Overview

Connect: North Korea is a fast-growing charity supporting North Korean escapees to build new lives after experiences of systemic discrimination, poverty, and trauma. Our organisational income has grown consistently year on year since we registered in 2018. We now have a series of multi-year grants in place ensuring that 42% of our income for 2026 is already secured. We are ambitious and are looking for a new, dynamic Head of Fundraising and Development to lead and deliver income generation as we scale our work in the UK and globally.

This is a rare opportunity to lead a fundraising strategy and plan across all major income streams—trusts and foundations, individual giving, corporate partnerships, and major donors. This role combines leadership with hands-on delivery. You’ll work closely with the CEO and across programme teams to map out our annual fundraising plan, craft compelling cases for support, develop funder relationships, and increase our funding base by 20% in 2026.

Position details

Position: Head of Fundraising and Development

Responsible to: Chief Executive Officer

Based at: Our offices in New Malden KT3 with some remote/home working. We will be as flexible as possible to accommodate the right candidate.

Contract: Permanent. Full-time (35 hours per week). Flexible hours/days possible whilst respecting core hours of 10am-4pm

Salary: £45,000 - £50,000 + 5% eligible pension and gym membership

Benefits: 28 days holidays exclusive of public holidays. We also offer 2 additional days on top of this – 1 recharge day where the whole charity closes and 1 day in the week of a staff member’s birthday.

Role objective

Lead our efforts to grow and diversify CNK’s income across individual giving, trusts and foundations, corporate partnerships, and community fundraising. Diversify our income base by increasing unrestricted income, secure multi-year grants, and grow individual and corporate donations to increase annual income and build relationships with new donors.

About you

Are you passionate about helping others, interested in working with the North Korean community, and excited about using your expertise in fundraising to increase our impact? We are seeking a dedicated candidate who understands what success looks like, is prepared to roll up their sleeves, and can build relationships—with our team, our community, our donors—and drive positive change for the benefit of all.

General duties and responsibilities

Work closely with Chief Executive to:

• Develop our five-year organisational fundraising strategy and fundraising action plan for 2026.
• Draft fundraising targets and KPIs based on current income levels and our delivery plans for 2026.
• Lead and coordinate all CNK fundraising activity from Trusts and Foundations, corporate donations and individual giving, including identifying new funding sources, drafting applications, delivering individual giving campaigns, and communicating with supporters.
• Recruit and support a team of volunteers who help with communications, social media content and community fundraising.
• Build relationships with major donors, corporates, charitable Trusts and Foundations and other institutional funders.
• Attend networking events and meetings with potential donors.
• Ensure all fundraising meets the Code of Fundraising Practice, safeguarding standards, GDPR compliance and CNK’s values.
• Report quarterly on fundraising progress to Chief Executive and Board of Trustees.

How to apply

Please send CVs and cover letters addressed to Michael Glendinning. Applications are rolling until we find the right candidate.

We welcome and encourage applicants from all backgrounds and do not discriminate on the basis of age, disability (physical or learning), LGBTQI+ or relationship status, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion and belief, gender or social class.