Head of Direct Dialogue

Salary: £60,332.00 per annum Location: Flexible option to work remote or hybrid, please note regular travel to London and nationwide is required Contract: Permanent Hours: Full time, 35 hours per week Closing date: Monday the 16th of February at 11:30pm

Do you have a strong track record of leading large scale face‑to‑face fundraising programmes and inspiring high‑performing teams through change? Along with being commercially minded, data‑led and passionate about delivering the best supporter experience? If this sounds like you, Shelter is recruiting for a Head of Direct Dialogue to lead one of our most important supporter acquisition programmes and play a crucial role in growing long‑term and sustainable income to fuel our fight for home.

As Head of Direct Dialogue, you will be responsible for setting the strategy and leading the delivery of Shelters cause‑led and lottery face‑to‑face supporter acquisition programme, working with both in‑house and agency‑led channels. As a senior leader in the Individual Giving team, you will help shape the vision for supporter acquisition, champion direct dialogue expertise and bring the channel to wider supporter engagement and mobilisation plans.

You will work cross‑collaboratively across Individual Giving and the wider organisation, helping develop integrated strategies that optimise end‑to‑end supporter journeys, driving long‑term value and sustainable income growth. You will create long‑term acquisition strategies across cash, regular giving and lottery products, using data and insight to optimise performance, foster innovation and deliver high‑quality and engaging supporter experiences.

You will provide visible, inclusive leadership to predominantly field‑based teams, manage up to three direct reports and lead on complex projects. You will build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, working with face‑to‑face teams to support delivery, quality and strategic alignment.

We are looking for a confident, experienced and values‑driven leader with proven expertise in direct dialogue fundraising. Extensive experience of leading large scale face‑to‑face acquisition programmes, either through in‑house teams, external agencies or a combination of both, is essential. You will have strong operational leadership skills and be comfortable managing complex budgets, overseeing high‑value agency contracts and using data and insight to drive performance, innovation and continuous improvement.

You will possess a strong understanding of regulatory and compliance requirements including the Code of Fundraising Practice, Gambling Commission regulations, GDPR and safeguarding. Importantly you will champion ethical, inclusive and anti‑racist practice across all activity in the role.

Furthermore, you will be a collaborative and emotionally intelligent leader who will excel at influencing and working across teams, building trusted relationships with senior stakeholders and leading teams through change with confidence. Above all you will be motivated by Shelters mission and committed to delivering fundraising that puts supporters, values and impact at the forefront.

We offer a wide range of benefits, including 30 days of annual leave, enhanced family friendly policies, pension and interest free travel loans. Our employees also have access to a tenancy deposit loan, payroll giving, cycle to work scheme and an employee assistance programme.

Shelter helps millions of people every year struggling with bad housing or homelessness through our advice, support and legal services. We campaign to make sure that, one day, no one will have to turn to us for help. We are here so no one has to fight bad housing or homelessness on their own. We are happy to talk about flexible working, personal growth, and to promote a workplace where you can be yourself and achieve success based only on your merit.

This role sits within the Individual Giving team which sits within Shelters Income Generation directorate. Individual Giving delivers a diverse and ambitious programme of work aligned to our organisational and directorate strategy, raising…