Deputy chief executive officer jobs

Trust Fundraising Executive

Hours: Full-time (35 hours per week)

Location: London N4, but with with the flexibility to work from home part of the week.

Salary: £28,768 (+ a cost of living increase from 1st April 2026 in line with NJC scales)

Contract: Permanent

About us

Prisoners Abroad is a unique human rights and welfare charity providing advice and support to people affected by overseas imprisonment. We help British people during their incarceration, when they return to the UK and need resettlement services, and we also support their family throughout the trauma. It doesn’t matter to us the reasons people find themselves in need of our services – and we never judge. Our range of services make sure they survive, mentally and physically, so that they can face the future with hope.

About the role

This is an exciting time to join our successful fundraising team and support the generation of income for our life-saving work through charitable Trusts and Foundations.

Supporting the successful delivery of our strategy, you will be part of the team who has responsibility for maintaining our relationships with existing Trusts, conducting independent research into both new and existing relationships to identify strong prospects, assisting with the development of compelling cases for support across all our services and having responsibility for a group of Trusts under the guidance and support of your manager.

You might have experience of working in a Trust role and are looking to take that next step in your career, with the opportunity to independently manage a portfolio of Trusts and Foundations while supporting the team on new and innovative ways of raising income. We are also interested in hearing from applicants looking to get into Trust fundraising. A willingness to learn and work with initiative is essential and in return we will support you as you develop your Trust fundraising skills.

Ultimately, a successful candidate will have solid writing and research skills, and the ability to approach the challenges of Trust fundraising for this charity with curiosity, creativity and enthusiasm.

Whether you are looking to develop your skills or bring existing experience to a values-led organisation, this role offers the chance to make a meaningful contribution while continuing to grow professionally.

Interested?

If you are interested, have a read of the recruitment pack that contains further information about this role, the benefits of working at Prisoners Abroad and a link to our application form. If you click 'apply' you will be redirected to our website where you can read more about the amazing work we do. 

Closing Date: 9am on Monday, 9th of February 2026

Following significant expansion over the last 5 years, this new role recognises the need for a cultural shift and realignment on operational efficiency and cultural cohesion. We have a turnover over £5m and employ 100 staff.

We are the largest environmental charity in the North East and punch above our weight in the

influence we exert. Come and help us carve out a sustainable and exciting future for people and

nature. The Deputy CE is a pivotal leadership role, supporting the Chief Executive in delivering the Trust’s strategic objectives and ensuring operational excellence across the

organisation. You will provide strategic oversight, manage governance & compliance, lead

cross-organisational initiatives and deputise for the CEO. You will head up the

business support teams and be responsible for transforming the culture ‘from good to great’.

This is an exciting opportunity for a dynamic and values-driven leader to help shape the future

of nature conservation in the North East.

The contract is for 35 hours a week. Salary is from £58,608 per annum and 5% pension contribution.

The deadline for applications is 9.00 on 20 February 2026. An application form/ job pack is on our website. Note CV’s will not be accepted. 

Who we are

For nearly 90 years, Yateley Industries has supported disabled adults to live, work, learn and play as part of an inclusive community.

Yateley is founded on the principle that disabled people should enjoy the same opportunities as everyone else. We have created a unique ‘village within a village’ environment where people can live independently, gain meaningful employment, learn new skills and connect with their community.

Today, we employ 58 disabled adults in paid supported work, provide safe and affordable accommodation and run a growing range of community and employability programmes.

Our impact is significant. Independent analysis shows that our model generates £5 in social value for every £1 invested in us.

Our next chapter

We are at a critical moment in our development. With demand rising, a 47-unit supported housing estate ready for redevelopment, new commercial opportunities emerging in our factory and increased national interest in supported employment, we are ready to accelerate our plans for growth.

To deliver this, we are appointing a Deputy CEO for Operations and Enterprise to provide strategic operational leadership and drive commercial growth across the organisation. This new role has been created to strengthen our senior team, improve our operational resilience and enable our CEO to focus on external influence, partnerships and national advocacy.

Why this role matters

Supported employment changes lives. National policy is shifting, employers are calling for inclusive recruitment pipelines, and our model provides a return on investment and makes a difference. With a 90-year heritage, a waiting list of people who want to work with us and growing national visibility, this is a rare opportunity to play a central role in transforming a charity with extraordinary potential.

Leading operations, income and enterprise

This is a significant role for us, and you will:

• Lead four major workstreams: intensive housing management, factory commercialisation, tendering and employability and community hub income growth
• Strengthen operational systems, quality assurance, safeguarding, governance and performance monitoring
• Build commercial and social enterprise capability, setting clear targets, developing pricing models and securing new contracts
• Lead the housing transformation programme, including the Intensive Housing Management application, estate planning and recruitment of housing and maintenance posts
• Provide a clear and motivating presence for frontline staff, disabled employees and programme participants

Your aptitude, values and aspiration for your own growth are what we are primarily focused on. We do not expect you to be an expert in every area on day one. You will be empowered to develop and grow, and will have access to specialist support, particularly on housing and tendering.

What matters most is your commitment to supporting disabled people, your willingness to learn how to lead in new areas and your desire to ensure that Yateley can grow and help even more disabled people thrive.

Please click 'Redirect to recruiter’ to be redirected to the Peridot Partners website, where you can find full details of the job description and register your interest to apply.

The Stag operates through a low-risk hall-hire business model. It is not allowed to promote its own shows – it provides the professional facilities for others to hire space and put on shows.

Reporting to the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, the CEO leads a small, professional and dedicated team (currently 20 employees (17.8 FTE)) boosted with part-time casuals in the box office plus a team of volunteers at events. The CEO will ensure the charity fulfils its mission and achieves its charitable objectives whilst maintaining the strong financial sustainability it now enjoys.

The role requires the CEO to a be a BIIAB personal licence holder and to act as Designated Premises Supervisor as well as being the Company Secretary. More details from The Stag's website.

Grade: NJC Point 16 - £18,310.80 per annum (FTE £30,518)
Hours: 22.5 hrs per week (excluding breaks)
Days: To be worked over three days, including a Monday
Contract: Permanent contract, subject to funding and the successful completion of a 6-month probationary period
Responsible to: Deputy Chief Executive
Place of work: Salford CVS’ offices in Eccles, Salford, M30 0FN.

Main Purpose of the Post 

To take the lead for Human Resources within Salford CVS, under the direction of the Deputy Chief Executive.

Salford CVS is recruiting a proactive Human Resources Officer to lead our HR function. Working closely with the Deputy Chief Executive, you’ll manage HR records, support recruitment and induction, ensure compliance with legislation and GDPR, and maintain up‑to‑date HR policies and processes. You’ll also coordinate staff training, benefits, and HR metrics to support organisational development.

This role is ideal for someone organised, confident with HR systems, and passionate about supporting a positive workplace culture.

Specific Duties

• Maintain all Human Resources records for staff members including holiday and absence records, staff appraisals and reviews
• Ensure that current Human Resources legislation is being correctly implemented across the organisation.
• Identify and recommend areas for system improvement
• Ensure that appropriate policies are in place and being followed by the workforce
• Support recruitment process lifecycle
• Support staff inductions and help staff to understand Salford CVS policies and values
• Coordinate any external staff benefit schemes, for example Hospital Saturday Fund
• Coordinate staff training and development requirements and to incorporate these into an organisation-wide training and development plan
• Compile and analyse information on HR issues, training, or other areas within the remit of this job function
• Use and manage SharePoint and MS365 tools to support Human Resources processes and document management
• Ensure compliance with GDPR and data protection regulations for all Human Resources records and processes
• Monitor and report on Human Resources metrics (e.g., turnover, absence rates) to inform decision-making

To apply

Please complete our online application form via the ‘Apply’ button.

If you would like to know more about the role, or would prefer a paper copy of the application form, please email our recruitment team.

Closing Date: 12 noon, Monday 16th February 2026
Interview Date: Friday 27th March 2026

Job Title: Head of Fundraising 

Reports to:   Deputy CEO

Location:  Contracted to Breaking Barrier’ office in London, Birmingham or Manchester, with some expectation of travel

Terms:      5 days per week (37.5 hours) but open to part-time (minimum 30 hours) and flexible working arrangements

Contract:   Permanent

Salary:  £55,000 - £60,000 (inclusive of London weighting)

Purpose of the Role 

The Head of Fundraising is a strategic leadership role within the Income and Engagement Directorate, with overall responsibility for the strategy, delivery and performance of Breaking Barriers’ high-value income portfolio. This includes corporate partnerships, trusts and foundations, statutory funding, and major gifts.

Breaking Barriers has grown into a national charity supporting over 1,300 refugees each year and raising c.£3m annually. Income from corporate partners and philanthropic funders has been central to this growth, with corporate partnerships integral to both income and the creation of meaningful employment outcomes for our refugee clients. As the organisation enters its next strategic phase, the priority is to develop national partnerships in line with a redesigned service model and build long-term resilience across high-value income streams.

Reporting to the Deputy CEO, the Head of Fundraising will translate organisational priorities into a clear income strategy that delivers resilience and long-term relationship-led partnerships.  They will lead and support a team of senior fundraisers, each with lead responsibility for a defined income stream, while maintaining personal involvement in a small number of priority, high-value relationships.

As a member of Breaking Barriers’ Joint Leadership Team, the post-holder will contribute to organisational leadership, culture and decision-making, and will help shape how we work with responsible businesses, funders and partners to advance refugee employment in the UK.

Key Responsibilities

1. Income generation and external partnerships

• Hold overall accountability for income delivery across corporate partnerships, trusts and foundations, statutory funding, and major gifts / high-net-worth individuals.

• Provide strategic oversight and direction to senior managers leading each income stream, ensuring coherence, prioritisation and strong performance across the portfolio.

• Maintain personal oversight of a small number of priority, high-value relationships, acting as senior sponsor and external representative where appropriate.

• Ensure a strong, diversified pipeline of prospective partners and donors aligned with organisational priorities.

• Champion excellent stewardship and supporter experience across all high-value relationships.

• Work closely with colleagues across the Directorate and the Joint Leadership Team to maximise cross-fundraising, partnership and engagement opportunities.

• Ensure that the voice, experience and dignity of refugees are meaningfully and ethically reflected in fundraising activity.

• Ensure accurate and consistent use of Salesforce for pipeline management, forecasting, reporting and analysis.

• Work closely with the Deputy CEO and Finance team on income forecasting, budgeting and financial planning.

• Ensure compliance with all relevant legal and regulatory requirements, including GDPR and the Fundraising Code of Practice.

2. Strategy and growth

• Working closely with the Deputy CEO, lead the development and delivery of an integrated Fundraising Strategy that supports organisational priorities, financial sustainability and long-term national partnerships.

• Translate strategy into clear priorities, plans and performance expectations across the fundraising portfolio.

• Drive income growth while strengthening long-term resilience across high-value income streams.

• Develop and deliver national and multi-year partnerships, particularly with corporate partners and major statutory funders, ensuring these relationships are strategically aligned, high-impact and mutually beneficial.

• Ensure fundraising propositions are compelling, evidence-led and clearly connected to Breaking Barriers’ impact, working closely with the Services Directorate to reflect operational reality and client need.

• Strengthen pipeline management, forecasting and scenario planning to support financial resilience and informed decision-making.

• Identify opportunities to deepen funder engagement beyond income, including learning partnerships, influence and profile-raising where appropriate.

• Monitor external trends and risks affecting high-value fundraising, adapting plans proactively in partnership with organisational leadership

3. Leadership and team management

• Provide inclusive, ambitious and supportive leadership to the Fundraising team, fostering a culture of high performance, collaboration and learning.

• Line manage 3 Senior Managers across Corporate Partnerships and Philanthropy, each with lead responsibility for a defined income stream.

• Set clear expectations, objectives and KPIs for senior managers, supporting them to balance strategic leadership with hands-on fundraising delivery.

• Ensure effective prioritisation, realistic workloads and joined-up ways of working across a complex fundraising portfolio.

• Lead on workforce planning, skills development and succession planning within the Fundraising function, in partnership with the Deputy CEO.

• Champion strong collaboration between fundraising and other directorates, particularly Services, Communications and Finance.

• Model Breaking Barriers’ values at all times, contributing to a welcoming, mission-led and entrepreneurial organisational culture.

• Actively contribute as a member of the Joint Leadership Team, supporting organisational leadership and decision-making beyond fundraising.

• Provide clear, accurate and timely reporting to the Deputy CEO, CEO and Board of Trustees, attending meetings as required.

Person Specification

Essential

• Significant experience leading high-value fundraising across multiple income streams, with a strong track record of income growth.

• Demonstrable success securing and stewarding 6- and 7-figure partnerships or donations from corporate partners, trusts/foundations, statutory funders and/or major donors.

• Proven ability to operate at both strategic and delivery levels, balancing leadership with selective frontline fundraising.

• Experience managing senior fundraisers or managers with responsibility for discrete income streams.

• Strong strategic, financial and analytical skills, including budgeting, forecasting, performance management and risk assessment.

• Excellent relationship-building, influencing and negotiation skills, with credibility at senior levels internally and externally.

• Ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and compellingly to a range of audiences, including trustees.

• Experience working effectively across an organisation and with senior leadership teams.

• Strong project management skills and ability to prioritise in a fast-paced environment.

• Sound knowledge of GDPR and the Charity Fundraising Code of Practice.

• Demonstrable interest in, and commitment to, refugee inclusion, employment or related social justice issues.

• A leadership style aligned with Breaking Barriers’ values: mission-led, welcoming, collaborative and entrepreneurial.

Desirable

• Experience integrating or restructuring fundraising teams or portfolios.

• Knowledge of trends in refugee sector funding, responsible business or social impact partnerships.

• Experience of statutory funding delivery and compliance.

• Event-based fundraising or donor cultivation experience.

Other considerations:

• Breaking Barriers is committed to protecting an adult’s right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect and for their views, wishes and beliefs to be fully taken into account when deciding action. 

• We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity status, race, religion or belief. 

• Breaking Barriers particularly welcomes applicants with experience of seeking asylum and/or a refugee background. 

As a member of the Disability Confident Scheme, we are committed to offering an accessible recruitment process and guarantee an interview to all applicants with a disability who meet the minimum criteria for the role.

This is an exciting and engaging role, managing a small, well-established Philanthropy Team, where you will have the opportunity to work directly with our top supporters, develop interesting cultivation events and help us reach new supporters across Dorset and Wiltshire.

The Philanthropy Team incorporates major donor, mid-value, trust and legacy fundraising. It works closely with public fundraising and events teams. The CEO, Deputy CEO and specific trustees are also actively engaged in managing key relationships.

The role

The role is full time (35 hours per week) with hybrid working between home and the office in Wimborne in Dorset. There will be a requirement to travel across both Dorset and Wiltshire for internal meetings, donor meetings and events, with occasional out of hours working.

About you

We are looking for a talented, strategic, individual who can hit the ground running, be innovative, ambitious and bring exciting new ideas, ready to make a real difference to the growing number of local families we support. Energetic and with a passion for this type of role, you will be a confident communicator, who can build relationships with new and existing supporters and a considerate and thoughtful people manager. You must have a proven track record of working with high-net worth individuals in order to apply. We welcome applicants from within and outside the charity sector.

About us

Julia’s House cares for babies, children and teenagers with life-shortening or life-threatening conditions across Dorset and Wiltshire. We provide support for the whole family - mums, dads, siblings and even grandparents. Our care is regular, frequent, flexible and free, with more than half of our care taking place in family’s homes.  When the worst happens, Julia’s House is there. We offer comfort and support at home, in hospital or our hospices, wherever families need us.

Join us and make a real difference in this key role

Overview:

We are looking for a Digital Engagement and Outreach Lead to join our busy team.

This entry-level role will work across our organisation, and the successful candidate will gain valuable experience across areas including strategic thinking and digital planning, digital tools and AI integration, cross-team collaboration and communication, and measuring impact.

Reporting to the Deputy CEO, the successful candidate will be responsible for exploring and introducing innovative digital solutions across teams. Main duties will include: assessing current capabilities and objectives, identifying opportunities for ethical and impactful innovation, researching and testing initiatives that increase capacity and improve efficiency, and creating accessible guidance and training for staff and volunteers.In addition, the candidate will also be responsible for some administrative functions.

This is a great opportunity for someone looking to build a career in digital transformation, ethical tech, or nonprofit innovation, with real-world experience and meaningful impact.

This role is being funded by the Rank Foundation’s Time to Shine programme. This is a leadership programme to address both the increasing demands of the social sector to improve business capability skills and to address the wide-spread challenge of under-employment faced by many people.

As well as providing valuable funding for the position, the Time to Shine programme also incorporates a range of personal and professional development activities for the Time to Shine leader, their line manager and in turn, the whole organisation. Alongside your main duties listed here, the successful candidate will also participate in a structured programme of learning sessions (including residentials) to help your own development and progress as an emerging leader.

About CFAB:

CFAB supports children on the move between the UK and other countries and children who are

separated from their family in another country. The complexities of migration and international

separation can make many of these children particularly hard to support and particularly vulnerable

to abuse and exploitation. We ensure that children in these circumstances enjoy the same care,

protection and right to a family life as we would want for any child.

We are the only UK representative of the International Social Service network, and the only charity

in the UK with a dedicated international social work team. We are proud to have royal patronage

from HRH, Princess Alexandra.

Person specification: (Skills, Abilities, Knowledge and Experience)

• Excellent communication skills – both written and verbal

• Motivated and enthusiastic

• Attention to detail

• Highly organised with excellent time-management skills

• Basic familiarity with computers and Microsoft Office packages (Outlook, Word)

• A working knowledge of digital platforms and awareness of their ethical impact

This job description is a non-contractual document and may be changed at any time by CFAB. All employees are expected to be flexible over the tasks/duties and responsibilities of their roles in order to meet the needs of both of CFAB and our service users/partners

You will be part of a small energetic and committed team supporting the delivery of Northamptonshire Community Foundation’s philanthropy and income generation ambitions. Working collaboratively with colleagues, you will help grow and steward support from individuals, corporate, charitable and statutory donors, with a lead responsibility for a defined portfolio of relationships and initiatives.

Fundraising and relationship building happen across the charity, and you will manage your own portfolio of donors and partners and work with the Chief Executive and wider team to co-ordinate activity, share insight and maximise opportunities for place based philanthropy in Northamptonshire.

You will need confidence, excellent communication skills and the ability to plan and deliver projects as part of a highly collaborative team. You will be comfortable cultivating, stewarding and sometimes soliciting charitable donations yourself, as well as creating opportunities for the Chief Executive to engage with donors and prospective supporters.

Creative Director and Joint CEO

We are seeking a visionary Creative Director who will also act as joint CEO to lead the artistic and strategic direction of the charity.

For over 40 years, the organisation has used creative practice as a catalyst for social change, promoting inclusion and empowering diverse communities across the North West. The mission and vision is to co-create inclusive, artistic opportunities with diverse communities that enhance wellbeing and celebrate culture and heritage. 

If this is something you are passionate about, then we would love to hear from you!

Position: Creative Director/Joint CEO 

Location: Rochdale /Hybrid (in person 2-3 days per week, one of which must be a Wednesday)

Hours: Full time, 37 hours per week

Salary: £45,000 plus a 7.5% employer pension contribution

Contract: Permanent

Closing Date: Tuesday 24 February at 5pm

Interview Date: Thursday 12 March in person in Heywood

The Role

The Creative Director (Joint CEO) is responsible for the artistic vision, creative, entrepreneurial and strategic leadership of the charity. You will work as an equal partner with the Managing Director (MD/ Joint CEO), both reporting directly to the Board of Trustees to ensure that the organisation achieves its project objectives and strategic targets, while providing quality assurance of the work of the company.

Principal tasks and responsibilities include:

• Strategic Development
• Artistic Leadership
• Advocacy and Relationships
• Finance & Fundraising
• Company & Governance
• Management and leadership

About You

We are looking for an entrepreneurial leader with a proven track record in securing funding, overseeing complex budgets, and fostering productive relationships with a Board of Trustees, other partners and stakeholders. You will have a creative and cultural leadership style and with experience of programming that reaches diverse communities.

About the Organisation

Join a dynamic participatory arts charity based in Rochdale, dedicated to using creative practice as a catalyst for social change. For over 40 years the organisation has co-created inclusive, artistic opportunities with diverse communities that enhance wellbeing and celebrate culture and heritage.  We call this Art for a Reason. Through a range of initiatives from Art for Wellbeing to community-led festivals, the team provide opportunities for people to explore their heritage, find their voice, and experience the transformative power of the arts. The vision is for a world where everyone has access and opportunities to create, participate and belong.

We particularly encourage applications from individuals who live in Rochdale and/or identify as being of the global majority, disabled, neurodiverse and/or LGBTQ+/and or non-binary communities. The successful candidate will be offered the post subject to an enhanced DBS check and references.

You may also have experience in areas such as Programme Coordinator/manager, Learning and Engagement, Director, Creative Director, Operations Director, CEO, Director of Creative, Joint CEO, Deputy CEO, Assistant CEO, Chief Exec, Assistant Chief Exec, Deputy Chief Exec. #INDNFP

PLEASE NOTE: This role is being advertised by NFP People on behalf of the organisation.

Harris Hill is delighted to be working with Liverpool Zoe’s Place (LZP) to recruit its first Chief Executive Officer.

Zoe's Place was founded in Liverpool in 1995 as the first hospice in the UK specifically providing for the needs of babies and younger children. Liverpool Zoe’s Place (LZP) was established in December 2024 and took over full responsibility for the management of the hospice on May 1st 2025. In late 2024 the people of Liverpool, the North West, and even further afield helped us to raise more than £7,000,000 to secure the future of our hospice, and to build a state-of-the-art new facility in West Derby.

Our team of specialist nurses and healthcare assistants are supported by a wide range of other healthcare professionals to provide respite care, therapies and bereavement care to babies and children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions, and their families.

As Chief Executive, you will:

· Bring inspirational leadership to the LZP.

· Manage, plan and implement LZP’s strategy.

· Ensure the Hospice provides and promotes excellent clinical care.

If you are inspired and excited by what Liverpool Zoe’s Place does, we’d love to hear from you.

Job title: Chief Executive Officer

Salary: £75,000 - £80,000 p.a.

Contract: Permanent / Full-time

Location: Zoe's Place, Yew Tree Lane, West Derby, Liverpool, L12 9HH

How to apply:

Please review the Recruitment Pack for further information about Liverpool Zoe’s Place, the CEO position and for details on how to apply.

Closing date for applications: 9am, Friday 13th February 2026

Both Liverpool Zoe’s Place and Harris Hill operate an equal opportunity policy and commit to treating all of our candidates and jobseekers fairly. We welcome and encourage applications from everyone regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.

Longer working lives and ongoing economic transitions are reshaping careers: how we start them, and how we move through them. But too many people remain paid in low-paid, low-quality work – with damaging consequences for them personally, and our economy as a whole. We’re seeking a senior, policy-oriented research leader to help us and our partners generate insights that enable more people to move into and progress through better work.

You’ll have a proven track record in scoping and securing funding for research and influencing activity, with significant autonomy to lead your own programme at L&W. You’ll be supported by committed researchers and managers whom you will coach, lead, and develop—alongside a peer group of Deputy Directors working across other key pillars. We welcome quantitative expertise, but most important are the skills to design and deliver high-quality, impactful research programmes.

You’ll join an organisation with a national reputation for driving policy change—and a friendly, highly capable, delivery-focused team. 

Location: Hybrid working: 40-60% in an L&W office. Our offices for this role are currently in Leicester and London, but if you are based elsewhere, please contact us to talk about how the role could work for you.

Team:Research and Development

Salary:£64,450 -£77,880 per annum (pro rata), dependent on experience and location

Duration:Permanent

Working hours:0.8 to 1 FTE, with flexible working supported (e.g. condensed hours, flexible start and finish times)

Main Purpose

The Deputy Director, Policy and Research (Better Work and Progression) will have overall ownership of the ‘Better Work’ pillar of our strategic plan at L&W: overseeing all projects and activity in this area and generating new work (including developing project ideas and securing funding).

While there is significant scope to shape the ongoing programme of research and impact work, we anticipate that key areas of focus in this area going forward will be: understanding & better supporting career change; understanding and improving policy to increase employer investment in skills; high quality and fair access apprenticeships and technical education; understanding how to better support progression from low pay.

They will be a senior leader for the organization – helping to continuously shape our strategy and the plans we are implementing to deliver it.

Duties and Responsibilities

Leadership and management

• Intellectual leadership of the Better Work pillar: developing and owning policy positions, messages, theory of change and research priorities, and supporting the wider team to feed into and understand them
• Line management of senior and mid-level staff
• Act as a senior leader at L&W – including taking on specific organization-level responsibilities where appropriate

Income

• Write and/or co-ordinate responses to reactive research and evaluation tenders in the areas of employment, better work and progression
• Develop pro-active proposals that will drive change in your area, and respond to the interests of funders and partners
• Build relationships with current and potential funders and research partners

Impact

• Act as an external expert on the issues of better work and progression: writing press quotes, articles and blogs;speaking on platforms
• Building relationships with practitioners, policymakers and partners to improve our insights, and get our recommendations implemented
• Develop appropriate means of tracking impact towards our better work goals, and monitor against them. 

Delivery

• Deputy Director/Project Director-level oversight of projects being delivered in your and related areas: supporting project team to shape research plans, deliver sharp insights and manage funder relationships
• Quality Assurance of research proposals and outputs
• Use your research skills and experience to support the wider development of the Learning and Work team

Person Specification

Experience

Experience of developing, overseeing and delivering programmes of policy-relevant research at a high level - Essential

Experience of business development in a policy/research context: developing ideas, writing bids and building relationships with funders- Essential

Experience of building senior-level relationships with external stakeholders for impact and influence -Essential

Track record of delivering national and/or local policy change - Essential

Experience of senior organisational leadership as part of a team - Desirable 

Experience of responding to tenders- Desirable 

Skills

Advanced research skills (qualitative of quantitative) -Essential

Quantitative skills: experience of using key national research and administrative data sets to generate insights into the labour market -Desirable 

Clear and direct written communication style - Essential

Knowledge

Knowledge of, and commitment to, L&W’s charitable aims and purpose.- Essential

Demonstrable knowledge of employment and/or skills policy in the UK - Essential

Demonstrable knowledge in the specific areas of Better Work and/or progression -Desirable 

Learning and Work Institute works across the UK. Our work in Wales is led by a Cardiff based team, but all staff are required to follow the guidance set out in our Welsh language scheme when working in Wales.

Job title: Programme Assistant, Enquiries 

Line manager: Team Leader, Enquiries (Senior Officer, Enquiries in Team Leader’s absence) 

Salary: £30,000 

Type of contract: Permanent 

Start date: 16th February 2026 or shortly thereafter 

Benefits: 

• Challenging and rewarding work, always life-changing, sometimes lifesaving 

• Competitive salary 

• Team and individual training opportunities 

• Commitment to performance and personal development 

• Hybrid working, home and office (minimum 2 days each week in the office) 

• Eight hours each day Monday – Friday, with flexible working by arrangement around core hours of 10am – 4pm 

• 25 days plus Bank Holidays annual leave entitlement 

• 8% employer pension contribution 

• Convenient office location at Elephant and Castle, close to Tube (Bakerloo and Northern lines) and bus routes 

Role purpose statement: The Programme Assistant, Enquiries plays a vital role in the Fellowship Programme working directly with academics facing immediate risk in their home countries to carry out due diligence or signposting. This includes managing an individual caseload, dealing with prospective applications and general enquiries, providing administrative support to the Enquiries team as well as support across the Fellowship Programme when needed. 

Organisational Background 

The Council for At-Risk Academics is a UK-registered charity founded in 1933 under the leadership of William Beveridge, to rescue academics suffering persecution under the rise of Nazism and facilitate their continued work in safety. Sixteen Cara Fellows from the 1930s and 1940s became Nobel Laureates, and many more innovators in their fields, including, Nikolaus Pevsner, Lise Meitner and Karl Popper. A number of Cara’s founders and Council members also personally provided places and/or funds to help individual academics; and Cara, known in the 1930s as the AAC, later the SPSL, was closely involved in the successful effort in 1933 to bring to London the Warburg Institute art library, which had been prohibited by the Nazis, and six of its staff. The Fellowship Programme is the continuation of the rescue mission operation started in 1933. 

Cara has been a lifeline to academics at risk for over 90 years, as and when world events have placed them in the line of fire: Hungarian Uprising, Cold War, Apartheid South Africa, Iran, Latin American Juntas, Vietnam, Kosovo, DRC, Rwanda, Sudan, Zimbabwe etc. and, more recently Iraq, Turkey, Yemen, Palestine, Syria, Afghanistan and Ukraine. Cara support is typically framed as temporary sanctuary offered at times of heightened risk. 

Cara Objectives ‘To assist academics who have been, or are, or are at risk of being, subject to discrimination, persecution, suffering or violence on account of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion, to relieve needs among them and their dependants and ensure that their specialist knowledge and abilities can continue to be used for the benefit of the public.’ 

‘To advance education by supporting academics and their educational institutions in countries where their continuing work is at risk or compromised, to ensure that such academics and institutions can continue to fulfil their critical role as educators for the public benefit.’ 

This is a critical time to join our dedicated and friendly Fellowship Programme team as we expand our capacity to support at-risk academics from the Middle East, Sudan, Myanmar, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Russia and many other countries. 

Role & Responsibilities  

Casework  

• Signposting prospective applicants to the application form. 

• Manage own caseload, preparing cases for eligibility review, including arranging calls to speak with applicants, booking English language tests, and gathering all relevant documentation.

• Escalating complex cases to the Team Leader as required. 

• Maintain accurate and GDPR-Compliant records of casework activity. 

• Researching international affairs to develop understanding about risks applicants face. 

• Researching potential hosts for academic placements and liaising with external stakeholders in relation to applicants. 

• Attend weekly case review meetings with the team. 

Administration   

• Provide general administrative and logistical support, including answering phone enquiries. 

• Manage the general enquiries inbox, alongside another colleague, answering emails about the enquiries’ process, the Fellowship Programme and Cara. 

• Signpost enquiries to relevant colleagues internally and to other organisations where applicable. 

• Contribute to report writing. 

• Present and collect data on general enquiries and applications to the Programme. 

• Ensure safekeeping of confidential information. 

• Maintain excellent detailed records of correspondence, documents, and activities. 

• Provide administrative support to colleagues on projects as required.

Managerial Support  

• Contributing to Fellowship Programme policy changes and decision-making. 

• Provide advice and guidance to colleagues. 

Ad Hoc Responsibilities  

• Show adaptability and willingness to take on additional work when necessary. 

• Support the Fellowship Programme and Cara as a whole with ad hoc responsibilities.

Responsibilities also include related activities that might arise in relation to the Fellowship Programme as required by the Chief Executive and Deputy Chief Executive & Fellowship Programme Manager, and other senior colleagues. 

Person Specification 

Essential:  

• Bachelor’s degree 

• Fluent English (spoken and written) 

• Proactive with a willingness to learn 

• Confident and empathetic with strong interpersonal and communication skills 

• Ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment 

• Keen team player who is ready to support and help colleagues 

• Excellent record keeping and attention to detail 

• Ability to work independently and in a team 

• Good time management with ability to prioritise and independently work to deadlines 

• Understanding of issues of confidentiality

• Interest in and commitment to the work of Cara 

• Confident use of Microsoft package 

• Awareness of current global issues

• Ability to handle difficult conversations with sensitivity and resilience 

Desirable 

• Master’s or equivalent experience 

• Casework experience 

• Arabic language skills are desirable. Other foreign languages (such as Farsi/Dari, Pashto, Ukrainian and Russian) will also be considered 

• Salesforce/CRM software experience 

• Experience in a supporting role with people with lived experience of forced migration or other forms of severe adversity 

Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) provides life-saving emergency relief and longer-term medical care to some of the most vulnerable and excluded communities around the world. As an independent medical humanitarian organisation, we deliver care based only on need, regardless of ethnic origin, gender, religion or political affiliation.

We are excited to offer this temporary position to support the Employee Relations team at MSF UK. 

You will be a pivotal member of the team and will be engaging daily with line managers and employees to support with wellbeing conversations and collaborate with the wider People team to provide a first-class wellbeing and Employee Relations service.

Hours: 37.5 hours per week, Mon-Fri

Duration: 12-months FTC

Location: London, hybrid - 2 days per week in London office (to include Wednesdays)

Salary: £40,682.16 per annum

Job Purpose:

Reporting to the Head of Employee Relations, the People Officer will respond and resolve queries in the UK through great conversations, relating to people management issues in areas such as well-being conversations, absence /performance management, staff exit interviews, flexible working request and fixed term contract meetings. The People Officer will provide professional employee relations support working closely with the ER specialists to ensure line managers deal effectively with people management issues through conversations. There will be a need to engage and guideline managers across MSF UK to ensure people issues are managed and resolved effectively, embedding our values and employment policies and principles into line management practices. In addition, the People Officer will contribute to the continuous improvement of MSF UK’s policies and processes. 

Please download the full job and person specification below for further details.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

• CIPD qualified.
• Demonstrable experience in Human Resources at Officer level in the UK, including a substantial amount and case work in a variety of processes.
• Demonstrable knowledge of current UK employment legislation.
• Ability and experience in navigating employee relations conversations – blending advice, listening, facilitation and mediation skills.
• Demonstrable experience of a proactive and inclusive approach to key aspects of staff related health and wellbeing provisions.
• Evidence of connecting effectively with key stakeholders and fostering a culture of health and wellbeing across the staff community.
• Demonstrable experience of organisational and prioritising skills and the ability to manage a variety of tasks simultaneously.
• Demonstrable experience of using analytical skills with a positive attitude in conversations to problem solving and conflict resolution.
• The ability to use data from a wide range of sources to analyse key themes and the potential impact on an organisation.
• Demonstrable commitment to the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion and their practical application and integration in the work environment.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.
• Genuine interest in and commitment to the aims and values of Médecins Sans Frontières.
• Experience in the practical use of personal IT equipment and Microsoft Office 365 suite. The ability to effectively collaborate and communicate within a hybrid working environment utilising Teams, SharePoint, One Drive and Yammer.

HOW TO APPLY

Please apply on our website by submitting a copy of your CV together with a letter of motivation (please upload as one document) by the closing date – this does not apply to internal applicants, please refer to email notification.

Please apply as soon as possible as we reserve the right to close the application early

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Recruitment timetable:

• Closing date for applications: Monday 2 February 2026, 12 midday (GMT)
• First round interviews: w/c 16 February 2026 - In person

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Safeguarding

MSF UK/IE is dedicated to safeguarding everyone who comes into contact with the organisation, for whatever reason and however brief. All posts are subject to safer recruitment process which include robust reference requests, scrutiny of employment history and where applicable criminal record and barring checks.

Our safeguarding commitment is underpinned by policies and procedures which encourage and promote safe working practice across the organisation. On joining MSF UK/IE you will be required to attend safeguarding training to ensure responsibility for and maintaining safe working practice and to safeguard our teams, beneficiaries, and communities.