Deputy head of research jobs

Role Overview

This is an exciting opportunity to shape Shine’s strategic direction while managing the operational delivery of our services for children, young people, and families aged 0–25. Building on the success of our Little Stars/Ser Bach programme for members aged 0–12 and the development and extension of the FIRE (Friendship, Independence, Resilience, Empowerment) programme for those aged 13–25, you will play a key role in shaping the future of our support for children, young people and their families.

Working across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, you will lead the delivery of an established, evidence-based programme that improves health, social, and emotional outcomes for those living with spina bifida, hydrocephalus, and associated conditions.

You’ll lead a passionate team and work closely with Shine’s Adult Services Team (25+), Health Team, Wales and Northern Ireland Managers and wider colleagues across the organisation to ensure work is coordinated, complementary, and beneficial to members. At the same time, you’ll forge strong partnerships with NHS professionals, statutory services, and voluntary organisations—driving collaboration that will support our vision of providing consistent, high-quality support for children, young people and families nationwide.

Key Responsibilities:

• Leadership & Team Management
• Programme Development & Delivery
• Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting
• Member Support & Engagement

Please see the full Job Description & Person Specification below and on our website. 

Benefits to working at Shine:

• Competitive salary: Review due April 2027
• Regular working hours, and no shift work (some very occasional weekends or evenings)  
• 3% pension contribution
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, with additional discretionary leave between Christmas and New Year
• Additional annual leave awarded for ‘long service’
• Opportunity to purchase additional annual leave
• Broadband allowance for home-based roles
• Life insurance after 12 months’ employment  
• Access to our Employee Support Programme and Mental Health First Aiders 
• Support to learn and develop 

How to apply 

Shine is a Disability Confident employer and will offer guaranteed interviews if a disabled applicant meets the minimum criteria for the job. 

If you would like to discuss the role with our Deputy CEO, Gill Valentine, please contact Shine to arrange a convenient time for a call. 

To apply please submit your CV and supporting statement, which should outline your interest and explain how you meet the role criteria. 

We understand that you may wish to use AI tools to help you with some aspects of your application but we do expect tailored applications which are personalised to your experiences and not generic applications which are completely AI generated. We encourage candidates to be transparent about AI usage in their applications. 

*Please note applications without a supporting statement will not be accepted* 

Closing date: Thursday 16th April 2026 at 11pm 

Interviews:  Monday 27th April 2026  

Please note: we reserve the right to interview suitable candidates before the closing date, therefore we encourage applications as soon as possible. 

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a House Unit Manager, Residential to join our Nursing and Quality Team. This role will require the successful candidate to be accountable, alongside a team of Clinical Leads and Deputy House Managers, for leading and managing a team of nursing and care staff to ensure the delivery of high-quality care to children and young people.  

You will be the lead professional responsible for coordinating the overall care and management of the children across a minimum of three Residential Houses and be the key contact for the family and multidisciplinary team.

You will provide clinical and operational leadership across all the Residential Houses providing highly specialised advice to nursing teams and wider professional colleagues as well as be involved in the strategic development of the residential services.

Staff benefits include London weighting, shuttle bus, and more… Read more below

Role Requirements

· In collaboration with the Placement Managers, you will ensure care is appropriately planned and resourced, and you will ensure care is delivered in a safe manner at all times.

· You will be responsible for ensuring that the care in the Houses enables the children to access rehabilitation sessions, clinics, education and leisure activities as scheduled in their timetable.

· You will work as part of a leadership team comprising of a House Unit Manager, 4 x Deputy House Managers / Deputy Clinical Leads and 4 x Clinical Leads.

With experience of working in a complex environment, across a large and diverse workforce, you will be exceptionally organised with a high-level of attention to detail. You will naturally possess excellent inter-personal skills, and an ability to consult and positively engage with key stakeholders across the organisation.

Interview Date: Wednesday 8th April 2026

Terms and Conditions

PLEASE NOTE: The Children's Trust Application Form MUST be completed and submitted, for your application to be considered. As part of the shortlisting process, gaps in employment will be examined and further explored during the interview process. 

Strictly no agencies, please.

 About Us

The Children’s Trust is the UK’s leading charity for children with acquired brain injury, providing expert rehabilitation, education, therapy, and care at our national specialist centre in Tadworth, and to children and their families across the UK, via our Brain Injury Community Service.

Boasting a beautiful 24-acre site in Surrey, we are located just outside of London, close to the M25 (accessible via Junction 8, A217 to Tadworth) and easily accessible via National Rail, by way of: Clapham Junction, Sutton, and Epsom.

Staff Benefits

The work we do is highly rewarding, and in addition to an attractive salary, we offer a valuable range of benefits, including our staff flexible benefits platform, on-site nursery, free eye tests, enhanced Maternity and Paternity Pay, time out days for those experiencing menopause symptoms and time off for gender reassignment.

We also offer additional annual leave days for those with long service, with entitlements ranging from 35 to 41 days (including bank holidays) depending on your length of service.

Other benefits include free on-site parking; a staff shuttle service from Epsom and Sutton train stations to Tadworth Court, subsidised cafeteria, on-site staff accommodation (subject to availability), the ability to retain your NHS pension (where applicable), Teacher’s pension (where applicable) or the opportunity to join an alternative scheme, and the opportunity to develop your career in a supportive and collaborative environment.

 Rehabilitation of Offenders

Many roles at The Children’s Trust are exempt from the provisions of Section 4 (2) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, by virtue of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013 and 2020) and as such, are subject to an Enhanced DBS check.  Successful applicants will be required to complete an Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check, which will disclose all unspent convictions and adult cautions and any spent convictions or adult cautions that would not be protected.  The exceptions to this are our retail roles within The Children’s Trust shops, which are subject to Basic DBS checks which will disclose unspent convictions or adult cautions.

Equal Opportunity Employer

To help us achieve our ambition to give children and young people with brain injury and neurodisability the opportunity to live the best life possible, we want to accurately reflect the UK’s diverse population. We want equity, diversity, and inclusion to be at the heart of everything we do, and our people, services, and culture to reflect the diverse needs of all. Through our diversity and inclusion strategy, we have made a commitment to increase the diversity of our charity and create an inclusive culture. We have networks across the organisation working to ensure that these aims are met - including an LGBTQIA2S+ group, Ethnic Diversity Group, and Spark – our broad EDI group. Read more about our EDI work here. We welcome applications from all who share our ambition regardless of background. We will strive to ensure that any reasonable adjustments are made in respect of interview and working arrangements.

Online Searches

In accordance with statutory safeguarding and child protection guidance, online searches will be conducted for shortlisted candidates before interview. The online searches will be conducted by a person who is independent of the interview and selection process and will focus on relevant information returned via searches of the candidate’s name (and variations thereof). Social media searches will be limited to professional platforms such as LinkedIn. Any concerns relating to suitability for work with children and young people will be forwarded to the interview panel, for discussion during the interview.

Good relationships shape our health and happiness, yet we are taught so little about them. LMK (Let Me Know) is on a mission to change that. We are a young and thriving charity providing education about healthy and unhealthy behaviours so that young people have the knowledge and skills to avoid abuse and thrive in their relationships. We work in schools, community organisations and workplaces across London. 

LMK’s Head of Programmes leads, develops and delivers LMKs high quality education programmes for young people and the trusted adults around them, ensuring our programmes are responsive to the changing experiences of young people and the feedback from our programme evaluation. Leading a passionate and talented team of employees and freelance youth workers, this role is an important ambassadorial role for LMK, bringing gravitas and insight from your experience of education provision to evidence LMK’s impact to fellow education professionals, youth workers, funders and the media. Working with the CEO, and our Youth Advisory Board, this role helps shape the strategic direction for LMK. 

We’re especially keen to hear from candidates who have:

• Strong understanding of RSHE / relationship education

• Senior leadership experience

• Experience in designing and delivering youth-focused education programmes

• Safeguarding expertise (DSL experience highly desirable)

• The ability to inspire, lead and support a diverse team.

Working from home, but with regular travel around London, so must be based in or near London.

Recruitment Timeline
Vacancy closing date: Sunday, March 22, 2026, 11:30 pm
First round interview date: Wednesday, April 1, 2026

Please see job description for more details.

Good health is essential for people and communities to thrive; it is the foundation of a happy and prosperous society. For more than 150 years it has been our mission to improve and protect the health of the public by addressing the factors that determine it. We are recruiting to this exciting and challenging External Affairs role which brings together policy and communications to strengthen our national voice, increase our impact and support delivery of our mission.

We are looking for a strategic, outward‑facing leader to establish and lead this new role. You will bring political insight, strong judgement and the ability to turn evidence and policy into compelling public‑facing narrative. You will oversee parliamentary engagement, policy adoption, campaigns, media relations and organisational narrative, ensuring RSPH’s voice is clear, confident and influential.

This is a rare opportunity to shape a new function and lead teams working across policy, influencing and communications. You will play a central role in raising RSPH’s profile, supporting adoption of our programmes and positioning us as a leading voice on public health, inequalities and the wider public health workforce.

About you

We welcome candidates from policy, public affairs, communications or corporate affairs backgrounds. You will be able to demonstrate:

• Strong political awareness and experience engaging with Parliamentary and national stakeholders
• Confident communications leadership including media, narrative and external messaging
• The ability to build coalitions and secure influence and adoption
• Clear strategic judgement in complex or fast‑moving contexts
• Experience leading and developing teams

In return we offer:

• 25 days annual leave
• Agile hybrid working structure – 9-day fortnight available
• Pension contributions
• BUPA Cash plan
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Membership of the Royal Society for Public Health
• Access to public health knowledge and skills training courses and qualifications
• Organisational commitment to supporting the health and wellbeing of our employees
• Welcoming and friendly team of colleagues, and an active Health Champions programme

RSPH values and actively strives to have a diverse and inclusive workforce in a working environment free from discrimination.

Please do let us know if you require any adjustment to allow you to participate in this recruitment process.

RSPH operates an agile working policy with some attendance at our London office according to business need.

Interviews will be held at our offices in Whitechapel on Monday 20 April.  If you are unable to attend, please indicate this on your application.

Support for and implementation of the Branch’s strategic and service delivery plans

• Supports the Branch Director and Board of Trustees to ensure that the charity meets its governance responsibilities.
• Supports the development and delivery of the Branch Management team’s strategic and service delivery plans in pursuit of the vision, mission, and values of Samaritans and to meet Central London Samaritan’s objectives.
• Supports the development and delivery of a successful fundraising strategy that supports the organisation’s goals and contributes to its sustainability.
• Supports the Treasurer in the management of Central London Samaritans budget to ensure financial resilience.
• Contributes to the development of external and internal relationships and communications, raising the profile and reputation of CLS in support of the organisation’s charitable aims.
•  Contributes to the overall effectiveness of the organisation in ensuring to 24/7 availability to callers.

Provides leadership and line management to the staff team including the following functions:

• External relations and outreach
• Fundraising
• Recruitment and training of new volunteers
• Volunteer rota and support
• Facilities and Office services
• Other areas of responsibility that may from time to time be established.

Main Responsibilities:

Governance

• Support the Director and Board of Trustees to ensure that the charity meets its governance responsibilities.
• Ensure appropriate presentation and reporting on the progress of the organisation and on all matters relevant to the discharge of its charitable responsibilities.
• Provide in a timely and appropriate manner information that will assist the Trustees in carrying out their responsibilities.
• Monitor changes to statutory requirements on behalf of and in consultation with the Trustees and working with the Trustees and Directors to ensure compliance.
• Lead on all areas of Data Protection across the branch including policy development, revision, and implementation.

Financial Management & Fundraising

• Support the Treasurer in the preparation of the annual operating budget for agreement by Trustees.
• Manage the budget on behalf of and in consultation with the Director, Treasurer and Trustees
• In consultation with the Treasurer and other trustees, set an annual fundraising target.
• Support the development and implementation of a strategy for raising income to meet the needs of the organisation.
• Manage project and area budgets with relevant staff and volunteer leads.

Support for and implementation of the Branch’s strategic and service delivery plans

Support the Director and wider Branch Leadership Team in setting the culture and vision for the organisation that will enable staff and volunteers to understand what is expected of them and perform to the highest standards.

• Work closely with the Director and Branch Leadership team to deliver branch strategy and specific services.
• In conjunction with volunteer leads, manage the delivery of the organisation’s restricted funded programmes ensuring project milestones, timescales and financial imperatives are fully met and supporting growth in line with the organisation’s charitable aims.
• Work with the Governance Working Group to implement and manage the organisation’s operational policies and procedures.
• Input into to research and planning of new branch initiatives.
• Monitor changes to national Samaritans policies and guidelines, alerting Directors, and Trustees as appropriate

Line Management

• Work with Trustees and Directors to support the Branch Team to deliver the branch’s volunteering, outreach and fund-raising strategies
• Provide effective line management and leadership to the staff team by managing all aspects of staffing, including recruitment, setting objectives and managing performance.
• Line manage the Business Support Officer, Volunteering Coordinator, Recruitment and Training Coordinator and Fundraising and Events Officer, Trusts and Foundatons Officer and other roles that may from time to time be established
• Act as a role model to staff and colleagues by demonstrating exemplary standards of behaviour, a positive attitude, and high levels of personal performance.
• Identify and develop talent within the team that can be fostered, offering opportunities for personal and career growth where appropriate.
• Work with the Branch Leadership Team to support all staff activities.

Communications

• Work with the Director and Deputy Director for Communications and relevant staff members to support delivery of the branch Communications Plan. This will include coordinating internal and external communications as well as maintaining good relationships with volunteers, partners and other Samaritans branches and the Samaritans Charity.
• Maintain relationships with the Samaritans Central Charity in relation to media activity.
• Work with Director to ensure the Branch is represented on suicide prevention partnerships and involved in strategies with local councils and other organisations within the seven boroughs covered by the branch.
• Work with Branch Leadership Team to ensure the Branch is appropriately represented the branch at external events.

Facilities and Office Management

• Oversees the management of the building on behalf of and in consultation with the Trustees and the Office Manager
• Take overall responsibility for the contracting of services to the organisation
• Take responsibility for compliance with Health and Safety Regulations

Hours of work

1. The basic hours of work are 35 hours per week, spread over five working days. There will be a need to work some evenings and weekend days, so flexibility is essential. The core responsibilities and duties should be carried out during weekdays.

2. The amount of out of hours work will be agreed with the Director on an on-going basis. Time off in lieu will be allowed in agreement with the Director and in line with the current European Working Time Directive.

Limitations

This job description is neither exclusive nor exhaustive and the duties and responsibilities may vary from time- to-time in the lights of changing circumstances and in consultation with the jobholder.

The jobholder will be required to work within the rules and regulations of Samaritans and accept the authority of the Director, who has discretion to delegate authority to the job-holder and to withdraw it.

Equal Opportunities Policy

Central London Samaritans is committed to eliminating any discrimination and promoting diversity and equality of opportunity in all it does. It is therefore Central London Samaritans' commitment to provide equal opportunities in employment and we will not unlawfully discriminate against job applicants, employees of the Company, volunteers, workers, or contract workers on the grounds of their age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race (which includes colour, nationality and ethnic or national origins), religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

Requirements

• Graduate or equivalent by experience
• Relevant postgraduate qualifications

Skills and abilities

1. Proven ability to manage a work programme, which involves managing, mentoring, and developing staff.

2. Ability to work to tight deadlines in managing a variety of tasks simultaneously in ways that ensure key objectives are met.

3. Work effectively with a range of different stakeholders, including paid staff, volunteer directors, volunteers engaged in service delivery, third party organisations and users of the services.

4. Strong communications skills, both oral and written, especially in matching style/language to audience being targeted.

5. Ability to research and develop reports at a senior level.

6. A self-starter who has the ability to develop and implement innovative solutions to both new and existing challenges.

7. Proven ability to assimilate/summarise complex information and to familiarise themself quickly and confidently with key issues.

8. Ability to build effective relationships, especially with organisations operating near people in distress, other helping agencies, and healthcare professionals.

9. Ability to enthuse and motivate paid staff and volunteers.

10.  Good financial management skills –evidence of leading and managing a budget.

11.  High level organisational delivery skills.

12.  Proven ability in managing staff who report to others for task management purposes, such as in a matrix structure.

Experience

• Experience of working with volunteers and paid staff
• Experience of financial planning and management, including budgetary control.
• Experience of implementing systems to comply with relevant legislation, including that on data protection, freedom of information, and health and safety.

Project management knowledge and skills.

1. Experience of working in a charity or not-for-profit helpline service, ideally like that of Samaritans

2. Experience of issues affecting London government

3. Experience of working with Boards of Trustees

Knowledge

• Sound general working knowledge of IT
• General knowledge of business management
• Experience and understanding of managing / developing teams.
• Knowledge of advanced IT and telephony, such as those required by Samaritans.
• Understanding of the policies and principles followed by Samaritans.
• Understanding of the rules and regulations, as overseen by the Charity Commissioners, by which Samaritans are bound.
• Knowledge of voluntary sector in terms of high-level policy decisions, structures and influences through government, small charities and local community organisations

Personal qualities

1. Intellectually strong, applying a structured approach to work.

2. A flexible and co-operative team approach, which is respectful of the ideas and expertise of others.

3. Adaptable to change, while being able to work unsupervised.

4. Able to use initiative, assessing and adjusting to changing work priorities.

5. Affinity with charity’s goals and values

Job Summary

The Philanthropy Manager will develop a philanthropy strategy, building on the partnerships and resources already in place. You will develop a pipeline backed up by robust prospect research (some administrative assistance will be provided), and instigate a cultivation and stewardship programme, typically adopting a staged approach to major asks.

You will be accountable for the acquisition, development, and stewardship of high value supporters for CUF, both individual philanthropists and non-statutory grant-making bodies. You will develop and strengthen relationships with existing donors, as well as identifying warm prospects currently not supporting CUF financially. A key part of your role will be meeting and engaging major donor prospects to grow the pool.

You will engage with Trustees and senior leaders, to identify and nurture Christian philanthropists and grant body decision-makers within their spheres of influence.

You will lead on developing cases for support and writing grant applications, helped by the wider staff team.

The successful candidate will be a self-starter with high levels of motivation, and the ability to both develop and operationalise strategy as a member of a small team. You will have a track record of successfully initiating, managing and developing relationships with High-Net-Worth individuals and grantmaking bodies, and securing donations and grants, via proposals or through face-to-face meetings, as required.

How to apply

For an informal conversation about this role and for more information, please contact our Deputy CEO, Adam Edwards please see job pack for details. 

To apply, please email an up-to-date CV and covering letter (please note that only CV’s accompanied with a covering letter will be considered for shortlisting) of no more than 2 pages, outlining your relevant skills and experience, relating to the listed responsibilities and person specification to: HR Officer, please see job pack for details.

Closing date: 17:00 Tuesday 24th March, with interviews to be held on 2nd April online.

We’re looking for a dynamic and driven Individual Giving Manager to deliver and grow our newly created donor retention programme. This is a brilliant opportunity for someone who is ready to get hands-on and bring fresh ideas, a test and learn approach and a passion for delivering high-quality fundraising appeals.

You’ll be an experienced IG fundraiser with a strong understanding of how to inspire donors to give. You’ll be a great fit if you are detail-confident and motivated by continuous improvement. 

We are looking for a thoughtful, resilient, and effective person to lead on both the delivery of SPRING that City of Sanctuary Sheffield is responsible for, and the advocacy associated with that work. 

You will ensure that the SPRING is accessible, trauma-informed, and impactful for the community of new refugees accessing the service. 

You will also make sure that systemic issues faced by the community accessing SPRING are chronicled and highlighted, and that we take collective steps to bring about positive change.

We particularly welcome applications from people who have personal experience of the asylum system and migration. To support all applicants, a preparation session will be offered by the New Beginnings team at Voluntary Action Sheffield.

To Apply 

To apply, please submit the following:

1. A covering letter (no more than 2 pages long).  In this letter:

• Say why you are applying for the job.

• Tell us how you meet the job requirements detailed in the person specification. Give practical examples of what you have done that meets the requirements.

2. A brief summary of the work and volunteering you have done or a short CV.

3. Name, phone number, and email addresses of two references, at least one of whom can comment on recent work or volunteer experience.

A free preparation session will be run by the New Beginnings team at Voluntary Action Sheffield.  This will be open to anyone applying for the role to learn a bit more about the job and get support with their application. This session will take place on Thursday 2nd April at 4pm at The Sanctuary.Please contact Blessan at City of Sanctuary Sheffield if you have any questions about attending this session.

Closing date for applications is 15th April at 11:30pm

Interviews will be held on the week commencing 11th May and/or the week commencing 18th May

Social Finance is an ambitious non-profit that designs, funds and scales solutions to complex social problems. Our vision is a fairer world where together we unleash the potential of people and communities. We work with governments, funders, communities and the social sector to tackle some of the most persistent challenges facing society in the UK.

Our multidisciplinary team brings together experience from the public, private and charity sectors. We are known for our collaborative and intellectually curious culture and for delivering systems change, improving how entire systems operate so they produce better, lasting outcomes.

One of our most significant initiatives is IPS Grow, which supports the national expansion of Individual Placement and Support (IPS) employment services across England. IPS is an evidence-based approach that helps people experiencing severe mental illness, addiction and other health challenges find and sustain competitive employment with tailored support.

IPS Grow works with commissioners, healthcare providers and delivery partners to expand high-quality IPS services, improve quality and learning across the system, and ensure the data and evidence behind IPS continue to demonstrate its impact. Scaling IPS has been a priority for Social Finance since 2015 and continues to be an integral part of our work today.

With IPS Grow transitioning from a fast‑growing initiative to a mature organisation with expanding reach and influence, we are now looking for an experienced Chief Operating Officer to join the IPS Grow and Social Finance Senior Leadership Team.

The COO will provide strategic leadership across IPS Grow’s operational infrastructure, ensuring the organisation has the systems, processes and capabilities required to deliver impact at scale. You will strengthen financial oversight, resource planning and risk management while helping develop IPS Grow’s data and digital capability. The role will also help shape the organisational structures and culture needed to support sustainable growth.

We are looking for a senior operational leader with experience in finance and the non-profit or publicly funded sectors, ideally with a track record of helping organisations scale. You will bring strong financial literacy, sound strategic judgement and the ability to build effective operational frameworks in complex environments.

You will be a collaborative partner across IPS Grow and the wider Social Finance organisation, building trusted relationships, bringing clarity to operational challenges and fostering a strong “one team” culture across a distributed team.

This is an exciting opportunity to help shape the next phase of IPS Grow’s development. If this resonates with you, we would be delighted to hear from you.

To download a full copy of the candidate brief and learn more about the role, please click the ‘Apply’ button, where you will be redirected to the website of our recruitment partner, Tall Roots.

Applications should include a CV and covering letter responding to the following questions:

1. What is motivating you to become our new Chief Operating Officer for IPS Grow? (200 words)
2. Given what you have read about us so far, what do you believe would make an effective Chief Operating Officer for IPS Grow? (200 words)
3. Please describe your experience ensuring an organisation had the right systems, processes or capabilities in place to use data effectively. What was your role and what difference did this make? (250 words)
4. Please tell us about a time when you built strong partnerships across teams or organisations to deliver a shared goal. What approach did you take and what was the outcome? (250 words)