Assistive technology strategy and development officer jobs

Are you an inspirational leader looking for your next challenge? Would you like the opportunity to lead a respected charity dedicated to helping people live well with sight loss and shape the future of accessible, inclusive support across York and beyond?

MySight York is an independent local charity supporting people to live independently, confidently and without barriers. Through a wide range of practical, emotional and social support services, including advice, counselling, befriending, digital inclusion, assistive technology support and its award-winning Eye Care Support Pathway, MySight York empowers people to make informed choices and live well with sight loss.

Driven by a vision of a York where people with sight loss can live independently, equally and without barriers, MySight York works tirelessly to champion accessibility, inclusion and equality. The charity supports around 1,700 people every year and is recognised nationally for its innovation, partnerships and leadership within the sight loss sector.

We now have a fantastic opportunity for a new Chief Executive Officer to lead MySight York into its next chapter, building on strong foundations while delivering an ambitious strategy that will expand the charity's reach, influence and impact.

The Role

Reporting to the Board of Trustees, the Chief Executive Officer will provide strategic leadership, vision and direction for MySight York, ensuring the organisation remains financially sustainable, delivers high-quality services and continues to amplify the voices of people living with sight loss.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Providing strategic leadership to deliver the organisation's vision, mission and strategic priorities.
• Working closely with the Board of Trustees to ensure strong governance, compliance and organisational sustainability.
• Leading, motivating and developing a committed team of staff and volunteers, fostering a culture of inclusion, accountability and continuous improvement.
• Ensuring the charity's long-term financial sustainability through effective financial management, fundraising and income diversification.
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with funders, NHS partners, local authorities, community organisations and other key stakeholders.
• Acting as the principal ambassador and spokesperson for MySight York, championing accessibility, inclusion and the rights of people with sight loss.
• Driving innovation, digital development and service improvement to ensure support remains responsive to changing needs.

The Person

We are seeking an inclusive, compassionate and strategic leader who is passionate about making a meaningful difference to the lives of people with sight loss.

The successful candidate will bring:

• Significant senior leadership experience within the charity, public, voluntary or private sector.
• A strong track record of developing and delivering organisational strategy and leading change.
• Experience of working effectively with Boards of Trustees or equivalent governance structures
• Strong financial and operational management experience, with the ability to ensure long-term sustainability
• Excellent partnership-building, influencing and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Outstanding communication and leadership abilities, with the credibility to inspire staff, volunteers, trustees and external partners.
• An understanding of the disability, health or social care sectors and a genuine passion for MySight York's mission.

Why Join MySight York?

This is a unique opportunity to lead a respected and ambitious charity at a significant point in its development. You will have the chance to:

• Deliver an ambitious organisational strategy and shape the future of support for people with sight loss.
• Lead a highly regarded organisation with a strong reputation.
• Influence policy, service development and accessibility initiatives locally and nationally.
• Build new partnerships and opportunities for growth.
• Work alongside a dedicated team of staff, volunteers and trustees who are committed to creating a more inclusive society.
• Make a lasting difference to the lives of people affected by sight loss.

If you believe you have the experience and leadership qualities to lead MySight York through its next phase of development, we would be delighted to hear from you.

If this sounds like the opportunity for the next phase of your career you can download the recruitment pack (attached) for more information. To apply please send your CV. 

Please note: If you would like to submit an application or express your interest in an alternative format such as audio or video upload, or require any adaptations for your initial engagement with us, please contact either Jen or Leanne who will be happy to advise on this.

Please also be aware that we use anonymous recruitment methods when submitting shortlists for all our roles and we only work with organisations that are happy to engage with us in this way.

Charity Horizons is an equal opportunities employer and as such actively promotes equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We welcome and encourage applications from all suitable candidates irrespective of age, disability, hidden disability, race or national origin, religion or belief, gender, gender expression, political view, sexual orientation, medical condition and pregnancy.

We are looking for a Direct Marketing Officer to join our growing Individual Giving team at Samaritans. This role will assist in the creation, management and implementation of key campaigns and projects to recruit and retain supporters maximising loyalty and lifetime value.​

A valued member of the team – you’ll also contribute to individual giving projects while supporting larger, strategic initiatives led by the 2 x Senior Direct Marketing Officers in the team.

This is a brilliant time to join the IG team at Samaritans as we continue to drive forwards our ambitious plans to enable us to be there for all those who need us.We’re progressing some exciting new projects and you’ll have the opportunity to develop a variety of skills and knowledge.​

We are a supportive, creative, and ambitious team. We empower each other to achieve great things, and we’d love to have you join Samaritans and help us continue to succeed.​

​Contract​

• £33,000 to £34,000 per annum plus benefits
• Full Time (35hrs per week)
• Permanent
• Hybrid working - Meeting in person and working collaboratively are things we value. This role is linked to our Ewell (Surrey) office with a blend of home working and office working.
• In-person working - at present, the team meet in the office 1-2 times per month.
• We are passionate about flexible working, talk to us about your preferences​​

About the role​

You’ll manage a portfolio of business-as-usual (BAU) campaigns while supporting wider strategic activity, helping to maximise supporter lifetime value and grow income. This is an exciting opportunity to work across a variety of channels and collaborate with teams and agencies to deliver impactful campaigns.​

What you’ll do​

• Deliver end-to-end individual giving campaigns across channels such as direct mail, email, telemarketing, DRTV, face-to-face and digital acquisition (PPC and meta)
• Plan, execute and optimise campaigns, including segmentation, creative development, production and analysis
• Monitor performance and produce regular reporting, ensuring campaigns meet income and budget targets
• Work with internal teams and external agencies to deliver high-quality, compliant campaigns
• Support donor stewardship by ensuring timely and effective supporter thanking
• Contribute to campaign reviews and continuous improvement
• Help develop long-term strategies for individual giving and supporter growth
• Manage suppliers and agencies to ensure delivery on time and within budget​

About you​

You’re a proactive and detail-oriented campaign manager with a passion for delivering great supporter experiences. You enjoy working collaboratively and using data to inform decisions and improve performance.

You’re comfortable managing multiple projects and building strong relationships with both internal stakeholders and external partners.​

What you will bring:​

• Experience delivering individual giving or fundraising campaigns (multi-channel experience preferred)
• Strong organisational and project management skills
• Confidence using data and insights to inform campaign decisions
• Excellent communication skills, including copywriting and proofreading
• Experience working with agencies and external suppliers
• Collaborative approach and ability to manage competing priorities​

​Full outline in the Job description file below. ​

Why Samaritans?​

At Samaritans, people matter deeply. We know that meaningful impact starts with how we support each other.​

We are committed to creating an inclusive, supportive and flexible workplace where everyone can thrive. We value diversity of thought, background and lived experience, and we actively encourage applications from people from all communities.​

Every person at Samaritans plays a role in helping fewer people die by suicide. If you are motivated by purpose, compassion and the opportunity to make a lasting difference, we would love to hear from you.​​

For further information about Samaritans, including our charity structure, values, employee benefits, and application process, please read our recruitment brochure available below. You can also visit our careers website to access this.​

We recognise the enormous benefits and the social justice imperatives of ensuring diversity at every level of our organisation. Samaritans is wholly committed to inclusion and diversity and to building a culture and environment where everyone is appreciated for the unique person they are. To ensure Samaritans is representative of those we support and who support us, we particularly welcome applications from disabled, racialised minority and LGBTQ+ candidates, as these people are under-represented at Samaritans. 

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To Apply​

If this sounds like the opportunity for you, please apply. You will be asked to some answer short application questions and to upload your CV.

Please note the application questions have a 300word limit for each answer.

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At Samaritans, human connection is at the heart of everything we do. 

We do not use AI at any stage during the selection process. Your application will always be carefully reviewed by the recruiting manager or a member of the Talent Attraction Team. 

We kindly ask that you avoid using AI tools to generate your application or interview answers. We want to hear your own ideas, insights, and writing style so your unique strengths can shine through. We recognise that some candidates may use assistive technology or tools to help with accessibility, structure or grammar. 

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All applicants will receive notification of the outcome of their application, at the appropriate time.​

Applications close at 9am Thursday 18th June. 

We'll be reviewing applications as they come in and inviting candidates to interview throughout the process, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.​ We reserve the right to close the role early if we find the right candidate.