Do you want to change the world for vulnerable children?
The Consortium of Voluntary Adoption Agencies UK (CVAA) aims to improve adoption policy and practice across the UK for the benefit of children, challenging the adoption system to deliver for children and work in their best interests. Alongside advocating for system change, CVAA works to support our member voluntary adoption agencies (VAAs) across the four nations of the UK, stimulating innovation and ensuring they stay at the leading edge of practice. The active engagement of members and the building of collaborative alliances with others who seek positive change for children are essential to the effectiveness of our work.
The Head of Policy is a vital member of the small CVAA team, working closely with the CEO and Board of Trustees to champion the voluntary adoption sector and put children at the heart of everything we do. Due to maternity leave we have an exceptional and unique opportunity for someone who shares our passion to change the world for children, to gain valuable experience working at national level with senior stakeholders to contribute to system change, advocating for the power of adoption to change lives.
You will need strong people skills, experience of developing policy in consultation with stakeholders and using data to transform services and strengthen lobbying work. Most of all you need a cast iron commitment to change the world for vulnerable children.
CVAA works to challenge discrimination and disadvantage and welcomes applications from all communities, particularly those who are underrepresented in our sector, which includes but is not limited to people from Global Majority backgrounds, adoptees, men and those who identify as LGBTQ.
Key information
- Maternity Cover 1 year from July 2026
- Location - remote contract with occasional travel
- £40 – 45K depending on experience
- An enhanced DBS check is required for this role.
Applications
Please send a CV and letter of application, outlining your motivation for applying and the skills you offer, to Satwinder Sandhu (CEO) by 5pm on Friday 8th May 2026.
Both Satwinder (CEO) and Alice (Director of Strategy and Policy) are happy to have an informal chat about the role. Please email to arrange a convenient time to speak.
Initial online interviews via Microsoft Teams will be on Monday 18th and Tuesday 19th May, with final in-person interviews scheduled for Thursday 28th May 2026 in London. Please let us know whether you cannot make any of these dates in your application.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Job Title: Partnerships Officer
Duration: Permanent
Hours: Full time – 36 hours per week (job share/part-time considered)
Salary: £32,700 per annum, plus pension and benefits
Location: Homebased
Overall job purpose
The post-holder will play a key role within the Initiatives and Partnerships team, working with regional teams to develop and implement proposals to expand use of historic churches in our existing estate and, on occasion, working with other heritage and community groups to deliver their own projects via consultancy or partnership work.
They will manage a programme of work that will include a number of site-specific projects and national initiatives across multiple sites, as well as from time to time working with third parties on partnership or consultancy projects.
The Partnerships Officer will support regional teams and communities to scope and develop projects, supporting feasibility, options and project development work as well as business planning, project management and funding. The post-holder will also work closely with colleagues in conservation and regional teams to make sure that impacts on both areas are fully considered, whilst in tandem seeking to maximise opportunities to expand and increase commercial activity, income and ultimately profitability.
We have recently published our TRUST values, which outline the behaviours and expectations that act as our foundations at CCT. We have attached the pack, outlining each value, which we will also be using as part of our shortlisting and interview process to find the right candidates that align with our values.
If you would like to apply for this role, please visit our recruitment portal to begin your application. You will be asked to submit a CV and a short supporting statement (max 2 sides A4) outlining why you’d like to apply and how you fulfil the person specification for this post, so you’ll need to refer to the job description.
The closing date for receipt of applications is 9am on Sunday 10 May 2026.
The interviews will take place in Northampton on Wednesday 27 May 2026. Please note that the interview date and location have been specifically chosen according to the availability of the panel.
Please note: As part of our recruitment process, we undertake candidate psychometric testing, you will receive an email following your application submission asking you to complete a series of activities.
All successful applicants will be subject to a basic DBS, credit check, references and right to work checks.
We are a Disability Confident Committed Employer. Candidates who declare that they have a disability and who meet the essential criteria for the job will be offered an interview.
If you have any queries about this role, or if you have a disability and wish to request a reasonable adjustment at any stage of the recruitment process, please contact us.
We are an inclusive employer and offer equal opportunities to all regardless of an individual’s age, disability, gender identity, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.
We are not a licensed sponsor at this time. Any offer of employment will be made subject to valid right to work in the UK being provided.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.