Chief executive jobs

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is the organisational lead for all of our operations at Open Door Charity. Sitting alongside the CEO, the COO ensures the charity runs smoothly, ethically and effectively, with the systems, people and processes in place to deliver high‑quality, creative and impactful mental health support for young people.

The COO leads and will directly line manage a small number of Directors and Managers, providing senior oversight, alignment and accountability across the organisation. They ensure Directors and Managers are empowered, supported and held to account for the performance of their areas.

The COO does not lead on business development, bidding, commercial partnerships or strategic growth - these remain the responsibility of the CEO and the Strategic Growth Department. Instead, the COO ensures that once opportunities are secured, the organisation is operationally ready to deliver them with excellence. They will however contribute towards income generation.

This is a new senior leadership role, created to strengthen the charity’s foundations as we enter a period of significant expansion, including the opening of Joy. The COO will bring clarity, structure and momentum to the charity’s operations. The COO will have direct influence over our long-term strategy, as part of a growth minded and ambitious Strategy Group.

Main Purpose of Post:  This is an exciting opportunity for someone who thrives on the challenge of fundraising and enjoys building relationships, spotting opportunities, and turning conversations into meaningful support.

Working closely with our Executive Director, you will play a key role in growing income streams from major donors, trusts and foundations, and community supporters. You’ll be organising fundraising events, leading the stewardship of prospective and existing donors, contributing to the development of funding applications, and helping us engage new and more diverse communities with Dorset Museum & Art Gallery.

Responsible to: Executive Director

Relationships: The Fundraising Lead is part of the museum team and will work closely with curatorial, learning and engagement, marketing, commercial and operational staff.  The post holder will identify opportunities to link fundraising with our core work and public programme, communicating this well so that everyone can be a fundraiser.

The following posts report directly to the Fundraising Lead: Fundraising volunteer

About the Role

This varied and rewarding role will include:

• Managing relationships with existing and prospective major donors and supporters
• Researching and preparing applications to trusts & foundations
• Identifying and engaging new community audiences
• Delivering fundraising income targets and pipeline management
• Working collaboratively across teams to gather stories, impact information, and develop supporter materials
• Communicating our fundraising work both internally and externally
• Maintaining accurate records of past, current and potential donors
• Organising and delivering fundraising events with support from the Executive Director. Attending when appropriate
• Participating in the Philanthropy Working Group, Programming and Staff meetings
   

About You

We are looking for someone who is:

• Demonstrably experienced in fundraising, with a track record of building donor relationships and contributing to income growth
• An excellent communicator with strong written and verbal skills
• Confident building relationships with a wide range of people
• Organised, proactive, and able to manage multiple priorities
• Passionate about delivering excellent supporter stewardship
• Creative, resilient, and motivated to help grow income
• Committed to the values and mission of Dorset Museum & Art Gallery
• Interested in heritage, culture and the arts

Application pack:
Programme Funding Officer

Do you want to improve the lives of people with disabilities and vulnerable people?

Humanity & Inclusion (HI) is an award-winning international humanitarian and development organisation. Working alongside people with disabilities and vulnerable populations, we take action and raise awareness in order to respond to their essential needs, improve their living conditions and promote respect for their dignity and fundamental rights.

Our UK team is looking for an enthusiastic and committed individual to join us as a Programme Funding Officer (PFO). This is an exciting and varied role working across the funding cycle from the early stage of new opportunities through to grant management. You will be regularly in touch with our country teams, supporting them to engage with UK institutional donors in-country and advising them on compliance for both grants and commercial contracts. You will also get a chance to support partnership development, as well as advocacy and policy influencing. If this sounds like the next role for you, we’d love to welcome you to our friendly and dedicated team.

Background Information and Purpose of Post

The Institutional Relations team is responsible for donor engagement and influencing, institutional funding, and partnerships in the UK. It comprises the Head of Institutional Relations, three Programme Funding Officers and an Institutional Funding Volunteer.

You will work as part of a dynamic team to support delivery and implementation of an ambitious institutional relations strategy. With a particular focus on the FCDO and START Network alongside growing Australian and Irish portfolios, the Institutional Relations team builds partnerships and maximises income and influence to achieve HI’s strategic aims. Given the changing external funding environment and evolving context in the UK, we are looking for an individual who is willing to be flexible and adapt to the context in order to meet the organisation’s needs and have the biggest impact for people with disabilities.

The main purpose of this post is to:

· Improve our track record for UK and other funding by increasing internal understanding of donors and funding mechanisms in your portfolio, supporting high quality submissions, grant management and donor compliance

· Strengthen relationships with, and generate and manage funding from, UK and other institutional donors and partners, particularly Irish and Australian donors

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Promoting our work and building relationships with institutional donors

Supporting the work of the Head of Institutional Relations, you will have sound knowledge of the donors and funding mechanisms in your portfolio and contribute proactively to influencing their funding strategies and priorities. Duties include:

· Maintain a good understanding of HI’s programmes, strategy and approach and communicate this externally.

· Identify and build relationships with a portfolio of large public and private institutional donors and their key suppliers (e.g. INGOs and for-profit development companies), mobilising colleagues from UK and across the global organisation as required.

· Work with country programmes to develop country-level action plans to engage with local representatives of UK donors and partners, in order to strengthen in-country relationships, influence donors’ country-level plans and access in-country funding opportunities. This will also involve supporting the development of multi-year operational plans and advise on the funding possibilities offered by UK institutional donors.

· Anticipate future trends and the expectations of the donors and funding mechanisms in your portfolio, influence their policies and strategies, and negotiate and consult with them on institutional funding matters, in liaison with the appropriate colleagues from the UK team and federal network.

· In coordination with the Head of Institutional Relations and the Chief Executive, monitor and where needed, contribute to collective work and advocacy initiatives in collaboration with partners and INGO networks (such as the Start Network and targeted Bond groups) with the aim of raising HI’s profile and influencing UK donors in line with our influencing priorities.

Generate and manage institutional funding from UK donors

You will follow and champion HI’s internal institutional funding procedures to identify and analyse funding opportunities from UK sources, contribute to project submissions, and carry out grant management duties. You will:

· Monitor, identify, analyse and communicate all relevant funding opportunities from donors in your portfolio (including development and humanitarian grant opportunities and commercial contracts). This will involve facilitating internal go/no go decision-making for new opportunities and advising and supporting programme colleagues on positioning and consortium-building when relevant.

· Lead the review and analysis of the requirements in new funding agreements and contracts, advise internal stakeholders on compliance and ensure appropriate contract negotiation and due diligence processes are followed.

· Implement internal procedures for contract/grant management, including information management, and support the submission of reporting and payment requests according to donor requirements.

Improve our track record for UK institutional funding

You will be responsible for increasing internal understanding of donors and funding mechanisms in your portfolio, particularly FCDO, Start Network, Australian DFAT and Irish Aid, supporting high quality strategic submissions and donor compliance. You will:

· Create internal communications, train and brief finance, programme and technical staff (including country programmes) on the donors in your portfolio, ensuring they have the tools and knowledge to comply with donor rules, understand donor priorities and focus areas, and maximise the potential for funding.

· Support proposal development, advising on donor requirements, expectations and preferences.

· Build strong relationships and internal links with technical and programme teams and contribute to internal working groups on issues related to institutional funding.

Other duties

· Maintain a positive and collaborative working relationship with HI UK colleagues and the Federal Institutional Funding, and Operations teams.

· Actively contribute to the HI UK operational plan and team work plans, and internal staff meetings.

· Ensure high quality, accurate internal reporting and information management for your portfolio.

· Keep abreast of developments within the sector by liaising with counterparts in other NGOs, and relevant networks.

· Represent HI UK at external forums and meetings when relevant.

· Any other activities commensurate with the level of the post, as may be required by the Chief Executive or Head of Team.

About the Role

As we scale, we are looking for a Head of Operations to provide operational leadership to ensure the charity operates effectively, compliantly and sustainably in line with its mission and ethos. Working closely with the CEO, you will support the translation of the vision into reality by building strong foundations, enabling effective delivery, and supporting the scaling of the organisational from a regional base to a nationally impactful charity.

This is a pivotal role shaping how BeSpace grows. You will lead on strengthening systems, people, governance and operational delivery embedding accountability, and continuous improvement.

In this role, you will:

Strengthen governance, risk and compliance

· Develop and maintain robust governance frameworks and ensure legal and regulatory compliance

· Embed effective risk management processes

· Oversee key compliance areas including safeguarding, GDPR and reporting

Build operational systems and infrastructure

· Develop and implement scalable systems, processes and internal controls

· Improve data management (including CRM) and strengthen reporting

· Contribute to ensuring operational readiness to support national growth

· Work with external providers on IT and financial system integration

Lead people, culture and organisational development

· Oversee recruitment, onboarding and retention of a high-performing team

· Strengthen performance management and accountability frameworks

· Support and foster a values-led, healthy team culture aligned with BeSpace’s mission

Enable delivery, impact and growth

· Strengthen operational support for programme delivery and expansion

· Support the translation of strategic ambitions into practical systems and ways of working

· Improve data insight to inform decision-making

· Support development of fundraising infrastructure.

Contribute to wider organisational life

· Work collaboratively across the team to support evolving priorities

· Act as an ambassador for BeSpace’s values and Christian ethos

About You

We are looking for someone who:

· Has experience in operations, programme or an organisational role with increasing responsibility or has had operational leadership, ideally within a growing or changing organisation

· Has good experience in developing systems, processes and organisational infrastructure

· Can work closely with a CEO to translate vision into operational delivery

· Has excellent organisational and project management skills

· Is proactive, collaborative and relational leader who builds strong teams and culture

 It would be a bonus if you:

 · Are an experienced operational leader motivated by impact, flexibility, and supporting the growth of a mission-led organisation

· Have significantly enabled the scaling of a regional organisation to national growth operationally.

· Have experience in fundraising systems or donor management

Director

We are seeking an experienced and visionary Director to help lead a multi-award-winning charity into its next phase of growth and impact.

Position: Director
Salary: £52,500 - £57,500
Location: Hybrid – at least 4 days per week in the office (N7), with regular travel to prison sites
Hours: Full-time
Closing Date: 10th July 2026

About the Role

The charity supports people serving prison sentences through creative music and peer-led employment programmes. Working closely with the existing Director and Board of Trustees, you will help shape and deliver the organisation's strategic vision while ensuring the successful delivery of programmes across multiple prison sites.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading strategic planning and organisational growth
• Developing and delivering fundraising and income generation strategies
• Securing grants, contracts and partnership opportunities
• Overseeing financial planning, budgeting and reporting
• Managing contracts and relationships with prison and sector partners
• Leading and supporting a dispersed team
• Acting as an ambassador for the organisation with funders and stakeholders

About You

You will be a strategic and hands-on leader with:

• Significant leadership experience within the charity, criminal justice or wider social impact sector.
• Experience as a senior leader, Director, CEO or member of a leadership team.
• A strong track record in fundraising, income generation and partnership development.
• Experience securing and managing contracts, organisational operations and financial oversight.
• Strong strategic, operational, and financial management skills.
• Experience leading and supporting dispersed teams in complex environments.
• A strong understanding of prisons, rehabilitation and the barriers faced by people within the criminal justice system or related sectors (homelessness, substance use, rehabilitation).
• Excellent communication, relationship-building and stakeholder management skills.
• Strategic thinking combined with a practical, hands-on approach.
• A genuine commitment to social justice and belief in the transformative power of creativity, music and peer-led support.

About the Organisation

Established in 2014, the charity delivers creative music and peer-led employment programmes in prisons across London, Kent, the Midlands and the North East. The organisation works alongside people facing significant barriers, helping them develop skills, confidence and pathways into employment while creating meaningful opportunities for long-term change.

Other roles you may have experience of could include: Chief Executive Officer, Deputy Chief Executive, Operations Director, Executive Director, Director of Services, Head of Programmes, Director of Operations, Managing Director, Director of Partnerships, Charity Director. #INDNFP

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and are committed to building an inclusive and diverse workforce.

Please note this role is advertised by the recruitment agency acting for the client – Not For Profit People. 

Make Your Numbers Matter!

We’re looking for a Head of Finance to help drive our mission of supporting mental health in Herefordshire. If you’re a skilled finance professional who wants to make a real difference, we’d love to hear from you

The Role

You’ll lead all aspects of our finance function, working closely with the CEO and senior team to:

• Lead day-to-day finance, payroll, and reporting
• Lead budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning
• Ensure strong governance and compliance
• Deliver clear insights to support decision-making
• Line-manage the Finance Officer
• Develop future state planning and insight

What You’ll Bring

• 5+ years financial management experience.
• Strong accounting, reporting, and budgeting skills with ACCA qualifications.
• Knowledge of charity finance (SORP desirable)
• Great organisation and communication skills
• A passion for making a difference

Why Join Us?

• Meaningful, community-focused work
• Supportive and friendly team
• Flexible, part-time hours based in central Hereford

Closing Date: Monday 3rd of August 2026

This post will require an Standard Disclosure and Barring Service Check. Please note: This vacancy may close early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

We are currently looking for a Executive Office Assistant to join our Executive Office team on a full time permanent contract.

The Executive Office Assistant provides high-level, proactive administrative support to the Chief Executive Officer and the wider Executive Leadership Team (ELT). Operating at the heart of the Southbank Centre, this role requires exceptional discretion, sophisticated communication skills, and the ability to navigate a complex, high-profile environment with professional poise.

Please download the attached Job Description for a full overview of this role's responsibilities.

The annual salary stated is based on the Full-Time Equivalent (40 hours per week). If the job is part-time, the weekly hours will be stated within the advert.

The deadline for applications is 23:59 on the closing date for the job posting.

We endeavour to keep job adverts open for at least two weeks for prospective applicants to apply. However, if we receive a high volume of applications for a role, we reserve the right to close the vacancy early. Therefore, we encourage you to submit your application as early as possible to ensure consideration for shortlisting.

Please note, applications sent via Email or 3rd party agencies will not be considered.

Need reasonable adjustments? Please contact us so we can help make the application process accessible to you. Be sure to include the job you are applying for and your full name.

Key Responsibilities

• In close collaboration with the Head of the CEO’s Office, provide diary management for the CEO, ensuring time is prioritised effectively against organisational objectives. 
• In collaboration with the EA to the COO and Board, provide administrative and scheduling assistance to the Chief Operating Officer, Finance Director, and the Board of Governors as required and directed. 
• Coordinate comprehensive end-to-end travel arrangements for the CEO and COO. This includes the preparation of itineraries, visa applications, and the collation of detailed briefing documents and meeting agendas. 
• Act as the primary point of contact for the Executive Office; meet and greet visitors with professionalism and manage catering requirements. 
• Assist in the delivery of internal and external Executive Office events, managing venue protocols, catering, technical production, and on-site logistics.

Skills & Experience

• Highly organised, with the ability to create and maintain effective administrative procedures and systems. 
• Is a team worker and is able to communicate effectively and establish good working relationships with people at all levels, and is confident when dealing with challenging and sometimes conflicting priorities. 
• Demonstrable interpersonal skills, including tact and diplomacy. 
• Takes a problem-solving approach and uses their initiative to make things happen. 
• Proactive, motivated and able to be flexible and responsive to different situations and contexts.

Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive
6-Month Fixed-Term Contract (with potential opportunity to apply for a permanent role)
Salary: £40,000 + excellent benefits
Location: Home-based, with regular travel to care homes across South England (full UK driving license and access to a car advantageous)

Prospectus are excited to be supporting a fantastic care home provider with their search for an Executive Assistant. This is a 6-month fixed-term contract, based remotely but requiring regular travel to their care homes, two to three times a week.

You will be a talented Executive Assistant, providing high-level support to their Chief Executive, Board and wider leadership team. This is a varied and rewarding opportunity for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment, enjoys building strong relationships and is passionate about delivering outstanding support.

You will bring previous experience in an Executive Assistant, senior administration or diary management role, and have exceptional organisational and time management skills. You will have excellent written and verbal communication abilities, with a warm and professional approach. You’ll also bring experience managing diaries, meetings, travel arrangements, and have excellent attention to detail, bringing a high-level of discretion when handling confidential information. Most importantly, you will bring a proactive and enthusiastic approach to the role, with a willingness to learn new skills.

As a key member of their Central Support Team, you'll play a vital role in ensuring the smooth running of executive operations while supporting internal communications, projects, events and organisational initiatives.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage complex diaries, schedules and travel arrangements for the CEO, as well as screen and prioritise communications, ensuring effective management of competing priorities.
• Facilitate communication between the CEO and internal and external stakeholders.
• Prepare reports, presentations, correspondence and other key documentation.
• Support internal communications and social media messaging on behalf of the CEO.
• Coordinate Board and executive meetings, preparing agendas, papers and documentation and take accurate meeting minutes and monitor follow-up actions.
• Provide administrative support for projects, research and organisational initiatives and take a leading role in planning and delivering staff events, including employee recognition celebrations and annual awards events.
• Help maintain an organised and efficient office environment, including supplies, equipment and technology management.

We're particularly interested in candidates who have a passion for caring for others, an understanding of inclusion and belonging, and a genuine commitment to supporting people and communities.

To apply, please submit your CV via the advert link. You may be asked to submit a cover letter at a later stage.

At Prospectus we invest in your journey as a candidate and are committed to supporting you with your application. We welcome all candidates to apply, regardless of age, sex/gender, disability, race, religion, sexual orientation, marital status or pregnancy/maternity. If you have any disability and require reasonable adjustment/s to any part of the process, then please contact Shannon Sanderson at Prospectus.

Main Purpose of the Role

The Head of Partnerships and Networks provides senior leadership for EHCVS’s partnerships, networks, and income development. Reporting to the CEO, the post-holder strengthens the voice and connectivity of the local voluntary and community sector (VCS) and develops new, sustainable income for the organisation and the wider sector.

The role focuses on growing corporate funding and business partnerships, developing Hounslow Giving (the borough’s place-based giving scheme) in partnership with the Head of Volunteering, and encouraging collaboration and consortium bids across the VCS.

Key Responsibilities

Corporate Funding and Income Development

• Lead the development of corporate funding, sponsorship, and business partnerships to generate sustainable income for EHCVS and the wider sector.

• Build relationships with local businesses, major employers (such as Heathrow), and corporate funders, developing clear cases for support.

• Identify corporate social responsibility (CSR) and community investment opportunities and help diversify income.

Developing Hounslow Giving (Place-Based Giving)

• Work with the Head of Volunteering to develop Hounslow Giving, the borough’s place-based giving scheme, as part of the London Giving network.

• Bring together business, philanthropic, public, and community partners to grow local giving and connect funds to local need.

• Support donation, fundraising, and volunteering routes that engage both individuals and businesses.

Partnerships, Networks and Consortium Development

• Coordinate and facilitate EHCVS networks and forums across both boroughs, encouraging partnerships and collaboration within the VCS.

• Develop consortium bids with VCS partners, brokering relationships to pursue joint funding opportunities.

• Represent EHCVS and the VCS at strategic boards and sector events, and maintain relationships with statutory partners (local authorities, NHS, Integrated Care Board).

Leadership and Team

• Provide senior leadership for partnerships, networks, and income development, contributing to the senior leadership team and deputising for the CEO as required.

• Line manages relevant staff, providing supervision and development support.

Monitoring, Reporting and Governance

• Capture engagement, income, and outcomes, and contribute to internal and funder reporting.

• Ensure activity complies with relevant policies (safeguarding, GDPR, equality and diversity) and with fundraising good practice.

Person Specification

Essential

• Senior experience of developing partnerships, networks, or income in the VCSE, public, or social enterprise sector.

• Proven track record of securing corporate funding, sponsorship, or business partnerships.

• Experience in developing consortium or partnership bids and brokering collaboration.

• Experience of, or strong understanding of, place-based giving, community foundations, or philanthropy.

• Strong relationship-building, facilitation, and communication skills across sectors.

• Experience in managing staff and leading delivery.

• Commitment to the values of the voluntary and community sector and to equality, diversity, and inclusion.

Desirable

• Knowledge of the VCSE and funding environment in Ealing and Hounslow.

• Experience of developing or launching a place-based giving scheme or similar initiative.

• Familiarity with the London Giving network and London Funders.

• Experience working in a local infrastructure or second-tier organisation.

About Us- Buxton Civic Association (BCA) is a dynamic environmental and heritage charity, working to preserve and enhance the unique built and natural environment of Buxton. We are the proud custodians of over 160 acres of woodlands, including Buxton Country Park and Grin Low, and the operators of Poole’s Cavern, Buxton’s most visited attraction. With a rich heritage and an ambitious vision, we’re driving forward conservation, sustainability, and public engagement.

In 2024, Buxton was named one of the best places to live in the UK. Now’s your chance to work at the heart of this vibrant town and help shape its future.

About the Role - Reporting directly to the Chief Executive, the Head of Finance & Governance will:

• Lead all aspects of financial management, reporting, budgeting, and forecasting
• Support strategic planning and organisational development
• Strengthen governance, compliance, and risk management systems
• Provide leadership and support to key managers and teams
• Help develop sustainable income generation and business planning
• Deputise for the Chief Executive when required

This role will initially line manage:

• Finance Team (2 staff / 1 FTE)
• Fundraising Manager (0.4 FTE)
• Marketing & Membership Manager (1 FTE)

You may also supervise volunteers and represent the organisation externally at meetings and events.

What We’re Looking For

Essential experience & skills

• Significant senior-level finance and operational management experience
• Strong understanding of charity accounting and governance
• Experience managing budgets, forecasting, and financial controls
• Proven line management and leadership skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication abilities
• Ability to work strategically while delivering practical operational results
• Confidence working with Trustees and stakeholders
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail
• A collaborative, resilient, and proactive approach

To Apply

Please send a covering letter and CV . Further application details can be found in the recruitmen packt which is displayed under the recruitment section of our website . Please ensure you also complete and return our Equality Monitoring Form with your application.

The closing date for applications is 12pm, Tuesday 14th July 2026. If you would like to arrange an informal conversation to discuss the role, please contact Dave Green, CEO.

Help us tackle disadvantage and change lives

Salford Foundation is looking for an experienced, values-driven Head of Finance & Resources to join our Senior Management Team and play a key role in ensuring the organisation is financially sustainable, well governed and equipped to deliver lasting impact for local people.

This is a varied and hands-on leadership role combining strategic responsibility with operational delivery. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive, you will lead our finance function while providing oversight of people, IT, facilities, data protection and organisational compliance.

You will be responsible for financial planning and reporting, budgeting, risk management and governance, while supporting colleagues across the organisation with the systems, processes and resources they need to succeed. You will also act as the Foundation's Data Protection Officer and lead officer to the Audit and Risk Committee.

About you

You will be a qualified accountant with strong financial management experience and the ability to communicate financial information clearly to a wide range of audiences. You will be comfortable operating both strategically and operationally, bringing a collaborative and solutions-focused approach to leadership.

You will have experience of supporting organisational decision-making, managing people and resources, and building effective relationships with colleagues, trustees and external partners.

Most importantly, you will share our commitment to tackling disadvantage, supporting communities and creating opportunities for people to thrive.

We offer

• Salary of £45,000 - £50,000 per annum
• Hybrid working
• Opportunity to influence the future direction of a respected local charity
• Supportive and values-led working environment
• The chance to make a meaningful difference in the lives of people across Salford

Join us and help ensure Salford Foundation has the resources, systems and leadership needed to continue tackling disadvantage and changing lives.

A job and person specification is attached along with our company benefits.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced international advocacy professional to lead our global engagement strategy as our inaugural Head of Advocacy. You will be joining us at a pivotal moment on our mission as we continue to develop and implement our international engagement strategy and launch a new Global Institute for the 1001 Critical Days. As our Head of Advocacy you will elevate our influence on the global stage. You will work with our senior team to drive international advocacy and engagement with policymakers, parliamentarians, international organisations, and strategic partners. Your work will help us to position babies – and the 1,001 critical days – at the heart of global policy agendas.

To apply please click on the redirect to recruiter button. 

Reporting directly to the CEO, the Governance Manager will play a key role in supporting our management team and Board of Trustees, ensuring that LionHeart meets all statutory responsibilities by fulfilling governance requirements.

This includes overseeing the maintenance of the charity’s policies and delivery of the cycle of board and sub-committee meetings.

In 2026-27 we envisage this role leading a periodic charity-wide governance review.

What we offer

This is a permanent role offered on a 20-25 hours/three days per week basis, with a full-time salary (35 hours) of circa £35,000, dependent on hours agreed and experience.

We are based in central Birmingham with a commitment to hybrid, flexible working, offering generous pension contributions and a friendly, supportive team around you.

As an employer, we pride ourselves on a real commitment to work-life balance, strong culture and a working environment that is fully inclusive and welcoming. 

We also offer training opportunities and staff development days.

I'm interested, what next?

Please visit our website to download a full job description, person specification and an application form.

Please note we do not accept CVs. On our application form there is space for you to outline your job history and confirm that you meet some of the essential criteria in terms of qualifications and experience.

We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds and operate an anonymous shortlisting process to ensure a level playing field for all applicants. This means that the shortlisting panel will not have your name, address or any other demographic or other characteristic information at the point of shortlisting.

We strive to be as inclusive as possible. If you have a disability and you meet all minimum requirements of the job as set out in the attached job description and person specification, you will be put forward for interview.

Completed applications should be submitted by 4pm on 17 July 2026.

We expect to hold interviews in central Birmingham on 29 July 2026. 

Martingale Foundation exists to fund and support the next generation of talented researchers. We believe that family income should not be a barrier to the pursuit of excellence, and our mission is to enable and nurture talented individuals from low-socioeconomic backgrounds to thrive within world-leading postgraduate research.

Martingale’s flagship programme is the Martingale Postgraduate Scholarship, which supports students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds to pursue and excel in postgraduate degrees, by providing:

• A fully-funded Living Wage Scholarship to pursue a one-year masters degree or a four-year PhD.
• All tuition fees and research expenses, including a tax-free stipend for living costs.
• Tailored support to apply for Martingale courses at our partner universities.
• Access to Martingale programmes, including leadership training and connections with top academic and industry professionals.
• Membership of a pioneering community of talented researchers.

About Purposeful Ventures

Martingale Foundation is incubated by Purposeful Ventures who provide operational and strategic support. The Policy Manager will be employed by Purposeful Ventures.

Our vision is of a fairer society where all young people thrive. Purposeful Ventures partners with social entrepreneurs and philanthropists to improve the education and well-being of young people from their earliest years.

We define and diagnose the issues affecting children and young people, analyse evidence and explore the most promising solutions. We then select, accelerate and, where we find a gap, incubate organisations which tackle those issues. We offer more than just funding to our charitable organisations. Our expertise, operational experience and networks enable us to deliver tailored, hands-on support with a relentless commitment to system change.

About the role

In the four years since Martingale launched, we have now supported over 200 Scholars to undertake postgraduate degrees across our thirteen partner universities.

As Martingale grows, we are building our policy and advocacy function to shape the future of postgraduate access, affordability and outcomes. We are seeking a rigorous, proactive and collaborative Policy Manager to drive the monitoring, insight and evaluation that underpin our influence, and to support the development and implementation of our policy positions and stakeholder engagement.

Reporting to the Head of Communications and External Engagement, you will lead Martingale’s policy tracking, political intelligence, evidence generation, and evaluation and learning. You will turn a fast-moving external landscape into clear, actionable insight, and produce the evidence, analysis and draft materials that enable the Head and CEO to position Martingale credibly with funders, universities, the sector and government.

This is a hands-on, delivery-focused role with significant autonomy. You will own workstreams end-to-end, build systems and processes where they do not yet exist, and influence more senior colleagues and stakeholders. You will sit at the centre of a landmark research and policy programme and help deliver a campaign to implement the recommendations from Martingale’s major HESA-based research partnership, making the case that talent, not background, should determine who progresses to and thrives in postgraduate study.

Please download the full job description on the Purposeful Ventures website.

Key Responsibilities:

You will lead on monitoring and insight, and on evaluation and learning. You will support the Head of Communications and External Engagement on policy position development; consultations, briefings and submissions; and policy and stakeholder engagement and convening.

Monitoring and Insight

• Lead Martingale’s policy tracking and horizon scanning across legislative and regulatory developments, research funding policy, labour market and skills policy, and higher education sector developments relevant to postgraduate access, affordability and outcomes.
• Gather and synthesise political insights to anticipate risks and opportunities, briefing the Head and CEO on what is changing, why it matters to Martingale, and how we should respond.
• Lead the generation of evidence - coordinating, analysing and interpreting data and research (including Martingale’s HESA-based research and partner analysis) to underpin our policy positions and external narrative.
• Build and maintain trackers, briefings and knowledge systems that make insights from across government and higher education accessible, timely and actionable across the team.

Evaluation and Learning

• Lead the monitoring and evaluation of Martingale’s policy and advocacy activity, defining what success looks like and setting clear measures to track progress against our objectives.
• Establish and run learning cycles that capture what is and is not working, feeding insight back into strategy, planning and delivery.
• Own evaluation tools and reporting, ensuring activity is measured against clear objectives and that impact is demonstrable to colleagues, the Board and funders.
• Coordinate with the Programmes Team to leverage lessons and insights from our engagement with scholars to shape our policy work.

Policy Position Development

• Support the Head in developing Martingale’s policy positions for both government and higher education stakeholders, translating evidence into clear, credible and mission-aligned policy asks.
• Draft and refine policy content, ensuring positions are intellectually rigorous, well-evidenced and consistent with Martingale’s voice and values.

Consultations, Briefings and Submissions

• Draft consultation responses, briefings, submissions and other policy materials for the Head and CEO to own and represent in external forums.
• Coordinate inputs across the team and with partners to deliver high-quality, accurate and timely products to deadline.
• Help ensure Martingale’s policy activity complies with charity law and Charity Commission guidance on campaigning and political activity, escalating issues as appropriate.

Policy and Stakeholder Engagement and Convening

• Manage the planning and delivery of Martingale’s stakeholder engagement, including roundtables and convenings.
• Maintain the stakeholder engagement register, tracking relationships, mapping sector and geographic coverage, and identifying gaps and opportunities.
• Build and steward day-to-day relationships with stakeholders across government, academia, research councils, funders, learned societies and partner organisations to advocate for our mission, escalating to the Head and CEO where appropriate.

Ways of working

• Work closely with the Head of Communications and External Engagement, providing the monitoring, insight, evidence, drafting and evaluation that underpin Martingale’s external positioning and influence.
• Collaborate across the communications, partnerships and programme teams, and with delivery and research partners, creating shared understanding of priorities, timelines and dependencies.
• Manage resources and any project budgets responsibly and use evidence and learning to improve practice over time.
• Carry out any other duties as are within the scope, spirit and purpose of the role as requested by the line manager.

Key Requirements:

Experience and skills

Essential

• Demonstrable experience in policy, public affairs, research or analysis, ideally within a mission-driven organisation.
• Strong understanding of the UK education, social mobility and/or research funding landscape, including the roles of bodies and organisations such as UKRI, Universities UK, Department for Education and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.
• Excellent research and analytical skills, with the ability to synthesise complex policy and evidence into clear, accessible insight.
• Outstanding written communication, with the ability to produce high-quality briefings, consultation responses and policy materials for senior and external audiences.
• The ability to distil complex topics into compelling arguments for a range of audiences.
• Proven ability to own and deliver multiple workstreams to deadline, creating plans, systems and processes where they do not yet exist.
• Experience monitoring and evaluating activity and using evidence and learning to improve practice.
• Ability to build and manage relationships with external stakeholders, and to brief and influence more senior colleagues.
• Advanced IT proficiency: spreadsheets, word processing, CRM or databases such as Beacon, email, web-based applications.

Desirable

• Experience of horizon scanning, political monitoring or intelligence-gathering.
• Familiarity with higher education or research organisations, and/or with postgraduate, doctoral or research-focused study.
• Understanding of industrial strategy, labour market and skills policy
• Familiarity with Charity Commission guidance on campaigning and political activity for charities.
• Experience delivering policy or research work in a startup or scale-up environment.

Personal Characteristics

• Excellent interpersonal skills: able to build rapport and trusting relationships, and to work co-operatively in a multidisciplinary setting.
• A commitment to Martingale’s mission to support postgraduate students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Comfortable working in a rapidly growing and changing organisation with a degree of ambiguity – confident to create processes and ways forward where they might not yet exist.
• Curious, rigorous and detail-oriented, with sound judgement about what matters and why.
• Resourceful, able to act on initiative, hardworking, and systematic.