Head of Funding and Partnerships

Over the last four years, the current Head of Funding & Partnerships has secured over £10m from trusts, foundations and housing associations to help HACT deliver its charitable purpose. In the next three years, our objective is to increase this amount. We want to hear from you if you believe you can support HACT deliver on our ambition.Are you the right candidate for this opportunity Make sure to read the full description below.Role DescriptionThe Head of Funding and Partnerships is a key member of HACT’s Leadership Team and leads the organisation’s business development, tendering and fundraising function. As part of the management tier, the role is responsible for scaling HACT’s impact across and beyond the housing sector through innovative commercial approaches, strategic fundraising, and exceptional customer relationships.This position combines fundraising expertise, partnership building, developing and maintaining high-value relationships with funders, partners, and clients, as well as market intelligence. It identifies new opportunities for R&D development, pipeline growth, product sales and tender submissions while managing core business development activities that support HACT’s strategy.The Head of Funding and Partnerships creates and executes annual fundraising and commercial plans, fosters collaborative relationships across the organisation, and embodies HACT’s values through transparent, supportive leadership. From time to time, the role presents to the Trustee Board and provides strategic advice and leadership to the executive team.Job PurposeTo lead HACT's fundraising, tendering and business development function, delivering ambitious fundraising targets while providing strategic market insights that drive organisational growth and innovation.ResponsibilitiesStrategic fundraising leadershipCreate and deliver a fundraising strategy aligned with HACT's business strategy and ambitious growth target, with annual and multi-year targets·Identify new funding opportunities through market research, relationship building, and strategic intelligenceLead the development of high-quality tender responses and proposalsMaintain a register of frameworks and procurement opportunities aligned to HACT’s strategic prioritiesOversee the production of high-quality client proposals within agreed deadlines, ensuring compelling cases for supportPartnership buildingDevelop and maintain relationships with corporate sponsors, foundations, and other organisations to create mutually beneficial partnerships.Manage existing funder relationships to ensure satisfaction, retention, and growth of funding commitmentsSupport cross-sector collaborations, innovation pilots and consortium funding bids.Market intelligence & business developmentContribute to organisational strategy development through participation in Leadership Team activitiesProactively identify collaboration and innovation opportunities, supporting business growth and diversificationProvide market insights that enable R&D development, supporting innovation and new service creation and market analysis to support pipeline growth in new markets and enhance existing product salesCollaborate with colleagues to identify emerging trends and opportunities in the housing and social value sectorsContribute to strategic decision-making through robust market intelligence and competitive analysisCross-functional collaborationWork closely with the Head of Communities and Projects to ensure project delivery meets funder expectations, leading on managing key grant funding relationshipsWork closely with the Head of Marketing to align fundraising and marketing strategies for maximum impactWork closely with the Head of Services to create proposals that maximise income opportunitiesWork closely with Head of Customer to identify commercial opportunities and enhance service delivery, using insights form Social Value Insight to strengthen funding propositions.Work with the Head of Business Functions to develop commercial pricing and funding models and ensure compliance with due diligence and funder requests.Support colleagues across the organisation by providing proposal support, market insights and funding intelligenceTeam leadership & operational excellenceLine manage and develop the Funding and Insights Officer, providing coaching, guidance, and performance managementDevelop and implement Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for proposals and grant applications to ensure consistency and qualityEstablish accessible, reliable management information systems to track performance and inform decision‑makingEnsure efficient processes and systems that support high‑quality proposal development, tender submissions and relationship managementLeverage AI tools and platforms to enhance business development processesChampion the adoption of AI‑enabled solutions to improve productivity, personalise engagement strategies, and uncover new opportunities for innovation and collaboration.Strategic leadership & cultureActively model HACT's values and behaviours by consistently demonstrating supportive, transparent and collaborative leadershipContribute to an inclusive and respectful organisational culture through positive leadership and team engagementLead by example as a key member of HACT's Leadership Team, embodying our values across all internal and external relationshipsChampion cross-functional collaboration and knowledge sharing to maximise organisational effectivenessRequired SkillsExperience & skillsProven track record in senior fundraising roles, with demonstrated success in securing and managing significant grants from charitable foundations, government, and other funding bodiesDemonstrated success in proposal writing, developing tenders and commercial bidsStrong background in business development and market research, ideally within the charitable or public sectorExperience in relationship management with high‑value stakeholders and complex funding organisationsStrong communication, influencing and project management capabilitiesDemonstrated ability to create and deliver strategic fundraising plans aligned with organisational objectivesStrategic thinking ability combined with practical execution and attention to detailResilience and adaptability in a dynamic funding environment.Knowledge of the social housing sector (desirable).Ability to identify and apply AI‑driven tools to enhance business development activities and using AI to streamline workflows, personalise engagement strategies and uncover new growth opportunities.Knowledge & understandingDeep understanding of the UK funding landscape, including charitable foundations, government funding streams, public procurement frameworks and social investmentKnowledge of the housing sector, social value, or community development preferredUnderstanding of R&D funding mechanisms and innovation support programmesFamiliarity with grant management processes and funder compliance requirementsKnowledge of market research methodologies and competitive intelligence gatheringPersonal qualitiesExceptional relationship‑building and networking skills with ability to engage stakeholders at all levelsStrategic mindset with ability to identify opportunities and translate them into actionable plansStrong communication and influencing skills, both written and verbalCollaborative leadership style that embodies transparency, respect, and inclusivityExcellent project management and prioritisation skills with ability to manage multiple complex workstreamsResilience and adaptability in a dynamic funding environmentPassion for HACT's mission and commitment to social impact in the housing sectorTechnical competenciesProficiency in CRM systems and database management for relationship tracking (ideally HubSpot or Salesforce)Advanced skills in proposal writing, bid development, and presentation creationExperience with project management tools and budget management systemsUnderstanding of due diligence processes and compliance requirementsKnowledge of social impact measurement and evaluation frameworksDesirable requirementsProfessional qualifications in fundraising (IoF membership) or business developmentExperience working in or with housing associations, local authorities, or social housing sectorKnowledge of social value frameworks and impact investment principlesExperience in managing EU or international funding programmesUnderstanding of research and development processes in policy or practice areasJob AccountabilitiesLeads the successful delivery of strategic fundraising and business development projects, ensuring high-quality outputs, stakeholder engagement, and funder satisfaction.Secures project funding through strategic relationship‑building, proposal development, and targeted fundraising activities.Develops and maintains accessible management information systems to support .Implements service level agreements (SLAs) for proposals to ensure consistent quality and timely delivery across grant applications and business development outputs.Builds new relationships with charitable funders while sustaining and growing existing partnerships to diversify income streams.Embeds HACT’s values through inclusive leadership, fostering a collaborative culture and modelling best practice across the organisation.Employees are also expected to be flexible in undertaking the duties and responsibilities attached to their post and may be asked to perform other duties that are consistent with the grade, responsibilities, and typical scope of the role. Any additional tasks should remain appropriate to the nature of the post and not extend into unrelated functions or specialisms.All employees are expected to work in accordance with the organisation’s values and behavioural standards, which include being supportive, transparent, respectful, kind, honest, and collaborative. This means fostering a culture of empathy, openness, integrity, and teamwork in all interactions, and contributing positively to the organisation’s mission and strategic objectives.About HACTInnovation. Collaboration. Insights.It’s what we’ve always done.As the charity of the social housing sector, these are the core values that have driven the transformation and development of housing providers for over 60 years.We believe the provision of housing is about more than just bricks and mortar – it’s about enhancing peoples’ lives.By partnering with organisations across the housing sector, we drive value for residents and communities through insight‑led products and services which encourage innovation and foster collaboration.This position is currently based remotely with the occasional day in the London office and travel to UK based events as required.To apply for this role, please share your CV with a one‑page cover letter setting out why this role appeals to you and how your skills and experiences meet the key skills points in the job description.Interviews expected to take place on week commencing the 15th December.#J-18808-Ljbffr