Business development and community engagement officer jobs

Fundraising Systems Coordinator

We're seeking a Fundraising Systems Coordinator to coordinate fundraising operations and help transform young lives through music.

Position: Fundraising Systems Coordinator

Location: Gloucester/hybrid (minimum of 2 days in the office per week)

Hours: Full-time or Part Time, 0.8-1.0 FTE (30-37.5hrs week)

Salary: £28,000 - £32,000 pro rata

Contract: Permanent

Closing Date: Sunday 1st June, 5pm

The Role

As Fundraising Systems Coordinator, you’ll play a vital role in ensuring the smooth running of the charity’s fundraising operations. Working closely with the Head of Fundraising, you’ll manage a diverse portfolio of funders, grants, and donations, enabling them to meet fundraising targets and support young people across Gloucestershire.

Key responsibilities include:

• Supporting the implementation and management of a new CRM system to streamline fundraising operations
• Coordinating the submission and reporting of over 80 funding applications annually
• Managing communications and reporting processes for active grants
• Maintaining accurate donor and funder records in line with GDPR
• Leading funder stewardship, ensuring regular tailored communication with funders
• Researching new funding opportunities and presenting findings to senior leadership
• Writing small funding applications using existing resources (with support provided)
• Coordinating a small programme of fundraising cultivation events
• Providing administrative support to the fundraising team, including organising meetings, taking minutes, and staying informed on sector developments

About You

The ideal candidate will have experience of using project management tools/workflows/CRM systems, understand the importance of data in demonstrating impact and be able to manage an ever-evolving range of priorities, deadlines and specific funder requirements.

Essential skills and experience include:

• Strong IT and systems skills, including CRM and project management tools
• Experience in fundraising operations, grant management or similar roles
• Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail
• The ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines effectively
• Strong written and interpersonal communication skills
• Based within commuting distance of Gloucester

It would be a bonus if you also have:

• Experience in fundraising stewardship or stakeholder engagement
• Knowledge of Gift Aid and UK giving patterns
• Experience working in the arts, youth, voluntary or community sectors

About the Organisation

With a mission to inspire and transform young lives through music, the organisation aims to break down barriers and build confidence, self-belief, and motivation among young people, enabling them to reach their full potential in both music and their lives. This work focuses on inclusivity and diversity, engaging with under-represented young people, particularly those from challenging circumstances.

Benefits include:

• Pension is 3% of basic salary
• Flexible working
• Lots of staff training and development opportunities
• Cycle to work scheme and a shower at work so we encourage you to be active
• Enhanced Maternity policy
• Wellbeing and social programme for staff
• Annual leave entitlement: 22 days plus bank holidays plus all the days between Christmas and New Year
• Staff can request additional unpaid leave throughout the year
• A really amazing staff team and culture

You may also have experience in areas such as Fundraising Officer, Development Coordinator, Grants Officer, Fundraising Administrator, Development Assistant, CRM Coordinator, Philanthropy Assistant etc. #INDNFP

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

Retina UK is a national charity based in Buckingham that funds cutting edge research into inherited sight loss conditions and offers dedicated support and information to the thousands of people living with these conditions.

We are looking for the right person to support, develop and coordinate a variety of areas of activity within the Income Generation team.

Key responsibilities:

* Assist with the administration and stewardship of supporters across the various income areas and maintain and improve supporter retention and engagement. Areas to support with will include: Community Fundraising, Trading, Challenge Events, Lottery, Legacies and Major Donors.

* Provide an exemplary stewardship programme for existing supporters whilst also developing new ideas to engage new supporters.

* Utilise the charity database, carry out regular analysis, generate reports as requested, ensure records and folders are accurate and up to date and provide regular feedback to the Head of Income Generation.

* Conduct regular supporter research, as requested, to ensure Retina UK remains innovative with its fundraising activities. 

* Support with updating the database and printing letters for the Trusts, Foundations and Corporates proposals, reports and thank you letters.

* Ensure that our webpages are regularly updated with new events, ways of getting involved, photographs, case studies and impact quotes.

* Liaise with venues, supporters, exhibitors and attendees ahead of fundraising events and activities, including our Conferences, Sight Village and key challenge events, including London Marathon.

* Thank supporters in the appropriate manner and update and refresh supporter letter templates quarterly to effectively communicate the value of donor contributions. Mix up our thanking methods – calls, letters, emails – as appropriate.

* Take a proactive approach in guiding supporters and potential fundraisers on how they can be involved with Retina UK.  Offer clear advice on fundraising opportunities and ensure incoming enquiries are directed to relevant activities that align with their interests and needs, by staying up to date on our products and ways they get can involved.

* Work collaboratively to maintain an efficient and practical administrative process and arrange, attend and take minutes at Income Generation team meetings as and when required.

* Any other duties as reasonably requested by the Head of Income Generation, Senior Management Team and Chief Executive.

Specifications (E = essential, D = desirable):

Skills & Experience

Minimum of 1 year working in a similar role - E                                 

Working in a small team - D                                                                 

Educated to ‘A’ level standard or commensurate experience - E

IT literate and highly adept in the use of MS Office Suite - E

Familiar with email and internet - E

High standard of written and verbal English and grammar - E

Database experience - E                                                                         

 Personal Attributes

Confident, polite and cheerful telephone manner - E                         

Quick learner able to act on initiative and in the absence of managers - E                                                                                           

An eye for detail and a flair for organisation - E                                     

Ability to empathise with people with disabilities (particularly visual impairment) - E                                                                                   

Able to manage a busy workload - E                                                   

Commitment

Empathy with Retina UK’s aims and objectives - E                         

Willing to live Retina UK’s values - E     

Lead a movement of hope and healing. Transform lives. Build a brand that truly matters.
Are you a strategic storyteller and purpose-driven leader ready to inspire action and grow a globally recognised charity brand?

Mercy Ships UK is on a mission — to double income, triple volunteer engagement, and reach even more patients across sub-Saharan Africa with free, life-changing surgery. As our new Head of Brand and Communications, you won’t just manage messaging — you’ll shape how the world sees and supports this bold, faith-rooted vision of medical transformation.

This is your chance to:

• Craft campaigns that touch hearts and spark action

• Lead a creative, high-performing team with integrity and innovation

• Elevate the voice of a charity changing the narrative on global healthcare

• Collaborate with global teams to build a brand rooted in love, service, and excellence

We’re not looking for someone who ticks boxes. We want a communications visionary who believes in the power of storytelling, knows how to make a message stick, and is energised by ambitious goals.

If that sounds like you — and you’re ready to be part of something bigger — we’d love to hear from you.

At The King’s Trust, we’re on a mission to help young people thrive—and technology plays a vital role in making that happen. We’re looking for a IT Service Owner- (Fundraising) to lead the way in ensuring our fundraising systems and technology are optimised, effective, and aligned with our long-term strategy.

In this role, you’ll own the end-to-end delivery of fundraising technology solutions, collaborating with stakeholders to shape and implement a service that supports our fundraising teams, enhances supporter engagement, and drives revenue growth.

What You’ll Do:

 Lead the strategy, development, and optimisation of fundraising technology

• Work with stakeholders to ensure our systems support fundraising excellence
• Ensure our fundraising tech is scalable, secure, and future-proof
• Identify and mitigate risks while ensuring best-in-class data governance
• Keep on top of emerging fundraising technologies and digital trends
• Align fundraising technology with Finance, Delivery and People systems and overall Enterprise Architecture 

What You’ll Bring:

�� Strong leadership and stakeholder management skills
�� Technical knowledge of fundraising systems and CRM platforms
�� Ability to translate complex tech into simple, effective solutions
�� Experience delivering successful technology projects in fundraising or NFPs
�� A passion for leveraging technology to maximise fundraising impact

 This is a fantastic opportunity to shape the future of fundraising technology at The King’s Trust, making a tangible difference in young people’s lives

About Kinship

We are Kinship. The leading kinship care charity in England and Wales. We’re here for kinship carers – friends or family who step up to raise a child when their parents aren’t able to. 

Together, let’s commit to change for kinship families.

About the role

This role will support Kinship to operate as an effective charity by ensuring effective day-to-day operations and seamless delivery of the People function at the charity.

You will bring your People leadership experience, attention to detail and excellent communication skills to the role. You will be structured in your approach to ensure that day-to-day issues are handled while also working to improve processes and systems. You will be credible with senior management and able to articulate and balance the trade-offs of a People leadership role.

You will be able to balance multiple competing priorities and prioritise effectively, A positive mindset is key to being part of the team, as is thinking creatively to problem solve and being empathetic to colleagues. You will be highly motivated by our mission, recognising that excellent internal People processes are essential to allowing others to effectively complete their roles and achieve our mission.

You will be a powerful ambassador for our mission, credible with other HR and CSR professionals working to implement kinship friendly employer policies and processes.

Key Responsibilities include:

• Work with the Chief Operating Officer (COO) and the Executive management team to design, develop and embed a high-quality HR function to support the employee life cycle.

• Responsible for ensuring all policies, procedures, and processes relating to people and culture, work effectively, efficiently and in line with legal requirements.

• Responsible for all People matters, ensuring they are handled fairly and consistently in line with policies and procedures.

• Support and advise line managers on People, EDI and change management activities, including promotions, disciplinary, capability and grievance procedures.

• Organise line manager training to ensure line managers understand their responsibilities and apply policies consistently.

• Responsible for the candidates’ recruitment experience. Ensure candidates receive a consistent and professional recruitment experience.

• Responsible for job descriptions, person specifications, recruitment packs and job adverts.

• Ensure offboarding processes are robust and implemented consistently to safeguard the charity’s assets and to comply with Data Protection rules.

• Lead on the delivery and growth of the ‘Kinship Friendly Employers’ scheme, driving growth in the scheme and the number of bronze, silver and gold partners

• Ensure Kinship role models ‘Kinship Friendly’ employment practices and seek opportunities to share these as examples with other HR professionals.

• Support fundraising efforts with corporate supporters who are ‘Kinship Friendly Employers’

Essential criteria includes:

• HR qualification or significant demonstrable experience.

• Coaching qualification or significant demonstrable experience.

• Demonstrable experience of supporting the development of a high-quality People function within a growing organisation.

• Demonstrable experience working in a changing and flexible organisation.

• Demonstrable problem-solving and conflict resolution abilities.

• Demonstrable knowledge of best practices, employment laws, and regulations.

• Effective communication skills.

• Strong interpersonal skills – a genuine team player able to relate to a wide range of people.

• Ability to work on own initiative and manage own workload.

• Demonstrable experience of EDI principles.

Desirable experience includes:

• Personal experience of kinship care.

• Experience of working in a dynamic and fast-changing workplace.

• Exceptional business-partnering skills

What we’ll offer you 

Kinship offers 30 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays (pro-rata for part-time) as well as a generous pension scheme. We have an excellent wellbeing offer including the Employee Assistance Programme and clinical supervision. We will invest in your professional development with training and career development opportunities.

Kinship is committed to championing equality, diversity and inclusion.  We believe our work is greatly enhanced by the varied backgrounds, experiences and views represented within our teams.  We aim to create inclusive teams, celebrate differences and encourage everyone to join us and be their true self at work. We therefore encourage applications from anyone who fits our values, whatever their religion or belief, sex, gender identity, race, age, sexuality or disability and are actively seeking candidates that can bring real innovation and commitment to us. 

This is a fantastic time to join a supportive and well-established team within an organisation with rapid growth ambitions. This role will be what you make it and we’re looking for someone to seize this opportunity!

How to apply

Please apply via Charity Job with your CV and a cover letter of no more than 2 pages. Please include your notice period and earliest availability to start in your cover letter.     

• Application deadline:  Thursday 22 May, 9am
• First interview:                 29 May - 2 June
• Second interview:            TBC

Kinship reserves the right to close applications early on receipt of sufficient applications. Apply early!

With over 300 volunteers at Crimestoppers, this important role is crucial in ensuring the smooth operation of the volunteer programme.

We're looking for someone to support with:

• Volunteer Recruitment and Onboarding
• Volunteer Data Management​
• Vounteer Support and Retention
• Event Coordination
• Volunteer Communications

We're hoping that you'll have:

Experience:

• Proven experience in an administrative role, ideally within a volunteer or community-based environment.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
•  Excellent attention to detail, particularly when maintaining records and databases.

Skills:

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with volunteers, staff, and external stakeholders.
• Proficient in using Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and CRM systems.

Attributes:

• A collaborative, solutions-focused approach to work.
• Strong organisational and time-management skills.
• A proactive and flexible attitude to work, with a willingness to learn and adapt to new challenges.

You'll find out more information in the job pack, along with details of how to apply.

The role of the Young Carers Programme Manager is to lead on the delivery of our employability and aspirations programming for young adult carers, to support positive transitions from education into employment. The role works in partnership with our network of local carer organisation, employers and wider sector stakeholders, to deliver an engaging and diverse programme of opportunities for young adult careers to meet with employers, experience work environments, and broaden opportunities to access careers of choice.

Our ideal candidate:

• We are looking for someone with strong organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities, regardless of the industry you've worked in.
• Skills such as project coordination, gained through professional roles, volunteering, or other responsibilities, will be highly valued.
• Excellent presentation skills and ability to speak engagingly in public to a range of audiences will be key.
• Knowledge and understanding of young carers issues would be beneficial, whether gained in a personal or professional capacity, such as policy and legislation affecting young carers, children, and young people generally.
• Familiarity of monitoring and evaluation processes.
• Competency in digital tools and social media which can be used to engage, promote activities and events for young people.
• Experience of delivering employability and/or skills development programmes would be beneficial.
• Demonstrated experience working with volunteers and coordinating volunteering programmes.

If this sounds like you, download the recruitment pack below to find out more about the role.

About UP

Unlocking Potential deliver high performing therapeutic programmes and education provision for children and young people with SEMH needs. We work in collaboration with families, communities, and other partners to ensure that children and young people access the interventions they need to thrive.

Mission

We work collaboratively with communities to enable children and young people with social, emotional, and mental health needs to unlock their full potential

Values

Trust

We build trust by being honest, transparent, and accountable in the way we work with children and young people, staff, and partners and by providing services and programmes whose outcomes are measurable and evidenced based.

Collaborative

Relationships are at the heart of our work. We prioritise communication and collaboration with partners, families, and communities, believing that by working together we create more effective and holistic outcomes for children and young people.

Empowering

We co-create opportunities for our children, young people, parents/carers and staff to actively participate in decision-making that influences change. We promote the voices of children and young people in our organisation and the wider community.

Nurturing

We provide a nurturing approach based on safety and space for creativity, exploration, and growth. We support and care for our children, young people, and staff to realise their potential.

Impact

We are committed to measuring our impact through a data driven method to develop our programmes and make a greater difference to the lives of children, young people, and their parents and carers.

Overview

We will be launching our new programme from September 2025, initially as a pilot working with families across Wandsworth, with aims to be able to expand and continue beyond this.

We are seeking an experienced and passionate Family Support Manager to play a pivotal role in establishing our new Family Support programme. Your initial focus will be leading on the development of the service, implementing policies and procedures, building referral pathways, and recruiting a team of skilled Family Support Workers.

Once the service is established, you will manage a high-quality programme providing support and guidance to families facing complex challenges. Your role will involve overseeing a team of Family Support Workers, case management, fostering effective collaboration with internal and external multidisciplinary teams, and leading the service under a shared vision to ensure the well-being of children and their families.

Using a restorative approach, you will develop strong relationships to support families and empower them to take an active role in their own support plans and interventions, helping them build resilience and make informed decisions. A commitment to safeguarding excellence will be at the heart of everything you do.

This role would be an exciting opportunity for a qualified Social Worker or an experienced professional with a background in setting up and developing family support services. It offers a genuine opportunity to shape a new service and build an impactful team to make a real difference in the lives of children, young people, and their families.

Our amazing team at Alana House - PACT are looking for Key Workers to join our Womens Community project.  Full time or part time applicants are welcomed to apply.

Could you make a lasting difference to women facing multiple disadvantages? Our award winning trauma recovery service empowers and enables women to access the support they need.  Our service covers Reading, Berkshire, Oxford City and South Oxfordshire.

Position: Womens Community Project Key Worker

Location: Based in central Reading.  The role requires travel across Berkshire, Oxford City and South Oxfordshire, the post holder must hold a full UK drivers license with access to own transport

Contract: Permanent full time – 37 hours per week Monday to Friday.  Part time hours will also be considered

Salary: Starting salary in the range of £25,734 to £31,453 per annum, depending on skills and experience (pro rata if part time)

Having regard to the nature and context of the work, there is a genuine occupational requirement permitted under the Equality Act 2010 that this post is only available to female applicants.

About the role:

As a Key Worker at Alana House, you will hold a case load of women and be involved in one to one work support work and group based sessions.  Your Key Worker responsibilities will include:

· regularly meet with women to provide dedicated emotional and practical support

· complete initial assessments of risk and need, and provide one-to-one support across rehabilitative pathways

· create and review support plans in collaboration with the woman, and other agencies

· facilitate and deliver group-based support

About you:

As a Key Worker, you’ll bring an in depth knowledge of issues facing women with multiple disadvantages, including those with convictions and those at risk of offending.  You’ll also have significant experience of supporting women with issues such as homelessness, substance misuse, domestic abuse and mental health, preferably within a criminal justice setting.

If this sounds like you then visit our website to apply today to join a collaborative and dedicated team who are part of something truly meaningful. Contact details for an informal discussion about the role can also be found on our website.

Early applications are encouraged as we may close this vacancy on an earlier basis if a successful candidate is found.

Closing date: Midday, Wednesday 14 May 2025

Interview dates: Wednesday 07 and Friday 23 May 2025

Other roles you may have experience of could include: Family Support Worker, Family Key Worker, Womens Support Worker, Womens Key Worker, Domestic Abuse Support Worker, Domestic Abuse Key Worker, Recovery Worker, Assistant Support Worker, Assistant Key Worker, IDVA Independent Domestic Violence Advocate, ISVA Independent Sexual Violence Advocate, Probation Services Officer, etc.

Safeguarding is at the heart of everything we do at PACT. We have robust measures and best practices in place to safeguard and protect the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and we take pride in maintaining outstanding safeguarding standards.

Anyone joining our team is subject to PACT’s safer recruitment pre-appointment enquiries, including a Disclosure Barring Service (DBS). The role description provides information on what our safer recruitment enquiries include and the level of DBS required to work in the role.

All opportunities with PACT are based in the UK.

The Bone Cancer Research Trust launched a dedicated Support Service in 2019, in response to feedback from our community. Over the last 5 years, the Service has seen a significant increase in reach. We are now at a crucial stage, after conducting a comprehensive review of our Support Service and are now looking for an exceptional, dedicated and enthusiastic leader to drive the implementation of findings and recommendations, ensuring everyone affected by primary bone cancer become aware of, access and trust our portfolio of services and information resources.

The successful candidate will bring our current Support Service and Health Information functions together, to form a cohesive and comprehensive Support and Information Service also and will develop a framework to monitor the impact of this Service, ensuring that the needs of the primary bone cancer community remain at the heart of the Service.

The successful candidate will be a natural relationship builder, forming excellent relationships with both patients and healthcare professionals. They will have excellent organisational skills and will be a confident and compassionate leader.

Introduction

The National House Project (NHP) supports Local Authorities to work with young people to give them the knowledge, skills and confidence to live connected and fulfilling lives. By developing a community of support, completing the House Project Programme and being able to make their house a home young people can look forward to a positive future.

This is an exciting time to join NHP and we are seeking a skilled and experienced professional who can support our vision to ensure that young people leaving care live connected and fulfilling lives.

About the role

Whilst the House Project approach sets out a clear pathway for young people to move into a house that becomes their home, being in the House Project is so much more than an offer of accommodation.

Staff working in the projects are trained in relational and trauma informed approaches. They use a psychologically informed practice framework to work with young people in both groupwork and individual settings and this work is supported by social pedagogical approaches. Working with young people in a groupwork setting and offering individual direct support enables the development of relationships and shared experiences which allows young people to be involved in the running of their LHP and central to the decisions that are made about them.

NHP provides a framework and not a model and whilst LHPs must keep to the fidelity of the approach, local environments and the young people themselves will determine how projects proceed.  This is where you will come in as a practice lead. With knowledge of child development, attachment styles, trauma informed care, the care system and the House Project approach you will support staff in LHPs to work in ways to develop practice that puts young people at the heart of the decision-making process and supports the local ‘system’ to improve how young people leave care.

As a Practice Lead you will have responsibility for a number of LHPs and will:

• Ensure that LHPs have young people at the heart of the decision-making process and that practice is evidence based and trauma informed
• Ensure that LHPs adhere to the fidelity of the approach whilst flexing to accommodate local arrangements
• Manage risk and deal with trauma at an individual, organisational and systemic level, turning these challenges into opportunities for change with improved outcomes for the young people.
• Work with the Care Leavers National Movement as well as the core team to ensure that young people continue to drive their own LHP and develop practice at both a local and national level

This is a rare and exciting opportunity for someone with a commitment to making a difference to the lives of young people through imaginative new models of social care and therapy and the scaling of the approach to make a difference to policy, practice and outcomes for young people at a national level.

You will have primary responsibility for supporting LHPs in The North.  

For detailed information see full Job Description and Person Specification attached.

You will be responsible to the Deputy Director NHP and will deputise for them when required.

You will be based at the NHP office in Crewe for a minimum of 2 days per week, but you will be expected to travel to LHP and attend meetings across the country on a regular basis.

Benefits include:

• 31 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• 10% pension contribution
• Salary sacrifice options
• Hybrid working
• Professional development opportunities

Safeguarding Statement: NHP is committed to protecting the well-being of young people. All staff must adhere to our safeguarding policies.

Recruitment Agencies: We do not accept unsolicited CVs from agencies.

General Requirements: Right to work in the UK, two professional references, and a DBS check.

Find out more:

If you’re excited by the opportunity to build something transformative, we’d love to hear from you - 

You are invited to join the online briefing on Friday 16 May 2025 2pm

Please register in advance for this meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/JES0vut8RUW5NlM9Tfbi4w

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

How to Apply

• Submit your CV and cover letter via Charity Job detailing what skills, knowledge and experiences make you the best candidate for the role by 23 May 2025. Apply Now.

We welcome applications from all backgrounds. If you require adjustments during the process, let us know.

Interviews are due to take place on Friday 6 June.

Harris Hill is delighted to be partnering once again with Variety, the Children's Charity to recruit a Corporate Partnerships Manager

This is a truly exciting time to join Variety — a financially stable, 75-year-old charity with an ambitious new strategy, a dynamic leadership team, and a brand-new Chair appointed for 2026. Variety is entering a bold new phase, aiming to win some of the best and most high-profile corporate partnerships in the sector.

Location: Camden, London (Hybrid – minimum three days per week in office)
Salary: Circa £40,000 per annum (full-time equivalent) – open to negotiation based on experience
Application Deadline: 9am, Monday 19th May
Interview Date: Tuesday 27th May (flexible for the right candidate)

You will be joining a collaborative, empowering team culture under the leadership of the Director of Fundraising and Chief Executive. Both bring a fresh, dynamic, and supportive leadership style, offering fantastic mentorship and career development opportunities.

This is an outstanding opportunity for an entrepreneurial and ambitious fundraiser — someone who thrives on smashing targets, winning partnerships, and making their mark in a well-loved national charity.

About the Role:

• Manage and grow a portfolio of existing corporate partnerships, delivering exceptional stewardship.
• Lead on new business development, identifying prospects and securing high-value partnerships.
• Create and deliver impactful partnership plans, proposals, and pitches.
• Build strong internal and external networks, including Trustees and high-profile supporters.
• Attend events and actively seek opportunities to deepen partner engagement.
• Contribute to Variety’s wider fundraising strategy and future growth.

This is a standalone Corporate Partnerships role — so you'll need to be confident and proactive, but with excellent peer support from a wider Fundraising and Communications team. There is real scope for career development as the corporate partnerships programme grows.

The Ideal Candidate Will Have:

• Solid experience in a charity corporate partnerships team — either at Executive or Manager level.
• A strong track record in both account management and new business development.
• An entrepreneurial, energetic mindset and a real drive to succeed.
• Strong relationship management skills and the ability to deliver exceptional supporter experiences.
• A passion for the cause and a collaborative working style.

Why Join Variety?

• Exciting time of investment and growth.
• Collaborative, empowering leadership style.
• Scope for career progression as the corporate function expands.
• 25 days holiday + additional Christmas leave + increasing leave with service.
• Pension, Life Assurance, and medical cover benefits.

How to Apply: Please submit your CV and a cover letter explaining why you’d be a great fit for this role by 9am, Monday 19th May to Hannah Laking at Harris Hill via the apply button.

Interviews will be held in person on Tuesday 27th May, though there is flexibility for the right candidate.

Please note: Due to the high volume of applications we receive, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. If you do not hear from us, please assume your application has not been successful on this occasion.

Harris Hill is a certified B Corp™ and a leading charity recruitment agency, committed to equitable and inclusive recruitment practices. Applications from all sections of the community are actively welcomed, regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexuality, or other protected characteristics.

JRF works to speed up and support the transition to a more equitable and just future, free from poverty, in which people and planet can flourish. We are a UK-wide foundation, with a focus on all four nations.

From 2025, we are embarking on an exciting new strategy aimed at securing bold, stretching policy goals across six key areas: housing, energy/climate, social security, communities & place, work and families & care.

We are looking for two talented, energetic and passionate campaigners to lead our influencing work in support of these goals, playing an instrumental role in JRF’s success.

About the role

Our Senior Campaigns and Public Affairs Managers play three important roles. Firstly, they collaborate closely with their equivalents in our policy and analytical teams to ensure that our major policy ideas are designed from the outset to attract the highest possible levels of public and political support.

Second, they are responsible for identifying the best fit influencing strategies and tactics (ranging from insider approaches to more overt campaigning) for securing tangible progress towards these policy objectives and developing powerful narratives to build support from key stakeholders.

Thirdly, they are responsible for securing (on an ongoing basis) the resources the strategies need, mobilising colleagues, partner organisations and external contractors to put them into effect, growing a powerful network of influential external supporters and ensuring that plans respond effectively to the ever-evolving external context.

About you

As our Senior Campaigns & Public Affairs Manager, we’d like you to have an in-depth understanding of the ways in which UK public policies are formed and reformed, of the challenges associated with delivering policy in the real world and of how civil society organisations like JRF can successfully influence policy change.

You will have an understanding of the structural nature of poverty and how policy may alleviate structural harms and substantial experience of working at progressively senior levels at the intersection of policy development, politics and strategic communications/ campaigns. 

You’ll have substantial experience of working in multidisciplinary teams using a range of insider and outsider tactics and compelling examples of developing and implementing influencing strategies that have demonstrably affected the climate of opinion around an issue and ideally, achieved concrete change.

With a proven track record of successfully building relationships with decision makers and influencing their thinking, you’ll have clear examples of writing effectively for a wide range of audiences and of commissioning, understanding and using public attitudinal insights to inform your influencing strategies and/or narrative development.

How to apply

If you share our passion and this role sounds like you, then we’re looking forward to hearing from you.

Please submit your CV and supporting information via our online application platform.

The closing date for applications is 29th May 2025.

Interviews will take place week commencing 16th June 2025.

Additional Information

Applications are welcome from all, regardless of age, disability, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, religion or belief, race, sex, sexual orientation, trans status or socioeconomic background.

We positively encourage applications from people from marginalised backgrounds, including but not limited to those with experience of living in poverty.

We are committed to being an anti-racist organisation and operate an anonymised recruitment process so that bias is eliminated from the shortlisting process.

In support of our approach to flexible working, we are happy to receive applications from those seeking full-time employment, as well as those who may want to share the role on a part-time basis. When making your application, please state whether you want to be considered for either full or part-time work and, if part-time, the number of hours per week you would be looking for.

At JRF we’re at our best when we’re continually building on trust, showing we care and making a difference – and hope others will do the same. So, for those roles which allow it, we’re developing a more blended approach to how and where you work. This means you can expect to work flexibly between the office and home (with an expectation of two days a week in your home office).

We are a Disability Confident Employer. This means that we are committed to the recruitment, progression and retention of disabled individuals. We shall also offer interviews to disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria for the job. If you have a disability, please tell us if you would like to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident Scheme.

If you have any additional needs and need reasonable adjustments to be made to the interview process, please let us know.

Position: Director of External Affairs
Type: Full-time (35 hours a week), permanent
Location: Office-based in London with flexibility to work remotely
Salary: £73,653 per annum plus excellent benefits
Salary Band: Band 5

About us

We make sure people living with MS are at the centre of everything we do. And it’s this commitment that unites us across the UK.

Our strategy is based on what people affected by MS have told us is important to them. It gives us a clear and determined focus.

Our work is based on the hopes and aspirations of our MS community. Together we campaign at all levels, fund ground-breaking research and provide award winning support and information. 

Our people are our greatest asset and the key to our success. We offer a vibrant, progressive working environment where you'll be able to make a difference.

About this job

It is a very exciting time to join the MS Society as Director of External Affairs a brand-new role in the organisation. We are implementing an ambitious cross-organisational transformation programme. And we have just started a new 2025-29 strategy.

We’re looking for an experienced and focused leader who has the ability to drive forward our brilliant Policy & Evidence, Campaign & Public Affairs and PR teams. We’re looking for someone who can work collaboratively across the organisation to ensure our work has a positive impact for the MS community.

With the ability to provide strategic and thought leadership, you’ll act as the leading authority on matters relating to external affairs, providing advice across the organisation including to the Executive Group and Trustees.

You’ll have significant experience of developing and implementing relevant external affairs strategies and of successfully leading policy, communications or campaigning functions in an organisation of comparable size and complexity. You’ll also need to be influential both internally and externally, including representing the MS Society at a range of external meetings with a variety of audiences.

As well as leading on planning and budget setting for the external affairs functions, as a member of the leadership team, you will also contribute to the strategic leadership, planning and policy formulation of the MS Society as a whole.

We’re looking for someone who is committed to collaborative working, who is excellent at building relationships and trust with colleagues at all levels, and whose focus is on supporting high performing teams and enabling them to do their best for the MS community.

Closing date for applications: 9:00 am Monday 12 May 2025

Anticipated interview date:

First interviews: Friday 23 May 2025

Second interviews: Wednesday 28 May 2025 or Thursday 29 May 2025

Interested?

PLEASE PRESS THE 'HOW TO APPLY' BUTTON FOR MORE INFORMATION.

Equal Opportunities 
We particularly welcome applications from people with disabilities and or from ethnic minority backgrounds.

We’d be grateful if you downloaded and completed the equality and diversity monitoring form and submit it with your application. 

Disability Confident Employer 
We’re a Disability Confident Employer and we’re committed to promoting equality and diversity.

You can ask for reasonable adjustments as part of both our recruitment and new starter on-boarding processes.

If you need any help or adjustments to apply for this role, please contact us. You can also ask for the application materials to be sent to you in a different format. Such as for them to be sent to you by email or in a larger word format.

More about our employee benefits:
We have a wide range of employee benefits including (but not limited to): 

Encouraging work life balance

• 38 days paid annual leave (including bank holidays), pro-rata for part-time
• More annual leave entitlement, based on length of employment
• Smart working options (with the opportunity to work remotely and find a smart working pattern that suits both you and us) 
• Flexible working options 

Caring for you and your family 

• Generous sick pay entitlement
• More sick pay entitlement, based on length of employment 
• Opportunity to buy and sell annual leave in each calendar year 
• Free access to a GP virtually 24 hours a day/7 days a week allowing you unlimited advice, reassurance and where appropriate diagnosis 
• Enhanced leave for new parents 
• Free access to a confidential 24 hours a day/7 days a week helpline service for both you and your family with a specialist range of support and information
• Special leave options (such as up to 5 days paid leave for domestic or personal emergencies a year)
• 10 days paid disability leave a year, pro-rata for part-time 
• 10 days paid carers’ leave a year, pro-rata for part-time 
• Cycle to work scheme 
• Death in service scheme
• New family-friendly benefits, including paid leave:
  • In the event of miscarriage or still birth 
  • To support fertility treatments
  • For antenatal appointments for both parents

Thinking about your finances 

• Enhanced salary sacrifice pension scheme
• Discounted season ticket loan and interest-free emergency loans
• Give as you earn to support other charities of your choice before tax
• New employee portal including lifestyle savings vouchers and personal wellbeing

Enriching your life at work

• Personalised development plans with a wide range of training courses and opportunities to source additional training options with your line manager
• Yearly internal apprenticeship opportunities
• New, modern offices that embrace working together both in-person and remotely 
• Various opportunities to influence how we internally operate (including surveys, and focus and committee groups) 
• Active and supportive internal employee networking groups for collaboration and peer support 
• 2 days paid leave a year for volunteering for MS Society activities during normal working hours (such as fundraising events, or campaigning in the local community) 
• 2 days paid leave a year for volunteering with other charities during normal

Safeguarding 
We’re committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of everyone who uses our services and we come into contact with.

This is regardless of Gender, Race, Disability, Sexual orientation, Religion or belief, Pregnancy, Gender reassignment.

We recognise our particular responsibility to make sure vulnerable adults and children are protected.

We have measures in place to protect everyone we come into contact with from abuse and maltreatment of all kinds.

Your right to work in the UK 
You must have the right to work in the UK to work in paid employment with us. You’ll need to share documents showing you’re eligible to work in the UK if we offer you employment.

You can find the UK visas and permits granting you the right to work in the UK on the UK Government website. We currently don’t have a Sponsor Licence agreement with the Home Office and aren’t able to support you with your visa applications.

No agencies please.