Community fundraising engagement manager jobs in Manchester
Applicants must be located within 2 hours travelling distance of Cambridge City.
The Charity and Our Vision.
For over 15 years, Scotty's Little Soldiers has been supporting children and young people who have been bereaved of a parent who served in the British Armed Forces. We are about to embark on an exciting journey which will see the charity evolve to support anyone affected by a military-connected bereavement and ultimately empower a community of more than 25,000 bereaved individuals and their families by 2035.
Founded in 2010 by Nikki Scott following the death of her husband, Corporal Lee Scott, the charity currently offers a unique blend of emotional, practical, and educational support to over 750 young people.
We are proud of our vibrant, non-traditional culture, which puts the needs of bereaved children and young people at the heart of everything we do. We embrace innovative approaches, are committed to creating smiles and believe in the power of community, resilience, and connection.
Role Mission.
To ensure Scotty’s delivers high-quality, consistent, and scalable support to those affected by military-connected bereavement, by leading all aspects of service delivery.
You’ll own the structure, systems, standards, and team needed to deliver support across all four Family Programmes (SMILES, SUPPORT, STRIDES, and the planned START programme) and help ensure our support reaches the growing number of families who need us.
The key responsibilities of this role are:
Programme Operations & Service Infrastructure
- Overall accountability for the service provided to the bereaved military community.
- Leading, and working closely with, the Head of each delivery Programme to ensure all activities are impactful and meeting the needs of our community.
- Mapping and maintaining the full beneficiary journey across all programmes and cohorts (CYP and adult).
- Developing our first adult focused services and building them in line with the charity’s long-term vision to be supporting more than 25k bereaved people by 2035.
- Being the link between our service delivery and both internal and external technology partners to ensure our systems match, and meet the needs of, our processes.
- Alongside our Operations Team, lead the scoping of a full future CRM (Salesforce) rebuild and related beneficiary tech interfaces such as websites, future app development etc.
- Oversee the design of a 2026 ‘light’ CRM phase to support individual adult service delivery.
- Ensure that lived experience remains at the heart of our services.
- Accountability for Safeguarding within the organisation.
Team Leadership
- Support Programme Leads (e.g. Heads of START, SMILES, SUPPORT), providing direction and support as well as ensuring clarity of ownership and goals.
- Create a strong, empowering culture within the service (Families) team, aligned with The Scotty’s Way and shared leadership philosophy.
- Work with our Head of People to oversee service recruitment and onboarding.
Quality, Measurement & Improvement
- Define and embed service-level Success Measures (KPIs) across all activities ensuring we know what success looks like for all our activities.
- Collaborate with the Head of Research & Impact to ensure data collection is usable and meaningful.
External Partnerships & Collaborations
- Proactively develop senior-level partnerships with other military and bereavement charities, Armed Forces support organisations, and relevant service providers and stakeholders.
- Explore and propose strategic collaborations where they strengthen the support we offer to families.
- Ensure the new START (single point of contact) Programme becomes an active network-builder in the space.
- Represent Scotty’s externally at events, conferences, meetings etc within the sector.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Act as a key link to Outreach and Fundraising — providing insight and service stories to fuel content.
- Work with the Ops team to align delivery processes with systems, IT, and compliance.
- Support bid development and reporting for funders by sharing service insight and outcomes.
The 30-day goals for this role are:
- Build a deep understanding of Scotty’s mission, our audience, the services we provide, and strategic direction.
- Spending time with the Families Team and understanding everyone’s role within the charity.
- Understands the ‘as-is’ current situation for the charity’s service delivery.
- Start to document gaps, delivery inconsistencies, opportunities, risks etc.
- Understand the landscape we operate in, particularly the military and bereavement charitable environment.
- Fully align with the operating rhythm of the charity, leading team meetings, holding 1:1s, ownership of relevant OKRs, etc.
The 60-day goals for this role are:
- Has met with counterparts at key partner organisations.
- Has highlighted key organisations not currently partnered with to meet.
- Created a stakeholder holder engagement map for our service delivery.
- Visually mapped existing beneficiary journeys across our four Programmes.
- Began work (with Ops) on requirements for initial-phase CRM for adult services.
- Fully aligned plans and goals with existing Programme Heads, incoming Head of START Programme, and incoming Head of Research & Impact.
- Held one in-person session with Families team.
The 90-day goals for this role are:
- Visually mapped year one of adult services plus any proposed changes to existing services to create a final 2026/27 service ‘to-be’.
- Planned the launch of our new START navigating entitlements casework Programme
- Development underway of ‘Light’ CRM to launch adult services having supplied detailed brief.
- Taken full accountability for the success of our Family Programmes and associated impact.
- Attended 2-3 sector group meetings representing Scotty’s solo.
- Developed a stakeholder holder engagement plan with Head of PR & Comms.
About You
Must-Have
Senior experience in service delivery, operations, or programme leadership
Strong skills in team leadership and service system design
Ability to turn strategy into operational structure and rhythm
Confident working cross-functionally and building external partnerships
Nice-to-Have
Experience working with or supporting Armed Forces families
Familiarity with CRM system scoping and procurement
Experience launching new services or scaling delivery teams
Background in bereavement or mental health support
Additional Information
· The role may require occasional evening or weekend work
· Enhanced DBS check required
· Travel will be required to events and team training days
The Scotty’s Way
At Scotty’s, our personal performance is only 50% of what success looks like. Our culture is equally important. When you join our team, you sign up to The Scotty’s Way, rooted in our four core values:
1. Families Come First
2. Everyone a Supporter, Every Supporter a VIP
3. Love What You Do
4. Remember, Every Day
Our values are further supported by our four non-negotiable behaviours of Show Respect, Speak Up, Take Ownership and Actively Collaborate. We are looking for an individual who embodies these values and behaviours.
When Applying:
Please submit your CV, along with a covering letter detailing your experience and what excites you about this role. Please ensure you clearly annotate which role you are applying for in the email title. Closing date: Friday 16th January. Due to resource and time constraints, we are unfortunately unable to provide feedback for every application received and will only contact candidates shortlisted for interview.
Thank you for your interest in joining our team, we are an equal opportunities employer, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where all employees are treated with respect and given equal opportunities for employment and advancement.
We do not discriminate based on race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability or any other protected characteristic.
We encourage all qualified individuals to apply for employment within our charity, and we provide a fair and inclusive recruitment process for all candidates.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Applicants must be located within 2 hours travelling distance of Cambridge City.
The Charity and Our Vision.
For over 15 years, Scotty's Little Soldiers has been supporting children and young people who have been bereaved of a parent who served in the British Armed Forces. We are about to embark on an exciting journey which will see the charity evolve to support anyone affected by a military-connected bereavement and ultimately empower a community of more than 25,000 bereaved individuals and their families by 2035.
Founded in 2010 by Nikki Scott following the death of her husband, Corporal Lee Scott, the charity currently offers a unique blend of emotional, practical, and educational support to over 750 young people.
We are proud of our vibrant, non-traditional culture, which puts the needs of bereaved children and young people at the heart of everything we do. We embrace innovative approaches, are committed to creating smiles and believe in the power of community, resilience, and connection.
Role Mission.
To lead the creation and delivery of Scotty’s new navigating entitlements casework (START) Programme, a single point of contact service designed to support anyone affected by military-connected bereavement.
This is a hands-on, pioneering role. You’ll help shape the infrastructure, recruit and lead a small squad of caseworkers, and ensure that everyone in the bereaved military community receives compassionate, personalised, and well-coordinated support.
The key responsibilities of this role are:
Service Design & Delivery
- Working closely with the Head of Service, lead the operational planning and phased rollout of the START Programme
- Develop and refine service model, workflows, triage criteria, and beneficiary journeys
- Own the SPOC offer, ensuring clear onboarding, needs assessments, support plans, and follow-up
- Ensure the service is trauma-informed, inclusive, and responsive to beneficiary feedback
- Manage your own caseload alongside Programme Head responsibilities.
Team Leadership & Development
- Help recruit and then directly support 1 initial caseworker (with potential to grow team in 2027 depending on demand)
- Provide coaching, oversight, and reflective practice opportunities for squad members
- Create a strong squad culture that reflects The Scotty’s Way and encourages personal growth
- Lead START Programme Daily Huddles
Collaboration & Partnership
- Build strong referral pathways with external organisations (military & non-military charities, NHS, social care)
- Become the charity’s expert on navigating entitlements for the bereaved community.
- Work collaboratively with other Programme leads to ensure consistency, shared learning & efficient internal referrals
- Support the Head of Service in forming partnerships that enhance START’s offer
Monitoring & Evaluation
- Track and report on beneficiary engagement, support outcomes, and follow-up actions
- Use insights, working with the Head of Research & Impact, to adapt and improve the service over time
- Ensure CRM records are complete, accurate, and used to inform delivery decisions
Contribution to Charity-Wide Goals
- Feed into cross-functional projects including Outreach, Fundraising, and Strategy
- Act as a representative of Scotty’s at sector events or external meetings where appropriate
- Support content development by sharing anonymised stories, insights, and themes
The 30-day goals for this role are:
- Built a deep understanding of Scotty’s mission, our audience, the services we provide, and strategic direction.
- Worked closely with the Head of SUPPORT to understand the history of Scotty’s helping families navigate entitlements, including reviewing current and recent cases.
- Began to map the key stakeholders, partners and organisations (including statutory, charitable and others) for casework in the START Programme.
The 60-day goals for this role are:
- Scoped and met with key stakeholders.
- Worked with Head of Service to map the new casework (START) programme and beneficiary journeys.
- Worked with the Head of Service and the Head of Impact to ensure that processes are in place to monitor the outcomes and impact of the new START Programme.
- With the Head of Service, supported the design of a light CRM for initial use in START casework.
- Drafted all other necessary processes and procedures for casework including safeguarding, triage, wait time limits etc.
- Drafted a training plan for new START caseworkers.
The 90-day goals for this role are:
- Launched the new START Programme.
- Built strong partner networks for any needed referrals or information gathering to support casework.
- Created a road map of future Programme releases (e.g. new services within the programme, themes, cohort specific activities etc).
About You:
Must-Have
Experience in service delivery, casework, or personalised support services
Ability to lead a new programme from concept to delivery
Strong team leadership and relationship-building skills
Excellent organisational and communication skills
Nice-to-Have
Familiarity with military family life or bereavement support
Background in adult mental health, social care or wellbeing services
Experience in service co-design with users or lived experience groups
Safeguarding knowledge or training
Additional Information
· The role may require occasional evening or weekend work
· Enhanced DBS check required
· Travel will be required to events and team training days
The Scotty’s Way
At Scotty’s, our personal performance is only 50% of what success looks like. Our culture is equally important. When you join our team, you sign up to The Scotty’s Way, rooted in our four core values:
1. Families Come First
2. Everyone a Supporter, Every Supporter a VIP
3. Love What You Do
4. Remember, Every Day
Our values are further supported by our four non-negotiable behaviours of Show Respect, Speak Up, Take Ownership and Actively Collaborate. We are looking for an individual who embodies these values and behaviours.
When Applying:
Please submit your CV, along with a covering letter detailing your experience and what excites you about this role. Please ensure you clearly annotate which role you are applying for in the email title.
Closing date: Friday 16th January. Due to resource and time constraints, we are unfortunately unable to provide feedback for every application received and will only contact candidates shortlisted for interview.
Thank you for your interest in joining our team, we are an equal opportunities employer, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where all employees are treated with respect and given equal opportunities for employment and advancement.
We do not discriminate based on race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability or any other protected characteristic.
We encourage all qualified individuals to apply for employment within our charity, and we provide a fair and inclusive recruitment process for all candidates.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Summary
EduSpots is an innovative, dynamic, and community-orientated UK and Ghanaian registered charity which connects, trains, and equips grassroots voluntary educators (named ‘Catalysts’) to drive community-led change through education spaces named ‘Spots’. Our vision is of a world in which communities unite to create the futures they want to see, through education.
Since 2016, through collaborating with over 400 local voluntary community educators and actors – named ‘Catalysts’ – who take a central leadership role in the development of the network, we have supported 50 communities in creating and running community-led and owned education spaces named ‘Spots’’. Together, we are developing a model for a community-led education space with accompanying network engagement that could have global relevance.
Our Ghana-based team creates collaborative learning opportunities through three leadership programmes for Catalysts which are increasingly facilitated by the EduSpots app: the Ignite, Catalyse and Inspire Mentoring Programmes. These enable the Catalysts to lead EduKidz (early years education), DigLit (digital literacy), EcoSTEM (STEM and environmental education) and Ignite Equity (gender equity) clubs for learners typically aged 3-16, alongside locally designed education projects, reaching over 10,000 learners of all ages annually.
We are in an exciting period of our development, having more than doubled our income, programme breadth and reach in the last two years, with a recent independent evaluation by Expectation State offering further evidence in support of our model’s outcomes. We have been recently selected for two accelerator programmes, who are supporting us as we consider the scaling potential of our model. In the period, we are aiming to double our network reach, bringing an additional 50 Spots into the network.
We won the Tes International Award in 2018 and the Big Give Supporters’ Choice Award in 2022, and we were recently selected as a finalist for the 2023 Their World Scale-Up Innovation Prize. In 2021, our Founder was a Finalist in the UNESCO-backed $1 million Global Teacher Prize.
We are excited by our future.
About this role
The Global Head of Operations is a new role being introduced in 2026 with the core purpose of strengthening systems, processes and strategic delivery across both EduSpots Global and EduSpots Ghana, offering hands-on support to the CEO and wider staff across a range of areas.
In this senior role, you will work closely alongside the CEO, offering her the advice and skills needed to move EduSpots successfully through a complex period of growth in a challenging fundraising context, enabling more learners and Catalysts to participate in a unique community-led model of education, whilst sharing our practice more widely.
We are looking for an organised and empathetic strategic leader, ideally with strong or developing skills across project management, finance, HR and MEL skills and an ability to work independently in a fast moving work environment.
This role has the potential to grow into a Director of Global Operations or Deputy CEO role in time for outstanding candidates, and carries significant organisation-wide responsibility.
Candidates should hold a genuine passion for educational equity, a strong belief in the power of community-led models to transform lives at scale and a high level of flexibility in a fast-changing yet friendly and playful work environment.
Whilst this role is remote, and open to all global candidates, you will need to have understanding and experience of UK law, accounting and policy development, or a strong appetite to build experience in this area quickly.
Main duties and responsibilities
Systems
- Work with the CEO and staff to proactively strengthen systems and processes across the organisation, including monitoring, evaluation and learning frameworks and operations.
- Support the wider team with IT, including general skill development, leading the Google Space system.
- Monitor compliance to organisational policies and lead the quarterly review of the organisational risk register, working with the Ghana Head of Operations.
Finance
- Work with the Finance and Admin Officer to produce monthly and quarterly global management accounts, cash flow analysis and to complete the annual audit.
- Lead the financial planning of the organisation, working with the CEO and the Ghana Head of Operations to create the annual budget.
- Work with the Ghana Head of Operations to strengthen financial systems, processes, and training across the organisation.
- Work with the Ghana Head of Operations to prepare budgets for funding bids as needed.
- Work with the grants team to track grant spending and produce consolidated financial reports (including expenditure from the UK and Ghana) for donors.
- Ensure EduSpots’ new accounting software (QuickBooks) is fully embedded and utilised.
- Oversee bank account management, including payments, checking bank statements, and reviewing bank reconciliations for UK and Ghana.
- Ensure staff payroll (likely to be outsourced) and payments to freelancers / consultants are done accurately and in a timely manner.
HR
- Work alongside the CEO, Head of Operations, Safeguarding and Inclusion Managers and wider staff to develop strategies to sustain and strengthen a high performing and friendly work culture.
- Work across the team to strengthen HR and performance management structures, informed by best practice and legal frameworks.
- Lead the recruitment of staff, consultants and volunteers in the UK (advertising roles, drafting contracts, contacting referees and completing all filing and administration relating to recruitment).
- Onboard new staff, provide training on policies and procedures, and track key information (leave, appraisals, etc) for UK staff.
- Regularly review and keep the Staff Handbook up to date.
- Depending on skill-set, work with the CEO to lead professional development for staff across the organisation, liaising with trustees and advisory group members.
Administration & Governance
- Manage and maintain databases and our Google Drive system.
- Ensure compliance with GDPR and adherence to our child safeguarding and protection policy.
- Maintain insurance renewals, tracking and filing.
- Review and keep up to date all organisational policies in line with current legislation, working with the Trustees and Directors.
- Assist the CEO in the administration relating to EduSpots’ governance, including board meeting arrangements and minute taking.
- Support the CEO in all ad-hoc tasks that arise, working closely alongside her to ensure the smooth running of the organisation.
Strategic insight
- Work closely with the CEO and staff/Catalysts across the organisation to ensure all EduSpots’ decision-making is strategic and in the best interests of the Catalysts, Sparks and Communities we partner with.
Other areas
- Depending on experience, you may in time take on management responsibilities for some staff, but this role is principally a systems strengthening and quality improvement role, working closely with the CEO to offer advice and additional capacity.
- Depending on experience, you may support with grants writing / management and/or community fundraising. Experience of fundraising would be of significant benefit to the organisation in this key leadership role.
Personal Specification
Essential
- Minimum of 7 years’ experience of operations in a small/medium charity context.
- Self-starter with the ability to hit the ground running and work with minimal supervision with high levels of flexibility.
- Self-motivated, with an ability to motivate and energise others.
- High level strategic understanding, critical thinking and the ability to strengthen systems in a fast-paced high performance environment.
- Excellent communication, both oral and written.
- The ability to thrive and adapt in a fast-paced, creative and impact-driven culture.
- Strong administrative skills with a high level of attention to detail.
- Experience in creating user-friendly tools and processes to support project and quality management.
- Experience using Google Suite, with strong Excel skills.
- Tech savvy – ability to learn new tech tools efficiently.
- Experience coordinating others.
- Excellent interpersonal and teamwork skills with strong empathy and cultural sensitivity
- Strong personal alignment with the mission, vision and values of EduSpots.
Highly desirable
- Experience supporting charity Boards, and working with external bodies including auditors, tax authorities, and other official bodies is highly desirable.
- Experience complying and strong familiarity with UK charity regulations and requirements.
- Experience preparing budgets and financial reports for donors/grants.
- Experience of working in a cross-cultural team.
- Experience of working with an international charity would be advantageous.
Please send a tailored covering letter and CV addressed to the CEO Miss Cat Davison by Wednesday 31st December with a hope to meet shortlisted candidates for a first-round interview in the week starting Monday 12th January.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
This is an exceptional opportunity to join Belong’s Senior Leadership Team as Director of Policy & Research, a role that sits at the heart of our mission to shape national conversations on cohesion and integration. You will lead Belong’s policy development, research strategy, and national partnerships, ensuring our work is grounded in robust evidence and lived experience. This position offers the chance to influence systemic change, amplify Belong’s voice with policymakers and opinion formers, and ensure our insights drive real-world impact.
As Director of Policy & Research, you will:
- Lead the development of Belong’s policy and research agenda, aligning it with organisational strategy and national priorities.
- Produce high-quality policy outputs, including reports, briefings, consultation responses, and thought leadership pieces.
- Oversee the design and delivery of research projects, including commissioning and partnership work, ensuring rigor and inclusivity.
- Translate research findings into actionable policy recommendations and advocacy strategies.
- Foster strong collaboration between the Policy & Research team and Programme Delivery team, ensuring insights inform both policy and practice.
- Build and maintain relationships with policymakers, parliamentarians, journalists, and opinion formers.
- Represent Belong externally at high-level meetings, events, and in the media, amplifying our impact and reach.
- Develop strategic messaging and narratives that position Belong as a thought leader in social cohesion.
- Support campaigns and public engagement initiatives that promote Belong’s policy goals.
- Contribute to organisational development, strategic planning, and income generation through proposal development and funder engagement.
- Line manage policy and research staff, providing leadership, support, and professional development.
This is a senior leadership role for someone who thrives in a collaborative environment and wants to drive systemic change at scale.
About You
We are seeking a strategic and insightful leader with:
- Proven experience in policy development and research leadership.
- Experience working in or with government, think tanks, or advocacy organisations.
- Strong understanding of social policy and influencing processes.
- Knowledge of cohesion, integration, and community relations.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including media engagement and public speaking.
- Ability to translate complex research into accessible policy messages.
- Familiarity with participatory and applied research methods.
- Strong strategic thinking and planning abilities.
- Relevant qualification in public policy, social research, or a related field.
- Experience managing teams and budgets, and supporting income generation through fundraising and proposal development.
Personal Qualities
- Passionate about improving cohesion and integration in the UK.
- Strategic and visionary thinker.
- Collaborative and inclusive leader.
- Politically astute and intellectually curious.
- Practical, focused, and reliable.
- Committed to personal and professional development.
Why Join Us?
At Belong, you’ll be part of a dynamic, values-driven team united by a shared commitment to creating a more inclusive and connected society. We offer:
- 30 days’ annual leave
- Hybrid working (typically 3 days in the office)
- Enhanced sick pay and family-friendly policies
- 3% pension contribution
- Opportunities for professional development and growth
Join us and help shape national policy and research that builds stronger, kinder, and more connected communities across the UK.
Salary: £65,000–£70,000
Location: UK-wide (regular travel across England and Wales)
Contract: Permanent, Full-time
About Belong
Belong – The Cohesion and Integration Network is the UK’s leading not-for-profit organisation dedicated to building a more united and less divided society. Established in 2019, we work across sectors to strengthen trust, belonging, and resilience in communities. Through research, policy influence, and place-based programmes, we connect people, places, and organisations to share learning and drive systemic change. Our growing membership spans local authorities, charities, civil society, and businesses. Belong is collaborative, evidence-led, and committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Our office is based in Manchester and we offer hybrid working for those able to travel there. However, this role is open UK-wide and can be worked remotely, with regular travel across England and Wales required.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
The Local Storytelling Exchange (the Exchange) exists to change the conversation about the ‘green transition’ in the UK. We tell the human stories of how everyday people, communities, and places are building fairer, greener futures, especially where narratives around climate action are more contested. Our place-based storytellers use community insights, journalistic expertise, and creative storytelling to shift narratives and humanise the transition.
About the role
We are looking for a Digital Innovation Lead to position us at the cutting-edge of digital, locally based storytelling about the climate transition.
Part of this role will be overseeing our approach to social media. But more than that, the successful candidate will bring their know-how and entrepreneurial flair to help us reimagine our digital storytelling on the climate transition.
From TikTok to hyper-local Facebook groups, from AI-powered analysis to multimedia experimentation, you will help the Exchange build a digital game that’s contemporary, sector-leading, ethical and true to both our mission and our USP as locally rooted, authentic, people-led storytellers.
In depth technical expertise (for example, in the mechanics of video creation) is not essential. Knowing where to get it, how to use it - and what great looks like for an organisation like us - is.
The Digital Innovation Lead will deploy audience and platform insight, social listening, and restless creativity. They will ensure our digital storytelling has scale, reach and narrative-shaping impact in its own right, and as a complement and added dimension to our existing, sector-leading print, broadcast and online journalism.
We want someone who can work collaboratively to challenge our assumptions and try new things, while holding on to what makes the Exchange’s storytelling special: our authenticity and people-first approach.
Key responsibilities
- Shape and deliver a digital innovation strategy that harnesses the Exchange’s USP and place-based focus to impactfully engage audiences, share stories, and measurably influence local narratives.
- Working with the Executive Director and Head of Programmes, secure partnerships and funding to put the strategy into practice – ranging from partnering with local influencers and campaign groups, to national media platforms, data platforms, or creative tech collaborators, and more.
- Lead experimentation with emerging tools – including AI, community insights, social listening tools, multimedia storytelling and audience analytics
- Design systems for (digital) social listening and audience intelligence that build on our existing USP as a place-based, storyteller-led organisation.
- Build a roster of associate content creators so we can generate excellent content, quickly.
- Build digital confidence and capacity across the organisation and key external partners, mentoring colleagues and associates to use digital tools creatively and ethically.
- Ensure the Exchange uses technology ethically and responsibly in line with the Exchange’s mission.
- Balance working at pace under own initiative, with working collaboratively and supportively within a small, hybrid organisation.
About you
You are likely to be a creative digital communications and/or engagement specialist who combines vision and innovative spark with the determination to build networks, projects and partnerships to turn ideas into real world impact. You can bridge big picture strategic thinking and tracking the latest ideas, with practical application to prototype, test and learn fast.
You will have a strong instinct for what makes for brilliant content that has impact at scale, and how to get it seen. You will be audience, mission and impact-led, innovating around how best to reach people across platforms and wider engagement. You will have a strategic mind, up-to-the-minute understanding of today’s information and digital environment, and a rich network of intelligence and contacts. You'll understand how digital content can complement ‘traditional’ journalism and be excited to combine these approaches in new ways as part of shaping local narratives across the country.
Whatever your background, you’ll be excited to join a journalism, narrative shaping and storytelling organisation with a strong reputation for “traditional” media impact, which is evolving that to also excel in the digital world. You will be fascinated by how digital storytelling can be used brilliantly, within current and emerging information system and technological frontiers, to be a positive counterforce to misinformation and culture wars around climate action.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Key info
Closing date: Sunday 25th January 2026 at 23:59.
Annual salary: £42,400
Hours: 37.5 hours per week (full time)
Contract length: 3 years initially, with contract extension subject to funding
Location: UK based, mainly remote with occasional in person work
The role
TransActual is recruiting a Communications Lead to join our rapidly growing team. You’ll be working alongside our board and Senior Management team to develop and implement a communications strategy across all media channels that supports the accurate representation of TransActual’s work to the wider world and our mission to advocate, empower and inform.
We are looking for someone with strong interpersonal skills both in terms of understanding and responding to underlying questions in a sometimes hostile media environment, identifying the effective ways of proactively and reactively communicating about our advocacy goals, and working closely with our Policy Lead, Director of Operations and for Healthcare, staff team, board and volunteers to achieve that.
Your responsibilities will include, but not be limited to, the creation of a communications strategy, communications processes, protocols and standards, press releasing and liaison, and line management of our communications officer. You will be responsible for forward planning of communications where events are foreseeable and will also be required to enable rapid and sensitive response to unpredictable events and consequent media inquiries.
An in-depth understanding of trans people’s lived experiences and an ongoing commitment to bringing about positive change for all trans people in the UK is absolutely essential for this role. This understanding can come from your own lived experience. You will demonstrate a strong understanding of and commitment to equity, particularly in relation to race equity and disability equity.
We particularly welcome and encourage applications from trans people, Black People and People of Colour, neurodivergent people and disabled people.
TransActual are working towards a world where trans people can live safely, in dignity and with access to the healthcare that we need.



The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Chief Executive Officer
Salary: £49, 282 - £54,495 per annum
Location: Gorse Hill Studios, Trafford, Manchester (Some remote working will be considered)
Contract Type: Full time, permanent
About Gorse Hill Studios
Gorse Hill Studios is a dynamic and ambitious youth and community arts charity. At the heart of our organisation is a belief that all young people deserve to feel valued, supported and inspired. We work with young people to build confidence, creativity and community connections, ensuring they have the opportunities and encouragement they need to thrive.
We believe that creativity can transform lives, and we are committed to placing young people at the centre of everything we do. Their voices, ideas and experiences help shape our programmes, partnerships and strategic direction.
We are entering an exciting phase of growth and development. Our team currently includes 20 core staff and a wider network of volunteers and creative practitioners, delivering a diverse portfolio of youth arts sessions, community engagement projects, creative wellbeing initiatives and partnership-led activity with local schools and organisations. The CEO will play a pivotal role in leading this portfolio, strengthening our impact, championing youth voice and ensuring young people continue to shape our future direction as we move into the next chapter of our development.
About the Role
As CEO, you will provide strategic, compassionate and visionary leadership, ensuring Gorse Hill Studios delivers its mission to empower and inspire young people. Reporting to the Board of Trustees, you will hold overall responsibility for the organisation’s performance, culture, operations and long-term sustainability. This role calls for someone who demonstrates strong strategic insight with the ability to influence and inspire others, using emotional intelligence and collaborative leadership to build positive internal and external relationships.
A fundamental part of this role is your commitment to embedding young people’s voice in decision making. You will champion their perspectives, ensuring programme development, strategy and organisational culture reflect the needs and aspirations of the young people we serve.
You will also be an ambassador for the charity, building trusted relationships with young people, partners, funders and the wider community. This role requires a leader who is values led, resilient and passionate about supporting young people through the arts and creative engagement.
Roles and Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership and Governance
- Lead on the development and delivery of the charity’s long-term strategy, with young people meaningfully involved
- Ensure compliance with all statutory, regulatory and governance requirements, including Charity Commission expectations and safeguarding duties
- Provide clear, timely reporting to the Board
- Support the Board to operate effectively
Financial Management and Income Generation
- Oversee budgeting, financial planning and responsible management of all funds
- Lead a diverse income generation strategy
- Identify sustainable opportunities for organisational growth
Operational Management and Programme Delivery
- Oversee day to day operations and ensure systems are effective
- Ensure programmes are high quality, inclusive and reflective of young people’s needs and feedback
- Act as Designated Safeguarding Lead, or ensure robust safeguarding practices across the organisation
People Leadership and Culture
- Inspire, support and lead a dedicated staff and volunteer team
- Champion a positive, inclusive and collaborative working culture
- Oversee recruitment, wellbeing and performance management
External Relations and Advocacy
- Act as the primary spokesperson and ambassador for Gorse Hill Studios
- Build strong relationships with partners, funders and stakeholders
- Advocate for and with young people locally and nationally
- Represent the charity confidently at events and in the media
Skills and Experience
Essential:
- Senior leadership experience in the charity, youth, arts or wider non-profit sector
- Strong financial management skills
- Proven success in fundraising or income generation
- Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement
- Knowledge of safeguarding practices in youth settings
- Experience leading teams and developing positive organisational cultures
- Strategic leadership experience
Desirable
- Experience in the youth arts or creative community sector
- Understanding of the Trafford community landscape
Values and Commitment
We are committed to promoting equity, diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications from individuals who share these values and are passionate about empowering young people.
An enhanced DBS check will be required.
Application Details
To apply, please submit your CV and covering letter.
Closing date: 19 January
Interview date: 23 January at Gorse Hill Studios
Interviews will include a stakeholder panel and a formal interview.
REF-225 658