Recently named Charity of the Year by Just Giving Awards 2022, we’re committed to moving further, faster to accelerate change for everyone affected by a brain tumour. Brain tumours kill more children and adults under 40 in the UK than any other cancer. We know that a cure can’t wait.

As Head of Events you will have the opportunity to shape the growth and impact of The Brain Tumour Charity’s Events team. As the leader of our Events programme, you’ll be responsible for inspiring and guiding a team of six as they deliver a calendar of extraordinary events, from income generating to engagement event activities, including our ever-growing challenge events programme, our new special event programme, our flagship event - The Twilight Walk - and a number of family days.

Working collaboratively across fundraising, you’ll help deliver unforgettable experiences that engage our supporters and raise vital funds. You’ll drive an events strategy that generates £4 million in annual income and paves the way for long-term financial and community engagement. You’ll also work with our brilliant support and research teams to help deliver engaging events for our incredible community.

Alongside our Marketing team, you’ll craft and execute a marketing approach to expand our reach, attracting new supporters and fuelling the growth of our events portfolio. Together, we’ll continue to push the boundaries, creating events that not only raise funds but also deepen our impact in the fight against brain tumours.

📍Location: While contracted to our office in Fleet, Hampshire, our team supports a blend of office and home working provided you have adequate broadband and IT capability, with an average of two days in the office each week.

⏰Working hours: This role is 37.5 hours per week, with some out of hours working. 

💰Benchmarked salary: c.£59,000 (dependent on level)

Please note this role is covering maternity for a 7 month fixed term contract, potentially increasing to 12 months.

We’re looking for a driven, collaborative, and ambitious individual with a wealth of experience in managing and delivering exceptional events across a diverse fundraising portfolio. You’ll be equally at home overseeing our London Marathon team of 100+, orchestrating a bespoke trek across the Sahara, or running a prestigious awards evening or high-value gala dinner. With outstanding stewardship and people management at your core, you’ll have a sharp eye for spotting opportunities for both the team and individuals within the team and a passion for innovating new ways to raise vital funds through events.

You’ll bring the energy to hit the ground running, seamlessly stepping into our established events programme and building on its incredible success. Confident in managing seven-figure budgets and delivering on ambitious targets, you’ll help drive forward our mission to defeat brain tumours faster.

• Manage and deliver a year-round events fundraising programme which includes maximising challenge events, achieving 6 figure income from our flagship mass participation walking event and continuing to grow engagement

• Deliver on and refine our six-year fundraising strategy, building and maintaining a good understanding of the needs of each of our programmes (challenge, flagship, special, and operational), priorities and desired charitable goals

• Lead on the strategy for our flagship event; The Twilight Walk to develop it to a £1m income generating event over the next three years

• Identify events, both new and existing, to acquire new audiences from and effectively grow our portfolio both in participation and income

• Work closely with the Philanthropy and Partnerships teams to develop and deliver our new Special Events programme. Identify new event opportunities for high value income to support our existing and core activity and lead on delivery and execution of those events

• Deliver best in class events which meet and exceed fundraising targets and garner positive recognition across the sector

• Develop our stewardship programme and supporter care, maximising cross selling opportunities to ensure continued support across all event activities within our portfolio

• Develop appropriate budgets in collaboration with other members of the team

• Maintain effective monitoring practices to identify new event opportunities

• Lead, manage, develop and inspire the team of three Senior Events Officers, two Events Officers, an Events Assistant and an Intern, overseeing projects and ensuring activities meet objectives

• Ensure all processes and procedures are in place and adhered to for all events including income coding, risk assessments, data protection and updating our CRM (Salesforce)

• Work with the Marketing and Digital team to develop and deliver marketing plans to ensure we achieve target numbers of participants for all events

• Be a key member of our extended leadership team, and contribute to the development and delivery of the organisation’s wider strategy, through knowledge of the funding landscape

We encourage you to apply to the role even if you do not meet all of the criteria.

Experience:

• A track record of delivering end to end events that have raised at least six figures
• Demonstrable experience of raising money from third party sporting/challenge and mass participation events
• Demonstrable experience of delivering special events
• Proven track record of managing a team to develop and deliver events and to achieve income targets
• Track record of stewarding event participants including high value and senior stakeholders
• Experience of innovating new events and products to increase income and supporter engagement
• Demonstrable experience of financial and budget management
  

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Up to date knowledge of best practice, regulations and new innovations concerning fundraising events
• Excellent understanding of the motivations and needs of fundraisers taking part in events
• Excellent management skills and ability to lead a team and influence across a wider range of stakeholders and facilitate cross team working
• First class organisational and workload management skills
• IT skills including CRM (Salesforce)
• Understanding of and empathy with the brain tumour community
  

*Please note that the responsibilities listed are not exhaustive and this job description may be subject to change as the role evolves over time.

You’ll be joining a collaborative, bold and innovative team of individuals who put our community first and are connected by a passion to make a real difference. 

🏆Our amazing benefits:

• 29 days annual leave (pro-rated for those who are part-time), which increases to 30 days after two years’ service. Three of these days need to be taken between Christmas and New Year.
• Celebrate your work anniversary in true Charity style
• Occupational Sick Pay
• Hybrid working
• Flexible working
• Charity pension
• Wellbeing support including professional counselling
• A personalised on-boarding programme
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Perkbox – our team discount portal
• Health care vouchers

*Some of these benefits are non-contractual and are subject to change

The Brain Tumour Charity is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in all aspects of our organisation. We particularly welcome applications from individuals belonging to minority ethnic groups, LGBTQ+ communities, people with disabilities, and other underrepresented communities. 

We strive to create a workplace that celebrates diversity and provides equal opportunities for all candidates and we encourage all individuals to apply even if they don’t meet all the criteria.

You can find more about what we're doing to become a diverse organisation here. 

Whilst we'd love to have you on board, we want to be upfront as we’d hate to waste your time applying for a role where we can’t take you on. At the moment, we're unable to offer visa sponsorship for any of our positions. We're currently seeking candidates who are already authorised to work in the UK without the need for sponsorship, who can remain on a permanent basis.

Please apply by clicking the red ‘join our team’ button, attaching your CV and a covering letter explaining why you want the role, what you would bring to the team and how your skillset and experience will enable us to make a real impact for those affected by brain tumours. We'd like to encourage you not to use AI to write your cover letter as we want to get to know you, the real you!

We are keen to ensure that our recruitment process is inclusive so if you’d find it beneficial to submit your application in a different format, please drop us a line at careers@thebraintumourcharity.org.

Advert close date: 6th January 2025. Please be aware we are not open for queries from 23rd December 2024 until 2nd January 2025.

First interview date and location: 13th and 14th January 2025 over Teams 

Second interview date and location: 20th January 2025 at our office in Fleet

The post holder will also; 

• Contribute to achieving the objectives of The Brain Tumour Charity
• Live and breathe our values by being bold, collaborative and innovative, with a community-first approach to everything you do
• Undertake any additional and ad hoc tasks as required 
• Participate in team meetings and other meetings as required 
• Monitor and evaluate activities and provide written reports 
• Represent The Charity at external events in a professional manner 
• Work within an equal opportunities framework 
• Adhere to all The Charity’s policies, procedures and working 
• Ensure all records are held in compliance with GDPR, The Fundraising Regulator Code of Practice and The Brain Tumour Charity policies.

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