Childcare business development officer jobs

QCCA has served Camden’s communities for more than 40 years.

Today we support more than 3,000 local residents every year through:

• Youth Services
• Older People’s Services
• Advice & Advocacy
• Family Support
• Two successful children’s nurseries
• Community facilities
• Health and wellbeing programmes
• Employment and skills initiatives

With an annual income approaching £2 million, multiple community sites and exciting plans for further growth, we’re investing in a modern finance function that supports excellent decision-making and long-term sustainability.

Why This Role Is Different

This isn’t a traditional Finance Manager role.

Yes, you’ll oversee management accounts, budgets and audit preparation.

But you’ll also have the opportunity to:

• Transform our finance systems.
• Lead our migration from QuickBooks to Xero.
• Introduce smarter digital processes.
• Improve financial reporting.
• Build dashboards that help managers make better decisions.
• Work directly with the Chief Executive and Board of Trustees.
• Influence organisational strategy.
• Help shape the future of one of Camden’s leading community charities.

You’ll have the freedom to improve how we work—not simply maintain existing processes.

What You’ll Be Doing

You’ll provide strategic financial leadership while leading the modernisation of QCCA’s finance systems.

Working closely with our Chief Executive and Senior Management Team, you’ll:

• Lead the migration from QuickBooks to Xero (or an agreed cloud accounting platform).
• Produce insightful monthly management accounts and financial reports.
• Develop budgets, forecasts and financial models.
• Present financial information to Trustees and senior managers.
• Improve financial systems, controls and reporting.
• Introduce automation and digital workflows.
• Support commercial income generation and grant-funded projects.
• Lead the annual audit process.
• Line manage and develop our Finance Assistants.
• Help build a finance function fit for the future.

Who We’re Looking For

We’re looking for someone who enjoys making organisations better.

You’ll probably have experience of:

• Charity finance.
• Management accounting.
• Budgeting and forecasting.
• Audit preparation.
• Financial controls.
• Cloud accounting systems (Xero experience is highly desirable).
• Leading change and improving systems.
• Supporting non-finance managers.
• Working collaboratively with senior leaders and Trustees.

Most importantly, you’ll be someone who enjoys solving problems, embracing technology and helping organisations grow.

Put simply, there is nowhere else quite like it. Seven acres of park, playgrounds and Grade II listed community buildings, tucked into the heart of Bloomsbury, dedicated entirely to children and families and where no adult can enter without a child.

It has been this way since 1936 and our jobs and potentially yours, as our new Head of Estates, is to protect this sanctuary for children and young people for generations to come.

This isn’t your average Head of Estates role – it’s a role for someone that cares deeply about their work and someone who will thrive on the prospect of developing and protecting this iconic space for children and young people. The prospect of being able to see the tangible impact of your work in bringing joy to thousands of children and families across London, will hold huge appeal.

What you’ll be doing:

• Overseeing the day-to-day compliance, management and maintenance of our park, playgrounds, sports facilities, and Grade II listed buildings.
• Leading a small, multi-skilled Grounds and Facilities team — recruiting them, developing them, and building a culture they're proud to be part of.
• Overseeing contractors and capital works, from routine repairs to major building projects. 
• Sitting on the Senior Management Team to shape the charity's strategic plans.
• Looking after a grounds and facilities budget of c.£400K.
• Acting as one of four Designated Safeguarding Leads, because looking after this site 
means looking after the children in it.
 

Who we’re looking for:

• An inspiring leader, capable of galvanising and getting the best out of our small but agile team – you’ll thrive on managing people, seeing your team as your greatest asset.
• A systems person, who knows that quality systems and structures are key to consistent, high quality facility management
• Someone who sees the bigger picture but also knows how to balance this with a hands on operational approach when needed.
• Someone with an exceptional attention to detail – you’ll see things that others don’t, set standards at the highest level and help others understand why quality matters.
• An experienced facilities professional, capable of balancing the demands of managing a complex, public space and heritage site.
• A team player – someone with the conviction to own what they do but who also understands 
the value of working and learning from those around them.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

IRC UK
IRC UK is part of the IRC global network, which has its global headquarters in New York. Our team in the UK works to raise profile, deliver policy and practice change, and increase funding to help restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Since 2021, IRC UK has also provided integration services directly to refugees in England.

In Europe, the IRC also has offices in Berlin, Bonn, Brussels, Geneva and Stockholm. 

The Purpose of the Role

The Refugee Employability Officer will provide tailored employability support to resettled refugees in Hampshire under the Afghan Resettlement Programme (ARP), the United Kingdom Resettlement Scheme (UKRS), Community Sponsorship and other eligible schemes. 

The role delivers structured one-to-one and group-based support focusing on supporting individuals towards employment. This will include agreeing and supporting individuals towards employability related goals and actions within the Individual Support Plan, job search and application support, interview preparation, understanding UK workplace expectations, employer engagement, and links to training, apprenticeships and (where appropriate) self-employment. This work will support individuals often facing barriers such as limited English, recognition of overseas qualifications, childcare responsibilities, health needs or confidence challenges.

Employability support will be integrated within wider Integration support planning to promote sustainable economic independence, strengthen longer-term integration outcomes and support access to appropriate public services where needed.

Key Working Relationships

This position will work closely with all staff involved in the delivery of the Hampshire Resettlement and Integration Support Service. This will include the Programme Manager (Resettlement and Integration), Programme Manager (Economic Empowerment), Senior Integration and Resettlement Officers, Integration Officer, Bilingual Integration Officer, Bilingual Resettlement Officers, ESOL and Education colleagues, Employment Caseworkers and other relevant staff.

This position will also work closely with staff at our partner organisation, Citizen Advice Rushmoor, Jobcentre Plus (DWP), statutory funded employment support services (ie Connect to Work), education and training providers, employers, and relevant advice organisations across Hampshire.

This role will be line managed by the Senior Integration Officer with a dotted line to the Programme Manager (Economic Empowerment). 

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Employability support to individuals (55%)

• Conduct structured individual assessments to identify skills, qualifications, employment history, transferable competencies and career aspirations, translating these into clear and realistic actions and goals within an Individual Support Plan. 

• Deliver tailored job readiness support through one-to-one coaching and group-based workshops, including CV development, interview preparation, UK workplace norms, digital literacy, job search strategies and confidence-building.

• Support individuals to access and sustain employment opportunities, facilitating job matching, including liaising with employers, facilitating introductions, supporting applications and providing on the job follow-up assistance to promote job retention and progression.

• Monitor and respond to employment and training‑related risks, including exploitation, unsafe work and discrimination, ensuring appropriate safeguarding action, advocacy for clients, and partnership working with Citizens Advice Rushmoor and other external partners.

• Provide structured guidance to individuals considering small‑scale self‑employment work, including exploring viable income‑generating ideas, basic planning and market research, understanding relevant UK start‑up and compliance requirements (e.g. sole trader status, HMRC registration and Self Assessment, banking, insurance and any required licences), and signposting to appropriate start‑up and business support services.

• Facilitate access to vocational training, apprenticeships, accredited courses and skills development opportunities that enhance employability and support longer-term career progression.

External engagement and partnerships (20%) 

• Develop and maintain productive relationships with local employers across Hampshire to facilitate direct placements, identify suitable job opportunities, work experience placements and promote inclusive recruitment practices amongst local employers.

• Promote awareness among employers of the skills and contributions of resettled refugees, supporting inclusive workplace practices and addressing misconceptions where appropriate.

• Build and maintain collaborative working relationships with Jobcentre Plus (DWP), education and training providers, and business advice and start-up support services to strengthen pathways into work, training and self-employment.

• Represent the service in local employability and partnership forums, contributing to multi-agency strategies that improve labour market access and progression for resettled refugees.

Key Administrative tasks (15%) 

• Ensure timely and accurate compliance with all reporting requirements, including database management, case noting, and file maintenance with a focus on evidencing client progress and outcomes. This will require completion of accurate and timely records and case notes in line with data protection and reporting requirements. 

• Provide logistical support for the procurement of into‑work support items and the delivery of employability workshops and employer events, including preparation of participant materials and coordination with partners.

• Analyse trends and barriers affecting employment outcomes and contribute insights to service development discussions to strengthen overall programme impact.

Ways of working (10%)

• Collaborate with internal colleagues and external partners to ensure that employment, training and self-employment pathways are integrated within longer-term integration planning.

• Gather and analyse client and employer feedback to inform continuous improvement of employability interventions and self-employment support.

• Carry out all the above in accordance with the aims, values and policies of International Rescue Committee, in particular in relation to safeguarding, confidentiality, impartiality and Equal Opportunities.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Skills, Knowledge and Qualifications

Essential

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with colleagues, partners and clients in English.**

• Strong knowledge of the local Hampshire employment context, including employment opportunities, key local employers and available training and development pathways. 

• Excellent interpersonal and relationship building skills, with the confidence to engage and maintain a wide range of internal and external partnerships.

• Good IT skills, including proficiency in using Microsoft Office and experience delivering or supporting meetings/workshops via online platforms such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom.**

• Strong working knowledge of the UK labour market and recruitment processes, with the ability to coach clients on job search, CV development, interview preparation and workplace expectations.

• Ability to travel regularly throughout Hampshire, the service delivery area.**

Desirable

• Ability to communicate in Dari and/or Pashto, or another community language relevant to the Hampshire resettled population.

• Lived experience of forced migration, resettlement, or navigating UK employment systems as a refugee or migrant.

Experience

Essential

• Minimum two years of related experience, delivering tailored employability support with refugees, migrants or other vulnerable populations in Hampshire.**

• Experience delivering one-to-one employability coaching and/or group-based job readiness workshops in diverse, multi-lingual and cross-cultural environments.

• Experience conducting outreach to the private sector to build relationships and raise awareness. 

• Experience supporting clients to access employment, education and training opportunities, including liaising with Jobcentre Plus (DWP), training providers and employers where appropriate.

• Experience handling confidential documents and sensitive information.**

• Prior experience of using a client relationship management system or case management database, with accurate case noting and outcome tracking.

Desirable

• Experience supporting clients with self-employment pathways, including UK start-up basics (e.g., sole trader/limited company options, HMRC registration/Self Assessment) and signposting to appropriate business advice and start-up support services.