Head of Development & Partnerships

City of London; London; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 65,000

Job description

About Us

The City of London Corporation manages 11,000 acres of land in and around London, welcoming millions of visitors annually. North London Open Spaces (NLOS) oversees some of the UK's most iconic green spaces, including:

• Hampstead Heath (including Golders Hill Park, Parliament Hill Fields, and Heath Extension)
• Highgate Wood
• Queen’s Park
• West Ham Park

These beloved green spaces boast ancient woodlands, diverse wildlife, world-class sports facilities, and historic landmarks. We work closely with local communities and stakeholders to preserve and enhance these natural assets, making London one of the most liveable large cities in the world.

About the Role

This is a new and critical function within our senior management team at North London Open Spaces. We are looking for an entrepreneurial, hands-on leader who will drive fundraising, income generation, strategic partnerships, marketing, and community engagement across our portfolio of green spaces.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to help shape this new role as it grows, leading a dynamic team and spearheading strategies to maximise resources, increase commercial opportunities, create new partnerships, and enhance visitor experiences while ensuring that funds raised directly benefit the sites they originate from.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and manage partnerships across sectors to support the charitable and conservation goals of NLOS’s charities.
• Create fundraising initiatives, including grants, sponsorships, donor campaigns, and legacy giving.
• Identify appropriate commercial opportunities that generate revenue while balancing conservation priorities.
• Oversee communications to promote NLOS’s green spaces as visitor destinations and worthy fundraising causes.
• Lead volunteer and community engagement programs.
• Manage event licensing, filming, and commercial activities, ensuring compliance and promoting sustainability.
• Align initiatives with the City of London Corporation’s Corporate Plan and Climate Action Strategy.

About You

We are looking for a dynamic, high-energy, and innovative leader with a strong background in fundraising, income generation, partnership development, and strategic planning. You will bring:

• Hands-on development experience in charity, open spaces, or commercial sectors.
• Proven ability to research and capitalise on opportunities, implement business plans, and negotiate contracts.
• Strong financial modelling and budget management skills.
• Senior-level fundraising experience in a charity, NGO, or public sector.
• Success in establishing new income streams (e.g., trusts, foundations, individual giving).
• Track record in securing and managing grant funding.
• Experience developing marketing and communications strategies to drive income and engagement.
• Strong team management and staff development experience.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with analytical skills and the ability to communicate effectively and persuasively.
• Adaptability and ability to work at pace in an exciting operations environment.

Why Join Us?

• Be part of a prestigious organisation that protects some of London’s most treasured landscapes.
• Lead and further develop a high-impact role with the opportunity to shape the future of iconic green spaces.
• Work within a supportive and collaborative team committed to conservation and community engagement.
• A workplace that includes multiple beautiful open spaces.
• Competitive salary and benefits package.

If you are excited about the opportunity to play a pivotal role in preserving and enhancing London’s most cherished green spaces, we’d love to hear from you.

Closing date: 12 noon on Monday 21 April 2025.

Provisional interview date: W/C 12th May 2025.

To apply online please click the Apply online button below.

Alternatively, please contact 020 7332 3978 (24 hr answerphone) quoting reference number OENV0430 if you experience any difficulties. A minicom service for the hearing impaired is available on 020 7332 3732.

The City of London Corporation is committed to Equal Opportunities and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.

We reserve the right to close the advert earlier should we receive a high number of applications.

Because our roles are so varied, we don’t have a ‘one size fits all’ policy for workplace attendance. How many days a week you’ll be required to attend your workplace will depend on the requirements of your role. It’s important that you understand the requirements before applying to ensure you are able to meet them. Requests will be considered by the recruiting manager in line with our policies and business needs.

For more information on our categories for workplace attendance, please view our guide.

We will be reviewing this policy and approach at regular intervals to ensure we’re meeting our attendance needs.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and as part of the selection process the successful applicant will be required to obtain a basic Disclosure & Barring Service check.