Development writer and research officer jobs
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We are looking for a highly motivated and gifted communicator to craft Spotlight’s messages and help us achieve real change.
You will be joining a small dedicated team of anti-corruption experts and campaigners for this busy, varied and multi-skilled role. We have a full programme of work for the year ahead with projects on illicit finance, political integrity, and corporate accountability for financial crime.
Candidates should be exceptional all-round communicators, with significant experience in achieving impact through a range of channels from digital and social media to print, broadcast and events. They will have a track record of driving communications efforts to achieve campaign or policy objectives, as well as experience of developing messages for a wide range of audiences, and translating complex expert subject matter into newsworthy content. The successful candidate will be enthusiastic and proactive, a strategic thinker, an excellent writer and able to apply their skills and experience across a range of different communications channels. They will also have an interest in corruption and its impacts at home and abroad.
Deadline for applications is 23.30 on Saturday 14th February.
About Spotlight
Spotlight on Corruption is a UK based charity which aims to end impunity for corruption, promote political integrity within the UK, and ensure the UK acts as a global leader on fighting corruption. We are a bold, expert voice that pushes forward the anti-corruption agenda in a pragmatic and credible way, consistently punching above our weight in holding the government to account for taking action against corruption, cronyism, and dirty money in the UK. Since it was founded in September 2019, Spotlight has emerged as a highly influential anti-corruption campaign organisation.
Spotlight is committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable environment where all staff feel respected and valued. We conduct anonymous long-listing to help promote fairness and diversity, and strongly encourage candidates from different backgrounds and experiences to apply.
Spotlight is a Living Wage Employer. We offer a 6% employer pension contribution and enhanced sick pay.
Key Responsibilities
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Design and deliver Spotlight’s day to day communications and public messaging to ensure we achieve real reforms and impact in tackling corruption and protecting UK democracy.
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Secure strategic and influential media coverage by developing and maintaining relationships with journalists, developing ideas for stories, and identifying key communication opportunities to get Spotlight’s messages across, including by monitoring daily news.
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Build Spotlight’s reach and influence online with target audiences (politicians, civil servants, journalists, civil society, and funders) by maintaining Spotlight on Corruption’s website, social media accounts and mailing lists, and working with colleagues to develop engaging content.
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Develop newsletters, press releases, website copy, social media posts, and other communications materials, including scripts for, as well as filming, videos on Spotlight messages that appeal to different audiences.
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Develop a communications strategy for the organisation to implement its three year strategy which builds and secures Spotlight’s reputation as a leading anti-corruption organisation and update that strategy regularly by monitoring developments in the communications and media landscape, as well as the effectiveness of Spotlight’s press coverage, and social media / other communications channels.
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Work with our fundraiser to communicate Spotlight’s work to current and potential funders, and other stakeholders.
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Oversee design of Spotlight outputs including reports and briefings to ensure they are delivered to a high standard which effectively communicates their findings.
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Undertake other activities to support the organisation including: liaising with comms professionals in other anti-corruption NGOs; and providing support to the director and wider organisation as required.
Relevant skills, competences and experience
Person specification - essential criteria:
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Significant experience of using communications to deliver meaningful impact.
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A solid understanding of how communications can be used to influence policy makers and contribute to fundraising.
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Significant experience of securing strategic media coverage, with an excellent understanding of the current UK media landscape, including what makes a successful news story and what delivers impact.
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Ability to develop sharp messaging, translate complex issues to a media audience, and tailor messages for different audiences.
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Significant experience writing and editing communications materials such as articles, website content, reports, video scripts, and press releases.
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Experience of using social media, websites and/or newsletters to achieve communication goals and target key audiences.
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Proven track record of being proactive and using own initiative while maintaining strong communication with team members.
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Strong organisational, IT and administrative skills.
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Experience of developing and implementing successful communication plans.
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A passion to influence the UK’s approach to anti-corruption and an understanding of how to do so.
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A commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.
Person specification - highly desirable - strong candidates will likely have one or more of the following:
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Experience of developing digital content including videos.
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Experience of designing and formatting reports and communicating data and information using infographics and data visualisation.
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Knowledge of and/or relationships with key UK journalists that might cover corruption issues.
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Detailed understanding of anti-corruption and/or economic crime issues, including their impact on governance, democracy and development, or an understanding of how to communicate complex legal processes and arguments effectively.
Working arrangements
Full-time, 35 hours per week. Working from home required, but with one day a week in the office near London Bridge. Must be based in or near London. We support flexible working arrangements and operate a nine day fortnight. Attendance at networking events and being on-call for media work outside of office hours occasionally required.
Responsible to: Executive Director
Applications should be made by way of a covering letter setting out suitability for the role set against the person specification, and a CV.
Short-listing will take place w/c 16th February.
Interviews for short-listed candidates will take place via Zoom (first round). There will then be in-person interviews in London following that (for those who progress to the second round).
Spotlight on Corruption shines a light on the UK’s role in corruption at home and abroad.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Director of Development
Contract: Permanent
Function/Team: Development
Location: London, UK
Hours: Full time, inclusive of breaks
Reporting to: CEO
Salary: £54,649 - £61,726
STOP THE TRAFFIK prevents vulnerable communities from being recruited, trafficked, and exploited. Our targeted prevention efforts disrupt the criminal business of human trafficking, making it too high-risk and low-profit to be viable.
As a core member of the Executive Team, the Director of Development will lead on organisational income generation and operational development. Working closely with the CEO, Presidents, this role will oversee all fundraising, partnerships, communications, and internal operations, ensuring STT is financially strong, strategically aligned, and operationally effective.
Leadership & Team Management
· Work closely with the CEO to deliver the organisation’s strategic plan, focusing on sustainable growth, financial health, and operational excellence.
· Work with the Presidents to grow funding and pro-bono support to scale organisational capacity for impact.
· Create and deliver a three-year development strategy, with a focus on diverse and sustainable income.
· Line manage and lead head of, manager, and project officer roles.
Fundraising & Partnerships
· Provide strategic advice to the Head of Development & Communications.
· Support on the management of our STT Prevention Ambassador Network, which should generate philanthropy and donation opportunities.
· Identify new strategic partnerships and funders to nurture, with a focus on growing our philanthropy stream.
· Oversee and grow income across trusts and foundations, philanthropy, individual giving, and corporate partnerships.
Finance
· Oversee financial strategy and operations, ensuring sound financial management withregular reporting to Senior Leadership and the Board of Trustees.
· Oversee budgeting and financial planning with support from manager roles and Oasis Charitable Trust.
Communications & Brand
· Oversee our brand and storytelling, ensuring a consistent, impactful voice across audiences.
· Support external representation of STOP THE TRAFFIK, including speaking engagements, donor presentations, and media opportunities.
Governance & Impact Measurement
· Support the CEO and Board of Trustees through accurate reporting and transparent communication on performance.
· Manage the Senior Leadership Team meetings ensuring alignment to strategy.
· Lead cross-organisational improvement projects to strengthen operational efficiency and impact measurement.
· Lead how we measure our prevention-focused impact, strengthening our theory of change, monitoring & evaluation processes, and overseeing our annual impact report with support from our Communications Managers.
Benefits:
· A friendly, supportive team environment.
· Opportunities to collaborate with global partners and experts.
· Autonomy to take initiative and propose process improvements.
· Access to a healthcare cash benefit scheme (including partner/children coverage).
· Corporate eye-care scheme.
· Life insurance.
· Non-contributory Group Personal Pension Scheme (7% employer contribution).
· 27 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays (increasing to 33 days with service).
· Cycle to Work scheme.
· Season Ticket Loan.
· Option to switch 2 bank holidays to suit personal needs.
· Flexible working policy reflecting staff needs.
· In-house and external training opportunities.
Further details about STOP THE TRAFFIK can be found on our website.
If you have the relevant experience, are highly resourceful, adaptable, pro-active, and a critical thinker able to work in a fast-paced environment, please send a CV and brief cover letter (both as pdf format) that evidences your ability to be successful in this role.
Only applications sent via email will be considered to ensure an equitable review process. We will be reviewing applications and conducting interviews for this role on a rolling basis.
We cannot sponsor applicants at this time.
Registered Charity No. 1127321
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Mslexia, the UK’s best-loved writing magazine for women, is seeking a Chief Executive Officer to lead the organisation into an exciting new phase of growth and impact.
Founded in 1999, Mslexia is a national publishing and outreach charity dedicated to addressing gender inequality in literature. We support over 50,000 women writers through our magazine, books, competitions, courses, events and online community. Financially independent for more than 20 years, we now want to build on our success, strengthen our sustainability and extend our reach.
This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of a respected, values-driven organisation with a strong brand, loyal audience and passionate team.
About the role
As CEO, you will provide strategic, operational and inspirational leadership for Mslexia, working closely with the Board of Trustees and leading a team of talented staff.
You will be responsible for:
- Setting and delivering organisational strategy with the Board.
- Leading and supporting the staff team, fostering a positive, inclusive and high-performing culture.
- Overseeing financial management, budgeting and long-term sustainability.
- Developing and diversifying income streams, including commercial activity, partnerships and fundraising.
- Acting as the public face of Mslexia, championing its mission locally, regionally and nationally.
- Strengthening governance, systems, policies and risk management.
- Building partnerships and promoting the Mslexia brand and influence.
We are looking for an inspiring, values-driven leader with the vision, credibility and skills to lead a purpose-led organisation.
You will bring:
- Senior leadership experience in the charity, public, commercial or related sector.
- Strong financial literacy and experience managing multiple income streams.
- A track record of leading and motivating teams.
- Experience working with a Board or similar governance structure.
- Strategic thinking skills, with the ability to turn vision into action.
- Excellent communication, influencing and relationship-building skills.
- A strong commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
Desirable:
- Experience in the arts, culture or creative industries.
- Experience of hybrid earned / grant-funded income models.
- Events or publishing-related experience.
Why join Mslexia?
- Lead a nationally respected charity with a clear social mission.
- Work with a skilled, passionate and supportive team.
- Shape the future of women’s writing and gender equality in literature.
- Flexible working and family-friendly policies.
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays.
- City-centre Newcastle location.
How to apply
Mslexia is working with Jobs with Purpose to recruit to this role. You can access a detailed candidate pack below, including a job description and person specification.
To apply, please forward a detailed CV and a supporting statement (maximum three sides) explaining how you meet the requirements of the person specification and any other information relevant to the role to David Robinson at Jobs with Purpose.
For a confidential discussion about the role, email David with your availability and brief details regarding your experience and interest in the position.
Closing date: Monday 9 February 2026, 12 noon
Interviews: Week commencing 16 February 2026
Mslexia is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.
To apply, please submit a detailed CV and a supporting statement (maximum three sides) explaining how you meet the requirements of the person specification and any other information relevant to the role
For a confidential discussion about the role, email David with your availability and brief details regarding your experience and interest in the role.
Our Second Home is the UK’s youth movement of young people with refugee backgrounds. Since 2018, we have supported over 750 young people from 53 countries to build community, develop leadership skills, and flourish into adulthood in the place they now call home.
Our work begins with transformational residential experiences, where young people form friendships, grow in confidence, and experience belonging – often for the first time since arriving in the UK. From there, many go on to take part in our Leadership Training Programme and local Youth Hubs in London and Bristol, before returning as peer leaders themselves. This cycle of engagement, growth and leadership is at the heart of our theory of change.
We are now entering a pivotal phase of our development, delivering a new 2025–2028 strategy focused on sustainable growth, deeper impact, and long-term resilience. Fundraising is central to this ambition.
The role (Read the recruitment pack for more information)
We are recruiting a Fundraising Manager to act as the organisation’s operational lead for income generation. This is a part-time role (18–24 hours per week) with significant flexibility, ideal for someone who is organised, thoughtful, and motivated by building something meaningful.
The Fundraising Manager will manage and coordinate income across five strands: trusts and foundations, major donors, corporate foundations, individual and digital giving, and statutory funding. While the role has a strong trusts and foundations focus, it offers real scope to build skills and experience across a broad fundraising portfolio.
Working closely with the CEO, a highly experienced freelance Bid Writer, and the wider team, you will be responsible for developing funding pipelines, producing high-quality proposals and applications, stewarding funder relationships, and translating programme impact into compelling narratives. You will also play a key role in donor communications, reporting, CRM management, and supporting campaigns and events.
This is a hands-on role for someone who enjoys balancing writing, relationship-building, planning and delivery – and who values doing fundraising with integrity and care.
About you
We are looking for someone with experience in fundraising (particularly trusts and foundations) or strong transferable skills such as persuasive writing, project management, or stakeholder engagement. You will be comfortable managing multiple deadlines, maintaining an organised pipeline, and working independently while staying closely connected to a small team.
You will bring strong written and verbal communication skills, attention to detail, and the ability to build warm, professional relationships with funders and supporters. Experience using a CRM system is important, as is an understanding of – or willingness to learn about – the UK voluntary sector funding landscape.
Above all, we are looking for someone who aligns with our values: putting young people at the centre, acting with rather than for, creating opportunities for leadership, and building a culture of freedom, respect and acceptance. We warmly welcome applications from people with lived experience of the asylum system.
This is a role for someone who wants their fundraising work to be closely connected to real people, real programmes, and real change – and who is excited to help shape the next chapter of a growing, values-led organisation.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.