Associate director jobs in cardiff

Senior Research Advisor

We’re looking for a credible, strategic, and impact-driven individual to join the organisation at a pivotal moment for stroke research and improvement, in this remote working role.

Position: CE374 Senior Research Advisor

Location: Home-based, UK, Nationwide. However, occasional travel will be required as part of this role (may include team meetings or other work-related meetings)

Salary: Circa £60,000 per annum, negotiable depending on experience (inner London weighting £3,950 per annum or outer London weighting £2,275 per annum may be applied in accordance with where you live)

Hours: 35 hours per week

Contract: This is a 12 month fixed-term contract.

Benefits: 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays (this will increase with service up to 30 days, full time equivalent) cashback and discount scheme, employee assistance programme, learning and development, pension scheme, Life Assurance, Eye Care vouchers, Long Service Award, Tax-free childcare, Health Cash Plan, Working Pattern Agreement, flexible working opportunities available.

Closing Date: 7 July 2025. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role.

Interview Date: 17 July 2025

Interviews will be held via video conferencing. Please let us know if this will present any challenges when you email your application.

The Role

Reporting to the Associate Director of Systems Engagement, the Senior Research Advisor will take the lead in translating the Association’s refreshed research strategy into action, shaping its implementation plan and designing the governance and delivery mechanisms needed to ensure its success. This includes evolving funding schemes, aligning internal systems and team capabilities, and scoping the future role in real-time quality improvement and implementation science.

This is a rare opportunity to influence a future-facing research and improvement agenda in a leading UK health charity. The Senior Research Advisor will act as a senior advisor and thought partner to the leadership team, bringing expertise in applied research, translational science, and funding strategy. You will play a central role in shaping credibility and influence as a system leader, ensuring the Association drives forward a culture of testing, learning, and scaling what works.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Leading the development of a robust implementation plan for the Association’s refreshed research strategy, including the structures, processes, and partnerships needed for successful delivery.
• Redesigning funding schemes to support translational research, implementation, and real-world outcomes.
• Strengthening research governance and embedding QI and research into organisational strategy.
• Providing senior-level insight and support for the research and health systems insight and engagement teams.
• Positioning the Association as a visible and credible actor in stroke research and improvement.

About You

You will have:

• A PhD and significant senior-level experience in health research leadership.
• Proven ability to develop research strategies and funding mechanisms that accelerate translation and implementation.
• Strong system leadership credentials, with a track record of influencing across sectors.
• Deep knowledge of stroke, cardiovascular disease or neuroscience.
• A confident and flexible approach to agile working, with the ability to thrive in fast-paced, evolving environments.

This is a home-based role with occasional travel required.

To fulfil the role, you must be a resident of the UK and have the right to work in the UK.

Please submit your CV, (including details of your current address), and a supporting statement of no more than two pages, demonstrating how you meet the person specification and what you bring to the role in terms of your skills and experience.

If you are applying under the Disability Confident scheme, please indicate this in your supporting statement.

Finding strength through support

The organisation is the only charity in the UK providing lifelong support for all stroke survivors and their families. Providing tailored support to tens of thousands of stroke survivors each year. This support includes one-to-one and group support, funding vital scientific research into stroke prevention, acute treatment, recovery and long-term care, and campaigning to secure the best care for everyone affected by stroke. 

They are here for stroke survivors and their loved ones, from the moment they enter the new and frightening post-stroke world, supporting them every step of the way as they find their strength and their way back to life.

It’s only thanks to the generosity of supporters and donors that they can provide vital support. 

The Association is driven by an ambition to improve the lives of everyone affected by stroke. This means they’re determined to create an equitable and inclusive workplace that benefits from the difference, and thrives on the diversity, of our people. Guided by an approach to solving inequity in stroke, the team are prioritising listening to, and learning from, lived experience across the charity.

The charity are working to improve the representation of this lived experience at all levels within the Association and are eager to recruit applicants from a variety of communities and backgrounds. We are keen to receive applications from people affected by stroke, people of colour, members of LGBT+ communities, and disabled people because these identities and experiences are underrepresented and would add enormous value to how the organisation work.

A Disability Confident employer, the organisation is making great progress focusing on flexible working, reasonable adjustments and access to work. The charity has a variety of staff network groups and are committed to continuously improving diversity and inclusion efforts. If you have questions, or access needs, we’re happy to discuss any support and adjustments we can make throughout the recruitment process so that you’re able to contribute your best in a way that meets your needs.

You may also have experience in areas such as Research, Researcher, Research Advisor, Senior Researcher, Senior Research Advisor,  Lead Researcher, Lead Research Advisor, Health Research, Health Researcher, Health Research Advisor, Senior Health Researcher, Senior Health Research Advisor. #INDNFP

PLEASE NOTE: This role is being advertised by NFP People on behalf of the organisation.

Employer Policy Specialist

Working Hours: 0.6FTE (full-time equivalent 37.5 hours). There is a degree of flexibility surrounding the working hours which will be determined by the demands of the role.

Salary: 0.6FTE: £40,658 (the full-time equivalent salary is: £67,763).

Start Date: 1st September 2025.

Reporting to: Director of Public Affairs & Policy

Deadline for applications: Friday 18th July 2025, 5pm

Interviews: Interviews will be conducted online on Thursday 24th July

Overview

The DfE has nominated CST as the employer representative for academy trusts for specific purposes (for example, the school support staff negotiating body).  The postholder will be required to work directly with the Department for Education at a senior level to undertake the duties associated with this employer representative role.  CST also wishes to strengthen its support to members on wider matters of employer policy. There is significant scope to shape and develop this role.

Key Responsibilities

• Have a detailed understanding of the terms and conditions of employment of teaching and support staff and the workforce issues affecting the education sector, particularly those influencing recruitment and retention of staff.

• The ability to build relationships with key stakeholders (members, senior DfE officials and ministers) and work closely with other employer representative organisations.

• Working closely with the CEO and Deputy CEO, build relationships at senior level with trade unions (leadership, teacher and support staff unions).

• Lead on developing CST’s employer policy and guidance, working with our members and commanding their support and respect, and working closely with the policy team.

• Support the Chief Executive, Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Public Affairs and Policy to influence and respond to government policy in respect of employer policy, including drafting responses to government consultations and being our representative on the DfE’s formally constituted groups.

• Provide professional support and guidance to members on matters relating to employer policy, within the restrictions of what we are insured to do as a professional body.

• Support our HR professional community.

• Speak with authority at events and conferences as CST’s nominated representative on employer policy.

• Offer support to the wider CST policy team in other areas that fall within the postholder’s experience or expertise. This may include occasionally deputising for other team members for example covering for annual leave or sickness absence.

• Any other duties and responsibilities that may be delegated by the Chief Executive, Deputy Chief Executive or Director of Public Affairs and Policy from time to time.

Essential Skills and Experience

• Likely educated to degree level (or holding a similar professional qualification or experience) with significant knowledge and experience of employment matters within the education sector and employer policy.

• The ideal candidate will have experience working at senior level likely within an educational, policy or consultancy setting. Knowledge of schools and the trust sector is essential as is the ability to respond to issues in a way which conveys the practical realities of working in schools.

• A sound understanding of the differences between academy trusts and the maintained sector.

• Secure knowledge of legislation, regulations and policy that affect school trusts.

• Authority and gravitas with the ability to speak up at meetings with senior officials with the required diplomacy and at all times with the members’ interests in mind.

• People-centred, with excellent relational skills, adept at forming and maintaining positive relationships with colleagues, members and senior external stakeholders (including policy makers, employer representative organisations and trade unions).

• Output focused, able to execute a range of communications across channels efficiently.

• Fluent and precise, an excellent communicator who writes well.

• The ability to analyse detail and distil key points, identifying matters of concern or interest to school trusts.

• Highly organised, with the ability to prioritise and work to tight deadlines, including turning around high-quality responses to members and DfE in short timescales.

• Someone who embodies the Nolan Principles and acts with integrity and discretion.

• Aligned with CST’s aims to promote education for public benefit.

• Skilled at working remotely as part of a close-knit team. Whilst this position is remote (home-based) there will be the requirement to attend in person meetings from time to time.

NACCOM is recruiting a new permanent External Affairs Manager to lead the work of our small but highly impactful External Affairs team.

About the role: 

NACCOM is a national network of over 135 frontline organisations and charities across the UK, working together to end destitution amongst people seeking asylum, refugees and other migrants who aren’t able to access public funds because of their immigration status.

We do this by campaigning collectively for a fairer, more humane immigration system that doesn’t leave people destitute, and by sharing our learning, innovation, and resources across our membership to increase the level of accommodation provision and support the network is able to provide.

Join our charity at a pivotal moment. As our External Affairs Manager, you’ll sit at the heart of a high-performing, fully remote team, ensuring that migrant homelessness and destitution is high on the agenda. You will lead and mentor a talented External Affairs team, amplifying NACCOM’s voice as the UK’s expert voice on how the asylum and immigration system drives homelessness and destitution. 

With our 20th-anniversary milestone and a bold new organisational strategy on the horizon, you’ll seize fresh opportunities to deepen our influence. Working hand-in-hand with frontline members, people with lived experience, and high-profile partners, you will deliver sharp, evidence-led campaigns and projects that put migrant homelessness at the top of policy and media agendas. 

A strong aptitude for communications and campaigns, and an understanding of how that works alongside policy and research to underpin the external affairs function, is vital.

This role is for a dynamic, collaborative advocate who is passionate about social justice. If you’re ready to turn insight into impact — shaping narratives, forging alliances, and driving systemic change—we’d love to welcome you to NACCOM. 

- - - - -

Key role information:

Hours: Full-Time (35 hours) or Part-Time (28 hours) per week 

Salary: Starting salary £43,000 annual FTE (plus £4,000 London Weighting if applicable) 

Leave: 25 days per annum plus Bank Holidays (England and Wales) pro rata plus additional concessionary days off between Christmas and New Year 

Pension:NACCOM will contribute 6% of your gross salary 

Additional benefits: flexible working hours, wellbeing time, wellbeing practice and Calm App

Contract: Permanent 

Location: Home-based plus travel - all in the UK (approx 5 days per month). Opportunity to work part-time in a members’ office or a co-working space. 

Responsible to: Director 

- - - - -

Job purpose:

The External Affairs Manager will work closely with the Director and provide vital support to NACCOM and its members by: 

• Ensuring the strategic planning, management and alignment of communications, policy, research, campaigns, and advocacy as part of the External Affairs function at NACCOM. 

• Ensuring NACCOM’s external affairs functions feed from and into our network development work and our Community Ambassador / Research programme 

• Growing and safeguarding NACCOM’s brand identity, integrity and strategic positioning across all our external channels, networks and audiences. 

• Line-managing and supporting the Policy and Research Co-ordinator, Community Research Facilitator and part-time Communications Co-ordinator (currently covered by a freelancer) as well as managing any external consultants NACCOM works with across the External Affairs function. 

• Along with the Director, acting as spokesperson for NACCOM.

• Overseeing the spend against budget for External Affairs-related work. 

• Representing NACCOM at key, high-level meetings and coalitions, including with journalists, decision-makers and partners. 

• Actively supporting a culture of collaboration, support and mutual respect at NACCOM and across the membership network.

For more information about the role, including person specification, please download the Job Description. 

Recruitment timescales: 

• Tuesday 8 July 2025 at 23.59: Deadline for applications

• Wednesday 23 and Thursday 24 July 2025: Stage one interviews held online as a Zoom call.

• Wednesday 30 July 2025: Stage two interviews with team, ideally in person but possibly online. 

Head of Retail and FOOD Services

Department: Directorate of Development and External Affairs

Salary: Starting at £47,264, rising to £54,728 FTE per annum + £480 home-based allowance FTE per annum

Location: Homebased with weekly national travel 

Hours: 37 hours per week (full-time)

We offer flexible working arrangements - please see below for more details. 

Contract: Permanent

Family Action & the Role’s Impact:

At Family Action we support people through change, challenge or crisis. It’s what we’ve done for over 150 years. We protect children, support young people and adults and offer direct, practical help to families and communities. 

We see first-hand the power of family to shape lives, for better or worse, so we speak up for the importance of family in national and local policymaking, amplify family voices and represent the changing needs of families in the UK today. 

This is an exciting opportunity to join our team as the Head of Retail and FOOD Services. This is a unique opportunity to lead and innovate in a role that combines strategic leadership, operational excellence, and community impact.

Main Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement a multi-channel retail and food services strategy, including business planning, risk assessment, and performance management to increase net profit and service impact.
• Lead on budgeting, financial forecasting, and P&L management. Identify and develop new income-generating opportunities, including grants and tenders.
• Provide strategic leadership to geographically dispersed teams, ensuring effective recruitment, support and training of staff and volunteers.

Main Requirements 

• Educated to degree level or above in a relevant sector. 
• Demonstrable senior retail management knowledge and experience in managing complex projects, leading teams, and delivering measurable outcomes.
• Proven track record in income growth, financial planning, and managing budgets.

Benefits: 

• an annual paid leave entitlement of 30 working days plus bank holidays
• up to 6% matched-pension contributions
• enhanced paid sick leave and paid family leave provisions
• eye care and winter flu jabs vouchers
• cycle to work scheme
• investing in your professional development with ongoing quality training and career development opportunities

We are forward looking, ambitious and committed to continuous improvement. We are a people focused, can-do organisation, which strives for excellence in all we do and operates with mutual respect.

To Apply:

• Apply via the Family Action Careers Hub linked to this advert 

• Closing Date: 7th July at 23:59

Interviews are scheduled to take place from 16th-22nd July 2025.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion:

We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that candidates may need during the recruitment process, and you will be asked whether you require any adjustments if shortlisted for interview. We also make reasonable adjustments on the job, where required.

We are committed to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion in all that we do and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Intersectionality is important to us and we particularly welcome applications from ethnically diverse communities, LGBTQIA+ candidates and disabled candidates because we are committed to increasing the representation of these groups at Family Action. We know that greater diversity will lead to even greater results for families and children and strive for our workforce to be truly representative of the diverse communities we support. We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role and will reimburse your travel cost if you attend an interview.

*Ordinarily Family Action appoints new starters at the starting point of the salary scale (with subsequent annual pay progression), unless you have experience that would justify appointment further up the salary scale or there are any other exceptional reasons.

We're recruiting for an Engagement Lead, to work in our Innovation & Practice team. 

As Engagement Lead you will play a central role in our team – developing, leading and managing significant projects for us, including citizens’ assemblies, citizens’ juries, deliberative workshops, and participatory processes. You will need to have a good understanding of deliberative processes, have excellent project leadership and project management skills, as well the ability to build and maintain good relationships with a wide variety of people, including members of the public, project partners, colleagues and decision-makers.

The role sits in the Innovation and Practice team that designs and delivers high quality practical engagement work leading to better decisions, more engaged citizens and helps address critical challenges of our society. We are constantly balancing high quality standards with innovation to ensure that we stay at the cutting edge and that our engagement processes break down entrenched inequalities of power.

You will be a proven project leader looking to make your next move and develop your leadership skills and profile in this interesting and important area of public participation work. We are particularly interested in candidates who have experience in the design and delivery of large scale deliberative engagement projects.