Community development jobs

We are looking for an experienced and enthusiastic Community and Social Value Officer to join our team at Enable! 

About Us: 

Enable is a charity dedicated to improving people's wellbeing and strengthening local communities. We work with councils, charities and other local organisations to deliver health, leisure, community services and events that enrich people’s lives and strengthen our local community.

At Enable, we value our employees and our culture, focusing on embracing diversity and fostering an inclusive, flexible and fun environment for employees to perform at their best. On top of a competitive salary and flexible working environment, employees will also receive:

Benefits: 

• 30 days of annual leave (plus 8 bank holidays)
• Life Insurance
• Reward Schemes (RewardHub Membership, wellbeing budgets and cycle to work)
• A variety of social and wellbeing activities each month
• Mental Health & Wellbeing Perks (Monthly talks, Wellbeing Hour, etc)
• Gym Membership

Role Title: Community and Social Value Officer 
Reports to: Community and Social Value Manager
Based: Staff Yard, Battersea Park
Salary: £35,000 per annum
Contract: Permanent, Full Time
Work Arrangement: 40 hours per week, Hybrid/Office

Role Overview: 

Reporting to the Community and Social Value Manager and joining the Community and Social Value Team, the postholder will work internally to support Enable services’ community work and externally to develop relationships and build capacity.

Internally, you will be working alongside Heads of Service and managers to support and expand the community work and social impact in services. This includes developing new projects, supporting volunteering, and leading on demonstrating Enable’s social impact in the 
community. Externally, you will develop relationships and partnerships with a wide range of voluntary and community organisations, corporate business and statutory organisations helping to link to Enable’s services and build capacity in the community.

Main Duties/Responsibilities:  

• Supporting Enable Services – working directly with each service to add capacity and expertise to develop and improve Enable’s community impact.   
• Social Value and Impact Measurements – leading the improvement of our social value and impact measurement work, in particular how our services measure impact, using different data collection techniques and developing regular case studies. 
• Developing data capturing techniques to regularly record data and track the organisations social value impact. 
• Volunteering – leading Enable’s volunteering offer including Enable’s staff volunteering programme, Community Enablers. In addition to increase volunteering opportunities across each service including the creation of volunteer roles and being a key resource for centralised support for recruitment, training and volunteer reward and recognition. 
• Community Engagement – developing relationships with local voluntary community sector organisations and understanding local need, challenges and inequalities. 
• Capacity Building – support the development and delivery of Enable’s capacity building support to small charities and voluntary organisations, including advice, funding support, monitoring and working closely with the local voluntary sector partnership. 
• Innovation and research – develop new ideas and initiatives to improve Enable’s impact and ability to connect communities.
• Support Enable’s strategy and ambitions to grow by highlighting our impact, providing case studies, supporting funding applications and tenders.
• Lead the writing and production of the annual Impact Report. 
• Champion community and social value work within the organisation 
• Represent Enable at conferences and events and confidently presenting Enable’s work. 
• Any other relevant duties as described by the Community and Social Value Manager 

Skills and Experience:  

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Experience networking and forming meaningful working relationships, with the ability to motivate and engage staff and relevant stakeholders 
• Understanding of social value and impact measurement. 
• Ability and confidence to build rapport and develop relationships and partnerships 
• High level problem solving and decision-making skills with the ability to prioritize effectively
• Experience working with voluntary groups and an understanding of their challenges. 
• Experience working with volunteers (managing volunteers desirable) 
• Excellent writing skills for a wide range of needs e.g. report writing, newsletters, case studies etc.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to communicate a vision simply and effectively.   
• Ability to work independently and manage own workload.
• Experience in/understanding of local authorities and the community sector
• A passion for community and genuine desire to make a positive impact on the local Wandsworth community  
• Understanding of Enable departments and processes (desirable)

About Kinship

We are Kinship. The leading kinship care charity in England and Wales. We’re here for kinship carers – friends or family who step up to raise a child when their parents aren’t able to. 

Together, let’s commit to change for kinship families.

About the role

We are the leading kinship care charity supporting more than 15,000 kinship carers across England and Wales each year. We’re here for kinship carers – friends or family who step up to raise a child when their parents aren’t able to. They care for more than 141,000 children in England and Wales, double the number in foster care, but feel isolated and need help. By supporting, advising and informing kinship carers, and campaigning together for fairer services, we are changing lives and changing the system. 

Kinship’s peer support and community work, supported by Department for Education funding, helps kinship carers feel connected, less isolated and better supported by building local, carer-led peer support groups and strengthening wider community networks. 

Our delivery model prioritises proactive outreach and sustainable growth through a volunteer model. 

The team works in communities to bring kinship carers together, support and train volunteer group leaders, and grow groups to a point where they are sustainable and independent (ideally within 6 months). Sustainable means able to thrive without direct staff involvement or attendance. A central ‘Hub’ team then provides ongoing remote support, training and connection. 

This role provides the operational grip to plan, deliver and continuously improve this work, while evidencing impact through robust data monitoring, reporting and clear storytelling.

Key responsibilities include:

• Accountable for the set-up, growth and transition of peer support groups to independence supported by the Hub, using clear milestones and support plans. 

• Responsible for ensuring volunteer group leaders have high-quality training, guidance and ongoing coaching to deliver safe, supportive peer spaces. 

• Responsible for embedding strengths-based, trauma-informed approaches and clear boundaries across all peer support activity. 
• Responsible for managing external delivery partners or commissioned provision to support growth in specific communities, ensuring quality and delivery to agreed standards. 
• Accountable for the identification and nurture of new group leaders and volunteers, ensuring groups are welcoming, accessible and inclusive. 
• Accountable for ensuring a proactive outreach approach that builds relationships with kinship carers and local partners, prioritising under-served areas and communities, ensuring that learning is captured and shared across the team to build further confidence and competence in supporting under-served communities (minoritised ethnic kinship carers).

What we offer you:

• Flexible working - we understand how important it is to balance family and work life.
• ​30 days annual leave, plus bank holidays (1 April to 31 March) pro rata (3 to be taken at Christmas shutdown)
• Employee Assistance Programme (24/7 confidential advice line and counselling)
• Charity Worker Discounts.

Essential requirements include:

• Experience leading peer support, community development, volunteering or relational support services at scale. 
• Experience of project management.
• Experience of evaluating the impact of services and projects. 
• Proven track record of growing and sustaining community-based groups or networks, including supporting leaders and volunteers to independence. 
• Experience embedding strengths-based, trauma-informed approaches, with clear boundaries, risk management and inclusive practice. 

Key dates:

• Application deadline: Monday 20 April 2026, 9am
• First interview: Wednesday 29 or Thursday 30 April 2026 (online)

How to apply:

Please apply for the role of Planning and Delivery Manager by sending a CV and cover letter (max 2 pages). The deadline is 9am on Monday 20 April 2026. Any applications arriving after the closing date will not be considered for shortlisting unless there are exceptional reasons.

Kinship is committed to championing equality, diversity and inclusion.  We believe our work is greatly enhanced by the varied backgrounds, experiences and views represented within our teams.  We aim to create inclusive teams, celebrate differences and encourage everyone to join us and be their true self at work.   We therefore encourage applications from anyone who fits our values, whatever their religion or belief, sex, gender identity, race, age, sexuality or disability and are actively seeking candidates that can bring real innovation and commitment to us. 

Deliver hands-on advice, outreach, training and mentoring as part of a new countywide partnership programme.

This four-year role, funded by The National Lottery Community Fund, sits at the heart of the Small and Mighty (SaM) infrastructure support programme, delivered by a partnership of Community First Oxfordshire, OCVA, Oxford Community Action, Charity Mentors and Volunteer Link-Up, working directly with grassroots voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise groups. You’ll help organisations navigate challenges, build capacity and connect with others through outreach clinics, tailored training and collaborative spaces. Alongside staff within partner organisations and the existing CFO and OCVA team, you’ll play a key role in strengthening Oxfordshire’s community sector for the long term.

Job-share will be considered.

Deliver hands-on advice, outreach, training and mentoring as part of a countywide partnership programme.

This four-year role, funded by The National Lottery Community Fund, sits at the heart of the Small and Mighty (SaM) infrastructure support programme, delivered by a partnership of Community First Oxfordshire, OCVA, Oxford Community Action, Charity Mentors and Volunteer Link-Up, working directly with grassroots voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise groups. You’ll help organisations navigate challenges, build capacity and connect with others through outreach clinics, tailored training and collaborative spaces. Alongside staff within partner organisations and the existing CFO and OCVA teams, you’ll play a key role in strengthening Oxfordshire’s community sector for the long term.

About Eden Project

Eden Project is an educational charity with a unique community outreach programme with UK wide reach demonstrating engagement, positive action for people and planet and the creation of real social capital on a mass scale.  The post holder will co-lead the community engagement and development of participation in activities for the Big Lunch programme, building skills and confidence in community action. Building a variety of entry points for Big Lunch Organisers to join the peer-to-peer Network across the UK, the role holder will provide support, signposting and networking opportunities for participants as they develop their own ideas. 

About the role

We are looking for an enthusiastic and experienced Community Engagement Lead to co‑lead the development of our community engagement offer across the UK.

This role focuses on growing year‑round participation in The Big Lunch, strengthening peer‑to‑peer networks, and supporting people to build skills, confidence and momentum for community action and nature connection. You will design and deliver engaging online and in‑person activities, nurture relationships with participants and partners, and help ensure that community‑led action is visible, celebrated and sustained.

You will work closely with colleagues across Communities, Partnerships, Research and PR, and alongside another Community Engagement Lead, to shape shared objectives and a collective action plan.

• Flexible, home‑based working
• The opportunity to work on a nationally recognised community programme
• A supportive, passionate and values‑driven team
• The chance to make a meaningful impact for people and planet

Details

Position:Head of Community Support and Operations

Location:Barnsley, South Yorkshire

Hours:30 hours to be taken flexibly over Monday – Friday; 1 day wfh allowance

Salary:                                £50,562 FTE (£40,996 pro rata)

Contract type:Permanent

Reportable to: CEO

Direct reports: Volunteer Development Co-ordinator, Charity Advisor and Partnership Coordinator and any relevant roles that develop

Job Purpose

The Head of Community Support and Operations is a pivotal new role being introduced to the executive team at Barnsley CVS.  This person will be a key role in the growth and development of the executive team.  You will play an exciting part in the delivery and development of the recently developed 4-year strategy and theory of change. Your role will drive intention and focus on developing our support to the sector in a meaningful way to high standards, whilst ensuring our own internal operations reflect best practice.  You will need a strong knowledge of charity set up, management and governance along with a passion for what the VCSE sector does.  You will be confident in people management and development; have the ability to work inclusively with a wide range of people and backgrounds and the skill to see gaps and opportunities for service development.

You will work closely with the Head of Strategic Partnerships to identify gaps and opportunities to develop our offer of support to the sector whether through direct services, training, brokerage agreements or membership offers.  As you identify these opportunities, you will work collaboratively with the Head of Business Development to explore commercial income options that are also in line with our mission and vision.

Using your excellent people skills, you will act as the first point of contact for HR matters within the charity, overseeing the general management of our online HR system, policies and procedures.  You will work in collaboration with the CEO in any areas that need significant development or management.

You will keep up to date with new initiatives and ideas in the wider infrastructure sector, relevant legislation and modern thinking in relation to charity management best practice.

Benefits:

- 33 days annual leave increasing with years of service + annual leave given between Christmas and New Year that doesn't count against your annual leave

- Sick leave entitlement increases with years of service

- 5% pension contribution

- Paid leave to complete voluntary activity for up to 5 days pro rata

- Discount on local gym membership

- Flexible working with TOIL given for any additional hours worked

Youth and Community Leader

Oasis Knights (Streatham/Brixton Hill, South London)

40 hours per week (1.0FTE)

Permanent

Salary: £38,794 per annum

Want to lead a Youth Centre offering a diverse range of activities for the local community?

Want to enable young people to thrive?

Want to be lead a dynamic, passionate and impactful team?

Knights Youth Centre (KYC) was established in 1936 as an independent Christian Charity. The centre provides a range of universal and targeted youth work programmes in partnership with a number of statutory and voluntary organisations and is located on the boundary of the Clapham Park Estate (the largest estate in the Borough of Lambeth) in an area of high social need. In 2025 KYC joined the Oasis family of charities and is now known as Oasis Knights. Oasis’ vision is for community, a place where everyone is included, making a contribution and reaching their God-given potential. There is also the exciting opportunity to collaborate with the Oasis St Martins Village in nearby Tulse Hill, our new village that works with local partners to provide a welcoming inclusive space to provide opportunities for young people and tackle issues such as school attendance and exclusions.

We are seeking an experienced and visionary Youth and Community Leader to manage and develop the work at Oasis Knights. This is an opportunity to lead a team committed to making a tangible difference in the lives young people, their families and the broader community. The successful candidate will be responsible for strategic leadership and operational management, which includes overseeing a range of youth and community activities. A critical aspect of this role involves fundraising, business development, and monitoring the impact of all initiatives.

Key responsibilities include:

· Overseeing youth provision, including mentoring, youth clubs and targeted interventions.

· Ensuring effective financial management and income generation to sustain and expand services.

· Managing and growing a team of staff and volunteers, ensuring alignment with Oasis’ ethos and values.

· Building strong partnerships with local stakeholders to support the delivery of impactful youth projects.

· Developing and maintaining monitoring and evaluation frameworks to demonstrate the impact of activities.

· Working with the building narrative to ensure compliance with health and safety, safeguarding, and other statutory requirements.

The successful post holder must have:

· A degree-level qualification or equivalent in youth work, community development or a related field.

· Proven experience in leading youth projects and managing diverse teams.

· Strong fundraising and income generation skills, with the ability to create and implement successful strategies.

· Excellent organisational and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build positive working relationships.

· Knowledge of safeguarding practices and experience working with young people in challenging environments.

· A track record of developing and implementing strategic plans in partnership with stakeholders.

· A commitment to the Oasis ethos and values, including inclusion, equality, and perseverance.

As part of the package, Oasis offers:

· A pension scheme, offering 7% employer contribution.

· A generous holiday allowance, starting at 25 days per year (plus 8 Bank Holidays).

· Policies which promote well-being and are family friendly.

To apply, please apply via Charity Jobs or refer to our website for further information.

Please expand on your CV to tell us about relevant skills, experience and qualification you have, that relate to the job description and person specification.

We actively encourage applications from people of all ethnic backgrounds and underrepresented groups. If you require assistance or adjustments to overcome potential barriers during the recruitment process, please let us know.

Completed applications should be returned by 9am on Friday 17th April 2026.

Stage 1 Interviews will take place online on Wednesday 22nd April 2026.

We actively encourage applications from people of all ethnic backgrounds and underrepresented groups. If you require any assistance to overcome potential barriers during the recruitment process, please let us know. 

Oasis is committed to making a difference to the lives of the communities it works in, and as such you must show a willingness to demonstrate commitment to the values and behaviours which flow from the Oasis ethos.  We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We expect all staff to share this commitment and to undergo appropriate checks, including enhanced DBS checks. 

The successful candidates must have the right to work in the UK.  Oasis cannot assist with sponsorship or visas.

Oasis supports Equal Opportunities.  Registered Charity No. 1163889

Hale Community and Youth Centre is a vibrant, inclusive charity at the heart of the local community. We provide a wide range of services, activities and meeting spaces for people of all ages - from our Community Fridge & Cupboard to community development projects, social activities and events.

We are now looking for a dynamic, values‑driven Centre Manager to lead the day‑to‑day running of the Centre and help shape its future.

You will: 

• Lead the smooth, safe and effective running of the Centre, including the Youth Centre
• Manage and support staff, contractors and volunteers
• Oversee safeguarding, Health & Safety, GDPR and compliance
• Build strong relationships with partners, families and the wider community
• Lead income generation, fundraising and marketing activity
• Support the delivery of high‑quality projects and services
• Promote the Centre’s profile, visibility and impact

You are: 

• A proactive, compassionate leader
• Experienced in managing people and projects
• Skilled in fundraising, marketing or income generation.
• Confident building relationships with diverse groups
• Organised, adaptable and community-minded
• Experienced with your services is desireabl

Why Join Us?

• Supportive and inclusive culture
• Real autonomy and community impact
• Flexible working
• A much-loved community and youth facility

How to Apply

The full Job Description and Person Specification are available to download from our website - please read them before applying.

Closing date: Monday 20th April
Interviews: w/c Monday 4th May

About BIG Alliance

BIG Alliance (Businesses for Islington Giving) delivers business-supported employee volunteer programmes to strengthen links between businesses, community organisations and education institutions across Islington. In doing so, it aims to help address issues of poverty and isolation, which are prevalent across the borough, despite the perception of Islington being an area of high wealth. 43% of children are growing up in poverty, one if the highest rates in the country, and Islington is the 6th most deprived out of 32 London boroughs.

Established in 2012, BIG Alliance aims to make community investment easier, more effective and more rewarding for its business members.  It is a partnership between, East London Business Alliance – a registered charity that has been supporting the social and economic regeneration of east London for 30 years, Macquarie Group – principal funder and founder, and Islington Giving - funder and founder.  To date, BIG Alliance has placed more than 16,000 business professionals into volunteering opportunities within over 700 community organisations, schools, colleges and universities.

ELBA has an excellent employee benefits package including generous leave, flexible balance between working from home and the office, BUPA health cashplan; enhanced maternity and paternity pay; an active wellbeing and equalities programmes led by staff; a varied and busy learning and development schedule; cycle purchase scheme; and an Employee Assistance Helpline. including access to free accredited courses up to degree and post-graduate level. 

Purpose of the job

The main purpose of the job is to facilitate development and delivery of the BIG Alliance’s skills-based volunteering programme, which utilises the skills, experience and sector-specific expertise of employees within our business partners to support Islington’s community organisations and residents.

Our skilled volunteers are placed with a community partner or beneficiary either individually or join one of our annual programmes which include: CoRe (Community Resourcing), Board Builders, Leaders in Partnership and Time to Talk. Over 3,000 employees have been placed as skilled volunteers through BIG Alliance since 2012 providing expertise in law, finance, IT, HR, and marketing and communications to name just a few.

The postholder will be responsible for the successful delivery of various aspects of this programme, delivering exciting, innovative employer supported volunteering projects that meet the expectations of specific corporate supporters, and the needs of the community with key geographical focus in Islington.

Job Description

Main duties

• Collaborate closely with community partners, corporate partners and BIG team to understand community needs and design appropriate employee volunteering activities to address these needs

• Develop relationships and effective partnerships with key stakeholders in the community including the local authority and community infrastructure support organisations to maximise the impact of BIG Alliance’s work.

• Support the delivery of all business skills activity and the wider BIG Alliance programmes.

• Proactively market volunteering programmes to BIG Alliance corporate partners.

• Source, place and manage cohorts of corporate volunteers in line with business plan and project targets.

• Develop effective working relationships with community affairs team with BIG Alliance corporate partners, ensuring that these companies are supported to develop employee volunteering and other initiatives that meet their targets, priorities and strategies.

• Implement effective evaluation and impact measurement tools in line with BIG Alliance corporate partner requirements, ensuring that evaluation informs best practise to ensure continuous improvement.

• Work on any projects with BIG Alliance, as and when required.

General

• Use BIG Alliance’s internal systems to maintain records and report progress, including due diligence and volunteer recording via Salesforce

• Ensure that effective project management systems for monitoring and evaluation are in place and keep detailed records.

• Proactively generate case studies, news articles, photos and social media content to promote the work of BIG Alliance in line with BIG Alliance communication targets and protocols.

• Collaborate with other BIG Alliance colleagues on projects where appropriate and contribute to the development of BIG Alliance/ELBA as an organisation overall.

• Adhere to and implement policies, including equal opportunities and health and safety.

• Undertake any other reasonable duties as requested by your line manager.

ELBA wants to represent the diverse community we support and aims to be an inclusive employer in terms of ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation & background. We are an equal opportunities employer and we welcome all applications.

Please note this role is required to have an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. The successful candidate will be required to comply with ELBA's safeguarding policies and any appointment will be subject to satisfactory references as well as DBS.

Description

Help tackle child food insecurity by working directly with schools, building relationships, capturing impact, and supporting community fundraising that drives real change.

This is an opportunity to join a growing charity at a pivotal moment and play a key role in expanding a national programme supporting children and families across the UK. This is one of the charity’s first two hires and is a hands-on role in a small team.

MCKS Charitable Foundation works with schools to provide pantry and breakfast support to families experiencing food insecurity. We currently support over 180 schools and are now scaling our work towards 500+ schools nationally.

We’re looking for a Schools, Community & Impact Manager to help us strengthen our relationships with schools, understand how our support is being used, and capture the stories and data that allow us to grow our impact.

This is a varied, outward-facing role where you’ll work directly with schools, build trusted relationships, and ensure we are delivering support in the most effective way possible.

What you’ll be doing

You’ll sit at the centre of the programme, working across schools, impact and community engagement.

You will:

• Build strong relationships with schools and act as their main point of contact
• Support new schools joining the programme and help them get set up effectively
• Work with schools to understand how many pupils and families are being supported
• Identify what’s working well across schools and share best practice
• Gather impact data, case studies and stories to support fundraising and reporting
• Help develop a fair and effective funding model based on need
• Encourage schools to run simple fundraising activities within their communities
• Support wider fundraising activity by providing insight, stories and engagement

Why this role matters

This role is critical to how the charity grows.

The insights, relationships and impact evidence you build will directly support fundraising—helping us secure the funding needed to reach more children and families.

Put simply:
without strong school relationships and clear impact, we can’t grow.

What we’re looking for

We’re looking for someone who is:

• A natural relationship builder, confident working with schools and communities
• Curious and analytical, with the ability to understand patterns and identify insights
• A strong communicator, particularly when writing case studies and reports
• Organised and able to manage multiple relationships at once
• Proactive and comfortable working independently in a small team

You may have experience in schools, charities, community work, or partnership-based roles—but just as important is your ability to build trust and understand people.

Why join us

• Be part of a growing charity making a real difference to children and families
• Play a key role in shaping a programme that is scaling nationally
• Work flexibly within a small, supportive team
• Opportunity to influence how impact is measured and communicated

Safeguarding

This role will involve working with schools and may include visits where children are present. A DBS check will be required.

Additional Information”

• Remote UK-based role with travel to schools nationally
• Full-time role (flexibility may be considered for strong candidates)
• Due to volume of interest, we are unable to offer pre-application calls

Stella Maris is seeking a part-time to full-time Regional Community Engagement Officer for the North of England to strengthen connections with parishes, schools, and local communities. You will play a central role in raising awareness of the charity’s work, building relationships with clergy and lay leaders, and growing support through fundraising, prayer, and volunteering.

The successful candidate will develop and support a network of parish contacts, lead engagement around our annual Sea Sunday appeal, and build partnerships with Catholic organisations, schools, and maritime stakeholders. You will also organise events and visits that bring communities closer to the mission of Stella Maris.

This is an opportunity to help expand the reach of Stella Maris across the North of England, supporting seafarers and fishers by engaging communities to take action and make a tangible difference.

We are looking for a new CEO to lead Surrey Community Action into a bright and exciting future, where the voluntary sector and communities of Surrey are helped to survice and thrive.

Surrey Community Action

Chief Executive Officer

35 hours per week, mostly office based but with some scope for working remotely.

Based in Burpham, Guildford, Surrey

The role is subject to a satisfactory DBS check.

£62,000 for a 35-hour week

5% employers pension contribution

25 days annual leave plus three days over Christmas

Employee Assistance Programme

About Surrey Community Action

Surrey Community Action supports Surrey’s voluntary sector, the diverse communities of Surrey, and other organisations who seek to work with either. We ensure that non-voluntary sector stakeholders understand the value of our sector and how to work together to achieve shared objectives. We provide services to Surrey’s voluntary sector that increase their effectiveness or fill gaps in their capability, capacity, and resilience. Services to the Surrey’s Communities and we provide services directly to Surrey’s communities that support community action and address unsupported needs.

About The Role

We are seeking a new Chief Executive to join us at an ideal time to complete and implement our emerging new strategy and direct Surrey Community Action into a bright future.

As Chief Executive Officer, you will have the scope and authority to shape strategy, influence policy, empower Surrey’s voluntary sector, and champion rural communities, working closely with a committed Board, and experienced staff team.

You will be the organisation’s lead ambassador, building trusted relationships with partners, funders and decision‑makers, and ensuring the organisation’s voice is heard at local, regional and national level.

You will also play a critical role in leading change and transformation within the charity - strengthening systems, diversifying income and evolving how the organisation works so it remains resilient, relevant and impactful in a fast‑changing environment.

This is a role for someone who enjoys balancing big‑picture thinking with practical delivery, and who can bring people with them through periods of transition.

If you are motivated to improve the capability, capacity and resilience of the Surrey’s voluntary sector, communities and residents; if you thrive in complex and changing stakeholder environments; and if you are excited by the challenge of leading an organisation through its next phase of growth and influence, this role is for you.

No two days will be the same, but there are some core parts of this role.

• Strategic Leadership & Organisational Direction
• You will lead the delivery of a clear, compelling organisational strategy, adapting it in response to an evolving operating environment and ensuring the organisation remains agile, future‑focused and well positioned within the voluntary and community sectors.
• Board Partnership & Governance
• You will work collaboratively with the Board of Trustees, providing high‑quality insight, advice and assurance on strategy, finance, risk, governance and compliance, and then supporting effective Board decision‑making through clear reporting, analysis and professional guidance.
• Leadership of People & Culture
• You will lead, inspire and support the staff team through a transparent, inclusive and empowering management style, creating a high‑performance culture rooted in trust, accountability, equality, diversity and wellbeing.
• Change Management & Organisational Development
• You will be a skilled change manager, leading transformation in response to evolving funding landscapes, policy shifts, technology and community needs, designing and implementing systems, structures and processes that strengthen organisational effectiveness and resilience.
• Ambassadorial Role, Advocacy & External Relations
• You will be the public face of the organisation, representing it with credibility, passion and authority, and building strong, influential relationships with funders, partners, policymakers, communities and stakeholders.

About You

The purpose of the Chief Executive Officer’s role is to guide and plan the strategic development and overall direction of the organisation, providing strong leadership and co-ordination to ensure the aims, strategic objectives and priorities of the organisation are achieved.

To do this, we need someone who embodies the following attributes, skills and experience.

You will have:

• Senior leadership experience within a voluntary, community, public or values‑led organisation, with accountability for strategy, performance and resources.
• Proven experience of working effectively with a Board or trustees
• Demonstrable success in leading and managing organisational change, including restructuring, service development or cultural transformation.
• Experience in fundraising, income generation and business development
• Experience of financial leadership, including budgeting, financial planning, income generation and managing funding agreements or contracts.
• A strong track record of external engagement, partnership working and representation at senior level.
• People management experience, supporting a compact team delivering diverse projects.
• Excellent communication skills (including social media) and governance literacy.
• It will be a distinct advantage to have familiarity with Local Government Reorganisation and devolution, ideally in a county like Surrey.

You will be:

• Motivated, motivating and dynamic
• An effective communicator (including social media) with good network contacts, especially in the VCSE sector and across local government
• A strong team builder, able to develop, encourage and support colleagues in making the most of their experience and skillsets and to feel confident in their abilities
• A visionary leader who is able to embrace and manage change through strategic creativity and innovation, while also able to pay attention to detail when necessary.
• Ideally, you will also be able to demonstrate understanding of charity governance, compliance and safeguarding.
• Calm and confident under pressure with an evidence-based approach to prioritising finite resources.

These attributes, skills and experience will make you stand out, but even if you do not match all the criteria below, we still want to hear about you and what you can offer.

The Nuts and Bolts

The role is a permanent contract for 35 hours per week, mostly office based but with some scope for working remotely.

Our offices are in Guildford, Surrey

We are committed to continued professional development and will support you to develop your skills even further.

The role is subject to a satisfactory DBS check.

The salary for this post is £62,000 for a 35-hour week.

We also offer:

• 5% employers pension contribution
• Employee Assistance Programme
• 25 days holiday with an additional three days between Christmas and New Year, as well as all English Bank Holidays

We can only accept applications from candidates with the right to work in the UK.

Role overview 

This newly created senior role strengthens The Young Foundation’s strategic business development function and supports income growth across the full range of our programmes and partnerships. The post will provide expertise in fundraising and procurement processes including approaches to philanthropic funders and investor circles as well as formal tendering, dealing with a range of funding modalities from research grants to commercial consultancy and trusts and foundations. 

Key responsibilities 

Business development and income growth

• Lead high‑value income generation processes, including building consortia, securing philanthropic funding, and delivering high quality formal tenders, coordinating inputs from across our delivery teams.

• Oversee the preparation of costed proposals and pitches for a diverse range of funders, including research councils, local authorities, commercial consultancy, and philanthropic trusts. 

• Support the continued growth and impact of The Young Foundation’s external-facing activity, aligning business development with communications and policy work. 

• Manage a robust pipeline, tracking opportunities and ensuring strategic alignment with organisational priorities.

• Develop budgets, pricing models, and partnership structures for commissioned work.

• Identify new funding and commissioning opportunities through horizon scanning, network engagement, and proactive outreach.

• Collaborate with senior colleagues to refine and grow thematic and programme areas.

• Support and advise colleagues across the organisation on approaches to business development including opportunity identification, competitive analysis, structuring meetings, building consortia and financial models. 

Partnerships, networks and relationship management

• In collaboration with programme delivery leads, build and steward relationships with funders, commissioners, consortium partners and strategic collaborators.

• Lead account management for key partners to support long‑term growth and mutual value creation.

BD leadership, systems and strategy

• Create, improve and maintain appropriate BD systems, processes and tools, including pipelines, trackers and lessons‑learned approaches.

• Contribute to organisational strategy and planning and, in particular, to fundraising strategy and external affairs.

• Create and monitor BD metrics, reporting on feedback and recommending appropriate courses of action.

• Manage a repository of BD data and information, including track record, capacity statements, boilerplate bid sections, etc.

• Champion The Young Foundation’s values, ensuring inclusive, ethical and community‑centred practice. 

Person specification  

Prior experience – essential  

• Substantial experience of leading/managing business development and income generation for a think tank or similar research/innovation led organisation. 

• Track record of securing income across a range of relevant funders through both competitive tenders and proactive approaches.

• Strong commercial acumen.

• Excellent communication and relationship‑building skills.

• Understanding of UK government and non-government sectoral funding landscapes.

• Strong network in the UK community and/or social innovation sector.

• Commitment to equity and social justice.

• Demonstrated collaborative approach to team-working – able to work effectively with colleagues with a range of specialisms and to operate effectively in a remote-first organisation. 

Prior experience - desirable 

• Experience with the introduction of CRM software.

• Familiarity with creating and reporting on BD metrics at Senior Leadership Team and/or Board level.

• Experience of/interest in exploring the impact of AI in business development and fundraising. 

• Familiarity and/or previous experience with The Young Foundation’s thematic areas (eg, community engagement, just transition, social innovation, young people, etc.). 

How to apply

Please apply directly via CharityJob, ensuring you complete the application form.

As part of your application, please include a cover letter addressing the following questions:

• Where do you see the greatest business development opportunities for The Young Foundation over the next 24 months? 

• In an increasingly competitive market, how would you seek to position The Young Foundation for opportunities, in light of the charity’s mission, purpose, vision and expertise? 

• What is your approach to building and strengthening positive relationships to drive income growth? 

The closing date for applications is 12pm on 20 April 2026 

The selection process will involve an interview and a presentation task.

Interviews are expected to take place w/c 4 May 2026 

Community, Events and Education Lead

Contract type: Permanent, Full time, 35 Hours per week

Location: London, UK
UK hybrid working – a minimum of 40 % of working time is spent face-to-face (London office, external meetings or travel). 60/40 hybrid working at WaterAid means roughly three days wherever you work best and two days together in person.

Salary: £61,645 per year with excellent benefits#

*We offer competitive, market-aligned starting salaries. While most roles are offered at the advertised starting salary, we may adjust this in exceptional cases depending on a candidate’s experience, skills, and potential.

Change starts with water. Change starts with you.

Every day, millions of people live without clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene. WaterAid exists to change that – for everyone, everywhere. Join us, and your energy will help unlock people’s potential and create a fairer future.

About WaterAid

We’re a global federation driven by one vision: a world where everyone, everywhere has clean water, sanitation and hygiene by 2030. Powered by our values of Respect, Accountability, Courage, Collaboration, Integrity and Innovation, we work alongside communities, partners and supporters to make change happen.

About the team

The Community, Events and Education team sits within the Mass Engagement department. The team manages a diverse portfolio of marketing, fundraising and engagement activities, ranging from challenge events and the partnership with Glastonbury Festival, to community fundraising and WaterAid’s volunteer Speaker Network. 

The team has major ambitions to grow income beyond £3m, and this is a transformational moment to reimagine how this area can deliver greater impact for WaterAid. There is broad scope for the team and team Lead to put their stamp on this area of the organisation and set a new strategic direction.

About the role

The Community, Events and Education Lead is a critical member of WaterAid’s Mass Engagement Department, driving forward both marketing and fundraising from a range of audiences, as well as leading our Special Events and volunteering activities.

It is a broad role that offers the opportunity to reimagine this area and set a new transformational direction for the team. It is an area that has significant opportunities for income growth and requires a Team Lead to focus our efforts on the largest opportunities. It is a rare and exciting chance for someone with a strategic, entrepreneurial approach to marketing, supporter engagement and special events to create real impact.

The role balances raising income from individuals and groups, bringing them closer to WaterAid and our mission, with delivering first-class volunteering experiences and managing our relationships with key partners, such as Glastonbury Festival.

Requirements

To be successful, you will need to have / to be:

• Passionate about ending poverty and want to be a part of making it happen, with commitment to WaterAid’s mission and values, and a working style that reflects these.
• Alignment with WaterAid’s values and a commitment to driving Diversity, Equality and Inclusion.
• Experience of leading teams with demonstrable success of managing a motivated and high performing team.
• A strategic thinker who can demonstrate successful delivery of a broad programme of activities and events.
• Experience of developing a comprehensive strategy for an income area, with a particular focus on income growth opportunities and new product development.
• Proven experience of working in a marketing or fundraising role, including experience understanding and reaching different audiences, and growing income from them.
• Experience of delivering events and a strong understanding of the key processes and health and safety requirements. Calm under pressure and decisive in live event environments, with a proactive, solution-focused approach to problem solving.
• Excellent inter-personal skills, and the ability to build strong relationships internally and to manage relationships with external agencies, suppliers and consultants.
• Proven ability to analyse data to inform evidence-based decision making.
• Proven ability to deliver against objectives, work under one’s own initiative, and manage one’s workload while overseeing multiple projects simultaneously.
• An entrepreneurial attitude and an energetic desire to continuously improve how we work and what WaterAid delivers.

Although not essential, we’d prefer you to have:

• Understanding of and interest in international development.
• An understanding of law and best practice relating to fundraising events and activities.
• Familiarity with CRMs and GDPR legislation.
• Experience supporting and motivating volunteers.

Closing date: Applications close 12PM UK time on the 1st May 2026. Interviews are expected to take place week commencing 11th May.

How to apply: Click Apply to answer the pre-screening questions and upload your CV only and Cover Letter.

Can I use Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology in my application?

At WaterAid, we strongly advise against using AI technology at any stage of the recruitment process. Our goal is to ensure a fair and transparent process that provides every applicant with an equal opportunity to succeed. We value hearing about your unique experiences and perspectives in your application, and, if shortlisted, during the interview as well.

Pre‑employment screening

To apply for this role, you must be able to demonstrate your eligibility to work in the respective country. All pre-employment checks will be carried out according to local law and WaterAid’s Safer Recruitment policy. All UK based roles require a basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Benefits

• 36 days’ holiday (including 8 Bank Holidays)
• Option to buy an extra 5 days’ annual leave
• Employer pension contribution up to 10 %
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements
• Season ticket loan
• Free annual eye tests
• ‘Give as you Earn’ charitable giving scheme
• Enhanced parental leave (maternity, adoption/surrogacy, shared parental and paternity)
• Sabbaticals
• One paid volunteer day each year

As part of our annual leave policy, all employees receive three additional days of annual leave on top of their standard allocation of 25 days. These days are designated to cover the period when our UK office closes between Christmas and New Year, allowing all UK WaterAiders to take a well-deserved break.

These days are automatically scheduled and cannot be changed or moved. Annual leave is accrued based on your start date. If sufficient leave has not been accrued by the time of the closure, the 3 days will be taken as unpaid leave or pro-rated, depending on your circumstances.

Our People Promise

We will work with passion and focus to make sure everyone everywhere has clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene. WaterAid is a place of purpose – where people have a real commitment and shared responsibility for the impact we have. We are a global community with diverse backgrounds and perspectives, motivated by inspiring, stimulating work. We are determined to be a place where people feel safe and able to contribute their voice and truly live our values.

Equal Opportunities

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, beliefs, customs, traditions, ways of life and status. This includes, but is not limited to, race, ethnicity, caste, colour, gender, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, disability status, neurodiversity, age, marital and family status, sexual orientation and gender identity, health status, place of residence, economic and social situation.

Safeguarding

We are committed to protecting everyone we come into contact with. We have a zero- tolerance approach to abuse of power, privilege or trust across our global work, and to any form of inappropriate behaviour, discrimination, abuse, bullying, harassment, or exploitation. Safeguarding the people and communities we work with, our staff, volunteers and anyone working on our behalf is our top priority, and we take our responsibilities extremely seriously. All offers of employment are subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks (which can include counterterrorism, safeguarding and criminal records checks).

Together, we’ll change the world through water.

Join us and be part of the change!