Business operations manager jobs

Camwch i mewn i daith drawsnewidiol gyda Cyfleodd Dysgu mewn addysg

Step into a transformative journey with Working Options. We're on a mission to empower young people aged 14-19 across the UK, and you can help make a real difference. As our Project Coordinator, based in Wales, you'll play a crucial role in connecting volunteers with schools and fostering impactful relationships, all while working within a dynamic, entrepreneurial environment.

We believe in inclusivity, trying new things, setting high expectations, and creating real opportunities for young people. With the support of our experienced team and dedicated trustees, you'll have the chance to shape young people's career ambitions.

If you're self-motivated and eager to contribute to a great mission, this is your chance to join a team that's helping young people to transform their career and life chances.

Don't just take our word for it, here's what one of our young people had to say:

"My personal experience has been exceptional. There is a collaborative atmosphere, and it is truly empowering to be part of a charity that values student input and involves us in decisions that directly affect our lives." – Working Options Alumnae.

Find out more about the role and hear from our Chief Executive about our charity's ambitions in our Applicant Information Pack.

Person specification 

WE ARE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE WHO:

• Has a passion for our cause.
• Is fully committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion.
• Is self-motivated.
• Has excellent attention to detail.
• Can juggle multiple priorities, sticking to deadlines and flagging when priorities need reviewing.
• Has a flair for developing great relationships, particularly with schools and colleges.
• Is proactive and tenacious, able to seek out new opportunities and remain resilient.
• Is creative and likes coming up with new ideas.
• Is ambitious for themselves and for the charity.
• Has high computer literacy.

DESIRABLE:

• Experience within educational settings or working with young people in Wales.
• The ability to communicate in the medium of Welsh.

ESSENTIAL:

• Based in Wales.

We carry out social media checks on shortlisted candidates as part of our recruitment process, using only publicly available information and in line with our data protection responsibilities.

While we don’t specify this in our person specification, we are particularly interested to hear from applicants who have experienced some of the challenges that young people across Wales face today.

Purpose of the job

UK Youth are seeking an exceptional Grants Manager to lead our grant-making processes, ensuring effective distribution of funds to youth-focused organisations. You will play a key role in managing relationships with grantees, supporting capacity-building initiatives, and ensuring funding is used effectively to drive positive outcomes for young people.

Reporting to the Head of Network Development, as part of a wider team leading our network development initiatives, you’ll be responsible for be line managing a Grants Officer and providing much needed and valued support for a sector that delivers life changing impact for young people in a difficult, underinvested landscape. You’ll have opportunity to lead a function that’s committed to working with young people and using equitable, innovative principles and approaches to funding (such as unrestricted, multi-year funds). You’ll also work collaboratively across the organisation and externally to amplify impact for young people across the UK.

Key responsibilities

• Manage the full grant-making cycle, from application and assessment to award, monitoring, and evaluation.

• Develop and implement grant-making approaches that align with the charity’s objectives, and funding principles, strategies and priorities  e.g. building on our youth participation practices.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with grantees, funders, and sector stakeholders, working collaboratively and cross functionally with internal colleagues with work related to grants.

• Work closely with youth organisations to understand their needs and provide tailored funding and capacity-building support.

• Work with Impact colleagues to monitor and evaluate grants, ensuring compliance with funding agreements and identifying opportunities for impact and learning.

• Ensure a transparent and equitable grant-making process, embedding best practices in equity, diversity, and inclusion.

• Work with Impact and External Relations colleagues to support and prepare reports and impact assessments for internal and external stakeholders, including trustees and funders.

• Support the maintenance and development of partnerships and new funding opportunities  to enhance the charity’s grant-making capacity, including the IVAR community .

• Stay informed about trends in youth work and  funding, sharing insights to shape the charity’s approach.

• Ensure the CRM and grant management systems support data-driven decision-making and reporting, providing training and support to colleagues as needed.

• Support the development, and continuous improvement of the charity’s CRM and grant management systems to ensure efficient and effective grant processing.

Experience we're after

• Previous line management experience and a proven track record of successfully leading a grants function in a previous role.

• Experience in grant-making, funding management, or a related role within the charity sector.

• Strong understanding of youth sector challenges and the role of funding in strengthening organisations.

• Excellent project management and organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple grants simultaneously.

• Analytical skills to assess funding applications and evaluate impact.

• Strong relationship management and communication skills, both verbal and written, with experience working with charities and funders.

• Financially numerate with the ability to set and manage budgets.

• Knowledge of funding compliance, financial reporting, GDPR and charity governance

• Proactive, collaborative and solution focused.

• Commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in grant-making practices.

Who we are

UK Youth is a leading charity that exists to ensure all young people are equipped to thrive and empowered to contribute at every stage of their lives. We work with others to ensure that the youth sector is strengthened, supported, and that provision is youth-led, evidence-informed and delivers high-quality outcomes.

UK Youth plays a unique role in addressing; the lack of investment in the youth sector, the lack of cross sector understanding in how youth work makes a difference and the limited opportunities to embed effective solutions. These factors lead to mass inequality of access to youth services for young people. To find more about us and how we make an impact, please visit UK Youth Website.

Why work at UK Youth?

We are a value-based, passionate and committed organisation offering a friendly working environment with lots of opportunities for professional development and socialising (even for those working remotely!) from lunch and learn sessions, staff quizzes to virtual coffee meet ups.

UK Youth prides itself on being an Equal Opportunity employer and we would particularly welcome applications for this role from those who identify under one of the protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010.

We value the differences that a diverse workforce brings and are committed to inclusivity, and to employing and supporting a diverse workforce. Our selection procedures ensure that people are treated on the basis of their relevant merits, experience, skills and abilities and that no individual receives more or less favourable treatment.

We welcome applications from groups currently under-represented in our organisation including BIPOC, LGBTQ+ and persons with disabilities. We are also currently underrepresented by men, and so are seeking applications from different backgrounds, cultures, age, experience and identity to bring a wide range of experience, ideas, views and insights to UK Youth.

What we can offer you

We offer a competitive range of benefits, good work/life balance, excellent learning and development opportunities and vibrant organisational culture:

• Flexible/Agile Working

• 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays (pro rata for part time employees)

• Funded training provided in; Safeguarding, GDPR, Information and Cyber Security & Equality & Diversity

• Other training available in support of your personal and professional development

• Pension scheme (currently UK Youth match employee contributions up to 5%)

• Membership of our life insurance scheme which would pay-out up to 4 times your salary

• Employee Assistance Programme to support employees both professionally and personally

• 20% discount off bookings at Avon Tyrrell, our New Forest Outdoor Centre, including camping, lodges and outdoor activities.

• IT equipment provided for the duration of contract

• CycleScheme and TechScheme

How to apply

If you would like to be considered for this fantastic opportunity, please complete an application via our completely anonymised recruitment system provided by Applied which looks to create a fair and unbiased application process for all. Scroll to the top of the page and start your application.

Closing date: Monday 12th May at 11:59PM (midnight)

Provisional Interview Date: Friday 23rd May 

As this role involves working in a regulated environment with young people, any offer will be conditional to satisfactory background checks, which include criminal record check and employment reference.

You will take the lead on managing our existing corporate partners, creating new and interesting opportunities to grow and develop their engagement and support. Stakeholder management, effective stewardship (planning and delivery) and income management are essential. You will also support the Head of Corporate Partnerships in the development of new partnership opportunities. This role is about shaping and growing corporate fundraising income and so priorities may change and these are fairly fluid, so it’s important that this is an environment that you have experienced before and can thrive in. You will have an innate desire to listen, to learn and to grow in this role.

You’ll be successful in this role if you have a creative and purposeful mindset, with a desire to make the most of opportunities while also being able to ruthlessly prioritise. Valuing and developing high quality relationships will be second nature to you, and written and verbal communication will also be strengths that you apply to the highest standards. Experience in researching and developing potential new partnership prospects, activities and campaigns are also important as well as the ability to work both collaboratively across the whole organisation and independently on your own initiative.

Legacy and In Memory Manager

Do you want to be part of a passionate team and help support a lifesaving cause? If so then read on for more details as to how you can work for our Charity!

The Legacy and In Memory Manager is responsible for developing and delivering plans to maximise gifts in wills and in memory giving, ensuring a sustainable income stream for the charity whilst providing exceptional levels of supporter care.

This role will oversee the administration of legacies, drive the growth of the charity’s Free Wills programme, steward legacy pledgers, and expand in memory fundraising. The Legacy and In Memory Manager will also ensure supporter journeys, audience insight and effective targeting are at the heart of the charity’s programme, working with the Individual Giving and Development Lead to create impactful marketing campaigns across a variety of channels.

The post holder will raise awareness of the importance and impact of gifts in wills and in memory giving to a wider audience, both internally and externally, ensuring these vital income streams are embraced at all levels of the organisation.

#Legacy_and_In_Memory_Manager #Legacy #Supporter_Journey #Gifts_and_wills #In_Memory #Legacy

Charity Business Development KTP Associate (Planning/Sustainable Land Use)
Job ref: BUS00248 (Bayes)
Salary: £39,355 to £40,947 per annum
Location: Old Street, N1 7NH. Most office-based staff work hybrid, working part of the time in the office and part of the time at home.
Terms: Full-time, Fixed-Term – 30 months

We’re recruiting for a brilliant new role, jointly with Bayes Business School (University of London).

In a context of significant government reform to planning, we’re looking for someone to lead an exciting Management Knowledge Transfer Partnership (mKTP) project) to develop new products and services linked to planning and land use.

The role will deliver solutions for CPRE to diversify its income and uncover new ways to deliver its charitable outcomes.

You’ll need a good working knowledge of the town and country planning policy context in England, strong commercial acumen, and familiarity with theories and practice in new business models.

We are committed to developing an inclusive and diverse CPRE in which everyone feels supported, valued, and always able to be themselves at work, because we recognise that a diverse and inclusive workforce is important in achieving our vision of a thriving, beautiful countryside for everyone. We therefore welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. People from ethnic minority backgrounds and disabled people are currently underrepresented across the environment, climate, sustainability, and conservation sectors. If you identify as a person of ethnic minority background and/or disabled, we are particularly interested in receiving your application.

About CPRE

We are CPRE, the countryside charity. We want a thriving, beautiful countryside for everyone.

We believe in countryside and green spaces that are accessible to all, rich in nature and playing a crucial role in responding to the climate emergency.

About City St George’s

City St George’s, University of London is the University of business, practice and the professions and brings together the expertise and excellence of City, University of London and St George’s, University of London into one institution.

Closing date: Monday 5 May 2025
Interviews: Late May or early June TBC

Interested?

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

CPRE is an equal opportunities employer.

No agencies please.

Due to the nature of this service, this post is only open to female applicants (Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, Part 1). 

Cambridge Women’s Resources Centre (CWRC) is looking for a dynamic, compassionate, and forward-thinking Centre Manager to head up our newly reopened Peterborough Women’s Centre, which reopened its doors in March 2025 following renovations. 

This is an exciting opportunity to build a trauma-informed, vibrant women’s service in an area facing significant deprivation, including women who have been involved in the criminal justice system. As Centre Manager, you will lead the development of the centre’s services and partnerships, directly contributing to improved health, wellbeing and rehabilitation of women in Peterborough. 

Whether you're an experienced women’s sector professional, a community or probaton worker ready to step into management, this role ia a unique chance to shape a centre from the ground up—bringing vision, empathy, and leadership to make a real difference to women's lives in Peterborough.

This is an exciting new role for our organisation! You’ll have the freedom and autonomy to shape our marketing strategy, working hand-in-hand with our Director and Senior Leadership Team to make a tangible impact in our community.

• Salary: £36,565 - £41,200 per annum (dependent on experience, Full-Time Equivalent)

• Hours: Flexible arrangements! We're open to accommodating everything from 20 hours per week (0.5 FTE) up to full-time - depending upon the candidates needsmark. Hybrid working options available.

• Contract: Permanent

About Us

Sufra is an innovative charity in Northwest London that prevents hunger, fights poverty and builds community.

With the help of our volunteers and partners, we coordinate a network of food banks and community kitchens, as well as a social supermarket and café. These act as a gateway for guests to access more holistic support – including welfare advice, asylum support, volunteering opportunities and our award-winning community garden.

We aim to work with our guests to find solutions to their challenges together, whilst campaigning against the causes of hunger and poverty.

What You’ll Do

Strategy & Execution: Create and drive an innovative individual giving strategy that grows our existing donor base and revenue.

Understanding Our Supporter Base: Dive into our CRM system (Beacon) to understand, profile, and engage with our supporters on a personal level.

Donor Stewardship: Cultivate and nurture relationships with individual donors, including high-net-worth individuals, ensuring they feel valued and connected to our cause.

Campaign Management: Lead dynamic direct marketing campaigns, digital appeals, and social media drives that captivate and convert our supporters into donors.

Data, Budgeting & Reporting: Analyse fundraising performance like a pro, managing budgets and providing insightful reports.

Team Leadership: Inspire a small but passionate team, and getting stuck in to delivery in order to achieve our shared goals.

And More…

• Support our corporate fundraising initiatives.

• Be the face of Sufra at external events and meetings.

• Work closely with the entire team, stepping in wherever needed to propel our charity forward.

Why You’ll Love Working with Us

Health and Wellbeing: Access to a 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme for confidential advice and counselling.

Learning and Development: Annual training budget, plus shadowing opportunities to grow your skills.

Annual Leave: Start with 25 days per year (pro rata) plus bank holidays, gaining an extra day for each year of service (up to 5 additional days).

Pay and Pension: Competitive salaries with regular reviews, plus eligibility for the Nest pension scheme with employer contributions.

Flexibility: Embrace hybrid and flexible working arrangements tailored to your needs.

If you’re an experienced fundraiser with a knack for storytelling and growing an engaged supporter base, we want to hear from you. Join us in driving positive change and making a real difference in Northwest London!

Operational Leadership:

• Provide strategic leadership to the Senior Management Team's and it’s operational functions, ensuring efficient and high-quality service delivery.
• Develop and implement operational policies, procedures, and best practices to enhance productivity and ensure compliance.
• Continuously streamline processes and workflows to improve operational performance.
• Deputise for the CEO when required, representing the organisation at events, meetings, and in day-to-day operations.

Strategic Planning and Execution:

• Collaborate with the CEO and support, manage and develop the senior management to shape and execute the charity’s strategic plan.
• Translate strategic objectives into actionable initiatives, ensuring effective implementation and tracking progress.
• Identify opportunities for growth, cost optimisation, and improved service delivery.

Board of Trustees Liaison:

• Provide regular reports to the Board of Trustees on operational performance, strategic initiatives, and financial matters.
• Work closely with the CEO to ensure transparency, accountability, and alignment with the Board's expectations.
• Attend Board meetings and provide insights on operational challenges, opportunities, and key achievements.

Financial Management:

• Oversee budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning, ensuring the efficient use of resources.
• Monitor financial performance, identifying areas for improvement and taking corrective actions as necessary.
• Drive cost-efficiency initiatives while maintaining a focus on quality and service outcomes.

People Management and Development:

• Line manage and develop the SMT (nine managers)
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Establish performance goals and metrics for staff, offering regular feedback and development support.
• Promote an inclusive, diverse work environment that values employee engagement and professional growth.
• Oversee recruitment, onboarding, performance management, and retention strategies.

Risk Management and Compliance:

• Develop and implement strategies to identify, assess, and mitigate operational risks.
• Ensure compliance with relevant laws, regulations, and industry standards, maintaining the highest ethical standards.
• Implement internal controls and governance practices to safeguard the charity’s reputation and assets.

Employee Relations (ER) Manager
Birmingham | £50,000 – £55,000 | Permanent | Full Time | 2 days onsite / 3 days WFH

A Birmingham-based housing association is seeking an experienced Employee Relations Manager to join their People team on a permanent, full-time basis.

Reporting to the Head of People Operations, you will lead a small team of two and provide strategic guidance across all areas of employee relations. You will be responsible for managing complex casework, supporting and coaching managers, developing policies, and driving a positive, fair and inclusive workplace culture. Acting as a key escalation point for high-risk cases, you will help safeguard the organisation against legal and reputational risks while promoting proactive employee engagement.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the ER Advisory team, managing complex cases including disciplinaries, grievances, performance management and redundancies
• Act as a senior escalation point for high-risk ER issues and tribunal claims
• Provide strategic advice and coaching to managers and senior leaders on employee relations matters
• Develop and implement ER policies and ensure legal compliance and best practice
• Analyse ER data to identify trends, risks and opportunities for proactive interventions
• Design and deliver training for managers on ER topics and early intervention strategies
• Support the organisation’s employee engagement and wellbeing initiatives
• Manage trade union relationships and responses to recognition attempts

About You:

• Strong leadership experience within ER, including managing high-risk cases
• Expert knowledge of UK employment law and best practice employee relations approaches
• Proven ability to advise, coach and influence senior leaders
• Experience in policy development and implementation
• Data-driven with experience analysing ER trends to inform strategy
• Skilled in balancing risk, business needs and employee experience
• Excellent communication, negotiation and organisational skills

Benefits include:

• 25 days annual leave (rising to 30 with service) plus your birthday off
• Enrolment in the Social Housing Pension Scheme (SHPS)
• 3x salary death-in-service cover
• Access to a 24/7 virtual GP service
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption leave
• Paid sick leave for at least eight weeks
• Access to an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) with trained counsellors
• Discounts via the Blue Light Card and rewards website
• Money off optical prescriptions and eye tests
• Recognition awards for long service
• Health cash plan, personal accident plan, and other wellness benefits

For more information about the role, please contact Matt Alderson for a confidential conversation.

Fauna & Flora is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Senior Technical Specialist, Enterprise & Livelihoods. This strategic role is key to shaping and advancing enterprise development and fostering the creation of socio-bioeconomies, that sustain productive, conserved and diverse landscapes whilst creating economic and social value.

Working holistically at the interface between global nature finance and local economies, you will develop practical solutions that directly benefit people, nature and climate.

You will both build on past initiatives and champion new approaches for enterprise development as a means for enabling and financing conservation, enhancing sustainable livelihoods and co-creating benefits for local partners, including indigenous peoples, communities and other stakeholders across our global programme.

You will have advanced expertise in business development and entrepreneurship, with experience in incubating and scaling enterprises, facilitating international market access, and forging impactful private-sector partnerships.

Excelling at engaging with diverse teams, stakeholders, and cultures—from rural entrepreneurs to corporate investors— you will be confident in explaining complex business concepts in clear and accessible ways.

You will be an inspiring team leader, motivating the achievement of goals, as well as facilitating workshops, providing training, and coaching others to success. You will be a strategic and systems thinker, with excellent planning and organisational skills to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines. You will have significant experience applying business skills in conservation, development, or natural resource management in developing countries.

Fluency in English is essential, with French being highly desirable. Knowledge of languages like Bahasa, Swahili, Russian, Portuguese, or Spanish would be a plus.

Why Join Fauna & Flora? 

• A Hub of Innovation: Be part of the Cambridge Conservation Initiative, collaborating with leading conservation organisations and University of Cambridge institutions.

• Global Impact: Work with a diverse, passionate team making a real difference for nature and communities worldwide.
• Dynamic Work Environment: Based in Cambridge with international travel opportunities, this is a chance to grow your career while supporting ground-breaking conservation efforts.

Please visit our website and download the job application pack for further details on how to apply.

The closing date for applications is Monday, 5th May. Interviews are likely to take place in the week commencing 12th May 2025.

DFN Project SEARCH offer an evidence-based supported internship model which takes place entirely in the workplace.  The programmes provide continuous support to young adults with a learning disability, and autistic people who are aged between 16 – 24 with an Education Health and Care Plan, or equivalent, in their final year of education.

You will be required to identify opportunities to develop and grow DFN Project SEARCH programmes across a geographical area with the aim of supporting the organisation to ensure that as many people as need it have access to DFN Project SEARCH programmes.

In addition, you will be required to develop strategies to ensure that the operational programmes in your area are achieving at least the average outcomes expected for young people in our programmes and so you must be committed to continuous improvement.

You will be specifically required to develop strong partnerships and train and support colleagues within your area. You may also be required to support colleagues promoting DFN Project SEARCH in other areas, further European projects as required and contribute to the development of relevant UK focussed materials.

As a Programme Specialist you will be expected to:

• Demonstrate effective project planning and preparation so that each project delivers achieves the highest quality programme possible and outstanding employment outcomes for the interns.
• Establish effective working relationships with schools, colleges, local authorities, employers and the project professional staff to promote the building of excellent, high quality partnerships at each site to ensure the effective running of programmes and promote sustainability in a volatile environment.
• Take an active part in decision making, planning and audit processes of each project
• Ensure that you implement DFN Project SEARCH policy and have a clear understanding of required quality standards and criteria which constitute effective teaching and learning
   

You will be from a corporate fundraising or sales/business development background within the private, public or charitable sector. You will have a commercially-minded yet mission-driven approach grounded by experience in managing a supporter or sales pipeline, and of prioritising prospects to deliver the best return on investment. We would expect you to be comfortable with the need to achieve income generation-related targets. You will be a great communicator with a personable style who can work with many different people across the wonderful variety of geography, business development and activities of the Wildlife Trust. 

To succeed and be happy in your role, you will enjoy making both face-to-face pitch presentations and writing successful fundraising or sales proposals – and, of course, contributing to our core purpose: to bring wildlife back, empower people to take action for nature and create a society where nature matter. This is a new role which will evolve following your appointment so you should be excited by the flexibility and opportunities to take an innovative approach.

Who we are

North Wales Wildlife Trust is one of 46 Wildlife Trusts working across the UK. With the invaluable support of volunteers and members we manage 35 nature reserves in north Wales. We also work with other organisations and landowners to protect and connect wildlife sites across the county and inspire local communities and young people to care for wildlife where they live.

Senior Communications Manager

Salary: up to £45k 

Term: Permanent 

Line manager: Head of Policy and Advocacy 

Background:

Our vision is a world where data is at the heart of understanding and decision-making 

Founded in 1834, the Royal Statistical Society (RSS) is one of the world’s leading organisations advocating for the importance of statistics and data. We’re a professional body for all statisticians and data scientists – wherever they may live. 

We have more than 12,000 individual members in the UK and across the world. As a charity, we advocate for the key role of statistics and data in society, and work to ensure that policy formulation and decision making are informed by evidence for the public good. 

The membership of the Royal Statistical Society (RSS) constitutes a preeminent source of statistical expertise. Members work with RSS staff to support our work across areas such as policy development, education, training, statistical communication, and statistical literacy. Communicating what we do is important to ensure that our work has impact, and that our members are informed. 

Job Purpose:

The main purpose of this role is to lead and coordinate communications activities across the Society’s policy and external affairs activities, ensuring that our work is communicated strategically and visible to appropriate audiences.

Key responsibilities:

Understanding opportunities and the changing external environment  

• Develop our understanding of the preferences and needs of our key internal and external audiences to better align our policy and external affairs communications to those preferences and needs. 
• Monitor and respond to emerging trends to ensure our communications channels and content for policy and external affairs remain timely and relevant.
• Build a network of key contacts across critical and adjacent organisations to maximise potential routes into influencing decision-making and make the best use of resources through collaborative working. 

Development of strategies and plans

• Lead on strategic communication of the Society’s campaign priorities
• Contribute to the development of the Society’s communications strategy across media, social media and communications planning.
• Work closely with colleagues across the organisation to maximise the communications value of the Society’s key policy and external affairs outputs and activities.
• Contribute to costed plans for communications campaigns that meet key strategic goals and include monitoring for impact.

Media relations

• Lead on the Society’s media relations work – proactively identify and exploit appropriate media opportunities to promote campaign priorities, drafting media statements and managing launches and announcements.
• Develop and maintain relationships with journalists across our key topic areas and respond to press queries. 
• Expertly advise, assist and brief the Society’s key spokespeople in respect of media relations issues and opportunities. 
• Manage, and develop the Society’s statistical ambassador scheme, supporting individuals and ensuring we have a pipeline of spokespeople that reflects the diversity of the data professions.

Content creation and editorial

• Develop communications content including blogs, press statements, posts and thought pieces to communicate our campaigns and policy work. 
• Contribute to the operation of the Society’s social media accounts, working with wider staff to ensure we are reflecting the breadth of the Society’s activities across the various platforms.
• Produce write-ups of events and roundtables.

External affairs

• Work with the CEO and Head of Policy and Advocacy to identify and develop relationships with external stakeholders, both UK-based and international and across government, civil society, academia and business, acting as a convenor, trusted advisor and critical friend. 
• Lead on the Society’s statistical excellence awards programme, including developing and maintaining relationships with awards sponsors to ensure the awards are both impactful and financially sustainable.
• Lead on the planning and delivery of policy focused events 
• Support the publication, launch and dissemination of relevant outputs across the policy team, and work with colleagues to ensure relevant and timely and communication of policy positions to support policy and advocacy objectives. 
• Maintain a database of relevant stakeholders.

Management

• Monitor and report on progress and performance against targets. 
• Project manage campaigns, external affairs and communications activities, ensuring that work is appropriate, of high quality, and sufficient volume to maintain presence and reputation. 
• Manage the budget for the communications function.

Interfaces with other teams and groups 

• Contribute to a cross-RSS communications group to share comms plans and outputs and identify opportunities for synergy and collaboration. 
• Provide support to key Society groups, for example the Campaigns Advisory Group. 
• Work with staff responsible for business development to pursue sponsorship opportunities where appropriate. 
• Engage with teams across the organisation to identify comms opportunities to advance our campaign priorities.

Person Specification

• Significant relevant experience in media relations and external affairs 
• Excellent written / oral communication skills, including writing, editing, sub-editing and proofreading 
• Excellent organisation, project and budget management skills
• Ability to work effectively, managing multiple projects and deadlines and reprioritising and achieving results in a changing environment.
• Ability to work on own initiative, escalating issues where appropriate. 
• Experience organising events in a policy context 
• Strong interpersonal skills: ability to persuade, inspire, influence, achieve results through others. 
• Collaborative team worker: proven ability to work efficiently and effectively with colleagues, committees, volunteers, and people with a wide range of perspectives, and to foster consensus. 
• Ability to establish and develop an extensive network of external contacts in the industry.
• Work closely with members of the Society who provide expert support on a voluntary basis including the President and Vice-President for External Affairs.

Desirable

• Interest in or experience of statistics, research, or other aspects of the Society’s work 
• Familiarity with developments within data science, statistics, machine learning, AI and related subject areas. 
• Experience working with volunteers. 
• Scientific background or experience. 

Working for the RSS

Pension and benefits

Our defined contribution pension scheme can be joined after three months in post. Your contributions of up to 8% of salary will be double matched by the Society (making a maximum contribution by the Society of 16%). A training budget, season ticket loan, cycle to work scheme and employee assistance programme are also available. 

Location

The RSS office is in central London. We offer flexible working arrangements, and this is a hybrid role with a minimum two days a week working in the office. In person attendance for certain meeting is required, including all-staff / team meetings and governance / committee meetings that take place in person. Limited travel within the UK and internationally may be required.

Working hours

35 per week full-time. Applications for job shares, part-time and flexible working will also be considered. The post-holder will be the point of contact for any out-of-office hours press queries. 

Holidays

25 days per annum, plus bank holidays and an additional shut down between Christmas and New Year. 

Probation

This post is subject to a six-month probation period.

How to apply:

Applications should be sent to via email and be in the form of a supporting statement telling us:  

• Why you should be considered for the role and how it fits with your career
• How your skills and experience align with the person specification  

Please also send us your CV.

Note that applications by CV-only will not be considered. We may arrange interviews before the deadline has passed. Any questions about the role should also be sent via email. If you are interested in applying but cannot do so until nearer the deadline, please email us to register your interest. 

Salary: £51,000 - £56,000 per annum

Location: Harlow Essex, 2 days per week in the office, flexible working available. Easily commutable from London, with a free company minibus from Harlow Town station.

Hours: Open to conversations around flexible/compressed working, minimum 4 days working per week, 2 days per week in the office.

About the role

At the Motability Foundation we fund, support, research and innovate so that all disabled people can make the journeys they choose. We oversee the Motability Scheme and provide grants to help people use it, providing access to transport to hundreds of thousands of people a year. We award grants to other charities and organisations who provide different types of transport, or work towards making transport accessible. We also carry out ongoing research, in partnership with disabled people and key stakeholders in the industry, to inspire innovations that continue to champion accessible transport for all.

This role is an exciting new opportunity to shape and deliver on Motability Foundation’s aims to become more insights led and to systematically involve disabled people in our decision making. You will support the Head of Insight and Evaluation in providing the organisation with insight drawn from existing research, primary research, business data and through user insight. The role will lead development of a user insight approach and clear mechanisms to involve disabled people in the Foundation’s decisions systematically. The role will establish a user insight research community (akin to a customer panel but broader in scope), which the organisation can draw from for user insight.

The role is also responsible for delivering a strategic research and insight plan for the organisation to inform operational and strategic decisions, including feeding into our strategy mid-term review. Others in the organisations will also carry out research and hence this function has a role in setting standards for quality research, a coordinating role in ensuring a cross-organisational understanding of ongoing research to avoid duplication, and to draw insights and disseminate these to relevant internal and external audiences.

What you’ll be doing

• Support the head of team by developing a strategic insight research plan.
• Lead the delivery of the insight research plan, including developing clear research briefs, working with external suppliers to deliver research and where appropriate deliver research in-house.
• Establish a user insight capability in line with good practice and mature this capability over time.
• In collaboration with key internal customers, establish a framework for when and how to engage with disabled people regarding decisions.
• Develop and set standards for good quality research and insight for the organisation, including ensuring disabled people can fully and equitably participate in research/user insight exercises.
• Ensure that planned research and insight generation by the insight function is completed to a high standard, aligned with good practice.
• Set up and lead a cross-organisational research forum and ensure this mechanism is effective in avoiding duplication and creating alignment.
• Lead development and implementation of a communications plan to ensure insight generated reaches the right internal and external audiences.
• Ensure a framework to monitor and evaluate the usefulness and impact of insight generated is in place.
• Ensure all research carried out by the function meets GDPR requirements.
• Line-manage and develop your line-report(s).
• Be ‘hands on’ as necessary, by leading and delivering research personally.

What will make you great in this role?

The insight capability is a new function in the organisation and as a result this role will lead on its development over time. This presents great opportunities and will require an individual who is comfortable with starting things anew, while delivering on insight requirements and shaping the function along the way.

Your experience

Must haves:

• Experience of delivering user insight and/or running customer/consumer panels and/or working with supporter panels.
• Ability to design and develop research programmes and have highly developed analytical skills.
• Highly developed ability to work collaboratively with other teams across the organisation.
• Exceptional written and oral influencing skills, including the judicious use of data and the compelling presentation of insights, through engaging reports, infographics, and dashboards.
• Relevant qualification in an analytical discipline such as social sciences, economics or evidence of significant relevant professional experience.
• Experience managing research projects or commissioning external consultants.
• Strong project management skills and the ability to balance multiple priorities.
• Line and/or team management experience.

We feel that experience of setting up and/or managing consumer, customer or supporter panels is relevant. However, please note that as a Foundation we do not fundraise and as such are not looking to develop a supporter panel.

Nice to haves

• Experience of disability inclusive research – this is essential to the role. However, we will ensure appropriate training for those who do not have these skills.
• Proficiency in qualitative and quantitative data analysis tools (e.g., MAXQDA, R) and data visualisation platforms (e.g., Power BI).
• Proven quantitative and qualitative research skills and familiarity with working with large datasets.

Reporting lines and relationships

Reports to: Head of Insight and Evaluation.

Key relationships: Heads and programme managers in Charitable Operations, Head of Communications team and relevant managers, Policy team colleagues and over time other teams across the organisation looking for (user) insight. Relationships with external agencies and suppliers.

Direct reports: Initially 1 direct report in the form of a Research Manager with plans for a further junior role to be added to the team in future years.

Extra Information

• The role is based In Harlow, Essex at Motability’s offices, easily commutable from London, 30 minutes from Liverpool Street station or 18 minutes from Tottenham Hale station. We offer a shuttle bus from the Harlow Town train station to the office.
• We offer flexible and blended working within this role. The Insight and Evaluation team ordinarily works a minimum of two days a week from the office.