Business development and community engagement officer jobs

This role is internally known as Senior People Officer

As Senior People Officer, you'll play a key role in delivering a high-quality People service across SSAFA. You'll provide trusted advice and guidance to managers and employees across the full employee lifecycle, with a particular focus on employee relations, wellbeing, engagement and inclusion.

Based at SSAFA's Central Office in London, the role offers flexibility to work remotely in line with organisational needs. You must be willing and able to travel to the office at short notice when required.

This role is ideal for someone with solid HR generalist experience who is looking for the next exciting step in their career and wants to broaden their experience across:

• Employee relations and case management
• Influencing and coaching managers
• Wellbeing, engagement and inclusion initiatives
• Organisational change and people projects
• Policy development and continuous improvement

Unlike many HR roles that focus on a single specialism, this position offers genuine variety and exposure across the People function. You'll have the opportunity to build a well-rounded skillset while making a meaningful contribution to an organisation that supports our Armed Forces community. 

About the team

You'll join a collaborative and supportive People & Organisational Development team that is passionate about delivering an excellent service and continuously improving the employee experience. We value partnership, professionalism, compassion and inclusion, working together to help colleagues and managers thrive. In this role, you'll work closely with:

• Learning & Organisational Development
• People Systems & Operations
• Leaders and managers
• Project and change teams
• Internal Communications and other corporate functions

This cross-organisational exposure will give you valuable insight into how different teams work together to support SSAFA's mission.

About you

You thrive on building relationships and working collaboratively with others. You enjoy helping people find practical solutions to challenges and can adapt your approach to work effectively with a wide range of colleagues, and managers, balancing empathy with sound judgement, You’ll be comfortable working in a fast-paced environment where priorities can change.

We're looking for someone who:

• Has experience in a generalist HR role and is looking for the next step in their career.
• Can adapt their communication style to different teams, personalities and levels of seniority.
• Has some experience supporting employees and managers with employee relations and people-related matters for example; diversity and inclusion/ sickness and wellbeing matters/ issues in probation/ conduct and or grievance issues.
• Enjoys working as part of a team and collaborating to achieve shared outcomes.
• Has strong organisational skills and can manage multiple priorities effectively.
• Is curios and committed to improving the employee experience.

About SSAFA

SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity is a trusted source of support for the Armed Forces community in their time of need. In 2024 our trained teams of volunteers and employees helped more than 54,000 people, including veterans, serving personnel (regulars and reserves) and their families.

SSAFA understands that behind every uniform is a person. And we are here for that person and their family, any time they need us and in any way they need us.

Diversity and Inclusion at SSAFA

SSAFA exists to support a diverse range of beneficiaries within the armed forces community, and we believe diversity within our teams is key to ensuring we can deliver our services effectively. We thrive on differences and believe it is critical to our success as a worldwide charity. SSAFA is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace that seeks to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We therefore encourage applications from all genders, races, religions, ages and sexual orientations, as well as parents, veterans, people living with disabilities, and any other groups that could bring diverse perspectives to our business.

SSAFA is committed to using the Disclosure & Barring Service to ensure we, as an employer, safeguard those we serve.

Closing date: Midnight on Wednesday 22 July 2026. SSAFA reserves the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

Interviews: TBC

OVERVIEW OF THE POST

Groundwork Greater Manchester is an environmental and social regeneration charity, and member of the national Federation of Groundwork Trusts, working through partnerships to deliver a greener more resilient city region with stronger, healthier communities, responsible businesses and enhanced prospects for all local people.

You will join the Homes Team and assist the Water Efficiency Lead in the delivery of Water Efficiency projects. The team deliver Water Efficiency audits across the Northwest to businesses and schools. Audits include behaviour change, Water Literacy Awareness, providing and installing water efficiency devices, identifying and fixing water leaks, and promoting and facilitating rain water harvesting and sustainable drainage solutions to reduce water consumption.

You will be required to develop good working relationships with project partners and colleagues and liaise with other members of Groundwork staff delivering similar or complementary services.

You will generate and respond to referrals and be responsible for providing effective support and customer service. Both advisory and practical, to enable people to make positive changes to their behaviour and to improve the quality of their lives through water savings. You will attend relevant team meetings/training to raise awareness of the programme and to develop/improve skills.

ROLE & MAIN PURPOSES OF THE POST

· Assist the Water Efficiency Lead to deliver commercial and domestic water audits across the North West of England by being responsible for responding to referrals, making bookings and customer service and engagement.

· Identify and engage key stakeholders who are able to help Groundwork access opportunities to deliver the service.

· Work with delivery staff to ensure that the project meets all the client’s requirements

· Liaise with householders, schools and businesses on a day-to-day basis and build good/positive working relationships with them.

· Provide advice and follow up support to householders, businesses and schools to encourage them to further reduce their water consumption, and make cost savings by making changes to their behaviour.

· Provide water saving reports to customers on their usage and possible savings answering any queries they may have.

Business & Service Development

· Manage relationships at a programme level to support project delivery and development.

· Use relevant internal and external data to inform service development and practice.

· Work closely across internal teams, Groundwork UK and other Groundwork Trusts where appropriate to develop services and share learning.

Financial & Resource Management

Understands and manages resources for specific tasks and activities

People Management & Development

· Embeds the Trusts culture and values through your own behaviour and providing supportive challenge to others

· A commitment to share specialist skills and knowledge with others

· Ability to communicate project status to all stake holders as required

Internal Management

· Supports delivery of business improvement priority plans within the Homes team

· Ensure GDPR across all projects

Other

· Eg Deputise for Homes Team to cover short-term capacity gaps and absence

Perform all other duties as assigned

Role purpose 

To lead the creation, development and optimisation of high-quality, audience-targeted content that supports marketing campaigns, strengthens brand awareness, and enhances engagement across a growing and increasingly diverse range of stakeholders. 

The role will address current capacity gaps within the Marketing and Communications team by generating, repurposing and managing multimedia content that supports programme promotion, brand storytelling and organisational positioning. 

Key relationships 

• Marketing and Communications Manager (line manager)
• Head of Marketing and Communications (dotted line)
• Business Development department, Innovation team, QA and Standards team, Programme Delivery team 
• Centres, particularly Centres of Excellence
• External stakeholders (partners, educators, young people)
• Internal staff contributing to content 

Key responsibilities 

Campaign Support: 

• Work closely with the wider Marketing and Communications team to provide content for campaigns and central communications
• Support delivery of increased campaign volume, scale and impact

Content Optimisation and Repurposing: 

• Repurpose content into multiple formats for use across channels (social, email, web, campaigns etc.)
• Ensure content is effectively reused to maximise reach and value
• Maintain a pipeline of diverse content to support audience segmentation

Content Creation and Development: 

• Develop multi-format content (video, written, visual, digital) tailored to different audiences and sectors 
• Generate evergreen content that can be reused and adapted across campaigns and channels 
• Produce content that supports strategic content aims 

Stakeholder Engagement: 

• Build and manage relationships with internal and external stakeholders to generate authentic, impactful content
• Facilitate user-generated content, including youth voice and partner contributions

Insight and Continuous Improvement: 

• Gather feedback from stakeholders and audiences to refine content effectiveness
• Contribute to test-and-learn approaches to improve engagement and conversion
• Monitor performance indicators such as engagement rates, CTRs and website traffic 

People management responsibilities 

• No direct line management responsibility
• Will support coordination of contributors (internal staff, partners, freelancers where applicable) 

Skills and experience – essential 

• Ability to coordinate multiple projects and deadlines 
• Experience in content creation across multiple formats (digital, video, written)
• Strong copywriting and storytelling skills
• Ability to tailor content to different audiences and sectors
• Experience working with stakeholders to generate content
• Understanding of marketing and communications principles

Skills and experience – desirable 

• Experience capturing content on location
• Experience with brand development and positioning
• Knowledge of content performance analytics
• Experience in education, youth, or sport sectors 

Training and qualifications 

• Experience in marketing, communications, media or related field
• Ongoing professional development in content, marketing or digital communications desirable 

Development/career pathways for this role 

• Progression into Senior Content or Campaign roles
• Development into Marketing and Communications leadership pathways 

Personal qualities – for all roles in the Leadership Skills Foundation 

• Self-motivated and able to work autonomously 
• Customer focused 
• Effective and confident communicator 
• Proactive in approach and able to work on own initiative both collaboratively and independently 
• Adaptable to operational requirements and willing to learn 

Personal qualities – specific to this role 

• Creative thinker with strong storytelling instincts
• Highly organised with attention to detail
• Curious and proactive in identifying content opportunities
• Comfortable engaging with a wide range of stakeholders
• Resilient and adaptable in a fast-paced environment 

Link to Change is an award-winning charity dedicated to protecting children and young people from exploitation, abuse and harm. We work alongside children, families, professionals and communities to create safer futures and stronger outcomes.

Now entering an exciting new phase of growth across Bedfordshire and surrounding areas, we are seeking an exceptional Chief Executive Officer to lead the organisation into its next chapter.

 Link to Change has a strong reputation as a trusted specialist in tackling child sexual exploitation, criminal exploitation, online harms and abuse affecting children and young people. Our work has influenced policy and practice, supported thousands of children and families, and amplified the voices of young people with lived experience.

We are ambitious about the future. We want to reach more children, strengthen our influence, grow our services, and continue driving meaningful change within safeguarding systems and communities.

As Chief Executive Officer, you will provide strategic and operational leadership to the charity, ensuring we remain financially sustainable, well governed and focused on achieving the greatest possible impact for children and young people. Working closely with our Board of Trustees, staff team and partners, you will lead organisational development, strengthen relationships across sectors, champion safeguarding excellence and help shape the future direction of the organisation.

This is a unique opportunity to lead a respected, award-winning charity with a passionate team, a strong reputation and a clear sense of purpose.

We are looking for a values-driven leader who can inspire others, build strong partnerships, navigate complexity and lead with confidence and compassion. You will share our commitment to safeguarding, trauma-informed practice and ensuring that the voices of children and young people remain at the heart of everything we do.

If you are passionate about improving outcomes for vulnerable children and young people and want to lead an organisation that is making a genuine difference every day, we would love to hear from you.

Join Link to Change and help create a future where every child and young person is safe, heard and free from exploitation.

Please ensure to follow the guidance within the application pack on how to apply.

Head of Communications and Engagement
The Diocese of Winchester is seeking an exceptional communications leader to help shape how we tell the story of God's work across our Diocese. This is a strategic senior leadership role, responsible for leading our Communications & Engagement Team and developing a clear, engaging and effective communications strategy that supports our mission, vision and priorities.

Serving a population of over 1.2 million people across more than 230 parishes, the Diocese of Winchester is a diverse and vibrant community. This role offers a unique opportunity to influence how we communicate with clergy, parishes, schools, partners, media and the wider public, ensuring that people feel informed, connected and inspired by our shared mission.

About the Communications and Engagement Team
The Communications & Engagement Team supports the Diocese in sharing its vision, celebrating local stories, engaging stakeholders and managing communications across a wide range of activities. The team works collaboratively with colleagues across mission and ministry, safeguarding, schools, vocations, creation care and governance, ensuring that communications effectively support diocesan priorities and objectives.

What you’ll do

• Lead the development and delivery of the Diocese's communications and engagement strategy
• Shape and communicate key diocesan messages alongside senior leaders
• Build strong relationships with clergy, parish officers, Winchester Cathedral and external stakeholders
• Oversee media relations, press releases and crisis communications activity
• Lead communications campaigns around major church seasons, diocesan initiatives and strategic priorities
• Ensure the Diocese embraces best practice in digital communications, social media and emerging technologies, including AI
• Manage the Communications & Engagement Team, supporting and developing staff to achieve their full potential
• Build collaborative relationships with Church of England communications colleagues regionally and nationally

What we’re looking for

• Significant experience of developing and delivering communications and engagement strategies within a complex organisation
• Strong leadership and people management experience
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, media and influencing skills
• Experience of leading change and managing organisational risk
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills
• Experience of budget management and strategic planning
• A collaborative and resilient approach, with the confidence to challenge constructively and build strong relationships
• A practising Christian who is committed to the mission and ministry of the Church and able to support the vision of the Diocese of Winchester

CVs are not accepted.

The closing date for applications is 12 noon on Friday 31st July 2026.

Initial interviews for the role will take place on the 26th August 2026. If you are successful in the first interview, you will be invited to a second interview on the 7th September 2026. Both interviews will be held at the Diocesan Offices, Old Alresford Place SO24 9DH

Fundraising and Events Manager

This Fundraising and Events Manager role is an opportunity to help grow sustainable income that enables City in the Community to continue empowering healthier lives through football across Manchester. Working closely with supporters, colleagues and stakeholders, you will lead our fundraising strategy, deliver impactful events and create meaningful opportunities for people to support our work.

Who We Are

Established in 1986, City in the Community is Manchester City’s official charity. We support people across Manchester by empowering healthier lives through football. Our programmes place physical and mental wellbeing at their core, whilst also creating healthy futures and healthy communities.

Within our collaborative Communications and Engagement team, we connect people to our purpose, driving visibility, sustainability and belonging for City in the Community.

Through fundraising, events and supporter engagement, we create opportunities for people to champion our mission while helping to ensure the long-term growth and impact of the charity.

The Role

You will lead the development and delivery of City in the Community's fundraising strategy, creating sustainable income streams that support the charity's long-term ambitions. Working across a portfolio of fundraising products, supporter engagement, donor stewardship and events, you will identify opportunities to grow income while building lasting relationships with stakeholders.

Day to day, you will oversee fundraising products including the Matchday Lottery, subscription model and auctions, monitor fundraising performance against budgets and targets, and use insight to inform future planning. You will also lead the planning and delivery of fundraising events, ensuring they provide an outstanding supporter experience while generating vital income for the charity.

Alongside fundraising activity, you will work collaboratively across Manchester City and City in the Community to maximise fundraising opportunities, strengthen supporter engagement and develop relationships with fan groups, local businesses and high-net-worth individuals. You will also line manage the Fundraising and Events Officer, helping to create a collaborative, high-performing team while embedding safeguarding and organisational policies throughout all activities.

What You'll Bring

⚽ A relevant fundraising or events qualification, or equivalent professional experience.

⚽ Experience developing and delivering successful fundraising strategies, events or income-generating campaigns.

⚽ Strong relationship-building skills with experience engaging supporters, colleagues, donors or other key stakeholders.

⚽ Experience managing budgets, monitoring performance and using insight to drive continuous improvement.

⚽ Experience in using fundraising CRMs to enhance donor journeys and rentention.

⚽ Experience leading or supporting a team, with the ability to coach, motivate and develop colleagues.

⚽ Excellent communication, organisational and presentation skills, with confidence managing multiple projects and priorities.

⚽ A proactive, creative and collaborative approach, with a genuine passion for fundraising and making a positive impact within the charitable sector.

Why Choose Us

Guided by our values of being caring, inclusive, transformative and youth-led, we are committed to creating an environment where our team feel supported, valued and able to make a meaningful difference through the work they do every day.

As part of our team, you will receive 26 days’ annual leave plus a day off for your birthday and an annual discretionary bonus. You will also have access to a Health Cash Plan, Employee Assistance Programme with 24/7 GP support, and a company pension and life assurance.

You can enjoy a range of additional benefits, including discounted match tickets, savings in the City Store, a free City+ subscription, stadium tour discounts, and wider retail and lifestyle offers.

How to Apply

If this role sounds like it is for you, we would love to hear from you. To apply, please submit your application via our careers site by 2nd August 2026.

Equal Opportunities

City Football Group is committed to achieving workforce diversity and we pride ourselves on creating an inclusive working environment. We welcome all applications irrespective of social and cultural background, national origin, race, age, sex, gender identity, disability - physical or hidden, sexual orientation, veteran status, religious belief, or any other characteristics protected by law. We strive to provide a fully inclusive and accessible recruitment process. 

Due to our safeguarding promise, all UK based CFG roles will be subject to a DBS check upon commencing employment with us. This will be either a basic, standard or enhanced check depending on the job role and responsibilities.

Are you excited by the potential of digital technology and data to make a real difference in people's lives? 

Community Action Redbridge is looking for a creative, forward-thinking Digital Innovation and Development Manager to lead the next stage of our digital journey and help shape how technology supports communities across one of London's most diverse boroughs.

Redbridge is home to vibrant communities and a dynamic voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector. We want to harness the power of digital technology and data to strengthen communities, support local VCSE organisations and help create a fairer Redbridge.

Working across the organisation, you'll lead the implementation of our ambitious Digital Innovation and Development Strategy. You'll help create more consistent and effective systems that reduce duplication, improve collaboration and enable our team to focus on what matters most: supporting our communities and member organisations. You'll champion a data-driven culture, helping us turn information into insight, better understand our impact, and make informed decisions that respond to emerging needs.

You'll play a key role in building digital confidence across the organisation, empowering staff to embrace new technologies, develop their skills and use digital tools effectively in their everyday work. Beyond Community Action Redbridge, you'll work directly with local charities and community groups to strengthen their digital capacity, improve access to data and insight, and foster stronger connections across Redbridge's VCSE sector. 

If you're excited by the power of digital technology to connect people, improve services and create lasting social impact, we'd love to hear from you. 

About Community Action Redbridge 

Community Action Redbridge is a local infrastructure organisation dedicated to building a fairer Redbridge where everyone and every community has an equal opportunity to thrive.

Our work supports the development of strong and resilient communities where people lead happy, healthy, and fulfilling lives. At the heart of our work is a commitment to social justice and to tackling the root causes of inequality. We’re passionate about shifting power, amplifying community voices and working collaboratively to create social change. We do this by: 

• Strengthening and championing the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector with tools and support to grow and thrive. 

• Supporting local people to drive change in their own communities, through social action, volunteering and active participation. 

• Bringing people and organisations from the VCSE sector, public services, and local businesses together to collaborate on shared ambitions for Redbridge. 

What it’s like to work at Community Action Redbridge 

We’re committed to creating a truly inclusive workplace culture that embraces and celebrates difference. Building a team that reflects the diversity of our communities and brings together a range of experiences, backgrounds and perspectives is essential to the work we do. 

We want Community Action Redbridge to be a safe space for everyone to bring their whole selves to work, where all our employees have the opportunity to thrive and feel recognised and valued for the work they do. 

We offer some great benefits including 28 days’ annual leave (including the festive closure period) plus public holidays, a free and confidential employee helpline, face-to-face and telephone counselling, and a travel loan and cycle to work scheme.

How to apply 

Please submit your CV and a covering letter answering the following 4 questions (no more than 500 words each):

• Describe a digital transformation, systems improvement or innovation project that you have led. What was the challenge, what approach did you take, and what impact did it have on the organisation, team or service users? 

• Tell us about a time when your work improved data collection, analysis or insight within an organisation. How did your work help others make better decisions or improve outcomes? 

• Describe a time when you helped individuals or teams adopt new systems, processes or ways of working. What challenges did you encounter and how did you overcome them? 

• Why do you want to join Community Action Redbridge, and how do your values, skills and experience equip you to help us use digital technology to strengthen communities and create positive social change? 

For full role details, please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification.
To submit your application, please click the ‘How to apply’ link.
Closing date: 26th July 2026 

Make a real difference in Hartlepool.
Lead fundraising that changes lives.

Fundraiser – Hartlepool Foodbank (Part‑Time, Fixed Term)

Contract & Benefits

• 12‑month contract | 18.5 hrs/week (flexible, hybrid)
• Tues–Fri working pattern (agreed with the Coordinator)
• £15,180 + 7.5% pension
• 12.5 days leave + public holidays

Key Focus

• Secure funding: grants & trust applications
• Grow donations: campaigns, appeals & individual giving
• Build relationships: donors, businesses & community groups
• Plan events: engage local supporters
• Track impact: monitor funding and activity

Why Join Us

• Supportive, close‑knit team + Trussell network expertise
• Flexible working
• Meaningful role with lasting community impact

Apply Send application by 24 July 2026
Interviews: early August | Start: September

We are looking for a proactive and creative Marketing and Events Officer to join our award-winning charity. This is a varied and hands-on role suited to a marketing professional looking to progress their career in a dynamic organisation. Working across the charity and with our core operations, Outside the Box and Carers and Companions, you will deliver our day-to-day marketing activities. Creating and delivering compelling marketing, engaging content and creative communications as well as supporting a wide range of events, you will be a confident communicator, with a keen eye for design, strong writing and design skills and be highly organised, able to manage multiple projects across a range of areas. Great attention to detail and a passion for our work are essential!

Closing date – Tuesday 28th July 2026

Are you passionate about building strong partnerships between local authorities, communities, and key stakeholders?

Prospectus is delighted to be supporting our client, an independent not-for-profit organisation on a mission to stop the valuable, critical and finite materials inside electricals from going to waste. Together with partners, the organisation is transforming the UK’s e-waste system and empowering more people to reuse and recycle their electricals through the award-winning UK-wide Recycle Your Electricals campaign, for the good of people, our economy, and our planet.

Within this Local Authority and Community Partnerships Officer role, you will help support local authority partners, ensuring that communications materials are effectively delivered to local residents and communities to make it easier for them to recycle their electricals. You will work closely with local authorities, councils, and other local partners to help maximise engagement at a local level.

You will sit in the Environmental Partnerships team, working directly with the Environmental Partnerships Lead, but will feed into other areas of the organisation with potential to work closely with the projects team as well as the Local Partnerships Marketing Manager. 
​​​​​​​
We're looking for a relationship-focused professional with experience in a similar role and a strong understanding of how local authorities operate. You'll have a track record of building effective partnerships, excellent communication skills, and the ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining exceptional attention to detail. You will have confidence working with data and proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google Workspace tools.

The ideal candidate will enjoy collaborating with a wide range of stakeholders and be passionate about creating positive outcomes through strong partnerships. An interest in sustainability and behaviour change would be advantageous, as would experience communicating with B2B audiences and a solid understanding of partnership development and stakeholder engagement.

This is an opportunity to work for an award-winning environmental organisation that is gaining significant media and political interest.

Hybrid role – minimum one day a week in the office in Victoria.

This role is primarily remote, with most partnership-building and stakeholder engagement taking place digitally. While there will be opportunities to meet partners in person, you should be comfortable working independently from home and building strong relationships through virtual channels.

At Prospectus, we invest in your journey as a candidate and are committed to supporting you with your application. We welcome candidates from a diverse range of backgrounds and are happy to make reasonable adjustments to enable all interested candidates to apply. If you need any support with your application, please contact George Cook at Prospectus.
 

Part-funded by a generous donation from Backstage Trust, this is a new and pivotal role designed to transform Theatre Centre's fundraising capacity by strengthening systems, increasing income diversity, and building long-term financial resilience. The postholder will play a key role in helping the organisation capitalise on its artistic impact and case for support, while building momentum towards its 75th anniversary in 2028.

This role will keep us focused on our development strategy and will have support from across the whole company: the Board, Executive and the core TC team. We have been steadily building our foundations and have some good funding relationships in place, committed individual givers, a strong, evidenced case for support, some incredible stats and feedback and above all an inspiring and exciting programme of work to offer for young people, artists and teachers across the country.

Our Development Manager will help us to bring in resources so that we can continue share our high-quality, specialist work as far as we can. We see development as a collaborative effort and we understand the need for the whole team to support development, that effective fundraising needs to be resourced with realistic timelines and expectations.

About the Role

Contract type: Fixed term to March 2028

Hours: 30 hours per week (0.8 FTE) - we're happy to discuss flexible working patterns that work best for you.

Salary: £24,000 per year (based on £30,000 per year pro rata)

Location: This role can be hybrid or predominantly home based, with some time spent working with colleagues in the office. Theatre Centre is based near Three Bridges station at Unit 4 Crawley Business Centre, Stevenson Way, Crawley, RH10 1TN.

Job Requirements

• A strong affinity with Theatre Centre's mission and a passion for creating opportunities for young people through the arts.
• A values-driven approach, with commitment to equity, inclusion, social justice and environmental responsibility.
• Collaborative, open and transparent working style.
• Comfortable working in a changing environment.
• Proven experience of fundraising within an arts organisation.
• Strong strategic thinking skills.
• Good written communication skills, including the ability to develop compelling cases for support and reports.
• Good understanding of the financial context of this work.
• Experience of building and managing relationships with funders, donors and stakeholders.
• Strong organisational and administrative skills, including data management.
• Experience of monitoring and reporting to demonstrate impact.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, work flexibly under pressure, and meet deadlines.

Job Responsibilities

The Development Manager will lead delivery of a phased fundraising strategy:

Phase 1 - Foundation: Build on our strong systems and processes and give us consistency in fundraising delivery, including building a robust pipeline of Trusts & Foundations and developing place-based income in Crawley and the Gatwick area.

Phase 2 - Private Phase: Expand individual giving by deepening relationships, developing major donors, and securing multi-year funding partnerships.

Phase 3 - Public Bring together all strategic and fundraising priorities in our 75th year, amplifying them into a public campaign that advocates for our change-making work.

If you'd like more information you're welcome to visit our website and download the job pack.

Reports to: Chief Operating Officer 

Contract: Full-time 
Location: Remote, with at least one all staff in-person meet up annually in the UK 
Salary: £70,000 - £90,000 per annum 
Benefits: 40 days holiday + 2 activism days + 1 duvet day 

Why this role matters 

At HOST, we believe that anyone, anywhere, should be able to drive transformative climate and social action - without being held back by operational barriers, financial risk or hostile environments. We host the world’s changemakers so they can focus on delivering the impact only they can create. 

The Finance Director plays a critical role in ensuring HOST’s financial management is robust, compliant, transparent and scalable across both our internal operations and our project hosting services. This role brings financial leadership to the organisation, supporting strong decision-making, reliable reporting, effective controls and continuous improvement across our finance function. 

The role sits within HOST’s senior leadership and works closely with colleagues across the Delivery, Partnerships, Legal and Engagement circles, as well as the Board, to ensure we can deliver high-quality support to partners while managing risk and using resources well. 

The role in a nutshell 

The Finance Director leads the Finance Team and is responsible for HOST’s financial management, ensuring strong compliance with policies, procedures and regulatory requirements.

The Finance Director is part of the HOST Leadership Team and would have line management responsibility for three Finance Managers within the Finance team. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Oversee HOST’s financial management, ensuring compliance with policies, procedures and relevant regulatory requirements. 

• Develop and monitor budgets for both HOST operations and hosted projects. 

• Provide regular financial reporting to the Leadership Team and Board. 

• Lead efforts to improve financial systems, controls and workflows. 

• Ensure robust financial oversight of hosted projects and HOST’s internal systems. 

• Contribute as an integral member of the Leadership Team, bringing financial insight to strategic and operational decision-making. 

• Manage cashflow strategy, including multi-currency considerations. 

• Oversee delivery of monthly management accounts. 

• Develop and report on profitability across HOST’s range of services and offerings. 

• Support HOST’s strategic direction by working with the Leadership Team on KPIs and organisational dashboards. 

• Ensure effective, timely and efficient delivery of the following by the finance function: 

• Records of income and expenditure, including grants, donations, receivables, consultancy receipts and invoices. 

• Transparent and accurate financial data in finance systems and other interconnected databases. 

• Regular weekly reconciliation of transactions, including oversight of bills to pay, bank statements and payment service providers for HOST. 

• Month-end reporting, including management reports and accounts such as income and expenditure statements, balance sheets, cash flow statements and KPIs. 

• Restricted donor financial reports, ensuring alignment with accounting records and donor compliance requirements. 

• Payroll services for HOST and hosted projects. 

• Accounting reports for new services. 

• VAT preparation and submission. 

• Records of income and expenditure are maintained: grants, donations, receivables, and consultancy receipts, invoices 

• Transparent and accurate financial data in Xero and other interconnected databases 

• Regular weekly reconciliation of transactions in Xero, including oversight of bills to pay, bank statements, and payment service providers for HOST 

• Month-end reporting process by preparing management reports and accounts, such as income/expenditure statements, balance sheets, cash flow statements, and KPIs 

• Restricted donor financial reports, ensuring alignment with accounting records and donor compliance 

• Payroll service for HOST and hosted projects 

• Accounting reports for new services 

• Managing VAT preparation and submission 

Knowledge and Experience 

• Proven experience as an SME finance leader 

• Qualified accountant: ACA, ACCA or CIMA. 

• Experience implementing financial controls and processes. 

• Multi-currency cashflow and treasury management experience. 

• Experience setting budgets and forecasts. 

• Internal audit experience. 

• Ability to work under pressure and deliver projects to tight deadlines. 

• Minimum 5 years’ people management experience. 

• Excellent knowledge of cloud-based working. 

• Knowledge and experience using Sage or other similar accounting systems 

• Knowledge and experience of other relevant software applications, such as Excel, Teams, ClickUp etc. 

• ESG or sustainable finance experience. 

• Software implementation experience. 

Key Competencies 

• Strategic thinking 

• Strong verbal and written communication skills 

• Attention to detail 

• Planning and organising 

• Time management 

• Interpersonal skills 

• Initiative 

• Confidentiality

• Reliability 

• Leadership of staff

Essential Abilities 

• Ability to confidently discuss financial narratives with senior leaders and Board members. 

• Ability to prioritise and organise own workload and time to meet priorities and deadlines. 

• Ability to identify problems and develop practical solutions to work-related issues. 

• Able to communicate confidently and effectively with a wide range of people, including handling queries in a tactful and confidential manner. 

• Strong stakeholder management skills and ability to business partner effectively with non-finance colleagues. 

• Good organisation and administrative skills. 

• Able to work effectively as part of a team. 

• Ability to undertake a range of financial functions. 

What success in this role looks like 

• Finance systems, reporting and controls are robust, reliable and audit ready. 

• Leadership Team and Board decisions are informed by clear, timely and useful financial insight. 

• Hosted partners receive accurate, consistent and responsive financial support. 

• The finance function continues to improve workflows, systems and reporting as HOST grows. 

At HOST, we believe change starts with people who care. 

If you’re passionate about building strong financial systems that help changemakers thrive - and want to play a key leadership role in supporting climate and social change around the world - we’d love to hear from you. 

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

IRC UK
IRC UK is part of the IRC global network, which has its global headquarters in New York. Our team in the UK works to raise profile, deliver policy and practice change, and increase funding to help restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Since 2021, IRC UK has also provided integration services directly to refugees in England.

In Europe, the IRC also has offices in Berlin, Bonn, Brussels, Geneva and Stockholm. 

The Purpose of the Role

The Refugee Employability Officer will provide tailored employability support to resettled refugees in Hampshire under the Afghan Resettlement Programme (ARP), the United Kingdom Resettlement Scheme (UKRS), Community Sponsorship and other eligible schemes. 

The role delivers structured one-to-one and group-based support focusing on supporting individuals towards employment. This will include agreeing and supporting individuals towards employability related goals and actions within the Individual Support Plan, job search and application support, interview preparation, understanding UK workplace expectations, employer engagement, and links to training, apprenticeships and (where appropriate) self-employment. This work will support individuals often facing barriers such as limited English, recognition of overseas qualifications, childcare responsibilities, health needs or confidence challenges.

Employability support will be integrated within wider Integration support planning to promote sustainable economic independence, strengthen longer-term integration outcomes and support access to appropriate public services where needed.

Key Working Relationships

This position will work closely with all staff involved in the delivery of the Hampshire Resettlement and Integration Support Service. This will include the Programme Manager (Resettlement and Integration), Programme Manager (Economic Empowerment), Senior Integration and Resettlement Officers, Integration Officer, Bilingual Integration Officer, Bilingual Resettlement Officers, ESOL and Education colleagues, Employment Caseworkers and other relevant staff.

This position will also work closely with staff at our partner organisation, Citizen Advice Rushmoor, Jobcentre Plus (DWP), statutory funded employment support services (ie Connect to Work), education and training providers, employers, and relevant advice organisations across Hampshire.

This role will be line managed by the Senior Integration Officer with a dotted line to the Programme Manager (Economic Empowerment). 

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Employability support to individuals (55%)

• Conduct structured individual assessments to identify skills, qualifications, employment history, transferable competencies and career aspirations, translating these into clear and realistic actions and goals within an Individual Support Plan. 

• Deliver tailored job readiness support through one-to-one coaching and group-based workshops, including CV development, interview preparation, UK workplace norms, digital literacy, job search strategies and confidence-building.

• Support individuals to access and sustain employment opportunities, facilitating job matching, including liaising with employers, facilitating introductions, supporting applications and providing on the job follow-up assistance to promote job retention and progression.

• Monitor and respond to employment and training‑related risks, including exploitation, unsafe work and discrimination, ensuring appropriate safeguarding action, advocacy for clients, and partnership working with Citizens Advice Rushmoor and other external partners.

• Provide structured guidance to individuals considering small‑scale self‑employment work, including exploring viable income‑generating ideas, basic planning and market research, understanding relevant UK start‑up and compliance requirements (e.g. sole trader status, HMRC registration and Self Assessment, banking, insurance and any required licences), and signposting to appropriate start‑up and business support services.

• Facilitate access to vocational training, apprenticeships, accredited courses and skills development opportunities that enhance employability and support longer-term career progression.

External engagement and partnerships (20%) 

• Develop and maintain productive relationships with local employers across Hampshire to facilitate direct placements, identify suitable job opportunities, work experience placements and promote inclusive recruitment practices amongst local employers.

• Promote awareness among employers of the skills and contributions of resettled refugees, supporting inclusive workplace practices and addressing misconceptions where appropriate.

• Build and maintain collaborative working relationships with Jobcentre Plus (DWP), education and training providers, and business advice and start-up support services to strengthen pathways into work, training and self-employment.

• Represent the service in local employability and partnership forums, contributing to multi-agency strategies that improve labour market access and progression for resettled refugees.

Key Administrative tasks (15%) 

• Ensure timely and accurate compliance with all reporting requirements, including database management, case noting, and file maintenance with a focus on evidencing client progress and outcomes. This will require completion of accurate and timely records and case notes in line with data protection and reporting requirements. 

• Provide logistical support for the procurement of into‑work support items and the delivery of employability workshops and employer events, including preparation of participant materials and coordination with partners.

• Analyse trends and barriers affecting employment outcomes and contribute insights to service development discussions to strengthen overall programme impact.

Ways of working (10%)

• Collaborate with internal colleagues and external partners to ensure that employment, training and self-employment pathways are integrated within longer-term integration planning.

• Gather and analyse client and employer feedback to inform continuous improvement of employability interventions and self-employment support.

• Carry out all the above in accordance with the aims, values and policies of International Rescue Committee, in particular in relation to safeguarding, confidentiality, impartiality and Equal Opportunities.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Skills, Knowledge and Qualifications

Essential

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with colleagues, partners and clients in English.**

• Strong knowledge of the local Hampshire employment context, including employment opportunities, key local employers and available training and development pathways. 

• Excellent interpersonal and relationship building skills, with the confidence to engage and maintain a wide range of internal and external partnerships.

• Good IT skills, including proficiency in using Microsoft Office and experience delivering or supporting meetings/workshops via online platforms such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom.**

• Strong working knowledge of the UK labour market and recruitment processes, with the ability to coach clients on job search, CV development, interview preparation and workplace expectations.

• Ability to travel regularly throughout Hampshire, the service delivery area.**

Desirable

• Ability to communicate in Dari and/or Pashto, or another community language relevant to the Hampshire resettled population.

• Lived experience of forced migration, resettlement, or navigating UK employment systems as a refugee or migrant.

Experience

Essential

• Minimum two years of related experience, delivering tailored employability support with refugees, migrants or other vulnerable populations in Hampshire.**

• Experience delivering one-to-one employability coaching and/or group-based job readiness workshops in diverse, multi-lingual and cross-cultural environments.

• Experience conducting outreach to the private sector to build relationships and raise awareness. 

• Experience supporting clients to access employment, education and training opportunities, including liaising with Jobcentre Plus (DWP), training providers and employers where appropriate.

• Experience handling confidential documents and sensitive information.**

• Prior experience of using a client relationship management system or case management database, with accurate case noting and outcome tracking.

Desirable

• Experience supporting clients with self-employment pathways, including UK start-up basics (e.g., sole trader/limited company options, HMRC registration/Self Assessment) and signposting to appropriate business advice and start-up support services.

Contract: Full-time, permanent
Hours: Full-time
Reports to: Chair; Board of Directors 
Location: Hackney
Salary: £50,000-60,000 depending on experience.
Pension: HSoF participates in the National Employment Savings Trust (NEST) pension scheme and contributes 3%.
Benefits: 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays, free onsite lunches .
Probation period: Six months.

About Hackney School of Food

Hackney School of Food is an award-winning food education hub based in the grounds of Mandeville Primary School in Clapton, East London. Through our teaching kitchen and educational garden, we help children, families and communities build the skills, confidence and knowledge to grow, cook and eat good food.

Each year, we welcome more than 10,000 visits to our kitchen and garden, delivering curriculum programmes for schools alongside community cooking courses, gardening projects, holiday clubs, corporate volunteering and public events. Since becoming a Community Interest Company (CIC) in 2023, we have expanded our facilities, strengthened our governance and built a strong reputation as a leader in food education.

We're now looking for an exceptional Managing Director to build on these strong foundations and lead Hackney School of Food through its next phase of growth and impact.

About the role

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Managing Director (MD) will provide both strategic and operational leadership, ensuring the organisation delivers its mission while remaining financially resilient, well-governed and responsive to the needs of the communities it serves.

The Managing Director is responsible for all aspects of the organisation, including strategy, income generation, finance, governance, partnerships, programme delivery and people leadership. Working closely with a small, committed team and an engaged Board, they will build on strong foundations to grow Hackney School of Food's impact, reach and long-term sustainability.

This is a varied, hands-on leadership role for someone who enjoys balancing big-picture thinking with practical delivery. One day you may be developing a new partnership, meeting a prospective funder or working with the Board on future strategy; the next you could be supporting the team, welcoming visitors to the garden or solving day-to-day operational challenges.

Key priorities

In your first 12 months you will:

• Build on Hackney School of Food's strong foundations to deliver the next phase of our strategy and growth.

• Increase and diversify income through fundraising, partnerships and commercial opportunities to strengthen long-term sustainability.

• Lead, support and develop a small, ambitious team, fostering a positive and inclusive culture where people can thrive.

• Strengthen relationships with funders, partners and local businesses, helping Hackney School of Food deepen its impact.

• Work closely with the Board to embed strong governance, organisational systems and long-term planning for the future.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership 

• Provide overall leadership and strategic direction for Hackney School of Food, ensuring delivery of its mission, vision and long-term objectives. 

• Lead the development and implementation of Hackney School of Food's annual business plan and organisational priorities.

• Work with the Board to evolve organisational strategy, identify opportunities, manage risks and support sustainable growth.

• Monitor, report on and respond to organisational performance against agreed objectives and impact measures. 

• Champion Hackney School of Food externally, strengthening its profile and influence.
   

Financial sustainability and income generation 

• Oversee organisational budgeting, financial planning, forecasting and cashflow management, working closely with the Treasurer and accountant.

• Lead income generation across the organisation, including trusts and foundations, corporate partnerships, sponsorship and earned income.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with funders, sponsors and strategic partners.

• Ensure all funding commitments are met, including grant reporting, monitoring and evaluation requirements.

• Identify new opportunities to diversify income and strengthen long-term financial sustainability.

Partnerships & External Relations

• Act as the main point of contact for HSoF’s key partners, LEAP Federation and Chefs in Schools to ensure the partnerships are effective and positive.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with other key stakeholders, including local authorities, funders and sponsors.

• Represent Hackney School of Food at meetings, events, and public forums.

• Champion the value of food education and contribute to wider local and national conversations. 

• Ensure programmes remain responsive to community needs through ongoing engagement and consultation. 

Governance and public benefit 

• Ensure the organisation operates in line with its CIC objectives and delivers clear public benefit. 

• Support the Board of Directors to fulfil its governance responsibilities through high-quality reporting, planning and decision-making.

• Prepare Board papers, reports and agendas, ensuring timely and accurate information is available to support effective governance.

• Oversee and report on organisational performance to the Board of Directors quarterly.

• Act as the primary link between the Board and the operational team.

• Maintain effective governance, delegated authority and accountability frameworks. 

• Support the Board in meeting all statutory and regulatory obligations relating to the CIC.

People, Culture and safeguarding

• Provide leadership to a small core team (currently c.4 employees), directly managing staff and fostering a positive, inclusive culture. 

• Provide oversight and support for a wider network of approx. 15 freelance contractors to ensure consistently high-quality delivery.

• Lead recruitment, induction, performance management and professional development in line with safer recruitment and equality principles. 

• Ensure effective organisational structures, clear roles, and performance accountability.

• Oversee HR processes including appraisals, performance management, and professional development.

• Act as Designated Safeguarding Lead, embedding safeguarding throughout the organisation maintaining compliance with all relevant requirements. 

• Develop organisational systems, policies and practices that support an inclusive, high-performing workplace.

Risk Management & Compliance

• Maintain and regularly review the organisational Risk Register and report key risks and mitigations to the Board.

• Oversee organisational policies, procedures and continuous improvement, ensuring policies and legal requirements are up to date, clearly communicated and embedded across the organisation. 

• Ensure compliance with employment law, health and safety, safeguarding, GDPR and other relevant legislation. 

Personal specification

Essential experience 

• Senior leadership experience with responsibility for organisational performance and accountability. 

• Experience securing income through fundraising, partnerships and/or commercial activity.

• Experience of financial leadership, including budget setting, forecasting and cashflow oversight.

• Experience working closely with a Board, Trustees or governing body to translate strategic vision into operational delivery. 

• Experience building and managing successful partnerships with funders, businesses and community stakeholders. 

• Experience in managing and motivating a team, creating a positive and inclusive workplace culture. 

• Experience of governance, compliance and organisational risk management.

• Experience of safeguarding within an education, youth or community context.

• Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise competing demands, make sound decisions and remain resilient in a resource-constrained environment.

Essential skills and attributes

• Passion for Hackney School of Food's mission and the role of food education in improving health, wellbeing and community connection. 

• Strategic thinker who is equally comfortable with hands-on operational leadership. 

• Entrepreneurial, resourceful and committed to building long-term financial sustainability and identifying growth opportunities.

• Ability to lead a team through change with sensitivity, clarity and kindness.

• Strong communicator with excellent relationship-building skills. 

• Confident decision-maker with a high level of personal accountability. 

• Committed to equity, inclusion and community-led practice.

Desirable 

• Experience working within a Community Interest Company (CIC), social enterprise or charity.

• Knowledge of Hackney, its communities and local stakeholder landscape.

• Experience of working in food education, community food, gardening, environmental education or a related field.

• Experience reviewing and managing contracts, service agreements or other legal documentation.

An inclusive workplace

We know that diverse teams make stronger organisations and are committed to building a workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We are committed to fair and inclusive recruitment and will consider all qualified applicants regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

We particularly encourage applications from people who are under-represented in our sector and in leadership roles, including people from the global majority and those whose lived experience brings valuable perspectives from the communities we serve. We also welcome applications from people who live in Hackney or East London.

How to apply

The deadline to apply is Monday 20 July at 9am. Please apply by filling out this application form.

You'll find the link to the application form on our Recruitment Pack which provides more information. 

Stage 1: A one-hour online interview with the Senior Team and Board (24 July) 

Stage 2: On-site interview at Hackney School of Food (30 July), including a short presentation. 

We may also invite the preferred candidate to an informal meeting with the wider team and Board before making a final appointment. 

The successful applicant will need to pass an enhanced DBS check and provide two suitable references. 

We may close the application window earlier if we are inundated with applications, so please don't wait to apply.

If you have any questions about the role or your suitability, please feel free to get in touch with us. You will find a Recruitment pack and email address to contact via our website.