Deputy service director jobs in Home based
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This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Submit your application as normal and our system will anonymise it for you. Your personal information will be hidden until the recruiter contacts you.
Due to educational commitments and a strategic review of our services, our Founding Director is stepping back from leading the organisation. This creates an exciting opportunity for a Managing Director to join a women-led movement shaped by lived experience.
Working closely with the Founder, Board, and team, you will take the lead in implementing our strategy, turning vision into action, and ensuring our work is sustainable, impactful, and ready to grow. You will play a central role in securing financial stability, strengthening income streams, and building a resilient organisation for the future.
We are looking for a proactive and experienced leader who can strengthen systems, processes, and team culture, while supporting and developing a small, dedicated team. This role is not just about leadership, but about working alongside others - someone who is human, approachable, and a genuine team player.
You will value collaboration and co-production and feel comfortable working in a culture rooted in trust, flexibility, and compassion. You will bring the confidence to represent the organisation externally, alongside the humility to listen, learn, and grow with the team.
This UK-based, remote role sits within a small, friendly organisation committed to reflection, learning, and continual improvement. You will help shape how we evolve, ensuring we deliver safe, high-quality, trauma-informed, and gender-sensitive support for women affected by their own or someone else's gambling addiction.
We are seeking someone who aligns with our values, understands the realities women face in a male-dominated space, and can lead with humanity and humility.
The Managing Director will be accountable for:
- Strategic direction
- Financial sustainability
- Safeguarding and risk oversight
- Commissioner relationships
- Organisational culture and values
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
- Lead development and delivery of the 3-year strategic plan.
- Ensure organisational growth aligns with mission and peer-led ethos.
- Identify opportunities for funding, partnerships and influence.
- Ensure services evolve in line with women’s needs and policy context.
Governance & Risk Oversight
- Maintain oversight of safeguarding and clinical governance.
- Ensure robust risk management and compliance systems are in place.
- Report quarterly to the Board on performance, finance and risk.
- Ensure Delegated Authority Framework is implemented effectively.
- Act as Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead.
Financial Sustainability
- Accountable for organisational budget and reserves strategy.
- Oversee funding pipeline and income diversification.
- Negotiate and sign contracts within Board-approved limits.
- Ensure staffing model remains financially sustainable.
Leadership & Organisational Culture
- Lead and support staff team.
- Maintain trauma-informed, women-centred organisational culture.
- Ensure appropriate delegation and clear accountability.
- Protect staff wellbeing and prevent executive overload.
External Representation & Influence
- Represent the organisation with commissioners, funders and partners.
- Build relationships with VCSE organisations, OHID, NHSE, ICBs, Local Authorities and sector bodies.
- Position the organisation as a credible specialist provider.
- Support policy and influence activity at strategic level.
Board Relationship
- Work closely with the Chair
- Provide clear and transparent reporting.
- Support Board development and portfolio governance.
- Ensure Board receives timely information on risk and performance.
Person Specification
Essential Experience
- Senior leadership experience within VCSE, health or social care.
- Experience in women-specific services.
- Experience managing budgets and financial sustainability including evidence of successful fundraising and income diversification.
- Experience working with statutory commissioners.
- Experience overseeing safeguarding in complex services.
- Experience leading multi-disciplinary teams.
Desirable Experience
- Experience in addiction, gambling harm or mental health sectors.
- Experience within CIC or charity governance structures.
- Experience influencing policy or commissioning frameworks.
- Understanding and appreciation of lived experience communities and peer support spaces
Essential Skills
- Strategic thinking and planning
- Financial acumen
- Strong governance understanding
- Stakeholder diplomacy
- Ability to delegate effectively
- Crisis management capability
- Clear written and verbal communication
Please complete the questions within word count alongside a CV to be considered for the role.
Short listed applicants will be asked to submit a 3 minute video on a values based topic as part of the interview process.
We stand alongside women impacted by their own or someone else’s gambling and create space for healing, connection and confidence.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Submit your application as normal and our system will anonymise it for you. Your personal information will be hidden until the recruiter contacts you.
About Kinship
We are Kinship. The leading kinship care charity in England and Wales. We’re here for kinship carers – friends or family who step up to raise a child when their parents aren’t able to.
Together, let’s commit to change for kinship families.
About the role
We are the leading kinship care charity supporting more than 15,000 kinship carers across England and Wales each year. We’re here for kinship carers – friends or family who step up to raise a child when their parents aren’t able to. They care for more than 141,000 children in England and Wales, double the number in foster care, but feel isolated and need help. By supporting, advising and informing kinship carers, and campaigning together for fairer services, we are changing lives and changing the system.
Kinship’s peer support and community work, supported by Department for Education funding, helps kinship carers feel connected, less isolated and better supported by building local, carer-led peer support groups and strengthening wider community networks.
Our delivery model prioritises proactive outreach and sustainable growth through a volunteer model.
The team works in communities to bring kinship carers together, support and train volunteer group leaders, and grow groups to a point where they are sustainable and independent (ideally within 6 months). Sustainable means able to thrive without direct staff involvement or attendance. A central ‘Hub’ team then provides ongoing remote support, training and connection.
This role provides the operational grip to plan, deliver and continuously improve this work, while evidencing impact through robust data monitoring, reporting and clear storytelling.
Key responsibilities include:
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Accountable for the set-up, growth and transition of peer support groups to independence supported by the Hub, using clear milestones and support plans.
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Responsible for ensuring volunteer group leaders have high-quality training, guidance and ongoing coaching to deliver safe, supportive peer spaces.
- Responsible for embedding strengths-based, trauma-informed approaches and clear boundaries across all peer support activity.
- Responsible for managing external delivery partners or commissioned provision to support growth in specific communities, ensuring quality and delivery to agreed standards.
- Accountable for the identification and nurture of new group leaders and volunteers, ensuring groups are welcoming, accessible and inclusive.
- Accountable for ensuring a proactive outreach approach that builds relationships with kinship carers and local partners, prioritising under-served areas and communities, ensuring that learning is captured and shared across the team to build further confidence and competence in supporting under-served communities (minoritised ethnic kinship carers).
What we offer you:
- Flexible working - we understand how important it is to balance family and work life.
- 30 days annual leave, plus bank holidays (1 April to 31 March) pro rata (3 to be taken at Christmas shutdown)
- Employee Assistance Programme (24/7 confidential advice line and counselling)
- Charity Worker Discounts.
Essential requirements include:
- Experience leading peer support, community development, volunteering or relational support services at scale.
- Experience of project management.
- Experience of evaluating the impact of services and projects.
- Proven track record of growing and sustaining community-based groups or networks, including supporting leaders and volunteers to independence.
- Experience embedding strengths-based, trauma-informed approaches, with clear boundaries, risk management and inclusive practice.
Key dates:
- Application deadline: Monday 20 April 2026, 9am
- First interview: Wednesday 29 or Thursday 30 April 2026 (online)
How to apply:
Please apply for the role of Planning and Delivery Manager by sending a CV and cover letter (max 2 pages). The deadline is 9am on Monday 20 April 2026. Any applications arriving after the closing date will not be considered for shortlisting unless there are exceptional reasons.
Kinship is committed to championing equality, diversity and inclusion. We believe our work is greatly enhanced by the varied backgrounds, experiences and views represented within our teams. We aim to create inclusive teams, celebrate differences and encourage everyone to join us and be their true self at work. We therefore encourage applications from anyone who fits our values, whatever their religion or belief, sex, gender identity, race, age, sexuality or disability and are actively seeking candidates that can bring real innovation and commitment to us.
• Please tailor your CV to highlight how your experience aligns with the essential requirements for this role.
• Make sure you’ve read the job description and the essential requirements – make sure your application reflects those points in the requirements very clearly.
• Tell us why you want to work for Kinship. We’re interested in working with people who share our values. You can read about our values in the job pack.
• Keep your cover letter clear - use bullet points and short paragraphs if that helps. It will help the recruitment team to focus on your knowledge, skills and experience.
• Please do not use AI tools like ChatGPT to produce your answers. We use software to check, and your application will be rejected if you do.
We support kinship carers in their homes and communities, giving advice and helping them work through problems to find the best way forward.



The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.