16 Associate director investments jobs

This role

We are seeking a commercially minded senior leader to establish and lead a new Life Sciences Partnership Function for the South West Secure Data Environment (SWSDE). Serving more than five million people across six Integrated Care Board areas, the SWSDE enables approved researchers to securely access and analyse health and care data to support research and innovation that benefits patients and populations.

This is an opportunity to shape how the South West works with the life sciences sector to develop research, innovation and commercial partnerships. Working across the NHS, academia and industry, you will build and lead a pipeline of partnership opportunities, taking them from initial engagement through to agreed programmes that deliver clear value for partners and the health and care system.

You will play a key role in developing the frameworks, commercial models and ways of working needed to support effective collaboration between the NHS, academia and industry, while maintaining high standards of privacy, security, ethics and public trust.

As Secure Data Environments continue to evolve across the UK, you will help define how organisations work with life sciences partners to use health data safely and responsibly to support research and innovation.

The role forms part of the SWSDE leadership and delivery model and is hosted by Health Innovation South West on behalf of the SWSDE, working closely with Health Innovation West of England and regional NHS and academic partners.

Role profile:

Key success factors

· The Senior Life Sciences Partnership Lead will lead the development and delivery of the Life Sciences Partnership Function for the SWSDE. The postholder will originate, develop and convert high impact partnerships between the SWSDE, NHS organisations and the life science sector that utilise the functionality and capability of the SWSDE safely, ethically and efficiently to deliver benefit for partners and the population of the South West region.

· The role will act as a key interface between the SWSDE and external partners, ensuring opportunities for partnership working between the SWSDE and the life science sector are translated into deliverable, governance-ready programmes that create measurable research, innovation and economic benefits. This will include providing NHS organisations involved in the SWSDE to develop effective partnership working with the life science sector, including pricing approaches, contract development and commercial operating models that enable sustainable collaboration with industry partners.

· This role reflects emerging functions being developed across other SDEs, Trusted Research Environments (TREs) and regional data innovation ecosystems, where specialist life science sector leadership expertise is required to complement technical, governance and academic routes.

· The postholder will develop commercially and operationally viable proposals for consideration through SWSDE governance. The role will not determine access to data. All projects will remain subject to feasibility assessment, information-governance requirements, demonstration of public benefit and independent Data Access Committee approval.

Responsibilities

1. Leading strategic partnership development 

• Lead the development and delivery of the Life Sciences Partnership Strategy for the SWSDE, building the South West’s distinctive position as a preferred regional partner for data-enabled life science sector research and innovation partnerships.

• Build senior relationships with major life science sector organisations and develop strategic anchor partnerships capable of generating sustained partnership activity and long term income.

• Build trusted relationships with SWSDE partner organisations, including Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) and NHS providers, supporting partners to develop effective partnership working with the life science sector and the SWSDE. 

• Build strategic relationships with relevant national programmes including NHS England, Health Data Research UK and wider research networks.

• Identify collaborative opportunities for Life Science Partnership Function with other SDEs and TREs. 

2. Leading partnership pipeline generation  

• Lead the development of a strategically aligned, high quality pipeline of revenue generating partnerships with the life science sector.

• Work with Health Innovation Networks and NHS partners to originate opportunities in collaboration with NHS partner organisations.

• Lead the management, and delivery of the partnership pipeline, ensuring effective planning and oversight to deliver agreed partnership pipeline, revenue targets and KPIs.

3. Leading partnership opportunity development and conversion 

• Translate external opportunities with the life science sector into scoped programmes, studies or service offers, working with technical, IG, governance and delivery teams to assess feasibility of proposals and progress opportunities from concept to approval.

• Work with the wider SWDE team to identify and resolve barriers to partnership conversion and maintain momentum across the partnership lifecycle: Find / Receive / Develop / Secure / Deliver.

• Develop and deploy pricing models, cost recovery approaches, commercial negotiations and contracting arrangements in line with SWSDE strategy and governance frameworks.

• Support NHS organisations and SWSDE partners to develop and adopt effective and sustainable models of partnership working with the life science sector and the SWSDE, including providing expert advice on contracting mechanisms, commercial frameworks and partnership agreements. 

• Work with SWSDE finance, legal, information governance and operational colleagues to develop robust partnership agreements, contractual documentation and commercial propositions that support scalable and repeatable approaches to partnership delivery. 

5. Leading effective governance and assurance 

• Ensure all partnership activity aligns with SafeGUARDs, information governance, ethics and NHS standards, working closely with SWSDE governance and operational leads to maintain public trust and transparency.

• Ensure commercial agreements and partnership arrangements align with SWSDE governance, NHS regulatory requirements and agreed organisational responsibilities across host organisations. 

• Ensure effective communication and contribution into SWSDE governance and reporting processes.

6. Leading people and partners in a matrix management structure 

• Lead the development of the Life Science Partnership Function and the associated resources and people required to ensure effective delivery of the Life Sciences Partnership Strategy. 

• Work collaboratively across multiple SWSDE host organisations and stakeholders, operating effectively without direct line management where delivery is through influence and matrix leadership.

Person specification

Experience we’re looking for

· Experience leading partnership working between the NHS and life science sector. 

· Track record leading commercial growth and business development.

· Experience leading commercial negotiation and contract development, contract development and partnership agreement design across complex multi-organisational environments.

· Experience operating in environments with complex and rigorous information governance and data sharing requirements. 

· Understanding of the UK health, innovation and research landscape.

Desirable experience required:  

· Experience leading partnership working with universities and research partners. 

· Experience working with health and care data or in trusted research data environments, including NHS data policy, SafeGUARDs or data governance frameworks.

· Experience working with NHS governance structures and decision making.

Abilities and attributes

· Strategic Vision – opportunity-focused, creates new customer markets and develops new revenue streams that balance strategic ambition with attention to risk. 

· Customer Orientation – builds trust, anticipates partner needs, works with agility, delivers value to partners. 

· Commercial Acumen – skilled in complex negotiations, high levels of financially literacy, focused on sustainable commercial growth. 

· Execution excellence – translate partnership opportunities into actionable plans that deliver measurable results, with a strong attention to detail.

· Leadership & Influence – motivates, provides clear direction and build effective working relationships in a matrix managed, partnership structured operating model. 

· Communication – translates complexity into clear narrative, compelling storyteller, adapts style to target audiences. 

Reporting to:

Executive Director of Innovation & Commercial Partnerships, Health Innovation South West

The Associate Director (Investments) role will design and lead a new mission-aligned strategy that puts racial justice and community power at its centre - redefining how our capital can be put to work to restore dignity and collective care within communities.

This is not a conventional investment role. It will take all of us, including our grant partners to imagine, design and build. Your role is to hold this with bravery and humility, and a willingness to shift as we continue to learn and deepen our strategic ambitions.

We are looking for someone who is as comfortable engaging with communities on the ground as they are with fund managers and wealth advisers - someone who understands that the way capital moves is itself an act of power, and who brings the vision, relationships and technical grounding to help Tudor use its assets in genuine service of our mission.

You will sit on the Senior Leadership Team, serve as Tudor's primary investment adviser to the Board and Finance
& Investment Committee, and lead a working group of trustees and partners as we chart this new course. 

We’re looking for an Associate Director of Digital Product & Experience to join the Stroke Association at an exciting point in their development.

This is a brand-new position within the charity, leading the digital product and experience capability and helping build more user-centred, accessible and evidence-led ways of working across the organisation.

You’ll shape how Stroke Association designs and continually improves digital products, journeys and services for people affected by stroke, supporters, volunteers and colleagues – using digital to help them extend their reach and influence, deepen engagement and grow income so that they can achieve greater impact for people affected by stroke.

As part of the Senior Leadership Team, you’ll work with Executive Directors and alongside senior leaders across the organisation to shape priorities, enable delivery and translate strategy into meaningful digital experiences.
You’ll work particularly closely with Associate Directors for Technology, Knowledge & Insight and Marketing & Communications. Success will depend on your ability to connect expertise, build strong relationships and enable multidisciplinary teams to work together around shared outcomes.

What you’ll do
You’ll provide strategic and practical leadership for our digital product and experience capability, creating the conditions for brilliant, user-centred digital experiences and building our organisational capability to design around the needs of our users.
You will:

• Set the direction for digital product and experience, ensuring our approach is grounded in user need, evidence and the outcomes we want to achieve – including greater reach, influence, engagement and income.
• Create more coherent and joined-up digital experiences, shaping products, journeys and services that work together and make it easier for people to find, access and engage with what they need from us.
• Champion user research, service design and inclusive design, ensuring accessibility and the diverse needs and experiences of people affected by stroke are embedded throughout our approach.
• Lead and enable multidisciplinary teams, bringing together product, technology, insight, marketing, communications and other expertise to solve problems and deliver shared outcomes.
• Build experimentation, testing and learning into how we work, using evidence, analytics, user feedback and performance data to test assumptions, learn quickly and continuously optimise our digital experiences.
• Strengthen our digital marketing and discoverability, using search, analytics and digital marketing insight to understand behaviour, improve journeys and help more people find and engage with us.
• Build organisational capability in user-centred ways of working, helping colleagues across the Stroke Association develop the confidence, skills and approaches to understand user needs and translate them into better experiences.
• Shape priorities and investment, using insight and evidence to help us make good choices about where digital product and experience can make the greatest difference.
• Explore emerging digital opportunities, helping the organisation understand where new technologies and approaches can genuinely improve experience and increase our impact.
• Lead and develop people, creating an environment of trust, curiosity, collaboration, experimentation and accountability.

About you
You’ll be an experienced digital product and experience leader who combines strong professional expertise with the ability to operate strategically and practically across a complex organisation.
You’ll bring:

• Significant experience of leading digital product, digital experience or related capability at a senior level across multiple products, journeys or services.
• Strong knowledge and practical experience of product management, user research, user-centred and service design, and translating user insight into improved experiences.
• A strong understanding of digital accessibility and inclusive design, with experience of embedding accessibility throughout product and service development.
• Experience of leading and enabling multidisciplinary teams, bringing together different professional disciplines around user needs and shared outcomes.
• Experience of experimentation, testing and continuous optimisation, using data, analytics, research and user feedback to learn and improve.
• A good understanding of digital marketing, search and analytics, and how these contribute to effective end-to-end digital experiences.
• Experience of building organisational capability, helping teams adopt more user-centred, evidence-led and iterative ways of working.
• The ability to make choices and prioritise effectively across competing needs, using evidence and organisational outcomes to guide decisions.
• The credibility and communication skills to influence at senior and executive level while building trusted, collaborative relationships across an organisation.
• A relational and inclusive leadership style, with the curiosity and judgement to challenge constructively, enable others and create the conditions for people to do their best work.

You don’t need to have worked in the charity sector before. What matters is your ability to bring your expertise into a purpose-led organisation, understand our context and share our ambition to create a world where there are fewer strokes and everyone affected by stroke gets the help they need.

What we offer

• Salary: £73,000, plus London weighting depending on postcode
• Contract: Permanent
• Location: Home-based, with semi-regular travel for team and Senior Leadership meetings and other organisational activity across the UK
• Closing date: 26 September

How to Apply
To apply, please submit your CV demonstrating your suitability for this role by clicking the 'apply now' button (please do not apply via email). We aim to get back to all successful candidates within 48 working hours.

Commitment to Diversity
The Talent Set are committed to diverse and inclusive recruitment practices, ensuring equal opportunities for all applicants regardless of race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, disability, or age. We actively encourage applications from a wide range of backgrounds and are always happy to make reasonable adjustments to ensure a fair recruitment process.

About Florence Nightingale Foundation 

At the Florence Nightingale Foundation (FNF), we develop nurse and midwife leaders who can influence, improve and transform health and care. Our work has purpose, reach and impact – supporting professionals at every career stage to grow in confidence, lead with integrity and create lasting change for the people and communities they serve. 

This is a unique and exciting opportunity to lead the next phase of the FNF Academy's development and growth. As the Director of Academy, you will shape a bold, credible and high-quality Academy offer, ensuring our Scholarships, Leadership Programmes and professional development opportunities continue to meet the needs of nursing and midwifery leaders in the UK and globally. 

You will work closely with the senior leadership team and key external partners to strengthen the Academy’s influence, grow sustainable opportunities and demonstrate the value and impact of our work. This is an Executive role with real scope to bring clarity, ambition and momentum to a charity with a strong reputation and an important mission. 

About you 

You will bring executive or senior nursing or midwifery leadership experience, current NMC registration and the credibility to influence at executive level. You will be confident working with complex stakeholders, leading through change and translating strategy into practical, high-quality delivery. 

You will be a strong relationship-builder and a clear communicator, able to inspire confidence, develop high-performing teams and make decisions informed by evidence, insight and professional judgement. Most importantly, you will share our commitment to developing nurse and midwife leaders who can make a tangible difference across health and care. 

Why join us? 

You will join a small, friendly and ambitious charity where your work will have purpose and visible impact. We offer a supportive team culture, hybrid and flexible working, generous annual leave, strong pension contributions and dedicated time for personal and professional development. Further information about the role, including key responsibilities and the person specification, can be found in the candidate pack.

About the team

The Philanthropy Team raises income for Impetus and for Impetus partner charities. The team consists of 15 staff. Impetus has an annual income of c.£11 million which we are looking to grow significantly within the next few years. The team is led by two Directors of Philanthropy and Partnerships. 

The Philanthropy Team works with major donors, corporates and grant making trusts, as well as collaboratively with colleagues across the organisation to ensure we make a compelling case to generate new financial commitments and wider support for our work. The team also deliver a high-quality engagement programme of volunteering and pro bono for Impetus’s corporate supporters.   

Impetus is driven by a shared belief in tackling the barriers that hold back young people from disadvantaged backgrounds in education and employment. Alongside investing extensive financial and non-financial support in our charity partners through our Investment Team we also seek to influence decision makers to design and implement evidence led policy and direct new resources to get young people the support they need through our Public Affairs team. We are resolutely focused on outcomes, driven by quality evidence.

You would be joining a team that is passionate, ambitious, determined and warm. We care deeply for our colleagues, our charity partners and the young people we serve. 

About this role

The Development Director (New Business) provides strategic leadership for Impetus’ new business development, prospect pipeline and high-value funding opportunities. The postholder will have responsibility for identifying, cultivating and converting new corporate, trust and foundation, and high-net-worth donor relationships, as well as continued relationship management for key, established relationships.

In 25/26, the Philanthropy and Partnerships team generated £11m in philanthropic income, alongside £2.8m in probono contributions. The Development Director will play a key role in delivering Impetus' growth ambitions, helping to increase philanthropic income to £14m by 2029. 

Working closely with the Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships, the role will translate the fundraising strategy into clear new business priorities, pipeline plans and prospect engagement approaches, ensuring a strong flow of qualified opportunities and sustainable growth in high-value income.

Working closely with colleagues across Philanthropy and Partnerships, the postholder will personally lead and support significant six and seven-figure prospects and strategic funding opportunities, while overseeing the stewardship and retention of current partners. 

Working collaboratively across the Philanthropy and Partnerships team and with colleagues across the organisation, the Development Director will ensure a joined-up approach to donor acquisition, pipeline development, prospect conversion and stewardship, maximising income, partnership value and long-term impact within the agreed fundraising strategy.

Key responsibilities

New Business, Pipeline & Conversion

• Personally lead on six and seven-figure level priority prospects and strategic funding opportunities, managing the full fundraising cycle from qualification to close.
• Work with trustees, senior volunteers, and networks to unlock introductions and new opportunities, providing clear support and follow-up to maximise success.
• Evolve Impetus’ new business strategy, driving the identification, cultivation, and conversion of new high-value donor and partner relationships.
• Translate Impetus’ impact, evidence base, and venture philanthropy model into compelling propositions for new audiences and sectors.

Strategic Relationship Management & Growth 

• Own and oversee select donor relationships at six and seven-figure levels within the philanthropy portfolio, ensuring high levels of retention, satisfaction, trust, income growth and long-term value.
• Ensure your donors receive timely, consistent, high-quality and relevant engagement and communications throughout their relationship with Impetus.
• Work closely with the wider team to ensure a smooth transition between new business, and long-term stewardship.
• Ensure account plans for priority donors and partners include clear renewal and growth pathways; engagement and risk-management plans.
• Act as senior relationship owner where required, modelling strong stewardship and coaching the Head of Development and other colleagues to navigate complex or sensitive relationships.

Research, Insight & Pipeline Development

• Provide strategic leadership for the Research & Insights function, ensuring prospect research, donor intelligence and market insight inform fundraising strategy, pipeline development and organisational planning.
• Lead the strategic development of fundraising pipelines, ensuring focus on opportunities with the greatest potential for long-term income growth, impact and strategic fit.
• Ensure donor intelligence and prospect research are used effectively to identify, qualify and prioritise new funding opportunities.
• Maintain oversight of gift acceptance, due diligence and fundraising compliance in relation to fundraising opportunities, ensuring adherence to relevant regulatory requirements and organisational policies.
• Identify and escalate strategic, reputational or compliance risks associated with donors and partners.

Leadership and Team Performance

• Line manage and develop the Head of Development, providing strategic direction, coaching and performance oversight.
• Establish the Head of Development as the operational lead on new business, ensuring capability, succession and high performance across the wider team.
• Set clear objectives and success measures for new business growth, aligned to Impetus’ wider income strategy.
• Build and sustain an inclusive, evidence-led and high-performing team culture that balances pace and ambition with quality, learning and collaboration.
• Build fundraising capability across your team through leadership, coaching and consistent, fair, and high-quality performance management, including objective-setting, feedback and development planning.

Pro Bono, Events, Volunteering & Partnership Value

• Ensure engagement opportunities, including volunteering, pro bono and events, strengthen strategic partnerships and support long-term income growth through strong collaboration with colleagues.

Operational Excellence, Governance & Risk

• Ensure new business activity complies with due diligence, gift acceptance and risk management requirements.
• Oversee accurate pipeline reporting, forecasting, and performance tracking, using Salesforce and other systems to ensure insights inform decision making.
• Work with Finance and Operations to ensure income is contracted, invoiced, and reported accurately and on time in line with financial controls.
• Identify and escalate strategic or reputational risks associated with prospective partnerships.

Cross-Organisational Leadership & Representation

• Act as a senior ambassador for Impetus, representing the organisation credibly with new donors, partners, and external stakeholders.
• Contribute to organisational strategy, income planning, and senior leadership discussions.
• Lead philanthropic work on Impetus funds including identifying funding opportunities and risks; shaping prospect pipelines; contributing to cases for support and donor presentations; and develop fund stewardship.
• Champion collaboration across the Philanthropy team, ensuring opportunities are shared, relationships are leveraged and expertise is used to maximise income and impact.
• Back Impetus’ values, evidence-led approach, and commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion across the Philanthropy team.

Strategic leadership

• Work in partnership with the Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships to contribute to the fundraising strategy.
• Translate strategic priorities into clear operational plans, objectives and delivery, ensuring new business delivers against organisational priorities, income targets and long-term growth ambitions.
• Provide strategic oversight of annual forecasting, budgeting, pipeline performance and resource planning, ensuring risks and opportunities are identified and addressed proactively.
• Maximise the contribution of trustees, committees, senior volunteers and wider networks to support strategic relationship building and new business development.
• Act as a trusted senior adviser to the Directors of Philanthropy and Partnerships, providing insight, challenge and solutions to strengthen organisational fundraising performance and capability.
• Deputise for the Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships where appropriate, within agreed delegations and priorities.
• Build a positive, collaborative and high-performing culture across the Philanthropy team, modelling Impetus' values and supporting continuous improvement.

Person specification

Essential:

Fundraising & new business leadership

• Significant experience in major donor and/or corporate fundraising at six and seven-figure gift level, with a strong track record of securing new income and managing complex partnerships.
• Ability to lead and personally deliver the full fundraising cycle, from prospecting and cultivation through to solicitation, negotiation, and close.
• Proven experience of building, managing, and converting a new business pipeline, balancing ambition with delivery.
• Strong ability to leverage internal and external networks, including trustees, senior volunteers, and professional contacts.

Senior stakeholder engagement

• Experience of operating at a senior level and leading high value or complex stakeholder relationships (trustees, board members, senior external partners).
• Ability to influence and build credibility with senior audiences through clear, confident and evidence led communication.
• Excellent negotiation skills, with the ability to secure mutually beneficial outcomes while protecting organisational values and reputation.

Leadership & people management

• Proven experience leading and developing high-performing teams, including developing senior colleagues and building leadership capability.
• A strong track record as a collaborative senior team member, contributing beyond own area of responsibility and supporting wider organisational success
• Ability to build a high-trust, high-challenge culture that supports excellence, inclusion, and learning.
• Strong performance management capability and ability to handle complex people issues, giving strategic feedback, and addressing underperformance constructively.
• Ability to deputise for the Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships when appropriate.

Strategic & intellectual capability

• Strong strategic thinker with the ability to translate agreed strategy and insight into clear plans and execute them effectively.
• Ability to grasp, interpret apply and communicate complex information and ideas, including Impetus’ venture philanthropy and impact-led funding models.
• Evidence of an innovative and creative approach, with the ability to adapt in changing contexts.

Financial, operational & delivery capability

• Solid financial management, with experience contributing to budget-setting, managing agreed budgets, supporting forecasting and identifying efficiencies.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to delivery, with the ability to manage multiple priorities to a high standard
• Able to use insight and data (including CRM systems such as Salesforce) to inform decisions and strengthen performance.
• Sound judgement in identifying, managing, and escalating risk, particularly in relation to donor relationships and reputation.

Communication, values & ways of working

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, able to communicate clearly, persuasively, and with impact.
• Excellent relationship-building skills, with the ability to establish, maintain, and leverage relationships with key internal and external stakeholders.
• A strong commitment to Impetus’ mission and to improving outcomes for young people.
• A clear commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion, demonstrated through inclusive leadership and professional practice.

Desirable 

• Experience working within venture philanthropy, impact investing, or systems-change funding models.
• Familiarity with private equity, professional services.
• Experience contributing to income growth, donor strategy or portfolio development within an agreed organisational fundraising strategy.
• Knowledge of the UK charity or social impact sector, particularly education, employment, or youth-focused work.
• Experience using CRM systems (e.g. Salesforce) to manage pipelines, performance, and forecasting.

About Impetus

At Impetus, our focus is on helping young people achieve positive education and employment outcomes to increase their chance of leading fulfilling and successful lives, irrespective of their background.

We tackle the three most difficult challenges that affect a young person’s ability to succeed in life in Britain today:

• Lost learning through absence, suspensions, exclusions from school
• Stagnation in education attainment outcomes, which means many are missing out on key qualifications like GCSE English and maths
• The large numbers of young people out of education, training and employment

We use our deep expertise and high calibre networks to give the best non-profits working in these sectors the essential ingredients to have a real and lasting impact on the young people they serve.

Through a powerful combination of long-term funding, direct capacity building support from our experienced team and our pro bono partners, alongside research and policy influencing to drive lasting systems change, we work towards a society where all young people can thrive in school, pass their exams and unlock the doors to sustained employment, for a fulfilling life.

We are resolutely focused on outcomes and impact, driven by quality evidence.

You would be joining a team that is passionate, rigorous, determined, creative and warm. We care deeply for our colleagues, our portfolio partners and the young people we serve.

Impetus is a registered charity and our charity number is 1152262.

Our Values

In 2022 the Impetus staff agreed the following set of Values to act as our guiding principles as an organisation and help us to remain focused on achieving our mission to support young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

We are brave and curious

We are bold and brave in our pursuit of better outcomes for young people. We lead with curiosity and stay open to new perspectives. We support one another to take considered risks and learn together.

We bring high trust, high challenge

We build strong, long-term relationships through honesty, kindness, integrity, and respect. We create the space for open, constructive challenge, where colleagues, partners and supporters feel safe to speak up, hold each other to account, and bring their best in pursuit of our mission.

We are evidence led and results driven for young people

We pursue excellence for the young people we work with, are wholly committed to better outcomes, unapologetically results driven, and accountable for our actions.

We thrive through diversity

We seek to embed diversity of thought, background and experience in every aspect of our work. We are open, thoughtful and proactive in better understanding and challenging our assumptions to better deliver the change we seek.

We always seek collaboration

We will not succeed alone. We seek meaningful, productive partnerships with others to achieve our mission and drive systems change for young people.

Our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion

We believe that a diverse workforce leads to an organisation that is more open, creative and gets better results.

We want our team at Impetus to represent the diversity of the people and communities we serve. We also want our team to be one where different experiences, expertise and perspectives are valued, and where everyone is encouraged to grow and develop.

We want to reach a diverse pool of candidates. We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that potential employees may need to in order to be successful.

We recognise the importance of a good work/life balance. We do everything we can to accommodate flexible working, including working from home, working part-time job shares and other arrangements.

Please just let us know in your application or at any stage throughout the process (and beyond) if these are options you’d like to explore.

Impetus is an equal opportunity employer and is determined to ensure that no applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. We value diversity and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds.

Our employee benefits

Impetus appreciates the invaluable contribution made by all employees and wishes to encourage and reward loyalty, motivation and experience. We therefore offer a range of benefits and policies which aim to assist employees during various stages of their lives and careers. For more information on these, please download the job information pack from our website.

How to apply

Please click on the "Apply for this job" button.

You will need to:

• Complete the online form (including the equal opportunities monitoring form).
• Upload a comprehensive CV and supporting statement.

The supporting statement should be no more than two sides of A4 and should address the criteria in the person specification.

You should also include the contact details of two referees, one of whom must be your current or most recent employer. Referees will only be approached with your express permission.

As part of our commitment to flexible working we will consider a range of options for the successful applicant. All options can be discussed at interview stage.

The deadline for applications is Sunday 20th September 2026, 11:59pm.

Interviews:

1st Interviews will take place on w/c 5th October 2026.

2nd Interviews will take place on w/c 12th October 2026.

You will also be required to provide proof of your eligibility to work in the UK.

Personal Data

Your personal data will be shared for the purposes of the recruitment exercise. This includes our HR team, interviewers (who may include other partners in the project and independent advisors), relevant team managers and our IT service provider if access to the data is necessary for performance of their roles. We do not share your data with other third parties, unless your application for employment is successful and we make you an offer of employment. We will then share your data with former employers to obtain references for you. We do not transfer your data outside the European Economic Area.

About the team

The Philanthropy Team raises income for Impetus and for Impetus partner charities. The team consists of 15 staff. Impetus has an annual income of c.£11 million which we are looking to grow significantly within the next few years. The team is led by two Directors of Philanthropy and Partnerships. 

The Philanthropy Team works with major donors, corporates and grant making trusts, as well as collaboratively with colleagues across the organisation to ensure we make a compelling case to generate new financial commitments and wider support for our work. The team also deliver a high-quality engagement programme of volunteering and pro bono for Impetus’s corporate supporters.   

Impetus is driven by a shared belief in tackling the barriers that hold back young people from disadvantaged backgrounds in education and employment. Alongside investing extensive financial and non-financial support in our charity partners through our Investment Team we also seek to influence decision makers to design and implement evidence led policy and direct new resources to get young people the support they need through our Public Affairs team. We are resolutely focused on outcomes, driven by quality evidence.

You would be joining a team that is passionate, ambitious, determined and warm. We care deeply for our colleagues, our charity partners and the young people we serve. 

About this role

The Development Director (Philanthropy) provides strategic leadership across Impetus’ philanthropy and stewardship portfolio, with responsibility for relationship management, renewal, growth and selected new business activity. The postholder will work with high-value funders, including corporate partners, trusts and foundations, and high-net-worth individuals.

In 25/26, the Philanthropy and Partnerships team generated £11m in philanthropic income, alongside £2.8m in pro bono contributions. The Development Director will play a key role in delivering Impetus’ growth ambitions, supporting the increase in philanthropic income to £14m by 2029. 

Working closely with the Directors of Philanthropy and Partnerships, the role will translate the fundraising strategy into clear stewardship, renewal, relationship-growth and selected new business plans, ensuring strong donor retention, high-quality engagement and sustainable growth in high-value income.

Working closely with the Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships, the postholder will oversee the donor lifecycle across the philanthropy portfolio, with particular focus on strategic stewardship, renewal, relationship growth and the effective transition of selected prospects into long-term donor relationships. They will personally lead and support significant six and seven-figure donor relationships and selected funding opportunities, while working with colleagues to ensure the philanthropy pipeline, stewardship plans and account management disciplines are strong.

Working collaboratively across the Philanthropy and Partnerships team and with colleagues across the organisation, the Development Director will ensure a joined-up approach to donor stewardship, renewal, relationship growth and selected donor acquisition, maximising income, partnership value and long-term impact within the agreed fundraising strategy.

Key responsibilities

Strategic Relationship Management & Growth

• Own and oversee strategically significant donor and partner relationships at six and seven-figure levels, ensuring high levels of retention, satisfaction, trust, income growth and long-term value.
• Set and embed best practice stewardship standards, ensuring donors receive timely, consistent, high-quality and relevant engagement and communications throughout their relationship with Impetus.
• Work closely with the wider team to ensure a smooth transition between new business, and long-term stewardship.
• Ensure account plans for priority donors and partners include clear renewal and growth pathways; engagement and risk-management plans.
• Act as senior relationship owner where required, modelling strong stewardship and coaching the Head of Philanthropy and other colleagues to navigate complex or sensitive relationships.

New Business: Pipeline & Conversion 

• Personally lead on select six and seven-figure level priority prospects and strategic funding opportunities, managing the full fundraising cycle from qualification to close.
• Work with trustees, senior volunteers and networks to support warm introductions, relationship development and follow-up, in line with agreed new business and stewardship priorities.
• Work with colleagues to translate Impetus’ impact, evidence base and venture philanthropy model into compelling propositions for donors, prospects and priority audiences.

Performance and KPI Reporting

• Accountable for ensuring effective implementation, monitoring and continuous improvement of fundraising performance frameworks, KPIs and reporting disciplines.
• Use performance data and insight to improve team effectiveness, inform portfolio planning and resource recommendations, and identify opportunities for retention, renewal and growth.
• Oversee philanthropy portfolio data quality, reporting and forecasting, ensuring robust systems and processes.
• Ensure robust systems, processes and performance disciplines are in place to support delivery of agreed philanthropy portfolio objectives and wider fundraising goals.
• Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement and evidence-led decision-making across the philanthropy portfolio and direct team.

Donor Communications

• Provide strategic oversight of donor communications for the philanthropy portfolio, ensuring messaging is clear, compelling, timely and aligned to Impetus’ voice, values and evidence base.
• Work with Communications and Philanthropy colleagues to design and continuously improve philanthropic communications, including cases for support, proposals, pitches, stewardship materials and donor updates.

Leadership and Team Performance

• Line manage and develop the Head of Philanthropy, providing direction, coaching and performance oversight within agreed strategy and priorities.
• Develop the Head of Philanthropy as the operational lead for stewardship, ensuring capability, succession and high performance across their team.
• Set clear objectives and success measures for stewardship, renewal, relationship growth and portfolio delivery, aligned to Impetus’ wider income strategy.
• Build and sustain an inclusive, evidence-led and high-performing culture across the philanthropy portfolio, balancing pace and ambition with quality, learning and collaboration.
• Build fundraising and stewardship capability across the team through coaching and consistent, fair and high-quality performance management, including objective-setting, feedback and development planning.

Pro Bono, Events, Volunteering & Partnership Value

• Ensure engagement opportunities, including volunteering, pro bono and events, strengthen donor relationships, partnership value and long-term income growth through strong collaboration with colleagues.

Operational Excellence, Governance & Risk

• Ensure philanthropy and selected new business activity complies with due diligence, gift acceptance and risk management requirements.
• Oversee accurate philanthropy pipeline reporting, forecasting and performance tracking, using Salesforce and other systems to ensure insight informs portfolio planning and decision-making.
• Work with Finance and Operations to ensure income is contracted, invoiced, and reported accurately and on time in line with financial controls.
• Identify and escalate strategic, financial or reputational risks associated with donors, prospects and partnerships.

Cross-Organisational Leadership & Representation

• Act as a senior ambassador for Impetus, representing the organisation credibly with new donors, partners, and external stakeholders.
• Contribute to organisational strategy, income planning, and senior leadership discussions.
• Lead philanthropic work on Impetus funds including identifying funding opportunities and risks; shaping prospect pipelines; contributing to cases for support and donor presentations; and develop fund stewardship.
• Champion collaboration across the Philanthropy team, ensuring opportunities are shared, relationships are well managed and expertise is used to maximise income and impact.
• Model Impetus’ values, evidence-led approach and commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion across the philanthropy portfolio.

Strategic Leadership

• Work in partnership with the Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships to contribute to the fundraising strategy.
• Translate strategic priorities into clear operational plans, objectives and delivery, ensuring stewardship, renewal and relationship growth contribute to organisational priorities, income targets and long-term growth ambitions.
• Provide strategic oversight of philanthropy portfolio forecasting, budgeting input, pipeline performance and resource recommendations, ensuring risks and opportunities are identified and escalated proactively.
• Maximise the contribution of trustees, committees, senior volunteers and wider networks to support donor stewardship, relationship growth and selected new business development.
• Act as a trusted senior adviser to the Directors of Philanthropy and Partnerships, providing insight, challenge and solutions to strengthen philanthropy portfolio performance and wider fundraising capability.
• Deputise for the Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships where appropriate, within agreed delegations and priorities.
• Build a positive, collaborative and high-performing culture across the philanthropy portfolio, modelling Impetus’ values and supporting continuous improvement.

Person specification

Essential:

Fundraising & new business leadership

• Significant experience in major donor and/or corporate fundraising at six and seven-figure gift level, with a strong track record of securing new income and managing complex partnerships.
• Ability to lead and personally deliver the full fundraising cycle, from prospecting and cultivation through to solicitation, negotiation, and close.
• Proven experience of building, managing, and converting a new business pipeline, balancing ambition with delivery.
• Strong ability to leverage internal and external networks, including trustees, senior volunteers, and professional contacts.

Senior stakeholder engagement

• Experience of operating at a senior level and leading high value or complex stakeholder relationships (trustees, board members, senior external partners).
• Ability to influence and build credibility with senior audiences through clear, confident and evidence led communication.
• Excellent negotiation skills, with the ability to secure mutually beneficial outcomes while protecting organisational values and reputation.

Leadership & people management

• Proven experience leading and developing high-performing teams, including developing senior colleagues and building leadership capability.
• A strong track record as a collaborative senior team member, contributing beyond own area of responsibility and supporting wider organisational success
• Ability to build a high-trust, high-challenge culture that supports excellence, inclusion, and learning.
• Strong performance management capability and ability to handle complex people issues, giving strategic feedback, and addressing underperformance constructively.
• Ability to deputise for the Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships when appropriate.

Strategic & intellectual capability

• Strong strategic thinker with the ability to translate agreed strategy and insight into clear plans and execute them effectively.
• Ability to grasp, interpret apply and communicate complex information and ideas, including Impetus’ venture philanthropy and impact-led funding models.
• Evidence of an innovative and creative approach, with the ability to adapt in changing contexts.

Financial, operational & delivery capability

• Solid financial management, with experience contributing to budget-setting, managing agreed budgets, supporting forecasting and identifying efficiencies.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to delivery, with the ability to manage multiple priorities to a high standard
• Able to use insight and data (including CRM systems such as Salesforce) to inform decisions and strengthen performance.
• Sound judgement in identifying, managing, and escalating risk, particularly in relation to donor relationships and reputation.

Communication, values & ways of working

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, able to communicate clearly, persuasively, and with impact.
• Excellent relationship-building skills, with the ability to establish, maintain, and leverage relationships with key internal and external stakeholders.
• A strong commitment to Impetus’ mission and to improving outcomes for young people.
• A clear commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion, demonstrated through inclusive leadership and professional practice.

Desirable 

• Experience working within venture philanthropy, impact investing, or systems-change funding models.
• Familiarity with private equity, professional services.
• Experience contributing to income growth, donor strategy or portfolio development within an agreed organisational fundraising strategy.
• Knowledge of the UK charity or social impact sector, particularly education, employment, or youth-focused work.
• Experience using CRM systems (e.g. Salesforce) to manage pipelines, performance, and forecasting.

About Impetus

At Impetus, our focus is on helping young people achieve positive education and employment outcomes to increase their chance of leading fulfilling and successful lives, irrespective of their background.

We tackle the three most difficult challenges that affect a young person’s ability to succeed in life in Britain today:

• Lost learning through absence, suspensions, exclusions from school
• Stagnation in education attainment outcomes, which means many are missing out on key qualifications like GCSE English and maths
• The large numbers of young people out of education, training and employment

We use our deep expertise and high calibre networks to give the best non-profits working in these sectors the essential ingredients to have a real and lasting impact on the young people they serve.

Through a powerful combination of long-term funding, direct capacity building support from our experienced team and our pro bono partners, alongside research and policy influencing to drive lasting systems change, we work towards a society where all young people can thrive in school, pass their exams and unlock the doors to sustained employment, for a fulfilling life.

We are resolutely focused on outcomes and impact, driven by quality evidence.

You would be joining a team that is passionate, rigorous, determined, creative and warm. We care deeply for our colleagues, our portfolio partners and the young people we serve.

Impetus is a registered charity and our charity number is 1152262.

Our Values

In 2022 the Impetus staff agreed the following set of Values to act as our guiding principles as an organisation and help us to remain focused on achieving our mission to support young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

We are brave and curious

We are bold and brave in our pursuit of better outcomes for young people. We lead with curiosity and stay open to new perspectives. We support one another to take considered risks and learn together.

We bring high trust, high challenge

We build strong, long-term relationships through honesty, kindness, integrity, and respect. We create the space for open, constructive challenge, where colleagues, partners and supporters feel safe to speak up, hold each other to account, and bring their best in pursuit of our mission.

We are evidence led and results driven for young people

We pursue excellence for the young people we work with, are wholly committed to better outcomes, unapologetically results driven, and accountable for our actions.

We thrive through diversity

We seek to embed diversity of thought, background and experience in every aspect of our work. We are open, thoughtful and proactive in better understanding and challenging our assumptions to better deliver the change we seek.

We always seek collaboration

We will not succeed alone. We seek meaningful, productive partnerships with others to achieve our mission and drive systems change for young people.

Our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion

We believe that a diverse workforce leads to an organisation that is more open, creative and gets better results.

We want our team at Impetus to represent the diversity of the people and communities we serve. We also want our team to be one where different experiences, expertise and perspectives are valued, and where everyone is encouraged to grow and develop.

We want to reach a diverse pool of candidates. We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that potential employees may need to in order to be successful.

We recognise the importance of a good work/life balance. We do everything we can to accommodate flexible working, including working from home, working part-time job shares and other arrangements.

Please just let us know in your application or at any stage throughout the process (and beyond) if these are options you’d like to explore.

Impetus is an equal opportunity employer and is determined to ensure that no applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. We value diversity and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds.

Our employee benefits

Impetus appreciates the invaluable contribution made by all employees and wishes to encourage and reward loyalty, motivation and experience. We therefore offer a range of benefits and policies which aim to assist employees during various stages of their lives and careers. For more information on these, please download the job information pack from our website.

How to apply

Please click on the "Apply for this job" button.

You will need to:

• Complete the online form (including the equal opportunities monitoring form).
• Upload a comprehensive CV and supporting statement.

The supporting statement should be no more than two sides of A4 and should address the criteria in the person specification.

You should also include the contact details of two referees, one of whom must be your current or most recent employer. Referees will only be approached with your express permission.

As part of our commitment to flexible working we will consider a range of options for the successful applicant. All options can be discussed at interview stage.

The deadline for applications is Sunday 20th September 2026, 11:59pm.

Interviews:

1st Interviews will take place on w/c 5th October 2026.

2nd Interviews will take place on w/c 12th October 2026.

You will also be required to provide proof of your eligibility to work in the UK.

Personal Data

Your personal data will be shared for the purposes of the recruitment exercise. This includes our HR team, interviewers (who may include other partners in the project and independent advisors), relevant team managers and our IT service provider if access to the data is necessary for performance of their roles. We do not share your data with other third parties, unless your application for employment is successful and we make you an offer of employment. We will then share your data with former employers to obtain references for you. We do not transfer your data outside the European Economic Area.

Location: Global Lumos role based in the UK 

Location type: Hybrid

Reporting to: Chief Programmes and Advocacy Officer

Annual salary: £90,000 – £100,000 GBP

Closing date: Monday, 12th October, 9:00 am CET

Background

Lumos Foundation works to realise every child’s right to a family by transforming care systems around the world. Our vision is a world in which all children grow up in safe and loving families within supported communities.

Founded in 2005 by author J.K. Rowling, Lumos partners with governments, civil society and young people with lived experience to transform care systems globally and advocate for family-based solutions that help children thrive. We ensure that families receive the support they need to stay together or reunite, and that children grow up in family-based settings such as foster or kinship care, not institutions.

Despite clear evidence of the harms of institutionalisation, more than five million children worldwide continue to live in institutions. And a much larger number of children are at risk of family breakdown and separation – those living in poverty, experiencing domestic violence and abuse, and living in countries affected by conflict.

We are ambitious for children’s safety. In the next ten years, Lumos will enable 500K children in care to return to family-based care, while preventing ten million more children from experiencing family breakdown and separation – so that they can thrive in their own families. Working with local, national, and global partners, Lumos supports government-led transformation of childcare systems across Asia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America- driving systemic and sustainable change.

Lumos’ ambition for children is significant and will require the organisation and its partners to work in new ways – with a pace, drive and urgency that this moment demands – and that children everywhere deserve.

Lumos’ success will continue to be based not just on what we do, but on how we do it – our values. We embrace collaboration. We strive for excellence. We show respect. We always care. And we are passionate. We are Lumos.

Purpose of role

We are looking for an exceptional programme leader to help us achieve our ten-year ambition. The Director of Programme Delivery leads Lumos' global programme portfolio, ensuring the organisation delivers high-quality and impactful programmes that contribute to sustainable systems change for children and families. The role is responsible for translating organisational strategy into effective delivery, strengthening programme quality and performance, and supporting Country Directors in achieving measurable results.

The postholder will also lead the continued evolution of Lumos' programme delivery model, strengthening localisation and national leadership, building organisational learning and evidence, and developing innovative approaches that extend Lumos' impact and influence beyond traditional country office structures. 

Reporting to the Chief Programmes and Advocacy Officer, the role provides strategic and operational leadership across Lumos' global programme portfolio.

Primary responsibilities

The job holder will have the following key responsibilities: 

Deliver a high-performing global programme portfolio

• Lead the continued translation of Lumos’ Ten-Year Ambition into clear programme and country priorities, plans, budgets and delivery approaches.
• Lead the global programme portfolio, ensuring high-quality implementation, measurable results and clear accountability for performance, financial stewardship and donor commitments.
• Maintain clear oversight of performance, organisational health and risk, and ensure ambition is matched by the people, as well as the funding and organisational capacity required to deliver it.

Continuing to strengthen our country leadership

• Lead, coach and develop Lumos’ Country Directors, strengthening national leadership and building clear accountability for programme, financial, people and organisational performance.
• Help country teams evolve into influential national and regional centres of expertise in care reform and systems change.
• Develop pathways towards greater national ownership, autonomy and localisation, while strengthening collaboration and learning across countries and regions.

Evolve how Lumos delivers impact at scale

• Lead the continued evolution of Lumos’ programme delivery model, turning strategic ambition into practical approaches, clear accountabilities and effective ways of working.
• Develop models combining sustained country engagement, nationally led partnerships and other approaches capable of supporting sustainable systems reform.
• Help Lumos increase its impact and geographical reach without relying solely on establishing traditional country-office structures.

Make evidence central to how we work

• Hold senior accountability for programme quality, monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning across the global portfolio.
• Continue to strengthen Lumos’ ability to demonstrate system-level change, using credible evidence and data to understand what works and how successful approaches can be adapted or scaled.
• Ensure evidence and learning from delivery, inform programme strategy, advocacy, partnerships, fundraising and future investment.

Lead across the organisation and beyond

• Work closely with Finance, People & Operations, Safeguarding, Safety & Security and other specialist functions to ensure programmes are effectively supported, responsibly managed and delivered safely.
• Champion meaningful participation and leadership of children, young people and people with lived experience across programme design, delivery and learning.
• Act as a senior organisational leader and member of the Executive Team, working closely with the Chief Programmes and Advocacy Officer, representing Lumos with governments, partners and funders, and contributing programme and country perspectives to wider organisational decisions.

What success looks like

• Exceptional delivery - a high-quality global portfolio delivering measurable results with strong financial, organisational and donor accountability.
• Strong country leadership - confident and accountable Country Directors with the authority, capability and support to lead effectively.
• A delivery model built for scale – stronger, locally led approaches and new ways of working that enable greater impact and geographical reach.
• Countries as centres of expertise - national teams increasingly leading systems change, generating evidence and sharing expertise across regions.
• Evidence that drives impact - credible learning about what works, informing programme improvement, influence, investment and future growth.

Profile

The following offers an aspirational view of our ideal candidate profile; however, we encourage applications from candidates with a wide range of experiences and backgrounds, especially those from underrepresented groups. 

Experience

• Significant senior leadership experience within an international organisation.
• Experience overseeing complex multi-country programmes.
• Experience leading senior programme or country leaders.
• Experience translating strategy into delivery and measurable results.
• Experience managing donor-funded programmes, grants and significant budgets.
• Experience leading programme or organisational change.
• Experience operating in international development, humanitarian or related sectors.
• Experience overseeing programmes delivered through different organisational and partnership models desired.
• Experience managing major institutional grants, such as those funded by government or multilateral donors desired.
• Experience supporting localisation or the transition of country operations towards greater national leadership and ownership desired.
• Experience coaching senior leaders desired.

Skills and qualifications

• Expert knowledge of programme management and programme delivery.
• Strong understanding of programme cycle management, including financial management, risk management, monitoring and evaluation.
• Knowledge of donor-funded programme management, compliance and reporting.
• Ability to provide strategic leadership while maintaining strong operational oversight and accountability.
• Excellent relationship-building and influencing skills.
• Knowledge of systems change and approaches to achieving sustainable impact at scale desired.
• Understanding of different international delivery models, including country offices, national organisations and programmes co-created with local partners desired.
• Knowledge of the international funding environment and major institutional donor requirements desired.
• Understanding of children’s rights, care reform or a related field desired.

Personal traits desired

• Strategic thinker with strong delivery focus.
• Collaborative and empowering leadership style.
• Strong interpersonal and networking skills.
• Credibility and authority to influence and direct senior leaders.
• Emotionally intelligent and able to build relationships.
• Commitment to Lumos' mission and values.
• Curious and open to testing new delivery models and ways of working desired.

Additional Information

Alongside the opportunity to contribute to a truly life-changing mission, you’ll enjoy excellent benefits, a supportive and inclusive culture, and a genuine commitment to your personal and professional development. Some of the benefits we offer include

• 30 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays. 
• Enhanced family-friendly leave (maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental) and enhanced sick pay. 
• Hybrid and flexible working. 
• Competitive employer pension scheme. 
• Learning and development opportunities. 
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme for confidential wellbeing support and advice. 

Safeguarding Statement

Lumos is committed to safeguarding children and adults at risk and expects all staff, associates and volunteers to uphold our safeguarding and PSEA standards. We have zero tolerance for abuse, bullying, harassment and sexual exploitation, and all appointments are subject to appropriate screening, checks and references.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Statement

Lumos is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and to creating a workplace where everyone is valued, respected and able to contribute. We celebrate the diversity of our global teams and are committed to challenging discrimination and promoting inclusion in everything we do.

Our Values

• We embrace collaboration. 
• We strive for excellence.
• We show respect.
• We always care.
• We are passionate.

To apply for this role, please submit a copy of your CV/resume and a cover letter outlining your interest in the role and how you fulfil the requirements set out in the job announcement Please ensure you send your CV and Cover letter in the following format: full_name_CV_org_name_role and full_name_role_CL.

Please note: to ensure the security of your application and to ensure that your data complies with GDPR, applications via email will not be accepted.

·The deadline for applications is Monday 12th October, 9:00 am CET ·

Upsall International actively promotes equality, diversity, and inclusion. In recruiting candidates, we seek candidates with the proven skills required, irrespective of race, gender, religion or belief, age, disability, or sexual orientation.

Head of Service – Reddo

Reddo is looking for an ambitious and entrepreneurial Head of Service to lead our next stage of growth.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced children’s services leader who can combine strong operational management with a commercial and entrepreneurial mindset.

You will work closely with the Managing Director and leadership team to:

• Lead and strengthen day-to-day service delivery

• Develop our team, systems and processes

• Drive quality, safeguarding and performance

• Build strong relationships with local authority commissioners

• Support new business and the mobilisation of new contracts

• Help shape Reddo’s future growth and development

We are looking for someone with experience in children’s social care and local authority commissioning, strong leadership and commercial awareness, and a genuine passion for building and improving services.

If you are ready to make a real impact and help shape the next chapter of Reddo, we would love to hear from you.

Please see the attached job description for full details.

About School of Hard Knocks

School of Hard Knocks (SOHK) is one of the UK’s leading education charities, working in 29 secondary schools across England, Scotland, and Wales. Using rugby as a key delivery tool, we support young people who are struggling to engage in early secondary education - often because of anxiety, low confidence, disrupted home lives, or behavioural challenges rooted in trauma. For many of the children we support, life has already brought more hardship than most adults experience in a lifetime. Our purpose is clear: to help young people facing complex challenges break the cycle and move towards a safer, stronger, more hopeful future.

The SOHK Schools Programme is a two-year intervention working with cohorts of around 20 pupils from Year 7 through to Year 9. Pupils are selected by the school and are typically among the hardest to reach young people. Each week, we deliver half a day of rugby training and classroom sessions built around our 3Cs framework, covering topics such as growth mindset, goal setting, and decision-making, alongside monthly one-to-one sessions with every pupil. The programme’s impact is evaluated by SOHK staff, teachers, parents, and the pupils themselves.

90% of our participants report feeling more confident and more engaged with school after taking part, with long-term effects on attendance, attainment, and life outcomes. Find out more about our Schools Programme.

Since 2023, SOHK has been proud to partner with Impetus, a charity that invests in and supports organisations helping young people from disadvantaged backgrounds succeed. This partnership combines investment with strategic and organisational development support, helping to strengthen our impact and set SOHK up for sustainable growth.

We are proud to be delivering long-term programmes that meaningfully reach hundreds of young people each year - but the societal need is vast. Our ambitious four-year strategic plan targets growth, aiming to bring our impactful programme to hundreds more young people each year.

“Despite the usual challenges that every education or sport for development charity faces, School of Hard Knocks really is unique. It is not so much what we deliver at a programme level (which is of course brilliant) but who we are as a team. If you are a values-led leader and love the idea of ‘team’, then School of Hard Knocks is the place for you.”

- Ken Cowen, Founder and outgoing CEO

The Role

The CEO is the public face and leader of SOHK, responsible for the overall strategic direction, vision, and management of the charity - ensuring SOHK meets its mission and strategic objectives while maintaining strong relationships with Trustees, staff, supporters, and the wider SOHK community. We’re looking for a mission-driven charity leader and effective fundraiser, capable of building a sustainable growth model.

Strategy and Direction

● Be the face and voice of the charity - its principal ambassador

● Lead the development and periodic review of SOHK’s strategy with the Trustees and Senior Management Team

● Translate the 2026-30 strategy into organisational priorities, plans, and goals

● Ensure safeguarding, wellbeing, and the lived experience of young people remain central to every decision and growth plan

Programme Delivery, Quality and Impact

● Hold a high bar for programme quality and outcomes for young people

● Line-manage and support the Director of Programmes, working with delivery teams and partners to build a world-class, evidence-based intervention

● Ensure SOHK can evidence the impact of its programmes, with insights feeding back into constant improvement

Income Generation, Fundraising and External Relations

● Lead income generation across trusts and foundations, corporate partnerships, individual giving, and challenges and events

● Line-manage and support the Head of Fundraising in executing a comprehensive fundraising strategy

● Hold senior relationships with funders and partners, building SOHK’s brand, reputation, and profile

Leading People, Culture and Operations

● Build and lead a high-performing Senior Management Team

● Foster a positive, inclusive, high-performing culture aligned with SOHK’s values

● Line-manage and support the Director of Finance & Operations, ensuring operational excellence

Governance and the Board

● Act as the primary link between the organisation and the Trustees

● Attend all Trustee meetings (held quarterly) and provide timely, accurate reporting

● Ensure compliance with all legal, regulatory, and Charity Commission requirements

About You

Essential

● Proven senior leadership experience in the charity, education, youth, or social impact sector - whether as CEO or as part of an executive team - including working directly with a Board of Trustees

● Demonstrated success in building or significantly growing an organisation, programme, or initiative

● A collaborative and values-led leadership style, with the ability to inspire trust, hold people to account, and build high-performing teams

● Strong track record of income generation, including securing significant funding from trusts, foundations, corporates, or major donors

● Experience of financial oversight, budgeting, and organisational planning at a senior level

● Strategic thinker, able to translate vision into clear plans and delivery

● Strong relationship-builder and communicator, confident with a wide range of stakeholders

Desirable

● Previous charity CEO experience - a bonus, but not essential; we know brilliant candidates come from a wide range of backgrounds

● Direct classroom, youth work, or education leadership experience

● Knowledge of the UK education system and youth policy landscape

● Experience of scaling a multi-site delivery organisation and working with local authorities

Personal Attributes

● Deep commitment to improving outcomes for young people, especially those facing disadvantage

● Resilient and persistent, able to work under pressure and navigate setbacks

● Collaborative, open, and reflective leader who seeks feedback and learns from it

Terms of Appointment

Contract type

Full-time, permanent

Location

Greater London, with offices in Edinburgh & Cardiff

Salary

£85,000 – £90,000 per year + £5,000 PRP

Reports to

Chair of the Board of Trustees

Direct reports

Director of Programmes; Head of Fundraising; Director of Finance & Operations

Travel

Regular UK travel, primarily to Edinburgh and Cardiff. Occasional evenings for stakeholder engagement and fundraising events

Trustee meetings

Quarterly, in London, in the evening, plus ad hoc subcommittees

Head of Commercial
Reference: AUG20260202
Location: Flexible in UK
Hours: Full-Time, 37.5 hours per week
Contract: Permanent
Salary: £72,605.00 - £77,517.00 Per Annum
Benefits: Pension Scheme, Life Assurance Scheme, 26 days' Annual Leave

Reporting to the Executive Board Director for Income, Technology and Communications The Head of Commercial is a strategically important senior leadership role responsible for shaping the RSPB's commercial future and maximising the contribution commercial activity makes to the organisation's income, strategic ambitions and long-term success.

Leading a diverse, multi-channel portfolio spanning Retail, E-commerce, Licensing, Wholesale and Food & Beverage, together with the critical enabling functions of Buying & Merchandising and Fulfilment, you will bring these areas together to deliver sustainable income, exceptional customer experiences, and long-term organisational value.

As a senior commercial leader with significant proven successful experience, you will set and drive the commercial strategy, identifying new opportunities for growth, innovation and partnership while ensuring the RSPB continues to evolve and thrive in a changing market.

You will harness customer insight, expertise and market understanding to strengthen income streams, expand audience reach and maximise the value of the RSPB brand.

Working across the organisation and influencing at senior level, you will ensure customer needs are at the heart of commercial decision-making. By connecting commercial opportunity with strategic ambition, you will drive sustainable growth, strengthen supporter engagement, and deliver outstanding results.

This is a unique opportunity to combine senior strategic commercial leadership with purpose, translating commercial success into meaningful organisational impact.

Essential skills, knowledge and experience:

• Experience leading a commercial, retail, ecommerce, trading or other income-generating function at a senior level, with responsibility for strategic direction and performance
• Experience managing multi-million-pound income and expenditure budgets, including forecasting, commercial performance analysis and investment decision-making.
• Experience developing and delivering commercial strategies, using commercial and financial insight to identify opportunities and make decisions that drive growth, profitability and sustainable income.
• Experience working across complex organisations or partnerships, building relationships and influencing senior stakeholders without relying on direct authority.
• Experience presenting complex performance, governance or strategic information to senior decision-makers, such as Boards, Trustees or Executive-level stakeholders.
• Experience negotiating and managing commercial partnerships and contracts, including identifying and managing associated commercial risks.
• Knowledge of retail, ecommerce and a range of other commercial or trading models, such as licensing, wholesale or food and beverage, and how these contribute to customer growth, experience and income generation
• Experience using customer or audience insight to inform commercial decisions, improve customer experience and support audience or supporter growth.
• Experience leading organisational change and improvement, introducing new approaches and delivering agreed strategic outcomes.
• Experience leading and developing multidisciplinary teams to deliver agreed objectives, including supporting individual and team performance and development
• Able to communicate complex commercial and financial information clearly and use evidence to influence senior stakeholders, support decision-making and build effective partnerships.

Additional Information

This is a Permanent Full-Time role for 37.5 hours per week.

Closing date: 23:59, Tuesday, 6th October 2026
We are looking to conduct first interviews for this position on 4th and 5th November.

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

We are committed to developing an inclusive and diverse RSPB, in which everyone feels supported, valued, and able to be their full selves. To achieve our vision of creating a world richer in nature, we need more people, and more diverse people, on nature’s side. People of colour and disabled people are currently underrepresented across the environment, climate, sustainability, and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled, we are particularly interested in receiving your application. Contact us to discuss any additional support you may need to complete your application.

The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

The RSPB is a licenced sponsor. this role is not eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship - the successful applicant will need to have a pre-existing Right to Work in the UK in order to be offered an employment contract.

In order to apply you will be required to upload a CV and complete an application form where you will have the opportunity to explain how you meet the set criteria above.

Contact us to discuss any additional support you may need to complete your application or if you require any reasonable adjustment.

No agencies please.

Work where it matters most, achieve what matters more

Be part of a team where passion meets purpose, as we work together where the challenge is greatest to change the lives and build the futures of children and young people.

We are excited to share an opportunity to join our central Transformation team as our Head of Marketing. In this role you will lead strategic marketing and brand development across the Trust, raising the profile and appeal of our schools to drive pupil numbers and attract brilliant candidates to work at Ormiston. You will lead the marketing team to support schools to develop and deliver marketing campaigns, manage their websites, and engage different audiences on social media.

You will also act as a strategic advisor to senior leaders across the Trust, and lead marketing for special projects such as new schools joining the trust and key trust-wide initiatives.

This is a home based, national role with regular travel to the Birmingham office, OAT academies and other locations as required.

About Ormiston Academies Trust

Our vision is to create a school system where every child thrives, regardless of background. Our people are at the heart of our approach – they are our greatest asset.

We exist to provide the best learning opportunities every day, in every school for every child. It is the people and teams in our Trust who make this a reality and ensure we have the greatest impact. If you join us at Ormiston, whatever your role, you can be sure of a role with purpose and meaning.

Ormiston, where every member of staff enjoys…

• The opportunity to build on the legacy of those who came before – being part of one of the longest standing Trusts, created with the sole purpose of enabling children and young people to thrive
• Working for a Trust nationally recognised for its impact on disadvantaged children – a rewarding, stimulating career where staff are challenged to be the best they can be, for the pupils we are proud to serve
• Being part of a team and community where you belong – receiving bespoke and holistic support from a well-resourced and ambitious network of experts and professionals that work at the heart of communities
• A supportive environment to grow your career – an extensive professional development programme, alongside flexible working arrangements and generous benefits

About you

You'll bring strong experience leading and managing a marketing team, with a proven track record of developing and delivering multi-channel marketing strategies and campaigns across digital, print and out-of-home. You'll be confident acting as a trusted adviser to senior leaders, including the CEO, Executive Office and Principals, translating organisational goals into effective marketing plans.

The ability to manage priorities in a busy, complex environment, working across multiple stakeholders, is critical to this role.

If you are passionate about making a difference and are ready to work in a challenging yet rewarding environment, we would love to hear from you.

Benefits that care for you

We value your hard work and dedication, and we're committed to ensuring you feel supported, both professionally and personally so that you are in the best position to make the most impact for the children and young people in our schools.

When you join us at Ormiston, you can be certain that your work will have purpose and meaning. You can also expect robust and holistic support from us to enable you to excel in your role.

You will have access to an attractive benefits package including:

• 30 days annual leave (rising to 32 days after 5 years' service)
• Generous pension and life cover
• Access to health and well-being programmes, including counselling service.
• Discounts on retail, travel, and leisure through our benefits platform.
• Free and confidential legal, tax and health 24/7 helpline.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Automatic pay progression.
• Flexible working arrangements.

And much more as part of a leading multi-academy trust.

If you have any questions about the role please contact our recruitment team. 

The closing date for applications is 25 September with interviews due to take place the week commencing  5 October 2026.

Early applications are encouraged as we reserve the right to close the vacancy early should a suitable candidate be found.

Residential & Commercial Property Manager

Hours: Minimum of 37.5 hours per week, normally Monday to Friday. Due to the nature of the role the working pattern may occasionally change to include evenings, weekends and Public Holidays, with reasonable notice provided or by prior agreement. This may be to support property inspections, tenant matters, or other operational requirements for example. TOIL will be provided for additional planned evening or weekend working in accordance with departmental arrangements.

Normal start and finish times may be reasonably adjusted with reasonable notice to meet operational requirements.

The role requires regular travel across the property portfolio and occasional travel to St James's Place, London, and other locations as required.

The Role

The Property Department is responsible for the facilities management and maintenance of the historic, residential and commercial properties belonging to the Rothschild Foundation and National Trust, including Waddesdon Manor, The Stables, Windmill Hill, the Five Arrows Hotel, The Bow, The Dairy, commercial and residential properties and various other smaller outbuildings, staff houses and general infrastructure.

The department is led by the Head of Property & Facilities Management, supported by the Facilities & Maintenance Manager, Residential & Commercial Property Manager and a team of skilled trade technicians, general facilities & maintenance operatives, grounds assistants and administrative and data support staff.

The Residential & Commercial Property Manager is responsible for the effective management, performance and development of the Rothschild Foundation's residential and commercial property portfolio, working within the strategic direction set by the Head of Property & Facilities Management.

What you will do

The role is responsible for maintaining high standards of landlord and property management, supporting optimal occupancy and rental income, ensuring appropriate legal and regulatory compliance, and providing a professional and responsive service to tenants and internal stakeholders.

The postholder line manages the Lettings Administrator and works closely with the Facilities & Maintenance Manager, Facilities & Maintenance Administrator, Property & Systems Data Lead, Finance and HR to ensure the effective management of the portfolio.

Key Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Portfolio Management & Strategy

• Work with the Head of Property & Facilities Management to develop and deliver the long-term strategy for the residential and commercial property portfolio.
• Manage the day-to-day performance of the residential and commercial portfolio, ensuring properties are managed effectively, professionally and in accordance with organisational objectives.
• Maintain oversight of occupancy, voids, rental performance and emerging portfolio risks, providing regular information and recommendations to the Head of Property & Facilities Management.
• Identify opportunities to improve the performance, condition, use and value of the portfolio and make recommendations for investment or improvement.
• Support property acquisitions, disposals, lease renewals and other portfolio changes as required, working with appropriate professional advisers.
• Prepare and contribute to relevant budgets, forecasts and longer-term property plans and monitor expenditure and income against agreed targets.

Residential Lettings & Tenancy Management

• Provide management oversight of the full residential lettings and tenancy lifecycle, ensuring properties are marketed, let and managed efficiently and in accordance with organisational policy and legal requirements.
• Line manage the Lettings Administrator, providing clear direction, regular one-to-one meetings, performance management, development support and appropriate oversight of workload and priorities.
• Ensure appropriate processes are in place for marketing, viewings, referencing, tenancy documentation, inventories, rent reviews, renewals, tenancy changes and check-out arrangements.
• Review recommendations relating to prospective tenants, rental values and tenancy arrangements and approve or escalate decisions in accordance with delegated authority.
• Maintain oversight of rent collection and arrears, working closely with Finance and ensuring concerns are identified and escalated promptly.
• Ensure tenant queries, complaints and tenancy-management matters are handled promptly, professionally and consistently.
• Maintain appropriate oversight of void properties and coordinate with Facilities & Maintenance colleagues to agree required works and support timely re-letting.

Staff Accommodation

• Provide property-management oversight of the organisation's staff accommodation portfolio, working closely with the Director of People and HR Department.
• Ensure the Lettings Administrator provides effective administration of staff accommodation, including Manor flats, National Trust Key Representative housing, Pathways Programme accommodation and other short-term or emergency accommodation.
• Ensure property, landlord, occupancy and compliance requirements relating to staff accommodation are appropriately managed.
• Work with the Director of People and/or Head of Property & Facilities Management on staff accommodation matters, recognising that employment-related eligibility, approvals, rental concessions and associated policy decisions sit outside the Lettings Administrator role and are determined in accordance with organisational policy.

Commercial Property Management

• Manage the day-to-day administration and performance of the commercial property portfolio, maintaining appropriate records of leases, licences, rent reviews, renewals and other key dates.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with commercial tenants and occupiers and act as a key point of contact for property-management matters.
• Coordinate lease events, rent reviews and other commercial property matters with external agents, valuers, solicitors and other professional advisers as required.
• Monitor rental performance, arrears, lease compliance and emerging risks and make recommendations to the Head of Property & Facilities Management.
• Support the effective management of commercial properties including the Five Arrows Hotel and The Bow where relevant to the landlord/property-management responsibilities of the Foundation.

Property Maintenance & Condition

• Work in close partnership with the Facilities & Maintenance Manager to agree priorities, capacity and workflows for planned and reactive works across the residential and commercial portfolio, balancing property and tenant requirements with available Facilities & Maintenance resources and wider departmental priorities.
• Agree appropriate timescales for works with the Facilities & Maintenance Manager before commitments are made to tenants or other stakeholders, and ensure priorities are reviewed where operational demands or available capacity change.
• Provide the Facilities & Maintenance Manager with relevant property, tenancy and access information to support effective planning and allocation of work.
• Maintain appropriate oversight of outstanding residential and commercial property works, working with the Facilities & Maintenance Manager and Facilities & Maintenance Administrator to ensure progress is communicated effectively to tenants and other stakeholders.
• Monitor property condition and identify emerging repair, investment or compliance requirements, escalating significant issues to the Head of Property & Facilities Management.
• Support property inspections, condition reviews and programmes of improvement as required.
• Escalate competing priorities, significant capacity constraints or unresolved issues to the Head of Property & Facilities Management where agreement cannot reasonably be reached.

Compliance & Risk

• Ensure the residential and commercial portfolio is managed in accordance with applicable landlord, property, housing and tenancy legislation and regulatory requirements.
• Maintain oversight of relevant property and tenancy compliance records, working closely with the Property & Systems Data Lead and Facilities & Maintenance colleagues to ensure information is accurate and up to date.
• Ensure appropriate processes are maintained for statutory and landlord requirements, including relevant safety certification, tenancy documentation, deposit and occupancy requirements where applicable.
• Keep abreast of changes in residential and commercial property legislation and good practice and advise the Head of Property & Facilities Management on implications for the portfolio.
• Identify, assess and escalate property-management risks and support the implementation of appropriate controls and mitigations.
• Work with the Facilities & Maintenance Manager and Health & Safety Manager to ensure responsibilities for property compliance, maintenance compliance and health and safety are clearly coordinated.

Stakeholder & Professional Relationships

• Develop and maintain positive and professional relationships with residential and commercial tenants, prospective tenants and occupiers.
• Work collaboratively with the Head of Property & Facilities Management, Facilities & Maintenance Manager, Facilities & Maintenance Administrator, Property & Systems Data Lead, Finance, HR and other internal stakeholders.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with external agents, valuers, solicitors, local authorities, contractors and other professional advisers.
• Represent the Rothschild Foundation professionally in property-management discussions and negotiations within the authority delegated to the role.
• Prepare reports, updates and property information for the Head of Property & Facilities Management and other stakeholders as required.
• Undertake occasional travel to St James's Place, London, and other locations as required in connection with the responsibilities of the role.

You will be a great fit if:

You’re a confident communicator and supportive manager who uses their judgement to identify risks and know when to seek advice or escalate issues. You’re an experienced residential property professional who enjoys managing lettings and tenancies, and navigating property legislation and compliance with confidence. You’re commercially minded and organised, with a good understanding of property maintenance, budgets and rental performance.

Your areas of knowledge and expertise that matter for this role: 

Essential

• Demonstrable experience of residential property management and the management of lettings and tenancies.
• Strong working knowledge of residential landlord and tenancy requirements and relevant property legislation.
• Experience of managing a varied property workload, including tenant relationships, rent reviews, compliance and property-management processes.
• Experience of supervising or line managing others.
• Good understanding of property maintenance and experience of working collaboratively with maintenance or facilities professionals to prioritise and coordinate works.
• Strong financial and commercial awareness, including the ability to monitor rental performance, budgets and value for money.
• Excellent organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities, deadlines and a varied workload.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to build effective relationships with tenants, colleagues, contractors and professional advisers.
• Good judgement and the ability to identify risk, make recommendations and escalate matters appropriately.
• Strong IT skills and confidence using property-management systems and standard business applications.
• A full UK driving licence is essential.

Desirable

• Experience of commercial property management, including leases, licences, rent reviews and lease events.
• Experience of managing a mixed residential and commercial property portfolio.
• Experience within a rural estate, heritage, charity or similarly complex multi-use environment.
• A relevant professional property qualification or membership, for example ARLA Propertymark, RICS or equivalent.
• Experience of staff, tied or other employer-provided accommodation.
• Experience of working with historic or listed properties.

About Lloyds Bank Foundation 

Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales is an independent charitable foundation, backed by Lloyds Banking Group and the people within it. We want everyone to be in a good place - personally, in a home that’s a good place to live, and in a community that’s a good place to belong. 

We play our role by connecting and catalysing community-led change, providing the money, time, tools and connections that build organisations’ capacity and capability, to make people’s lives better and their communities stronger. 

We back people and communities across England and Wales, to make that happen, because when you back brilliant people, brilliant things happen. Our communities are full of ambitious, energetic and determined people stepping up to make their neighbours’ lives better and their communities grow stronger. Day in, day out. 

About the Role

Contract:Full-time, permanent (we are open to conversations about flexibility so please ask)

Location:Remote, with significant travel across all corners the UK and monthly visits to our London office

This is an exciting new opportunity in the Strategic Communications Team at the Foundation.

You’ll play a key role setting up and organising a varied programme of visits, to engage more people in our mission and ultimately help more people in England and Wales to say “I’m in a good place,” “My home is a good place to live,” and “My community is a good place to belong”.

Bringing strong organisational, relationship-building abilities and creativity, you’ll arrange visits for senior stakeholders – MPs, philanthropists, trustees, partners, and executives from Lloyds Banking Group, to community-led groups we’re funding and local areas driving systems change.

Through thoughtful engagement, you'll build lasting relationships and raise awareness of social issues, to ensure visits generate meaningful impact.

You will support colleagues and partners to maximise opportunities, follow up actions, and effectively generate and use content, stories, videos and images to tell powerful stories.

Importantly, you’ll ensure community-led organisations experience these visits as supportive and beneficial, and that their voices are centred in all that occurs and follows, aligning with our mission to foster community-led change.

About You

You are highly organised, with experience coordinating events, or visits involving

multiple stakeholders. 

Alongside strong communication skills, with an understanding of how to apply

organisational narratives to local activity, you’ll have the ability to balance competing priorities.

You will bring experience partnering across teams and directorates along with excellent

relational skills to build trust and rapport with internal and external stakeholders.

How to Apply 

Please click ‘Apply for this job’ to be redirected to the application form. 

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion 

We hold Disability Confident Employer status (Level 2) and are working towards full status by 2027. This means that if you're a disabled applicant and your CV and application answers clearly demonstrate that you meet the essential criteria for the role, we will invite you to interview. 

More broadly, we are committed to building a diverse team that reflects the communities and people we work with. We believe that diversity of background, experience and perspective makes us stronger and helps us make better decisions. We actively welcome applications from people who are under-represented in the charity sector, including people from Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic communities, disabled people, and those with experience of the issues our funded charities work to address. 

Key Dates 

Closing Date: Monday 21 September 2026, 12 noon

First Interviews:  Tuesday 29 September 2026 (online)

Second Interviews:  Tuesday 6 October 2026 (in person – London Office)

#Visits And Communications Officer #Visits Officer #Communications Officer #Visits Coordinator #Communications Coordinator #Visits And Communications

About RMC

RMC Charity (RMC) is an established, award winning, regional charity working across the West Midlands to support newcomers and people facing barriers to accessing services, rights and opportunities.

RMC is a growing and ambitious organisation. As we continue to develop our services, partnerships and organisational infrastructure, we are strengthening the support available to our Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and Trustee Board.

We’re also embarking on an exciting new asset development project, which will represent a significant long-term investment in the organisation and its future. The project is expected to be sizeable and complex, involving a range of external parties, professional advisers, stakeholders and partners, and will develop over the next two years and beyond.

The Senior Executive Assistant will play an important role in supporting the SLT through this period, including helping to coordinate meetings, information, actions and communications involving external parties. The postholder will need to bring structure, organisation and follow-through to a lengthy and evolving programme of work, ensuring that key actions, decisions, commitments and deadlines are effectively tracked.

We are looking for an exceptional Senior Executive Assistant who can operate at a senior level, bring structure and discipline to executive and governance activity, and act as a trusted partner to the SLT and the Board.

This is not simply an administrative role. The postholder will be an important part of how RMC ensures that decisions are followed through, commitments are delivered, information flows effectively and governance remains strong.

About the Role:

The Senior Executive Assistant will provide high-level executive, governance and organisational support to the SLT, working particularly closely with the CEO and Executive Director of Services.

The postholder will manage complex diaries and relationships, support the effective operation of the Trustee Board, prepare high-quality information and reports, and ensure that important actions and commitments do not get lost.

The successful candidate will have the confidence to work with senior leaders and managers, trustees and external stakeholders while maintaining the highest levels of discretion and professionalism.

They will also be someone who is prepared to "keep the executives honest" constructively challenging where appropriate, identifying gaps, following up on commitments and helping the SLT to anticipate and manage organisational risks.

Key Responsibilities

1. Trustee Board and Governance

• Coordinate the effective administration and operation of Trustee Board meetings, including scheduling meetings, preparing agendas and papers, circulating documentation and managing follow-up actions
• Attend Trustee Board meetings and produce accurate, concise and timely minutes and records of decisions
• Maintain an effective system for tracking Board decisions and actions and ensure that these are followed through
• Act as an important conduit between the Trustee Board and SLT, ensuring appropriate information flows between governance and executive leadership
• Support the SLT in maintaining an effective overview of governance requirements, deadlines, decisions and actions
• Maintain appropriate governance records and documentation and support the preparation of relevant papers
• Identify gaps, inconsistencies or emerging governance issues and appropriately flag these to the SLT
• Maintain absolute confidentiality in relation to Board discussions and sensitive organisational matters 

2. Executive Support and Diary Management

• Provide high-level diary management and executive support to the CEO and Executive Director of Services
• Proactively manage complex and competing priorities, identifying diary conflicts and resolving them before they become problems
• Help executives prioritise meetings and commitments according to organisational importance and strategic priorities
• Ensure executives are properly prepared for important meetings by coordinating papers, briefings, agendas and relevant information
• Arrange travel, accommodation, meeting logistics and expenses where required
• Manage meeting schedules involving internal teams, trustees, funders, partners, commissioners and other external stakeholders
• Act as an appropriate first point of contact on behalf of the SLT, maintaining positive and professional relationships
• Support the SLT in coordinating the new asset development project, which will involve a significant programme of work over the next two years and require engagement with a range of external parties
• Coordinate meetings and communications with external professionals, partners, funders, and other parties involved in the asset project
• Maintain an overview of key milestones, deadlines, and dependencies associated with the project and ensure that the relevant members of the SLT are appropriately briefed
• Ensure important commitments, deadlines and follow-up actions are tracked and completed as well as anticipate the needs of the Executives and proactively identify issues before they arise

3. Executive Information and Reporting

• Draft, edit and coordinate reports, briefing papers, presentations and other executive-level documentation
• Compile information from across the organisation and turn it into clear, concise and useful briefings, identifying areas requiring further consideration and raise these appropriately
• Prepare agendas and supporting information for SLT, Senior Management Team (SMT) and other senior meetings
• Attend relevant meetings and produce precise, action-focused minutes and records
• Support the preparation of information for strategy sessions, appraisals and organisational reviews
• Ensure that information presented to senior leaders is accurate, appropriately sourced and clearly communicated

4. Leadership Accountability and Organisational Follow-Through

A key part of this role will be ensuring that decisions and commitments made by the SLT translate into action.

The postholder will;

• Maintain oversight of key leadership and senior management commitments and actions
• Track commitments made to staff, service users, trustees, partners and other stakeholders
• Prompt senior leaders and managers where actions or deadlines are approaching or have not been completed
• Identify gaps between agreed decisions and implementation
• Constructively challenge where commitments appear to be at risk of being missed
• Help the SLT maintain visibility of emerging organisational risks, issues and dependencies
• Support the SLT to maintain oversight of the asset development project, ensuring that key actions, deadlines and dependencies are captured and followed through
• Help coordinate the flow of information between the SLT and the range of external parties involved in the asset project, ensuring that requests, actions and decisions are appropriately followed up
• Help the SLT maintain visibility of emerging organisational and project risks, issues and dependencies
• Escalate concerns appropriately and proportionately
• Support a culture of accountability, transparency and delivery

This will require judgement and courage. The successful candidate must be comfortable respectfully challenging senior colleagues when something does not look right, while maintaining trust and confidentiality.

5. Relationships and Communication

• Communicate confidently and professionally with people at all levels of the organisation
• Contribute to the existing environment where colleagues feel able to share concerns, provide candid information and challenge decisions appropriately
• Handle sensitive conversations with empathy, discretion and objectivity
• Represent the SLT professionally when communicating with internal and external stakeholders
• Maintain appropriate boundaries and confidentiality at all time

Person Specification:

Essential Criteria:

Executive support and organisation

• Minimum 5 years’ experience of providing high-level executive, senior administrative or governance support
• Excellent organisational and time-management skills
• Ability to manage multiple competing priorities and complex schedules
• Exceptional attention to detail and ability to work accurately under pressure
• Experience preparing professional reports, briefings, minutes and correspondence
• Strong written and verbal communication skills 

Governance

• Understanding of effective governance and the relationship between trustees and senior leadership
• Experience supporting Boards, committees or senior-level meetings
• Ability to understand complex information and identify actions, risks and gaps
• Strong understanding of confidentiality and appropriate information handling

Technology

• Strong proficiency in Microsoft 365, particularly Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Teams
• Confidence using CRM systems, digital collaboration platforms and online meeting tools
• Ability to use technology to improve organisation, information management and workflow

Judgement and Discretion

• Demonstrable ability to handle highly confidential and sensitive information
• Excellent professional judgement and understanding of when information should be shared, withheld or escalated
• Ability to remain calm, balanced and objective in difficult or sensitive situations

Suitable Candidate Leadership Profile

We are particularly interested in people who demonstrate the following qualities:

• High Courage - You will need the confidence to ask difficult questions, challenge assumptions and respectfully tell senior colleagues when something needs attention
• Deep Empathy - You will understand that leadership decisions affect real people. You will listen carefully, understand different perspectives and approach sensitive situations with humanity
• Sharp Objectivity - You will be able to separate facts from assumptions, remain impartial and provide senior leaders with an honest and clear view of an issue – even when that view may be uncomfortable
• Strategic Thinking - You will understand the bigger picture. You will not simply manage diaries and actions; you will understand why they matter, how they connect to RMC's priorities and where a missed action or emerging issue could create wider organisational risk

What Success Looks Like

Within this role, success will mean:

• The CEO and Executive Director of Services are well organised, properly briefed and able to focus on strategic priorities
• Trustee Board meetings are well planned, professional and supported by accurate information and records
• Board and SLT decisions are translated into clear actions and followed through
• Important commitments do not get lost
• Risks, gaps and emerging issues are identified early and appropriately escalated
• Information provided to senior leaders is accurate, concise and useful
• Internal and external relationships are handled professionally and with discretion
• The SLT has a trusted partner who can provide challenge as well as support
• RMC's governance and executive functions operate with greater consistency, discipline and accountability

The Person We Are Looking For

We are looking for someone who is more than an administrator.

You will be highly organised, but also intellectually curious. You will be discreet, but not passive. You will be supportive of senior leaders, but willing to challenge them. You will be empathetic, but able to remain objective. You will be comfortable dealing with detail while keeping sight of the wider strategic picture.

Above all, you will be someone the SLT and Trustee Board can trust completely, someone who will see what needs to be done, make sure it happens, and have the courage to speak up when it doesn't.

Flexibility 

In order to deliver the stated aims of this post, a degree of flexibility is needed and the post holder may be required to perform work not specifically referred to above. This could include data, administrative and/or project support to other cross-organisational departments. Such duties will fall within the scope of the job within the appropriate pay grade. The job description will therefore be subject to periodic review with the post holder to ensure it accurately reflects the duties that are being performed.

Equal Opportunities

We're an equal opportunity employer, which means we'll consider all suitably qualified applicants regardless of gender identity or expression, ethnic origin, nationality, religion or beliefs, age, sexual orientation, disability status or any other protected characteristic. We recruit and develop our people based on merit and their passion for creating better outcomes, and we're committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Closing Date:  Thursday 1^st October 2026

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, if we receive enough suitable applications to take forward to interview prior to the published closing date.

Please note that RMC is not a sponsoring organisation. If your visa requires an extension within the next 12 months with the support of employer sponsorship, the RMC Charity is unable to provide assistance with this.