Reports to: Chief Executive
Band: SL
Salary: Competitive salary in line with BBC Senior Leader grading
Location: Location flexible but with regular travel expected to Salford/London or CiN sites as required
About the Role
The Chief Campaigns & Engagement Officer plays a central role in shaping the future of BBC Children in Need.
The postholder is responsible for ensuring the organisation continues its evolution from a much-loved annual fundraising appeal into a relevant and engaging year-round organisation, while continuing to maximise the unique platform, reach and public connection provided by the BBC Children in Need Appeal and our relationship with the BBC.
As a member of the Executive Team, the Chief Campaigns & Engagement Officer brings together the organisation’s brand, partnerships, supporters, audiences, stories, evidence and BBC relationships to increase support and impact for children and young people across the UK.
The role helps ensure that what BBC Children in Need learns from children, young people and the organisations it funds reaches the public in ways that increase understanding, influence behaviour and build support for change. Working closely with colleagues across the organisation, the postholder will connect evidence and insight with storytelling, engagement, fundraising and partnerships so that more people understand the challenges facing children and young people today and are inspired to take action.
The postholder will lead the organisation’s approach to growing and diversifying income, strengthening supporter relationships and developing partnerships that increase both reach and impact.
They will also be responsible for strengthening BBC Children in Need’s position as one of the most recognised, trusted and loved charity brands in the UK, ensuring the organisation remains relevant, visible and valued by audiences across the country.
By bringing together fundraising, communications, audience engagement, partnerships, content and BBC engagement, the Chief Campaigns & Engagement Officer will ensure the organisation makes the most of its unique strengths and creates greater impact for children and young people than any one of these activities could achieve alone.
Role Scope
The Chief Campaigns & Engagement Officer leads an integrated directorate responsible for:
- Fundraising and Supporter Engagement.
- Strategic Partnerships.
- Communications and Brand.
- Audience Engagement.
- Stories and Content.
- BBC Engagement.
The role is accountable for:
- Continuing BBC Children in Need’s evolution from a successful annual appeal into a relevant and engaging year-round organisation, while maximising the impact of the annual Appeal.
- Growing and diversifying annual income in excess of £50 million.
- Building deeper relationships with supporters, audiences, partners and the BBC.
- Using evidence, insight and children’s voices to increase public understanding of the challenges facing children and young people across the UK and inspire action.
- Strengthening BBC Children in Need’s position as one of the UK’s most trusted, relevant and loved charity brands.
- Ensuring fundraising, communications, partnerships, content and audience engagement work together to maximise organisational impact.
- Contributing to the strategic leadership and future direction of BBC Children in Need as a member of the Executive Team.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
- Develop and deliver a clear strategy for fundraising, engagement, partnerships, communications, content and BBC engagement.
- Lead the next stage of BBC Children in Need’s development as a year-round organisation while building on the unique reach and influence of the annual Appeal.
- Ensure all engagement activity contributes to long-term growth in support, relevance, understanding and impact.
- Create a clear and integrated approach that connects audiences, supporters, partners, content and fundraising around shared organisational goals.
- Identify opportunities to increase the organisation’s reach, relevance, influence and impact.
- Lead innovation, improvement and organisational change across the directorate.
Growth, Supporters and Strategic Partnerships
- Lead the organisation’s strategy for sustainable income growth and diversification.
- Develop new income opportunities across partnerships, philanthropy, campaigns, public fundraising and emerging channels.
- Build long-term supporter relationships that increase loyalty, advocacy and lifetime value.
- Develop strategic partnerships that deliver income, reach, expertise and public impact.
- Build and steward some of the organisation’s most important external relationships.
- Ensure fundraising, supporter engagement and partnership activity work together to maximise long-term value.
Communications, Brand and Public Engagement
- Strengthen BBC Children in Need’s position as one of the UK’s most recognised, trusted and loved charities.
- Lead the development of a year-round brand and engagement strategy that maintains relevance with audiences across the UK.
- Ensure communications and campaigns increase awareness, understanding and support for the organisation’s mission.
- Use the organisation’s evidence, learning and insight to help shape public understanding of the experiences of children and young people.
- Develop communications that inspire people to act, give, participate and advocate.
- Ensure consistent and compelling representation of the BBC Children in Need brand across all channels and partnerships.
- Strengthen the organisation’s visibility, reputation and influence through communications, media engagement and thought leadership.
Stories, Content and BBC Engagement
- Ensure children’s experiences and the impact of BBC Children in Need are communicated with authenticity, creativity and care.
- Maximise the value of BBC Children in Need’s unique relationship with the BBC.
- Build strong relationships across the BBC to create year-round opportunities for engagement, storytelling and impact.
- Ensure the annual November Appeal continues to grow in relevance, reach and fundraising effectiveness.
- Ensure content and campaigns support fundraising, audience growth, public understanding and organisational reputation.
- Maintain high standards of safeguarding, editorial judgement and content governance.
Leadership and Culture
- Lead, develop and support a high-performing, inclusive and collaborative directorate.
- Build strong leadership capability through effective delegation, coaching and succession planning.
- Foster a culture of innovation, learning, accountability and continuous improvement.
- Create an environment in which people can do their best work and grow their careers.
- Model the values and leadership behaviours of BBC Children in Need.
Corporate Leadership
- Play a full role in Executive Team decision-making and organisational leadership.
- Lead major organisational initiatives and change programmes as required.
- Serve as a visible and credible ambassador for BBC Children in Need with the BBC, partners, supporters, media and wider stakeholders.
- Deputise for the Chief Executive when required.
Skills and Experience
- Significant executive or senior leadership experience gained in a complex, high-profile organisation.
- A strong track record of delivering growth through a combination of income generation, partnerships, audience or supporter engagement, communications, marketing, media, brand or related disciplines.
- Experience of diversifying income through multiple channels and approaches, and developing significant external partnerships and long-term relationships.
- A strong understanding of how brand, storytelling, content, partnerships, fundraising and audience engagement can work together to build support and deepen public connection.
- Evidence of developing and delivering strategies that have strengthened audience engagement, supporter loyalty and organisational relevance.
- Experience of leading multidisciplinary teams and working across organisational boundaries to turn ambitious strategy into effective delivery.
- Experience leading organisational growth, transformation or significant change.
Personal Attributes
- A strong commitment to the mission and values of BBC Children in Need.
- The ability to use evidence, insight, research and lived experience to inform strategy, understand audiences and shape effective engagement.
- Strong commercial and financial judgement.
- Exceptional relationship-building and influencing skills, with the credibility to operate effectively with senior stakeholders and represent BBC Children in Need externally.
- The ability to see connections and opportunities across a complex organisation, set clear priorities and bring people together around a shared purpose.
To apply for this role, please provide the following documents:
- An up-to-date CV. Please submit a PDF document labelled ‘CV’ with your name and the role title.
- A supporting statement. Please submit a statement (around two pages) that outlines your interest in this particular organisation and role, and your fit against the essential experience criteria set out in the person specification and role description. Please label this document ‘Supporting Statement’ with your name and the role title.
If you would like to know more about the role or selection process, please contact Tessa Catt from our Executive Search partners, Green Park by emailing Tessa.Catt@green-park.co.uk.
Please submit your application by 11:59pm Sunday 11th October 2026.
We understand the value of AI tools and recognise their benefit for people who may need help with their writing. However, please note our clients are increasingly rejecting CVs, expressions of interest, and applications where AI has left them generic, flat, or indistinguishable from others.
By using your own words, experience, and ideas to express your motivation to and alignment with this role, you give yourself the best chance of standing out in a highly competitive field.
This position was originally posted by BBC Children in Need and has been curated by PurposePhil Career. To apply, please visit the original listing on the "apply" link on the side. We are not affiliated with the employer organization of this job ad or consultancy, and provide this curated listing as a service to our users.
