Director of development and communications jobs

We are looking to recruit an experienced, innovative legal manager for our international Environment and Sustainable Development Programme. The ideal candidate will be a qualified lawyer with deep enthusiasm and in-depth knowledge of how our partners could use the law to achieve environmental justice. A more detailed explanation of our organisational and programme strategy is set out in our 2024-2026 Strategy.

Working as part of a small but dynamic team, you will have the opportunity to learn at close hand what it means to work for an international NGO focusing on how the law can be used to fight corruption and achieve environmental and economic justice. You will develop projects with a range of partners, including international agencies, NGOs, CSOs and governments. You will collaborate with a range of volunteer lawyers (via law firms and barristers chambers) who are leading experts in their field. You will also help nurture, build and maintain relationships with our funders. The role will involve outreach to new partners, programme management, supporting the drafting of fundraising applications and donor reports, tracking impact, as well as evaluating and learning from projects.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Implement the strategic vision for ILP’s Environment and Sustainable Development (ESD) programme, in conjunction with the ESD Programme Director, Legal Fellows, Executive Director, partners, staff and Board;

2. Develop an understanding of the most effective environmental policy tools and legal interventions to deliver the programme’s objectives, through engagement with volunteer lawyers, ILP partners, ILP’s ESD Advisory Committee, staff, Board and others;

3. Support the ESD Programme Director to build and maintain ILP’s Environment and Sustainable Development (ESD) programme. This includes:

   • liaising with partners to identify legal/policy needs and offer potential legal and/or policy reform solutions, including through conducting legal analysis;

     identifying and engaging in regular outreach with potential new partners to build the project pipeline;

   • identifying, building and maintaining strong relationships with existing and new highly experienced volunteer lawyers;

   • mapping and developing relationships with regional and international development entities and other technical assistance providers to identify potential partners, needs and focus countries;

   • representing the programme in external fora and events.

4. Support the Programme Director in ensuring effective project delivery and evaluation of impact including:

   • managing and coordinating project implementation through the full project cycle;

   • delivering financial management for assignments including accurate budgeting, forecasting, accounting and reporting;

   • Supporting the development and maintenance of strong programme management and knowledge management systems and processes, including regular updating of ILP’s online internal database (GRID).

5. Support the Programme Director’s fundraising efforts to finance both the programme and organisational overheads, including working closely with the Programme Director to identify opportunities for potential funding with partners, liaise with and nurture donors, design funding applications and create relevant budgets;

6. Deepen ILP’s knowledge and understanding of the situation in developing economies, including engaging in relevant research alongside ILP partners (pro bono lawyers, NGOs, CSOs and others) and sharing findings via written reports and output;

7. Share in the necessary operational and administrative activities of the organisation and contribute to website and social media communications.

For further information on the candidate profile for this role, our full job description is available to view and download below. 

Director of Fundraising

We are seeking an experienced Director of Fundraising to lead income generation and build strong relationships with major donors and corporate partners.

Position: Director of Fundraising
Salary: £58,000 to £65,000 per annum, pro rata
Location: Burnt Oak, North London, with some hybrid working
Hours: Full time or 0.8 FTE
Contract: Permanent
Closing Date: Wednesday 4th March at noon
Interviews: First round 11th, 13th or 16th March. Final round in person w/c 23rd March

About the role
The Director of Fundraising role sits on the Senior Leadership Team and has responsibility for delivering a fundraising programme with a target of around £2m per year. You will lead the fundraising function and personally manage a portfolio of major donors and corporate partners.

Key responsibilities include

• Generating substantial income to meet annual fundraising targets
• Managing and stewarding major donors, high net worth individuals and corporate partners
• Supporting trusts and grants fundraising to deliver high quality funding bids
• Leading and developing the fundraising team, setting KPIs and income targets
• Developing and delivering a fundraising strategy aligned to the wider organisational strategy
• Preparing reports and presenting to the Board of Trustees and relevant committees
• Ensuring compliance with fundraising legislation and codes of practice
• Working with partner organisations and networks to share best practice
• Acting as a senior leader within the organisation and role modelling organisational values

About you
As Director of Fundraising You will be an experienced fundraising professional with a strong track record of securing significant income from major donors and partners. Essential experience includes:

• Experience of securing six figure donations from major donors or corporate partners
• A strong track record of meeting challenging fundraising targets
• Experience of managing donor pipelines and aligning supporter interests with organisational need
• Experience of working with Trustees or senior volunteers
• Line management experience and the ability to lead and motivate a team
• Excellent communication and relationship building skills
• A strategic and target driven approach to fundraising
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple deadlines
• Experience of using a fundraising database or CRM system

About the organisation
The organisation provides open access youth services for young people aged 8 to 19, and up to 25 for those with additional needs. It operates six days a week and offers a wide range of activities and targeted support. Fundraising is essential to cover the majority of its operating costs, and the charity is well established locally with strong community and philanthropic support.

The organisation is part of a wider national network, working collaboratively with partner organisations to increase funding and share best practice.

Other roles you may have experience of could include; Head of Fundraising, Head of Development, Fundraising Manager, Major Gifts Manager, Head of Corporate Partnerships, Philanthropy Lead, Fundraising Director, Development Director, etc.

If you are looking for a leadership position that requires creativity, that will enable you to flourish, be ambitious, operate both strategically and operationally, and drive success, then this is the position for you. #INDNFP

Working with the Director of Research, this role will have management of the clinical development process at Cure Parkinson’s. The charity supports a large treatment selection process that feeds new clinical trials seeking disease modification. This is an exciting time in Parkinson’s research and there is the opportunity to have a really meaningful impact by joining the Cure Parkinson’s team as we expand our funding schemes and initiate new ventures.

As our Clinical Research Manager, you will have a PhD in life sciences (an MD or MBSS would advantageous) and significant experience in clinical trial development. You must have a strong understanding of Parkinson’s, the biology associated with the condition, and the agents currently in development. You will require excellent organisational and communication skills as you will be representing the charity via stakeholder engagement. Working as an effective member of our Research Team you will be able to handle multiple tasks with precision simultaneously and be comfortable building relationships and providing support for researchers.

Founded in 1927, the University of Hull has a long and proud history. Through our teaching, research and civic engagement, we are helping to shape and deliver the future prosperity of our region and far beyond. 

Leading the Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement team, the Director will drive the design and implementation of the University’s inaugural comprehensive fundraising campaign, launching it at the culmination of our centenary celebrations in summer 2028. Building on progress made to date, the Director will leverage the centenary to elevate the roles of philanthropy and alumni engagement in support of the University’s future ambitions. 

Person specification: 
- Extensive knowledge of philanthropy, preferably within higher education, including fundraising best practice
- Extensive knowledge of alumni engagement and its role in building connections and supporting wider institutional priorities
- Demonstrable track record of building relationships and working with prospects to secure gifts at the six-figure level and above
- Experience of leading philanthropic campaigns and exceeding fundraising targets
- Experience of leading and managing teams carrying out philanthropic and/or engagement activities 
- Experience of strategic and data-driven operational planning and performance management

Dixon Walter is leading the candidate search on behalf of the University. For more information and details of how to apply by 15 February, please see the candidate brief.

#Director
#DirectorPhilanthropyandAlumniEngagement
#UniversityofHull

Job Title - Managing Director of Research Programmes (UK)

Contract – Permanent

Hours - 35 hours per week

Salary – Circa £75,000 per annum (negotiable)

Location - Coram Campus, Bloomsbury, with occasional travel and some working from home as agreed

About Coram

Coram, which is the oldest children’s charity, is a group of specialist organisations; we help more than 1 million children and young people from infancy to independence, creating positive change that lasts a lifetime.

Established by Royal Charter in 1739, as the Foundling Hospital, and operating from its distinctive 3.5 acres headquarters in the heart of London, Coram has built a position of insight, influence, and research by working closely with other organisations and other sectors, universities and government, professionals, and families. We have ambitious plans for the future, to be the UK’s leading recognised research organisation, dedicated to improving life chances as the Institute for Children.

About the role

This role works directly with the Chief Executive as a member of the Senior Management Team in achievement of this vision and strategy; it will lead the advancement of the Coram Institute for Children as a UKRI recognised independent research organisation (IRO), drive research capacity and capability, champion and deliver internal and external evaluations, advance Coram’s sector credibility and relationships, and inform and contribute to the group’s reach, relevance and results.

This senior position leads a large team of mixed methods researchers and data analysts and comprises an important opportunity for a credible research leader and experienced charity senior manager who is dynamic and multi-skilled with an entrepreneurial approach to lead the only IRO in the children and young people’s sector.

The successful candidate will have a strong business focus and commitment to translating research findings into policy and practice and direct experience of securing research council funding, or funding from sources such as What Works Centres, local and central government or Trusts and Foundations.

You will be able to work individually, in a team and across the organisation. Strong critical thinking ability, partnership building skills and knowledge, experience and commitment to improving lives of children are essential.

To apply for this role, please visit the Coram website to complete an application. Please note CV’S will not be accepted.

Closing date: 18th February 2026 at 12 noon

Interview date: 26th & 27th February 2026

Coram is an equal opportunities employer and we believe a diverse workforce enables us to improve the services to the children and families we help. We are genuinely committed to encouraging candidates from all sections of the community we seek to support. This includes those from global majority ethnic backgrounds, those that identify as LGBQT+, those with disabilities, those with lived experience of care, those with neuro-diversity, and those from other groups who are underrepresented at Coram.

If applicants feel comfortable, we would encourage them to draw on lived experience as well as professional experience in their personal statement as part of their application.

We are committed to the safeguarding of children and where appropriate will require the successful applicant to undertake a check from the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Registered Charity No. 312278.

Director of Fundraising

Location: Hybrid working, with 1-2 days per week in London office - all staff in London office every Tuesday.

Salary: £85-90,000 per annum.

Contract: Full-time, permanent

Ovarian Cancer Action, the UK’s leading ovarian cancer research charity, is seeking an ambitious and strategic leader who can drive sustainable income growth and build high‑value partnerships and relationships that can change the lives of thousands of women and their families.  

Ovarian cancer hasn’t seen the scientific breakthroughs that some other cancers have, with survival rates that haven’t changed meaningfully in decades. Ovarian Cancer Action is working to address this, with an urgent mission that by 2032 at least half of women in the UK with ovarian cancer live for 10 years. To realise that goal, the charity is carrying out world-class scientific progress in prevention, early detection and treatment, funding more ovarian cancer research than any other gynaecological cancer charity in the UK.

This is an exciting time to be joining the charity, and the Director of Fundraising will play a key role capitalising on the huge potential of the charity’s current work to transform survival of ovarian cancer, including the possibility of a preventative vaccine this decade.

This is a senior leadership position responsible for driving OCA’s fundraising ambition and accelerating income growth, managing the development and delivery of an insight‑driven fundraising strategy and identifying major opportunities across mass fundraising, philanthropy, partnerships and influential networks. The post-holder will be responsible for personally cultivating and securing high‑value relationships with major donors, trusts, foundations and strategic partners, and leading and developing a high-performing fundraising team to secure significant multi‑year gifts and leverage milestone organisational moments to unlock transformational support.

The successful candidate will be a senior fundraising leader with a strong track record of securing significant 5‑ and 6‑figure gifts, partnerships and multi‑year commitments. You’ll bring deep experience managing high‑level philanthropic relationships and a track record of inspiring leadership, building high-performing teams. Strength in CRM systems, data‑driven pipeline management and cross‑organisational collaboration is essential, as is exceptional communication and influencing ability.

On a personal level, you will thrive in a mission‑driven and fast-paced environment, bringing strategic insight and an entrepreneurial, optimistic and solutions‑focused approach to life. You will be energised by opportunity, resilient in the face of challenge, and comfortable testing, learning and innovating. Above all, you’ll be motivated by improving women’s health and committed to aligning fundraising ambition with organisational strategy and research impact.

Please download our Candidate Pack for further information [PDF], which includes details on how to apply.

Closing date: Monday 2nd March 9.00am.

PLEASE NOTE: We will be longlisting applications as soon as we receive them, so please apply early to register your interest. 

Pattern Church was launched in December 2018 by the Diocese of Bristol as a Revitalisation Trust Resource Church with a vision of inviting people into family to serve Swindon. Since then, the church has grown rapidly, planted two new churches (The Well and The Light Church), and become a hub of mission and community life across the town.

The Director of Operations is part of the leadership of the church, providing the organisational, financial, and strategic backbone that enables mission and ministry to flourish. They will work closely with the Senior Leader, Trustees, and wider staff team to turn strategic vision into practical reality, ensuring strong governance, robust systems, sound stewardship, and an effective, faith-filled culture across all areas of church life.

Our team culture is shaped by GRACE—we are Growing, Reliant, All-in, Championing, and Expectant. Everyone gets involved. There is a clear sense of what we’re trying to achieve together in serving God and helping people find and grow in faith in Jesus. 

We are living in a moment of remarkable spiritual opportunity. Research shows a sharp rise in openness to faith among younger generations, something we see reflected in our own ministry and growth. The opportunities before us are significant, and the Operations Director will play a pivotal role in enabling us to step into this season with confidence and clarity.

For a full job description and information about how to apply, please head to the Pattern Church website.

Closing date: March 10th

Interviews w/c March 16th

To apply please send a CV and a cover letter by email. In your cover letter please highlight how your experience and skills relate to the job description and essential skills.

Title: Group Programme and Events Lead

Reports to:  Associate Director of Business and Operations  

Based: Remotely – however must travel as and when required to meetings and events.

Working Hours: Monday to Thursday, 9:00am–5:30pm; Friday, 9:00am–5:00pm. (Hours may vary on event days or when event planning calls are scheduled outside of standard working hours)

Job Purpose: To organise the planning and implementation of Programmes & Events and maintain a high level of accuracy and detail throughout.

The role: Arrhythmia Alliance Group is recruiting a Group Programme and Events Lead on a full-time, permanent, remote basis. Your skills will be essential in strengthening the charities profile through programmes and event planning and coordination.

You will support the organisation with its’ programme and events portfolio by developing healthy, professional, relationships at all levels. You will also showcase initiatives taken and their key impact in making a real difference in people's lives.

Main responsibilities:

- Plan, coordinate, attend and execute charity programmes and events.

- Research and oversee all event logistics, including agendas, venue selection, room allocation, contract negotiations, transportation, accommodation and catering arrangements.

- Liaise effectively with various vendors and service providers.

- Develop and manage budgets, providing financial reports and forecasts to senior management.

- Evaluate programme and event success through feedback collection and analysis, making necessary recommendations for improvements.

- Promote the organisation's brand image, values, and initiatives.

- Ensure all events are compliant with relevant standards and other regulations.

- Diary management for all programmes and events.

- Support in production of relevant presentations and be able to present on the Charity group whilst attending events online or in person.

- Work closely with all other departments to ensure all events, projects and campaigns are promoted efficiently to the target audience; includes website development and updates along with researching and sourcing appropriate promotional resources.

- Take payments over the phone as and when required.

- Attend physical meetings and events as and when needed to provide support.

- Support the production of recording for Healthcare Professionals, patients and care givers for educational webinars & events using but not limited to Microsoft Teams or Zoom.

- Attend Calls with Senior managers out of normal working pattern when required

Person specification:

- Experience in planning, organising, and executing marketing of programmes and events 

- Excellent attention to detail and accuracy

- Excellent knowledge in Microsoft Suite of tools including Word, Excel and PowerPoint

- Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise and manage workload

- Can undertake a wide variety of tasks and multi-task with ease

- Professional, methodical and thorough approach to work with a friendly and polite manner

- Ability to work on own initiative as well as part of a team

- Full Driving Licence with access to a vehicle

- Educated to GCSE level minimum

Director of Fundraising
Salary: £70,000 to £75,000 per annum
Location: Hybrid – London EC1Y/Home

Join MQ and help transform mental health research.

At MQ, we champion and fund world-class research to transform the lives of everyone affected by a mental health condition. We strive to create a world where mental illness is better understood, diagnosed, treated and, hopefully someday, prevented. We believe research is the first step towards making that a reality.

We connect scientists with supporters, people with lived experience of mental health illnesses, policymakers, and practitioners, so together we can strive to understand mental health, improve treatments and prevent mental illnesses.

Supported by our world-class Science Council, MQ funds research globally and works in partnership with leading organisations in the field including Wellcome Trust, the Mental Health Mission, DATAMIND, University of Oxford, Glasgow University and Kings College. In the US, we work through our sister charity the MQ Foundation.

What you'll be doing:

The Director of Fundraising is a senior, strategic leadership role responsible for driving significant and sustainable growth in income for MQ, with a target of achieving £10 million annual turnover over the next five years.

As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, the postholder will set and deliver an ambitious, data-led fundraising strategy across philanthropy, trusts and foundations, partnerships and other income streams. They will personally steward high-value relationships while building a high-performing, commercially minded fundraising function capable of supporting MQ’s long-term mission.

Key Responsibilities:

Fundraising Strategy & Income Growth

• Develop and deliver MQ’s overall fundraising and income generation strategy, aligned to organisational priorities
• Set clear income targets and KPIs across all fundraising streams
• Personally lead and secure six- and seven-figure gifts, grants and contracts
• Build and maintain strong, long-term relationships with major donors, funders and partners
• Ensure excellent stewardship, reporting and donor experience across all income streams

Pipeline, Performance & Data Oversight

• Provide strategic oversight of the fundraising pipeline, ensuring a healthy balance of prospecting, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship
• Use data, insight and CRM reporting to track performance, forecast income and manage risk
• Identify income concentration risks and develop mitigation strategies
• Drive continuous improvement in fundraising processes, systems and ways of working

Financial Management & Reporting

• Own the Fundraising budget, including income forecasting, expenditure control and cost-of-fundraising oversight
• Work closely with the Finance team to ensure accurate income phasing, reporting and financial planning
• Produce regular reports for the CEO, Executive Team and Board on income performance, pipeline health and risks
• Ensure all funding is managed in line with grant conditions, donor expectations and regulatory requirements

Leadership & Team Development

• Provide strategic leadership and line management to the team
• Build, develop and retain a high-performing, motivated fundraising team
• Foster a collaborative, ambitious and accountable fundraising culture
• Support succession planning and talent development within the Fundraising function

External Profile, Partnerships & Thought Leadership

• Represent MQ at high-level events, conferences and networking opportunities
• Strengthen MQ’s profile with funders, corporates, policymakers and partners
• Work closely with the Board and Science Council to maximise fundraising and partnership opportunities
• Undertake speaking engagements where appropriate to generate visibility & awareness

Executive Leadership & Governance

• Act as a key member of the Executive Leadership Team, contributing to organisational strategy and decision-making
• Support the CEO with Board engagement, particularly around fundraising strategy and performance
• Ensure fundraising activity complies with all relevant legislation, regulation and best practice
• Uphold MQ’s values, reputation and commitment to ethical fundraising

Person Specification:

We'd love to hear from you, if you have:

• Significant senior leadership experience in fundraising or income generation, ideally within the charity, research or mission-driven sector
• Proven track record of delivering substantial income growth and securing high-value gifts
• Experience leading and developing high-performing fundraising teams
• Strong commercial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting and performance management
• Demonstrable experience of managing complex stakeholder relationships
• Strategic, analytical and data-driven approach to decision-making
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, including at Board and senior stakeholder level
• Strong understanding of the UK research funding or philanthropic landscape
• Clear alignment with MQ’s mission and values

The following is highly desirable

• Knowledge of mental health research and lived-experience-led approaches
• Experience of US philanthropy or international fundraising
• Experience working with Boards, trustees or scientific advisory groups
• Familiarity with modern CRM systems and fundraising analytics

Why Join MQ?

We offer a great working experience within a friendly team. Hybrid working (in the London office Mondays and Tuesdays, with the remaining days from home). We are located near Barbican Tube.

Plus, we offer lots of generous benefits and training opportunities.

We're a Sunday Times Top Company to work for.

Benefits

• Flexible working: As a mental health charity, staff wellbeing is of paramount importance. We operate a core hours policy (10-4) to encourage flexible working and staff are mainly home based with the requirement to come into the office two days per week. A standard full-time working week is 35 hours, plus an hour for lunch breaks.
• Holidays: Annual holiday entitlement of 31 days (inc. office closure between Xmas and New Year) plus bank holidays.
• Wellbeing Allowance: MQ provides an allowance of up to £1200 per annum for each employee to spend on activities that increase their wellbeing. This is paid through payroll and is taxable.
• Virtual GP & Other wellbeing services - Get quick GP appointments and support with cancer and caring responsibilities through our Zurich benefits scheme.
• Cycle to work scheme: An interest-free loan is available to enable employees to purchase a bike and accessories, repaid via equal deductions from the employee’s salary over 12 months.
• Employee Assistance Programme: All employees and their families have access to a 24-hour confidential advice and support line.
• Counselling: Employees have access to a number of free face-to-face sessions, via the EAP scheme.
• Pension: MQ makes contributions of 5% and employees make contributions of 3%.
• Life Assurance - Up to 4 x your salary in the event of death in service.
• Season Ticket Loan: An interest free season ticket loan is available, repaid via equal deductions from the employee’s salary over 12 months.
• Personal Development: We value employee development and review individual training needs through our performance management system. HR also runs internal management development sessions for all staff.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Closing date: 22nd February 2026
Please note, we typically start interviewing within two weeks of the job advert going live. We reserve the right to close the job before the deadline based on the volume of applications, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

We believe in equality and inclusion and we welcome job applications from everyone, provided you meet the criteria for the job.

Safer recruitment is important to us and the successful applicant will be asked to provide two references. They will also be required to complete a safeguarding self-declaration and undertake a DBS check.

No agencies please.

Longer working lives and ongoing economic transitions are reshaping careers: how we start them, and how we move through them. But too many people remain paid in low-paid, low-quality work – with damaging consequences for them personally, and our economy as a whole. We’re seeking a senior, policy-oriented research leader to help us and our partners generate insights that enable more people to move into and progress through better work.

You’ll have a proven track record in scoping and securing funding for research and influencing activity, with significant autonomy to lead your own programme at L&W. You’ll be supported by committed researchers and managers whom you will coach, lead, and develop—alongside a peer group of Deputy Directors working across other key pillars. We welcome quantitative expertise, but most important are the skills to design and deliver high-quality, impactful research programmes.

You’ll join an organisation with a national reputation for driving policy change—and a friendly, highly capable, delivery-focused team. 

Location: Hybrid working: 40-60% in an L&W office. Our offices for this role are currently in Leicester and London, but if you are based elsewhere, please contact us to talk about how the role could work for you.

Team:Research and Development

Salary:£64,450 -£77,880 per annum (pro rata), dependent on experience and location

Duration:Permanent

Working hours:0.8 to 1 FTE, with flexible working supported (e.g. condensed hours, flexible start and finish times)

Main Purpose

The Deputy Director, Policy and Research (Better Work and Progression) will have overall ownership of the ‘Better Work’ pillar of our strategic plan at L&W: overseeing all projects and activity in this area and generating new work (including developing project ideas and securing funding).

While there is significant scope to shape the ongoing programme of research and impact work, we anticipate that key areas of focus in this area going forward will be: understanding & better supporting career change; understanding and improving policy to increase employer investment in skills; high quality and fair access apprenticeships and technical education; understanding how to better support progression from low pay.

They will be a senior leader for the organization – helping to continuously shape our strategy and the plans we are implementing to deliver it.

Duties and Responsibilities

Leadership and management

• Intellectual leadership of the Better Work pillar: developing and owning policy positions, messages, theory of change and research priorities, and supporting the wider team to feed into and understand them
• Line management of senior and mid-level staff
• Act as a senior leader at L&W – including taking on specific organization-level responsibilities where appropriate

Income

• Write and/or co-ordinate responses to reactive research and evaluation tenders in the areas of employment, better work and progression
• Develop pro-active proposals that will drive change in your area, and respond to the interests of funders and partners
• Build relationships with current and potential funders and research partners

Impact

• Act as an external expert on the issues of better work and progression: writing press quotes, articles and blogs;speaking on platforms
• Building relationships with practitioners, policymakers and partners to improve our insights, and get our recommendations implemented
• Develop appropriate means of tracking impact towards our better work goals, and monitor against them. 

Delivery

• Deputy Director/Project Director-level oversight of projects being delivered in your and related areas: supporting project team to shape research plans, deliver sharp insights and manage funder relationships
• Quality Assurance of research proposals and outputs
• Use your research skills and experience to support the wider development of the Learning and Work team

Person Specification

Experience

Experience of developing, overseeing and delivering programmes of policy-relevant research at a high level - Essential

Experience of business development in a policy/research context: developing ideas, writing bids and building relationships with funders- Essential

Experience of building senior-level relationships with external stakeholders for impact and influence -Essential

Track record of delivering national and/or local policy change - Essential

Experience of senior organisational leadership as part of a team - Desirable 

Experience of responding to tenders- Desirable 

Skills

Advanced research skills (qualitative of quantitative) -Essential

Quantitative skills: experience of using key national research and administrative data sets to generate insights into the labour market -Desirable 

Clear and direct written communication style - Essential

Knowledge

Knowledge of, and commitment to, L&W’s charitable aims and purpose.- Essential

Demonstrable knowledge of employment and/or skills policy in the UK - Essential

Demonstrable knowledge in the specific areas of Better Work and/or progression -Desirable 

Learning and Work Institute works across the UK. Our work in Wales is led by a Cardiff based team, but all staff are required to follow the guidance set out in our Welsh language scheme when working in Wales.

Head of Programme Operations

Contract: Permanent, Full Time

Location: The role can be based in London, United Kingdom, Abuja, Nigeria or Kigali, Rwanda, subject to right to work eligibility in the respective countries.

UK hybrid working – a minimum of 40 % of working time is spent face-to-face (London office, external meetings or travel). 60/40 hybrid working at WaterAid means roughly three days wherever you work best and two days together in person.

Salary: Salaries and benefits will vary in line with the location of the successful candidate and depending on experience.

• UK: £68,000 - £74,000 per year with excellent benefits.
• Nigeria: NGN 64,968,462 – NGN 90,955,847 per year with excellent benefits. 
• Rwanda: RWF 73,661,730- RWF 89,738,798 per year with excellent benefits. 

Change starts with water. Change starts with you.

Every day, millions of people live without clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene. WaterAid exists to change that – for everyone, everywhere. Join us, and your energy will help unlock people’s potential and create a fairer future.

About WaterAid

We’re a global federation driven by one vision: a world where everyone, everywhere has clean water, sanitation and hygiene by 2030. Powered by our values of Respect, Accountability, Courage, Collaboration, Integrity and Innovation, we work alongside communities, partners and supporters to make change happen.

About the Team

The Programme Operations team sits within WaterAid UK’s International Programmes Department (IPD), operating in 17 countries in Africa and Asia. The team is a diverse and motivated group of 14+ people made up of planning, monitoring, evaluation and reporting (PMER), project design and management, and programme systems specialists. They support global operational excellence, PMER, risk management, donor compliance and performance assurance across WaterAid UK’s country and regional programmes. Working in partnership with regional and country leadership teams, the function provides technical oversight, systems development and operational support to strengthen programme delivery and organisational accountability.

About the Role

The Head of Programme Operations leads the development, implementation and continuous improvement of WaterAid’s international programme operations framework. The role provides strategic and operational leadership across programme operations, business management, systems, risk and compliance.

Key responsibilities include overseeing IPD business management processes, supporting financial planning and performance reporting, acting as a delegated focal point for operational risk, and providing senior troubleshooting support on complex operational and management challenges.

The role works in close partnership with Programme Funding to ensure operational readiness for new donor opportunities and effective grant start-up and close-out. It also leads operational assurance processes, strengthens compliance with donor and organisational requirements, and supports capacity strengthening across regional and country teams.

In this role, you will:

• Provide Programme Operations Leadership
• Lead IPD Business Management and Support
• Drive Collaboration, Risk and Performance
• Oversee Systems, Compliance and Assurance
• Lead Capacity Strengthening and Support

To be successful, you’ll need:

• Proven experience in managing or overseeing large scale international programme operations in the INGO or development sector.
• Strong understanding of operational systems (finance, procurement, logistics, compliance) in multi country environments.
• Excellent relevant IT skills, primarily Microsoft Office (Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint and Word), but specifically relevant data systems that support high quality planning, monitoring and reporting.
• Experience of leading, managing and motivating others and driving change.
• Strong leadership and influencing skills, with the ability to build relationships and drive organisational change collaboratively.
• Experience working in complex matrix structures across multiple cultures.
• Strong analytical, problem solving and systems thinking capabilities.
• Demonstrated knowledge of donor compliance and grant management processes.
• Working style that reflects WaterAid’s values of Respect, Accountability, Courage, Collaboration, Integrity and Innovation.

Desirable:

• Experience in WASH, public health or community development sectors.
• Experience working with restricted and unrestricted funding portfolios.
• Relevant university degree or equivalent professional experience.
• Familiarity with WaterAid UK’s operating model and countries of operation.

Closing date: Applications will close 12:00 PM UK time on 3rd March 2026.   

How to Apply: Click Apply to answer the pre-screening questions upload your CV and cover letter.

Can I use Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology in my application? At WaterAid, we strongly advise against using AI technology at any stage of the recruitment process. Our goal is to ensure a fair and transparent process that provides every applicant with an equal opportunity to succeed. We value hearing about your unique experiences and perspectives in your application, and, if shortlisted, during the interview as well.

Pre-employment screening: To apply for this role, you must be able to demonstrate your eligibility to work in the respective country. All pre-employment checks will be carried out according to local law and WaterAid’s Safer Recruitment policy. All UK based roles require a basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Benefits

As a global organisation, WaterAid is committed to creating an environment where you can thrive and be yourself at your very best. Alongside our inspiring mission and meaningful work, we offer a range of benefits tailored to each country’s context and policies. These will be shared during the process

Our Global Commitment:

Our people promise

We will work with passion and focus to make sure everyone everywhere has clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene. WaterAid is a place of purpose – where people have a real commitment and shared responsibility for the impact we have. We are a global community with diverse backgrounds and perspectives, motivated by inspiring, stimulating work. We are

determined to be a place where people feel safe and able to contribute their voice and truly live our values.

Equal Opportunities

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, beliefs, customs, traditions, ways of life and status. This includes, but is not limited to, race, ethnicity, caste, colour, gender, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, disability status, neurodiversity, age, marital and family status, sexual orientation and gender identity, health status, place of residence, economic and social situation.

Safeguarding

We are committed to protecting everyone we come into contact with. We have a zero- tolerance approach to abuse of power, privilege or trust across our global work, and to any form of inappropriate behaviour, discrimination, abuse, bullying, harassment, or exploitation. Safeguarding the people and communities we work with, our staff, volunteers and anyone working on our behalf is our top priority, and we take our responsibilities extremely seriously. All offers of employment are subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks (which can include counterterrorism, safeguarding and criminal records checks).

Together, we’ll change the world through water.

Join us and be part of the change!

The Policy and Campaigns Manager leads ADUK in championing reforms that pave the way for better access for all disabled people partnered with a highly trained assistance dog. Through dynamic campaigns and impactful initiatives, this role is pivotal to how ADUK amplifies the voices of those whose lives are transformed by these life changing dogs, ensuring that their rights are protected for years to come.

Key Responsibilities

• In partnership with the Executive Director (ED), continue to develop a compelling case for taking a standards-based approach to the training and welfare of assistance dogs.
• Gather, analyse and apply robust evidence to strengthen ADUK’s credibility, influence and voice on key policy and campaigning issues.
• Work with the ED to identify and progress opportunities for ADUK and its members to engage with policymakers, regulators and other decision-makers, and to support positive policy change.
• Develop and deliver written and in-person reports and briefings for different audiences, including politicians, policy officials, and other decision-makers.
• Collaborate with the ED and Head of Education and Allyship to develop relationships with key stakeholders.
• Lead, manage and convene the ADUK Advisory Panel, ensuring it operates effectively and informs ADUK’s policy and campaigning work.
•  Monitor legislation and policy developments relevant to assistance dogs and dog welfare and communicate these as appropriate to members.
• Support the ED with the delivery of ADUK’s policy function, including the preparation of policy statements, briefing papers, media responses, and submissions to consultations and inquiries.
• Provide informed policy advice to the ED on priority issues affecting ADUK and its members.
• Represent ADUK externally, articulating its policy positions at meetings, events and forums, where appropriate.
• Take responsibility for projects, with the support of the Executive Director where appropriate, including joint work with partner organisations.
• Organise meetings, policy roundtables, expert workshops, policy training and other events.
• Provide information and support to service providers on assistance dog policies to promote access rights for disabled people with assistance dogs.

Knowledge, Skills, and Attributes:

Essential – applicants will:

• Have experience working in a policy, public affairs/campaigning role, with a solid understanding of how the policy development process works and how to influence national policy.
• Experience in convening and facilitating advisory groups, panels or stakeholder forums to support organisational decision-making.
• Experience in planning and delivering events, workshops or meetings that support policy, stakeholder engagement or organisational aims
• Have the ability to analyse and interpret information from a range of sources.
• Have strong interpersonal skills including being able to develop positive and effective working relationships with a diverse range of people and organisations.
• Have the ability to act on your own initiative and develop new work.
• Be comfortable maintaining existing policy positions and relationships.
• Have experience in communicating complex ideas or processes to a range of diverse audiences.
• Have excellent writing and verbal communication skills and experience in producing briefings, consultation responses and other communications on behalf of an organisation and for a wide range of audiences.
• Represent ADUK with credibility and authority in all external communications

Applicants should be aligned with ADUK’s values of championing a standards-based approach to the training and welfare of assistance dogs.

See recruitment pack for full job and person spec. 

Contract Type: Fixed Term 

Assessment Centre: 4th of March in-person at our South London Centre

We currently have a few Youth Development Lead (YDL) roles available, so please check out those adverts too. You will only need to submit one application, even if you are interested in multiple YDL opportunities. 

Are you ready to join The King's Trust and step into a vibrant role where you'll build meaningful connections and nurture relationships with our extraordinary external delivery partners and volunteers, all in the pursuit of connecting with the young hearts and minds we're devoted to supporting? If the answer is yes, read on!

Take the lead in welcoming, training, and expertly managing a group of delivery partners and volunteers. Your mission will be to ensure that our young people have an exceptional experience and achieve those positive outcomes that change lives. You will also be kept engaged as you’ll be required to travel within your local area to support the delivery of programmes as well as programme visits.

Assist and support our delivery partners and volunteers in bringing The Trust's programmes to life. They'll rely on you for access to training, resources, qualifications, and guidance in adhering to our top-notch quality standards. You’ll also be our compliance hero, ensuring that our delivery partners and volunteers are up to speed with all the necessary policies that keep things running smoothly. You'll be our go-to person, ready to tackle any minor concerns or issues that come our way.

Your knack for precision will shine through as you meticulously record information and data on young people, volunteers, or partners. It's all about ensuring that each step of their journey is accurately documented in our systems and aligns perfectly with the requirements of our funding contracts and is at the forefront of championing Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion. Your sheer enthusiasm and commitment will ignite some transformative action, sparking real change as we put those local plans into play and excel in achieving our EDI goals!

Do you have the creativity to facilitate best practice sharing, energise networking sessions, and throw sensational end-of-programme parties? Are you ready to step up and lead sessions with young people when the moment calls? Having a background in education or an understanding of the education system could be an advantage when joining some of our teams, it's like having an ace up your sleeve, whether you're familiar with the intricacies of the school year or you've walked in the shoes of a teacher.

If you are a strong communicator with sharp problem-solving skills and can transform ordinary moments into unforgettable events, you could be just the person we are looking for.

Expect the unexpected and embrace it. Come and be a part of our mission!

What happens next?  

Please submit a CV, and Cover Letter that includes your experience, transferrable skills and motivation to work for The King's Trust! The Team will be in touch about the next steps shortly after the closing date. 

Why do we need Youth Development Leads? 

Last year, we helped more than 40,000 Young People, with every three in four moving into a positive outcome for either work, education or training. Youth Development Leads play a crucial role in supporting young people, no matter the young person's background or current circumstances, to fulfil their full potential. We want to continue having a positive impact on young people’s lives and we couldn’t do this without the important work of Youth Development Leads! 

Perks for working at The Trust! 

• Great holiday package! 30 days annual leave entitlement, plus bank holidays. Office closure on the days between Christmas and New Year 
• Flexible working! Unless the location of the role is remote, the Youth Development Lead role requires a combination of office days and working from home. 
• You can volunteer for and/or attend events – The King's Trust Awards, Pride, active events etc. 
• In-house learning platform! Develop your skills for your career and your role 
• Benefits platform! Everything from health and financial well-being support to discounts on your favourite restaurants, shops and cinemas. 
• Personal development opportunities through our Networks – KT CAN (Cultural Awareness Network), KT GEN (Gender Equality Network), KT DAWN (Disability & Wellbeing Network), and PULSE (LGBTQIA+ Network). 
• Fantastic Family leave! Receive 13 weeks of full pay and 13 weeks of half pay for maternity and adoption leave. Receive 8 weeks of full pay for paternity leave. 
• Interest-free season ticket loans 
• Cycle-to-Work Scheme
• The Trust will contribute 5% of your salary to the Trust Pension Scheme 
• Generous life assurance cover (4 x annual salary) 

WORKING WITH US

The founder and sponsor of the Harris Federation, Lord Harris of Peckham, opened our first school in 1990. We have, over the past thirty years, implemented ideas and initiatives that have transformed the opportunities of pupils from working class and disadvantaged backgrounds. Harris academies are widely recognised as a force for social mobility. We are immensely proud of the role that our alumni are now beginning to play in the world and of what we believe our current generation of pupils will go on to achieve.

We now have over 50 schools educating more than 40,000 young people across London and Essex, and employ over 5,000 staff across our academies and head office. With the majority of our academies located in areas of high socioeconomic disadvantage, a high-quality education is key to the futures of the pupils we serve.

As a provider of employment and education, we value the diversity of our staff and students, and all our staff are equally valued and respected. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment for our students and staff.

Our work will impact many generations to come, and our staff come from all backgrounds and walks of life, coming together to inspire young minds. We promote an inclusive culture that embraces the valuable and enriching contribution that all of our community make. We continue to be proactive in uplifting and supporting all voices at Harris.

To discover more about our culture, ethos and what it is like to work here, visit the page.

ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY

We are seeking an organised, proactive and professional Personal Assistant to provide high-level support to the Director of Secondary Education at the Harris Federation. This 1-year fixed-term maternity cover role is central to ensuring the smooth running of the Director’s day-to-day operations, including diary management, stakeholder communication, meeting coordination and the preparation of key documents.

As part of our Head Office team, you will work closely with senior leaders and colleagues across our secondary academies, playing an important role in supporting the Federation’s mission to deliver an outstanding education for thousands of young people. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment, demonstrates exceptional attention to detail, and enjoys building strong, professional relationships.

MAIN AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

Your responsibilities will include:

• To present the professional and welcoming face of the Harris Federation and all secondary academies, to all visitors, staff and students, in person and on the telephone.
• To ensure that the Director’s diary is managed efficiently and effectively. This will involve liaising with a variety of external and internal stakeholders.
• To provide a daily/weekly diary and documentation and maintain an overview of approaching deadlines.
• To maintain the Director’s contacts.
• To maintain an exemplary professional environment for the Director at all times.
• To ensure that all visitors are welcomed and catered for in a professional manner, organising refreshments as appropriate.
• To exercise complete discretion when dealing with issues of confidentiality and sensitivity.
• To take all telephone calls, in the first instance, dealing with queries, passing on calls if necessary.
• To keep the Director’s meetings file and retrieve necessary paperwork as and when meetings arise.
• To be responsible for organising meetings and passing on messages between all stakeholders, parents/carers, external agencies and students and the Director.
• To liaise with clerks to Governors to ensure that all relevant paperwork and correspondence is efficiently managed for all the secondary academies.
• To support the Director with the preparation of paperwork and presentations for a range of meetings including interviews, disciplinary hearings, grievances, performance management, presentations, training sessions etc.
• To liaise with Federation admin teams, Data, HR, IT and Finance Business Managers, as well as PAs and Principals across the Federation as appropriate.

For a full list of responsibilities, please download the Job Pack.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We would like to hear from you if you have:

• Appropriate degree or equivalent experience in previous roles
• Trained in the use of a variety of ICT packages
• Knowledge of personal assistant roles and responsibilities
• Training in typing and formatting of a variety of documents including spreadsheets
• Experience of managing staff in relation to the PA role
• Some experience of human resources e.g. recruitment and/or monitoring attendance
• Experience of working to targets and deadlines
• Experience of managing meetings including preparation and circulation of papers, minutes and ensuring information is circulated as required
• Ability to communicate well both orally and in writing
• Ability to work to deadlines
• Ability to be flexible
• Ability to communicate exceptionally well with parents and carers as well as other stakeholders in the academy

For a full job specification, please download the Job Pack.

APPLYING FOR THIS POSITION

If you would like to discuss the opportunity further, or if you have any questions, please contact us via email to arrange a conversation.

Before applying please ensure you download the job pack from our careers website, this will help with completing your application. Please note that we only accept applications submitted online before the closing date.

When applying, you will have the option to import your CV or use a LinkedIn profile which will auto populate the online application.

A reminder to check your junk mail for our email communications and add us to your safe senders list to ensure all future email communication is received.

OUR VISION & VALUES

Our vision, from the start, has been to provide the structure and services needed for our schools to amount to more than the sum of their parts, and to free-up our teachers and leaders to focus on one thing and one thing only: the outstanding education of all their pupils. Our young people and communities are at the heart of everything we do. Our core mission has always been to close the educational gap between young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and their peers. Our ambition is one where every child in London, no matter their background, has equal access to high quality education, giving them the same opportunities and potential to succeed.

We know there are many challenges facing our young people and the communities we serve, and that’s why we need determined people like you to help us tackle those inequalities. Whilst each of our academies has their own unique cultures and values; as a whole Federation, we have four core values which are central to successfully achieving our vision: Excellence, Collaboration, Support, and Innovation. We are proud of our values because they guide us in how we work allowing us to achieve the best possible outcomes for our young people, communities, and colleagues.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Safeguarding Notice

The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, references, an online search, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed.

Equal Opportunities

The Harris Federation is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates. We value the diversity of our staff and students, and everyone at the Harris Federation is equally valued and respected. We aim to be an inclusive employer that reflects the communities we serve. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

Harris has a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with support, coaching, mentoring, and a wide range of top-quality training programmes delivered at every level.

You will also have access to a variety of benefits, support programmes and initiatives including:

• Excellent opportunities for continuous professional development and career progression
• Annual performance and loyalty bonus
• Pension scheme (Teachers' Pension Scheme or Local Government Pension Scheme) with generous employer contribution
• 26 days' annual leave (inclusive of our Christmas Eve closure day) plus bank holidays, rising to 27 days after 2 years' service, or equivalent for staff on term time contracts
• Harris Wellbeing Cash Plan including cover for routine and specialist healthcare
• Employee Assistance Programme for free and confidential advice
• Cycle to work salary sacrifice scheme
• Wide range of shopping, leisure, and travel discounts
• 20% off at Tapi Carpets, exclusive to Harris employees
• Interest-free ICT and season ticket loans

For most non-teaching staff based at our Head Office in East Croydon, we also offer lifestyle friendly working arrangements including flexible start and end times, and hybrid working with two days from home and three days on site.