Former London Jewish Forum chief executive Alex Goldberg is to return to the communal professional fold in a new fundraising role for the United Synagogue.

Mr Goldberg, 39, who was also previously director of the Board of Deputies community division, has been appointed head of social and capital partnerships.

He will be looking to secure funding for the major extension to Bushey cemetery where, as well as new prayer halls and a café, memorials to both Shoah victims and war veterans are envisaged.

Another project the US hopes to launch will cater for young adults and those with young families.

“It’s about community development,” Mr Goldberg said. “We want to invest in people as well as places.”

He has recently moved back to London after four years based mainly in Paris, working for international humanitarian organisations. He played a key role in the 2012 Hours Against Hate campaign, an interfaith anti-racism project backed by Hillary Clinton.

Mr Goldberg has also helped to raise £1 million for Surrey University, where he is Jewish chaplain, and £2 million for a Jewish school.

Once a month, he hosts a Sunday morning show for BBC Radio Surrey and Sussex and is also studying part-time for the rabbinate on the London Montefiore Semicha course.