Director jobs

About EMMS International

EMMS International is Scotland’s longest-serving international healthcare charity, founded in 1841. From its Scottish base, it works with partners in India, Malawi, Nepal, Rwanda, Scotland and Zambia to improve healthcare for people in some of the world’s poorest and most marginalised communities.

Its work focuses on four strategic priorities:

• Non-Communicable Disease: Improving access to care and quality of life for people with NCDs and life-limiting conditions.

• Global Healthcare Workforce: Training and empowering healthcare workers, especially women from low-income backgrounds, to address workforce shortages.

• Health Emergency Response: Supporting health systems to prepare for and respond to disasters and crises such as floods, earthquakes and food shortages.

• Sustainable Healthcare: Strengthening healthcare facilities and services, including infrastructure such as solar power, so they can withstand economic and environmental pressures.

EMMS works through local partners, takes a rights-based and inclusive approach, and designs sustainable programmes that respect the environment and promote human rights. Its origins lie in the Christian faith, and it serves people of all faiths and none.

Following an organisational review, EMMS is creating a new Director of Fundraising role, separating fundraising and communications into two Director posts. EMMS is financially stable with healthy reserves, currently raising around £400,000 per year in fundraised income, plus a significant time-limited major donor gift ending in 2028.

The Director of Fundraising will:

• Lead the development of a diverse, sustainable fundraising strategy across multiple income streams (trusts and foundations, major donors, individual giving, community, corporates, legacies).

• Be hands-on in delivering this strategy, supported by an experienced Head of Partnerships and Philanthropy and a Stewardship Manager.

• Manage and grow relationships with donors and stakeholders, meeting ambitious income targets.

• Oversee budgets, forecasting and reporting, and contribute to organisational strategic and business planning.

• Line manage fundraising staff, setting objectives/KPIs and supporting their development.

• Sit on the Executive Leadership Team and play a proactive role in the wider management and development of the charity, including reporting to the CEO and attending some Board meetings.

What they’re looking for:
An experienced senior fundraiser with a strong track record of strategic income growth across multiple channels, excellent relationship-building skills, strong leadership and team management experience, and knowledge of the Scottish charity and fundraising landscape. You should be confident operating strategically and operationally, familiar with fundraising regulation and good practice, and able to communicate effectively with both Christian and secular audiences in line with EMMS’ faith-based heritage and health mission. Degree-level education or equivalent experience is required; membership of the Chartered Institute of Fundraising (or willingness to join) is expected.

Terms and benefits:

• Salary: £63,313 – £70,347 (depending on experience) with annual inflationary rise

• Remote role with monthly meetings in central Edinburgh (more frequently in first three months)

• 25–30 days annual leave (depending on length of service) + 10 public holidays

• 8% employer pension contribution with salary sacrifice

• Salary sacrifice scheme for electric vehicle lease

• Flexible working, travel expenses to office, access to Edinburgh office, some international travel

• Life assurance (three times salary) and Aviva Digi-Care app

Application:
Apply by CV and covering letter (each up to 2 pages) by Monday 12 January 2026.
Interviews in Edinburgh: First stage – Thursday 29 January 2026; second stage – Tuesday 3 February 2026.
You must live in Scotland and have the right to work in the UK.

Our mission is to foster community-led green space management through collaboration, advocacy, and education.  We believe that green open spaces can be better sustained by empowering communities and our existing network numbers 150 plus members throughout Birmingham. As our Operations Director, you will direct and control the ongoing operations of Birmingham Open Spaces Forum (BOSF), to achieve the strategic and business performance objectives required by the Trustees. 

Shape the Future of a World-Renowned Institution.

Director of Development
Employer: King’s College, Cambridge
Salary: Starting salary in the region of £90,000 – £100,000 with scope to go beyond for a leading professional with outstanding experience and track record.
Location: Cambridge, UK

King’s College, Cambridge is embarking on the next chapter of its long and influential history and is seeking a Director of Development who can imagine, articulate and drive a bold philanthropic vision for the College.

For more than five centuries, King’s has been a place where ideas, discovery and creativity flourish. Its Chapel stands as one of Europe’s great architectural achievements; its Choir is recognised globally; its students and scholars have shaped culture, science and society. The College is now looking for a development leader who can help secure the resources that will enable it to thrive for generations to come.

Joining King’s at a moment of real momentum, you will build on the achievements of the recent £100 million campaign and design the next strategic phase of fundraising. This will include championing initiatives that broaden access, strengthen support for students, enhance academic excellence, and protect the unique historic fabric of the College.

You will have substantial experience in securing major gifts, a confident and motivating leadership style, and experience of cultivating deep, lasting relationships. A key member of the leadership team, you will work closely with a vibrant global community of alumni and build new partnerships with individuals and organisations who share King’s commitment to excellence, inclusivity, innovation and positive societal impact.

King’s is a place that encourages independent thought, creativity and meaningful contribution to society. Among our alumni are Nobel laureates, world-changing scholars, and trailblazers. Central to our mission is ensuring that exceptional students, whatever their background, can flourish.

As Director of Development, you will be elected to a Fellowship of the College, joining a vibrant, diverse and dynamic community. This position offers more than professional advancement - it represents a rare opportunity to make a lasting contribution to an institution whose commitment to education and innovation has shaped the world for over five centuries.

Closing date: Midnight on Sunday 1 February.

First round interviews are expected to be held the week of 23 February with second round interviews the week of 2 March 2026.

Interested?

Please familiarise yourself with the attached Candidate Pack.
To apply, please submit a CV and covering letter.

King’s College, Cambridge is partnering with Constellate Global Talent on this search. No agencies please.

Harris Hill is delighted to partner exclusively with Toynbee Hall to recruit their new Director of Finance & Operations. (Hybrid)

Toynbee Hall has been based in the East End of London since 1884. Throughout our history we have worked alongside communities experiencing poverty, inequality and injustice, offering practical support while also influencing wider social change. Today, we continue this mission through a combination of frontline advice services, community-led programmes, research rooted in lived experience, and policy influencing.

• Location: Aldgate East, London.
• Contract: Permanent, Full Time. Flexible working is available.
• Hybrid working: A minimum of 2 days a week is required in the office.
• Salary: £85.000pa

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at Toynbee Hall

Equity, diversity and inclusion are central to Toynbee Hall’s mission and to how we operate as an organisation. We believe we cannot achieve our vision of a fairer future without addressing structural inequality, discrimination and racism.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and particularly encourage candidates from groups under-represented in leadership and across the charity sector. We are committed to fair and inclusive recruitment and to providing reasonable adjustments where needed.

About the Role

The Director of Finance and Operations is a senior leadership role responsible for ensuring that Toynbee Hall has the financial resilience, operational systems and governance structures it needs to deliver its purpose.

Reporting to the Chief Executive, the postholder will lead our finance function, IT and information governance, facilities and estates management, procurement, contracts, commercial lettings, and health and safety. This is both a strategic and a hands-on role: as well as setting direction and advising colleagues, the Director will oversee day-to-day operations to ensure that the organisation is well-run, compliant and efficient.

Key aspects of the role include:

• Leading financial strategy, planning and reporting
• Ensuring strong internal controls and effective financial systems
• Managing IT contracts, cyber security and information governance
• Leading a small, experienced team and supporting colleagues across the organisation with clear, timely information
• Lead the operation of Information Technology Services, procurement, facilities, estates management and Health and Safety.
• Ensure regulatory and contractual compliance including on H&S and Complaints.
• Support the CEO, SMT, Board, Finance and Fundraising Committee, Audit and Risk Committee so they can make informed decisions regarding our risks, financial strategy and the management of our assets

This is a pivotal role at the heart of the organisation’s financial and operational health, playing a major part in shaping our long-term sustainability.

What You Will Bring:

• Senior financial leadership experience, ideally in the charity or wider not-for-profit sector
• Strong technical knowledge of charity accounting, financial planning, compliance and governance
• Experience overseeing corporate services such as estates, IT, facilities or procurement
• The confidence to work closely with trustees, senior colleagues and external partners
• The ability to balance strategic thinking with practical, operational delivery
• A collaborative leadership style grounded in our organisational values

Please contact Simon Bascombe at Harris Hill for more information on the role and how to submit your application.

Closing date for full applications: 12pm, Thursday 22nd January 2026

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.

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People – Associate Director of Performance Marketing
Location: Hybrid working with some travel to Hearing Dogs offices in either Buckinghamshire or East Yorkshire.
Salary: £65-70,000 per annum.
Contract: Permanent, full-time hours. 

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, whose mission is build confidence, companionship and connection for people with hearing loss, is seeking a talented Associate Director of Performance Marketing to drive marketing activities that will help them expand their reach, mobilise support and build understanding and awareness.

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People has been creating life-changing partnerships between hearing dogs and deaf recipients since 1982. As well as acting as an ear to their partners and alerting them to sounds, the charity’s clever and expertly trained dogs help deaf people to live life with confidence and independence, whilst providing love, companionship and emotional support. This is coupled with the provision of emotional and practical support services for anyone with hearing loss.

Following on from a strategic review, the charity is now entering an exciting period of growth and expanding their Individual Giving Directorate, to enable them to transform many more lives across the UK.

Playing a pivotal role in supporting this growth, the Associate Director of Performance Marketing is a newly created and influential position with significant scope to shape how Hearing Dogs grows their supporter base, sustains their supporter and volunteer community and attracts more people to their services through impactful digital and multi-channel marketing. The postholder will lead marketing activity that is insight-led and audience focused to ensure that each campaign strengthens connection, builds loyalty and generates sustainable income. This includes being responsible for growing the charity’s flagship Puppy Sponsorship programme to increase value and volume, establishing a legacy marketing programme and identifying opportunities for cross-selling and deeper engagement across all products.  

The ideal candidate will be a senior strategic leader responsible for driving individual giving growth and supporter retention through digital and multi-channel marketing. You will have a strong commercial, income generation and digital background, you will lead marketing that is insight led and have a deep understanding of how AI technologies can help the charity enhance performance. Advanced skills in using data, analytics and audience insight to shape strategy, optimise campaigns and measure impact will be essential, alongside strong leadership and people management skills, with the ability to inspire and develop high-performing teams. Finally, you will have excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills at a senior level.

This is an exciting opportunity to help Hearing Dogs shape their future with the flexibility of hybrid working remotely and spending time at Hearing Dogs’ stunning offices, with friendly and passionate staff and their four-legged friends.

If you want to lead the pack and help deaf people live well with hearing loss Please download our Candidate Pack for further information [PDF], which includes details on how to apply.

Closing date: Monday 26th January, 9.00 am. 

Maudsley Charity funds work led by South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, research teams at King’s College London, and partners in the voluntary and community sector to help build a more equitable and effective mental health care system in south London. We share what we learn to inform and inspire change across the UK.

We are a grant-making charity focused on advancing and accelerating positive change in mental health care. Our aim is to ensure that everyone who experiences mental illness can access the care that’s right for them.

While our roots are firmly in south London, we seek to amplify the knowledge and evidence generated through our programmes to influence practice nationally. We are a small but growing team (21 staff) with bold ambitions.

The role

Maudsley Charity is entering a new chapter of growth and renewal. We are strengthening our governance, welcoming new trustees, and establishing a Finance, Audit and Development Committee to underpin our ambitions. We are evolving our operating model to ensure we remain agile and effective as we scale our impact.

Following a period of interim leadership in this role, we are now seeking a permanent Director of Finance and Operations who will play a pivotal role in shaping this next phase.

This is a role of considerable breadth and strategic influence. The Director of Finance and Operations will lead our financial strategy, oversee our investment approach, including social and impact investing and manage our property portfolio. The role will also explore innovative funding models and commercial opportunities, ensuring we have the resources and resilience to deliver our mission. Alongside this, it will lead core operational functions; HR, IT, Facilities and drive digital transformation to strengthen our infrastructure for the future.

How to apply

To make an application, please click on the apply now button, with the following prepared:

• Your CV (no more than three sides).

• A supporting statement (no more than two sides) that sets out why you think this role is the right move for you and how you meet the knowledge and experience criteria.

Timeline

· Closing date - Friday 23rd January 2026

· Preliminary interviews - w/c 2nd February 2026

· First stage panel interviews - Wednesday 25th and Thursday 26th February 2026

· Final panel interviews – w/c 9th March

About the Alliance

The Sexual Violence (SV) Alliance is a ground-breaking collaboration between seven specialist sexual violence organisations: four Rape Crisis Centres (nia, Rape Crisis South London, Solace and Women & Girls Network) and three specialist organisations, (Galop, Respond, and SurvivorsUK). Together, we bring experience in delivering expert, intersectional, and trauma-informed services to survivors of sexual violence.

About the role

We are seeking a visionary Director to lead our strategic and operational transformation, ensuring our services are inclusive, responsive, and survivor-led. The role will be based at nia, but will work across, and be accountable to, all Alliance members.

As Director, you will play a central role in shaping and delivering the Alliance’s strategic and operational goals. You will lead the Alliance Management Team, support the Leadership Team, and work alongside experts with lived experience to improve service access, consistency, and responsiveness for London’s diverse survivor communities — especially those facing the greatest intersectional disadvantage.

The Director will oversee the transformation of intake and referral pathways, monitor performance, manage risk and oversee governance structures, while fostering collaboration and accountability across all member organisations. You will also represent the Alliance externally, influencing policy, securing resources, and amplifying the voices of marginalised survivors. The ideal candidate will bring leadership experience in specialist sexual violence services, a deep commitment to feminist and anti-racist principles, and the ability to navigate complexity with clarity and compassion.

This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of sexual violence support in London and make a lasting impact.

CV’s will not be accepted

How to apply:

Closing date:                  10am, 13 January 2026

First Interview date:        22 January 2026

Second interview date:  Week commencing 2 February 2026

Contract requirements:Women-only- this role will be working across women only as well as mixed gender services

Genuine Occupational Requirement (GOR), Schedule 9 (Work; Exceptions). Part 1 (Occupational Requirements), of the Equality Act (2010) applies

The post is subject to an enhanced vetting and barring check and open to women only.

Goodman Masson are partnered with an award-winning, pioneering organisation dedicated to preventing human suffering caused by armed conflict, as they seek a Finance & Operations Director to join their Directors' Group.

They work globally with civil society, protecting human rights and promoting humanitarian action. Their brand is built on strategic engagement, reputation, and impact.

You Will Be:

• The financial compass, driving fiscal excellence, rigorous control, and compliance across international operations.
• A strategic partner shaping long-term organisational strategy, providing expert financial advice, and managing organisational risk.
• Hands-on in day-to-day functions, ensuring best-practice financial systems, leading statutory reporting, and managing fund investment compliance.
• A mentor cultivating a high-performing, supportive Finance Team.

You Will Have:

• 10+ years of senior leadership experience in financial planning, budgeting, and reporting
• Leadership experience within an international charity setting.
• Deep technical expertise in Charity SORP, regulatory compliance, and managing complex international finance/currencies.
• Proven experience supporting governance through Board liaison (Audit/Risk).

Salary range is £70,000 - £80,000 Depending on Experience + Benefits.

Applications are being reviewed as and when they are received, therefore please apply ASAP to ensure your details are considered.

The Talent Set are delighted to partner with Tommy’s on a fantastic Deputy Marketing Director role. This pivotal position offers an opportunity for a strategic leader to shape and drive next level growth for baby and pregnancy charity Tommy’s, making a meaningful difference through striking brand activity, innovative campaigns, engaging content and storytelling and impactful digital marketing.

The Deputy Marketing Director will raise awareness and consideration of the Tommy’s brand, bring more people to the charity for support and market the charity to target audiences, businesses and potential donors and fundraisers.

This is a particularly exciting moment to join Tommy’s as an organisation. We have recently unveiled a new creative brand platform and in the delivery phase of a 5-year growth strategy. With maternity care firmly in the public spotlight, there is also significant opportunity to shape the conversation, build momentum and extend our reach. We are seeking someone creative and proactive to lead this next chapter, helping to translate increased visibility into meaningful change to help bring more babies home.

About the Charity
Their vision: To stop the heartbreak and devastation of baby loss and make pregnancy and birth safe – for everyone.

Their mission: Tommy’s leads research and transforms care. They provide expert information and support throughout the pregnancy journey. Working with communities and partners, Tommy’s challenges inequities and campaigns for change to make pregnancy and birth safer for all. Together, we save babies’ lives.

Marketing & Engagement directorate vision: To make Tommy’s unmissable as a household name and a fundraising cause. The directorate encompasses, Marketing, Communications and Campaigns, Public Fundraising and Digital and Innovation.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the marketing team to deliver integrated brand and marketing campaigns that raise awareness of Tommy’s mission and impact through research and provision of support among the target audiences
• Develop and implement comprehensive marketing strategies aligned with the organisation’s mission and goal
• Oversee the creation and execution of multi-channel campaigns, ensuring clear messaging and impactful delivery
• Cultivate relationships with external partners and stakeholders to enhance brand visibility and support fundraising efforts
• Manage budgets and resources effectively, ensuring maximum return on investment
• Use data and insight to understand audience, channels and brand and to guide the strategy, planning and execution
• Set and track marketing OKRs, KPIs and budgets, evaluating progress, performance and delivery
• Lead on content, audience and stories strategies
• Drive the digital marketing strategy, growing social media presence, optimising SEO, digital campaigns, SEM and website content
• Support our income and growth through promoting public fundraising activities and supporting corporate partnerships 

Person Specification

• Demonstrated experience in strategic marketing leadership and brand development and engagement within the non-profit or charity sector
• Proven ability to develop impactful campaigns across digital, print, and media channels
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and inspire diverse audiences
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and priorities effectively
• Proficiency in marketing analytics and data-driven decision-making
• Commitment to the values of the organisation and a demonstrable interest in the pregnancy and baby sector
• Ability to work collaboratively with various teams and external partners

What’s on Offer

• Salary: £60,000-£64,000

• Permanent
• Location: London, hybrid – 2 days in the office per week

How to Apply
To apply, please submit your CV demonstrating your suitability for this role by clicking the 'apply now' button (please do not apply via email). We aim to get back to all successful candidates within 48 working hours.

Commitment to Diversity
The Talent Set are committed to diverse and inclusive recruitment practices, ensuring equal opportunities for all applicants regardless of race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, disability, or age. We actively encourage applications from a wide range of backgrounds and are always happy to make reasonable adjustments to ensure a fair recruitment process.

About SCEC

SCEC was founded over twenty years ago to provide learning enrichment opportunities to primary school children in disadvantaged communities in south London. Together with our partners, several leading independent schools, we currently operate four schemes in math, literacy, science and art. Children learn through fun, engaging group activities like science experiments, storytelling and mathematical treasure hunts, all taught by qualified teachers with added support from student mentors. Through the schemes, children explore their curiosity, build knowledge and develop their confidence as learners.

Your Role

The Scheme Director is a newly created role that will be pivotal in helping SCEC extend its reach. Reporting to the Board of Trustees, you will help SCEC design and implement an expansion programme as well as coordinating the delivery of the existing schemes via our school partners. You will also serve as a trusted partner to the Board in the administration of the charity.

Similar to a COO, this role straddles the operational and the strategic. We are looking for a confident communicator and relationship builder who can work across varied stakeholder groups. You will have project management experience that can be applied to challenges like process design and change management. You should be able to grasp the big picture and have an eye for the details needed to deliver successful outcomes.  This is an exciting opportunity for the right candidate to join SCEC on a transformational journey working with excellent learning partners and established leaders to improve educational outcomes for children.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee scheme operations including pupil recruitment, enrolment and attendance to ensure the smooth running of schemes and maximum impact
• Promote the charity to prospective partners and donors
• Support the Board in developing, implementing and monitoring an expansion programme
• Monitor and report on scheme performance and impact
• Prepare and manage budgets and disbursement of funds 
• Build and maintain systems and processes to support scheme operations, compliance and monitoring

Key Qualities

• Passionate about making a difference in the lives of children
• Demonstrated success in developing and implementing strategic plans to achieve organisational goals
• Track record of effectively managing programmes and services, including programme development, implementation, and evaluation
• Committed to working collaboratively to build strong relationships with business partners and colleagues and proactively engaging stakeholders when making decisions
• Self-motivated and highly organised, you have a strong sense of initiative and take a hands-on approach to planning and administration

Child Protection

SCEC is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. This is the responsibility of the whole organisation (trustees and staff).  An enhanced DBS Disclosure is required for this role.

For more information, please see the attached Job Description below

We are seeking an inspiring and strategic Director to lead Heart of the City through its next phase of development. You will work closely with the Board to set strategic priorities, oversee all operations, and ensure the charity continues to deliver impactful programmes for SMEs. Key responsibilities include:

• Leading Heart of the City as an independent charity, both within and outside the City of London Corporation.
• Developing and delivering annual and three-year business plans, reporting progress to the Board, Council of Members, and funders.
• Managing a budget, and driving business development - diversifying income streams, while maintaining the charity’s vision and objectives.
• Embedding robust impact measurement across all streams of work.
• Representing Heart of the City at senior levels across public, private, and third sectors, and building relationships with key stakeholders.

Our client is looking for an experienced Director of Operations to lead and oversee the organisations national operations, ensuring the highest quality of service delivery and full compliance with all contracts. This role is to support the front-line teams, push for continuous improvement and drive the organisation to grow. The Director of Operations will provide strategic leadership and share clear directions across the organisation to achieve their goals. As a member of the executive team, you will support set organizational strategy, lead operational improvement and credible operational leadership to the CEO, Board of Trustees and external stakeholders.  

You will be leading the operational performance of their services nationwide, to ensure the standard is consistent with their expectations, effective performance management and successful contract delivery which aligns with their financial targets. Provide national leadership of all services with a solid performance against KPI’s as well as ensure adherence to organizational governance frameworks, supporting their development and improvement. Your goal must be to embed a culture of reflective practice, continuous improvement and ongoing professional development. Lead to the resolution of complex complaints and act as a senior representative for our client at strategic meetings with partners, commissioners and donors. It is vital that you build strong relationships with staff, volunteers, service users and key stakeholders. 

You must have significant leadership skills within a multi-site service organisation, proven ability to deliver high-quality services that align with organizational values and demonstrate experience managing operational budgets. It is advantageous if you pose strong experience overseeing national service standards, contract delivery and regulatory compliance. We are looking for a candidate who is driven by values, integrity and resilience. A leader who develops a culture of mutual respect and teamwork, maintains calm and focuses on solutions under great pressure.  

Diversity: 

Our client is committed to equality of opportunity and celebrating diversity and they take great care to ensure that their actions as an employer reflect their ethos.  

They particularly encourage applications from protected characteristic(s), who are currently under-represented within the organisation. They are committed to human rights and creating equitable fair environments they welcome people from all backgrounds regardless of race, gender, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, responsibilities for dependents, age or physical/mental disability.  

Our client is a member of the Disability Confident Scheme, a signatory of the Mindful Employer Charter and they currently hold the Investors in People (IiP) Silver Award. They are also an accredited Living Wage Employer.  

Safeguarding: 

Safeguarding is a term used in the United Kingdom and Ireland to describe measures to protect the health, well-being and human rights of individuals, which allow people – especially children, young people and vulnerable adults – to live free from abuse, harm and neglect. 

Our client believes everyone regardless of sex, age, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, ethnic origin, religion or other diversities has a right to be protected from all forms of harm and abuse, including harassment, bullying, and exploitation.  

They are committed to providing a healthy and safe working environment for our staff and volunteers and committed to safeguarding anyone we engage with through their work and the services they provide  

To achieve this, they have a robust safeguarding children’s and adults policy, procedures and guidance in place, designed to help protect everyone who comes into  contact with our client and to provide staff and volunteers with the knowledge to support people when being subjected to any form of abuse. 

To ensure staff and volunteers uphold the highest standards in safeguarding practice, our client  complies  with the statutory legislative requirements and guidance that seeks to protect children, young people and vulnerable adults. In order to meet this responsibility, they follow a rigorous selection process to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants throughout their recruitment process. 

Employer: Community Rail Network 

Salary: £43k-£51.5k pa, full time 

Location: Home based / flexible or Huddersfield 

We are seeking a dynamic director of policy and communications, to lead and develop our increasingly impactful external affairs activity. You’ll be sharing community insights and evidence with policy and decision-makers at national and devolved level, supporting a shift towards more inclusive and sustainable transport and mobility, while overseeing high-quality, inspiring member communications and thought-leadership, drawing on grassroots experiences.  
  

About us 

Community Rail Network is a national not-for-profit organisation supporting a growing ‘community rail’ movement, which helps communities get the most from their railways, promotes sustainable and inclusive travel, coordinates volunteering and place-making, and brings people together.

Community rail is made up of 76 community-based partnership organisations, and c.1,300 station friends volunteer groups and other community-led initiatives around Britain. Their activities range from creative projects for young people, to advising train operators on service improvements, to building travel confidence among marginalised groups, to biodiversity projects at stations, to promoting greener tourism by rail.

Our enthusiastic team of 24 works from home in different locations, but we come together regularly in person and online. We work collaboratively to support our members, provide training, events and resources, run campaigns, and champion community rail and its insights. We believe in developing our team and helping everyone reach their potential while having a good work-life balance.

About this role 

This role is crucial for us, our members and their communities, especially at the current time, with our need to seize on the opportunities of rail reform and devolution, promote wider use of sustainable transport, and bring communities together. You will spearhead our external affairs strategy and plans, building political relationships, influencing decision-making and raising awareness of community rail and its insights, while ensuring effective communications with our members and helping them to have a voice locally and regionally. You’ll be striving to put community rail at the forefront of a shift towards more inclusive and sustainable mobility.

As a member of our senior leadership team, reporting to and working closely with our chief executive, you will manage a passionate team of four, ensuring collaboration with our other teams, partners and funders, and drawing on members’ insights.

 
Main responsibilities 

• Lead the review, development and delivery of our communications, policy and insights strategy, working to position the community rail movement effectively, use its insights to influence policy change, and ensure our members are well-informed and have a voice; 

• Further strengthen our advisory and influencing work with national, devolved and regional government, transport bodies, parliamentarians and other decision-makers, especially around rail reform, transport devolution and integrated, inclusive, sustainable transport; 

• Ensure we’re engaging effectively with policy developments and opportunities, taking forward a programme of relationship-building, and identifying and engaging in relevant consultations, events and speaking opportunities, enabling community rail’s insights and experiences to be shared; 

• Collaborate with partners in rail, government and the third sector to feed in our expertise on community engagement with rail, amplify our campaigns, and build opportunities for joined-up communications and policy work;

• Continually develop and disseminate our evidence base and insights on the social, environmental and economic value community rail delivers, and opportunities to create greater benefits for communities from rail and transport; 

• Oversee high-quality, coherent and inspiring communications with our members and partners, promoting our work, and sharing news, opportunities, and good practice across the movement; 

• Manage production of high-quality resources, case studies and reports that our members can use to enhance their impact and which showcase community rail’s impact; 

• Lead and develop our media relations and awareness-raising PR, championing community rail and its messages on sustainable, inclusive travel and communities at national and regional level, while supporting members on local PR; 

• Develop our online presence and reach, making full use of our website, social media, our Scenic Rail Britain campaign, and partners’ channels to celebrate and position community rail and grow its reach and impact; 

• Oversee a calendar of creative and impactful campaigns that involve and empower our members, creating PR and engagement opportunities, including Community Rail Week;

• Play a key role in collective leadership, strategic focus and organisational development as a member of our senior leadership team, including through internal communications and cross-team working, annual planning, funder liaison and reporting, upholding our strategies and policies, and pursuing opportunities for continuous improvement. 

 
Skills and competencies 

1. Strong leadership and management skills, including experience managing, developing and drawing on a multi-faceted team delivering complex campaigns or projects, and budget management; 
2. Excellent communication and external leadership skills; articulate, assertive, and with the ability to work diplomatically and persuasively with stakeholders at all levels; 
3. An understanding of public affairs, ideally in relation to community development, sustainability and/or transport, and a demonstrable ability to identify influencing opportunities, deliver thought-leadership, and engage with policy-makers, including sharing community insights; 
4. Politically astute, with awareness of and commitment to social inclusion, social justice and sustainability, and a good grasp of the importance of public transport sustainable travel, and community-led action, to these agendas; 
5. Understanding of political processes and experience of engaging with policy and decision-making, ideally at national, devolved and local levels; 
6. Sound knowledge of communication and marketing methods and channels, and ability to oversee messaging and targeting of public and professional audiences, and to align content across multiple channels; 
7. A demonstrable ability to think analytically and draw on statistical and qualitative research to construct robust, evidence-based arguments; 
8. Experience of working with the media and achieving coverage at national, regional and local level; 
9. Experience working collaboratively with partners and ideally funders to deliver communications and policy activity and forming professional networks; 
10. Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines while dealing with competing priorities, and to support team members to do so; 
11. IT literate with a good working knowledge of Office, the internet and social media; 
12. Appropriate qualifications and professional development demonstrating knowledge and skills in line with the above, and a commitment to ongoing learning and development.

Other information

As you will be home-based, we are flexible about your location. However, you will be expected to travel to in-person full team meetings quarterly (usually in West Yorkshire), and you will need to bring your team together (currently all West Yorkshire based) with similar regularity in between. Attendance at in-person events and meetings is also important. We therefore welcome applications from those with decent public transport links, not too far from a railway station, to enable journeys to be made sustainably.   

This is a full-time position, 37 hours per week. We use a flexi-time system with core hours 10am-3pm, and are committed to being a flexible, supportive and understanding employer. This is a permanent position with a probationary period of six months.   

Community Rail Network is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from disabled people and Black, Asian and other minoritised groups, who meet with the skills and competencies for this role. We will provide reasonable adjustments for interviews as required.  

We are looking for a dynamic, values-led, strategic leader to drive our mission for migration justice and social work solidarity. The role entails oversight of the operations and strategy of the organisation, responsibility for financial management and fundraising, maintaining the health of the organisation and embedding anti-racist and anti-opressive values into every aspect of the organisation.