Interim Director of Fundraising & Engagement

The Interim Director of Fundraising & Engagement will provide strategic and operational leadership to support the development of sustainable income growth during a pivotal transitional period as the charity begins delivery of its organisational strategy to 2030.

Job Title: Interim Director of Fundraising & Engagement (9 12 months)
Organisation: Ben Motor & Allied Trades Benevolent Fund (The Automotive Industry Charity)
Location: Remote, with UK travel as required
Contract: Fixed-term contract, 9 12 months
Salary: c£90,000
Reports to: Chief Executive Officer
Direct Reports: Fundraising, Supporter Engagement and Awareness & Experience function

This role is primarily focused on strengthening and scaling voluntary income, leading a fundraising function, and building a robust, future-proofed income engine across the UK automotive community.

Marketing & Communications will play a critical supporting responsibility, ensuring strong brand positioning, audience engagement, and compelling storytelling that underpins fundraising success.

The postholder will also shape the future fundraising operating model and support a smooth transition to a permanent Director.

Key Responsibilities

Fundraising Strategy & Income Growth

• Lead the development of an ambitious, income-led Fundraising Strategy aligned to the 2030 organisational strategy
• Drive growth across a diversified voluntary income portfolio, including:
  • Individual & Regular Giving
  • Legacy fundraising
  • Corporate partnerships across the UK automotive sector
  • Community fundraising and events
  • Digital fundraising and supporter journeys
• Build and scale compelling fundraising propositions tailored to the automotive community
• Strengthen income pipelines, forecasting, and KPI frameworks, ensuring clarity on short, medium, and long-term revenue generation
• Embed a culture of performance, accountability, and income optimisation, using data and insight to drive decision-making
• Identify and unlock new income opportunities, partnerships, and funding streams.

Supporter Engagement & Income Enablement

• Lead the development of end-to-end supporter journeys that drive acquisition, retention, and lifetime value
• Ensure audience insight and segmentation are embedded across all fundraising activity
• Strengthen supporter stewardship, ensuring high-quality engagement that translates into long-term income growth
• Foster innovation, testing, and continuous improvement across fundraising channels

Marketing & Communications

• Work with senior leaders and managers to refine and document insight-led marketing and communications delivery plans to increase awareness and engagement
• Strengthen digital reach across the UK automotive workforce and retired community
• Enhance brand positioning, messaging, and storytelling to grow both service uptake and supporter engagement
• Oversee audience segmentation and insight to inform engagement and behaviour change
• Ensure high-quality campaigns and content across digital, PR, social, and partnership channels.

Cross-Organisational Leadership

• Model collaborative, high-performance leadership aligned to organisational values
• Work closely with Impact and Service teams to ensure engagement activity reflects real community needs and insight
• Contribute to organisation-wide planning, budgeting, and transformation.

Team Leadership & Capacity Building

• Lead and support Fundraising, Supporter Engagement and Awareness & Experience teams through a period of transition and change
• Identify capability gaps and implement solutions (training, reshaping, recruitment)
• Strengthen systems, processes, and performance reporting to support long-term sustainability and growth.

Key Deliverables (9 12 Months)

• A costed, income-led Fundraising Strategy aligned to the 2030 organisational strategy
• Scalable supporter and beneficiary engagement journeys reaching tens of thousands annually
• Clear recommendations for future team structure, roles, and investment
• Strengthened income pipelines and improved forecasting accuracy
• Enhanced brand visibility and digital engagement within the automotive community
• Smooth transition to a permanent Director with strong foundations, documentation, and operational frameworks in place

Person Specification

Experience

• Significant senior leadership experience in Fundraising and MarComms within the charity sector
• Proven track record delivering fundraising strategies and measurable income and engagement outcomes
• Demonstrable success across individual giving, corporate partnerships, and digital fundraising
• Strong experience in brand, marketing, and digital engagement
• Experience leading teams through organisational change or transition
• Experience building and leading high-performing, multidisciplinary teams
• Ideally, experience engaging large communities, workforce-based audiences, or membership groups.

Knowledge & Understanding

• Strong understanding of supporter engagement, audience insight, and behaviour change
• Knowledge of multi-channel fundraising and modern marketing approaches
• Understanding of charity sector strategy, governance, and income models (desirable)
• Appreciation of the health and wellbeing challenges affecting working people and communities.

Skills & Capabilities

• Strategic thinker able to translate long-term ambition into practical delivery
• Strong leadership and team development capability, particularly during change
• Commercially and analytically minded with strong planning and forecasting skills
• Excellent communication, stakeholder engagement, and influencing skills
• Able to build clarity, confidence, and momentum within teams
• Collaborative and cross-organisational in approach.

Personal Attributes

• Calm, supportive, and steady leadership style suited to transitional environments.
• High emotional intelligence and strong interpersonal skills.
• Resilient, adaptable, and delivery focused.
• Purpose-driven with commitment to improving the wellbeing of the UK automotive community.

Success Measures

• Delivery of a clear, Board-approved Fundraising & MarComms Strategy aligned to 2030 goals
• Stronger, more sustainable voluntary income pipelines
• Increased brand reach, engagement, and supporter growth
• Improved supporter and beneficiary journeys and experience
• Clear future organisational design and capability roadmap
• Effective and smooth transition to permanent leadership.