at outreach in communities. We provide free, confidential, impartial and independent information, advice, casework and support for the benefit of the local community, as well as using our unique evidence based approach to exercise a responsible influence on policy and practice to address the underlying cause of problems for our clients. Governed by a board of 8 trustees, we have a highly skilled workforce to support the organisation.

About the Role

We're seeking a dynamic Head of Partnerships and Engagement to join our senior leadership team. This exciting role will lead on income generation, business development, stakeholder engagement, and research and campaigns at Citizens Advice Southwest Surrey (CASWS).

As the Head of Partnerships and Engagement, you will play a crucial role in shaping and delivering our business strategy. This includes identifying and securing new funding opportunities, building meaningful relationships with funders and partners, and leading our research and campaign efforts to influence policy and practice.

You'll lead a newly formed small but dedicated team of staff and volunteers, and work collaboratively across the organisation to ensure our external communications, fundraising, and campaigns are aligned with CASWS's values and priorities.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic leadership as part of the Senior Leadership Team.
• Lead on income generation through public sector, corporate, and grant funding.
• Manage key relationships with funders, stakeholders, and partners.
• Oversee research and develop impactful campaigns to support advocacy work.
• Coordinate the production of communications and fundraising materials.
• Lead, support, and develop a team of staff and volunteers within the Partnerships function.
• Proven experience in business development, income generation, or fundraising within the charity or non-profit sector.
• Strong research and analytical skills, with the ability to oversee evidence-based reports and lead advocacy campaigns.
• Excellent relationship management skills, with the ability to engage and influence funders, corporate partners, policymakers, and stakeholders.
• Strong leadership and strategic management experience, including contributing to senior leadership decision-making.
• Experience in leading and managing teams, including staff and volunteers, to achieve organisational objectives.
• High-level communication skills, both written and verbal, including writing funding proposals, impact reports, and marketing materials.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and oversee budgets effectively.
• Knowledge of compliance and regulatory requirements related to fundraising, funding agreements, and data protection.
• A proactive, results-driven mindset, with a passion for the charity sector and commitment to the organisation's mission and values.

Additional information

The Citizens Advice service values diversity, promotes equality and challenges discrimination. We encourage and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people, as they are currently underrepresented in our workforce.

The close date for this role is 28.04.2025 with interviews to follow.

To take up this post you must have the right to work in the UK. Please note that Citizens Advice South West Surrey does not hold a sponsor licence and, therefore, cannot issue certificates of sponsorship under the points-based system.

To apply for this role, please send your CV and a cover letter setting out your suitability for the role including how you meet the first three essential criteria under the person specification in the role profile to . Please also complete and return the diversity monitoring form.