Contract manager jobs

We’re looking for a competent and experienced Finance Manager to join our core team to cover maternity leave from September 2026 for around 6 months, with high likelihood of permanent extension following the cover period.

The main purpose of the role is to maintain robust financial, payroll, information and administration systems that support Chilypep’s strategic financial planning, sustainability, and programme development, following the organisation’s Financial Policy and Procedures.

This key member of our core team is a vital role for our organisation, providing the backbone and foundation for all the work we do to empower children and young people to have a voice, place and space in their communities and the wider world.

You will need a detailed understanding of the financial requirements of the charity sector, excellent teamwork and communication skills, along with experience and confidence to manage the breadth of tasks and relationships needed to keep a vibrant and busy youth charity going!

Job title: Finance Manager
Reports to: CEO

Internal working relationships: Regular contact with the Board of Trustees, Project Coordinators and the Core team. The Post-Holder will undertake regular supervision with the CEO and meet regularly with the Company Treasurer.

External working relationships: Key communication with Funders, voluntary organisations and statutory bodies such as the Charities Commission, Companies House, HM Revenue & Customs and service providers including external auditors, suppliers, bank, payroll and pension agents.

Contract: This is a Maternity Cover post for approximately 6 months (very likely to be permanent part/full-time post at the end of the cover period)
Location: 11 Southey Hill, Sheffield, S5 8BB (Hybrid option to enable some home working – to be agreed with successful candidate)
Hours: 30-37 hours per week (to be agreed for the successful candidate)
Salary: Scale 29 – 31 (£37,235.77 – £39,257.90) pro rata

Closing Date: 9am, Monday 10th August 2026

Interviews:Monday 17th August at the Chilypep Youth Hub, 11 Southey Hill, Sheffield, S5 8BB

Chilypep are an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to diversity and inclusion and ensuring equality of opportunity in our recruitment processes for staff and volunteers. Our mission is to welcome everyone and create inclusive teams. We celebrate differences and encourage everyone to join us and be themselves at work. Our policy is to recruit a diverse workforce and follow the guidelines of the Equality Act. We are an employer that values lived experience at all levels of our organisation.

Our priority is to safeguard and protect the Children and Young People we work with, and we operate within strict Safe Recruitment Practices, including an Enhanced DBS check, social media check, and 2 references covering a period on no less than 3 years for all staff and volunteers.

All candidates must have existing permission to work in the UK.

For full details of the job description and person specification, please download our job pack now from our website

Permanent | 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday (no evenings, bank holidays or nights)

Occasional Saturday cover required.

As a Clinical Services Matron at MSI Reproductive Choices UK, you'll have the opportunity to shape how care is delivered across your region, leading talented clinical teams, developing future leaders and ensuring every client receives safe, compassionate and exceptional care.

This is more than an operational leadership role. It's an opportunity to influence clinical excellence, inspire others and make a lasting difference to both colleagues and the people who rely on our services every day.

Lead people. Improve services. Drive change.

You'll provide leadership across multiple treatment centres, supporting Clinical Team Leaders and multidisciplinary teams to consistently deliver outstanding clinical care.

From coaching and developing colleagues to strengthening clinical governance and identifying opportunities for service improvement, you'll be trusted to create an environment where people can thrive and high-quality care is the standard, not the exception.

Working collaboratively with operational and clinical leaders, you'll help shape the future of our services while ensuring compliance, quality and client experience remain at the centre of every decision.

The impact you'll have

As Clinical Services Matron, you'll play a vital role in:

• Leading and developing high-performing clinical teams.
• Promoting a culture of safety, accountability and continuous improvement.
• Maintaining excellence in clinical governance and regulatory compliance.
• Supporting service innovation and quality improvement across multiple sites.
• Coaching and mentoring colleagues to reach their full potential.
• Ensuring every client receives compassionate, person-centred care.

Travel across regional treatment centres forms part of this role, giving you the opportunity to build relationships with teams and provide consistent leadership across the region.

We're looking for a leader who...

You'll be a registered healthcare professional with significant leadership experience and a genuine passion for developing people.

You'll bring experience of leading clinical teams, a strong understanding of governance and patient safety, and the confidence to influence, support and inspire others through change.

Experience within sexual and reproductive healthcare or leading across multiple sites would be advantageous, but most importantly, we're looking for someone who shares our commitment to delivering exceptional care and creating positive outcomes for both clients and colleagues.

Why Join Us?

We offer a supportive, values-driven environment where your contribution is recognised and rewarded:

�� Financial & Rewards: Aviva pension (up to 5% employer contribution), Blue Light Card discounts (4,000+ perks), Cycle to Work scheme, season ticket loan, and long-service recognition rewards.

�� Wellbeing & Work–Life Balance: Opportunity to buy and sell annual leave, 24/7 GP access and EAP via Westfield Health, an extra day off for your birthday, accredited Mental Health First Aiders, family-friendly policies and a national employee recognition programme.

�� Learning & Career Development: Clear career pathways, paid training and development, accredited apprenticeships, and learning agreements to support your professional growth.

With a 110-year history, we are proud to be able to say that the WI continues to be the largest and most influential UK-based women’s organisation, with over 170,000 members. Our campaigns push for change on the issues that matter to women and their communities, from equal pay to climate change, mental health and violence against women. The WI has brought about real change, and this record of action shows that we are as relevant today as we were in 1915.

The National Federation of Women’s Institutes (the NFWI) is responsible for running the organisation and provides support and advice to members at both regional and local levels.

About the role

Taking ownership of our digital and technology platforms, you will actively support campaigns that improve the lives of women. In particular, you will optimise our website, CRM and social media to grow traffic, engagement and conversions through reporting and A/B testing and proactively review digital content based on SEO changes and evolving organisational needs. At the same time, you will assist colleagues in delivering diverse digital projects whilst identifying opportunities for automation and championing best practice in everything you do. In short, you will bring women’s stories to life via marketing campaigns, AI, influencers, social media and other channels to give us a powerful voice to champion change and transform outcomes.

Location: Hybrid, with one day a week at our London office.

About you

Highly experienced in delivering websites, CRM systems and digital platforms, you will be a confident project manager with proven ability to translate user needs into digital improvements. Needless to say, you should be adept at digital optimisation, SEO, skilled at briefing developers and experienced at drafting digital project roadmaps and training materials, and you will be passionate about the possibilities of technology.

If you have a background with a membership, charity or campaigning organisation, so much the better, and knowledge of an Enterprise CMS (Squiz Matrix, Sitecore, Umbraco) plus HTML and A/B testing, CRO, UX, AI and analytics tools would be very useful. However, it’s your resilience and adaptability that will matter most, backed by a highly creative mindset and deep understanding of the latest digital trends.

How to apply

For further information about this Digital and Technology Manager role, please download the recruitment pack which includes the job description and person specification.

To apply, please submit your current CV with a covering letter clearly explaining why you would be suitable for the role to the HR department.

Closing date: 6 August 2026

First-round interviews will take place virtually between 13 - 14 August 2026.

Second-round interviews will take place in person at our London office on 19 August 2026.

No other media or agencies, please.

The WI is proud to be an equal opportunities employer and values diversity. Reg. Charity No. 803793.

Purpose of the role

The Project Manager will lead the delivery of MindOut's National Lottery Heritage Fund project, Speaking Our Minds: MindOut 25+ Years and LGBTQ Mental Health, an innovative 18-month heritage programme documenting, preserving and sharing over 25 years of LGBTQ mental health history.

Working with LGBTQ communities, volunteers, staff, former service users, heritage partners and community organisations, the postholder will oversee all aspects of project planning, delivery, evaluation and legacy. This includes oral history collection, digital archiving, volunteer management, community engagement, public exhibitions and dissemination activities.

The Project Manager will ensure the project is delivered safely, ethically and inclusively whilst meeting all National Lottery Heritage Fund outcomes, budgets, milestones and reporting requirements.

This is an exciting opportunity to lead a significant LGBTQ heritage project that will create a lasting record of community resilience, mental health activism, peer support and social change.

Role description

You will bring the experience, confidence, organisational skills and values required to lead a complex community heritage programme involving lived experience storytelling, volunteer participation, community partnerships and public engagement.

Main Tasks

Project Management

· Manage the set up and delivery of a new Speaking Our Minds project in a medium-size charity.

· Develop and maintain detailed work plans, project timelines, budgets, risk management and ensure milestones and National Lottery Heritage Fund requirements are met.

· Provide regular progress reports in line with project timeline, budgets and outcomes for the Charity Director

· Ensure all project activity is delivered in accordance with MindOut's organisational policies.

Community Participation & Co-production

· Establish and facilitate a Community Advisory Group to guide project development and decision-making.

· Design and deliver co-production workshops, reflection sessions and community consultation activities centring values such as co-production, lived experience and trauma aware with diverse participation and inclusion.

Oral History & Heritage Collection

· Lead the collection of a minimum of 25 oral histories documenting LGBTQ mental health heritage.

· Ensure interviews are conducted ethically and in accordance with Oral History Society guidance and project protocols.

· Coordinate transcription, metadata creation, cataloguing and archive preparation.

· Oversee collection of photographs, documents, memorabilia and contextual materials that support interpretation of MindOut's history.

· Ensure safeguarding, consent and ethical storytelling principles are followed throughout the collection process.

Volunteer Recruitment & Management

· Recruit, train, supervise and support project volunteers.

· Develop clear volunteer roles and learning opportunities.

· Coordinate volunteer involvement in oral history, outreach, events and heritage activities.

· Ensure volunteers receive appropriate induction, support and supervision.

· Create an inclusive and positive volunteering experience that builds skills and confidence.

Heritage Preservation & Digital Archiving

· Work with Queer Heritage South, The Keep and other partners to ensure heritage materials are preserved to recognised standards.

· Oversee processes for cataloguing, digital storage and archival preparation.

· Ensure heritage materials are managed according to agreed metadata, accessibility and licensing requirements.

· Support the creation of sustainable heritage systems and organisational learning that continue beyond the project lifespan.

· Contribute to the development of MindOut's long-term heritage strategy and legacy planning.

Events, Exhibitions & Public Engagement

· Deliver a programme of public engagement activities and community events.

· Coordinate the development of exhibitions, digital outputs and learning resources.

· Work collaboratively with partners including Photoworks and heritage organisations.

· Support communications and promotional activity alongside the Communications Co-ordinator.

· Ensure all events are well planned, accessible and effectively evaluated.

Partnership Development

· Build and maintain strong relationships with heritage organisations, archives, universities, community groups and cultural partners.

· Act as the principal contact for external project partners and commissioned specialists.

· Represent MindOut at meetings, conferences and partnership events.

· Develop opportunities for future collaboration and sustainability beyond the funded project period.

Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting

· Maintain project monitoring systems and data collection processes.

· Work with the external evaluator to assess outcomes and impact.

· Produce regular reports for the Charity Director, Trustees, Advisory Group and funders.

· Monitor budgets, risks and project performance.

· Ensure learning and evaluation are embedded throughout the project lifecycle.

Full details and job spec please view attached document.

Interviews to be held 26th & 27th August.

Sporting Equals is entering a significant new phase of growth and impact. We are expanding our team to strengthen our influence, deepen community impact, and accelerate system-wide change whilst we also ensuring we have robust internal systems in place. This is an exciting moment to join Sporting Equals - a time of renewed energy, new and strengthened partnerships, and bold ambition to create lasting equity across the sport sector.

We are pleased to announce a new opening for a Part-Time Finance and Operations Manager (FTC).

Why Join Sporting Equals?

· Be part of a mission-driven organisation creating real systemic change

· Work alongside passionate leaders, partners, and communities across the UK

· Contribute to a period of organisational growth, innovation, and renewed strategic focus

· Help ensure sport and physical activity are spaces of belonging, fairness, and opportunity for all

If you are motivated by purpose, impact, and equity, we welcome you to apply.

We are looking for a Finance and Operations Manager who will -

 · Provide practical finance support, operational coordination, and control support to help Sporting Equals transition to a stable, robust position following the bringing of the finance function in-house.

· Deliver the day-to-day operational support, records maintenance, evidence gathering, and internal audit checks required to make the organisation's financial systems work effectively. The post will ensure financial risks are managed and adequate control and assurance measures are in put in place, alongside reporting to the board and the senior leadership team.

· Focus on reducing key-person dependency, improving segregation of duties, strengthening audit readiness, improving cost-centre accuracy, and delivering an office management function. 

How to Apply

For further details on how to apply please visit our careers page. 

This is an opportunity to play a visible role in contributing to the procurement practice across the FRC, working with stakeholders across the organisation and supporting high-quality, compliant procurement outcomes. The successful candidate will provide professional procurement, commercial and contract input to the business, ensuring alignment with FRC policy, the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR15) and the Procurement Act 2023 (PA23).

This is an exciting opportunity to join the FRC's collaborative Procurement & Contracts team, where you will play a key role in helping the organisation achieve its strategic objectives. Procurement is a trusted business partner at the FRC, providing advice, guidance and constructive challenge to ensure commercial decisions deliver value for money, comply with regulatory requirements and support organisational success. Working with stakeholders across the business, you will have the opportunity to influence outcomes, drive continuous improvement and contribute to the delivery of high-quality public services.

Job Description

Accountabilities 

• Implement procurement best practice to deliver high-quality, compliant and value-focused procurement services for the FRC.
• Manage a range of end-to-end procurement exercises, including the use of Framework Agreements and/or Find a Tender where applicable.
• Manage a portfolio of procurement and contract-related activity, including change control and Notices of Termination.
• Identify and deliver cost savings, process efficiencies and procurement improvements, including contributing to technology solutions that enhance team processes and reporting.
• Work with internal stakeholders to understand business needs, provide procurement advice and support effective delivery of procurement activity.
• Engage with external suppliers to obtain information, quotations, proposals and other procurement-related inputs.
• Maintain and report on data within the FRC’s Contracts Database, ensuring information supports effective management information reporting.
• Design, coordinate and manage tender processes, including preparing tender documents, capturing expressions of interest, managing Q&A, developing evaluation criteria and methodology, and communicating outcomes.
• Support the Head of Procurement & Contracts in delivering the strategic objectives of the procurement function.
• Share knowledge and good practice across the FRC’s procurement team to support consistency, learning and continuous improvement.
• Undertake other procurement, commercial or contract-related activities that are appropriate to the role, skills and level of responsibility.
• Manage procurement and contract-related activity across the role’s portfolio.
• The role requires liaison across the whole organisation.
• External suppliers and stakeholders.

Skills, Knowledge & Expertise

• Strong experience of end-to-end procurement activity, including reviewing applicable terms and conditions and supporting compliant commercial decision-making.
• Sound knowledge and experience of public sector procurement, including pre-market engagement, sourcing, contract management and supplier management.
• Good understanding of the professional, legal and regulatory environment in which the procurement function operates, including PCR15 and PA23.
• Qualified or part-qualified member of the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (MCIPS), or working towards an equivalent professional procurement qualification, is desirable.

Essential Skills

• Ability to build effective relationships with colleagues, suppliers and stakeholders, with a strong customer-service ethos.
• Ability to apply procurement requirements in a practical and proportionate way, using sound judgement to support effective outcomes.
• Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret information and apply sound judgement.
• Ability to manage workload effectively.
• Strong attention to detail, with the ability to review information accurately and identify issues that may require further consideration.
• Excellent IT, written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain procurement requirements clearly to a range of audiences.

For more information, please redirect to the recruiter.

The Senior Programme Manager will be responsible for  managing  FFRP, a London wide programme that supports families on low income to access good quality, free and independent advice, in order to prevent or alleviate financial hardship. The ideal candidate will be an experienced project manager, confident in relationship management and in evaluation and monitoring, with a strong understanding of the free legal advice sector in London. 

Senior Digital Channels Analytics Manager

£45,167 + excellent benefits

Woking, Surrey GU21 4LL / Hybrid Working (minimum 40% in person collaboration per month)

Join us at WWF-UK – Senior Digital Channels Analytics Manager

About the role

We’re excited to be recruiting a Senior Digital Channels Analytics Manager to join WWF-UK.

In this role, you’ll lead our digital channel analytics capability across web, email, social and paid media, helping teams understand what is working, where we can improve and how digital activity supports supporter experience, engagement and meaningful action.

You’ll act as the organisational expert for digital channel analytics, providing the insight, standards and expertise needed to inform decisions across fundraising, communications and digital activity. You’ll help ensure our digital data is robust, compliant and actionable, and that insight is used consistently to improve performance, planning and evaluation.

You’ll own and develop our digital analytics tools and platforms, including Google Analytics, Google Tag Manager, Hotjar, Hootsuite and native social analytics tools. You’ll also support consistent campaign tracking, clear governance and accessible reporting across our digital estate.

This role will involve providing high-quality insight across web, email, social and paid media, including social listening, sentiment analysis, paid media attribution, A/B testing and conversion optimisation. You’ll work closely with teams and agencies to ensure tracking is set up effectively, learning is captured and insight is translated into practical recommendations.

You’ll also play an important role in supporting compliance, including cookie banner management and alignment with GDPR, ePrivacy and ICO guidance. Alongside this, you’ll monitor emerging trends, technologies and changes in the digital media landscape, helping WWF-UK understand what they mean for analytics, measurement, SEO, GEO and brand traffic.

Skills and experience

You’ll bring the skills and experience needed to succeed in this role, including:

Essential

• Significant experience working in a digital, new media or marketing analytics role

• Deep expertise in digital and social analytics, with the ability to interpret performance and identify strategic implications

• Advanced Google Analytics and Google Tag Manager expertise, including implementation, event tracking and data layer understanding

• Experience owning or managing digital analytics tools and platforms, with a strong focus on data quality, access controls, naming conventions and documentation

• Strong understanding of campaign tracking, attribution and digital measurement across web, email, social and paid media

• Experience delivering clear, accessible reports, dashboards and presentations that support decision-making

• Strong communication skills, with the ability to translate complex technical insight into clear, actionable guidance for different audiences

• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build trust in insight, recommendations and measurement approaches

• Understanding of data protection, GDPR and ePrivacy requirements relevant to digital analytics and measurement

• Ability to manage competing priorities and reporting needs while maintaining quality and consistency

• A proactive, analytical mindset with a focus on continuous improvement

• A clear commitment to WWF-UK’s mission, values and ethical standards

Desirable

• Experience using tools such as Hotjar, Hootsuite, Brandwatch, Looker Studio, Tableau or Power BI

• Experience using social analytics and listening tools, including sentiment analysis and competitor benchmarking

• Experience supporting paid digital media measurement across platforms such as Meta and Google Ads

• Experience working with fundraising, supporter or first-party data to inform insight and decision-making

• Experience with A/B testing and conversion optimisation tools, such as AB Tasty

• Experience with SEO and GEO tools such as Moz, Ahrefs or SEMrush

• Experience identifying emerging trends and technologies affecting digital media measurement, including developments in GEO and impacts on SEO and brand traffic

• Experience working in a charity, purpose-led or complex stakeholder environment

• Degree-level qualification or equivalent experience demonstrating strong digital, data or analytical capability

What we offer

We believe in rewarding our team with more than just a salary. Here’s what you can expect:

• Annual leave starting at 26 days a year pro-rated, rising one day each year to 31 days plus bank holidays

• Flexible working options, to support your work life balance

• 5% employer contribution to pension, rising to 10% with employee contribution

• Learning and development opportunities to help you grow

• Regular wellbeing initiatives to support your health and happiness.

This is a UK based contract, and you are required to have the Right to Work in the UK. Unfortunately, we’re unable to offer sponsorship and any offer of employment will be subject to evidence of your Right to Work in the UK.

This role is hybrid with a minimum 40% of your contracted hours spent at our beautiful UK head office, the Living Planet Centre in Woking, Surrey, where you’ll hot desk among trees and gardens.

About WWF-UK

We're a global conservation charity with millions of supporters and hundreds of projects around the world.

At WWF-UK, we’re bringing our world back to life. Protecting what’s left isn’t enough. We’re racing to restore nature and prevent catastrophic climate change. And it’s a race we can win with everyone’s help.

We’re courageous, passionate, and driven by science. For more than 60 years we’ve been at the forefront of global efforts to protect wildlife and the natural world. We work with integrity, collaboration and deep respect for those we partner with.

How to apply

Click the link to apply via our website. You’ll be asked to complete an application form and upload your CV and a supporting statement that tells us why you’ll be a great addition to WWF-UK.

Application closing date - 17/08/2026

Our Diversity Promise to You

At the heart of our mission is a simple truth: the planet needs everyone. That means you - in all your uniqueness, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or how you choose to express yourself.

We don’t do stereotypes. We work together with purpose, driven by passion and enhanced by respect, courage, and integrity. We pull together from all walks of life to fight for a better future, and we want you to feel supported every step of the way.

We’re proud to be a Disability Confident employer and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels they belong. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and identities.

So, if there’s anything we can do to make your application or interview experience more comfortable or accessible, just give our Talent Acquisition Team a shout via our website.

Safeguarding Commitment

Just as we celebrate diversity in all its forms, we are equally dedicated to creating a safe environment for every person we work with or encounter.

Our commitment extends to children, adults at risk, and individuals experiencing any form of vulnerability, whether temporary or permanent.

We proudly stand behind CAPSEAH (Common Approach to Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Sexual Abuse and Sexual Harassment) and put this commitment into action through clear policies, thorough training, and recruitment checks tailored to each role, which may include external vetting.

If you ever have a concern, however big or small, know that there are confidential channels ready to support you at WWF-UK. We promise to respond promptly and with care, because protecting every individual is at the heart of everything we do.

The Hepatitis C Trust (HCT) is the UK patient-led charity for hepatitis C. The arrival of highly effective drugs allows us to cure almost everyone who has access to them. We now have an unprecedented opportunity to eliminate hepatitis C by 2030.

We are looking for a passionate and skilled manager who has excellent communication and organisational skills. Working under the guidance of the Southern Regional Manager, you will oversee a staff team and an expanding network of peer programs across Surrey.

Experience of working with disadvantaged groups and an understanding of providing services to vulnerable people is essential, alongside an understanding of how lived experience can support this work.

Your work will involve maintaining and monitoring our existing HCT peer projects across Surrey. This will involve providing support and supervision to existing staff, managing operational issues on a day-to-day basis and overseeing the management of local projects. 

This post also involves regular liaison with external partners across the region, including key stakeholders and NHS colleagues at the Surrey Operational Delivery Network (ODN), alongside drug and alcohol services, hostels, outreach services etc.

We may begin interviewing candidates before the closing date and reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a suitable candidate is appointed.

Job Description and Person Specification

Job title Participation Manager

Hours 35 hours per week. We are opening to discussing flexible arrangements – please highlight any requests when applying.

Length of contract  12 months

Location Hybrid work between home and our Vauxhall office. Please read more about our approach to hybrid working in the relevant section below.

Reports to Director of Evidence and Improvement

National Voices

Making what matters to people matter in health and care

National Voices is the leading coalition of health and social care charities in England. We have more than 200 members covering a diverse range of health conditions and communities, connecting us with the experiences of millions of people. We work together to strengthen the voice of people: patients, service users, carers, their families, and the voluntary organisations that work for them.

Our Vision: People shaping their health and care.

Our Mission: We advocate for more inclusive and person centred health and care, shaped by the people who use and need it the most.

We do this by:
 

• Understanding and advocating for what matters to people especially those living with health conditions and groups who experience inequalities.
• Finding common cause across communities and conditions by working with member charities and those they support.
• Connecting and convening charities, decision makers and citizens to work together to change health and care for good.

The Role

At National Voices, our aim is to make what matters to people matter in health and care. Too often, we see decisions made about the design of health and care services which don’t consider the people who use and need those services – especially those with long term conditions and from groups experiencing inequality. While the intentions of decision makers are usually good, they can unwittingly develop services which are difficult to access, stressful to experience and which don’t enable people to live life to its full potential.

We believe that if health and care leaders were better supported to meaningfully involve people living with health conditions, disability, inequality and their carers in decisions about how services are delivered then our NHS and social care services would be more equitable, and person centred.

At National Voices, we believe that this can best be achieved by connecting health and care leaders in health and care to key groups including:

• Leaders within the patient participation movement, who can support and advise health and care leaders on how to share power with people and communities using coaching and quality improvement techniques, and by acting as a critical friend.
• Leaders from voluntary sector organisations and community groups, who can bring insight into the needs, experiences and priorities of the communities they serve. They can identify opportunities to improve how services are designed and delivered, and help connect decision-makers with communities whose voices are often underrepresented.
• People with lived experience of inequality, particular conditions or services, who bring unique expertise based on their direct experience of care. They can provide timely insight into the impact of policies and services, helping decision-makers stay tuned to current needs, experiences and priorities, rather than relying on historical evidence or assumptions.

We are looking for a Participation Manager who can lead on the design, development and delivery of funded projects that generate insight, support improvement, and enable meaningful participation in health and care decision making. This will include end-to-end responsibility for project design, delivery, reporting and impact.

Projects may include designing and delivering activity such as workshops, coordinating lived experience advisory groups, coordinating coalitions of VCSE organisations, undertaking qualitative research, facilitation and engagement work. The postholder will need sufficient breadth of experience across these areas to confidently design and steer programmes, while drawing on colleagues, partners and associates for specialist input where needed.

You will be responsible for overall programme management - ensuring projects are well planned, appropriately resourced, and delivered on time, within budget and to a high standard. This includes managing risks, reporting requirements and funder relationships.

Projects may also include co-ordinating the delivery of Voices for Improvement coaching relationships and workshops on meaningful participation. We are open to a Participation Manager who has skills and experience around coaching theory and practice, however, we can also bring in external Associates with this subject matter expertise where needed to guide and supervise the coaching elements of the process.

You will also play an active role in identifying and developing new funding and partnership opportunities, contributing to the growth of National Voices’ portfolio of externally funded work.

Finally, where needed, you will also work collaboratively with another Participation Manager who leads National Voices’ Lived Experience Partner programme, membership scheme and partnership programme. You will contribute to these areas where required, particularly where they intersect with funded projects, but they will not be the primary focus of this role.

Responsibilities

Lead the development and delivery of funded participation projects

Lead the end-to-end design, delivery and management of funded programmes and projects that generate insight, support improvement and drive meaningful participation in health and care, including:

• Lead on shaping, securing and delivering funded projects from proposal stage through to completion, ensuring clear outcomes and impact
• Design and oversee programmes that may include research, engagement and participatory activity, such as qualitative and quantitative research, stakeholder engagement and participation work
• Convene and coordinate a range of delivery approaches including advisory groups, workshops, events, VCSE engagement and system partner collaboration
• Ensure delivery is well planned, resourced and managed, including oversight of budgets, timelines, risks and funder reporting
• Draw on colleagues, partners and associates for specialist expertise where needed, while holding overall responsibility for programme design and coherence
• Translate insights and findings into clear, accessible outputs in collaboration with policy and communications colleagues to support influence and impact
• Develop and shape new funding opportunities and proposals to grow the organisation’s portfolio of externally funded work

Deliver coaching and engagement programmes

Manage the delivery of structured coaching and engagement programmes, including National Voices’ Voices for Improvement model, where included within funded projects:

• Oversee delivery of coaching and engagement activity including matching, coordination and participant support
• Ensure coaching relationships between people with lived experience and system leaders are well supported and of high quality
• Contribute to the design and facilitation of associated engagement or learning sessions where required
• Work with associates or external specialists to bring in coaching or quality improvement expertise where needed
• Capture learning, feedback and impact from coaching programmes and contribute to funder reporting, case studies and evaluation outputs

Contribute to wider participation programmes

Work collaboratively with another Participation Manager to support integration with National Voices’ wider participation infrastructure:

• Contribute where relevant to the Lived Experience Partner programme, membership scheme and partnership programme
• Support the involvement of lived experience partners, members and partners in funded projects and engagement activity
• Ensure alignment across programmes and share learning between project delivery and participation infrastructure

General

• Provide line management to one Project Officer within the team, if needed - quality assuring outputs, holding regular 1-2-1s as well as setting annual objectives and completing appraisals.
• Provide matrix management for other National Voices colleagues as and when required.
• Work in sync with other managers across National Voices, contributing to a joined-up, supportive team culture.
• Deputise for the Director of Evidence and Improvement, or other senior colleagues, when required.
• Follow organisational processes to measure, monitor and communicate the impact of our work
• Support good project, financial and data management

Person Specification

Values, attitudes and behaviours

• Passionate about National Voices’ mission and the meaningful involvement of people with lived experience
• Strong commitment to equity, inclusion, and reducing health inequalities
• Proactive, flexible, and responsive, with a willingness to work in complexity
• Comfortable working both collaboratively and independently, taking ownership of delivery
• Calm under pressure and able to manage multiple priorities and tight deadlines without compromising quality
• Confident engaging with a wide range of stakeholders, including constructively challenging where appropriate
• Entrepreneurial - able to spot opportunities for growth, collaboration, and impact
• Energised by variety, able to work across diverse themes while identifying connections and opportunities

Skills and abilities

• Strong programme and/or project management skills, with demonstrable experience of leading complex, multi-stakeholder funded programmes from design through to delivery and completion
• Ability to shape ideas into deliverable programmes, including contributing to funding bids, designing delivery approaches, and translating proposals into practical delivery plans
• Strong analytical and synthesis skills, with the ability to translate complex qualitative and quantitative insight into clear, structured outputs that inform decision making and drive action
• Excellent organisational skills, including planning, prioritisation, risk management and delivery of high-quality work to deadlines
• Confident stakeholder and relationship management skills, with experience working across partners, funders, subcontractors, commissioned work and multi-organisation collaborations
• Strong facilitation and engagement skills, including designing and delivering workshops, events and participatory sessions for diverse audiences
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to produce clear, accessible written outputs and presentations
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to work collaboratively, support others in delivery, and contribute to shared outcomes

Experience, knowledge and understanding

• Demonstrable experience of leading or delivering participation work with people with lived experience, ideally addressing inequality
• Strong experience of designing and delivering insight generation projects (qualitative and/or quantitative) that have led to real-world impact and improvement
• Experience of working meaningfully with people experiencing inequalities in safe and inclusive ways
• Experience of managing projects, budgets, and multiple stakeholders, working with a high degree of autonomy
• Experience of managing partnerships, funders, or commissioned work, including contributing to income generation
• Experience of facilitating workshops, events, or participatory sessions
• Understanding of the health and care landscape
• Good understanding of the participation landscape, with the ability to act as a credible contributor in the field (desirable)
• Experience of managing or contributing to coalitions or networks of VCSE or membership organisations (desirable)
• Understanding of mixed methods (qualitative and quantitative) approaches to evidence generation and analysis (desirable)
• Coaching and/or quality improvement qualifications (desirable)
• Lived experience of disability, caring responsibilities and/or inequality (desirable)

Our approach to hybrid working

We recognise the importance of coming together regularly, in-person, as a team, so we can share learnings and spend social time with each other. We also recognise that people need flexibility, and that homeworking enables focused work and can fit well in people’s lives.

We ask all staff to take part in pre-arranged team meetings which take place every six weeks in our office space. We also might ask you to meet in-person with members of your team from time to time, or to be available for face-to- face meetings with clients and partners where this enhances the work.

We assume that this would usually not amount to more than one day per fortnight for people who work full time. We are happy to discuss how this sits in your life. This can be agreed by your line manager.

Please note that our offices are fully wheelchair accessible and that we are committed to making our workplace fully inclusive.

Application guidance

Please submit a CV and cover letter to apply. We are also recruiting a permanent Participation Manager role at the same time. If you would like your application to be for both roles, please make this clear in your cover letter.

You're welcome to use AI tools to help you prepare your application. However, we encourage you to make sure your application reflects your own voice and experiences. We often see similar AI-generated writing styles, which can make applications less distinctive. As a charity, we're particularly interested in hearing why our mission matters to you and how your values align with ours.

Please specify any access or other requirements of which we need to be aware for the online interview.

The deadline for applications is 5pm on Thursday 30th July.  

The interviews will take place in early August on Microsoft Teams. Details of an interview task and interview questions will be emailed to you in advance.

We are committed to diversifying our team in order to broaden the insight and experiences we can draw on, and to do our work more credibly. In particular, we would welcome applications from older people, disabled people and people who have experienced socioeconomic inequality. Our offices are fully accessible and we are a Disability Confident and an LGBT+ friendly employer.

Drive quality, lead change and make a lasting difference! 

About Us

Carers Trust Heart of England exists to improve the lives of family carers and the people they care for. We provide information, advice, and a wide range of practical and emotional support to unpaid carers and people with care and support needs. Our work is rooted in compassion, partnership, and a commitment to high-quality, person-centred services.

Our Regulated Activities and Contract Scope

The Care Services Manager will have responsibility across our regulated and associated services, which currently include:

•  Domiciliary care (personal care in people's homes)

  •  Short Breaks and Emergency Respite (including sleep-in provision)

  •  Dementia Wraparound Support

  •  Day Break Day Services (currently unregulated)

We hold contracts and funding arrangements across several commissioners and funders. The postholder will be responsible for ensuring that care and support is delivered in accordance with all relevant contractual and funding requirements.

The Role

The Care Services Manager will hold personal CQC accountability for the quality, safety, and compliance of our regulated services. While this is fundamentally a strategic leadership and governance role, our regulated services are currently at an important stage of development. As such, we are looking for someone who is equally comfortable providing visible, hands-on operational delivery when needed.

Initially, the successful candidate will spend time working closely with the day-to-day operation of the service, building strong relationships with Care Support Workers and the people we support, strengthening systems and processes, and ensuring consistently high standards of care.

This is an opportunity to play a key role in embedding best practice and supporting the continued growth and improvement of the service. As the service develops, the emphasis of the role will increasingly shift towards strategic leadership, quality assurance, governance, service improvement and future development.

The successful candidate will be able to recognise what the service needs at any given time and adapt their approach accordingly, remaining visible and involved operationally where appropriate, while driving long-term quality, compliance and continuous improvement.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary

• Starting annual leave entitlement of 25 days, increasing with service to a maximum of 30 days (and Bank Holidays),             plus your 'birtholiday'

• Pension contribution scheme

• Benefits platform offering flexible high street savings and discounts on top brands

• Employee Assistance Programme and wellbeing platform

• Ongoing training and development opportunities

• A supportive, values-led organisation that makes a real difference to carers’ lives and the people they care for

Key Responsibilities

1. Leading and Managing the Service

• Hold CQC registration and personal accountability for the quality, safety and compliance of all regulated care activities delivered by the organisation.

• Provide day-to-day operational leadership of the care service(s), being genuinely present and accessible to care support workers, coordinators, and senior staff, particularly in the early period of the role.

• Line manages the coordination and care team, providing regular supervision, clear direction, and honest feedback.

• Be willing to get involved in operational problem-solving when needed, covering gaps in coordination, stepping in on complex cases, supporting the team through difficult periods, while also working to build the capacity that, over time, reduces the need for this.

• Build and sustain a team culture where staff feel supported, valued, and clear about what is expected of them.

• Manage performance and conduct fairly and consistently, with appropriate HR support.

2. Quality, Compliance and Safeguarding

• Ensure the service always operates in compliance with the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and CQC Fundamental Standards.

• Maintain continuous inspection readiness under the CQC Single Assessment Framework, understanding that ratings can be updated at any point, not just following a scheduled visit.

• Act as a named safeguarding lead, recognising, reporting, managing, and recording safeguarding concerns across all regulated services.

• Lead a meaningful quality assurance programme, involving audits, spot checks, care plan reviews, complaint analysis, and use findings to drive improvements.

• Submit CQC notifications accurately and on time and ensure the Statement of Purpose and all governance documentation accurately reflects what the service does.

• Monitor care quality through ECM data, visit records, staff feedback and regular engagement with service users and their families, remaining closely connected to the day-to-day service delivery to identify and address emerging issues before they escalate.

• Ensure care and support delivery across all services remains within the scope of relevant contractual and funding arrangements, and that any changes to the service scope, volume or specification are identified and escalated appropriately.

3. Care Planning and Service User Relationships

• Ensure every service user has a current, person-centred care plan that reflects their needs, preferences and risks.

• Oversee and contribute to care assessments and reviews, including involvement in complex cases, multi-agency reviews and situations where a senior presence is needed.

• Build and maintain positive relationships with service users, their families, and carers, being accessible, responsive, and honest whether managing concerns or recognising success.

• Ensure that the service user experience and what it actually feels like to be supported by our service is at the centre of how quality is assessed, monitored and improved.

4. Safe Recruitment, Staffing and Workforce

• Ensure all staff are recruited safely and in line with statutory and regulatory requirements, with appropriate DBS checks, references, right-to-work verification, and safer recruitment processes completed before delivering regulated care.

• Manage all aspects of the Skilled Worker visa sponsorship process, including sponsorship applications, compliance monitoring, record keeping, and reporting requirements in line with Home Office regulations.

• Lead on workforce development, identifying training needs, commissioning training, maintaining records, and ensuring all staff are competent for the care they deliver.

• Ensure a regular and effective programme of one-to-one meetings, supervision, probation reviews and annual appraisals is maintained across the service, addressing performance, development, wellbeing, and any concerns in a timely manner.

• Support, and where appropriate, lead HR processes, including investigations, disciplinary, performance management, grievance, and absence management meetings, working closely with HR to ensure a fair, consistent and legally compliant approach.

• Ensure the on-call and lone working frameworks are in place, understood by all staff and working in practice.

• Participate in the senior management on-call rota, providing advice, support and decision making in response to serious incidents, safeguarding concerns, deaths, and any other urgent operational matters requiring immediate senior attention.

• Participation in a shared on-call rota, including evenings/over-night and weekends, and bank holidays where scheduled.

5. Working with Senior Leadership

• Work closely with the Head of Operations (Deputy CEO) reporting on service performance, escalating concerns, contributing to strategic decisions, and supporting the organisation's broader development.

• Contribute to commissioner relationships and contract management, including monitoring reporting, quality submissions and attendance at review meetings.

• Play an active part in shaping how the service develops, bringing operational knowledge and professional judgement to decisions about what the service does, how it is structured and where it grows.

• Demonstrate the confidence to communicate honestly, raise difficult issues and challenge constructively in the best interests of the service and the people we support.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Qualifications

· Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Adult Care or actively working toward it with a clear and realistic            completion plan.

· Enhanced DBS with adults' barred list or willingness to apply immediately.

· Full UK driving licence and access to own vehicle.

Knowledge

· Strong working knowledge of the CQC Single Assessment Framework how evidence is gathered, what quality                      statements are assessed against, and what continuous inspection readiness means in practice.

· Comprehensive knowledge of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and CQC Fundamental Standards.

· Knowledge of safeguarding adults' legislation and local procedures.

· Knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and how it applies in domiciliary and community care

· Working knowledge of Working Time Regulations and how this practically applies to care rotas and on-call                            arrangements.

· Understanding of contractual compliance in a multi-contract or multi-funder care environment, and the implications of            changes to service scope or volume.

Experience

· Proven experience as a Registered Manager (or equivalent senior care management role) in a CQC-regulated                      domiciliary or community care service.

· Experience of being hands-on in a care management role, understanding when direct operational involvement is                  needed.

· Experience of managing safeguarding, making referrals, managing investigations, recording outcomes, and learning            from them.

· Experience of directly supervising and developing a care team including coordinators, senior carers, and care                        support workers.

· Experience of managing quality across a regulated service, completing audits, spot checks, care plan reviews and                complaint handling.

· Experience of CQC compliance and notifications, including operating under the Single Assessment Framework.

· Experience of managing across multiple service lines or contracts simultaneously, ensuring compliance with each                  commissioner or funder’s specific requirements.

Skills & Abilities

· Able to assess service performance, recognise what is working well, identify challenges and confidently                                  communicate these in a clear and constructive way.

· Willingness and flexibility to be hands-on when required, and confident enough to step back appropriately as the                  service develops.

· Excellent written communication skills, being able to write clearly, accurately, and professionally for a variety of                      audiences (CQC, commissioners and families).

· Excellent verbal communication skills, being able to speak in a clear, honest, and approachable way with care                      workers, service users, families, CQC inspectors and senior colleagues.

· Strong decision-making skills when under pressure, including in safeguarding, serious incidents and out-of-hours                  situations.

· Competent in care management systems — including rostering, ECM, and digital care planning.

Personal Qualities

· Shows the self-awareness, honesty and professional courage to recognise what is working, what is not, and what                  needs to change.

· Demonstrates resilience and calm judgement, remaining focused and clear when faced with challenging or complex              situations or organisational difficulties.

· A caring and compassionate leader with a genuine commitment to making a positive difference to the people we                    support.

· Accountable and takes ownership of outcomes.

· Adaptable and confident working at different levels, recognising when to move between strategic thinking to                          operational problem-solving.

· Collaborative and approachable, with the ability to build positive working relationships and work effectively with                      people at all levels of the organisation.

· Curious and improvement-focused, with a willingness to ask questions, explore new approaches and learn from                    experience.

Salary: : £40,000 pa (Pro rata for part time work)
Hours: Part-time – 4 days per week
Location: Richmond upon Thames (Hybrid working available)
Contract: 12-month fixed-term (with intention to extend, subject to funding)

About the Role

OneRichmond is seeking an experienced and motivated Philanthropy and Partnerships Manager to support the Director in developing and delivering our philanthropy and partnerships strategy.

You will play a key role in identifying, cultivating and securing support from businesses, philanthropists and strategic partners to generate income, unlock new opportunities and strengthen OneRichmond’s impact across the borough.

This is a hands-on, relationship-driven role working closely with the Director, Board and key stakeholders across the public, private and voluntary sectors.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the Director in delivering OneRichmond’s philanthropy and partnerships strategy
• Build and manage relationships with major donors, philanthropists and businesses
• Secure financial and in-kind support from new and existing partners
• Develop compelling proposals, presentations and partnership agreements
• Manage the partnerships pipeline and CRM system
• Track, evaluate and report on partnership impact
• Represent OneRichmond at events and stakeholder meetings
• Work with senior stakeholders to develop new partnership opportunities

About You

You will be an experienced partnership, fundraising or business development professional with a strong track record of building relationships and securing investment.

You will bring:

• Experience in philanthropy, corporate partnerships or business development
• Proven success in securing income or in-kind support
• Strong relationship-building and influencing skills
• Excellent communication and proposal-writing ability
• Strong organisational and CRM management experience
• A proactive, entrepreneurial approach
• Commitment to improving local communities

What We Offer

• Competitive salary (pro rata)
• 25 days’ annual leave (pro rata), plus Bank Holidays
• Flexible and hybrid working
• Modern offices in Richmond
• Employer pension contribution
• Learning and development opportunities
• Supportive, inclusive working culture
• Opportunity to shape a growing organisation
• High-level stakeholder engagement across sectors

Apply

If you are passionate about building partnerships that create lasting social impact, we would love to hear from you.

Join Mersey Rivers Trust and Help Make a Real Impact for Rivers, Wildlife and Communities! 

Are you a skilled finance and governance professional looking to use your expertise for good? Mersey Rivers Trust is seeking a Finance and Governance Manager to join our Senior Leadership Team and help shape the future of our environmental charity. 

We’re a passionate team working to protect and restore rivers across Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire — and we need someone like you to ensure our finances and governance are as strong as our mission. 

APPLICANTS MUST LIVE WITHIN OR CLOSE TO THE MERSEY CATCHMENT – APPLICATIONS FROM OUTSIDE THIS AREA CANNOT BE CONSIDERED.

The Mersey Rivers Trust (MRT) is an environmental charity focussing on the protection and enhancement of rivers and waterbodies in the Mersey Catchment. It operates in an area covering Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire. We have an annual turnover of c£1m and employ 19 staff delivering up to 30 projects per year. The Trust works with partners, local communities, and volunteers to deliver a wide range of projects including river restoration, reduction of flood risk by Natural Flood Management techniques, river monitoring, volunteer events (eg river clean-ups/invasive species control and citizen science), community engagement and education events, farm advice/plans and biodiversity net gain. The Trust continues to evolve to meet the increasing challenges of protecting and enhancing rivers and waterbodies in the catchment.

We are seeking a Finance and Governance Manager to join our Senior Leadership Team and lead the Trust’s finance, governance, and back-office functions. This is a pivotal role focused on ensuring financial integrity, regulatory compliance, and effective charity governance. While not involved in field-based project delivery, the Finance Manager plays a strategic role in supporting the organisation’s mission by enabling robust financial planning, reporting, and operational support. You will work closely with the Chief Executive Officer, Board of Trustees, and project teams to ensure the Trust remains financially resilient and well-governed.

As the Finance and Governance Manager, you should possess expertise in financial control and reporting, allowing you to effectively handle delegated responsibilities. Your numerical skills and critical thinking abilities will enable you to proactively address challenges and streamline processes. 

The role holder will report directly to the Chief Executive Officer and will be a member of the Senior Leadership Team. The role will also include direct line management responsibilities of the Administration Officer. 

If you are a motivated financial professional with a passion for driving organisational success, we invite you to apply and contribute to our team’s growth. 

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the management of the back-office function and Charity governance of MRT. 

• Act as the Company Secretary to ensure compliance with financial and legal requirements, as well as maintaining high standards of Charity governance. 

• Work with the Chief Executive Officer to prepare and manage budgets, provide input to the Trust’s business plan and strategic initiatives. 

• Contribute to the strategic direction of the Trust as a member of the Senior Leadership Team. 

• Provide financial insight and analysis to support strategic decision-making and long-term planning. 

• Support the development and implementation of organisational policies and procedures to ensure good governance. 

• Act as a key liaison with the Board of Trustees, preparing and presenting financial and governance reports to inform oversight and decision-making. 

• Lead on the development of internal controls and risk management strategies to safeguard the Trust’s assets and reputation. 

• Oversee all payments, manage cash flow, income and claims. 

• Support financial planning for grant funding applications to support delivery of our objectives. 

• Line management of the Administration Officer. 

• Renew the annual insurance policy ensuring adequate cover and value for money. 

• Maintain, oversee, and update all project management reporting systems on time and to budget (including timesheets, expenses and monthly reports). 

• Complete all necessary reports and keep suitable records in line with the funding requirements and document retention policy. 

• Highlight any new risks and issues identified whilst carrying out duties, and work with the team to manage and resolve them. 

• Fulfil duties as assigned by the Chief Executive Officer. 

• Any other reasonable duties as required by MRT. 

The post holder will be home based with travel throughout the Mersey catchment. The applicant will need to live within or close to the Mersey catchment to facilitate regular travel to meetings. Remote working from other parts of the country cannot be considered for this role due to the need for regular face-to-face interactions.

Candidate Profile

Essential 

• A financial control and reporting background with an accounting qualification (e.g. AAT, CIMA) or qualified by experience. 

• Experience of organisational governance, ideally with knowledge of UK General Accounting Practice and Charities regulations. 

• Experience of financial and management reporting within a small to medium-sized charitable or not for profit organisation. 

• Experience of liaising with accountants to prepare annual accounts and reports required by the Charity Commission. 

• Experience of cash flow forecasting. 

• Familiarity with Xero financial and project management software (or similar). 

• A confident and clear communicator with the ability to communicate financial information in an appropriate manner for non-financial trustees and staff. 

• Aptitude in problem-solving. 

• Self-motivated and able to work effectively from home with strong communication skills and with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail. 

• Ability to work flexibly across the working week when necessary. 

• Ability to prioritise and plan activities to meet strict deadlines. 

• Excellent literacy, numeracy and report-writing skills. 

• Excellent presentation and communication skills. 

• Strong negotiation and influencing skills. 

• Good computer literacy skills (e.g. with Excel, Word, PowerPoint and project reporting systems). 

• A reliable team player with good attendance and work performance. 

• Ability to set performance objectives and ensure these are achieved. 

Desirable 

• Experience in financial planning for funding applications. 

• Understanding of small-scale charitable trading. 

• Experience of commercial contract management. 

• Experience of managing an IT service provider.

• Knowledge of the Mersey Catchment.

• Experience in Human Resources

General Notes

• Some travel around the Mersey Catchment will be necessary therefore a current driving licence and access to a vehicle (insured for business use) is desirable or otherwise access to public transport networks. 
• This positive will from time to time requires work during some evenings, weekends and public holidays to meet the needs of the post. A time off in lieu system is operated by the Trust.

• We will also require the successful applicant to undergo a basic DBS check and provide satisfactory references from previous employers. 

Term and Conditions

The following terms and conditions are typically offered to Mersey Rivers Trust staff and are set out as a guide only. Terms and conditions may vary according to circumstances, and this summary does not form part of any subsequent employment

Annual leave: 25 days annual leave (pro rata) plus bank holidays that fall on working days and a 3 day shutdown between Christmas and New Year.

Location: Home Based

Participation Manager

Job Description and Person Specification

Job title Participation Manager

Hours 35 hours per week. We are opening to discussing flexible arrangements – please highlight any requests when applying.

Length of contract  Permanent

Location Hybrid work between home and our Vauxhall office. Please read more about our approach to hybrid working in the relevant section below.

Reports to Director of Evidence and Improvement

National Voices

Making what matters to people matter in health and care

National Voices is the leading coalition of health and social care charities in England. We have more than 200 members covering a diverse range of health conditions and communities, connecting us with the experiences of millions of people. We work together to strengthen the voice of people: patients, service users, carers, their families, and the voluntary organisations that work for them.

Our Vision: People shaping their health and care.

Our Mission: We advocate for more inclusive and person centred health and care, shaped by the people who use and need it the most.

We do this by:
 

· Understanding and advocating for what matters to people especially those living with health conditions and groups who experience inequalities.

· Finding common cause across communities and conditions by working with member charities and those they support.

· Connecting and convening charities, decision makers and citizens to work together to change health and care for good.

The Role

At National Voices, our aim is to make what matters to people matter in health and care. Too often, we see decisions made about the design of health and care services which don’t consider the people who use and need those services – especially those with long term conditions and from groups experiencing inequality. While the intentions of decision makers are usually good, they can unwittingly develop services which are difficult to access, stressful to experience and which don’t enable people to live life to its full potential.

We believe that if health and care leaders were better supported to meaningfully involve people living with health conditions, disability, inequality and their carers in decisions about how services are delivered then our NHS and social care services would be more equitable, and person centred.

At National Voices, we believe that this can best be achieved by connecting health and care leaders in health and care to key groups including:

· Leaders within the patient participation movement, who can support and advise health and care leaders on how to share power with people and communities using coaching and quality improvement techniques, and by acting as a critical friend.

· Leaders from voluntary sector organisations and community groups, who can bring insight into the needs, experiences and priorities of the communities they serve. They can identify opportunities to improve how services are designed and delivered, and help connect decision-makers with communities whose voices are often underrepresented.

· People with lived experience of inequality, particular conditions or services, who bring unique expertise based on their direct experience of care. They can provide timely insight into the impact of policies and services, helping decision-makers stay tuned to current needs, experiences and priorities, rather than relying on historical evidence or assumptions.

We are looking for a Participation Manager who can manage our lived experience programme, our membership scheme and our partnership scheme. This role will ensure that where there are opportunities for people and communities to shape health and care, National Voices has the right relationships, processes and support systems in place to connect decision makers with our Lived Experience Partners, members and people with lived experience.

The Participation Manager will:

· Lead National Voices’ Lived Experience Partner programme by strengthening engagement and participation, investing in members’ knowledge, skills and confidence, and ensuring lived experience insights shape our work.

· Lead National Voices’ membership scheme by driving engagement, retention and inclusion, strengthening member relationships, embedding member insights across the organisation, and overseeing satisfaction, records and knowledge management.

· Lead National Voices’ scheme by managing partner engagement, retention and recruitment, overseeing delivery of the partnership offer, and ensuring partners receive high-quality advice, insight, connections and access to relevant people and communities.

· Develop and deliver funded projects, supporting income generation and securing resources to advance National Voices’ strategic priorities.

The Participation Manager will work in collaboration with:

· Policy and communications colleagues who have worked hard to ensure when we capture insights from people and communities, we have established relationships and ways of communicating with key players in health and care so that insights collected lead to impact.

· Research and insight colleagues who have expertise around qualitative research methods and inclusive engagement, who regularly deliver high quality qualitative research on a range of topics and on a range of topics – often focussed on surfacing the experiences of those least well served by health and care services.

· Colleagues across the organisation who lead and contribute to member and partner benefits, including policy forums, networking opportunities, events and other engagement activities.

The Participation Manager will play a central role in ensuring National Voices’ lives its values around meaningful participation so that in both our internal and external work people and communities are engaged in a timely and inclusive way, using methods that ensure their input is heard and acted upon, and their knowledge, priorities, and contributions are recognised and fairly valued.

Responsibilities

Lead our Lived Experience Partner programme

National Voices’ Lived Experience Partners are a group of 15 people who have significant experience of navigating the health and care system, expertise in meaningful participation and who have received training and support to enable constructive and strategic input into improving health and care. The majority of Lived Experience Partners have also accessed learning around coaching and are regularly matched into coaching relationships with senior leaders in health and care. Your role will be to:

· Deliver meetings where our Lived Experience Partners have opportunities for peer learning and opportunities to influence live pieces of work.

· Gather insights from our Lived Experience Partners on how they are experiencing working with National Voices and how they want to grow.

· Ensure our Lived Experience Partners are supported to grow in their knowledge, skills and confidence to influence decision making – through 1:1 catch ups, training and more.

· Lead our work matching Lived Experience Partners in high quality coaching relationships with senior leaders in health and care, ensuring that coaching duos have the support they need to gain value from the relationship.

· Diversify and grow our network of Lived Experience Partners as needed.

Lead our membership programme

National Voices’ members are a group of over 200 not-for-profit organisations who serve a diverse range of communities, including: condition-specific charities - such as Diabetes UK, Allergy UK and Lupus UK; equality charities - such as the Caribbean and African Health Network, Groundswell and National Ugly Mugs; other health, care and community based organisations – such as Compassion in Dying, Pain UK and Patient Information Forum. Our members include some of the biggest and smallest charities in England. They connect us with the experience of millions of people. Your role will be to:

· Direct the activities of our membership working group, taking lead responsibility for member engagement, stewardship, renewals, support and retention.

· Deepen the relationship with our membership, ensuring that we have the structures in place to understand their ambitions, insights, practice and ideas.

· Collaborate with colleagues across the team to ensure our members’ insights become more central to everything that we do.

· Diversify and grow our membership.

· Oversee our annual survey on member satisfaction.

· Oversee improvements in records and knowledge management.

Lead our partnership programme

National Voices’ Partners are a small group of impactful organisations who want to join National Voices in achieving our mission of making what matters to people matter in health and care, including the Nuffield Trust, the Kings Fund, the Nursing and Midwifery Council and others. Your role will be to:

· Take lead responsibility for engagement, stewardship, renewals, support and retention of organisations in our partnership scheme.

· Oversee the delivery of the partnership offer – co-ordinating requests which come from partners and collaborating with colleagues, members and Lived Experience Partners to ensure partners receive high-quality advice, insight, connections and access to relevant people and communities.

Develop and deliver funded projects

· Identify opportunities for collaboration, partnership and income generation that support our strategic priorities – leading on selected funding bids and supporting others as required.

· Develop ideas into clear, fundable proposals and secured projects. This may include designing and delivering activity such as workshops, coordinating advisory or lived experience groups, undertaking qualitative research, facilitation and engagement work.

· Plan confidently and realistically across lived experience workstreams, taking accountability for delivery, spend, and completion of agreed outcomes.

· Manage projects, programmes and budgets in partnership with colleagues and stakeholders, putting in place effective systems to ensure timely, high-quality delivery and reporting.

General

• Provide line management one Project Officer within the team, quality assuring outputs, holding regular 1-2-1s as well as setting annual objectives and completing appraisals.
• Provide matrix management for other National Voices colleagues as and when required.
• Work in sync with other managers across National Voices, contributing to a joined-up, supportive team culture.
• Deputise for the Director of Evidence and Improvement, or other senior colleagues, when required.

· Follow organisational processes to measure, monitor and communicate the impact of our work

· Support good project, financial and data management

Person Specification

Values, attitudes and behaviours

· Passionate about National Voices’ mission and the meaningful involvement of people with lived experience

· Strong commitment to equity, inclusion, and reducing health inequalities

· Proactive, flexible, and responsive, with a willingness to work in complexity

· Comfortable working both collaboratively and independently, taking ownership of delivery

· Calm under pressure and able to manage multiple priorities and tight deadlines without compromising quality

· Confident engaging with a wide range of stakeholders, including constructively challenging where appropriate

· Entrepreneurial - able to spot opportunities for growth, collaboration, and impact

· Energised by variety, able to work across diverse themes while identifying connections and opportunities

Skills and abilities

· Strong project and/or programme management skills, with demonstrable experience delivering complex, multi-stakeholder work

· Excellent organisational skills, including the ability to prioritise, plan, manage risk, and maintain high-quality delivery

· Strong communication skills, including the ability to translate complex insight and evidence into clear, accessible outputs

· Confident relationship and stakeholder management skills, including working with partners, subcontractors, and commissioned work

· Excellent facilitation and presentation skills, including delivering workshops and events to diverse audiences

Experience, knowledge and understanding

· Demonstrable experience of leading or delivering participation work with people with lived experience, ideally addressing inequality

· Strong experience of designing and delivering insight generation projects (qualitative and/or quantitative) that have led to real-world impact and improvement

· Experience of working meaningfully with people experiencing inequalities in safe and inclusive ways

· Experience of managing projects, budgets, and multiple stakeholders, working with a high degree of autonomy

· Experience of managing partnerships, funders, or commissioned work, including contributing to income generation

· Experience of facilitating workshops, events, or participatory sessions

· Understanding of the health and care landscape

· Good understanding of the participation landscape, with the ability to act as a credible contributor in the field (desirable)

· Experience of managing or contributing to coalitions or networks of VCSE or membership organisations (desirable)

· Understanding of mixed methods (qualitative and quantitative) approaches to evidence generation and analysis (desirable)

· Coaching and/or quality improvement qualifications (desirable)

· Lived experience of disability, caring responsibilities and/or inequality (desirable)

Our approach to hybrid working

We recognise the importance of coming together regularly, in-person, as a team, so we can share learnings and spend social time with each other. We also recognise that people need flexibility, and that homeworking enables focused work and can fit well in people’s lives.

We ask all staff to take part in pre-arranged team meetings which take place every six weeks in our office space. We also might ask you to meet in-person with members of your team from time to time, or to be available for face-to- face meetings with clients and partners where this enhances the work.

We assume that this would usually not amount to more than one day per fortnight for people who work full time. We are happy to discuss how this sits in your life. This can be agreed by your line manager.

Please note that our offices are fully wheelchair accessible and that we are committed to making our workplace fully inclusive.

Application guidance

Please submit a CV and cover letter to apply. We are also recruiting a 12 month fixed term Participation Manager role at the same time. If you would like your application to be for both roles, please make this clear when applying. 

Applications should be addressed to our Director Evidence and Improvement, Sarah Sweeney, and submitted through CharityJob.

You're welcome to use AI tools to help you prepare your application. However, we encourage you to make sure your application reflects your own voice and experiences. We often see similar AI-generated writing styles, which can make applications less distinctive. As a charity, we're particularly interested in hearing why our mission matters to you and how your values align with ours.

Please specify any access or other requirements of which we need to be aware for the online interview.

The deadline for applications is 5pm on Thursday 30th July.  

The interviews will take place in early August on Microsoft Teams. Details of an interview task and interview questions will be emailed to you in advance.

We are committed to diversifying our team in order to broaden the insight and experiences we can draw on, and to do our work more credibly. In particular, we would welcome applications from older people, disabled people and people who have experienced socioeconomic inequality. Our offices are fully accessible and we are a Disability Confident and an LGBT+ friendly employer.