Foundations Manager

UNICEF UK; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Generous annual leave

Pension

Brand discounts

Wellbeing tools

Job summary

UNICEF UK is seeking a Foundations Manager (EML Cover) to research, develop and manage strategic funding partnerships. The role focuses on six- and seven-figure gifts, working with a supportive team to maximise outcomes for UNICEF UK's mission.

You will communicate effectively with donors, develop proposals, and oversee grants including narrative and financial reporting and contract compliance. Flexibility in location and working arrangements is offered, with office presence at Queen Elizabeth

Qualifications

• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral.
• Ability to develop effective relationships with donors to maximise outcomes.
• Experience in fundraising including developing and coordinating successful proposals.
• Experience managing grants, including reporting (narrative and financial) and compliance with contracts.

Responsibilities

• Research, develop and manage relationships with partners and prospects, focusing on six- and seven-figure gifts.
• Work within a supportive team to cultivate strategic partnerships for UNICEF UK.
• Develop and coordinate successful proposals for fundraising.
• Manage grants, including narrative and financial reporting and contract compliance.
• Meet deadlines and manage conflicting priorities.

Skills

Fundraising

Donor relations

Proposal development

Grants management

Communication skills

Job description

UNICEF ensures more of the world’s children are vaccinated, educated and protected than any other organisation. We have done more to influence laws and policies to help protect children than anyone else. We get things done. And we’re not going to stop until the world is a safe place for all our children.

The Foundation Partnerships team at the UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK) builds long term relationships with private, institutional, and statutory funders. We have achieved significant success in recent years and are ambitious to do more. We are currently recruiting a Foundations Manager (EML Cover) to join the team. The Foundations Manager will be key to enabling us to achieve even greater results for children.

As Foundations Manager, you will research, develop and manage relationships with our partners and prospects, with a particular focus on partnerships at the six and seven-figure level. You will have the opportunity to work within a supportive, enthusiastic and experienced team to cultivate strategic, valuable partnerships for UNICEF UK.

We are looking for excellent communication skills, both written and oral, plus the ability to develop effective relationships with donors to ensure outcomes are maximised for both UNICEF UK and our partners. You will have experience in fundraising including developing and coordinating successful proposals. You will also have experience managing grants, including reporting (narrative and financial) and compliance with contracts. You will need to be a positive team player, able to work to tight deadlines and manage conflicting priorities.

Please bear in mind that when you write your response to our application questions, you demonstrate your knowledge, skills, and understanding of the role requirements and how well UNICEF UK’s values and mission aligns with yours. Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) such as ChatGPT to generate your answers, will automatically exclude your application from our recruitment process.

First Round Interview Date: Week Commencing 19 October 2026

Second Round Interview Date: Week Commencing 26 October 2026

In return, we offer:

• excellent pay and benefits (including flexible working, generous annual leave and pension, big brand discounts and wellbeing tools)
• outstanding training and learning opportunities and the support to excel in your role
• impressive open plan office space and facilities on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
• an open culture and workplace with colleagues who share our values, enjoy their work and are motivated to do their utmost for children.
• the opportunity to work in a leading children’s organisation making a difference to children around the world
• Our application process: We use a system called "Applied" that anonymises your responses and focuses on your actual skills that are relevant to this role. This benefits you by giving you a greater chance of expressing your skills in this objective selection process.

We anticipate most colleagues will do two days a week in the office on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford, East London and the rest of the time from home. We will happily discuss other flexible options to suit your circumstances.

UNICEF UK promotes equality, diversity and inclusion in our workplace. We make employment decisions by matching business needs with skills and experience of candidates, irrespective of disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation.

We welcome a conversation about your flexible working requirements, personal growth, and promoting a workplace where you can be yourself and achieve success based only on your merit.

The successful candidate will be required to apply for a criminal records check. A criminal record will not necessarily bar you from working with us. This will depend on the nature of the role and the circumstances of your offences.

We only accept online applications as this saves us money, making more funds available for us to help ensure children’s rights.

If you require support in completing the online form or an application form in an alternative format, please contact Supporter Care on 0300 330 5580 during office hours.

If you do not hear from us within 14 days of the closing date, please assume your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion. Please note that we only provide feedback to shortlisted candidates.

Registered Charity Nos. 1072612 (England and Wales) SC043677 (Scotland).