Development officer jobs in liverpool

This is a brand new role with Action Duchenne, leading our new Fundraising and Communications team. This role is part of the Senior Leadership Team.

Applications close at 9am on Monday 21st July 2025, with interviews likely to take place in the weeks commencing 28th July and 4th August 2025. To apply, please click 'Apply', where you will be redirected to our application form.

Main Purpose of the Role:

To manage, lead and support the Fundraising and Communications Team to retain donors, increase income and provide clear direction for our communications. This role will involve supporting relationships with sponsors of Action Duchenne’s International Conference, developing and implementing the fundraising and communications strategy, and reviewing our case for support for our core work and projects.

Specific Tasks:

The focus areas and key deliverables of this role are as follows:

• Develop and deliver on a clear fundraising and communications strategy, with annual action plans and clear objectives and KPIs for team members.

• Understand and keep abreast of sector trends and compliance updates relating to fundraising and communications

• Develop and maintain oversight of all budgets, targets, forecasts and processes relating to fundraising and communications

• Co-ordinate the prioritising of income streams, including community, individual giving, corporate, legacy and trust and grants

• Research, identify, and where there is capacity, pursue income generation opportunities that match the objectives of Action Duchenne

• Ensure Action Duchenne is compliant with all applicable elements of the Fundraising Regulator’s Code of Fundraising Practice, law, and the Charity Commission relating to fundraising

• Research, identify and apply to Trusts and Foundations with a clear pipeline

• Prepare reports for Trustees either for the full Board, or where required, to sub committees, which will include fundraising and communications progress against objectives.

• With a team keen to learn, provide leadership and hands on support to ensure objectives are achieved

• Undertake a review of all Communications materials, including social media and website

• Lead by example across the team and organisation

• Be part of, and therefore contribute towards and prepare for Senior Leadership Team meetings

• Identify existing or potential events to develop relationships with funders, including Action Duchenne’s annual international conference

• Feed in to the development of the international conference, led by the Head of Operations & Events

• Work with staff across the organisation to ensure all elements of work are collaborative, specifically when submitting funding bids or developing the annual international conference

• To maintain the contact database, keeping it up to date and accurate

• Continue to invest in professional development in yourself and your team, including safeguarding

• Identify opportunities, alongside the team, for cross team working - including residentials; family events; Science Educations workshops with regional meetups and education visits to schools and local authorities.

• Obtain, decipher and provide training to the Support Team on new updates relevant to Duchenne families, such as DLA, EHCP and more.

• Work closely with your team, to ensure that each family receives the best support possible, and that long-term support is provided.

• Lead on the development and delivery of monthly reporting of engagement and support contact, which will feed into the wider All Through Support journey. 

• To work with the Head of Operations and Events to contribute to Agenda topics and speakers from the community; assign roles for the conference to the Support Team.

• Establish a database for external stakeholders also supporting those living with Duchenne on a national basis, fed in to from the Support Team.

• To develop a triaging and caseload process for the Support Team, and how best to regularly monitor this.

• Be involved in the recruitment, selection, and induction of volunteers appropriate to your area of work. 

• Coordinate cover for the Support Team when there is sickness or leave.

Further details can be found on the person specification attached.
Action Duchenne is committed to having a team that is made up of diverse skills and experiences. We encourage applicants from all sectors of the community and are especially keen to encourage candidates with relevant lived experiences and those from under-represented groups to apply.

Policy & Public Affairs Officer (Scotland) 

Location: Workplace Offer; Hybrid Working

The position is offered on a 0.6 FTE basis (21.75 hours per week). This role will be home-based but will require travel to Edinburgh and/or other parts of Scotland for in-person meetings as required.

Are you passionate about making a real difference in children's lives through impactful policy and public affairs engagement? Are eager to develop your skills working with Scottish Government, MSPs, and other key decision-makers in Scotland? If so, we want to hear from you. 

Barnardo's is looking for a Policy & Public Affairs Officer (Scotland) to help shape our influencing in Scotland. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone eager to build on their existing knowledge and experience with policy influencers in Scotland while playing a pivotal role in creating positive, lasting change for children, young people, and families. 

In this role, you'll work closely with our Senior Policy and Public Affairs Lead (Scotland) to implement our influencing plan. You'll help raise Barnardo's Scotland's profile among key stakeholders and policy influencers. You'll be involved in: 

• Monitoring key developments within the Scottish policy landscape 

• Managing relationships and liaising with stakeholders at all levels 

• Conducting research and producing reports to support our policy objectives 

• Supporting reactive policy work to respond to emerging issues 

• Organising events to showcase Barnardo's vital work and engage decision-makers 

Your efforts will ensure that the voices of children, young people, families, and our services are central to our influencing activities in Scotland.

When completing your application please refer to your skills knowledge and experience in relation to the Person Specification and Job Description. This should be done with an understanding of the context of the service described.

Please note due to the high volume of applications for some posts, this advert might close before the displayed closing date. We recommend that you apply for this role as soon as possible.

Pay & Reward Framework

We know that our colleagues go above and beyond in delivering our vital work, driven by their passion and commitment to Barnardo's values.  We also know that we can only realise our ambitions and achieve better outcomes for more children, thanks to the talent, hard work and creativity of our people. 

For all these reasons, we are committed to a new approach to pay and reward, to ensure it is fair, attractive and progressive, which was rolled out in April 2023. This is a positive change for the charity, and a part of our People & Culture Strategy. It will assist us in supporting colleagues to belong, thrive and grow in their colleague journey at Barnardo's and in time will offer clear routes of progression for colleagues in both their career and their pay. 

Whilst the full pay band and salary range is advertised, our approach to starting salaries is to appoint between the minimum to mid-point of the pay band – this ensures that pay steps are available to reward our colleagues annually based on their contribution to excellence and alignment to our values and behaviours.  More details on Barnardo's pay framework can be found upon application. 

We’re looking for a confident and well-organised fundraiser to help manage and grow our corporate partnerships. You’ll develop relationships with existing and new business supporters, deliver engaging communications, and support the growth of income from companies, all while helping to protect butterflies, moths and the environment we all depend on.

Job Purpose
• Managing and growing relationships with existing corporate donors
• Identifying and developing new corporate support
• Providing an outstanding supporter experience for our corporate supporters

Main Responsibilities
1. To directly manage a portfolio of corporate supporters, ensuring excellent stewardship and customer experience in order to meet agreed income targets and KPIs and maximise income for BC.

2. Develop and prepare tailored cases for support, proposals, reports and bespoke updates and communications to donors.

3. Identify, nurture, develop and manage new and existing corporate supporters including producing and communicating inspiring funding opportunities aimed at specific organisations.

4. Negotiate and deliver partnership agreements ensuring delivery against agreed targets and a good return on investment for the charity.

5. Monitor income targets and activities for Trading and Corporate fundraising including reporting to the BC Trading Company Board.

6. In conjunction with the Digital Manager, manage BC’s website shop portals and commercial partnerships to ensure a good level of royalties, proactive marketing, and supply of ethically sourced and sustainable goods.

7. Liaise with Communications and PR Team to ensure effective promotion of corporate and business agreements and timely reporting back on campaigns.

8. Update and maintain records of all business and corporate approaches, communications and agreements on the CRM and appropriate files.

9. Advise Branch volunteers where they seek to establish business support for their activities.

10. Where required, develop and/or follow policies and procedures on due diligence, data management, account management, stewardship, and reporting.

We are a small but mighty team, with huge ambitions to transform more lives of those who live with an intellectual disability, through the power of sport.

If you are just looking for a job, then we are probably not for you. However, if you are an experienced finance and business operations professional able to demonstrate strategic and operational ability around financial planning and processes as well as delivering cost effective, efficient and fit-for-purpose business services, then we would like to hear from you.  Charity finance experience and experience in a similarly broad role covering other areas of business operations including IT, risk management, data protection & data management and health & safety is a must.

We continue to be focused on our vision to create an inclusive world for all, driven by the power of sport, through which people with intellectual disabilities live active, healthy and fulfilling lives. We are a small, but growing, team with huge ambitions, and applicants must be comfortable operating in an environment where working under your own initiative is expected and encouraged.

We are looking for people who are passionate about Special Olympics and are completely aligned with our values. We are authentic. We act with honesty, integrity and respect. We are creative and innovative. We love to embrace difference and doing things differently. We are brave, courageous, resilient and determined. We listen and are led by the voice of our athletes. We are always kind. We are Inclusion in Action.

We are continuing to build a high-performing team who care for each other and care about our cause. Our athletes are incredibly inspirational, courageous and insightful people, and they deserve a team who are equally committed and passionate about our mission.

This is a permanent, home-based role. There will be the requirement to attend internal and external meetings or events which will involve travel away from home and working outside of normal hours.     

The role is both strategic and operational in nature and represents a fantastic chance to join an amazing charity at an exciting time of growth.

For job role specifics please see the Job Description.

What We Can Offer 

· Competitive salary circa £33,000 (£55K FTE) per annum depending on experience. 

· 15 days holiday on appointment plus pro rata bank holidays and one extra day for your Birthday. 

· Stakeholder Pension Scheme from appointment. 

· Time off in Lieu (TOIL) for out of hours work. 

· Flexible working. 

· Health Cash Plan

How to Apply

To apply, please send a covering letter (maximum 2 pages) explaining why you wish to work for Special Olympics GB. It is important that all prospective employees understand our mission and are driven by our cause. Please be specific about how your skills and experience will help you undertake this role and how they match the requirements of the Job Description and Person Specification. Generic letters and agency approaches will not be considered. Please also include your CV.

First stage interviews will be held week commencing 28th July 2025.

Safer Recruitment 

Special Olympics Great Britain is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The suitability of all prospective employees or volunteers will be assessed during the recruitment process. The successful candidate will be required to complete regular safeguarding training and undertake a DBS/PVG check relevant to the requirements of the role. For this role that will involve a Basic Disclosure. 

Equal Opportunities

Special Olympics GB is committed to equality and diversity and encourages all sections of the community, particularly those living with a disability, who meet the job requirements to apply.

Other

The job holder will need to provide evidence of their ability to live and work in the UK and will be required to undertake a basic DBS check.

We will only contact those who have been selected for interview.

We request no contact from agencies.

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join Halton Haven Hospice as one of our Fundraising Managers, leading our fundraising team to achieve ambitious targets through a diverse portfolio of income streams.

We are looking for an experienced fundraiser who can develop and grow our income streams, including running successful events and campaigns, building and maintaining relationships with corporate partners and working closely with our community supporters and organisations.  You will jointly manage our fundraising team and support them to deliver targets, provide excellent stewardship and raise awareness of our work in the local community.

Demonstrable experience of event management and working with budgets and financial targets is essential, as is the ability to confidently communicate with stakeholders at all levels. Previous experience of leading a team and managing volunteers would be desirable but not essential, however you must have a positive attitude, be highly motivated, enthusiastic, and friendly.

We offer a hybrid working arrangement with your main place of work at our main hospice site in Murdishaw, Runcorn, with the expectation that you are able to travel to attend events and meetings across Halton.

Benefits include company pension, free parking, health care scheme, excellent training and development courses, generous annual leave and additional long service annual leave entitlement and discounted meals.

Partnerships Manager (Corporate and Philanthropy) 

Remote, with UK travel 

4 days or 30 hours per week 

£40,000 FTE, pro-rata £32,000 

If you are imaginative, entrepreneurial, and able to persuade people and organisations to support one of the most important causes in the UK today, this could be the opportunity you have been waiting for. This is an outstanding opportunity to build your professional brand in a transformed organisation with ambitious plans for the future. 

For more details see job description.  

To apply, please send us a CV describing your achievements to date in your career. As we have an immediate need to fill this role, please give details of your availability to start date.  

Shortlisted applicants will then be asked to submit a short PowerPoint presentation (no more than 10 slides), demonstrating both your understanding of the opportunities for AMR Action UK to partner with Corporates and with Philanthropic individuals/organisations, and why you are the right person for the role.  

As we have an immediate need to fill this role please apply early as shortlisted applicants may be asked for their PowerPoint presentation and to interview quickly. 

The closing date is 13th July 2025.  

An opportunity as arisen for an experienced marketing professional to join our team at Halton Haven Hospice.

The Hospice is looking to recruit a Marketing and Communications Manager to lead on developing our marketing strategy and to actively engage in running marketing campaigns both internally and externally at the hospice. The successful candidate will be able to build on our existing relationships with local media and our community, whilst also having the ability to shape our marketing plans for the future.

The post-holder will be responsible for managing our website and social media content, writing and co-ordinating press releases and case studies, supporting the promotion of events and appeals and working with colleagues to develop a new marketing and communications strategy.

We are looking for someone who has experience in working cross-departmentally to deliver high-quality campaigns, and who has the ability to handle emotive topics in a sensitive yet compelling manner. The successful post holder must have a positive attitude, be highly motivated, enthusiastic, and friendly. We are looking for someone with proven experience in marketing or a related field, previous charity experience would be a benefit but not essential.

Benefits include company pension, generous annual leave, free parking, health care scheme, excellent training and development courses, additional long service annual leave entitlement and discounted meals.

Prison Facilitator - HMP Liverpool

Location: HMP Liverpool
Department: Prison delivery
Salary: £28,274 per annum
Hours: 35 hours
Contract Type: Permanent

Do you want to join an organisation committed to addressing low literacy levels amongst people in prison?

Shannon Trust are delighted to be working with His Majesty’s Prison & Probation Service (HMPPS) to provide peer-led learning programmes at HMP Liverpool. 

Working closely with the prison and their staff, Shannon Trust volunteers and mentors, this post will lead the delivery and development of our prison-based reading and numeracy programme, maximising peer opportunities for people in prison to learn to read.

Ideally you will have some experience of prison settings underpinned by the ability to build relationships and possess personal qualities that include resilience, determination and a problem-solving approach. 

This role will be prison based. Employee benefits include a company contribution to pension scheme of up to 5%, 30 days holiday plus bank holidays, life insurance, paid volunteering days, discounts via Reward Gateway and an Employee Assistance Programme. The biggest benefit though is our culture – our people really want to work for the organisation.

‍We welcome job applications from people with lived experience of the criminal justice system and do not routinely ask for details of any criminal convictions. However, these roles do require prison security clearance, so we will need to ask for details of any relevant criminal convictions before an offer of employment is finalised.

Please note this role is subject to contract award.

‍Interviews are planned for: 4th August 2025

Benefits: Standard Shannon Trust: Employee benefits include a company contribution to pension scheme of up to 5%, 30 days holiday plus bank holidays, life insurance, paid volunteering days, discounts via Reward Gateway and an Employee Assistance Programme.

REF-222513

Events Officer
Reference:JUN20252370
Location: Flexible in UK
Salary: £30,075.00 - £32,108.00 Per Annum
Contract: Fixed term until 31st March 2026
Hours: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week
Benefits: Pension Scheme, Life Assurance Scheme, 26 days' Annual Leave

The Events Officer is a pivotal member of the Events HQ team, responsible for assisting with the planning, coordination, and execution of a diverse portfolio of events as outlined in the Events HQ roadmap. This includes providing expert consultancy to the wider organisation, ensuring a unified and professional approach to all event activities.

Collaborating with specialists across the charity and the Brand and Marketing directorate, you will support the development and maintenance of logistical and administrative frameworks that enable successful event delivery. By leveraging your expertise, you will help create events that inspire action and align with the charity’s strategic outcomes.

What's the role about?

Working in a dynamic and collaborative environment, you will play a critical role in delivering audience-focused events that engage supporters, members, and stakeholders. This includes high-value cultivation events, engagement initiatives, and webinars. You'll work closely with the Events HQ team to develop comprehensive project plans, conduct thorough risk assessments, and ensure seamless on-the-day logistics, guaranteeing a high-quality experience for all participants.

A key aspect of the role involves building and maintaining strong relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including internal teams, external specialists, suppliers, and partners. You will act as a key liaison for speakers, providing necessary briefing materials and training, especially for online event delivery. Your ability to inspire and engage others is essential to the successful execution of events.

The role demands significant expertise in event logistics, from initial planning and risk management to live event operations. You will be a strong project manager, adept at handling both proactive and reactive tasks with a solutions-focused approach. You'll be skilled in using databases and CRM systems to manage relationships, as well as tools for budget and supplier management, ensuring the efficient allocation and oversight of resources.

Through your work, you will contribute significantly to the charity’s mission, engaging more diverse audiences and encouraging them to take action for nature through time, money, voice, and choice. Your dedication to excellence and strategic impact ensures that all events achieve their desired outcomes and uphold the organisation’s values.

Essential skills, knowledge and experience:

• Demonstrable experience of supporting and leading on elements of events of varying sizes - including events for over 1,000 people, including high-value cultivation events, engagement events, and webinars.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple events simultaneously, meet deadlines, and adapt to changing priorities.
• Experience of delivering online events to over 500 attendees, including live polling, panel discussion and working with production companies

Desirable skills, knowledge and experience:

• Experience in managing and prioritising multiple objectives, workstreams and communication priorities.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build and maintain relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders.
• Comprehensive understanding of event logistics, including risk assessment and health and safety considerations.
• Knowledge of marketing and communications strategies related to event promotion and audience engagement.

Additional information:

As part of event delivery there will be some evening and weekend working, including late night/early hours set up occasionally.

The RSPB reserves the right to extend or make this role permanent without further advertising dependent on business needs at the end of the contract term.

Closing date: 23:59, Wed, 9th Jul 2025

We are looking to conduct interviews for this position from 16th July 2025

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

As part of this application process you will be asked to provide a copy of your CV and complete an application form including evidence on how you meet the skills, knowledge, and experience listed above.

This role will require completion of a DBS/PVG/Access NI in addition to the standard pre-employment checks.

We are committed to developing an inclusive and diverse RSPB, in which everyone feels supported, valued, and able to be their full selves. To achieve our vision of creating a world richer in nature, we need more people, and more diverse people, on nature’s side. People of colour and disabled people are currently underrepresented across the environment, climate, sustainability, and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled, we are particularly interested in receiving your application. Contact us to discuss any additional support you may need to complete your application.

The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

This role is not eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship - the successful applicant will need to have a pre-existing Right to Work in the UK in order to be offered an employment contract.

No agencies please.

This is a permanent full-time role, home based with regular UK wide travel

Responsibilities

Design & Implement Staff Training Programs: Proven experience developing and delivering comprehensive training modules in areas such as health and safety, safety protocols, customer service, and leadership development.

Training Delivery: Demonstrated ability to facilitate engaging, interactive training sessions using both in-person and digital methods for diverse teams.

Training Needs Analysis: Experience collaborating with leadership to identify skill gaps and create tailored training solutions.

Performance Measurement: Proven capability to develop metrics and evaluation tools to measure training effectiveness, report findings, and refine programs accordingly.

Resource Development: Track record of creating and maintaining high-quality training materials, guides, and documentation.

New Starter Journey: Experience designing and delivering induction programs that provide new staff with a strong introduction to organisational culture and key knowledge areas.

External Training Development: Experience delivering specialist training to partners and clients, ensuring compliance with industry safety standards.

Continuous Improvement: stay up to date with industry best practice, new technologies and new flood-related practices to be incorporated into training materials

 Day-to-Day Activities

• You will line manage an Administrative Co-ordinator who has partial responsibilities for Training delivery and support them with their workstreams and development
• Liaise and develop relationships with stakeholders to identify training needs and develop training processes to support them
• Support Senior Management Team to build income streams and develop new activity, working to support and deliver NFF strategy
• Providing information and case studies for communications and advocacy work

· You will be acting as the main contact for training, both internally and externally

Skills & Knowledge

• Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Listening: Outstanding listening skills to understand community needs.
• Stakeholder Management: Expertise in partnership working and managing stakeholders.
• Empathy: Ability to empathise with flooded individuals and communities.
• Organisation: Highly organised, flexible, and capable of senior leadership.
• Team Management: Experience in managing teams and projects.
• Collaboration: Team player with a solution-focused mindset.
• Experience: Project delivery and support

How This Role Contributes to Our Strategy

• Community Support: Empowering and supporting communities through training our teams and partners
• Partnerships: Developing strong relationships with partner organisations.
• Income Generation: Supporting income streams via training opportunities
• Collaboration: Fostering a collaborative approach within the organisation.

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 seeking a technically capable, qualified accountant with strong knowledge of the Charities SORP to provide effective stewardship and oversight of the Finance function at Kinship. You will be responsible for financial controls, management accounting and ensuring the effective delivery of ‘business as usual’ financial management.

As well as producing monthly management accounts, you will be responsible for running the annual budget and the year-end processes, preparing for the yearly external audit and ensuring that the organisation complies with statutory obligations.

You will prepare papers for and attend the quarterly Finance Committee meetings and will liaise with a range of stakeholders including auditors, the bank and investment managers.  You will be the ‘go to’ business partner at the charity, supported by the Chief Operating Officer and Fractional Chief Financial Officer.

You will manage a team of two colleagues – a Senior Finance Officer and a Payroll Manager – providing them with guidance, coaching and support to enable them to perform effectively. You will also collaborate and work with Directors and senior managers across the organisation to inform them on performance against budget and conditions of funding, as well as supporting fundraising and commissioning bids. 

You will have excellent communication skills and will be able to organise conflicting priorities around the monthly management accounts cycle, while supporting the achievement of our strategic objectives. You will be flexible and adaptable in your approach to supporting transformational change in our processes and systems, as well as dealing with, and leading on, the day-to-day financial management. 

This is a broad and challenging role for a dynamic and systems-driven individual who wants to grow within the organisation, proactively problem solve and help colleagues to deliver on our mission.

Essential requirements include:

• Fully qualified ICAEW, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent
• In-depth understanding of accounting principles, standards and the Charities SORP, and experience of applying these in a service delivery organisation
• Experience managing a Finance function in a charity with £1-10m annual turnover
• Experience of line management and developing a team using approaches that are empowering
• Experience of Business Central, or the ability to quickly learn a new accounting system
• Excellent Microsoft Excel skills with the ability to use Pivot Tables and other functions to analyse large data sets

What we’ll offer you 

Kinship offers 30 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays (pro-rata for part-time) as well as a generous pension scheme. We have an excellent wellbeing offer including the Employee Assistance Programme and clinical supervision. We will invest in your professional development with training and career development opportunities.

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. 

This is a fantastic time to join a supportive and well-established team within an organisation with rapid growth ambitions. This role will be what you make it and we’re looking for someone to seize this opportunity!

How to apply

Please apply via Charity Job with your CV and a cover letter of no more than 2 pages for the attention of Joshua Marks. Please include your notice period and earliest availability to start in your cover letter.

• Application deadline:      8.00am on Monday 7 July 2025
• First interview:                 Online - Wednesday 9 and Thursday 10 July
• Second interview:          In-person (Vauxhall, London) - Wednesday 16 and Thursday 17 July [2 hours                                                     including Excel and presentation task]

Kinship reserves the right to close applications early on receipt of sufficient applications. Apply early!

About the Role

As Director of Devolved Nations, you will:

• Lead Carers UK’s work in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, driving strategic impact and ensuring alignment with the UK-wide mission.
• Shape and deliver national strategies that bring about real improvements in carers’ lives.
• Collaborate with government, public bodies, the voluntary sector, and other stakeholders to influence policy and secure statutory funding.
• Provide inspirational leadership to the Carers Scotland, Carers Wales, and Carers NI teams.
• Contribute to UK-wide senior leadership and organisational development.

You’ll need to be flexible, with travel across the UK, including overnight stays and occasional weekend work.

About You

We’re looking for someone who brings:

• Significant senior leadership experience in policy, public affairs, or charity leadership.
• A deep understanding of the political and policy landscapes in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
• Strong governance knowledge and experience working with Boards or Committees.
• A track record of building influential relationships across sectors, including with senior government officials and funders.
• Excellent people management skills and the ability to lead dispersed teams.
• Commitment to Carers UK’s values of being Attentive, Ambitious, and Achievers.
• Experience working with or understanding the needs of unpaid carers is highly desirable.

And who:

• Is passionate about caring and can inspire their teams to deliver new and innovative ways to campaign for and support carers as we close our 60th anniversary in 2025 and move towards our strategic review in 2026.
• Will be an active member of the Senior Management team working collaboratively across the organisation, ensuring consistent messaging and support across all four nations.
• Who is able to proactively represent the charity, engaging a wide range of stakeholders.

For more information please download the full job description

What We Offer

• 25 days annual leave (rising to 28 days with long service) + bank holidays
• An additional 3 paid days leave over Christmas and New Year
• Up to 10 days paid care leave
• 6% employer pension contribution
• Life assurance cover (2x salary)
• Flexible and hybrid working
• Free Health Cash Plan with a free, unlimited and confidential 24 hour advice, support and information line; free, unlimited and confidential GP line access; a wellbeing portal and app plus cash back to set limits for dental, optical and therapy treatments, plus kids cover and retail and restaurant discounts
• Paid Special Leave
• Organisational sick pay scheme
• Paid volunteer leave
• Equality, Diversity and Inclusion staff network groups
• A recognition scheme including a values winner of the month
• Season ticket, cycle, and technology loans
• A learning and development culture with access to a Learning Management System

We are proud to be a Living Wage Employer, a Carer Confident Employer, a Carer Positive employer, and part of the Happy to Talk Flexible Working scheme. We have signed the Menopause Workplace Pledge and have achieved the Disability Confident Employer (level 2).

Diversity and Inclusion

Carers UK is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace that reflects our community. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and particularly from those with lived experience of caring. We are happy to make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.

Employer Policy Specialist

Working Hours: 0.6FTE (full-time equivalent 37.5 hours). There is a degree of flexibility surrounding the working hours which will be determined by the demands of the role.

Salary: 0.6FTE: £40,658 (the full-time equivalent salary is: £67,763).

Start Date: 1st September 2025.

Reporting to: Director of Public Affairs & Policy

Deadline for applications: Friday 18th July 2025, 5pm

Interviews: Interviews will be conducted online on Thursday 24th July

Overview

The DfE has nominated CST as the employer representative for academy trusts for specific purposes (for example, the school support staff negotiating body).  The postholder will be required to work directly with the Department for Education at a senior level to undertake the duties associated with this employer representative role.  CST also wishes to strengthen its support to members on wider matters of employer policy. There is significant scope to shape and develop this role.

Key Responsibilities

• Have a detailed understanding of the terms and conditions of employment of teaching and support staff and the workforce issues affecting the education sector, particularly those influencing recruitment and retention of staff.

• The ability to build relationships with key stakeholders (members, senior DfE officials and ministers) and work closely with other employer representative organisations.

• Working closely with the CEO and Deputy CEO, build relationships at senior level with trade unions (leadership, teacher and support staff unions).

• Lead on developing CST’s employer policy and guidance, working with our members and commanding their support and respect, and working closely with the policy team.

• Support the Chief Executive, Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Public Affairs and Policy to influence and respond to government policy in respect of employer policy, including drafting responses to government consultations and being our representative on the DfE’s formally constituted groups.

• Provide professional support and guidance to members on matters relating to employer policy, within the restrictions of what we are insured to do as a professional body.

• Support our HR professional community.

• Speak with authority at events and conferences as CST’s nominated representative on employer policy.

• Offer support to the wider CST policy team in other areas that fall within the postholder’s experience or expertise. This may include occasionally deputising for other team members for example covering for annual leave or sickness absence.

• Any other duties and responsibilities that may be delegated by the Chief Executive, Deputy Chief Executive or Director of Public Affairs and Policy from time to time.

Essential Skills and Experience

• Likely educated to degree level (or holding a similar professional qualification or experience) with significant knowledge and experience of employment matters within the education sector and employer policy.

• The ideal candidate will have experience working at senior level likely within an educational, policy or consultancy setting. Knowledge of schools and the trust sector is essential as is the ability to respond to issues in a way which conveys the practical realities of working in schools.

• A sound understanding of the differences between academy trusts and the maintained sector.

• Secure knowledge of legislation, regulations and policy that affect school trusts.

• Authority and gravitas with the ability to speak up at meetings with senior officials with the required diplomacy and at all times with the members’ interests in mind.

• People-centred, with excellent relational skills, adept at forming and maintaining positive relationships with colleagues, members and senior external stakeholders (including policy makers, employer representative organisations and trade unions).

• Output focused, able to execute a range of communications across channels efficiently.

• Fluent and precise, an excellent communicator who writes well.

• The ability to analyse detail and distil key points, identifying matters of concern or interest to school trusts.

• Highly organised, with the ability to prioritise and work to tight deadlines, including turning around high-quality responses to members and DfE in short timescales.

• Someone who embodies the Nolan Principles and acts with integrity and discretion.

• Aligned with CST’s aims to promote education for public benefit.

• Skilled at working remotely as part of a close-knit team. Whilst this position is remote (home-based) there will be the requirement to attend in person meetings from time to time.