Chief of staff jobs in westminster

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As one of the largest federated charities in the UK, with arguably greater reach into the lives of families and educational settings than any other non-Government organisation, Parentkind is on a bold and urgent mission: to support, champion, and empower parents to be partners in their children’s education and wellbeing. To help deliver this, Parentkind's fundraising efforts helped grow Parentkind's income from £1.5m to £10m (including in-kind donations) between 2022 and 2024.

Although best known for our support of almost 24,000 Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs), Parent Councils, and Schools, helping them build strong school communities whilst they raise over £130 million each year to enhance children’s education, our work stretches far beyond the school gates. Parentkind is building a powerful movement that recognises parental engagement not as a nicety, but a necessity.

In recent years, families have faced a series of compounding challenges: the cost-of-living crisis, rising child poverty, and deepening educational inequality. These pressures have left many parents struggling to meet basic needs—let alone feel confident engaging in their child’s learning journey.  Parentkind has responded to this moment with compassion, agility and purpose, through a series of transformative campaigns, resources, and partnerships. Our recent transformational journey has seen Parentkind’s network grow by more than 70% of schools, and the income Parentkind has delivered both for itself and for its members by more than 550%. 

Our No Cold Child initiative, launched with FatFace, stepped in to address a stark statistic: over 150,000 children in the UK do not own a winter coat due to poverty. Through our trusted relationships with schools, we distributed 10,000 warm, high-quality coats worth £600,000 to the children who needed them most. Shortlisted for two Business Charity Awards, the campaign has been praised not just for providing warmth, but for restoring dignity, inclusion, and school readiness to thousands of children.

Our collaboration with Asda on Cashpot for Schools is another example of unlocking support at scale. This innovative community-led funding model allows shoppers to nominate and fund their local schools simply through everyday spending. In just the last year, this campaign has generated £5.78 million for schools—supporting everything from basic classroom supplies to vital extracurricular programmes and pupil wellbeing initiatives. Also shortlisted for a Business Charity Award, it is already a model for community-driven philanthropy.

Meanwhile, our All Dressed Up campaign—developed with World Book Day and Rubies Masquerade—confronted the often-overlooked issue of financial exclusion on key celebration days. More than 100,000 free dressing up costumes worth £1.34 million were delivered to children from low-income families. By enabling participation in events like World Book Day, we helped spark imagination, joy, and belonging for children who might otherwise feel left out—boosting self-esteem and supporting a positive connection to learning.

Alongside these national campaigns, Parentkind supports families year-round through a growing suite of programmes designed to inform, prepare and empower parents. Our Be School Ready programme offers crucial guidance and confidence to parents preparing their children for the leap into primary education. With a mix of practical advice, developmental tips, and reassurance, through the distribution of 135,000 copies of Be School Ready and an online campaign, it supports families at one of the most formative moments in their child’s life.

We also deliver a wide-ranging series of live expert webinars and parent-friendly resources, covering topics such as managing anxiety, supporting special educational needs, navigating school transitions, and building home-school partnerships. These resources—developed in consultation with experts and rooted in lived parent experience—equip families to feel informed and empowered, no matter what challenges arise.

This month, we launched our Parent-Friendly Schools Accreditation Programme, designed to formally recognise schools that go above and beyond in fostering positive, inclusive relationships with parents. The accreditation celebrates schools that actively listen to parent voices, make engagement easy and accessible, and embed family partnership in their culture. It is a practical and inspiring tool to drive long-term change in the sector and offers a roadmap for schools wanting to strengthen their community.

Our work is grounded in evidence. Every year, we conduct the UK’s largest parental engagement study: the National Parent Survey. In 2024, over five thousand parents participated, providing invaluable insight into what families think about the education system. The findings are fed directly into government consultations and have already influenced national debates on school funding, attendance, mental health support, SEND provision, and curriculum reform. We believe passionately that parents must not be the missing voice in education policy—and we work tirelessly to ensure their views shape the decisions that affect their children’s lives.

Today, through Parentkind’s federated network of more than 130,000 parent and teacher volunteers, our work impacts the lives of millions of parents, carers, teachers and children throughout the UK through our membership, programmes, advocacy and campaigns. But we know we can—and must—do more.

We’re looking for someone with passion, purpose, and creativity—someone who understands that a warm coat, a World Book Day costume, or a parent’s voice at the table can all be catalysts for lifelong change.

This is an exciting opportunity to join our growing Fundraising Team and play a leading role in shaping a brand-new trust fundraising programme from the ground up. We’re looking for someone with experience in securing income from trusts and foundations—someone who’s a confident communicator, both in writing and in person, and who brings a curious and strategic mindset to prospect research.

You’ll help craft compelling cases for support and develop a portfolio of proposals and reports that showcase the impact of our work—amplifying the voices of parents and schools and demonstrating how Parentkind is driving positive change. Strong attention to detail is essential, along with the ability to manage multiple priorities and work independently.

If you believe, like we do, that when parents matter, children succeed, we’d love to hear from you.

You’ll have:

• Proven experience in trust and statutory fundraising, securing five- and six-figure grants.
• Demonstrable success in developing compelling proposals and reports for funders.
• Strong relationship management skills with a track record of stewarding long-term partnerships.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to convey impact effectively.
• Highly organised with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.
• Knowledge of the education, family support, or community development sectors.

You’ll get:

• To join a fast-moving charity with an exciting future
• To build your own team, playing a key role in driving forward the charity’s strategy and shaping our fundraising activity
• Remote working full-time with a great online team culture
• 25 days holiday in addition to UK public holidays.

How to apply

A full candidate pack is attached on this listing. To apply, please submit a CV and covering letter outlining your motivations for applying for the role and how you meet the Person Specification.

Interviews will be held on a rolling basis via video conference.

Parentkind is committed to a policy of equal opportunities and we ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and equally.  We would be grateful if you would complete the equal opportunities monitoring questions when applying online to help us check that we are carrying out our policy of equal opportunities for all people.  The information will be kept confidential and will be separate from your application.  It will have no bearing on your application.

Parentkind is committed to meeting the needs of applicants with disabilities.  Please let us know if you require any adjustments to your application or interview process.

Flexible home working, with requirement for travel to BDA Office Birmingham twice a month.

Salary £50,755 per annum - full time 36 hours per week (job share will be considered)

Benefits include: 30 days holiday, working flexibly policy, non-contributory healthcare benefits and a company pension scheme.

Deadline for applications:    Friday 23rd May 2025

Interview Date:  Thursday 5th June 2025

We are the British Dietetic Association (BDA). We are an award-winning not-for-profit organisation, based in Birmingham, employing dedicated, dynamic and professional staff who deliver services for our membership of more than 12,000 dietetic professionals.

We are the leading organisation of nutrition professionals in the UK; representing the entire nutrition and dietetic workforce across all sectors. Our vision is to improve the health of the UK population by protecting and improving health and care services, developing health and social care policy, improving the impact of dietetics and promoting positive discussion on food, nutrition, wellbeing and health.

Role details:

The BDA is seeking a new Research Manager to work as part of the Education and Professional Practice Team, leading on the research and impact activities of professional dietetic practice. The role will also provide line management within the team.

The role will support the BDA’s Strategic Plan 2024-34 and lead the growth and delivery of the annual Research Symposium. The role will suit a candidate with a sound understanding and experience of the breadth of dietetic practice and research, and the factors that influence it. Working innovatively the post holder will develop and progress research within dietetic practice, building confidence in the dietetic workforce to be research active.  

 Ideal candidate:

We are looking for somebody who is an expert in research methodologies, and appraisal and is comfortable setting and influencing research strategy.  Ideally we would like somebody who has or is studying for their doctorate in dietetics and experience working in a practice setting would be advantageous. This is a senior internal and external facing role working alongside the Director of Education Practice and Research, and the Education and Practice Managers. The candidate will enjoy supporting colleagues and members to engage and deliver research related projects, and demonstrate impact through evidence-based practice.

In return, we offer exciting opportunities to raise the profile of research, innovate, and build purposeful external stakeholder relationships. The BDA have a collection of small departments who all work closely together and have a ‘one team’ ethos. The role will require somebody who enjoys the challenges that come with delivering and reporting on strategic targets and measuring impact.

For full details of the role, please download and refer to the Job Description.

We would strongly encourage any dietitian interested in the role to contact the BDA for an informal, confidential discussion about this post and opportunities for flexible working. Please refer to our website for contact details.

The job advert is shown on the BDA website, and for discussion about the role, please telephone the Birmingham office number and ask for Najia.

Please note: Only applicants who submit a covering letter will be shortlisted for interview.

We are looking for a Membership and Marketing Assistant to join our team. If you are passionate about books, accessibility, and know your way around a range of social media channels, we'd love to hear from you.

About Listening Books

Listening Books is a UK charity providing an audiobook lending service to children and adults who cannot access printed books due to illness, disability, learning or mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression.

About the role

Listening Books provides membership across the UK, with a subsidised membership fee of £25 per year for individuals, and free membership to those who cannot afford to pay a fee. The service is provided directly to individuals, but also through working with hospices, children’s hospitals, care homes and schools.

The Membership and Marketing Assistant will work within the Membership and PR team to help expand awareness of the charity’s work and increase membership in line with the PR and Marketing Strategy.

The Person we are looking for 

We are looking for someone with a passion for books and accessibility, who will enjoy the opportunities and challenges of working in a small organisation. 

This role is mainly focused around maintaining our social media accounts, using these tools to grow and engage our membership, so you’ll enjoy creating appropriate content and interacting with people online. Regular tasks include running an online book group and hosting author interviews, writing blogs, creating partnerships with other charities (for online activities, sharing of information etc) and helping the membership team with designing leaflets, posters and other content. 

As this is a part time role (21 hours per week), you’ll need to manage and divide your time consistently and effectively to meet your recruitment and marketing objectives. Excellent time management is essential.  You’ll have a good understanding of social media best practices and awareness of accessibility standards for content creation, as well as being equally comfortable speaking to members and partners on the phone, online or in person. 

The ideal candidate will have a friendly, can-do attitude, excellent communication skills and a willingness to learn and improve their skills, as well as a desire to help more people access books.  In return, we can offer you 20 days holiday (pro-rata and rising with service), as well as a generous pension scheme.  This is a part time role, and working hours can be flexible, within reason, to fit around parenting, caring responsibilities or other lifestyle choices.

View complete job description at the provided link

Do you have experience of delivering, producing or project managing theatre productions, music concerts, arts events and festivals? Have you previously supported students or young people in a performance-related environment?

We are looking for an Arts Production Coordinator, who will support the artsUCL Producer to expand student-led performance at the Bloomsbury Theatre and Studio, deliver the new artsUCL Fringe Festival, and foster a performance culture rooted in equality of opportunity, professional practice and inclusivity.  They will work closely with student leaders to support all aspects of student-led performances, enable effective collaboration between a number of stakeholders and play a key role in the delivery of our flagship arts events and festivals.

This is an exciting role in a unique organisation.  Our vision is of an outstanding experience for all UCL students and to be one of the best students’ unions in the UK and the world.  We aim to build a vibrant and empowered student community with real influence in UCL and beyond, that enables students to enjoy their time at university; pursue their interests and passions; see the world in new ways; and develop the skills and experience to change the world for the better.

We are a registered charity employing over 100 career staff and 300 student staff, delivering a wide range of services and representative functions for UCL students. We have the widest portfolio of services of any student organisation in the country, managing UCL’s extracurricular programmes for sport, music, drama, dance, media, volunteering, academic societies and intercultural engagement; providing a wide range of fantastic social spaces; leading on student democracy and representation across UCL; and offering excellent student support services.

It's an exciting time our growing organisation as we lead the delivery of UCL’s groundbreaking new Student Life Strategy. This is enabling us to build more programmes to improve students’ mental and physical wellbeing, promote genuine equity for all, build students’ skills and confidence, develop their international connections and intercultural skills, and make a real contribution to our local community.

We support hybrid working. Excellent benefits including defined benefit pension scheme and generous holiday entitlement. We are proud of high levels of staff engagement and pride ourselves on being a great place to work.

Prisoners Abroad is a small but powerful organisation supporting people through some of the most isolating and traumatic experiences imaginable. Whether it’s someone surviving a prison sentence overseas, returning to the UK with nothing, or a family facing the distress of having a family member imprisoned abroad, your work here will have a direct and lasting impact.

A fantastic opportunity has opened up to lead and grow a well-established major donor programme. Working closely with our Head of Giving & Communications, you’ll manage and develop relationships with high-net-worth individuals, craft compelling cases for support, and deliver thoughtful stewardship that makes donors feel truly valued and connected. You’ll also have the chance to shape how we grow our pipeline, with support from a team that values creativity, emotional intelligence and collaboration, so plenty of opportunities to get creative and make your mark.

With experience of securing 4–5 figure gifts and a flair for building meaningful relationships, you’ll be a confident communicator with strong writing skills, and you’ll enjoy using insight to create personal donor journeys that inspire generosity.

To apply for this position, please read the job pack which provides lots of information about the charity, the role and how to apply (by sending in  your CV and a supporting statement). 

The deadline for applications is 10am Friday 9th May, however we will be reviewing applications as we receive them, so please apply when you are ready and you may be contacted about your application before the closing date. To ensure inclusivity, all applications received up to the closing date will be considered equally.

If you have any questions about the application or recruitment process, or want to schedule a call for more information, then get in touch and we'll happily arrange that.

Director of Services

We are seeking an experienced Director of Services to work as part of the Senior Management Team to provide strategic leadership and direction for the organisation and deputise for the CEO as required.

You will be responsible for the Charity’s client-facing, free at point of access, service delivery operations, including Information, Advice and Advocacy, and Hospital and Community support services.

Position: Director of Services

Location: Hayes, London

Salary: £55,000 per annum

Hours: Full-time - 35 hours per week

Contract: Permanent

Benefits: Flexible Working, Hybrid Working, Compressed hours available, Job share considered/Part-time hours considered, Training and development, 5% pension contribution, Health plan with employee assistance and 24 hour support, 26 days annual leave (plus bank holidays) rising to 30 days, London Living Wage employer

Closing date: Midday, Monday 12th May 2025

About the role: 

As Director of Services, you will be responsible for a wide range of services including Hospital services (A&E support, discharge and falls prevention), community services (activity groups, befriending, clubs), information and advice services (including benefits, housing, carers and statutory advocacy).

You will be responsible for ensuring all contracts and grants deliver to targets and provide services of the highest possible quality standards with demonstrable impact measures and feedback systems.

You will be a key member of our Senior Management Team (SMT), helping to develop and deliver on our new 5-year strategy, and contributing towards the annual business planning and budgeting processes.

Alongside our CEO you will be responsible for managing our external partnerships and third sector consortia. You will help to ensure we influence the priorities of our three local authorities and play a key role in the NHS transformation agenda across Northwest London. You will be based in a positive, creative and ambitious organisation, supported by a skilled SMT and responsible for a team of experienced managers.

Your key responsibilities will include: 

• Provide strategic leadership, direction and development of all Age UK HHB Services, contributing to organisational strategy and the annual business planning process.

• To work with the leadership team to identify and resource development opportunities, and to ensure our activity is providing optimum impact to improve the lives of older people in the borough

• Line Manage and develop Head of Services, Service Managers and other staff as appropriate, including setting targets and monitoring performance by ensuring that regular supervisions and appraisals are carried out, and tackling any performance issues in line with policies and procedures.

• Ensure Age UK HHB staff and volunteers are provided with up-to-date information sources, including any changes in national and local policy. To ensure services achieve external and internal quality frameworks and best practice guidance and to drive efficient working practices.

• Develop and oversee systems for feedback from service users to ensure the work, ethos and culture of Age UK HHB are informed by older people.

• To ensure quality data is captured for all service delivery allowing us to measure reach and impact for effective performance management, overseeing the provision of monitoring reports and dashboards for funders and board

• To work with the CEO, Managers and Trustees to develop annual budgets and to ensure services and projects are delivered to budget.

• Work closely with external partners and commissioning/funding agencies to ensure that Age UK HHB delivers the range of services that are required and/or contracted, on time and on budget.

About you: 

To be successful in the role you will need to be able to operate effectively in challenging times and a constantly changing working environment. Experience in successful leadership, managing people, organisational change and improving business processes to support the charity’s strategy will be essential to this role. 

Essential skills and experience include: 

• Educated to Degree level or equivalent, or substantial successful senior management experience. 

• Proven experience as an inspirational and successful leader of teams of staff and volunteers.

• Substantial experience in effective management of time, tasks and projects.

• Demonstrable experience of working within and/or influencing change in health and social care services.

• Experience in designing, planning, leading and mobilising new or remodelled services from concept through to business as usual.

• Knowledge of the voluntary sector and its ways of working with knowledge and understanding of user involvement and empowerment.

• Knowledge and understanding of local health and social care structures.

• Excellent written and verbal presentation skills.

If you feel you have the necessary skills apply today!

The charity is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity. 

About the organisation:

Age UK Hillingdon, Harrow and Brent provides a wide range of services for around 15,000 older people across the three boroughs of North West London. We employ 100 staff and are supported by 180 volunteers. Our turnover is in the region of £3.5 million.

Other roles you may have experience with could include Deputy Service Manager, Service Coordinator, Head of Services, Service Lead, Social Care, Social Care Services, Health and Social Care, Programme Manager, Service Delivery Manager, Registered Manager, Registered Service Manager, Service Manager, Services Manager.

Established in 1954 we are a UK based charity devoted to the study and conservation of the mammals of the British Isles. We aim to raise awareness of the issues mammals face and share our scientific research so they can be best protected in the future. A small team of staff delivers big results through coordination and promotion of surveys, trainings, campaigns, publications and events that inspire, inform and mobilise our members and supporters and support the work of grassroots mammal groups and individual volunteers

Following the recent confirmation of the Mammal Society’s research priorities for the next 5 years, we are seeking a talented, enthusiastic Data and Research Officer with a passion for nature, science and conservation who will help us to put strong foundations in place so that we can deliver maximum positive impact for mammals through our work.

The Mammal Society is committed to being an inclusive and disability-friendly employer and is keen to attract applicants from a range of backgrounds. All applications will be anonymised and shortlisted via a consistent and transparent points-based process against the requirements of the role as set out in the Job Description and Person Specification. The role is home-based, and interviews will be conducted via Zoom unless a candidate raises an issue with this format, in which case an alternative will be arranged to satisfy any requirements for inclusion.

To apply, please submit your CV with a covering statement of no more than 750 words explaining your suitability for the role as outlined in the JD and Person Specification.

We would be grateful if you could also complete and return an Equality & Diversity Monitoring Form, but this is optional and may be submitted separately.

Head of Programmes

• North Kensington, London (on-site)
• £37,000 per year (FTE)
• Full-time or 28 hours per week
• Apply by Friday 9 May 2025

The Dalgarno Trust is seeking an inspiring and experienced Head of Programmes to join our senior leadership team and help shape the future of our community provision.

Based in North Kensington, the Dalgarno Trust runs a wide range of services that promote health, wellbeing, youth development, and inclusion. We’re proud to be the only community centre in our area delivering such a diverse offer, and we’re looking for someone who can lead our programme teams with vision, clarity and compassion.

In this role, you will:

• Oversee the delivery and performance of a wide range of community projects.

• Lead and support a team of programme managers across youth, food, health and community engagement.

• Ensure robust monitoring, evaluation, and reporting for both internal learning and funder accountability.

• Contribute to the organisation’s growth by supporting strategic planning, quality assurance (ISO 9001), and partnership development.

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone with at least two years’ experience managing community projects and leading delivery teams, with a strong understanding of programme performance, monitoring and evaluation, and stakeholder communication.

How to Apply:

To apply, please visit our website where you’ll find the full Job Description, Recruitment Pack, and Application Form, and after reviewing the documents, send your completed application by email before the closing date on Friday 9 May 2025.

Interviews will be held on Thursday 29 May.

This is your chance to make a real impact in a vibrant, community-led organisation. We’d love to hear from you!

This is an exciting opportunity to play a vital role in shaping the future of one of the UK’s leading touring theatre companies. The Development Director will lead our fundraising strategy, building the relationships and resources that power our bold, nationally-reaching work.

As Development Director, you will work closely with the joint CEOs (Holly and Lisa) to deliver Headlong’s fundraising strategy. You will have the opportunity to develop the role and will be responsible for raising the funds to support Headlong’s mission and vision over the long-term.

You will lead on prospect research, donor cultivation, bid writing and delivering fundraising events. You will set a fundraising culture with the Board and wider staff, advocating for the power of fundraising to push Headlong into its next chapter.

You will be part of the Senior Management Team and will take an active role in the organisation and as an ambassador for Headlong in different contexts.

The Organisation

Methodist Ministers’ Housing Society (MMHS) provides quality housing and associated services for Methodist Church ministers and their spouses/partners. They currently support around 650 ministerial households across the UK, Isle of Man, and Channel Islands. MMHS has generated income mainly through rents from ministerial residents and market tenants, and investments. In their last financial year, total income was £5.7 million and total funds were £187.8m. The market rented portfolio is being sold and the proceeds of sale are being reinvested. This ambitious charity is focused on its continuing impact and is expanding its mission. Excitingly, new initiatives are planned for 2026, including enhanced wellbeing support and embarking on a new area of mission to address needs in the wider world.
 

The Job Role

As the Director of Finance, ICT and Investments, you will play a pivotal role in shaping MMHS’s financial strategy to support its strategic objectives and enable sound decision-making. As a member of the senior leadership team, you will have a strategic mindset, with the ability to provide insights to your senior colleagues, and you will provide advice and guidance to the board of trustees, becoming a trusted partner. You will develop and deliver financial plans, oversee financial systems to ensure robust control and compliance, and lead key financial activities such as monthly management accounts, budgets, forecasts, projections, and annual audits. Additionally, you will identify financial challenges and opportunities, develop approaches to address them, and lead and motivate your small team to cultivate a high-performing culture.

In ICT, you will implement MMHS’s strategy effectively, leading transformation projects to modernise and improve technology infrastructure and processes. You will oversee cloud migration, drive data-driven decision-making by leveraging AI and automation, implement plans to support outsourcing, and ensure robust cybersecurity and disaster recovery planning. You will also manage relationships with MMHS’s external support and services provider.

With investments, you will implement MMHS’s strategy, working closely with investment managers and third-party experts to align MMHS’s portfolio with strategic objectives, providing guidance to senior colleagues and the board.
 

The Person

This is a key post for the organisation, and they are looking for someone who can provide a long-term view while being ‘hands-on’ with day-to-day operations. You will be a fully qualified accountant (ICAEW, ACCA or equivalent) with significant experience in a leadership role. Experience or a desire to quickly upskill in investments is a distinct advantage. You will have the ability to liaise with stakeholders at all levels. You will be someone who embraces change and continuous improvement. You will also be a team-player with strong interpersonal and communication skills. Empathy with MMHS’s core values, which are high standards of care and professionalism underpinned by a Christian ethos, is essential.
 

Reasons to apply

You will join a forward-looking and motivated staff team who are committed to the organisation and their goals. This is an exciting time to join with change on the horizon and the opportunity to help shape the future direction of the organisation.

• Contract Type: Full-time, permanent
• Salary: £90,000 - £100,000 per annum
• Benefits (non-contractual) include: up to a 16% pension contribution, 4x salary life cover, critical illness cover, Season ticket loan, share of an L&D budget, flexible start/finish times, 25 days annual leave rising to 30 days (plus 3 discretionary days between Christmas and New Year)
• Location: London Office close to Baker Street with the option of one day a week working from home 
   

How to Apply
 

MMHS are working in partnership with Hays Senior Finance to identify the right person for this role. Please contact Peter O’Sullivan at Hays if you have any queries, but the first step towards being considered is to make your application. If suitable, Peter will follow up with a call to discuss next steps.

• Closing date: 14th May 2025
• Interviews: w/c 19th May

Please apply now to be considered!

We are recruiting a high energy and hands on Garden Manager to work closely with the Senior Leadership team at Sufra to support the development and expansion of the community garden, and manage the team of garden staff and volunteers. This is an exciting time in the development of St. Raphael’s Edible Garden, as we are looking for an experienced Garden Manager to oversee the next steps in the development of the site, deliver a range of learning outcomes and fully implement, manage and further develop all aspects of the garden project.

Alongside practical educational outdoor experience, the successful candidate will understand how to design educational programmes that are accessible and engaging for a range of audiences, including school children and young people, adults with additional needs, and wider community. Project management and organisational skills are also essential. This is an immensely rewarding role working in a dynamic charity built on an ethos of sharing, hospitality and inclusivity, that would suit a committed individual who is willing to go the extra mile. Through their activities, the Garden Manager will be able to convey the charity’s passion and commitment to supporting vulnerable people in Brent and transforming the lives of beneficiaries. 

Students’ Union UCL is an organisation that exists to make more happen. We are the representative body for University College London’s (UCL) students, one of the most diverse student communities in the world. We are one of the largest student-led organisations in the UK and a charity with over 48,000 members. We provide opportunities for 300 staff and have an annual turnover of more than £12m.

It's an exciting time our growing organisation as the delivery partner for UCL’s new Student Life Strategy. In 2023 we received a multi-million-pound investment to enhance student life at UCL. The financial backing from our parent university is recognition of the transformative effect that extra and co-curricular experiences have on students at UCL – helping them develop skills, build networks, reduce loneliness and isolation, grow in confidence, and enjoy their time here.  

Have you got a comprehensive understanding of the UK sporting sector? Have you got a knowledge of the motivations behind, and barriers that exist to, student sporting participation? If the answer is yes, then we want to hear from you. 

Our ideal candidate will support the delivery of the Club Development programme for TeamUCL and provide support and guidance for student leaders, enabling them to run their clubs effectively. The right candidate will also support with the delivery of the TeamUCL communications strategy. The successful role holder will proactively assist sports clubs in developing sports participation opportunities and performance pathways for identified target groups through development planning.

This is a full time and permanent role. This role is also a hybrid working role, where 40% of the role will be based on campus. 

About the role

We’re recruiting for a Head of Retail Operations for our Southern Division. In this role, you’ll be at the heart of driving success within five regions, leading a team of dedicated Regional Managers across 85 shops with around 270 colleagues.

This isn’t just about overseeing operations – it’s about owning them. You’ll have the freedom and autonomy to shape the strategy for your division, making key decisions on everything from financial performance to people development. You’ll build a values-led, inclusive culture – one where our people feel appreciated, respected and supported.

As part of the senior leadership team, you’ll play a key role in shaping the strategic direction of Mind Retail, bringing fresh ideas and driving initiatives that make a real impact. And because every pound we make in our shops helps support Mind’s mission, the work you do will have a lasting and meaningful impact.

This is a role for an ambitious leader – someone ready to take ownership, think strategically and inspire a team to do great things.

We’re looking for someone who:

• Is a natural leader, passionate about creating high-performing teams and building an inclusive culture
• Has senior-level experience leading multi-site, large-scale retail operations and knows how to drive commercial success
• Understands retail finances inside out, from managing P&L’s, to spotting opportunities for growth
• Thinks strategically, but isn’t afraid to roll up their sleeves and make things happen
• Embodies our values and behaviours

Ready to make a difference?

Join Mind Retail. Join the fight for mental health.

Due to our commitment to work/life balance, you must live within reasonable travelling distance of the division. The geography of the division covers the South East, South West, South Wales, Norfolk and Suffolk.

Mind Retail reserve the right to close the vacancy to applications earlier, should we receive a high volume of strong candidates. Therefore we encourage an early application.

About our benefits

As Head of Operations, you’ll receive:

• A competitive salary of £59,753 per year
• A company car
• A strong commitment to work-life balance with a working pattern that supports this, with the occasional weekend working
• 25 days’ paid holiday per year, plus bank holidays
• Development workshops & courses, to help build your career
• Comprehensive, personalised induction programmes, tailored to your role when you join us
• A huge variety of additional qualifications & development programmes for anyone looking to grow their skills
• Family friendly policies & enhanced pay
• A competitive pension scheme & life assurance, available to all our employees
• 25% staff discount in all Mind shops
• Access to exclusive discounts at over 160 retailers through our employee savings app
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Interest free season ticket loan

About Mind Retail

Mind Retail are a network of almost 200 shops across England and Wales, generating an income of around £25 million per year. We have ambitious plans to grow over the next few years and we’re going to be fighting for mental health in a way we never have before. We won't stop until everyone with a mental health problem gets the support and respect they deserve. There’s never been a more exciting time to join us.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

We value the power of diversity. We embrace the different perspectives that each of us bring. We are creating an inclusive working environment where everyone is appreciated for being authentic and bringing their whole selves to work.

Safer Recruitment at Mind Retail

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our employees and volunteers and we expect anyone working with us to share this commitment. In line with our Safer Recruitment policy, the successful candidate will be required to provide references and will be expected to undertake an enhanced DBS check with a check of the Children's Barred List and/or ‘Work with Adults' workforce check based on their role and responsibilities. A DBS check is a process to check someone's criminal record (if they have any). A Barred List is a list of people who are barred from working with children. To enable you to predetermine what might be disclosed in your DBS check, please use this disclosure calculator.

Mind Retail is an equal opportunities employer, welcoming applicants from all communities. We are committed to the fair treatment of our staff, potential staff and volunteers, regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, responsibilities for dependants, age, physical/mental disability or offending background.

This job vacancy is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020. 

More details

For more information and a full person specification, please review the job description.