Chief executive officer jobs in holborn, greater london

Help shape national debates on justice and champion the voice of magistrates.

We’re looking for a Policy and Research Officer to join the Magistrates’ Association and turn evidence into influence.

The MA is the only independent membership body for magistrates in England and Wales. With around 12,000 members, we speak truth to power, support our members, and advocate for a fairer and more effective justice system.

This is a varied, fast-paced role where no two days are the same. One day you might be writing a briefing for a parliamentary inquiry or drafting a consultation response; the next you could be analysing survey data, supporting one of our national policy committees, or working with colleagues to launch a new advocacy report in the media.

You’ll be joining a small, supportive team where your ideas can have real impact. Recent projects have tackled judicial diversity, recognition for magistrates, reform of the Single Justice Procedure, and access to justice for disabled magistrates. Your work will help shape the future of the magistracy — and through it, the wider justice system.

We’re looking for someone with strong research and analytical skills, excellent writing and communication, and the ability to grasp complex issues quickly. If you’re passionate about justice and want to see your work influence real-world change, this role is for you.

About Bright Futures UK

Bright Futures UK supports children and young people aged 5 to 24 whose education has been disrupted due to serious long-term physical or mental health conditions. We offer online one-to-one tutoring, befriending, and mentoring programmes, as well as group programmes including hospital workshops, industry events, and advocacy initiatives. Working in close partnership with hospitals, families, and other services, we ensure that children and young people experiencing health-related challenges are not left behind.

Role Overview

The Trusts and Foundations Manager will play a central role in driving sustainable income for Bright Futures UK by securing funding from charitable trusts, foundations, and statutory bodies. This role will focus on developing high-quality funding applications, managing relationships with key funders, and ensuring timely reporting and stewardship.

Working closely with colleagues across Programmes and Finance, you will translate Bright Futures UK’s impact into compelling cases for support, while identifying new funding opportunities to grow and diversify income.

Key Responsibilities

Income Generation

• Research and identify trusts, foundations, and statutory funding opportunities aligned with Bright Futures UK’s mission.
• Develop and deliver a pipeline of high-quality funding applications to meet agreed income targets.
• Write compelling, tailored funding proposals and grant applications, drawing on organisational impact data and stories.
• Prepare accurate budgets in collaboration with the Finance Team to accompany applications.

Fundraising Strategy & Pipeline Management

• Maintain an active funding pipeline, ensuring applications and reports are submitted on time.
• Track progress against targets and provide regular updates to the Chief Executive and senior leadership.
• Contribute to the development of the charity’s wider fundraising strategy, ensuring trusts and foundations income complements individual giving, corporate partnerships, and community events.

Funder Stewardship & Reporting

• Build and maintain excellent relationships with funders, ensuring effective stewardship at all stages.
• Produce high-quality, timely grant reports that demonstrate impact and accountability.
• Arrange funder visits, meetings, and briefings as required.

Monitoring, Evaluation & Administration

• Work with the Programmes Team to gather impact data, case studies, and evidence to strengthen proposals and reports.
• Ensure accurate and up-to-date records of applications, grants, and funder communications in the CRM system.
• Monitor sector trends and share insights on funding opportunities and best practice.

Person Specification

Essential

• Proven track record of securing significant multi-year grants from trusts, foundations, or statutory funders.
• Strong bid-writing skills with the ability to produce clear, persuasive, and tailored proposals.
• Excellent relationship management skills, with experience engaging funders or external stakeholders.
• Strong numeracy and experience in preparing budgets for funders.
• Highly organised, with the ability to manage multiple deadlines and priorities.
• Commitment to Bright Futures UK’s mission and values.

Desirable

• Knowledge of the education, health, or youth sectors.
• Experience working in a small or growing charity.
• Familiarity with CRM systems and fundraising databases.
• Awareness of trends and challenges in the trusts and foundations funding landscape.

Join the Movement: Become NYA’s Chief Finance & Governance Officer (CFO)
Location: Fully remote (office in Leicester)
Salary: Circa £85,000
Contract: Permanent | Full-Time

Are you a strategic finance leader ready to make a national impact? The National Youth Agency (NYA) is seeking a visionary Chief Finance & Governance Officer (CFO) to help shape the future of youth work in England.

About NYA
NYA is the national body for youth work, championing the rights of young people and the professionals who support them. They
work across government, local authorities, and the voluntary sector to ensure youth work is recognised, resourced, and impactful.

As CFO, you’ll be at the heart of NYA’s mission, driving financial sustainability, governance excellence, and strategic growth. You’ll lead their financial strategy, oversee compliance and risk, and support income generation through commercial, grant, and traded services. You’ll also play a key role in shaping their digital future and embedding a culture of transparency, inclusion, and high performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead financial planning, reporting, and audits with precision and foresight.
• Champion governance, legal compliance, and cyber security across the organisation.
• Support the CEO and Board with strategic insight and evidence-based decision-making.
• Drive income generation and innovation in partnership with the Director of Growth.
• Represent NYA nationally, contributing to thought leadership and sector development.
• Embed NYA’s values Collaborative, Inclusive, Determined, Authentic, Bold in everything you do.

About You
You’re a qualified Chartered Accountant with:

• A proven track record in strategic financial leadership and governance.
• A strong appreciation of how government grants operate would be advantageous.
• Experience working with boards and senior teams in the charity or public sector.
• A passion for youth work and a commitment to equity, inclusion, and impact.
• The ability to think commercially, act ethically, and lead boldly.

Why Now?
Youth work is more vital than ever. As NYA grows in scale and influence, we need a CFO who can help us navigate complexity, seize opportunity, and deliver lasting change for young people across the country.

We are working to a deadline of 5.00pm 6th October.

TPP is a retained partner to NYA, the Leadership and Governance team at TPP are on hand to answer any questions - Lisa, Matt or Sema are on hand to discuss and answer any questions.

We want you to have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills, ability and potential; please contact us if you require any assistance or adjustment so that we can help with making the application process work for you.

The National Youth Agency is looking for a new Chief Operating Officer to join our Executive Leadership Team.

Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full-time - 37 hours per week
Salary: £85,000 per annum
Remote: This role is homebased (within the UK) with occasional to meetings, events and conferences.

What we do

As the national body for youth work, the NYA has a dual function. We are the professional statutory and regulatory body (PSRB) responsible for qualifications, quality standards, and safeguarding for youth work and services in England. In line with our charity mission and aims, we also champion youth work through research, advocacy, campaigns, and programmes.

We work in partnership and believe in collaborative leadership, listening to youth workers and the youth work sector so that we can understand their needs and respond to the challenges they face. We are ambitious for youth work and for young people and integrate youth voice and influence across our work

About the Role

Responsibilities will include:

• The COO leads the day-to-day functioning of the organisation to ensure smooth, efficient, and effective delivery of services. This is vital for maintaining operational stability and achieving strategic outcomes.
• They design and execute strategies that align with the organisation’s mission and long-term goals ensuring resources are used effectively and priorities are clear.
• They promote a culture of excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement through supporting employee engagement, productivity, and organisational success.
• The COO collaborates closely with the CEO/CFO and other senior leaders to drive strategic initiatives and business growth, ensuring unified leadership and coherent decision-making.
• They partner with the CFO to manage budgets, forecasts, and resource allocation. Financial oversight ensures sustainability and supports informed investment in strategic priorities.
• Strengthen governance and risk management frameworks, aligned to regulatory expectations and best practice while proactively managing reputational and operational risks.
• The COO cultivates strong relationships with partners, clients, and stakeholders to enhance service delivery and reputation. These relationships are key to influence, collaboration, and impact.
• They lead efforts to improve processes and adopt best practices across the charity to enhance efficiency and keeps the organisation competitive and responsive.
• They ensure that daily activities support the charities long-term objectives.
• The COO mentors other directors and departmental heads and fosters leadership capabilities across teams.
• They establish and track KPIs to identify inefficiencies and guide improvements through data-driven decision-making to enhance accountability and results.
• They evaluate and refine workflows to boost productivity developing efficient processes to reduce waste and improve service quality.
• They act as a bridge between departments and the CEO to ensure cohesive execution of strategic plans preventing silos and promoting organisational synergy.
• The COO serves as a senior figure in national and cross-sector forums, conferences, and strategic partnerships to strengthens the organisation’s voice and influence.
• They demonstrate commitment to Equality, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging in both internal culture and external programmes to foster a fair and inclusive organisation.
• They work with the CEO, CFO and Director of Growth to identify and pursue new revenue streams and strategic partnerships. This expands the organisation’s reach and sustainability.
• They engage in public speaking, media interactions, and external representation demonstrating clear communication, credibility, and stakeholder engagement.
• They develop and embed evaluation frameworks to assess progress against strategic goals. The measuring of our impact ensures accountability and informs future planning.
• They promote the organisation’s brand at events and through networking.

The COO takes on other responsibilities as needed to support the organisation’s mission.

About You

Essential competencies of the Chief Operating Officer:

• Extensive experience in senior leadership with a proven track record in operations, financial and risk management, and delivering high-performing teams, ideally in the charity sector.
• Strong understanding of business functions such as HR, Finance, Marketing, etc.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to think strategically and execute effectively.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities. Commercially astute, process-driven, and highly pragmatic in approach.
• Experience in driving performance and fostering a collaborative culture.
• Bachelor’s degree in business administration or related field; MBA preferred

Why Work for NYA?

• NYA operates as a people-first organisation, prioritising the well-being and needs of its employees.
• NYA offers an exceptional flexible working approach which encourages our team to balance professional responsibilities with their personal life.
• A remote based team, spread across England, fostering inclusivity and diverse talent. Despite geographical distances between team members, NYA maintains a highly motivated and connected team through the optimisation of digital tools.
• NYA is committed to supporting the continual personal and professional development of our team and helping them achieve their ambitions.
• We provide 25 days leave plus 8 days, life assurance scheme, 5% employer pension contribution and a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme via Spectrum.life with unlimited specialist support available to all NYA employees.

How to Apply:

To apply, please submit the following via our online application platform by 11:59pm on Monday 29th September 2025:

A detailed CV setting out your career history, with responsibilities and achievements in line with the person specification in the About You section.
A covering letter highlighting your suitability for the role and how you meet the requirements in the About You section.
We will request data for our EEDI monitoring purposes, providing this is optional.

Please note: The covering letter is an essential part of the application process and will be assessed as part of your full application. We use AI detector software, so cover letters or CV’s with over 80% AI generated content will be disregarded. We understand that AI tools can offer support to candidates who have learning differences, which is why we will accept applications with some AI assistance. CV’s will not be accepted without a cover letter.

The National Youth Agency is an equal opportunities employer.

At NYA our inclusive culture means that we embrace individual differences and understand that we need a diverse team to achieve our organisations mission.

We wish to recruit candidates from all backgrounds to ensure our team reflects the rich diversity of the communities we serve. We encourage applications from anyone regardless of disability, ethnicity, heritage, gender, sexuality, religion, socio-economic background and political beliefs but we particularly welcome applications from global majority candidates and those from other minoritised ethnic groups in the UK as they are currently underrepresented in our team.

Youth Work changes lives

Which is why we’re committed to ensuring that as many young people as possible get to benefit from it.As the national body for youth work in England, the National Youth Agency (NYA) exists to champion its transformative power. We believe all young people should have the opportunity to benefit from the life-changing impact of extraordinary youth workers and trained volunteers.

We help to grow youth work provision in ways that keep it effective, relevant, safe and engaging, to help millions of young people reach their potential and thrive. We do this by providing guidance, support, advice, training and staff development opportunities for youth workers and youth work organisations. At the heart of everything we do are young people themselves. We work hard to ensure their voices are integrated into all our work, to develop provision that truly meets their needs.

REF-223747

WCCM seeks to appoint an experienced, creative, and highly motivated Grant and Major Donor Fundraising Manager to lead fundraising and grant management across a global organisation dedicated to the teaching of Christian Meditation. Working to the Executive Director, you will interact with our decentralised finance, marketing and communications staff and volunteers.  Together, you will nurture Major Donor relationships and create and manage appropriate donor stewardship schemes and rationalise our income streams. You’ll ensure grant reporting and management is kept on track whilst developing targeted proposals for new funding from sympathetic donors in the arena of Trusts and foundations.  You will work to support both our teaching and resourcing of meditation and the running of our retreat centre in Bonnevaux, near Poitiers in France. An excellent writer with excellent financial and budgeting skills, you will be adept at pulling together relevant, succinct and compelling information for our donor reports and bids. You’ll work with communications staff to develop impactful donor communications which enhance our accountability and inspire renewed major donations.  You will have a demonstrable track record in winning grants as well as in the stewardship of major donors.  Occasional trips to France. Interest in Christian Meditation/Spirituality an advantage.

Youth Participation Officer

Fitzrovia Youth in Action is looking for an experienced, passionate and enthusiastic person for our Youth Participation Officer role. If you feel like this is you, we would love to hear from you!

The post holder will manage and develop youth-led community projects in which young people develop their leadership and employability skills through becoming actively involved in their community and participating in self-directed community action. The successful candidate will oversee the development and delivery of several youth-led community projects, primarily the organisation of youth-led community events, but might also include elements of other youth-led activities, such as youth action team, health champions and ambassadors. 

For example, typically, this would involve working with groups of around 10 young people in each cohort and support them to deliver their community event project over a 12-week period.  Examples of events include youth-led football tournaments, street parties and our community Christmas dinner. This post will be part of the delivery team overseeing self-directed community action projects. The post holder may also support drop-in sessions and other activities aimed at engaging young people and referring them onto the youth-led community action programme.

We are elated to be to offer this part time post and continue the social action work with young people.

You can find the role description and persocal spec below. 

To apply, please submit your CV and a cover letter (no more then two sides) explaining your experience and why you are suited. 

Thrombosis UK is a small charity with big ambitions. We are the charity in the UK committed to saving lives and improving the quality of life for those affected by blood clots. 

Key Responsibilities:

• Coordinate Challenge Events

o Act as main contact with events management companies to coordinate our programme

o Encourage, support and monitor participants on their fundraising journey

o Manage production and distribution of event merchandise

• Fundraising

o Explore new fundraising opportunities to increase income and widen our supporter base

o Provide support/toolkits to volunteers who want to run their own events

o Research new technologies to streamline fundraising activities

o Represent the charity at community/fundraising events

o Reach out to suitable businesses for suitable support and donations

•    Marketing & Communications

o Plan and oversee marketing initiatives for TUK’s events and wider opportunities e.g. National Thrombosis Week and World Thrombosis Day

o Drive an effective social media presence

o Provide a prompt and enthusiastic response to fundraising enquiries across all channels

o Generate/update content for the website, social media and occasionally printed materials

o Liaise with designers, ensuring brand consistency across all channels

• Fundraising Admin

o Maintain accurate donor and income records, ensuring all invoices and payments are processed

o Promptly coordinate all donor correspondence such as acknowledgements, thank-yous, certificates and ‘good luck’ messages

o Provide a monthly fundraising overview to the CEO

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Savoy Educational Trust in and help support our mission to advance & enhance education, training and skills development in the UK hospitality industry.  As our new Executive Board & Governance Administrator you will play a key role in helping us deliver our new 5-year strategy by providing vital support to our Executive Team & Board of Trustees.

Location: Remote working (UK-based) with occasional travel

Contract: Full time (37.5 hours per week)

Salary: £30,000 - £35,000 (based on experience) plus 5% employer pension contribution

Contract type: Permanent

Holidays: 25 days per year (plus bank holidays)

ABOUT US

The Savoy Educational Trust is a leading grant-making charity with a mission to drive excellence in education and career development in the UK hospitality industry.  We exist to empower the next generation of hospitality professionals by supporting education, training, and development initiatives that enhance the capabilities and skills of those who wish to pursue a long-term career in this dynamic and important sector of the UK economy. 

We provide targeted funding and support to organisations that deliver impactful education, training and development programmes designed to inspire, prepare and equip individuals for fulfilling and sustainable careers in the UK hospitality sector. Our main beneficiaries include educational establishments (schools through to universities), industry charities and non-profits (large and small), and an array of industry associations.

Our work is guided by a committed group of Trustees and a small Executive Office Team. We have a strong legacy and a clear vision for the future.

ABOUT YOU

As we grow and adapt to the changing needs of the sector, we are now looking for a highly organised and proactive Executive Board & Governance Administrator to support the delivery of our new 5-year strategy and to oversee the smooth running of our administrative/governance operations.

This role requires a meticulous individual, with previous experience in a high-level administrative role and ideally some knowledge of charity governance. The postholder will have excellent organisational & IT skills, a strong work ethic, a keen eye for detail, and an ability to communicate confidently and professionally with a wide range of stakeholders. They will actively promote and uphold the Trust’s mission and values and will always exercise a high level of good judgment, diplomacy and discretion, in respect of the confidential information that they are party to. The postholder will be highly self-motivated, resourceful, and able to work effectively to build strong relationships with our beneficiaries, the Chief Executive/Executive Office team and our Board of Trustees.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Main Purpose of the Role

This is a central role in supporting the day-to-day operations of the Trust, providing secretarial support to the Board of Trustees and ensuring smooth and efficient administrative/governance processes. The postholder will be the first point of contact for enquiries and will be responsible for coordinating meetings, managing correspondence, and maintaining accurate records.

Why Join Us?

• Flexibility: Remote working with occasional travel to meetings and/or projects.
• Impact: Work for a charity making a tangible difference to young people and the hospitality sector.
• Collaboration: Be part of a small, passionate team with a strong sense of purpose.
• Development: Develop your skills in charity governance, grant-making, and non-profit administration.

HOW TO APPLY

To apply, please send:

• A CV detailing your experience.
• A short cover letter (no more than 2 pages) explaining your interest in the role and how you meet the person specification. Please indicate notice period required.

Applications close: 5th October 2025

Shortlisting: w/c 6th October 2025

Stage 1 interview (online/video call): w/c 13th October 2025

Final interview (in person in central London): w/c 20th October 2025 (travel expenses reimbursed if you live outside London)

Temporary Executive Assistant
Location: London (2–3 days office-based, remainder remote)
Duration: 3 months initially, with potential to extend
Rate: £21.97 – £24.72 per hour
Full-time

We’re working with a leading charity to recruit a highly skilled and proactive Executive Assistant for an initial 3-month temporary contract. This is a fantastic opportunity to support the Chief Executive in a pivotal role while leading and coordinating the work of a small PA team.

About the role

You’ll act as the right hand to the CEO, providing executive-level support, managing complex diaries and communications, and ensuring the smooth running of high-level meetings and events. You’ll also line manage Executive PAs, helping to deliver a first-class support service to the wider leadership team.

This is a dynamic and varied role, ranging from preparing trustee reports and external briefings, to attending key meetings with the CEO, and coordinating high-profile communications. You’ll need to be highly organised, discreet, and comfortable handling sensitive information with confidence.

About you

We’re looking for someone with:

• Significant experience as an Executive Assistant, ideally at CEO or Board level

• Strong organisational and time management skills, with the ability to juggle competing priorities

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

• Experience managing and developing a small team

• A collaborative, flexible, and proactive approach

• Willingness to travel and adapt to changing schedules

What’s on offer

• Competitive hourly rate (£21.97–£24.72 per hour)

• Hybrid working (2–3 days per week in the London office, remainder from home)

• The chance to play a key role in supporting a high-profile CEO and leadership team within the charity sector

If you are available immediately and have the experience required, we would love to hear from you. 

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so please apply without delay. 

As leading charity recruitment specialists and a certified B Corp™, Harris Hill is committed to high and ever-improving standards of equitable and inclusive recruitment. We actively welcome applications from all sections of the community regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexuality and other protected characteristics.

35 hours per week

Teddington, London Borough of Richmond

Ruils is run by, and for, disabled people. We exist to remove the barriers that prevent disabled people from living independent lives. Our vision is a society where all individuals have choice and control to live independently. We provide information, advice, advocacy, befriending and activities to our clients and their families.

We work with the Richmond General Practice Alliance (RGPA) and our local Primary Care Networks to deliver personalised care services: Social Prescribing and Proactive Anticipatory Care (PAC). This allows GPs and other health care professionals to refer patients to a Link Worker or Care Coordinator, who can work with the individual and connect them with services and activities in their community. We have a team of 15 Link Workers and Care Coordinators spread throughout the borough and in this role you will lead and manage the team.

The NHS Plan also highlighted the need to focus on the prevention of long-term conditions and reduce health inequalities faced by sections of society. You will also lead the delivery of ‘Health in Your Hands’ and a Community Health and Wellbeing Programme, which focuses on targeting localities that are facing health inequalities due to high levels of social deprivation.

You may currently be:

• Social Prescribing Link Worker looking for career progression
• Working in the voluntary sector and looking for career progression into a management role
• An allied professional with knowledge of personalised care services
• An experienced manager looking for a new opportunity in the field of health and social care.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Leading and motivating a team of professionals with differing skills and experience to deliver high quality services meeting Key Performance Indicators.
• Being a key member of the Charity’s leadership team able to consider and discuss the wider aspects of the charity outside of your own direct responsibilities.
• Working with the RGPA contract manager and the CEO to set and monitor targets for each project/service and identifying and resolving any issues that arise.
• Strong project management skills – able to set up projects, processes and communicate these clearly to the wider team.
• Creating coherent and comprehensive reports for stakeholders by analysing and collating data from different sources.
• Working on your own initiative and with minimum day to day supervision to achieve agreed goals and targets.
• Attending meetings and events, communicating effectively with a variety of individuals including health professionals and other organisations in the voluntary sector.
• Being responsible for the recruitment, selection, induction and training of new permanent or temporary staff.

What we can offer you:

• A vibrant and interesting work environment – every day is different
• An experienced and supportive leadership team
• Training and development opportunities
• Flexible working
• Kind and caring colleagues who work as a team
• A cycle to work scheme
• An employee assistance programme (EAP)

We operate a Guaranteed Interview Scheme; we will guarantee an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post. Please state in a cover letter if you wish us to consider you for this guaranteed interview scheme.

To apply for the role, please send your CV and covering letter outlining how you meet the key requirements for the role (as outlined above). If you would like a full Job Description to aid your application, please request this, as detailed in 'How to Apply'.

Closing date: 23rd September 2025.

Face-to-face interviews will take place during the week commencing 29th September 2025.

Step into a transformative journey with Working Options

We're on a mission to empower young people aged 14-19 across England and Wales, and you can help make a real difference.

Following our successful Wales pilot supporting 15,000 young people since launching in 2024, we're scaling regionally. In 2025 we're focusing on Bedfordshire, and that is where we need you, while also responding to needs across England and Wales, aiming to reach 90,000+ young people in-person and 2.5 million+ online across both nations.

As a Project Coordinator you'll connect volunteers with schools and foster impactful relationships within our dynamic, entrepreneurial environment. We believe in inclusivity, trying new things, setting high expectations, and creating real opportunities for young people.

Working from home with occasional team meet-ups, events, and school visits, you'll join a dedicated team that values high expectations and individual contributions to help young people achieve positive outcomes.

If you're passionate, 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, via the applicant pack linked below.

Person specification

We are looking for someone who:

• Has a genuine interest in our work and in the greater Bedfordshire area and/or South of England in easy reach of Bedfordshire.
• 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.

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 England and Wales face today.

If you like the sound of this environment, we would love to hear from you.

Good luck with your application!

The Queen’s Reading Room is the charity founded by Her Majesty Queen Camilla in 2023. We believe that books make us happier, healthier and better connected, having a strong positive impact on our mental health, brain health and social connectedness. We’re on a mission to get more people reading more, for all the transformative benefits of books.

Our work is in three areas: neuroscientific study to understand the lifelong benefits of regular reading; the production of accessible content and events; and grassroots work to help shelters and refuges access books and shared reading groups, in partnership with organisations like St Mungo’s, The Elm Foundation and Reading for Wellbeing.

Our audience is predominantly digital, reaching 12 million people annually in 183 countries. We’re concerned that the UK is currently facing a reading crisis, with children’s reading rates the lowest on record and 1 in 2 adults not having read nor listened to a single book last year. We’re working hard to change that.

About the Role

The Queen’s Reading Room is funded entirely by grants, donations, sponsorship and income from events. We’re looking for a vibrant and well-connected individual to join the small but agile team, to lead this function within the charity and design and set up a fundraising committee. You will build on a strong base of income generation and work to sustain and expand it.

You will be responsible for building the fundraising strategy with the charity’s CEO and Board of Trustees; for identifying appropriate opportunities to generate funding in the UK and internationally; and for the targets agreed by the CEO and board. You will be comfortable with, and have experience in, the world of high profile and high net-worth individuals, legacy fundraising, fundraising and friendraising events. You will know how to build relationships with individual donor prospects along with charitable trusts, foundations and other institutional funders. You will attend networking events and meetings with potential donors.

Your role will include devising and creating fundraising events; securing sponsorship for events and festivals; contributing to the writing and submitting of funding applications to charitable trusts and foundations; and advising and providing suitable copy for fundraising marketing and digital materials. You will work with the team to create case studies and grant reports, sharing and telling great stories to supporters to ensure that they understand the difference that their donations make and with a view to securing repeat support.

You’ll create new relationships by preparing and delivering pitches, talks and presentations and prepare reports and give presentations on fundraising progress to the CEO and the Board of Trustees.

You will join as a key member of the organisation, alongside the CEO, Director of Operations, Director of MarComms, Head of Talent, Head of Production and Team Researcher.

About You

Our ideal candidate will have a proven track record of significant and sustained income generation. You’ll have a track record of managing and developing relationships with individual donors and be committed to building good internal and external relationships. You will have experience of performing due diligence and have a careful and considered approach to fundraising. Your knowledge of the fundraising market will be excellent. You will understand the complexity of the charity landscape and the sensitivities of the role. You will understand the need for confidentiality to be paramount.

Strong writing and presentation skills are essential.

There will be a lot going on at once, so we’ll be looking for someone who is flexible with changing priorities and who has excellent administrative, IT, organisational and planning skills. You’ll be able to prioritise your workload, manage administration and be able to work independently. You will be an excellent team player but be able to take responsibility for your own work stream.

You’ll have a passion for charity work and a strong commitment to the organisational ethos and goals of The Queen’s Reading Room.

Details

Part/ full time negotiable.

6 month probation, during which time, the candidate must have raised the equivalent of their salary.

Office-based in London Victoria, with remote team members.

You need to be eligible to work in the UK to be considered for this role.

Be part of something extraordinary at Sense. 

We’re here to break down barriers alongside disabled people with complex needs. As we start to develop and deliver an ambitious three-year plan for Sense’s future, we are looking for a chief strategy and governance officer – a senior leader with a strategic experience, inclusive values, and a commitment to impact. 

About the role 

As our chief strategy and governance officer, you’ll report directly to the chief executive and play a key leadership role as part of Sense’s chief officers’ group. You’ll lead business planning, performance, risk, governance, safeguarding, health and safety, internal audit and project management across the charity—ensuring strategy and delivery are aligned at every level. 

You’ll also serve as company secretary and oversee our legal and regulatory compliance with the Charity commission and Companies house, while championing an inclusive approach to governance that empowers disabled people with complex needs. With a team of senior leaders reporting into you, you’ll shape culture, drive improvement, and model the leadership values that make Sense a truly people-centred organisation. 

This is a hybrid role based from either Birmingham or London, with frequent travel.

What you'll do 

• Lead the delivery of Sense’s strategy through robust business planning and performance frameworks.
• Oversee impact measurement and risk management, enabling evidence-led decision-making.
• Act as company secretary, ensure legal and regulatory compliance and high-quality support for our board of trustees and their committees.
• Provide executive leadership of safeguarding and health and safety, fostering a proactive culture of learning.
• Create an environment for project and programme management across Sense that enables clear oversight of delivery through a values-led Project management office.
• Manage internal audit via external providers, ensuring assurance and continuous improvement.
• Collaborate closely with the CEO and board of trustees, providing insight, coordination, and strategic guidance.
• Drive inclusion, equity and sustainability throughout the organisation’s leadership approach. 

About you 

We’re looking for an experienced, values-driven leader who is: 

• Strategic and analytical, with senior-level experience in governance, performance or organisational leadership.
• Highly organised and insightful, with a strong grasp of business planning, impact reporting and risk.
• Experienced in governance leadership, ideally with charity or regulated services knowledge and company secretary experience.
• Confident working with senior stakeholders, including boards, executives, and regulatory bodies.
• Committed to inclusion and the social model of disability, with a track record of embedding equity and diverse perspectives in strategy and operations.
• Digitally confident, with strong understanding of data protection, information governance, and the role of technology in transformation. 

About Sense 

We believe that every disabled person should have the opportunity to connect with others and be included in the world. We use our knowledge and expertise to deliver personalised, creative and flexible support at every stage of life. Sense is proud to be a disability confident leader. 

Working at Sense can be incredibly rewarding; we offer the opportunity to work in a large, diverse and successful charity where people can develop their skills, knowledge and careers in a supportive and flexible environment. In addition, we have excellent training and development, the opportunity for you to join our Group Personal Pension scheme and a generous annual leave entitlement. 

To apply 

Please use the link below to complete your application. We would recommend that you read the job description and person specification before applying. 

Please note to avoid disappointment, we advise you to submit your application as soon as possible as we reserve the right to close recruitment at any time. 

Sense is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of disabled children and adults and expects all employees to share this commitment. Therefore, all offers of employment, where appropriate, are subject to a DBS check; level dependent on the nature of the role. 

For this role we particularly welcome applications from candidates from underrepresented ethnic minority backgrounds and disabled people.

Sense is committed to equality of opportunity, and to promoting and celebrating the diversity of staff, volunteers and the people we work with. Everyone's contribution is valued and we ensure they're given the opportunity to realise their potential. We welcome applications from talented people from all sections of the community who share our values 

You will be joining us at a time that holds the greatest potential for fundraising in our history, following the launch of the UK Government’s Delivery Plan for ME and initial findings of the DecodeME genetics study (co-led by Action for ME) in Summer 2025. 

Building on our charity’s already established level of support from major donors, you will provide exceptional relationship management to existing donors alongside growing our network of high value supporters.

Working closely with the CEO, alongside managing a portfolio of donors and prospects ensuring excellent stewardship, you will support our Breakthrough-ME Group (a group of high net worth and highly networked individuals). There is an established level of support from major donors at Action for ME so this is a role that will require exceptional relationship management to retain our current valued supporters while growing this crucial area of fundraising. 

This would be an ideal role for an experienced philanthropy professional seeking to work for a small but ambitious charity, helping us to achieve our mission to improve the lives of all people affected by ME – better meeting their needs today while taking action to secure change for tomorrow.

Key duties

Major Donor Fundraising

• Successfully develop and implement the philanthropy strategy to secure and maximise funds from high value individuals for Action for ME achieving annual income of £250k+

• Set plans and budgets which will deliver income through major gift fundraising and philanthropic giving through family trusts and foundations, including quarterly forecasting.

• Manage a portfolio of prospects and donors at the £5k to £100k level, to develop and maintain strong and long-standing partnerships

• Work closely with the Director of Fundraising and Development and other colleagues to ensure that plans and activities for fundraising from high value individuals are integrated into the overall fundraising strategy and plan for significant growth.

• Be responsible for our Breakthrough-ME Group with high quality proposition development.  Contribution to Group fundraising activities with a specific focus on ensuring their networks support pipeline growth for future fundraising.

• Lead the delivery of our biennial fundraising gala dinner, maximising income and new opportunities from attendees.

• Develop engaging and inspiring opportunities to steward and cultivate support creating a calendar of activities including events, presentations, approaches, networking and meetings.

• Utilise the CRM database (Raisers Edge) to provide the data required to strategise your approach to philanthropy, monitor progress and provide a high-quality donor experience.

• Ensure utilisation of insight & data, producing management information data to inform planning and strategy development.

• With the Director of Fundraising & Development, create inspiring cases for support and resulting propositions with clear budgets and outcomes.

• Create adequate systems and processes to support the major donor programme.

• Undertake and manage research into prospects and major donors, preparing for approaches and presentations and briefing senior leadership and trustees for donor meetings and events.

• Develop and maintain relationships with donors, a wide range of staff and volunteers from trustee level down.

• Provide regular feedback and internal reporting to line management.

• Work with other fundraisers to ensure that all fundraising opportunities and leads are followed up – particularly in corporate, community and trust fundraising.

• Work with Trustees, the Chief Executive and members of the Leadership Team to develop relationships with major donors.

• Self-administrate including managing your own diary and meetings, keeping accurate and up to date records of activity

• Occasional travel to London, Bristol & events

Other duties

• To positively promote the work and activities of Action for M.E. at all times.

• To contribute to the team’s overall, ongoing and annual planning and budgeting.

• To undertake any other reasonable activity in line with the responsibilities of the post as requested by the Director of Fundraising and Development, Chief Executive or any other senior Action for ME management.

• Act as an advocate for the Charity and its work.

• To work in accordance with Action for ME’s values of collaboration, equity and empathy.