Director of Development (maternity cover)

As our Director of Development (maternity cover), you'll be a key member of the leadership team, helping to deliver against our strategy.

You will lead all our fundraising efforts across business, charitable trusts, individual giving and legacies, as well as our communications output (which supports our individual giving) and marketing.

We have a diverse portfolio of income streams, ensuring the successful candidate will therefore enjoy a varied role that consolidates and develops their skills.

We have fundraising and organisational strategies in place; a unique position in the arts; and inspirational artwork and beneficiaries, as well as the evidence and tools needed to fundraise effectively in a challenging climate.

We recognise the role that Communications plays in fundraising, and the successful candidate should enjoy working to produce impactful and engaging programmes and materials.

About Koestler Arts

Koestler Arts is renowned for its impactful work within the criminal justice system. From our new premises just outside HM Prison Wormwood Scrubs in East Acton, our team collaborates to deliver our mission — to inspire participation in the arts among people in prisons and beyond, and to build public recognition of their creative work, thereby fostering communities that support rehabilitation.

We provide an annual awards programme — the Koestler Awards — open to people in prisons, secure mental health hospitals, immigration removal centres, and more; a post-release arts mentoring scheme; arts membership for people in prison; family engagement opportunities; and a programme of exhibitions, events and publications.

We work in partnership with other organisations and art world experts; recent show curators include Ai Weiwei, Jeremy Deller & John Costi, and women in prison.

We have no endowment; each year, our Development Team and Chief Executive raise funds from a range of income streams to continue delivering this work. Our main funders are Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Arts Council England (we are an NPO), and the Ministry of Justice.

What You'll Do

• Development. The main purpose of the role is to help sustain Koestler Arts’ income through fundraising. This is focused on individual giving (inc. Patrons, Friends and Legacy Giving Schemes), trusts and foundations and corporate funding, with some support to the CEO on public sector funding.
• Financial data. Manage accurate records of our income, liaising with the Finance Manager and our auditors as required. Report on income generation results to our board, regularly preparing detailed financial reports and projections.
• Communications. Support press work (with external consultancy help), managing our messaging and branding across the website, newsletters and social media.
• Management. Line-manage the Development team, which comprises the Communications & Patrons Officer and Fundraising & Executive Administrator, as well as any temporary support/volunteers. Assist in leading the rest of the Koestler Arts team, as a member of our leadership team.

Who We're Looking For

• Previous experience in fundraising, in one or more of these areas: Corporate partnerships, Trust & Foundations, Individual and Legacy Giving.
• Financial skills, detail-oriented, proactive and adaptable.
• An understanding of communications for supporters and/or beneficiaries. 

We can discuss external support or training with the right candidate to ensure they can deliver the wide range of activities in the job description.

Contract

Duration: Temporary (10 months, with potential to extend).
Salary: £45,000 – £50,000 per annum, depending on experience.
Hours: Mon – Fri, Full-time, 35 hours a week (we will consider a part-time, pro-rata role for the right candidate).
Line Manager: Chief Executive
Location: Based at our offices in London, W12. Some remote working is possible, but as you will be managing office-based staff, this will be limited to 2 days a
week. Occasionally, you will work off-site at meetings, events and exhibitions.
Holidays: 25 days a year + bank holidays.
Pension: Eligible staff will be auto-enrolled into the charity’s pension scheme.
Start date: Aiming for around 5 January 2026.