Director jobs in London, greater london

Crisis is the national charity for people experiencing homelessness, working side by side with thousands of people each year as they find ways out of homelessness. All of us need a decent home – to be healthy and to thrive. Currently though, this basic human need isn’t being met for so many people across the UK.

At Crisis, we have an incredible and committed workforce of more than 600 employees across England, Scotland and Wales, as well as c5,000 inspiring volunteers who are central to the success of our Christmas services and the running of our shops. Without them Crisis quite simply wouldn’t exist.

This is an exciting time to be joining Crisis. Emerging from a period of change, we are in the first year of our new 10-year strategy and an even greater focus on purpose and priorities. Central to the success of this will be ensuring that Crisis is a positive, high performing and inclusive work environment that allows us to have the greatest impact for those that we support.

As a member of the wider leadership team, the Director of People & Culture will be responsible for developing a strategy that meets our aspirations for our staff and volunteers, attracting and retaining a diverse and talented workforce and creating an environment that allows everyone who works with us to feel safe and be the best that they can be. As our most senior People leader in the charity, this is a role that is highly visible at all levels and you will be required to build strong, trusted relationships across the leadership team, our Board and with our staff and volunteers.

We are looking for an authentic and inspiring leader who brings significant experience of developing and implementing people strategies, with strong knowledge of culture and organisational development. You will have a confident and informed approach to all things relating to people and culture and a proven commitment to promoting equity and inclusion in the workplace, so that everyone feels able to be their authentic and best selves. With high levels of emotional intelligence, you will also be a leader who gives space and encouragement for the team to learn on their own, while being able to spot when they need support, and also have the humility to acknowledge the things that you don’t know yourself.

We want to hear from experienced people leaders who share our vision and values, we also welcome applications from emerging leaders for whom this will be their first director role but who bring the enthusiasm and drive to succeed in it.

We are excited for someone to join us who is passionate about ending homelessness and ensuring that their team is focused on delivering excellence to ensure that we are achieving the Crisis mission. If this sounds like you then we would love to hear from you.

Crisis is the national charity for people experiencing homelessness, working side by side with thousands of people each year as they find ways out of homelessness. All of us need a decent home – to be healthy and to thrive. Currently though, this basic human need isn’t being met for so many people across the UK.

At Crisis, we have an incredible and committed workforce of more than 600 employees across England, Scotland and Wales, as well as c5,000 inspiring volunteers who are central to the success of our Christmas services and the running of our shops. Without them Crisis quite simply wouldn’t exist.

This is an exciting time to be joining Crisis. Emerging from a period of change, we are in the first year of our new 10-year strategy and an even greater focus on purpose and priorities. Central to the success of this will be ensuring that Crisis is a positive, high performing and inclusive work environment that allows us to have the greatest impact for those that we support.

As a member of the wider leadership team, the Director of People & Culture will be responsible for developing a strategy that meets our aspirations for our staff and volunteers, attracting and retaining a diverse and talented workforce and creating an environment that allows everyone who works with us to feel safe and be the best that they can be.  As our most senior People leader in the charity, this is a role that is highly visible at all levels and you will be required to build strong, trusted relationships across the leadership team, our Board and with our staff and volunteers.

We are looking for an authentic and inspiring leader who brings significant experience of developing and implementing people strategies, with strong knowledge of culture and organisational development. You will have a confident and informed approach to all things relating to people and culture and a proven commitment to promoting equity and inclusion in the workplace, so that everyone feels able to be their authentic and best selves. With high levels of emotional intelligence, you will also be a leader who gives space and encouragement for the team to learn on their own, while being able to spot when they need support, and also have the humility to acknowledge the things that you don’t know yourself.

We want to hear from experienced people leaders who share our vision and values, we also welcome applications from emerging leaders for whom this will be their first director role but who bring the enthusiasm and drive to succeed in it.

We are excited for someone to join us who is passionate about ending homelessness and ensuring that their team is focused on delivering excellence to ensure that we are achieving the Crisis mission. If this sounds like you then we would love to hear from you.

ImpactEd Consulting is acting as recruitment advisor to FEA on this appointment.

Thank you for your interest in the role of Director of Policy, Public Affairs and Influence at the Fair Education Alliance

We are proud to be a coalition of 300 organisations united behind a simple but powerful belief: that no child’s success should be limited by their socioeconomic background. We exist to shift the conditions that hold inequity in place through collaboration across schools, colleges, higher education institutions, charities, youth organisations, researchers, funders, and young people themselves.

Our 2025-30 strategy, From Neighbourhood to National: A Strategy to ensure every child and young person thrives, is rooted in systems change—tackling not just policies and practices, but also the resources, relationships, power and mental models that hold inequity in place. Our work targets root causes, deepens collective impact, and embraces the complexity—and opportunity—of true transformation.

We are now recruiting a Director of Policy, Public Affairs and Influence to strengthen the FEA’s external leadership at a critical point in our development. As we implement our strategy, we are placing greater emphasis on how we represent the collective insight of our members, and how we use our convening role to shape agendas at local, regional and national levels.  

As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, and working closely with the Co-Chief Executive Officers, this role will lead FEA’s policy positioning and public affairs activity and play a central role in representing the Alliance externally. The Director will be trusted to shape where and how FEA engages in public debate and decision-making, ensuring that our collective voice is credible and influential, and grounded in the experience of our members and partners across the system. This includes working closely with young people, recognising them as critical contributors and often the most powerful spokespeople for our work, and creating meaningful opportunities for their voices to shape our policy and public affairs activity.

This is a senior leadership role for someone who is comfortable operating through influence rather than formal authority, and who brings confidence in navigating complex policy environments. It offers the opportunity to shape how a large, diverse coalition contributes to public debate and policy thinking at a moment when joined-up, system-level approaches to educational equity are increasingly needed.

We hope you will consider applying.

Key dates

• Applications close: Monday 16 March (10 am)

• First round interviews: 26th and 27th March (online)

• Final interviews: 1st-2nd, 7-9th April (in person at the FEA office in London)

• Start date: as soon as possible, to be agreed with the successful candidate

Are you an ambitious part-time (3-days per week) Director of People & Culture ready to shape culture, capability and performance within a national organisation committed to rebuilding lives?

I am working with a brilliant charity founded over 50 years ago who are looking to recruit an exceptional part-time Director of People & Culture on an interim basis over the next 6-9 months. This is a rare opportunity to join the Strategic Leadership Team of a mission led organisation whose vision is to be a world class leader in rebuilding lives.

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer and accountable to the Board of Trustees, this pivotal executive role will lead the design and delivery of organisations People and Culture strategy.

This interim Director of People & Culture paying £650-£700 per day umbrella, will lead a multidisciplinary team of seven, along with deputising for the CEO when required.

Their London office is located in Wimbledon, where they offer hybrid working. The post holder will need to attend the office up to 2-days per week. The Director of People & Culture role does involve some travel to their other sites which are located on the South Coast, Midlands and the North East. All travel costs will be covered.

Some of the key responsibilities of this Director of People & Culture role include:

• Designing and delivering an ambitious, forward-thinking People & Culture strategy aligned to organisational growth.
• Leading workforce strategy across attraction, reward, wellbeing, engagement and retention.
• Embedding leadership development and succession planning to build long-term organisational capability.
• Overseeing complex employee relations, organisational change and TUPE activity to minimise risk.
• Developing meaningful people metrics and reporting to the Strategic Leadership Team and Board.
• Ensuring equality, diversity and inclusion are central to all people practices and culture initiatives

The ideal candidate will be a CIPD qualified senior People leader with significant strategic leadership experience. You will have a demonstrable track record of delivering ambitious people strategies, leading cultural transformation and managing complex employee relations and change programmes. Strong commercial acumen, outstanding stakeholder management skills and the ability to operate credibly at board level are essential. Experience within the social care or not-for-profit sector would be very advantageous.

My client is keen to move quickly with interviews held in person at their office on the 6th March 2026. The interview process will consist of a 1-stage interview, with the chosen candidate able to start at short notice.

If you are a visionary and values led Director of People & Culture ready to make an immediate impact, I would be delighted to speak with you in.

Permanent,| Full Time | Circa £35,000 + Excellent Benefits

Location: London

Make a Difference Every Day

For more than 100 years, the RAF Benevolent Fund has been supporting the RAF Family. We are a key partner in the Royal Air Force’s mission to look after its people during and after service, ensuring that this service is valued, recognised, and people are supported even when uniforms are eventually shed. We are a national charity with international reach, delivering emotional, financial and practical support wherever and whenever it is needed. Each year, our vital services and support continued to help those serving, families, veterans, and the bereaved, in 30 other countries and in 2024 more than 64,000 people benefitted from the charity’s work.

As an organisation, we encourage learning and development and there will be ample opportunity to learn more about the Royal Air Force, the broad impact of the Fund’s work as well as developing your own skillset. 

About the Role
We’re looking for a proactive, highly organised Executive Assistant to support to the Director of Fundraising and Director of Strategy & Impact. You’ll manage complex schedules, coordinate meetings and committees, prepare key documents, and support strategic projects.

This is a role for someone who thrives on responsibility and variety. You’ll:

· Act as secretary for key committees, preparing agendas and taking minutes.

· Liaise with senior stakeholders internally and externally.

· Ensure smooth communication across the organisation.

· Have the opportunity to volunteer for events, meet with beneficiaries and visit RAF Stations.

What We’re Looking For

· Exceptional organisational and communication skills.

· Ability to take initiative whilst providing timely and consistent support to Directors.

· Ability to manage multiple priorities with discretion and professionalism.

· Confidence engaging with senior internal and external stakeholders.

Additional Information

· Standard DBS check required.

· Must have the right to work in the UK.

How to Apply
Please submit your CV and a cover letter explaining why you’re the perfect fit, including examples of how you meet the job profile.

Closing Date: Wednesday 11th March 2026, 5:00pm

A copy of the Fund’s Candidate Privacy Notice can be found on our website. As an equal opportunities employer, the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund is committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective employees and does not condone discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership. The Fund takes safeguarding seriously, and appropriate background checks will be completed. You can find out more about our commitment to safeguarding on our website.

The RAF Benevolent Fund follows Safer Recruitment practices as it strives to ensure that everyone who comes into contact with the Fund will be protected from harm. The successful candidate for this role will need to be Standard DBS checked and prove they have the right to work in the UK. We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply and join the Fund.

The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund is a Registered Charity (No. 1081009).

The Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) is a professional body which champions global water and environmental management excellence. With a community of thousands of members and organisations in over 89 countries, CIWEM’s mission is to build a global community of water and environmental professionals dedicated to working for the public benefit.

Ivy Rock Partners is partnering with CIWEM to recruit a new permanent Director of Finance & Commercial Services. Reporting into the Chief Executive, and overseeing key directorates of finance, governance, facilities and IT, this is a critical role for the organisation and a key member of the Senior Leadership Team.

Key duties will be as follows:

• Lead the finance department, ensuring the smooth running of in-year operational finance milestones and leading on financial strategy for the organisation
• Manage the annual budgeting process and in-year review of budgets and forecasts
  Manage the year-end audit process including managing the relationship with external auditors
• Manage non-finance directorates including governance, facilities and outsourced IT providers
• Provide strategic recommendations to the CEO, Board of Directors and wider SLT members
• Lead in the professionalisation of services and processes, including automation of processes and systems
• Review governance policies and ensure that effective internal financial controls are in place
• Staff management of three direct reports and a wider team of finance and non-finance professionals

About You

• You will be CCAB qualified or equivalent
• Have operated at Director level in previous organisations leading financial operations and strategy
• Exposure to or understanding of working in an SME organisation with the ability to be ‘hands on’ where needed
• Previous experience in the charities, not-for-profit or similar sector is highly desirable.

What’s in it for you

• Salary of £95,000 per annum
• Hybrid working of 2 days per week in the London-based office and remainder from home
• Up to 9% employer contribution pension scheme
• Candidates with requirements for flexible working are encouraged to apply and enquire
• Opportunity to work for an organisation on the forefront of addressing global environmental challenges.

Interviews to be held in March 2026. Ivy Rock Partners are working exclusively with CIWEM in the appointment of this position, please apply for further details or contact Holly Arrowsmith.

About us:

Anti-Slavery International is the world’s oldest human rights organisation. Our vision is freedom from slavery for everyone, everywhere, always. We believe that modern slavery is a contemporary issue of the highest importance, and we are determined to work with others to make sure people can be free from slavery across the world.

About the role:

To shape, lead, ensure resourcing and support delivery for all ASI's programme and advocacy work, so as to maximise the organisation's impact on modern slavery. The role combines strategic, advocacy, management and operational elements.

Key Tasks:

• identify how ASI can maximise its contribution to tacking modern slavery by identifying current needs and opportunities
• support Programme Managers in their ongoing delivery of programmes
• liaise closely with Programme, Fundraising and Comms Teams
• ensure proper design, management, monitoring and reporting on externally and internally funded work,
• with the CEO, to link with governments, external partners, businesses, networks universities/research centres and others to build the positive relations and shared activity needed to understand and tackle modern slavery and keep ASI strong
• external spokesperson on issues related to modern slavery
• work with Comms and Fundraising to identify stories and opportunities, promote the organisation and describe our achievements

Benefits

• 30 days annual leave
• 6% pension contribution
• employee benefits including employee assistance programme, cycle to work scheme, annual season ticket loan, eye tests

We're looking for an inspiring Associate Director of Communications to work across several of our colleges to lead our college communications teams and champion the stories, people and research. If you're a strategic communications leader who thrives on influence, collaboration and purpose-driven storytelling. As a senior member of our integrated Communications Department, you'll lead the communications functions across all six colleges, uniting distinct identities behind a shared strategic direction.
You will:

• Build and lead high-performing, resilient teams across our colleges
• Translate College Executive Board priorities into compelling narratives and campaigns
• Strengthen and protect our reputation, advising senior leaders on issues and opportunities
• Champion our groundbreaking research, working closely with Deans of Research and Knowledge Exchange
• Elevate college brands, collaborating with Brand, External Comms, and specialist channel teams
• Drive evidence-based communication, using insights and data to maximise reach and impact
• Lead integrated campaigns, including our flagship end-of-year student shows
• Play a key role in department-wide leadership, shaping how we collaborate university-wide.
• You'll manage four Heads of Communications & Engagement and oversee budgets, planning, reporting and continuous improvement across all college comms.

About You

• You're a confident senior communications leader who brings:
• Significant experience advising executive teams on communications, risk and issues management
• A proven track record of delivering impactful communication strategies and campaigns
• Strong experience working with a wide range of stakeholders - including senior leaders, academic teams, unions, students, partners and community groups - in a large, complex public sector environment
• Expertise in improving communications infrastructure, tools and channels
• Exceptional leadership skills, with the ability to motivate, guide and unite teams across multiple sites
• A strategic mindset, able to juggle multiple high-profile projects with clarity and confidence
• A passion for community building and improving student and staff experience
• Creativity and innovation, embracing new technologies and modern communication approaches
• Experience in a large higher education institution or similarly complex organisation in Public Services
  An appreciation of creative arts and the creative industries
• This is a rare opportunity to bring together the power of six iconic creative colleges and lead communications at scale, complexity and cultural significance.

If this role is of interest, please apply ASAP with an up-to-date version of your CV highlighting all your relevant experience. Please do get in contact for more information as happy to discuss the role in detail.

Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and employment business for the supply of temporary workers. By applying for this job you accept the T&C's, Privacy Policy and Disclaimers which can be found at hays.co.uk

Title: Interim Director of People
Salary: £80,000 – £90,000 FTE
Contract length: 6 months
Location: London / Hybrid

We are supporting a well-established, values-led homelessness charity at an important stage in its development. Following a sustained period of growth and impact, the organisation is entering a period of evolution and is seeking an experienced Interim Director of People to provide steady, strategic leadership.

Reporting to the Chief Executive and working as part of the Senior Management Team, you will provide oversight and guidance across the People function. You will act as a trusted adviser, supporting senior leaders and teams with a calm, measured approach while helping the organisation navigate change and maintain momentum. You will also provide operational leadership where required, supporting the Head of People with complex matters, reporting, and day-to-day HR activity, while maintaining a clear strategic focus.

The successful candidate will bring:

• Substantial experience operating at Director of People / HR Director level, with both strategic and operational HR expertise
• Proven experience supporting organisations and senior teams through periods of change, providing guidance, reassurance, and leadership
• Credibility and judgement to advise CEO, Board and senior colleagues on complex and sensitive people matters
• A calm, measured and enabling leadership style, maintaining confidence and stability across teams
• Experience in sizeable, multi-site organisations with diverse teams, with CIPD qualification or equivalent senior-level experience

Closing date for applications: Monday 2nd March 2026
Interviews: W/C 9th March 2026
Start date: Mid-to-late March preferred

Applications should be submitted via CV only on the Prospectus website. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so early application is encouraged. Candidates must be immediately available to start.

Role Summary 

As our Global Director of Strategic Communications, you will turn ProVeg’s strategy into a unified, high-impact narrative that accelerates the protein transition. You’ll set evidence-based objectives, prioritise where we can win, and align teams across countries and functions to deliver measurable engagement with media, policymakers, industry, partners, and supporters. You’ll elevate the voices of our Senior Leadership Team while staying hands-on for high-stakes moments—balancing speed with quality, and clarity with nuance. You’ll build and lead a high-performing team, create clarity and trust, and enable others to succeed through transparent goals, timely feedback, and consistent follow-through. This role is ideal for someone who has a solutions-first mindset, is passionate about our mission, excited to shape the way the world eats, and motivated by turning bold ideas into lasting, real-world impact.

Job details

• Reports to: Global CEO

• Department: INT Communications

• Direct Reports: Media Lead, Advocacy Communications Manager, Social Media Manager

• Location: Remote, UK

• Hours: full-time

• Salary: £56k- £63k

• Start date: May 2026

• Application deadline: 22.03.2026

Responsibilities 

Leadership & Strategy Development

• Develop and execute a global communications strategy that drives narrative shifts, making plant-rich food systems a priority for decision-makers and addressing polarisation on food systems transformation.

• Oversee the development of strategic communications plans for ProVeg’s flagship Global Programmes – from insight and strategy to content, campaigns, stakeholder engagement, and measurement.

• Define how we measure the impact of our strategic communications on organisational and programmatic goals, working with Programme Leads and our Impact team.

• Collaborate with the Development team to develop compelling, mission-aligned content and narratives for major donor proposals, grant applications, and fundraising campaigns.

• Oversee the development and execution of our internal communications strategy, making recommendations on how we can improve communications with globally distributed employees.

Narrative Influence & Thought Leadership

• Use your existing network and develop new high-level media relationships to ensure ProVeg’s insights are front and center in top-tier global business and policy media outlets (e.g. FT, BBC, Guardian, NYT.).

• Act as a senior adviser to the Global CEO and SLT on reputation management and media appearances.

• Drive a "thought leadership" engine that positions ProVeg experts as the go-to source for food system transformation.

• Elevate ProVeg as an expert voice in the food system transition, leveraging our track record to secure high-impact presence at major national and global forums.

Brand Integrity & Editorial Direction

• Oversee and maintain the ProVeg brand, ensuring visual and verbal consistency across all global markets while maintaining a clear identity that resonates with key audiences.

• Provide clear guidance and capacity-building tools to international and programme teams on content narrative, positioning, and tone.

• Uphold the ProVeg Writing Style Guide and messaging frameworks across all platforms.

• Oversee the development and governance of owned channels, including the optimisation of the ProVeg website and global newsletters.

Team Leadership & Operations

• Build, lead, and inspire a high-performing global communications team, fostering a culture of excellence, creative-problem solving, and continuous improvement.

• Set OKRs, manage budgets, and streamline workflows to ensure maximum efficiency.

• Champion inclusive and effective communication practices that empower our 14 national teams.

Competencies 

Required:

• You are a strategic thinker with deep knowledge of how to influence B2B and policy actors through communications and a persuasive communications style.

• You have a proven track record of managing diverse, high-performing, globally distributed teams. You lead by example - you’re as comfortable directing a global launch as you are drafting a press release when the pressure is on.

• You bring an extensive network of international media contacts and a proven ability to craft narratives that break through the noise to secure coverage in top-tier outlets.

• You have experience of delivering results within a matrix structure, preferably within an international federated network.

• You prioritise open and honest communication, demonstrate excellent judgement under pressure, make decisions based on evidence, and are comfortable managing trade-offs and navigating crisis/risk communications.

• You bring strong alignment with and passion for ProVeg’s mission and vision, and familiarity with the food systems, climate, and/or public health spaces.

Preferred:

• Experience developing and executing communications strategies for programmes or portfolios.

• Experience of working with and overseeing  agency partners.

• You bring strong digital strategy expertise across web, email, SEO, and social; familiarity with CRM/automation and analytics tools.

• You have experience with crisis scenarios, misinformation dynamics, and reputation management.

• You speak additional languages.

Benefits of working with ProVeg

• A strong organisational focus on personal development, with a designated training budget.

• Provision of a work laptop.

• Flexible, trust-based working arrangements and home-office arrangements.

• Career development support.

• Mental health & wellbeing support via access to the OpenUp platform and a free Headspace subscription

• We are a workplace that encourages everyone to bring their whole selves to work. We are an inclusive workplace for our diverse employees around the world.

• Generous annual leave entitlement - 25 days increasing by one day a year to a maximum of 30 days (plus bank holidays)

• Enhanced maternity, paternity, shared parental, and adoption pay.

• Employee Assistance Programme including counselling

• Access to 24/7 virtual GP Service

• Access to the Wisdom app with exclusive perks and discounts

• Compassionate animal companion leave

• And, last but not least, become part of a great team and work with us towards a world where everyone chooses delicious and healthy food that is good for all humans, animals, and our planet!

Harris Hill is delighted to be partnering with a leading international NGO working to accelerate the global transition to sustainable, plant-rich food systems. We are seeking a strategic and hands-on Global Director of Strategic Communications to lead a high-performing international team and shape a compelling global narrative that influences policymakers, businesses, media and partners.

Recognised internationally for its impact and collaboration with major global institutions, the non-profit organisation (NGO) combines evidence, strategy and advocacy to deliver measurable change. This is a rare opportunity to shape and lead a global communications function at a pivotal moment for food, climate and public health.

Reporting to the Global CEO, you will:

• Develop and deliver a global communications strategy aligned to organisational priorities
• Secure high-impact international media coverage (e.g. Financial Times, BBC, The Guardian, The New York Times)
• Provide senior counsel on reputation and crisis communications
• Oversee brand integrity, messaging and digital channels globally
• Build alignment and clarity across distributed international teams

You will bring significant experience influencing B2B and policy audiences, leading global communications functions, and delivering results within complex structures. An established international media network and strong crisis judgement are essential. It’s essential that you have a strong alignment with sustainability, food systems, climate and/or public health agendas.

• Location: Remote (UK-based). Travel required ad-hoc for meetings and conferences.
• Contract: Full-time, Permanent.
• Salary: £56,000–£63,000
• Fantastic benefits package: including enhanced family leave policies, increasing holiday allowance yearly, inclusive, values-driven culture, and dedicated professional development budget.

Firm closing date: Sunday 22^nd March. Please get in touch today to find out more!

As leading charity recruitment specialists and a certified B Corp™, Harris Hill is committed to high and ever-improving standards of equitable and inclusive recruitment. We actively welcome applications from all sections of the community regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexuality and other protected characteristics.

We are currently seeking a dynamic and experienced Director of Housing to lead our supported housing services nationally and help shape the next stage of our growth.

As Director of Housing, you will provide strategic and operational leadership across all of Life’s supported housing services. This is a key role within the Senior Leadership Team, responsible for ensuring our housing provision is high‑quality, compliant, safe and truly centred around the needs of our clients.

You will lead our national Housing Strategy, drive service improvement, ensure regulatory compliance, support organisational growth, and champion a culture of compassion, accountability and high performance.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership & Growth

• Develop and deliver a national Housing Strategy aligned to Life’s vision and mission.
• Identify housing development and expansion opportunities, including partnerships with local authorities and commissioners.
• Support organisational business planning and future growth.

Regulatory Compliance & Governance

• Ensure full compliance with housing legislation and regulatory requirements including the Social Housing (Regulation) Act, HHSRS, safeguarding and Health & Safety.
• Lead regulatory audits, inspections and risk management.
• Provide assurance on compliance and viability to the CEO and Trustees.

Service Quality & Client Experience

• Embed a client-centred, compassionate approach aligned with Housing Ombudsman principles.
• Oversee effective complaints management, learning reviews and client feedback systems.
• Ensure properties and services meet high standards of safety, warmth and comfort.

Operational Leadership

• Lead housing management, income recovery, voids, repairs and maintenance, compliance and tenancy sustainment.
• Ensure effective escalation of tenancy breaches and safeguarding practices.
• Work closely with Life’s Helpline services around referral and allocations.

Financial & Asset Management

• Oversee rental income, arrears, void control and financial performance.
• Manage contracts, grants and local authority funding.
• Ensure major works, planned maintenance and statutory compliance are delivered effectively.

Leadership & People Management

• Lead and support Housing Managers, support teams and frontline workers.
• Foster a positive culture of accountability, inclusion and high standards.
• Support staff development and performance.

Partnership Management

• Build strong relationships with local authorities, property professionals, contractors, funders and other key partners.
• Represent Life at external forums and sector networks.

About you:

Essential

• CIH Level 5 (or equivalent) qualification
• Senior leadership experience in supported housing, social housing, or homelessness services
• Strong knowledge of housing law, tenancy management and regulatory compliance
• Understanding of Housing Ombudsman standards and consumer regulations
• Experience in strategic planning, service development and organisational growth
• Budget management and financial performance experience
• Experience with property maintenance, asset management and compliance
• Strong safeguarding knowledge
• Excellent leadership, communication and stakeholder management skills
• UK driving licence and access to a car

Desirable

• Experience supporting vulnerable women or family services
• Charity/third sector leadership experience
• Experience securing funding or development partnerships

About Life: 

Life is a national pregnancy support charity that helps over 60,000 people a year. Through our services, we help people – whoever they are – to meet pregnancy or pregnancy loss with courage and dignity so they can flourish. 

Our services include:  

• Supported housing and community support   
• Counselling and skilled listening   
• Free pregnancy tests and baby supplies  

Our values :

All our work is underpinned by the following universal human values: 

• Humanity – All people are special and equal 
• Solidarity – We’re with you and for you 
• Community – We’re better together 
• Charity – Doing good for one another 
• Common good – Building a better world 

Information about the role: 

For further information, please see the attached job description. 

Salary: £45,750 per annum

Hours: 32 hours per week

Location: Home based with extensive travel across the South of England

Benefits:  

At Life we are passionate about providing our employees with a supportive and engaging environment. As well as ongoing development and training, we offer our:  

• Generous holiday allowance, starting at 25 days per year, plus 8 Bank Holidays (pro rata for part time hours) 
• Birthday Leave  (applicable after 1 years service)
• Additional annual leave for long term service  
• Company Pension Scheme  
• Signed member of the Menopause Workplace Pledge 

Safeguarding and Equality: 

Life is committed to protecting all staff, volunteers and service users from harm of any kind. Life expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct.   

We are committed to ensuring diversity and equality within our organisation by encouraging applications from all backgrounds.  

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks. Life takes its obligation to protect the rights of children and vulnerable people very seriously; therefore, the successful candidate for this post will be also subject to extensive background checking, including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check (DBS) which is paid for by the Charity.  

About Parenting for Lifelong Health:

Parenting for Lifelong Health (PLH) aims to empower parents to improve child development, reduce family violence, and promote mental health. We give parents the support they need, the skills that work, and trusted advice they can count on to protect and support their children’s health, safety and development. Our parenting courses are developed with families, powered by low-cost and accessible technology, backed by rigorous evidence, and delivered within systems. Originally founded as an initiative in 2012 in collaboration with UNICEF and the WHO, Parenting for Lifelong Health was established as a UK charity in 2022 and since then has reached over 8 million families in more than 35 countries. 

PLH Values

• Courage

We have the courage to design for the big picture and complex problems with a commitment to creating sustainable solutions that last.

• Evidence

We believe our work transforms the lives of children, families, and communities. Evidence of impact guides every decision, and we are relentless in pursuing the greatest impact with the least investment of time and resources required for parents and providers.

• Playfulness

Parenting and child wellbeing thrives on play — and so do we. We experiment, learn from each other, as well as from parents and children, and create playful and engaging products and programmes that inspire joy, curiosity, and connection.

• Respect

Everyone brings something essential. We show kindness in our team, honesty with our partners, and deep respect and empathy for parents and children, and those who are on the frontline of providing services for them.

PLH has a strong commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity in how we work, who we work with, and what we do. Candidates from minority and disadvantaged backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.

PLH also has a strong commitment to the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA). All candidates considered for the role will be subject to background and reference checks in their country of residence. 

Benefits: Flexible remote-working, home office set-up, unlimited annual leave, professional development opportunities, enhanced pension contributions, enhanced statutory leave provisions including maternity and paternity leave.

About the role:

The Senior Director of Finance is the most senior finance professional at Parenting for Lifelong Health (PLH). The role provides strategic financial leadership and ensures the organisation meets its fiduciary, regulatory, and governance obligations as a UK charity, while enabling responsible growth and global scale.

Acting as the organisation’s senior finance lead, the postholder will support the CEO and Board of Trustees to meet their statutory duties under UK charity law, including duties of care, prudence, and accountability, while building robust financial systems aligned to PLH’s 2026-2028 Strategic Plan and country implementation model.

The role ensures that PLH’s resources are used exclusively to further its charitable purposes, safeguarded appropriately, and managed transparently in the public interest.

Responsibilities:

Charity Governance, Fiduciary Oversight, and Trustee Support

• Act as the primary source of financial advice to the CEO and Board of Trustees, supporting trustees to fulfil their legal and fiduciary duties under UK charity law.

• Support the effective functioning of the Board Finance Committee, including preparation of high-quality financial papers, scenario options, and risk analyses.

• Ensure trustees have clear oversight of:

  • Financial performance against approved budgets

  • Liquidity, reserves, and solvency

  • Financial risks and mitigations

  • Long-term sustainability and going-concern considerations

• Ensure financial decision-making aligns with PLH’s charitable objects, governing documents, and public benefit obligations.

• Support compliance with Charity Commission guidance, including SORP (Standard Operating Procedures), CC3 (The Essential Trustee), CC12 (Managing a Charity’s Finances), and CC19 (Charity Reserves).

• Support trustees in understanding and exercising oversight of charity-wide financial risk, including downside and stress-test scenarios.

Financial Strategy, Planning, and Sustainability

• Lead the costing and financial modelling of PLH’s 2026-2028 Strategic Plan and country implementation model, ensuring affordability, sustainability, and strategic coherence.

• Design, implement, and institutionalise a three-tier scenario planning framework (base, growth, and downside cases) to support prudent and adaptive decision-making.

• Develop a long-term (3-5 year) financial sustainability model projecting:

  • Revenue by source (restricted and unrestricted)

  • Expenditure and staffing growth

  • Enterprise risk management (ERM) contributions

  • Reserves, liquidity, and risk exposure

• Develop, maintain, and regularly review PLH’s reserves policy, including target levels, rationale, and planned use, in line with Charity Commission expectations.

• Advise senior leadership and trustees on the financial implications of growth, innovation, and funding opportunities.

• Provide forward-looking financial insight to support organisational decision-making under uncertainty and changing funding conditions.

Financial Management, Reporting, and Controls

• Work closely with the Finance Manager to ensure accurate, complete, and timely accounting records in accordance with UK charity accounting standards (SORP FRS 102).

• Provide strategic oversight and assurance over organisation-wide financial reporting, using management accounts and dashboards prepared by the Finance Manager to inform executive and trustee decision-making.

• Ensure proportionate internal controls, segregation of duties, and approval frameworks are current and implemented by the Finance Manager.

• Lead the development and implementation of a comprehensive financial risk management framework covering:

  • Liquidity and cash-flow risk

  • Donor concentration and funding dependency

  • Currency and foreign exchange exposure

  • Contractual and grant compliance risk

  • Contingency and downside planning

• Ensure effective coordination between in-house finance staff and outsourced accounting and payroll providers, maintaining clear accountability and quality assurance.

Audit, External Reporting, and Transparency

• Oversee the annual audit process, supporting the Finance Manager’s role as primary liaison with external auditors and ensuring timely completion of statutory accounts.

• Support trustees in reviewing and approving:

  • Statutory financial statements

  • Trustees’ Annual Report

  • Financial disclosures to regulators

• Ensure high standards of financial transparency and accountability to donors, partners, regulators, and the public.

• Oversee statutory filings and financial reporting to the Charity Commission and Companies House.

• Contribute to narrative financial reporting on sustainability, risk, and reserves where appropriate.

Organisational Financial Capability and Culture

• Develop and maintain clear financial policies, procedures, and approval workflows to support consistency, compliance, and accountability.

• Embed a culture of financial stewardship, prudence, and shared accountability across the organisation.

• Promote ethical financial practice and safeguarding of charitable assets in line with PLH’s values and public-interest obligations.

Team Leadership and Management

• Lead and develop PLH’s finance function, including line management of the Finance Manager and oversight of external bookkeeping and accounting partners.

• Ensure the finance function is appropriately resourced, scalable, and fit for a growing, multi-country organisation.

• Set clear objectives, performance standards, and professional development pathways for finance staff.

• Promote ethical practice, professionalism, and continuous improvement within the finance team.

• Provide mentoring and strategic development support to mid-career finance staff as the organisation grows.

Essential Skills and Experience

• Senior-level financial leadership experience.

• Strong understanding of UK charity governance, trustee responsibilities, and Charity Commission expectations.

• Demonstrated expertise in strategic financial planning, scenario modelling, and reserves management.

• Proven experience establishing robust financial controls, reporting systems, and audit processes.

• Experience working directly with Boards and Board Committees in a governance context.

• Demonstrated experience embedding or overseeing organisational-wide financial risk management frameworks.

• Ability to translate complex financial analysis into clear, decision-ready advice for trustees and senior leaders.

• Experience operating in organisations with a mix of restricted, unrestricted, and partially recoverable income streams.

• Comfort working in an evidence-driven, analytically rigorous organisational environment.

• Strong people leadership and management capability.

• High levels of integrity, sound judgement, and commitment to PLH’s charitable aims.

Preferred Skills and Qualifications

• Financial leadership experience within a UK charity, international NGO, or comparable not-for-profit organisation.

• Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CPA) or equivalent experience.

• Experience with multi-country, multi-currency operations and restricted funding environments.

• Familiarity with UK charity accounting (SORP FRS 102).

• Experience working closely with trustee Finance or Audit & Risk Committees.

• Familiarity with donor concentration risk analysis and income diversification strategies.

• Exposure to safeguarding or PSEA considerations from a financial governance perspective.

• Experience supporting organisational growth and scale within regulated charity contexts.

We welcome applications from people who have significant legal aid experience in public law, housing law, and/or community care law, and who have undertaken strategic litigation. If this is you, and you meet the minimum criteria for the Legal Director role, we encourage you to apply.

Please note: We do not expect the postholder to generate legal aid income at a multiple of their salary. While we do aim to grow legal aid income across the team to an initial target of £25,000–£30,000 per annum, the focus of this role is on developing high‑quality legal aid practice and building sustainable income collectively, as part of a mixed‑income organisational model. We particularly welcome applications from people from Black and minoritised communities, disabled people, LGBTQ+ people, people from working-class backgrounds, and people with lived experience of the issues we work on. We are committed to building a team that reflects the communities we serve, and we know that lived experience and diverse perspectives strengthen our legal practice and our work for systemic change. 

The Legal Director is a newly created senior leadership role and will lead and shape Release’s legal services, setting the strategic direction and ensuring the delivery of high‑quality, client‑centred representation. The role will expand access to justice through strong legal aid provision, embed harm reduction principles across all legal work, and uphold rigorous regulatory and ethical standards. It will also play a key role in sustaining Release’s commitment to training and developing the next generation of social justice lawyers.

This pivotal post combines oversight of a multidisciplinary legal team with movement‑driven advocacy and strategic litigation. The Legal Director will identify and pursue high‑impact cases to challenge unlawful policies and drive systemic change, while building strong external relationships with affected communities, policymakers, and partners. Working collaboratively, the role will co‑create innovative models of legal support that respond to emerging needs and amplify the voices of people most affected by drug laws and wider structural injustice.

As Legal Director, you will:

Set Strategic Direction: Define and implement strategies to expand legal aid provision, improve access to justice, and embed harm reduction principles across all legal work.
Lead and Inspire: Oversee a multidisciplinary team of solicitors, legal advisers, and volunteers, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and innovation.
Ensure Excellence and Compliance: Maintain rigorous regulatory standards whilst driving forward progressive, client-centred approaches to legal practice.
Advance Systemic Change through Strategic Litigation: Identify and pursue high-impact cases to influence legislation, challenge unlawful policies, and dismantle barriers to justice for people who use drugs and other marginalised communities.
Engage Externally: Build powerful coalitions by engaging with affected communities, policymakers, stakeholders, and advocacy networks to drive legal and social reform.
Co-Create Innovative Service Solutions: Develop new models of legal support that respond to emerging needs, leverage technology, and amplify the voices of those most affected by drug policy and laws by working in partnership with them. 

This role is ideal for a visionary and inspiring leader who combines legal expertise with a commitment to social justice, harm reduction, and systemic transformation.

Person Specification

Essential

• Minimum 9 years + post qualified solicitor with a current practising certificate, and
• Minimum 7 years + significant experience in legal aid supervision and regulatory compliance, and
• Minimum 3 years + proven leadership and team management skills, and
• Minimum 3 years + strategic litigation or test cases, and
• Strong commitment to social justice, harm reduction, and trauma-informed practice.

Desirable

• Experience working in a charity or non‑profit organisation.
• Experience supporting, contributing to, or developing test case work, policy‑linked casework, or other legal work aimed at achieving wider systemic or community impact, including through indirect, collaborative, or emerging roles.
• Understanding of the impact of drug policy and criminalisation on marginalised communities.
• Experience in developing new services, partnerships, or funding‑linked delivery models.