Charity chief officer jobs

About us

The Lucy Faithfull Foundation (LFF) is a UK-wide charity that exists to prevent child sexual abuse and exploitation. We’re here for everyone who needs us. We protect children by working with people who pose a risk and diverting them from causing harm. We support individuals and families who have been affected by abuse. And we help professionals who work with families to create safer environments for children through delivering risk assessments, interventions, training and consultancy. We run the confidential Stop It Now helpline and Shore, a website and chat service for teenagers.

About the role and you

We are recruiting for a skilled and experienced manager to join the Helpline team. You will support the Head of Stop It Now, working alongside our Helpline Managers and Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Manager in the day to day running of the helpline and provide support and advice to Helpline Advisors. You will have direct client contact via telephone, a secure message service and online chat. You will also support with the training of staff and promotion of the work of the helpline.

This is a highly rewarding role within a friendly, supportive and hardworking team which is committed to keeping children safe from harm.

You will have experience in working directly with one or more of our key target groups: - for example adults and/or children and young people who have sexually harmful behaviours, or child victims of sexual abuse, or family members of these individuals.  Our ideal candidate will be an energetic professional, who is proactive and outcome focused with exceptional communication and relationship skills. You will be able to evidence a successful track record of working with individuals and families impacted by child sexual abuse. You will be able to demonstrate confidence in translating the charity’s mission into direct child protection practice and equipping other professionals in tackling child sexual abuse.

Key attributes we are seeking include:

• A confident manager with good staff supervision and support skills, and an enthusiasm for supporting colleagues to work within organisational guidelines as well as to develop new skills
• An ability to provide confidential advice to callers through the Stop It Now helpline, including abusers/potential abusers; friends and family of abusers/potential abusers; parents worried about the sexual interests and behaviour of their children
• A team player working with colleagues to prevent child sexual abuse
• Confidence and good ability in the use of modern technologies for effective discharge of many day to day tasks
• Maintaining effective records in line with charity policy and practice
• A flexible approach with an ability to network with internal and external colleagues to ensure deadlines are met and quality work is delivered
• Skills in delivering training to groups of professionals

For a more detailed job description, please request a job pack.

What you’ll get from us

We offer the following benefits:

• Hybrid working (with a minimum of 2 days in the office per week; we ask for 3 days in the office per week for the first month)
• NEST pension
• 33 days’ annual leave rising to 38 days (inclusive of statutory bank holidays following qualifying period)
• Up to 5 days’ learning and development per year
• Flu jabs & eye tests
• Season ticket loans
• Charity discounts
• Employee assistance programme
• Option of private healthcare with Benenden

How to apply

We really welcome informal conversations with prospective candidates about the role and the charity in advance of the deadline.

To apply, please download the job pack and return your completed documents by Tuesday 25th November. In person interviews are scheduled to take place on Wednesday 10th December for shortlisted candidates.

If you have not been contacted within 2 weeks of the closing date you have been unsuccessful with your application. Please note the successful candidate will be required to undergo a DBS check for this position.

#helpline #manager #helplinemanager #telephone #chat #support #advice

Senior Head of Trusts & Foundations – Bloomsbury Football Foundation | London

700,000 young people in London are growing up in poverty, facing inactivity and mental health crises. At Bloomsbury Football Foundation, we’re using football to help tackle these challenges and build resilient, connected communities – already reaching over 6,200 children every week.

We’ve grown fundraised income from £0.75m to £3.5m in three years – and now we’re aiming for £8m by 2028. Trusts & Foundations is our biggest income stream, and we’re looking for a first-rate fundraiser to take it to the next level.

As Senior Head of Trusts & Foundations, you will:

• Lead and grow our £2m+ trusts portfolio
• Write outstanding bids and reports that inspire multi-year, high-value commitments
• Manage and mentor two bright trust fundraisers
• Work with our Director of Fundraising and CEO to secure transformational grants
• Harness AI innovation to boost the pace and quality of our work

We’re looking for someone with a proven track record of winning major multi-year grants (six- and seven-figure), exceptional writing skills, and the ambition to help make Bloomsbury the UK’s most effective fundraising team.

Salary: £58,000–£90,000 (or £42,000–£55,000 for a ‘Head of’ level candidate)
Location: Camden, London (with great staff perks, socials, and match tickets)

Full job description available at Bloomsbury Football Careers page. 

Our charity has grown rapidly over the last five years, with each year bringing new faces and new opportunities. This year, we’re excited to be welcoming a Fundraising Manager to join our team.

In this role, you’ll work closely with our CEO and operations team to deliver our annual fundraising targets, focusing on individual giving, trusts and foundations, and fundraising events/external opportunities. Partnerships are currently managed by the CEO and our Board of Trustees.

We have a fun, joyful working culture and work flexibly and mostly remotely, though you may occasionally need to attend meetings in London or travel for events. Our registered office is in Margate, so if you’re local or fancy a change of scene, you’re welcome to come and work by the sea.

As this is a new role for Not A Phase, we’re looking for someone confident, proactive and full of ideas. You’ll have the freedom to shape and implement your own systems and processes, with full support from the team.

It’s vital that you have an understanding of the issues currently faced by the trans+ community in the UK. We recently launched our new five-year strategy, Joy as an Act of Resistance, which will guide our mission in these challenging times. Your role will be key in helping us achieve it, if you'd like to check it out, you can read it in full over on our website.

We encourage applications from those with lived experience or a deep understanding of the topics we work within.

About You

• Experienced fundraiser, ideally with a background in individual giving.

• Skilled bid writer with a proven track record.

• Lived experience of, or strong understanding of, the challenges facing the trans+ community in the UK.

• Experience developing and managing fundraising events from start to finish.

• Passionate about giving supporters the best possible experience and skilled at building relationships to exceed targets.

• Confident communicator who can engage effectively with stakeholders at all levels.

• Creative, proactive problem-solver who thrives in a flexible environment.

About Us

F6IT helps children and young people, aged 0-25, with additional needs and disabilities-and their families- get active, connect and have fun.

We offer accessible and inclusive fitness, clubs, leisure activities and support that break down barriers, reduce isolation and boost physical and mental well being. 

About Our Role

You will contribute to the strategic direction of F6IT ensuring we achieve our vision where disabled children and young adults and with their families and friends can together and inclusively, enjoy a rewarding life which is fun, beneficial and above all fulfilling. 

As the Fundraising Manager you will work to maximise the available funding, income generation and activities for the work of F6IT.

• You will work with the CEO/Trustees to develop and deliver a targeted and strategic programme for Trusts, Grants, and Fundraising to secure long-term income.
• Develop, write and deliver high quality tailored and persuasive applications and proposals for funding in line with F6IT's strategic objectives.
• Prepare regular up to date funding reports for the CEO, Trustees and wider F6IT team.
• Plan and support delivery of F6IT's Funding activities.
• Identify new Corporate Supporters and Partnerships.
• Essential experience and skills - Track record of income generation accross one or more income. streams,strong organisational and communication skills, solid IT and Computer skills.
• This post is subject to an enhanced disclosure application to the Disclosure and Barring Services.

About Unfold

Unfold is an established local charity supporting young people and families to reach their potential by identifying and achieving their goals through mentoring. We support families and young people in Westminster and its neighbouring boroughs through mentoring programmes and peer support groups for women with children.

For over 35 years, we have provided support to families and young people at risk of social exclusion. Working with trained and DBS-checked volunteers, we offer mentoring to women and children, building independence and helping people get where they want to be. We’ve also developed specialised programmes for refugees, children excluded from school, those with care experience, and families facing homelessness.

About the Role

The Programme Manager is responsible for the development, management and delivery of Unfold’s Broadening Horizons mentoring programme and peer support groups for children and young people aged 10–25.

The role includes managing a team of four (Senior Programme Officers and Programme Officers), ensuring effective planning and delivery of mentoring programmes in line with agreed strategies and workplans. You will oversee the development of specialised programmes, including mentoring for refugees, young people seeking asylum, those excluded from mainstream education, and those with care experience.

The Programme Manager will monitor performance, manage resources, ensure compliance with Unfold’s policies and procedures, and report regularly to the Deputy CEO and Board of Trustees. You will prepare reports and case studies, analyse monitoring data, revise training materials, and use findings to inform programme improvement.

Partnership management is a key element of the role, including maintaining and developing relationships with local authorities, schools, funders, and community organisations to enhance programme delivery. The postholder will also lead the Youth Advisory Council, supporting members to contribute to Unfold’s strategy and direction.

As part of the Senior Management Team, the Programme Manager will contribute to wider organisational planning and development. The role may include occasional evening and weekend work, for which time off in lieu will be given.

About You

You will bring:

• Experience developing and managing projects involving vulnerable children, young people, and families.

• Proven management experience, including performance managing and motivating a team.

• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Experience administering, monitoring, and evaluating projects effectively.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

• Experience developing programme strategy and workplans.

• Passion for supporting children and young people to improve outcomes.

• Ability to communicate with people from diverse backgrounds.

• Confident presentation and public speaking skills.

• Commitment to Unfold’s mission, vision, and values.

You’ll be a motivated, hands-on team player, empathetic to the experiences of vulnerable groups, and willing to work occasional evenings and weekends.

Why Join Us?

• Holidays: 25 working days (along with additional Christmas closedown days)
• Pension: We offer a generous pension provision. New staff are automatically enrolled for a pension after three months, and after six months, we will match your contribution up to a maximum of 8%.
• Team working: We are a small but brilliant team: we're supportive, diverse, and we help each other out. There are always opportunities to get involved in different aspects of the organisation, or lead on new initiatives.
• Training opportunities: We want to ensure that our team is continuously learning and building expertise in their field. For this reason, we offer each team member two days per year dedicated to professional development and training opportunities.
• Wellbeing - How we feel matters: Staff have access to a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme, and our staff Wellbeing Champions are leading on the design and delivery of our wellbeing strategy, including the review of our quarterly wellbeing survey. Staff have regular supervision sessions to encourage reflection and discussion on our work and wellbeing. Additionally, we’re excited to introduce three days a year dedicated to team-building activities. These days are an opportunity to build skills, foster connections, and recharge as a team!
• Flexible working: We're happy to consider flexible working arrangements in line with the requirements of the role.
• Working Environment: We work in a beautiful, accessible, eco-friendly co-working space with a number of other charities, with plants, a leafy roof terrace and free hot and cold drinks. With comfortable spaces to read quietly or talk in a group, our workspace is somewhere you'll want to be. 

An exceptional opportunity has arisen for a Finance Manager to join a very well-established animal welfare charity based in Solihull, with a second site in Wolverhampton. Working within a passionate and dedicated team, this role will suit an experienced finance professional with strong leadership skills and a determination to make a difference.

The organisation has been supporting dogs and the community for 133 years, employs eighty dedicated staff, and delivers vital services that improve the lives of dogs and humans alike. You’ll play a key role in guiding the charity’s financial strategy to ensure long-term sustainability.

Duties & Responsibilities

Lead and develop the finance team, ensuring effective management of budgets, forecasting, payroll, and statutory reporting.

Oversee financial governance and controls, ensuring compliance with charity and company legislation.

Provide strategic financial advice to the Executive Team and Trustees to support decision-making and risk management.

Manage the annual audit process and liaise with external auditors.

Oversee financial planning for bids, tenders, and funding applications, ensuring robust cost modelling and reporting.

What experience?

Ideally a fully qualified accountant (ACCA, CIMA, ACA, or) with proven experience in a finance role.

Experience managing finance within the charity, not-for-profit, or SME sector.

Strong leadership and communication skills with the ability to present financial information to non-financial stakeholders.

Do you have outstanding financial skills, a track record in the charity or not-for-profit world, and the ability to see beyond the numbers to the real impact they enable?

We’re looking for someone who is not only technically brilliant with budgets, reporting and strategy, but who is also values-driven, collaborative, and great at building relationships. You’ll be joining a team that cares deeply about making a difference – and we need your expertise to help us make the most of every pound.

If you thrive on using your financial acumen to support purpose-led work, and you enjoy working with people as much as spreadsheets, this could be your next big step.

Travel: Occasional travel to Arthritis UK offices (London, Chesterfield, Cardiff, Belfast, Glasgow)

Join us and use your skills, knowledge, passion and energy to help us achieve a future free from arthritis.

We’re looking for a Policy Officer who will make a difference to health and social care policy for people with arthritis.  

Within the Chief Executive’s Office, the UK Advocacy and Health Intelligence Department are focused on creating lasting change. We identify creative policy solutions in response to the challenges people with arthritis face. We influence decision-makers through stakeholder engagement, public affairs activity and by campaigning alongside people with arthritis. We have expertise across health and care services, public health, and employment policy. We also work in collaboration to influence medical research and data policy and play an active role in several cross-sector groups.  

About the role
The purpose of this role is to drive policy development across our policy priority areas. The Policy Officer will lead on specific policy projects, commissioning research, developing policy positions, and producing reports and consultation responses.  

This role will cover a broad range of issues across one of our strategic goals – prevention and diagnosis; access to treatment; and living well with arthritis. Our approach considers the needs of people of all ages who have arthritis.               

The Policy Officer will also contribute to the wider work of the team, working closely with colleagues in the Nations Teams, the Research Directorate and the wider charity, including by representing us on cross-sector policy groups, drafting briefings, and participating in events and conferences.  

We’ll give you autonomy, variety and challenge with opportunities to work with inspirational campaigners, attend events in Parliament and meet senior stakeholders in Government. We’re a supportive team who will value your well-being and professional development.  

About you
If your knowledge, skills and experience include the following then we’d love to hear from you:

• Understanding of policy issues relevant to people with long-term conditions or disability.  
• Experience of working in a policy team.  
• Experience of developing and influencing health and social care policy.  
• An ability to think creatively and communicate effectively.  
• An enthusiastic, adaptive and flexible approach.  

As a hybrid worker the expectation is that you will spend around 40% of your working time in our office spaces or working in community settings.

As an inclusive employer we will consider home-based working for anyone where office-based hybrid working would be a barrier to being able to work for us, for example for someone living with a long-term health condition or disability.

Benefits
Your excellent benefits include:

• Flexible hours, environments and working practices to promote a healthy work/life balance.
• Health and wellbeing support – including the Employee Assistance Programme (free confidential 24/7 support with mental health, legal and financial queries).
• Simplyhealth cash plan.
• Supportive and inclusive culture, with a wide range of employee networks and support groups available to join.
• Learning and personal development opportunities.
• Competitive annual leave, with the option to buy/sell up to five days per year.
• Generous pension plan, with employer contribution of up to 10%.
• Life Assurance plan (4 x salary).

You must be based in, and hold the right to work in the UK to apply for this position.

Application deadline and shortlisting
We advise candidates to apply early as we reserve the right to close applications ahead of this date.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
We do not wish to receive contact from agencies or media sales.

Please note that we do not use Artificial Intelligence (AI) during our recruitment and selection processes, and we would respectfully ask that you also refrain from using AI during the selection process. Whilst we do recognise that AI may be a beneficial tool for some when aiding research and preparation for an application or interview, we want to maintain a fair, inclusive and positive recruitment experience at Arthritis UK where candidates can feel supported to demonstrate their experience, knowledge, and skills without the use of AI generated answers. 

Interview
Interview date to be confirmed.

As a Disability Confident Leader, we guarantee you will be offered an interview if you disclose a disability and demonstrate sufficient evidence within your application that you meet the essential criteria for this role. We will also make any reasonable adjustments you may require for your interview.

We’re looking for an enthusiastic, creative and organised Events & Fundraising Officer to join our small, dedicated team. Working closely with the rest of the Events & Fundraising team, you’ll help deliver and grow LLST’s fundraising events across London and the South East, including the London Legal Walk, Regional Legal Walks, Great Legal Bake, and Great Legal Quiz, as well as manage our third party challenge events. You will help to engage our supporters and large database in the legal community to generate fundraising.

You will play a vital role in the planning and organising of LLST’s flagship London Legal Walk, bringing together over 19,000 members of the legal community to walk 10km through central London and raise vital funds for over 100 free legal advice charities.

The role involves coordinating event logistics, managing supporter journeys and communications, maintaining our online presence, spreading the word about the importance of the work we do, and helping to develop our fundraising strategy. You’ll also line manage the Events & Fundraising Assistant and play a key role in maintaining LLST’s excellent reputation.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone passionate about social justice and events who’s ready to make a tangible impact while building their career in the charity sector. We offer a supportive, collaborative working environment with hybrid working and opportunities for professional development. Some evening and weekend work will also be required.

Safety and Assurance Officer

Location: Homebased, based in the Southern Area

Contract: Full time, permanent

Salary: £32,000 gross per annum

Closing Date: 21 November 2025

Are you a Safety Specialist looking for a new opportunity?

The Marine Society & Sea Cadets (MSSC) is the leading maritime charity for youth development and lifelong learning. We are a vibrant and growing charity inspiring young people to achieve their potential through challenge and nautical adventure and also enabling seafarers and maritime professionals to realise their potential through learning and career development. Working with our employees, cadets, and volunteers, we have built a strong vision and five-year Future Ready strategy to meet the growing demand for what we provide, both for young people, seafarers and maritime professionals – and the thousands who aspire to be the sea cadets and marine professionals of the future. It is also about equipping them to achieve their potential and thrive in a rapidly changing world, while growing our charity to benefit even more people – including those from under-represented or marginalised groups.

We are currently looking for a Safety and Assurance Officer to join our team.

About the role

The Safety & Assurance Officer (SAO) is an employee of the MSSC and a member of the MSSC National Safety Assurance Team (NSAT). This is a home-based role, with a primary focus on the Southern area, predominantly the South-East. The SAO will report to the Head of Safety, Health, and Environment.

The SAO will work closely with other SAOs and will be functionally accountable to:

The Head of Inshore Boating for inshore boat assurance
The Staff Royal Marines Officer for weapons and ammunition safety and security assurance

The role requires regular travel within the area of responsibility and, on occasion within the UK. It will involve evening and some weekend work to fulfil the role’s responsibilities.

Requirements

Qualifications: Good general education and NEBOSH (or equivalent), with completion required during probation if not already held.
Safety & Environmental Management: Experience implementing safety and environmental management systems, conducting risk assessments, and working within formal assurance frameworks.
Incident Management: Experience managing, investigating, and reporting incidents.
Training & Support: Ability to deliver training, guidance, and support to non-specialist staff or volunteers on safety, health, environmental, and assurance matters.
Workload & Volunteer Management: Proven ability to manage a busy workload and effectively support and manage volunteers.

Responsibilities

Join the Marine Society & Sea Cadets as a Safety and Assurance Officer, ensuring the highest standards of safety, health, environment (SHE), and operational compliance across our units and facilities.
You’ll lead assurance inspections, maintain compliance with legislation and organisational regulations, and support the safe management of weapons, armouries, and inshore boating activities. Working closely with other members of the National Safety and Assurance Team (NSAT) and Area teams, you’ll oversee safety at events, camps, and competitions, conduct audits, and monitor incident reporting.
This role plays a vital part in upholding the safety and welfare of our cadets and volunteers through proactive assurance, training, and continuous improvement.

For further information, please download theIf you are interested in this role, please apply now!

Benefits

25 days annual leave per annum, increasing with length of service
Hybrid working for many roles
Volunteering Leave
Life assurance (4x salary)
Private medical insurance
Generous pension (employer contribution up to 10%)
Cycle to work scheme
Access to the Marine Society Digital Library
Wellbeing portal and EAP with 121 counselling
Employee development: We are investing in our employees' development and have an annual calendar of learning and development opportunities, designed to support employees to develop into their roles and stretch them to achieve their full potential.

Additional Information

MSSC positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates from all backgrounds. Equity, diversity, and inclusion really matters to us, so we can best serve our beneficiaries from every community. We work to ensure a fair and consistent recruitment process and aim to be a charity where diversity of experience, identity and skills are valued and welcomed. MSSC is an equal opportunities employer.

We recognise our responsibilities to safeguard and protect the young people and vulnerable adults with whom we work. We do all we can to promote their health, safety and wellbeing, and we expect our staff to share this commitment and work in line with safeguarding policy, the MSSC’s values and ethos of inclusivity. We adhere to safer recruitment practices and therefore employment is subject to detailed pre-employment checks for successful candidates, including references and criminal disclosure checks and the completion of a disclosure questionnaire. 

All successful applicants are required to attend safeguarding training and undergo pre-employment checks including a criminal record check.

Main Purpose of Role:

The Programme Support and Administrative Officer will play a key role in ensuring the smooth operation of CFAB’s programmes and organisational functions. This role supports executive coordination, training delivery, family support administration, international social work logistics, and general office management. The postholder will work across teams to provide high-quality administrative support, contributing to the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery.

Key responsibilities:

Programme Support and General Administration

• Monitor shared inboxes and switchboard calls.
• Respond to ad hoc staff queries and manage incoming post.

• Send initial and closure letters for client cases.
• Track inactive cases and follow up on referral forms.
• Prepare duty rotas, upload referrals and update the country information list.
• Support contract preparation and database maintenance for International Social Workers (ISWs).
• Support feedback collection and documentation.

• Assist with Mailchimp campaigns and mailing list research.

• Upload donations into Salesforce.
• Prepare donor thank-you letters and assist with prospect research.
• Provide general support across departments as needed.

Executive Support

• Schedule and coordinate meetings for the CEO and senior leadership, including diary management and events.
• Track meeting actions and follow-ups.
• Support minute-taking using ai and ad hoc research tasks.

Training & Learning Support

• Coordinate training calendars and liaise with teams.
• Update training materials and manage Eventbrite pages.
• Provide limited on-the-day training support and monitor certificates and surveys.

Facilities & Office Management

• Order stationery and maintain office tidiness.
• Support logistical tasks such as PAT testing, IT coordination, and office trackers.

The British Cardiovascular Society (BCS) is seeking a motivated and dynamic Communications Manager to lead initiatives that support the development of the Society’s leadership voice, profile and influencing function across the UK. 

Working with the Chief Executive, President, Vice-Presidents and the wider Board, the Communications Manager will promote BCS work to members, relevant decision-makers within the NHS and strategic partners.

The Communications Manager will be responsible for the development and delivery of the Society’s communications strategy (in support of BCS strategic objectives) and tailored communications that underpin the strategic plan

About the Role

We're looking for a proactive and organised Direct Marketing and Fundraising Officer to support our Public Fundraising team. In this varied role, you'll help deliver engaging fundraising campaigns, manage supporter journeys, and ensure our fundraising efforts run smoothly.

You'll also provide key administrative and project support to the team and the Director of Fundraising and Marketing, with the chance to develop your skills in digital fundraising, data reporting, and campaign coordination. If you're detail-oriented, a great communicator, and passionate about making a difference — we’d love to hear from you!

***Please download the job description for full details***

About You

You are a highly organised and detail-oriented individual with proven administrative experience in a fast-paced environment. You’ll be a confident communicator with strong written and verbal skills, able to draft professional documents and liaise effectively with internal and external stakeholders. Proficiency in Microsoft Office, digital collaboration tools and CRM systems is essential. You’ll also have good numeracy skills and experience maintaining financial records. A natural team player, you’ll be adaptable, able to prioritise a demanding workload, and remain calm under pressure — particularly during emergency fundraising appeals.

Key responsibilities:

· Assist in the coordination and delivery of public fundraising activities during emergency appeals, including managing content and materials, liaising with member agencies, and supporting with reporting and updates for senior stakeholders.

· Provide high-quality administrative support to the Fundraising and Marketing Director and wider team, including diary management, meeting coordination, minute-taking, and general team logistics.

· Help develop and deliver fundraising materials across direct marketing and digital channels, gather content, and ensure assets are approved and shared with key stakeholders.

· Maintain and update fundraising budgets, process invoices, and support post-appeal reviews with external suppliers and partners.

· Contribute to digital activities by supporting basic analytics, user journey testing, and content creation for platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, with opportunities to take part in digital innovation workshops.

What We Offer

• Flexible working hours (outside of appeal periods)
• Hybrid working model (some mandatory office days during appeals)
• 25 days annual leave, increasing with service
• Healthcare Cash Plan (value ~£1,660/year)
• Pension contribution (3%, rising to 8% post-probation)
• Wellbeing and mental health support
• Access to Wellhub, discounts, and ticket schemes
• Season ticket and hardship loans (post-probation)
• Cycle to Work and Car schemes (salary sacrifice)

The DEC is an equal opportunities employer and provides opportunities to learn and grow in an inclusive, supportive, and productive environment. We encourage applications from anyone who can meet the criteria, regardless of gender, race, age, disability, sexuality, or religion.

The DEC is committed to the safeguarding and protection of children and vulnerable adults and participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this Scheme, we will request information from successful applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during

About Pathfinders Neuromuscular Alliance

Pathfinders Neuromuscular Alliance is a national, user-led charity run by and for people with muscle-weakening conditions. We empower adults with neuromuscular conditions to live fulfilling lives through peer support, information, advocacy, and co-produced research and campaigns. Our work brings together lived experience and academic insight to influence health, social care, and disability policy.

About the Role

We are seeking a Research Officer to support a series of user-led research projects exploring:

• Access to social care and support

• Healthcare access and inequalities

• Sexual health and relationships for people with neuromuscular conditions

This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge, lived-experience research that aims to improve quality of life and influence national policy and practice.

You will work closely with the CEO, Research Manager, and members of our lived experience research advisory group. You’ll be involved in all aspects of the research cycle — from design to dissemination — and will ensure that our research is ethical, inclusive, and grounded in co-production principles.

Key Responsibilities

Research Design & Ethics

• Support the design of research studies in collaboration with the lived experience team and academic partners.

• Support the preparation of ethics applications, participant information sheets, and consent materials.

• Develop interview schedules, focus group guides, and surveys.

Participant Engagement

• Recruit participants through Pathfinders’ network, social media, and partner organisations.

• Ensure accessibility and inclusivity in participant communication and data collection.

• Support co-production activities (e.g., advisory groups, workshops, testing materials).

Data Collection & Analysis

• Conduct qualitative interviews and/or focus groups with participants.

• Support data transcription, coding, and thematic analysis (using NVivo or similar).

• Maintain accurate, confidential records and data management systems.

Reporting & Dissemination

• Contribute to research reports, briefings, and peer-reviewed papers.

• Present findings to internal and external audiences, including at conferences or stakeholder meetings.

• Work with communications staff to translate research findings into accessible outputs for our community and policymakers.

Collaboration & Co-Production

• Embed lived experience leadership throughout the project lifecycle.

• Liaise with academic partners and other charities to strengthen our research and advocacy work.

• Contribute to a culture of inclusive, ethical, and participatory research practice.

Person Specification

Essential

• Experience managing or delivering a research project from start to finish (e.g., Master’s dissertation, PhD, or equivalent applied research).

• Strong understanding of qualitative research methods (interviews, focus groups, thematic analysis).

• Ability to plan and manage multiple tasks, meet deadlines, and work independently.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including report writing.

• Commitment to co-production, lived experience leadership, and inclusive research practices.

• Awareness of issues affecting disabled people and/or people with long-term conditions.

Desirable

• Lived experience of disability, chronic illness, or neuromuscular conditions. Applications will be prioritised where they meet this criteria.

• Experience of working with disabled people or people with neuromuscular or muscle-weakening conditions.

• Familiarity with ethical approval processes (university or NHS).

• Experience with NVivo or similar qualitative analysis software.

• Experience working in a small charity or community-based research context.

What We Offer

• Flexible, remote working arrangements.

• A supportive, inclusive environment led by people with lived experience.

• Opportunities for co-authorship, conference presentations, and career development in inclusive research.

• The chance to shape evidence that can drive change in health and social care policy.