Director of external affairs jobs

This is an exciting opportunity for someone with excellent strategic, analytical and leadership skills to join Impetus as an Investment Director and support us in our mission to transform the lives of young people.

The Investment Director (ID) is a key member of the Investment Team, playing a leading role in identifying, assessing, and supporting portfolio partner charities and other non-profit organisations to deepen their impact and scale their outcomes. This role works closely with other Investment Directors and Investment Managers to deliver external facing support to portfolio partners as well as internal projects to support the development of the investment model and portfolio strategy.

Investment Directors use strategic thinking, analytical rigour, and senior relationship skills to support a portfolio of amazing organisations that, together, will help shift the life chances and outcomes of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds in the UK.

About the Investment Team

The Investment Team is responsible for selecting portfolio partners, managing our charity investments and supporting our portfolio partners to improve and scale their impact.

The Investment Team also leads the Impetus Leadership Academy, a leadership development programme to support talent from ethnic minority backgrounds in the UK youth sector to progress into senior leadership roles.

The team is made up of 18 people, including former teachers, charity chief executives, charity impact leads, management consultants, social investment portfolio managers and impact consultants.  

The team is led by a Portfolio Director who sits on the Senior Management Team. The Portfolio Director has 5 direct reports: a Deputy Portfolio Director, three Sector Leads (who lead our work in School engagement, School attainment and Employment Sectors) and an Impact Lead. Sector Leads line manage 6 Investment Directors. Investment Directors line manage Investment Managers (currently 5). Investment Directors and Investment Managers tend to primarily focus on a sector but might have mixed portfolios, depending on need, experience and interest.

The Investment Team has a good track record of role progression. All four Leads and a number of our Investment Directors were promoted from within the team.

The team is passionate, rigorous, determined, creative and warm. We come from a range of backgrounds and bring a broad mix of perspectives.  We care deeply for our colleagues, our portfolio partners and the young people we serve.

About this role

We believe that all young people deserve to succeed in school and in work, whatever their background. As we enter a challenging time with rising inflation and a likely recession, our work feels more vital than ever before. We are pleased to be able to expand our team to support our growing portfolio of charity and non-profit partners, in order to reach and impact more lives. The role of Investment Director presents an exciting opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the charities we serve, the team itself and the whole of Impetus.  

Key responsibilities

Finding high potential charities and non-profit partners for our portfolio

• Identifying potential charitable organisations for investment 
• Leading in-depth due diligence process within the scope of a grant round, to assess and build partnership foundations with potential partners – covering leadership and governance, and their impact, scale, and partnership potential; 
• Modelling from first contact of origination, our approach to engaged and trust-based investment management support;
• Developing and presenting high quality investment propositions to our Investment Committee.

Managing partnerships with portfolio partners

• Managing relationships with partner Chairs and CEOs 
• Agreeing Service Funding Agreements, including appropriate annual investment milestones to allow for a clear assessment of re-investment potential at end of phase 
• Regularly monitoring and assessing partner progress / risks against milestones and making evidence-based recommendations on progression or exit to Leads, Portfolio Director and the Investment Committee
• Escalating key risks on performance, leadership and safeguarding 
• Conducting annual partnership review with Sector Leads and partner CEOs
• Working with Impetus Finance colleagues to ensure timely distribution of grant payments, in line with Service Funding Agreements. 

Supporting portfolio partners 

• Providing direct support to CEOs and senior colleagues on key strategic topics, using a mix of at least monthly one-to-one meetings and group facilitation to:
  • clarify theory of change,
  • define long term ambition,
  • develop growth strategy
  • achieve a step change in the delivery and performance management of outcomes,
  • strengthen leadership (individual and collective) and governance capabilities,
  • develop path to scale,
  • build financial resilience;
• Scoping and project managing pro bono capacity-building projects (in addition to providing direct management support). Ensure projects are delivered to a high standard and contribute to charity progression;
• Identifying engagement opportunities for our donors and supporters with portfolio partners that are aligned with the partner’s activities and do not distract or undermine their core work;
• Collaborating with the Impetus Philanthropy team to support the development of additional funding opportunities for portfolio partners, enhancing their ability to deliver impact at scale;
• Effectively leveraging the support of investment managers to advance the objectives developed for each portfolio partner that is managed by an Investment Director.

Support to Impetus

• Developing expertise about “what works” in the sector through cultivation and use of expert input and engagement as well as investigation into key research and evaluative literature;
• Contributing insights and learning from portfolio work to inform Impetus’ strategy, model and delivery;
• Contributing to internal priorities and working groups (e.g. team strategy discussions, digital improvement initiatives, or equity, diversity, and inclusion)
• Contribute towards Impetus’ public affairs and philanthropy objectives through input into case studies, research and policy campaigns, donor reports and fundraising events
• Sharing the learning from our work across the team, across the organisation and externally working within Impetus strategy and agreed forums
• Engaging in Impetus pro bono, communications, and advocacy events, and engage portfolio partners appropriately in these events.
• Where appropriate, line-managing and supporting Investment Managers on the team to grow and develop, and achieve their project, role and team objectives.

Person specification

Essential

• A commitment to Impetus’ mission.
• Senior level responsibility and a strong track record of building trust-based relationships with senior stakeholders, advising them on key strategic decisions, and challenging them in a respectful and collaborative manner.
• A talent for strategic thinking around complex issues.
• Strong financial acumen and analytical skills.
• Understanding of impact measurement and evaluation fundamentals.
• Tenacity and initiative.
• Ability to flex personal style to needs of charity and leadership.
• Growth mind-set to seek out and act on feedback.
• Proven ability to work independently, and to exercise good judgment.
• Strong planning and time management skills.
• Interest in partnering closely with charities that are doing what it takes to get better.
• A commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.

If you don't tick all these boxes, but still feel that you fit the profile, please apply anyway.

Desirable

• Experience in the non-profit (charity or social enterprise) sector, through work, as a pro-bono volunteer or Trustee capacity.
• Experience in consulting, investment management, senior charity management, or other in-depth grant making and advisory work.
• Knowledge and expertise in UK education or youth employability sectors.
• Board experience in private, public or third sector.
• Understanding of or experience with commissioning impact evaluations.

Job Title: Public Affairs & Policy Lead – Devolved Nations

Job Type: 12-month contract

Hours: 21 hours/ week

Department: External Affairs

Salary: Pro rata £22,173 – £23,205 (FTE £36,955 - £38,509)

Reports to: Director of External Affairs

Location: Hybrid – COSRH Office (London Bridge), home working. For anyone wishing to work remotely in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, home working with occasional travel to London will also be considered. Generally, travel to Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and where applicable, London, should be assumed to occur at least 12 times a year in total.

The role:

The Policy and Public Affairs Lead for Devolved Nations will drive CoSRH’s engagement and policy work in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. This key strategic liaison role will support the Director of External Affairs in enabling delivery of the CoSRH’s Hatfield Vision across all UK nations, and in supporting CoSRH members and interests in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

For this new role, we are seeking an experienced and forward-looking individual interested in developing the strategic and influencing work of CoSRH in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and in ensuring that CoSRH represents members and their interests across the UK.

Who we are:

The College of Sexual and Reproductive (CoSRH) is the leader in the field of sexual and reproductive healthcare, and we are the voice for professionals working in this area. As a multi-disciplinary professional membership organisation, we set clinical guidance and standards, provide training and lifelong education, and champion safe and effective sexual and reproductive healthcare across the life course for all. 

Key tasks:

 a. Stakeholder engagement:

• Lead CoSRH’s stakeholder engagement programme in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales - influencing policy debate, contributing to building internal capacity on devolved and regional issues, and in building key relationships.
• Collaborate with colleagues across CoSRH to develop and deliver a strategic programme of engagement across Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, ensuring that the work of member committees in devolved nations feeds into wider CoSRH activity, inclusive of the Hatfield Vision, and that the CoSRH President maintains appropriate oversight at Taskforce level. 
• Manage internal and external relationships with key individuals and organisations including parliamentarians, civil servants and policymakers in the devolved governments of Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales; staff and member representatives of sister organisations like British Association for Sexual Health and HIV  and Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists, and nation-specific networks and collaborative groups such as Cross-Party Group for Women’s Health in Scotland, and Women’s Health Wales.
• Develop, deliver, and evaluate plans for specific areas of policy and stakeholder engagement work, including influencing decision-makers, building, and strengthening support among key regional and national stakeholders in the devolved nations.
• Working in collaboration with the Director of External Affairs and Chairs of the CoSRH Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland Committees, to represent CoSRH at a variety of conferences, meetings, and events across the three devolved nations.

b. Policy, Public Affairs & Partnership Building

• Monitor the external environment for issues that may impact on SRH, and help identify, analyse and grasp opportunities to influence policy and public opinion relevant to CoSRH’s work within the three devolved nations, outlining CoSRH’s position/response to policy and public opinion developments.
• Develop and oversee the effective monitoring of parliamentary activity in the devolved nations in relation to sexual and reproductive healthcare and related interests.
• Produce policy briefings for the organisation’s leadership including President, Officers and CEO as relevant.
• Advise on, assimilate evidence for and produce responses to external consultations issued by Government departments and other relevant agencies across the three devolved nations, consulting with members and drawing on relevant policy documents.
• Engage with CoSRH members, policy makers and the public across the three devolved nations including supporting the CoSRH Media and Communications Manager role where necessary, helping with media and social media output.

c. Committee support

• Work with the CoSRH External Affairs & Membership & Engagement Teams to provide secretariat support as required to CoSRH’s member committees in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
• As required, work with the CoSRH External Affairs & Membership & Engagement Teams as well as devolved nation chairs to develop and implement meetings and their agendas, record actions and discuss strategic approaches to the delivery of actions with relevant leaders. 
• As required, work with the CoSRH External Affairs & Membership & Engagement Teams  to ensure that the work of member committees in devolved nations feeds into wider CoSRH activity, inclusive of the Hatfield Vision, and that the CoSRH President maintains appropriate oversight at Hatfield Vision Taskforce level. 

Key skills and attributes

 Essential:

• Proven public policy experience, ideally within the health sector, with a good understanding of devolved policymaking and influencing opportunities.
• Knowledge of the healthcare systems across the three devolved nations.
• Experience in developing relationships with a broad range of stakeholders, including developing partnerships for collaboration on joint initiatives, projects and/or events, in order to deliver organisational impact.
• Demonstrable experience of drafting clear and engaging briefings and policy submissions, tailored to different audiences.
• Ability to work proactively and independently supporting colleagues in nations as well as part of a broader team function.
• Demonstrable evidence of supporting the delivery of business priorities and delivering stakeholder engagement plans.
• Ability to manage a varied workload with flexibility and adaptability.
• Ability to quickly grasp complex issues and provide analysis.
• Outstanding attention to detail
• Excellent prioritisation and time-management skills.

Desirable:

• Experience of working in charity and/or membership organisation.
• Experience of organising parliamentary or stakeholder events.
• Knowledge of sexual & reproductive healthcare policy.

Join our team and contribute to the exciting work of the External Affairs team - influencing policy and practice through evidence-based advocacy as well as raising awareness of SRH among our partners, members and the wider public across the UK.

A flexible approach to working hours is necessary as there are some evening meetings in various locations and, with occasional travel possibility elsewhere in the UK, although many of them take place virtually.

 NB:  In order to fulfil this role you should be resident in the UK with a valid right to work; we are unable to sponsor people requiring a work visa.

We will offer you:

We offer a range of benefits at CoSRH to support staff wellbeing, including:

• 25 days holiday, with an additional 2 days leave after 2 years of service, and a further 3 days after 5 years.
• Birthday leave
• Flexible working culture
• Pension and life assurance scheme: 10% employer contribution / 5% employee contribution after successful completion of probation. This also includes access to life assurance at 4x annual salary and an income protection scheme.
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• Employee discounts portal
• Free Lunch Thursday
• Enhanced maternity, paternity & adoption pay
• Free eye tests
• ­Training and development

To Apply

To apply please follow this link – Public Affairs & Policy Lead – Devolved Nations job - Hybrid - College of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare

Deadline for applications is 15 February 2026 at 12pm

Interviews are likely to take place w/c 2 March 2026

We want you to have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills, ability and potential; please contact us if you require any assistance or adjustment so that we can help with making the application process work for you.

We value diversity, promote equality and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We are working hard to minimise unconscious bias and your application will be anonymised to support this.

NB:  In order to fulfil this role you should be resident in the UK with a valid right to work; we are unable to sponsor people requiring a work visa.

Right now, millions of people across the UK are living with financial insecurity. Parents are choosing between heating and food. People who fall ill find themselves unable to work and without support. Countless others lie awake at night worrying about bills they cannot pay. At Turn2us, we believe none of us should have to face these challenges alone - and we exist to change the systems that allow them to persist.

Turn2us is working towards a future where everyone in the UK has financial security so they can thrive. We combine direct support and innovative digital tools, such as our online Benefits Calculator and PIP Helper, with influencing, policy and systems change. Across our organisation, colleagues bring deep expertise, compassion and ambition, united by a shared belief that financial hardship is not a personal failing, but a systemic issue that can and must be changed.

The Income & External Affairs Directorate plays a critical role in making this vision a reality. Through relationship-led fundraising, commercial partnerships, communications, and policy and influencing work, the directorate ensures Turn2us has the resources, profile and voice needed to maximise our impact. It connects our work with the people, organisations and institutions that can help drive lasting change. While we have built strong momentum and significant partnerships in recent years, we know there is far more potential to realise.

As Director of Income & External Affairs, you will be a key member of our Leadership Team, working closely with colleagues across the charity and with our Board. You will lead the growth of sustainable income, develop powerful and values-led partnerships, strengthen our public voice, and help shape a policy and advocacy agenda grounded in the experiences of people facing financial hardship. You will also play a vital role in building trust, credibility and influence across sectors to help shift the systems that keep people locked in financial insecurity.

We are looking for an exceptional and values-driven leader with a strong track record in relationship-based income generation, partnerships and influence. This experience may come from the charity sector or a commercial environment. We are not seeking a specific career path or background; instead, we actively welcome applications from people who bring new perspectives, transferable skills and different ways of thinking. What matters most is a deep commitment to our purpose, a willingness to learn and the confidence to lead with curiosity and humility.

This role calls for persuasive leadership, emotional intelligence and the ability to build trust across diverse teams and stakeholders. You will thrive if you enjoy working collaboratively, sharing power and leading in a way that is inclusive, supportive and ambitious.

This is a genuinely exciting and critical role - for our staff, our partners, and most importantly, for the people we exist to serve. We are particularly keen to hear from people with lived experience of financial insecurity. If you share our values and feel inspired by our vision of a more just and financially secure society, we would love to hear from you.

To download a full copy of the candidate brief and learn more about the role, please click the ‘Apply’ button, where you will be redirected to the website of our recruitment partner, Tall Roots. Applications should include a CV and covering letter. If you would like an informal discussion about the role, please email Mark Crowley at Tall Roots.

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.

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic is now seeking an exceptional and visionary Director of Development to lead its fundraising at a pivotal moment in its evolution. This newly created senior role reflects a step change in ambition as the organisation embarks on an exciting new chapter of growth, partnership and global profile. Reporting to the Chief Executive and sitting on the Executive Team, the Director of Development will inspire and lead a talented development team while playing a central role in shaping the organisation’s future direction. You will spearhead major fundraising initiatives, including a landmark capital campaign to realise plans for a new recording, rehearsal and creative centre — envisaged as an “Abbey Road of the North” — designed to support future talent, innovation and the wider creative economy of the Liverpool City Region. Alongside this, you will help secure the long-term success of Royal Liverpool Philharmonic’s award-winning artistic, learning and community programmes.

The successful candidate will be a dynamic, relationship-driven leader with a strong track record of securing transformational income within complex, mission-led organisations. You will bring strategic vision, deep knowledge of the philanthropic landscape, and the confidence to unlock new sources of support from individuals, trusts, foundations and corporate partners. Crucially, you will play a leading role in articulating a clear, compelling and cohesive external narrative for Royal Liverpool Philharmonic — one that brings together its heritage, ambition, social impact and future aspirations — and ensure this story resonates powerfully with funders, partners, civic leaders and audiences. Passionate about music and culture, you will be an inspiring leader, a trusted advisor to the Board and Executive, and a persuasive ambassador for an organisation that exists to enhance and transform lives through music.

The Difference is an education charity, founded to change the story on lost learning. Our vision is to see lost learning falling nationally by 2030 and for schools to be better equipped to support all children, particularly those most vulnerable.

Leading national policy strategy

As Head of Policy and Public Affairs, you will work closely with the CEO to develop and execute a four-year influencing plan.  Together we’ll aim to shift local and national incentives on inclusion by 2030, which see the national trend of rising suspension and absence begin to fall. 

You will hold relationships with the Department for Education and Ofsted and advise on policy priorities ahead, such as:

• Widening the definition of inclusion beyond special needs, recognising the needs of those young people historically or currently interacting with social services

• Reducing perverse incentives for schools to alter their school roll through admissions and pupil exits

• Expectations for multi-academy trusts in capturing and analysing data on lost learning, including how it disproportionately affects different groups

• Improving local alternative provision eco-systems, to improve outcomes for young people

• National standards for inclusive school practice, at a universal and targeted level

• Professional development standards for school inclusion

Developing implementation expertise in the middle tier

In your first six months, you will advise on the internal development of a new programme for middle tier policy actors: multi-academy trust and local authority leaders.  You will support the Programme team in its design, to plan strategically for the recruitment of trusts and local authorities, and you will plan the research and influencing work which will seek to share their success nationally.

Building the evidence base

In your second six months, you will work with the CEO to build out our research function. Your influencing plan will include how The Difference can learn from the work across our multi-academy trust, local authority and internal AP pioneer partners over the next four years, to develop influential publications. Research work ahead will include publishing sector-facing publications of The Difference’s own research, carried out by our research lead and associates; alongside managing external contractors and internal colleagues to bid for and deliver aligned research disseminating our ideas.

Raising your voice

This is an exciting opportunity for someone committed to inclusive policy change. The Difference has always punched above our weight in national and sector press reach. In post,  you will publish blogs and comment pieces, disseminating our shared ideas.  You will be a prominent voice on inclusion.

The Difference is still a small and growing charity. This means that our work is fast-paced, our roles are broad, and there is a culture of being highly autonomous, reactive and flexible, as the needs of the organisation evolve. If this sounds exciting rather than daunting, then this could be the role and team for you!

The Role
This is an exciting time to join The Difference as we increase our impact, reach more schools, and develop our influencing strategy. As Head of Policy and Public Affairs you will: 

Design and execute an impactful influencing plan 

• Design an influencing plan - Identify via horizon scanning opportunities to influence national policy using open policy windows, or by nudging/creating new ones. 

• Execute an influencing plan - Utilise own assets and assets across the organisation, including the Director team, to deliver against the influencing plan.

• Relationship building - Build highly credible and impactful relationships with a variety of stakeholders who hold power. This will include policy makers in national governments, local government officials, politicians, other third sector organisations and think tanks. 

• Leadership - Play a significant role internally and externally in communicating the organisation’s policy position, raising organisational and own brand.

Build policy capacity and credibility across the organisation

• Policy positions and solutions- Use the concepts, work and experience of The Difference’s programmes to develop new, and refine existing, national policy positions to shift incentives. 

• Thought leadership - Be the organisation’s education policy and political expert. 

• Generating income - Use own and team’s expertise and credibility to generate income via speaking engagements and consultancy to support the organisation’s financial sustainability. 

Person Specification

Essential – We are looking for someone with the following knowledge, experience and skills, though you may be stronger in some areas than others:

• Deep expertise in education policy, particularly on the topic of lost learning and the various policy and political debates, including areas of controversy, surrounding this policy topic. 

• Strategic thinker with a proven track record in identifying policy windows and designing activities that lead to meaningful national policy change. 

• Excellent relationship builder, who brings with them their own network of influential stakeholders and has a plan for building new relationships. Adept at navigating tricky situations and explaining complex, sometimes difficult, messages.

• Expert convener with a strong knowledge of the education sector, including which schools, trusts and local authorities are influential and experience in bringing a variety of perspectives together to generate consensus. 

• Persuasive and clear writing style for publication, including reports, press, blogs and ghost writing for members of the senior leadership team, often based on consensus positions, and designed to communicate key messages for impact. 

• Confidence and credibility in communicating nuanced messages in a contentious landscape, in writing, verbally and in public (e.g. on panels), to raise the profile of The Difference. 

• Strong project manager who can design systems and processes to keep self, team and other stakeholders on task and on time. Experience of designing programmes of work and monitoring their effectiveness. Flexible project management style that can adapt to a changing environment. Confidence in managing a variety of stakeholders and supporting them to deliver on time. 

Desired – You are more likely to be successful in your application if you have one or more of the following: 

• Familiarity with The Difference’s programmatic work, theory and practice. 

• Lived experience or insight into the school experiences of marginalised young people (e.g. those with experience of the care system, mental ill health, special educational needs, exclusion, and racism).

We know that some people, especially those from marginalised backgrounds, may hesitate to apply unless they meet every listed requirement. If this role excites you and you believe you could make a strong contribution, we warmly encourage you to apply. 
We actively welcome applications from people whose backgrounds are under-represented in the charity sector, including but not limited to: people from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, LGBTQ+ people, people with disabilities, people with experience in the case system, non-graduates and first-in-family graduates.

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.

Animal Free Research UK is the leading charity working to create a world where human diseases are cured faster without animal suffering. By pioneering excellence, inspiring and supporting scientists and influencing change, we are ending the use of animals and improving medical research.

We are looking for a Media & PR Manager to play a pivotal role in shaping our public profile, strengthening our reputation and helping to change how the world talks about medical research.

This is a managerial role that will:

• lead the development and delivery of high-impact PR and media activity aligned with organisational priorities
• position Animal Free Research UK as a trusted and authoritative voice across science, policy and public debate
• build strong relationships with journalists, broadcasters, influencers and external advocates
• secure sustained, high-quality coverage across national, sector and digital media
• lead on issues management, reactive media and crisis communications in sensitive or high-profile contexts
• work closely with digital and engagement colleagues to align media, social and campaign activity
• use insight and performance data to strengthen impact and inform future strategy

You will work closely with colleagues across the charity to ensure our media and public narrative supports scientific credibility, policy influence and public engagement at a critical moment for animal-free research.

About You

We are looking for someone who brings:

• demonstrable success in securing high-impact media coverage across national, broadcast and digital channels
• experience building trusted relationships with journalists, influencers and senior stakeholders
• strong copywriting and editing skills, with the ability to translate complex scientific or policy issues into compelling stories
• confidence operating in high-profile, fast-moving or sensitive media environments
• a strategic mindset with the ability to deliver tactically under pressure
• a deep commitment to animal protection, scientific integrity and the mission of Animal Free Research UK

A background in science or biomedical research is welcomed but not essential if you can demonstrate the ability to engage credibly with complex evidence and policy.

How to Apply

We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds. If you are unsure whether you meet all the criteria, we encourage you to apply anyway.

We recognise that people use AI tools in many contexts. For this application, please ensure your submission reflects your own specific experience and insights. We use follow-up questions at interview to confirm authenticity.

If you require any reasonable adjustments to take part in the application or interview process, please let us know when you apply or contact us via email.

To apply, please submit a CV and cover letter explaining how you meet the person specification and requirements of the role. 

Closing date: Monday 9 February 2026, 5pm
First-round interviews: Thursday 12 February 2026 (via Microsoft Teams)
Second-round interviews: Monday 23 February 2026 (via Microsoft Teams)

The Head of Advocacy, Awareness and External Relations is a senior leadership role within AtaLoss, working closely with and reporting directly to the CEO. The post-holder will lead work across the public, bereavement and commercial sectors to deliver AtaLoss’ strategic outcomes by:

• providing national leadership in bereavement awareness, advocacy and policy influence, including through Parliament, the APPG and the media
• strengthening the website as the UK’s trusted gateway for bereavement support, ensuring accessible, high-quality content and effective signposting
• enabling holistic bereavement support in communities and workplaces through partnership development, training and the growth of Bereavement Friendly Communities
• contributing to organisational sustainability through income-generating training, cross-sector partnerships and effective external engagement.

The role sits at the heart of AtaLoss’ mission to ensure that every bereaved person can access the right support at the right time, and to position bereavement as a public health issue requiring timely, coordinated and understanding response.

L&W is growing our research team and looking for a Head of Research to lead innovative, impactful research and evaluation projects across our focus areas of employment and skills.

This role will expand our capacity to win and deliver evaluation and qualitative research, while strengthening our methodological capability. We’re open-minded about what that means—but we want people who can go beyond standard process evaluations and basic qualitative approaches. You might have experience mapping and evaluating complex system-level change, applying realist evaluation methods, or developing co-design and participatory research projects. You will have have applied these while working alongside the practitioners and policymakers who need these insights to make decisions.

You will join a team that is enthusiastic about learning and improving, and a peer group of experienced qualitative and quantitative research leaders who you will work alongside.

If you have research consultancy experience and want to join a purpose-driven organisation that delivers real impact locally and nationally, we’d love to hear from you. But you might come from a different professional background and still meet our criteria. 

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:£45,650-£59,080 per annum (pro rata), dependent on experience and location

Duration:Permanent

Working hours:0.6 to 1 FTE, with flexible working supported (eg, condensed hours, flexible start and finish times

Main Purpose

The Head of Research: Evaluation and Qualitative Methods is a new post for L&W – as we seek to deepen our capability and expand our capacity.

The post-holder will direct research projects across all of our areas of work, providing specific leadership and expertise in programme and system-level evaluations, and projects mobilising innovative or advanced qualitative methods (such as system mapping, co-design methods, ethnographic methods, creative methods and/or theory-based/realist evaluation).

They will work with the Head of Research: Employment and Better Work to develop the wider qualitative and evaluative skills of the wider research team.

They will also play a key role in leading and writing responding to tenders and working with colleagues to develop pro-active research proposals that fill key evidence gaps and respond to the interests of our funders. They will be a good relationship manager – who can understand what commissioners are interested in, and shape projects to deliver meaningful insights that solve the problems practitioners and policymakers face across employment and skills.

Duties and Responsibilities

Leadership and management

• Line manage members of the R&D team
• Co-lead the qualitative methods group at L&W: supporting the wider research team to develop their skills. 

Income

• Write and contribute to reactive and proactive funding proposals across L&W’s areas of work, with a specific focus on process and theory-based evaluations, and proposals using advanced/innovative qualitative methods
• Build relationships with current and potential funders
• Identify and build relationships with research partners

Impact

• Ensure that all projects under their direction generate meaningful insights and recommendations that respond to the real-world concerns and challenges faced by practitioners and policymakers
• Communicate insights clearly and effectively to funders and other stakeholders

Delivery

• Act as Project Director for research and evaluation projects: liaising with funders; shaping research proposals and plans; supporting project managers; leading project meetings; ensuring project margins are delivered effectively; carrying out research directly where appropriate
• Work with External Affairs team to develop appropriate comms and influencing plans for projects under your direction
• Use your research skills and experience to support the wider development of the Learning and Work team

Person Specification 

Expericence 

Experience of delivering and directing high-quality programmes evaluation and policy-relevant research: shaping research plans, working with funders and delivering meaningful insights -Essential 

Experience of responding to research and evaluation tenders and writing proposals. -Essential 

Experience of managing, supporting and developing researchers and research managers -Essential 

Experience of carrying out research and evaluation in the areas of employment and skills -Desirable

Skills

Advanced qualitative evaluation and research skills, eg. One or more of theory-based evaluation, ethnographic methods, creative/art-based methods, co-design methods, system-level evaluation -Essential 

Effective and efficient relationship management -Essential 

Clear and direct written communication style -Essential 

Knowledge

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

Demonstrable knowledge in the areas of employment and skills policy and practice -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.

Company Description

Marie Curie is the UK’s leading end of life charity. We are the largest non-NHS provider of end of life care in the UK, the only provider across all 4 nations, delivering nursing and hospice care in the community and in hospital, while providing information and support on all aspects of dying, death, and bereavement. Our leading research pushes the boundaries of what we know about good end of life, and our campaigns fight for a world where everyone gets to have the best possible quality of life while living with an illness that cannot be cured. 

Job Description

The PR & Media team raises awareness of who we are, what we do, and the impact Marie Curie has through local and national broadcast, print and online media. This team also looks after our work with high profile supporters and celebrity ambassadors. 

The National PR Lead will be responsible for the successful delivery of Public Relations and Media strategies to support a designated portfolio of work. You will play a vital role in leading priority PR workstreams. Your expertise will ensure we use the most effective PR tactics to meet team and organisational goals. You will also leave your impact on major policy campaigns, including high-profile initiatives such as Dying in Poverty and Fix End of Life Care.

You will be responsible for: 

• Delivering PR and media strategies for specific portfolios, leading priority workstreams, and ensuring effective tactics to meet campaign and organisational goals.
• Leading PR strategy development, execution, and evaluation to increase brand recognition and media reach; managing campaign objectives and sharing insights for continuous improvement.
• Identifying, training, and briefing spokespeople including senior staff.
• Managing reactive news and news desk functions to stay ahead of media agendas.
• Maintaining strong media relationships, ensuring consistent key message delivery, and advising on reputational risks and issues.
• Line management and development for two National Media & PR Officers.

Key Criteria:

• Established experience in a similar PR position, managing a news desk or a press office.  
• Experience working in a large, complex, face paced environment.
• Excellent understanding and experience working with national media (broadcast, print, online, podcasts etc).
• Proven experience landing national news stories, broadcast coverage, features, op-eds and reactive media opportunities.
• Line management or mentoring experience and the ability to lead teams.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to work with stakeholders of all levels.
• Experience or familiarity with healthcare policy and public affairs and understanding of political landscape will be an asset.
• Ability to work unsociable hours.

Please see the full job description.

Additional Information

Application & Interview Process 

• As part of your online application, you will be asked for a CV and supplementary details. Please review both the advert and job description and outline your most relevant skills, experience and knowledge for the role.
• Close date for applications: 15 Feb 2026. We encourage early applications as we may close the job advert sooner, upon receiving a sufficient number of applications.

Salary: £36,900-41,000 per annum depending on experience (+3,500 London Weighting Allowance if applicable + out of hours allowance)

Contract: Permanent, full-time (35h per week)

Based: Hybrid role with 1-2 days per week from our London office in Embassy Gardens

Benefits you’ll LOVE:

• Flexible working. We’re happy to discuss flexible working at the interview stage.
• 25 days annual leave (exclusive of Bank Holidays)
• Marie Curie Group Personal Pension Scheme (we will match your contribution up to 7.5%)
• Loan schemes for bikes; computers and season tickets
• Continuous professional development opportunities.
• Industry-leading training programmes
• Wellbeing and Employee Assistance Programmes
• Enhanced bereavement, family friendly and sickness benefits
• Access to Blue Light Card membership
• Subsidised Eye Care

At Marie Curie, our values are central to everything we do. They guide how we care for people, how we work together, and how we make decisions every day. We are committed to creating a workplace that is safe for everyone — staff and volunteers alike — supportive, inclusive and rewarding.  We provide care for all, and that commitment extends beyond the people we serve. We actively consider our impact on the planet, embedding sustainability into everyday decisions to create a lasting, positive difference for the individuals we care for and the world we share.

We believe everyone should have the opportunity to thrive and fulfil their potential. Marie Curie is deeply committed to diversity, equity and inclusion, recognising both the social justice imperative and the strength a diverse workforce brings.  We actively encourage applications from people of all cultures, perspectives and lived experiences.

Every application we receive is personally reviewed by a member of our Talent Acquisition team, and in return, we ask that your application authentically reflects you — your experience, perspective and voice.

At Ambitious about Autism, we're currently looking for a Corporate Partnerships Officer (MAT cover) to join our Fundraising team.

You'll identify and cultivate corporate prospects, supporting on securing income through written application and pitches, whilst managing a portfolio of existing corporate partnerships. You'll build and maintain effective relationships to maximise corporate participation with current and prospective supporters.

You'll proactively identify funding opportunities and use your own initiative to make suggestions on our approach and/or suitable funding areas, devising innovative ways of accessing and engaging companies, as well as organising volunteering opportunities for corporate partners.

You will have:

• Experience of working successfully with corporate funders
• Experience of supporter relationship management with a track record in building successful relationships and raising funds from companies.
• Experience in accurate, timely data recording and CRM
• Excellent communication skills with good written and verbal communication.

In return, we offer great benefits including a generous holiday allowance and commitment to continued professional development (CPD), flexible, hybrid working and more!

This is a fantastic opportunity for an ambitious individual who would like to work for a forward-thinking, open and honest organisation and make a real impact to the young people we work with. Please find our full recruitment pack on the link below.

If you have any questions about the role or would like to have a confidential chat, please contact James Axford, Recruitment Officer.

Ambitious about Autism is committed to fostering equity, diversity, and inclusion at every level of our organisation. We warmly welcome applications from all qualified candidates, valuing the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives they bring. We encourage applications from individuals regardless of race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or parental status, disability, or age.

Our recruitment process promotes equal opportunities, and we are committed to providing reasonable adjustments for candidates with disabilities or additional needs throughout the recruitment process. Please contact our Recruitment Team for accommodations. We recognise disability as a physical or mental impairment that significantly and long-term affects a person's ability to perform day-to-day activities, as defined by the UK Equality Act 2010. All applications will be considered solely on merit, aligned with our mission to support autistic children and young people.

Ambitious about Autism is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and successful candidates will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check. As part of our Safer Recruitment checks, an online search maybe carried out in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education.

The Safeguarding responsibilities of the post as per the job description and personal specification.
Whether the post is exempt from the rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendment to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2021. This means that when applying for certain jobs and activities certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected', so they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. Further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS Filter Guidance.

This is an exciting opportunity to get experience with a large and growing charity with an engaged and fun team. You will be a key part of our mission to ​find a cure for all types of brain tumours.​

​Our Systems Manager is being seconded to an internal project for the next 6-9 months and so we are seeking an experienced IT professional to join our team for an interim basis for six months with the possibility of a three month extension.​​​​

In this role you will you lead a team of three people in supporting our staff team of 70 by providing reliable, effective and efficient IT systems and equipment. This include ​the monitoring and maintenance of our IT software and, with external support, our IT hardware. ​​

You will line manage the Database Assistant ​and Data Processing Assistant.

​

​If you are excited to learn more about this position, please take a read through our recruitment pack provided in the advert.

​

If you have the skills and ambition that we are looking for we welcome your application. ​ We are really looking forward to welcoming a new member to our team!​​​

We are asking for a CV as the first step but applicants may be asked to provide a targeted covering letter as part of the selection process. ​

Interviews will be conducted during the application window as appropriate, and will consist of a first interview via MS Teams, progressing, if successful to a face to face second interview, held at our offices in Milton Keynes.​

​

We reserve the right to close the application window early and advise candidates to apply in good time to avoid disappointment.​

We are looking for people who share our passion for finding a cure for brain tumours and who have the skills and experience to make a difference. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, cultures, genders, sexual orientations, abilities, and ages. We believe that diversity enriches our organisation and helps us achieve our mission. We are committed to providing an inclusive and supportive environment where everyone can be themselves and contribute to our vision.

Are you a creative storyteller at heart, passionate about seeing media serve mission?

We’re inviting you to join Springfield Church as our Media Pioneer, playing a key role in our Pioneering Project as we develop pathways to faith on the Roundshaw Estate and support estate churches across the Diocese of Southwark.

In this role, you will create high-quality media, digital learning resources, and engaging content that tells stories of hope, transformation, and discipleship, while helping our pioneering approach reach more people.

The Role

As our Media Pioneer, you will:

• Create high-quality digital content – videos, photography, graphics, online courses, and training modules.

• Write and tell stories of transformation and community life in an accessible and engaging way.

• Apply Springfield’s and the Project’s visual identity consistently across media outputs.

• Support pioneering ministries by working closely with our Pioneer Project Directors and wider team.

• Develop replicable resources for partner estate churches to use in training and digital learning.

• Build and train volunteer teams to sustain creative storytelling across Springfield.

• Manage Springfield’s digital platforms – websites, social media, and media libraries.

Who We’re Looking For

We’re seeking someone who:

• Has excellent storytelling and media production skills (video, photography, graphic design, document layout).

• Can apply visual identities consistently across platforms.

• Is organised, adaptable, and able to manage multiple projects.

• Has a pioneering spirit and a heart for sharing Jesus in creative, culturally relevant ways.

• Is a practising Christian, ideally interested in joining Springfield’s community if possible.

• Experience in estate contexts is desirable but not essential.

Key Details

• Part-time: 2.5 days / 17.5 hours per week

• Salary: £16,000 per annum (£32,000 pro rata)

• Contract: Fixed term, 24 months

• Holiday: 26 days per annum (pro rata) + 8 bank holidays

• 15% employers pension contribution, 1 retreat day per calendar year

• 26 days annual leave per year (pro rata) + 8 bank holidays

• Flexible working (where appropriate)

• Based at Springfield Church, Wallington

Closing Date: 27th February, 11:59pm | Interview Date: 12th March