Digital experience specialist jobs in Birmingham
This is a home-based role, working Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Applications are welcome from candidates based outside Belfast, provided they are resident in Northern Ireland and able to commute to the Belfast office if required.
The External Affairs Manager plays a pivotal role in empowering people with sight loss to live the life they choose. This position leads the development of policy and campaigns within the country, aligning with Guide Dogs’ strategic objectives. Working collaboratively with the central policy, public affairs, and campaigns team, as well as the country leadership team, the role builds strategic partnerships with government bodies, local authorities, societies, and other key organisations. This ensures Guide Dogs remains informed and influential on all policy initiatives affecting the organisation and its stakeholders.
The post holder will be responsible for the day‑to‑day leadership, management and oversight of a team.
The post-holder is responsible for shaping policy positions, drafting responses to consultations from councils, combined authorities, and devolved governments, and driving impactful campaigns at a regional level. A key focus is increasing the involvement of blind and partially sighted people in advocacy and campaigning.
Additionally, the role leads the implementation of Guide Dogs’ regional marketing and communications strategy across the Devolved Nations. This includes raising brand awareness, engaging diverse audiences—service users, families, volunteers, donors, and the public—and delivering integrated communications plans that strengthen Guide Dogs’ presence and impact.
Key Responsibilities
Policy Development
- Lead the creation of country-specific policy and position papers, ensuring alignment with organisational strategy.
- Prepare responses to consultation papers from devolved administrations, local government, and regional bodies.
- Represent Guide Dogs on committees, working groups, and forums, staying informed on policy issues impacting the organisation and its service users.
Public Affairs
- Build and influence relationships with key stakeholders, including elected representatives and senior officials.
- Represent Guide Dogs at Government Scrutiny Committees and cross-party groups.
- Act as the primary liaison with local government and statutory agencies.
Campaigns & Influence
- Strategically lead and coordinate campaigns at a country level, ensuring alignment with devolved policy priorities.
- Develop and deliver campaigns addressing local needs of the visually impaired community.
- Foster partnerships within the Third Sector to build consensus and amplify Guide Dogs’ strategic aims.
Leadership & People Management
- Provide strong leadership to local staff and volunteers, promoting best practice and knowledge-sharing.
- Oversee recruitment, performance management, and compliance with safeguarding policies.
- Ensure high levels of engagement through effective communication and leadership.
Financial Accountability
- Support fundraising initiatives and monitor operational budgets to ensure efficiency and compliance.
Diversity & Inclusion
- Champion Guide Dogs’ diversity agenda, ensuring services are inclusive and accessible.
- Work with external partners to create a more inclusive environment for people with sight loss.
How to apply
Further details on the full role are attached below. When you are ready to apply, submit an online application form via this page.
If you would like to have an informal conversation about the role before applying, or require any accessibility support to apply, our friendly recruitment team is ready and waiting to help.
As part of your application ensure you provide evidence and examples of how your skills & experience meet the criteria as set out in the attached job description. You will also be asked to complete a few job-specific questions as part of this application process, so please be prepared to write your answers to these questions.
Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
Guide Dogs welcomes applications from all sections of the community and actively encourages diversity to maximise achievements, creativity and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment, regardless of age, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, disability or nationality.
As a Disability Confident Employer, we are proud, whenever possible, to offer an interview to all candidates that meet our selection criteria, and who indicate they wish their application to be considered under our Disability Confident interview commitment. For more details, visit our careers site.
If you are successful you will need to provide evidence of your right to work in the UK via our digital ID checking supplier; in addition, we cannot offer visa sponsorship at this time.
Safeguarding
Guide Dogs is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children, young people and adults at risk of harm with whom we work. We expect all our employees and volunteers to fully share this commitment.
At Guide Dogs, we believe in fair and equitable hiring practices. A criminal record will not automatically disqualify an applicant from consideration for a position. Each case will be evaluated individually, taking into account the nature of the offense, its relevance to the role, and the time that has passed since the incident. We encourage all candidates to disclose relevant information, and we assure you that it will be handled confidentially and fairly.
Guide Dogs follow Safer Recruitment practices to ensure we are safeguarding the vulnerable people we work with. As part of this, we require a full work history with any gaps accounted for & a minimum of 2 professional referee details fully covering the past 5 years. If you are applying for a disclosure role, please note that you will be required to undergo an enhanced DBS check and sign up to the DBS update service.
For high volumes of applications, we reserve the right to close adverts earlier than advertised.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
ABOUT THE ROLE
We are looking for a part time governance and compliance officer to oversee our governance and risk framework as a non-profit regulated by the Charities Commission (England and Wales) and OSCR (Scotland).
You will identify, develop, maintain and implement policies and procedures to ensure compliance and risk mitigation with the various regulations that we must adhere to such as Charities Commission, OSCR, Fundraising Regulator, Companies House, UK Data Protection and Safeguarding.
As governance and compliance officer, you will deliver high quality, professional and compliant governance across the charity, nationally and in supporting our network of support groups (see About IA) ensuring we comply with statutory regulations, that protect our members and the charity itself while applying best practice principles.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Developing and documenting a detailed understanding of charity practices, paying specific attention to areas where IA is bound by statutory regulations
- Developing robust policies and procedures that ensure charity compliance and best practice
- Remaining up to date with current regulations that IA is bound by and ensuring any changes are implemented within any imposed deadlines
- Regularly review and maintain policies and procedures auditing your findings to ensure exemplary record keeping following up with implementing changes
- Implementing policies and procedures amongst staff, volunteers and the Board of Trustees with robust record keeping introducing governance cycles to keep everyone updated with current policy and communicating changes where necessary
- Identifying risks, recommending mitigating actions and reporting your findings to the management team and Board of Trustees
- Reviewing and updating IA’s risk register
- Recommending and monitoring recommended training among staff and volunteers especially where IA is bound by statutory regulations
- Liaise with third-party suppliers to IA who are responsible for providing services to the charity that support our governance and risk framework
- Supporting Trustee recruitment, induction, training, and evaluation processes
PERSON SPECIFICATION
ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE
- Demonstrable experience of at least 12m in governance and risk management within a not for profit environment with working knowledge of UK charity regulations. Exceptional candidates from a commercial background would be considered
- A thorough working knowledge of risk management
- Development, implementation, monitoring and maintenance of governance and risk frameworks
- Documenting, reviewing and mitigating risk
- Demonstrable experience of regular reporting to management
- Strong working knowledge of UK data protection regulation
- Working knowledge of safeguarding requirements
- Exceptional record keeping skills to satisfy audit requirements
- Management of third-party relationships including suppliers to IA and volunteers who are carrying out their volunteering role in line with IA’s policies and procedures
- Team player
DESIRABLE EXPERIENCE
- Experience across the not-for-profit sector
- Working with volunteers
- Basic understanding of AI and the benefits of using it within the not-for-profit sector
- Experience supporting Boards or Trustees
- Regulations governing charity fundraising
SKILLS AND QUALITIES
- Highly organised
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Flexible, adaptable in approach, creative thinker to manage the balance between governance and continuing to provide a personal approach to vulnerable adults
- Commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.
- Proactive and solution-focused
APPLICATION SUBMISSION
To apply, please submit:
1. Your CV (up to 3 pages)
2. A covering letter outlining your suitability to the role (max 500 words)
Interviews will be two-stage for successful candidates. Initial interviews will be held via video conferencing (such as Zoom) discussing previous experience and role fit with successful candidates going through to a second round. This includes alignment to IA’s values. Please allow up to 1 hour for this stage.
Second round interviews are expected to be via video conference. Successful candidates will, in advance of the second round, be given a short brief and asked to present at interview their understanding of a governance issue facing charities. Please allow up to 1 hour for this stage.
Applications should be submitted via the advertising platform including your CV and covering letter. See attached role profile for recruitment timetable and further details about us/the role, including contact details for an informal chat, if required, before applying. Applicants are encouraged to ensure availability in line with the recruitment timetable in the attached job specification.
While IA recognises the value of AI technology in the current climate, IA reserves the right to ignore applications where we have reason to believe that they have been wholly produced using generative AI tools.
Please let us know if you require any additional support to attend or undertake an interview or if there is anything we should consider as part of the interview process
Apply as above. Additionally, please refer to the recruitment timetable in the attached job specification
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Purpose of the post
The Financial Planning & Analysis Manager will support the Associate Director of Finance to provide insightful analysis of financial trends and oversee the recoverability of funds.
They will coordinate the month-end process and work with Finance Business Partners to coordinate the quarterly forecast and the 2026/27 budget.
They will also act as Finance Business Partner to a number of teams, working closely with Budget Holders and external partners to provide effective management of resources and risk, and monitoring of quarterly partner reporting.
Main responsibilities
Financial Planning & Analysis element of role (60%):
- Coordination of month-end process: overseeing the month-end checklist and coordination of FBPs; production of monthly management accounts using JET reports
- Coordination of quarterly forecasting and annual budgeting across cost centres and funds: preparation of forecasting templates; coordination of FBPs; upload and review of forecast onto finance system
- Coordination of long-term (high level) forecasting across all cost centres and funds to end of current Core Funding cycle
- Oversee the cost recovery process of new and existing funds (overhead recovery and monitoring of funding gaps)
Finance Business Partnering element of role (40%):
- Work with Budget Holders to manage financial performance, forecasts, and budgeting including understanding financial opportunities and risk for the area of business partnership.
- Provide donor reporting and analysis as required to funders of specific programmes.
- Consolidation of quarterly partner reporting
Experience
- CCAB qualified with a minimum of 5 years practical experience in financial analysis or business partnering roles
Desirable
- Experience of fund management
- Experience of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
- Experience of JET reports
- Experience in the academic or scientific research sector
- Experience working with UKRI and/or Research Councils
- Experience of funding under Full Economic Costing (FEC) model
- Experience of managing stakeholder relationships within an academic or not-for-profit environment
Skills
- Excellent quantitative skills, use of Excel and finance systems
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively and confidently with people at all levels.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to handle sensitive issues positively
- Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment and to working in an agile, flexible and pragmatic way
- Ability to quickly learn and adapt to new environments
- Ability to lead and work as part of a team
- Ability to work autonomously and make decisions without supervision
- Ability to process complex information and present targeted messages to different audiences.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
The National Youth Agency is looking for a Learning & Development Officer.
Learning and Development Officer
Contract: Fixed-term, 6 months
Hours: Full-time – 37 hours per week
Salary: £36,050 per annum
Location: Home-based in England with occasional travel for meetings, workshops, and team activities. Head Office is in Leicester.
What we do
As the national body for youth work, the NYA has a dual function. We are the professional statutory and regulatory body (PSRB) responsible for qualifications, quality standards, and safeguarding for youth work and services in England. In line with our charity mission and aims, we also champion youth work through research, advocacy, campaigns, and programmes.
We work in partnership and believe in collaborative leadership, listening to youth workers and the youth work sector so that we can understand their needs and respond to the challenges they face. We are ambitious for youth work and for young people and integrate youth voice and influence across our work.
About the Role
This role sits within the team responsible for the professional, statutory and regulatory elements of youth work. You will support delivery of youth work curriculum projects, learning activity, and development of high-quality practical tools and materials that help create the conditions for great youth work.
The role exists to provide operational delivery and coordination, enabling the National Curriculum & Learning Manager to focus on strategic development, leadership and quality assurance.
You will be joining an agile, flexible, and collaborative team who work at pace, engaging partners and stakeholders to support youth work across England. Your role will contribute to the improvement and development of learning resources and approaches.
Key Responsibilities
As a Learning & Development Officer, you will support:
- Delivery of local youth work curriculum commissions, from inception to completion.
- Coordination of curriculum-related events and training, including train-the-trainer sessions and stakeholder workshops.
- Development, adaptation and refinement of learning and development tools, templates, and materials.
- Gathering and organising insight, learning and feedback to inform curriculum improvement.
- Drafting, adapting, and maintaining curriculum content aligned to national standards and local context.
- Preparing agendas, notes and follow-up actions for workshops, inception calls and meetings.
- Supporting approaches to demonstrating and evidencing impact.
Note: This role does not hold budget, strategic ownership, or line management responsibility.
Why Work for NYA?
- NYA operates as a people-focused organisation, prioritising the well-being and needs of its employees.
- NYA offers an exceptional flexible working approach which encourages our team to balance professional responsibilities with their personal life.
- A remote based team, spread across England, fostering inclusivity and diverse talent. Despite geographical distances between team members, NYA maintains a highly motivated and connected team through the optimisation of digital tools.
- NYA is committed to supporting the continual personal and professional development of our team and helping them achieve their ambitions.
- We provide 25 days leave plus 8 days, life assurance scheme, 5% employer pension contribution and a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme via Spectrum.life with unlimited specialist support available to all NYA employees.
Closing date: 11.59pm on Friday 20th March 2026
N.B. Please apply ASAP as we may close applications early once we have a substantial amount of suitable applicants.
Interested?
If you would like to apply and find out more about this position, please click the apply button to be directed to our website.
The National Youth Agency is an equal opportunities employer.
At NYA our inclusive culture means that we embrace individual differences and understand that we need a diverse team to achieve our organisations mission.
We wish to recruit candidates from all backgrounds to ensure our team reflects the rich diversity of the communities we serve. We encourage applications from anyone regardless of disability, ethnicity, heritage, gender, sexuality, religion, socio-economic background and political beliefs but we particularly welcome applications from global majority candidates and those from other minoritised ethnic groups in the UK as they are currently underrepresented in our team.
Please note: We use AI detector software, so applications or CV’s with high levels of AI generated content may be disregarded. We understand that AI tools can offer support to candidates who have learning differences, which is why we will accept applications with some AI assistance.
No agencies please.
Please note: Clinks would welcome the opportunity to discuss potential secondments from locally or regionally based voluntary organisations.
About Us
Clinks supports, promotes and represents the voluntary sector working with people in the criminal justice system and their families. Our vision is of a vibrant, independent and resilient voluntary sector that enables people to transform their lives.
Job purpose
To identify, communicate and engage with the range of voluntary sector organisations working with individuals and their families within the CJS across a geographical area ensuring Clinks provides effective support to help voluntary organisations better meet their aims. To enable Clinks to share information about the sector with HMPPS and other stakeholders
Job summary
This role will increase awareness and understanding of the criminal justice voluntary sector operating within across the Midlands area. The post holder will undertake an initial analysis project to identify place-based voluntary sector organisations and the range of, and types of services and support provided to people in contact with the criminal justice system and their families. They will identify place-based needs and lead on the collation and sharing of information across the Clinks team and with stakeholders, to highlight the challenges and opportunities. The post holder will need to build new, and nurture existing relationships, with key partners and a range of agencies across sectors.
The post will work within the Area Engagement & Partnerships Directorate and with other Clinks’ staff to identify new members and engagement opportunities, deliver events and training, and provide opportunities to support the capacity and capability needs of the voluntary sector, with a focus on place-based small and specialist organisations working in the CJS.
The post will deliver activity to meet funder requirements, aims and objectives.
Reports to: Area Engagement and Partnerships Manager
Responsible for: N/A
1. Duties and key responsibilities
Area Engagement and Impact
- Identify and increase awareness of voluntary sector organisations based in the Midlands, the range of and types of services and support provided to people in contact with the criminal justice system and their families, where they deliver and how they are funded.
- Understand the work of local and regional voluntary sector infrastructure organisations in a geographical area to identify and increase partnership working and collaborative approaches to strengthen the support offered by Clinks,
- Gather intelligence from the sector to identify and understand the needs of place-based organisations and share feedback with HMPPS and other key stakeholders to develop operational processes and influence future commissioning opportunities.
- Work alongside the National Influencing & Networks team to use this intelligence to influence key decision making at a local and national level.
- Provide support to voluntary sector organisations, keeping the sector informed and up to date and capturing the support provided and its impact.
- Respond to requests from voluntary sector organisations in need of support and signpost or consider what assistance Clinks (and others) can provide.
- Work alongside the Area Insights and Impact Officer to capture the needs of the sector to influence and inform future activity.
- Provide regular area specific communications to organisations utilising Clinks communication channels to share good practice, resources and publications.
- Produce regular blogs, case studies and social media activity to showcase the work of place-based voluntary sector organisations.
- Develop and build upon existing place-based networks to support collaboration and co-ordination between the voluntary, statutory, and private sectors in the criminal justice system.
- Provide information to help statutory partners and key stakeholders to understand the voluntary sector, its structures and how to work with it.
External Relationships
- Identify and explore opportunities to develop relationships with area-specific agencies working within criminal justice including Probation, Prisons and local statutory agencies to increase knowledge of locally based voluntary sector services and establish, and embed Clinks’ support
- Provide representation at various meetings, both internally and externally with partners and stakeholders.
- Work collaboratively to ensure effective information flow across directorates and to and from the sector and stakeholders
- Develop relationships with regional and local infrastructure organisations to widen Clinks reach and identify joint working opportunities.
2. General responsibilities
- Represent and be an ambassador for Clinks
- Work to support the mission, ethos, and values of Clinks
- Be flexible and carry out other associated duties as may arise, develop, or be assigned in line with the broad remit of the position
- Support and promote diversity and equality of opportunity in the workplace
- Work collaboratively with others in all aspects of our work
This job description does not form part of your contract of employment and can be amended from time to time as the needs of the organisation require.
Person specification
Experience, Skills and Abilities
- Significant experience of working or volunteering in the voluntary sector in the Midlands area
- Relationship building and management with a range of stakeholders and networks.
- Good attention to detail and ability to maintain effective records, utilising a range of different methods.
- Ability to think strategically about the voluntary criminal justice sector, and to analyse and respond to change.
- Ability to prioritise, multi-task and work under pressure, juggling a busy and varied workload.
- Excellent IT and digital skills, including use of Word, Excel, Outlook, SharePoint, Teams and Zoom.
- Adaptability and flexibility in being able to deal with new situations quickly and efficiently.
- Good interpersonal and communication skills, both written and spoken, and ability to communicate with a range of stakeholders, at all levels of seniority.
- Convening meetings, arranging and chairing events both in-person and online.
- Ability to support and coordinate a complex network of organisations including representing diverse views, and promoting their work and issues.
- A collaborative approach to working with colleagues but also able to work alone.
- Highly organised with good project and time management skills.
Knowledge
- Role of the voluntary sector in addressing social exclusion.
- The criminal justice context and related policy.
- Understanding the role of national and local infrastructure organisations
- An understanding of the Midlands geographical area
Personal attributes and other requirements
- Able to travel extensively across the Midlands area with occasional travel across England and Wales.
- Able to work evenings and weekends and stay away from home overnight where necessary.
- Work well as part of a small team and independently, with a flexible approach to work.
- Commitment to anti-discriminatory practice and equal opportunities. An ability to apply awareness of diversity issues to all areas of work.
- Commitment to the values and ethos of supporting people in the criminal justice system
Clinks is the national infrastructure charity dedicated to supporting voluntary organisations working with people in the criminal justice system
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.