Prospect Research and Communications Manager

Relationship Fundraising Team

The Relationship Fundraising team is a dynamic, ambitious and high-performing group dedicated to developing and nurturing Barnardo's most significant relationships with philanthropists, corporate partners and charitable trusts.

This is an exciting time to join the team as we continue to grow and evolve. New team members will have the opportunity to help shape our future direction and play a key role in achieving our vision of transforming childhoods and changing lives.

Job Purpose

As an experienced and personable professional, you will lead and deliver a programme of prospect research activities, identifying potential supporters capable of making five, six and seven-figure gifts. Your work will enable our high-value fundraising teams to maximise voluntary income and support for Barnardo's.

You will be responsible for developing and maintaining a strong pipeline of prospects, helping to identify and prioritise the most promising fundraising opportunities. Through robust research and analysis, you will ensure that fundraising efforts are focused on opportunities with the greatest potential impact.

In addition, you will support the development and delivery of the Relationship Fundraising team's communications programme. This will include producing high-quality reports, briefings and presentations for senior leaders and Trustees, ensuring stakeholders receive accurate, relevant and timely information to support decision-making.

Additional Information

Due to the high volume of applications we receive for some vacancies, this role may close before the advertised closing date. We therefore encourage interested candidates to apply as early as possible.

When completing your application, please clearly demonstrate how your skills, knowledge and experience meet the requirements outlined in the Person Specification, Job Description and any Additional Information documents. Responses should reflect an understanding of both the role and the wider context of the service.

Inclusion and Flexible Working

At Barnardo's, we are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where people from all backgrounds, cultures and experiences feel welcome and valued. We believe in providing equal opportunities for all and recognise the importance of supporting a healthy work-life balance. As a result, we are open to considering flexible working arrangements wherever possible.

We know that our colleagues go above and beyond in delivering our vital work, driven by their passion and commitment to Barnardo's values.  We also know that we can only realise our ambitions and achieve better outcomes for more children, thanks to the talent, hard work and creativity of our people. 

For all these reasons, we are committed to a new approach to pay and reward, to ensure it is fair, attractive and progressive, which was rolled out in April 2023. This is a positive change for the charity, and a part of our People & Culture Strategy. It will assist us in supporting colleagues to belong, thrive and grow in their colleague journey at Barnardo's and in time will offer clear routes of progression for colleagues in both their career and their pay. 

Whilst the full pay band and salary range is advertised, our approach to starting salaries is to appoint between the minimum to mid-point of the pay band – this ensures that pay steps are available to reward our colleagues annually based on their contribution to excellence and alignment to our values and behaviours.  More details on Barnardo's pay framework can be found upon application. 

Workplace Offer: What it means for you

Our hybrid working initiative is based on trust, flexibility and empowerment. We understand our workplace offer means different things to different people, and we encourage those conversations. This may mean working at one of our stores, services, working at home, in the community, at one of our Collaboration Hubs or depending on the role any combination of these. Please read through the advert carefully to understand the remits of hybrid working that will be specific to the role.

Barnardo's require colleagues to be UK residents, based in the UK and to complete their roles from within the UK (with the exception of colleagues providing Barnardo's services in Jersey and colleagues who live in the Republic of Ireland providing services in Northern Ireland)

• Barnardo's believe in creating equality of opportunity in the workplace and supporting people to manage their work-life balance; we are therefore open to offering flexible working arrangements.
• Annual Leave entitlement for full-time colleagues is 26 days per annum, increasing to 27 days per annum, after 3 years Barnardo's service, 29 days per annum, after 5 years Barnardo's service and 30 days per annum, after 7 years Barnardo's service. Those working less than full time are entitled to the same level of holiday pro rata
• The ability to buy up to another 5 days annual leave via our Buy Your Leave scheme
• A host of family friendly leave options including company Maternity Paternity and Adoption pay; together with all family additional leave options
• Service related sick pay from day 1
• Access to a Group Personal Pension with a matched 4% or 6% contribution from Barnardo's. Ability to pay via salary sacrifice to garner both tax and NI savings on your own contribution
• Death in service cover of 4x annual earnings for all staff contributing to our Group Personal Pension
• Cycle2work scheme
• Interest free season ticket loans
• Discounts and cashback from at high street shops including major supermarkets, cinemas, gyms, leisure/theme parks, holidays and much more via our Benefit Portal
• 20% discount at Barnardo's stores
• Opportunity to purchase a health cash plan to claim towards dental, glasses, therapy etc
• Free access to round the clock employee assistance program for advice and support
• Access to Barnardo's Learning and Development offer

*T&C's apply based on contract

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and cultivating a culture where everyone can belong and thrive through inclusion and connectivity. We want our workforce to be reflective of the communities we work with, and for equality, diversity and inclusion to be embedded in everything we do. We are a Disability Confident Leader, are progressing our ambition to be an anti-racist organisation with Anti-Racism Commitments and actions in place and have networks for colleagues who are disabled, LGBT+, Black and Minoritised Ethnic and Women. We particularly encourage applications from Black and Minoritised Ethnic and/or disabled candidates who are currently underrepresented in our workforce. For disabled applicants, we offer reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.

• Reference number:23347
• Job Title:Prospect Research and Communications Manager
• Location:Workplace offer: Hybrid working, Barnardo's hub/office or home address
• Contract type:Permanent
• Hours:36.25
• Salary:£36,337.00 - £46,719.00 FTE
• Closing Date:29 July 2026
• Interview Date:Monday 3rd August and Tuesday 4th August 2026