Deputy operations director jobs

Marketing and Brand Manager

Salary:             Senior Manager Band 5 – £40,775–£52,196, depending on experience
Location:         Central Newcastle (with flexibility to work from home on Fridays)
Hours:             Full-time, 36 hours per week
Holidays:         30 days plus Bank Holidays
Travel:             Some regional and national travel, as required

Closing Date:   5pm Friday 10 April 2026
Interview Date: Wednesday 22 & Thursday 23 April 2026

Make a Difference with Schools North East

Schools North East is a purpose-driven charity championing schools and trusts across the region.
Representing a collaborative network of over 1,150 schools, we are recognised nationally as the
Voice for North East education, the Glue that brings schools together, and the Bridge connecting
them to wider policy and practice. As we approach our 20th year, we are entering a new phase,
strengthening our influence, extending our reach, and deepening the value we provide to
members. This reach is further amplified through the National Network of Special Schools for
School Business Professionals (NNoSS), a national community we lead.
As Marketing & Brand Manager, you will lead and deliver a clear, strategic marketing and
communications approach across all core workstreams: Schools North East, NNoSS, Jobs in
Schools | North East (our regional recruitment portal), and our high-profile events programme. You
will also play a central role in amplifying our policy and influencing work, ensuring the voice and
evidence of North East schools is heard nationally. This is a broad, high-impact role spanning
brand, digital, content, campaigns, and stakeholder engagement, requiring both strategic
oversight and hands-on delivery.
You will ensure alignment across marketing, communications, policy, and events, and integrate
activities to strengthen our position as the authoritative voice of North East schools. This role
demands a commercially aware, politically astute leader who can see the bigger picture while
delivering at pace. You will anticipate trends, respond decisively to opportunities and challenges,
and make informed, confident decisions.
We are looking for someone who leads with clarity and purpose, builds strong relationships, and
communicates with impact. You will foster a collaborative, high-performing culture, supporting
the development of others while maintaining high standards of delivery. This is an opportunity to
play a defining role in a respected organisation at a critical stage in its development and to shape
how we engage, influence, and grow in the years ahead.
.

Key Responsibilities

Organisational Leadership
Contribute to the strategic leadership of Schools North East as a senior manager, ensuring
marketing work supports the organisation’s long-term mission and values.

Strategic Marketing Leadership
Develop and deliver a forward-thinking marketing strategy that elevates Schools North East’s
brand regionally and nationally, aligning with organisational goals and values.
Act as the senior lead on all marketing and brand initiatives, embedding marketing thinking
across the organisation.

Brand Development & Management
Strengthen Schools North East as the authoritative voice of education in the region and a
credible influencer on the national stage.
Manage and refresh, as necessary, the brand identity to ensure consistency across all channels,
content, campaigns, and events.

Content & Campaign Strategy
Create and oversee a compelling multi-channel content strategy that delivers high-value
engagement across all audiences, from school leaders and policymakers to media and
potential funders.
Lead integrated marketing campaigns that amplify the impact of events, policy work, and
membership services.

Audience Engagement & Insight
Develop segmented engagement strategies to better serve diverse stakeholder groups,
ensuring messages land with clarity and purpose.
Use audience insight, member feedback, and data analytics to shape messaging, improve
outcomes, and report on ROI.

Media & Public Relations
Act as brand guardian and media lead by proactively shaping public narratives, overseeing
media inquiries, and managing external comms.
Build and manage strategic relationships with regional and national media to drive influence
and awareness.

Digital & Social Media Strategy
Transform Schools North East’s digital presence, particularly on LinkedIn and other platforms,
to increase visibility, engagement, and thought leadership.

Introduce a more dynamic and audience-friendly approach to communications and e-
newsletters, reducing information overload and improving open and engagement rates.

Revenue Generation & Innovation
Drive revenue across the SNE portfolio, including memberships, NNoSS, Jobs in Schools | North
East, partnerships, sponsorships, and events, maximising income, retention, and growth.
Develop new income streams, products, and commercial opportunities through targeted
campaigns and offers aligned to SNE’s mission.
Embed a data-driven, commercial approach to marketing, improving conversion, delegate
acquisition, and ROI while maintaining our charitable ethos.

Systems & Tools
Oversee the development and optimisation of CRM, website, and digital tools to streamline
marketing operations and track impact.
Ensure data compliance and user experience best practices are upheld.

Team Leadership & Collaboration
Lead and mentor direct reports setting clear KPIs and fostering a creative, ambitious, and
collaborative team culture across the organisation.
Work closely with Directors, Business, Events and Policy teams to ensure marketing activity
supports and enhances core functions.

Person Specification
(A – Application, I – Interview, T – Task)
Essential:
Proven experience (5-10 years minimum) in senior marketing, communications, or brand roles,
ideally in complex or mission-led organisations (A, I).
Strategic thinker with a demonstrable track record of delivering marketing plans that grow brand
awareness, reputation, and engagement (A, I, T).
Experience working across digital, PR, content, and campaign planning, with measurable impact
(A, I).
Strong leadership experience, able to inspire a team and embed marketing thinking organisation
wide (A, I).
Expertise in media handling, brand positioning, and stakeholder communications (A, I).
Demonstrable understanding of the role marketing plays in policy influence, membership
retention, and charitable growth (A, I).
Excellent copywriting and messaging skills, with the ability to distill complex information into
clear, compelling content (A, I, T).
Confident using analytics, CRM platforms, email marketing tools, and social media to drive
engagement (A, I).
Highly collaborative, with a can-do attitude and the ability to engage internal and external
stakeholders (A, I).
Ability to innovate within resource constraints and remain calm under pressure (A, I).

Desirable:
Experience in the education, charity, or membership sector (A, I).
Knowledge of the education landscape in the North East or wider national policy context (A, I).

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)

Willen Hospice is seeking an exceptional Relationship Manager to lead our high‑value philanthropy and business partnership programmes. This is an exciting opportunity to shape strategy, inspire a talented team, and build meaningful partnerships that make a real difference to patients, families, and our community.

What you’ll do:

✅ Grow and lead high‑value income streams
 Develop and deliver ambitious strategies for major donor and business partnerships, driving sustainable growth and long‑term value.

✅ Build and steward strategic relationships
 Engage senior leaders, philanthropists, boards, and corporate partners with confidence, credibility, and gravitas.

✅ Inspire and develop a team
 Provide strong values‑driven leadership, fostering high performance through coaching, development, and clear accountability.

✅ Create innovative partnership and engagement programmes
 Co‑design creative corporate propositions, high‑value donor journeys, and multi‑channel engagement activities.

✅ Use insight, data and intelligence to drive decisions
 Analyse trends, monitor KPIs, manage budgets, and apply insight to shape strategy and spot opportunities.

✅ Champion a supporter‑first culture
 Work collaboratively across Fundraising, Marketing, Supporter Care and wider teams to deliver seamless, meaningful supporter experiences.

We’re looking for someone who is:

· A confident relationship builder, able to communicate with influence, tact, warmth and professionalism at senior levels.

· Experienced in high‑value fundraising or business development, with at least three years’ experience growing accounts or securing significant support.

· Strategic and analytical, able to interpret insight, assess ROI, forecast pipelines and adjust plans based on evidence.

· A motivating and supportive leader, skilled at coaching, developing and inspiring teams.

· Collaborative and creative, with a track record of designing compelling propositions.

· Highly organised, able to plan workloads, manage competing priorities, and deliver against ambitious KPIs.

· Values‑driven, demonstrating integrity, empathy, professionalism and alignment with Willen Hospice’s mission.

With experience with:

· Major donor cultivation, stewardship and proposal development

· Corporate partnerships, employee engagement and sponsorship negotiation

· CRM systems, data analysis and reporting

· Working with senior stakeholders, boards, executives and trustees

· Managing budgets, monitoring KPIs and making evidence‑based decisions

Who we are:

Set in the tranquil grounds of Willen Lake, Willen Hospice is the leading provider of specialist palliative care in the Milton Keynes area. We offer round-the-clock, expert care to local patients with a life-limiting illness, both in their own homes and in our In-Patient Unit. Our passionate staff and volunteers make sure our care is personalised to each patient’s needs and supports their loved ones too. We have a thriving Therapeutic & Wellbeing service providing counselling, physiotherapy, activity groups and more, and a specialist Lymphoedema service. As a registered charity, we raise vital funds through our dedicated Business Development team and our growing portfolio of high street and online shops, to ensure our care stays free of charge.

Why join us?

✅ A role with purpose – be part of a team delivering outstanding palliative care.

✅ Supportive and caring environment – work with passionate colleagues.

✅ Great benefits package – including 35 days' holiday, contributory pension scheme, enhanced maternity/sick pay, and ongoing professional development.

✅ Perks and extras – free on-site parking, subsidised catering, Blue Light Card discounts (with membership), and an Employee Assistance Programme.

Financial Controller
Oxford

We are looking for our new Financial Controller: someone who takes pride in running an excellent finance operation and who enjoys being closely involved in the life of a college.

This is a senior role at the heart of the College’s professional services team. Reporting to the Treasurer, the Financial Controller leads the College’s finance function and ensures the delivery of high-quality financial management, reporting and control across the organisation.

We are looking for someone with substantial experience of running a highly effective finance operation, but who is also curious and interested in the wider context of the organisation they support. College life is varied and dynamic, and the finance team plays an important role in supporting activity across academic, operational and commercial areas of the College.

You will be a key member of the Treasurer’s senior management team and the operational lead for the College’s finance function. Senior colleagues across the College look to the Financial Controller for sound financial advice as they develop plans and initiatives, and the role provides an opportunity to contribute to decision-making across a wide range of activities.

You will lead a finance and payroll team of nine staff (6 FTE) and will be responsible for the integrity of the College’s financial reporting, control environment and systems. The role also involves working closely with the Governing Body and its committees, providing clear and insightful financial information that supports effective governance and stewardship of the College’s resources.

Just as important as technical expertise is how we work together. Our finance team is collaborative, supportive and collegiate in the best sense of the word. We take pride in delivering high-quality work, but we also value openness, mutual support and a willingness to help colleagues across the College navigate financial matters. We are looking for someone who enjoys building relationships, working constructively with others and contributing positively to the culture of the team.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced finance professional who enjoys combining strong financial management with meaningful involvement in the life of an institution.

We recognise that excellent candidates do not always meet every requirement listed in a job description. If you feel that your experience and skills would enable you to succeed in this role, we would be very pleased to hear from you.

We welcome applications from candidates with experience across a range of sectors who are interested in contributing to the work of the College.

For further information on this opportunity, please contact Rosemary Pini at Allen Lane, who is supporting on this appointment and would be happy to discuss the role in more detail.

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

Catalyst is looking to recruit an exceptional leader to be our next Chief Executive.

Candidates should be values-driven, with a passion for leading an organisation which supports the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise sector (VCSE). As Chief Executive, you must have the skills and experience to lead the dedicated, professional staff and volunteers in developing our services based on the needs of the sector, fulfilling the requirements of our funders, and actively seeking other opportunities for partnership work with statutory, private and VCSE partners.

The successful candidate will combine strategic and operational skills and have experience of effective leadership, including facilitating change in this sector. The role is offered at a salary of £51,500, plus pension and 28 days holiday a year.

You can find out more information and how to apply at Catalyst Chief Executive – Catalyst Stockton