Director of health jobs in Manchester
How's your job search on our site?
Special Olympics GB is proud to support some of the most inspiring athletes in the world — individuals with intellectual disabilities who compete from local to international levels, breaking down barriers and showing the transformative power of sport both on and off the field of play.
As we enter an exciting new chapter, we are seeking an outstanding Director of Operations to join our Executive Leadership Team. This is a pivotal role for a strategic and values-driven leader who can strengthen our organisation, drive operational excellence and help deliver even greater impact for athletes, families and communities.
Working closely with the Chief Executive, Board and wider movement, you will lead organisational performance across governance, safegaurding, finance, people, systems, planning and delivery, ensuring Special Olympics GB is resilient, ambitious and fit for the future. As Executive Lead for Safeguarding and Welfare, you will champion a culture where the wellbeing, safety and dignity of every athlete remains at the heart of everything we do.
We are looking for someone who:
- Is inspired by the power of sport to transform lives and create more inclusive communities.
- Brings significant senior leadership experience and a track record of organisational development and operational excellence.
- Can translate strategic ambition into effective delivery and sustainable growth.
- Has experience of governance, compliance, finance, risk management and safeguarding.
- Builds strong relationships and partnerships, influencing with credibility and integrity.
- Leads with empathy, accountability and a commitment to inclusion.
The Director of Operations at SOGB is a wide-ranging, key role, reporting to the Chief Executive as a member of the Executive Leadership Team (ELT). Working across the organisation, the Director of Operations manages the operational and support services activities including governance, compliance, HR, business processes, IT, safeguarding, finance and health & safety to ensure that the organisation runs smoothly, efficiently and effectively.
Application Instructions
For Job Role specifics and how to apply please see the below SOGB Director of Operations Recruitment Pack.
The closing date for applications is Friday 4th September 2026 at 9am. There will be a two- stage interview process that will cover both culture/motivators and thematic competencies. Stage 1 interviews will take place week beginning 28th September 2026 and stage 2 will take place week beginning 5th October 2026.
To apply, please send a covering letter (maximum 2 pages) explaining why you wish to apply for the Director of Operations role. It is important that all prospective candidates understand our mission and are driven by our cause. Referring to the role description, please be specific about how your skills and experience will help you undertake this role. Generic applications will not be considered.
We are Special Olympics GB. We are Inclusion in Action.



The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Submit your application as normal and our system will anonymise it for you. Your personal information will be hidden until the recruiter contacts you.
We are entering a period of unprecedented opportunity. Advances in treatment, increasing recognition of the condition, and growing awareness of healthcare inequalities provide a unique chance to strengthen our impact and expand our reach across the UK. Our ambition is bold: to engage and support at least 50% of the UK myasthenia community as members within the next five years, creating a movement that is representative, influential and impossible to ignore.
The successful candidate will lead the development of a thriving national community of people affected by myasthenia, ensuring that individuals and families feel connected, represented and empowered. They will transform community insight into meaningful campaigns, influence policy and healthcare decision-making, and position myaware as the authoritative voice for everyone affected by the condition.
Success in this role will be measured not only by influence and campaigning outcomes, but by the growth, engagement and mobilisation of our community. The Director will play a central role in delivering our ambition to reach, engage and retain 50% of the UK's myasthenia population as members and active supporters within five years, creating a change-maker movement that is representative of our goals.
Key Responsibilities
Community Growth and Engagement
- Contribute towards the development and delivery of a comprehensive membership growth strategy aimed at engaging at least 50% of the UK myasthenia community within five years.
- Build a deep understanding of the patient journey and identify opportunities to connect with people from diagnosis onwards.
- Lead the development of services, programmes and engagement approaches that increase membership recruitment, retention and participation.
- Ensure that people affected by myasthenia are at the heart of all organisational decisions, campaigns and strategic priorities.
- Create pathways for members, volunteers, supporters and ambassadors to actively contribute to myaware's work.
- Use data, insight and market intelligence to measure community reach, identify underserved groups and drive continuous improvement.
Campaigning, Policy and Influence
- Develop and implement a national campaigning and influencing strategy focused on awareness, equity of care, access to treatment and service improvement.
- Position myaware as a leading voice within healthcare, policy and rare disease discussions across the UK.
- Build strategic relationships with parliamentarians, government departments, NHS organisations, Integrated Care Boards, NICE, clinicians, researchers, industry partners and allied charities.
- Lead public affairs activity, including consultation responses, parliamentary engagement, policy briefings and stakeholder events.
- Ensure lived experience evidence informs policy development, healthcare decision-making and treatment access discussions.
Organisational Leadership
- Serve as a member of the Senior Leadership Team and contribute to organisational strategy and performance.
- Foster a culture of innovation, inclusion, collaboration and measurable impact.
- Work closely with fundraising, communications, partnerships, and service delivery colleagues to maximise organisational reach and effectiveness.
Awareness and Public Engagement
- Increase awareness and understanding of myasthenia among healthcare professionals, policymakers, media and the public.
- Lead initiatives that strengthen myaware's visibility, reputation and influence.
- Support the development of compelling campaigns, media activity and storytelling that inspire engagement and drive action.
- To be the spokesperson for myaware.
What Success Looks Like
Within five years, the postholder will have:
- Led significant growth in membership, progressing towards engaging at least 50% of the UK's myasthenia community.
- Increased participation in surveys, campaigns, events, volunteering and lived-experience activities.
- Established myaware as the recognised national voice for people affected by myasthenia.
- Secured meaningful influence in policy, healthcare and treatment access discussions.
- Generated evidence of improvements in awareness, service delivery, treatment access and patient representation.
- Built a highly engaged and empowered community capable of driving change at local, national and system levels.
Person Specification
Essential Experience
- Significant senior leadership experience within the charity, healthcare, membership, public affairs or advocacy sectors.
- Proven success in growing and engaging communities, memberships, movements or supporter bases at scale.
- Experience developing and delivering campaigning, influencing or public affairs strategies that have achieved measurable outcomes.
- Strong track record of building relationships with senior external stakeholders and decision-makers.
- Experience using data, insight and lived experience to shape organisational priorities and influence strategy.
- Experience leading, motivating and developing high-performing teams.
Essential Knowledge and Skills
- Outstanding strategic thinking and leadership abilities.
- Exceptional communication, influencing and relationship-building skills.
- Strong understanding of community mobilisation, supporter engagement and membership growth.
- Ability to translate complex healthcare and policy issues into compelling public narratives and calls to action.
- Strong analytical and performance management skills.
- Commitment to inclusion, co-production and patient-centred approaches.
Personal Attributes
We are looking for someone who is:
- Ambitious about building one of the UK's most engaged rare disease communities.
- Passionate about amplifying the voices of people with lived experience.
- Collaborative and inspiring.
- Politically astute and credible with senior stakeholders.
- Resilient, innovative and outcomes focused.
- Motivated by creating lasting change for people living with long-term health conditions.
Why Join Us?
myaware is the only charity in the UK dedicated solely to the care and support of people affected by myasthenia.
This is a rare opportunity to build a community movement capable of transforming lives. You will lead the growth of a national membership community, shape policy and healthcare conversations, and help ensure that every person affected by myasthenia feels informed, supported, represented and connected.
Together, we aim to ensure that within five years, at least half of everyone living with myasthenia in the UK knows, trusts and actively engages with myaware as their community, their advocate and their voice.
We are working hard to raise awareness of myasthenia, as it is a little-known condition. We provide support for people with myasthenia and their families, whilst offering advice and tips for living with the condition.
We also fund the research that brings us closer to finding a cure as well as funding specialists nurses and advisors.
Members of myaware have full access to a wide range of support services and events including our specialist benefits and welfare advisor.
myaware supports people with myasthenia and their families. We campaign for better medical services for people with myasthenia and work to inform medical professionals.
The myasthenias are a group of neuromuscular conditions. They are rare but also manageable and can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender or nationality. Myasthenia gravis, ocular myasthenia and Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome are autoimmune conditions whereas congenital myasthenic syndrome is caused by an inherited genetic fault. It is thought that there are approximately 20,000 people currently living with myasthenia in the UK.
Benefits
- Generous holiday allowance
- Perkbox account (global benefits and rewards platform)
- Group Life Assurance after 6 months of service
- NEST workplace pension scheme
- Free inhouse staff benefits and welfare advice
- Investment in your personal and professional development
- Annual salary review
Application instructions
Candidates should submit their CV and tailored covering letter by: 11:30pm on Friday.4th September
Provisional interview dates will be week commencing: 28.9.26
Interviews will be held over Microsoft Teams.
Applications submitted without a tailored cover letter will not be considered.
This post, due to its nature, duties and responsibilities, will be subject to an enhanced check by the DBS. This is funded by myaware.
This organisation supports anonymous recruitment. That means hiding your personal identifying information, removing bias from the hiring process.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Submit your application as normal and our system will anonymise it for you. Your personal information will be hidden until the recruiter contacts you.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Join a small global team where you'll organise and oversee our UK-based coaching and leadership programmes for education and non-profit leaders. From responding to new enquiries, launching programmes and setting up online learning journeys, to building trusted relationships with senior stakeholders, you'll need to be hands-on and able to prioritise across multiple workstreams. In return, you'll get genuine variety and ownership of your work, a friendly and supportive team, and opportunities to work with new digital tools and platforms and help us pioneer AI-powered ways of working from the ground up.
About BTS Spark
BTS Spark is the social impact and education practice of BTS, a global professional services firm which specialises in supporting organisations to develop their leaders and build the people capabilities to deliver effectively on their strategies. Our mission at BTS Spark is bring that expertise to help education and non-profit leaders do their best work, building stronger organisations and a better world.
We provide expert 1:1 leadership coaching, powerful group experiences and bespoke team and organisational development programmes, all designed to enable profound and highly impactful learning. To date we have worked primarily with schools, colleges and multi-academy trusts, but we are now actively seeking to grow our work within higher education and the non-profit sector. Whilst most of the work delivered by our UK hub is with UK-based organisations, we also deliver programmes elsewhere in Europe and manage several international programmes.
Our UK core team is small — just our Director and our Programme Manager — supported by wider BTS colleagues, our global BTS Spark team and a network of 30+ UK-based coaches and facilitators.
Job Description
Working closely with our UK Director, but with a significant degree of independence, you'll support almost every part of our UK operations:
- Plan and enable smooth programme delivery — allocating coaches and facilitators, scheduling group sessions, and managing logistics for face-to-face events
- Set up and launch coaching and leadership programmes on our digital platforms, and use Claude and other AI tools to speed up routine tasks like data entry, reporting and client updates
- Act as a trusted first point of contact for clients, managing relationships, delivering briefings and platform demos, and preparing data-led impact reports
- Handle new enquiries, follow through with quotations and information, and support business development and proposal writing with the Director
- Help grow our profile — co-ordinating social media content (particularly LinkedIn), updating our website, building landing pages, and supporting our alumni and marketing campaigns
- Forecast income, keep our financial systems up to date, and manage letters of engagement, purchase orders and invoicing requests.
- Provide occasional live support for virtual workshops, and executive assistant support to the Director
The balance of your week will shift through the year, with programme launches taking priority at times and more space for development work during school holidays. A key priority is to make full use of our AI capability (especially Claude) to speed up our processes and free up more time for the relationship-building and engagement work that matters most. This is something we’ll support you to build into your working practice from day one.
We're looking for candidates with the following attributes:
Essential:
- A strong, sustained track record in programme planning and project/operations management
- Confidence managing relationships with senior education and non-profit leaders, with excellent, professional customer service skills
- Excellent written communication and proof-reading skills, with sharp attention to detail
- Strong organisational skills and the ability to prioritise across multiple workstreams
- A proactive, can-do attitude and comfort working independently
- Strong financial literacy and experience with CRM/database systems (e.g. Salesforce, Hubspot)
- Enthusiasm for digital tools and AI assistants, and intermediate Microsoft Office skills
- Flexibility for occasional calls outside business hours with North America and Australia-based colleagues
Desirable:
- Experience working in or closely with the education sector
- University graduate-level education
Benefits
- 25 days' annual leave, plus bank holidays and a Christmas–New Year office closure
- 5% matched pension and life insurance
- Private medical insurance
- Free access to a wellness coach and healthcare app (video GP appointments, mental health and nutritional consultations)
- Cycle to work scheme
See attached job description for further details.
Application Process
Please apply with an up-to-date CV and a supporting statement (max. 2 sides) showing how you meet the knowledge, skills and experience above. Applications without a supporting statement will not be considered.
We review applications on a rolling basis, so please apply as soon as you can. The closing date for applications is 12 noon on Tuesday 1st September.
Initial interviews for shortlisted candidates will be held on a rolling basis until 4th September.
Final interviews will be held in London at the BTS Offices on 10th and 11th September.
Note that applications without a covering letter will not be considered.
Our mission is to help education, public sector and non-profit leaders do their best work, building stronger organisations and a better world.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Submit your application as normal and our system will anonymise it for you. Your personal information will be hidden until the recruiter contacts you.
YEF Detached Youth Work Project Lead
Relationships change lives.
At M13 Youth Project, we believe every young person deserves trusted adults who believe in them, walk alongside them and help them discover who they are, what they have to offer and the difference they can make. For over 30 years, we've built those relationships through detached youth work - meeting young people where they choose to be, listening deeply and creating opportunities for belonging, belief and hope.
We're now looking for an experienced Detached Youth Work Project Lead to join our team and play a central role in one of the UK's most ambitious detached youth work research pilots.
M13 is leading the Greater Manchester consortium delivering the Youth Endowment Fund (YEF) Detached Youth Work Pilot. The Pilot aims to build a strong evidence base for researching detached youth work, combining outstanding frontline practice with rigorous evaluation to shape the future of youth work nationally.
Reporting to the Founding Director, you'll provide the day-to-day leadership of M13's delivery of the pilot. You'll lead a small team of detached youth workers, coordinate operational delivery across intervention neighbourhoods and ensure the project is delivered safely, consistently and in line with the YEF Shared Practice Model and research requirements.
This is first and foremost a practice leadership role. You'll spend much of your week out in parks, streets and neighbourhoods, building trusted relationships with young people through high-quality detached youth work. Alongside this, you'll supervise and support colleagues, oversee monitoring and reporting, build positive relationships with community members and partner organisations, and, together with the Founding Director, work closely with the Centre for Evidence and Implementation (CEI) and consortium partners to ensure the successful delivery of the project.
We're looking for someone who is an experienced detached youth worker, confident leading others and passionate about relational practice. You'll be organised, reflective and proactive, with experience of supervising staff, coordinating projects, maintaining high-quality records and working collaboratively with partners. Most importantly, you'll share our belief that relationships are the foundation for meaningful change.
This is a 35-hour per week, office- and community-based role. (M13's full-time week is 37.5 hours). Your week will include six detached youth work sessions (three afternoons and three evenings), alongside team leadership, partnership working, supervision, monitoring and project coordination. Some flexibility can be offered around when office-based work is undertaken, where operationally possible.
In return, we offer a supportive, reflective and values-led working environment, regular supervision, ongoing professional development, a generous employer pension contribution, TOIL for out-of-hours working, additional Christmas gift leave and the opportunity to contribute to nationally significant research that could shape the future of detached youth work.
If you're an experienced detached youth worker ready to combine excellent frontline practice with leadership, learning and innovation, we'd love to hear from you.
Please submit your CV together with answers to the five questions below, limiting your response to 250 words per question. Please do not exceed the word limit as doing so may affect the scoring of your answers. We encourage you to use examples from your own practice, explaining not only what you did, but why you made particular decisions and what you learned.
We use a blind recruitment process to help ensure fair and equitable recruitment. Applications will be shortlisted against the Person Specification, so please demonstrate how your skills, experience and values meet the requirements of the role. We welcome examples from paid or voluntary roles, and recognise that many skills are transferable.
We exist to be a consistent, trusted presence in communities experiencing deep-rooted inequality.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Hours: Full-time
Pay: £83,840 - £88,490 GBP gross per annum (dependent on experience)
Duration: Permanent
Location: Manchester, UK (hybrid working available), with an expectation of up to 25% international travel to support UK-Med's international programmes, governance and humanitarian operations. The postholder must be deployable and able to travel internationally at short notice where operationally required)
Are you an exceptional finance leader ready to shape the future of a global humanitarian organisation?
UK-Med is a frontline medical aid charity, born of the NHS and committed for over 30 years to ensuring that everyone can access the healthcare they need when crises and disasters strike. We deploy emergency medical teams and health specialists worldwide, supporting communities affected by conflict, disease outbreaks and natural disasters, whilst strengthening local health systems and preparedness.
Reporting directly to the CEO and serving as a member of the Senior Management Team, the Director of Finance will provide strategic leadership across UK-Med's financial stewardship, sustainability, governance and organisational performance. As the organisation's principal financial adviser to the CEO, Board of Trustees and Board Committees, you will help shape UK-Med's long-term strategy and ensure the organisation remains financially resilient and well positioned to deliver its humanitarian mission.
Working closely with the Associate Director of Finance and colleagues across the organisation, you will lead the finance function and support delivery of UK-Med's Five-Year Strategy by strengthening financial governance, resilience and organisational sustainability across a complex, multi-country organisation.
You will be a fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA or equivalent) with substantial experience providing strategic financial leadership at executive level within a complex organisation. You will have a proven track record of advising CEOs, Boards and Audit & Risk Committees, leading organisational change and financial transformation, and overseeing complex budgets, diverse funding streams and robust financial governance. Experience within the humanitarian, international development, healthcare or wider charity sectors is essential, with knowledge of institutional donor funding and grant compliance highly desirable.
This is a unique opportunity to influence the strategic direction of one of the UK's leading humanitarian organisations, helping ensure UK-Med remains financially resilient and ready to respond wherever communities need us most.
Can you help build a world prepared to help?
How to apply
We strongly recommend that you read theCandidate Information Pack - Director of Finance - August 2026before applying for this role.
To apply, please submit a current CV and a supporting letter (2 pages) through our online jobs portal.
Please apply below, as soon as possible and no later than Monday 31st of August 2026.
UK-Med is committed to safeguarding of our personnel and beneficiaries and has a zero-tolerance approach to sexual exploitation and abuse. We conduct thorough vetting before any appointment is confirmed.
UK-Med is committed to the principles of diversity, equality, and inclusion. We strive to provide an inclusive and supportive environment where employees feel respected and supported to be able to fulfill their potential.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Regional Youth and Community Director
OASIS UK – Youth and Community (OCP)
0.6 FTE, Permanent
Salary:£31,487 (FTE £52,479)
We’re excited to be recruiting for a key leadership position supporting Oasis’ youth and community work in the North West region (covering delivery in Greater Manchester and Bradford).With accountability to the Oasis Community Partnerships CEO the role of the Regional Youth and Community Director has three main functions:
1 Strategic management oversight of local Youth and Community teams
2 Regional development, working alongside other functions within the Oasis family
3 Being part of the national Youth and Community leadership team
The Youth and Community Director will have strategic management oversight of local Youth and Community teams in the region, providing accountability and support to the local leaders and charity boards. This responsibility area falls into two categories; those the Director is directly responsible for, and those they are responsible for ensuring are carried out by leaders within their region.
ORGANISATIONAL CONTEXT
Oasis neighbourhoods are local places of activity that provide integrated, high quality and diverse services to benefit the whole person and the whole community. The Oasis ethos stems from our Christian roots and is an expression of our character - it is a declaration of who we are and therefore the lens through which we assess all we do. This is encapsulated by the following five statements:
a passion to include everyone
a desire to treat everyone equally, respecting differences
a commitment to healthy and open relationships
a deep sense of hope that things can change and be transformed
a sense of perseverance to keep going for the long haul
An Oasis neighbourhood is a community movement and the joining together of all the work Oasis does in any one place, which could include foodbanks, debt advice centres, family support and advice services, healthcare, youth work, children’s work, alongside other Oasis activities in that community, including formal education through Oasis Academies.
The Youth and Community function of Oasis is responsible for the wider community work that takes place within Oasis neighbourhoods, working closely with the wider Oasis family to outwork our vision. In relation to governance, Oasis Community Partnerships is the national charity, with each local team operating from their own local Oasis charity.
This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a growing national organisation, making a difference to communities on a local level, whilst also influencing the national landscape. As part of the package, Oasis offers:
- A pension scheme, currently offering 7% employer contribution
- A generous holiday allowance, starting at 25 days per year (plus 8 Bank Holidays)
Please contact us to arrange for an informal conversation with our CEO to find out more about the role. If you are interested in this position, please send your CV and a covering letter (ensuring you refer to the job description and person spec).
The successful candidates must have the right to work in the UK. Oasis cannot assist with sponsorship or visas.
We actively encourage applications from people of all ethnic backgrounds and minority and underrepresented groups. If you require any assistance to overcome potential barriers to application, please let us know.
Completed applications should be returned by 9am on Tuesday 8th September.
Interviews will take place week beginning 21st September. (Shorter more informal calls may be arranged the previous week to assist with shortlisting)
Oasis is committed to making a difference to the lives of the communities it works in, and as such you must show a willingness to demonstrate commitment to the values and behaviours which flow from the Oasis ethos. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We expect all staff to share this commitment and to undergo appropriate checks, including enhanced DBS checks.
Oasis supports Equal Opportunities. Registered Charity No. 08749179
If you are interested in this position, please send your CV and a covering letter (ensuring you refer to the job description and person spec)
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
For nearly 20 years, Lively Minds has been proving that parents are the sleeping giants of early childhood development. With strong evidence and a national scale proof point in Ghana, we have shown that parent powered approaches delivered through government systems can transform children's lives at scale.
We are now at a pivotal moment. We have the evidence, the model and the momentum, and we need the funding, profile and influence to match our ambition. This is a rare opportunity to lead income generation and external voice for an award winning NGO entering an exciting new phase of growth. You will lead our fundraising strategy and direct engagement with Funders ensuring that we maximise all funding opportunities as we continue our strategic evolution. You will also shape a compelling external narrative that will help position Lively Minds as the definitive partner for governments strengthening their early childhood development systems.
If you are an exceptional fundraiser and communicator who is equally comfortable in a strategic conversation and writing a winning proposal, we would love to hear from you.
Read the full advert and apply below. Closing date: 3rd September 2026.
About Lively Minds
Lively Minds is an award-winning NGO with nearly 20 years of experience designing, testing and scaling early childhood development (ECD) solutions across the Global South. Our core idea is simple but radical: parents are the sleeping giants of ECD. Governments and donors have long overlooked parents, assuming that poverty and low literacy make them unable or unwilling to support their childrenʼs development. We have spent two decades proving otherwise. With RCT-backed evidence and a national-scale proof point in Ghana, we have demonstrated that parent-powered approaches, delivered through government systems, can achieve meaningful child development outcomes at scale.
Our 2026–2028 strategy marks a pivotal shift. Having demonstrated what is possible, we are now helping pioneer an innovative model of country-led sustainable scale. Rather than delivering programmes ourselves, we provide lean, time-limited technical advisory support to governments to help them integrate parent-powered ECD into their own systems, budgets and institutions. We are currently working with the governments of Ghana, Uganda, Oromia state (Ethiopia) and The Gambia in 2026, growing to six or more country engagements by 2028. Our ambition is to catalyse a sector-wide shift, positioning Lively Minds as the definitive partner for governments seeking to strengthen their ECD systems.
Our scale strategy rests on three interdependent pillars: fixed-term Technical Advisory partnerships with governments; the development of a modular radio model simple and affordable enough for governments to adopt and fund independently; and an advocacy and sector influence agenda designed to make parent-powered ECD the norm globally.
Purpose of the Role
Lively Minds is at a critical inflection point. We have the evidence, the model and the momentum. We now need the funding, profile and sector influence to match our ambition. The Director of Fundraising and Communications is a priority hire, created to provide the dedicated, experienced leadership that this moment demands.
The Director will own and drive Lively Mindsʼ income generation, building new funder relationships, managing and deepening existing ones, and ensuring the organisation has the pipeline, discipline and quality of engagement to meet and exceed its fundraising targets. Working in close partnership with the Founding CEO, who retains ownership of a small number of long-standing strategic relationships, the Director will take primary responsibility for securing the funding that makes the 2026–2028 strategy deliverable, and that opens the door to greater scale beyond it. We need to raise approximately £3.4m over the next 3 years to deliver our strategy. But our ambition is to exceed that target so we can support additional governments.
Alongside fundraising, the Director will provide strategic leadership to Lively Mindsʼ communications and advocacy work, ensuring that the organisationʼs external voice is compelling and that we are building credibility in the spaces where funding decisions are made. The Director will lead and provide strategic coherence to a small but outward-facing team, including Head of Partnerships and Advocacy Lead who are active on the international stage. Lively Minds is committed to thought-leadership and active external engagement, but equally committed to ensuring that communications resource is deployed with discipline and rigour. The Director will set a clear strategic filter for where the organisation shows up, what it publishes and who it engages: prioritising focus and quality over volume, and always asking whether external activity is building the relationships and reputation that ultimately drive income and/or systems change.
Lively Minds is a dispersed, remote organisation. The Directorʼs team the Advocacy Lead, Development Manager and Communications Officer - are internationally distributed. The ability to lead, develop and maintain high standards across a dispersed team is essential. The role requires regular travel to international conferences and events.
Key Responsibilities
Fundraising Strategy & Income Generation
- Own and deliver the multi-year fundraising strategy with clear priorities, targets, income streams and a disciplined pipeline to support the 2026–2028 strategy and future scale
- Steward existing funder relationships, turning strong partnerships into long-term supporters, advocates and connectors to new funding opportunities.
- Lead the shift towards Big Bet and catalytic funding, personally cultivating and negotiating high-value, multi-year partnerships and positioning Lively Minds for system-level scale
- Maintain a high standard of fundraising quality, pipeline management and forecasting, while coaching the team to produce compelling, sophisticated fundraising materials
- Build and continuously strengthen a diverse funding pipeline, identifying emerging opportunities, new funding markets and strategic partnerships that reduce concentration risk and support long-term financial sustainability
Communications, Brand & Advocacy
- Own and deliver Lively Mindsʼ communications and marketing strategy, balancing visibility and sector influence with the need to strengthen fundraising and systems-change objectives
- Partner closely with the CEO to shape and steward a coherent external narrative, brand and messaging framework across all audiences and channels
- Oversee high-quality core communications and fundraising materials, including cases for support, pitch decks, website content, proposals and donor reports
- Provide strategic communications expertise to Advocacy, Partnerships and MEL, ensuring evidence and learning are translated into compelling narratives and consistent external messaging
- Lead efforts to strengthen Lively Mindsʼ profile and thought leadership in the ECD sector, identifying opportunities for strategic media, events, publications and external platforms that reinforce its positioning and influence
Organizational Leadership&TeamDevelopment
- Contribute actively to SMT and organisational strategy, bringing funder intelligence, external perspective and communications expertise to strategic decision-making.
- Work closely with Finance and MEL to align fundraising targets, forecasting, budgets and evidence, ensuring proposals are credible, accurately costed and evidence-led
- Act as the organisationʼs communications subject matter expert, providing guidance and challenge to ensure high-quality, consistent external communications
- Lead and develop the Advocacy Lead, Development Manager and Communications Officer, fostering a team culture of quality, accountability, strategic clarity and continuous improvement
- Build strong cross-organisational collaboration, ensuring teams understand how fundraising, communications, advocacy and evidence work together to advance Lively Mindsʼ strategic priorities
Person Specification
Essential Experience & Skills
- 10+ years of significant senior-level fundraising experience within international development, education, philanthropy or a comparable sector
- Proven track record of securing major grants from foundations, institutional donors and high-net-worth individuals, alongside demonstrated experience securing or meaningfully progressing large-scale, catalytic funding from Big Bet philanthropy programmes such as the Audacious Project, Skoll Foundation or comparable funders. A strong understanding of what these funders look for and how to position an organisation compellingly within their processes is essential
- Exceptional fundraising writing skills, with the ability to personally develop compelling cases for support, funding proposals, award applications and pitch decks tailored to sophisticated impact funders. This is a hands-on role requiring both strong writing capability and the ability to coach others to consistently produce high-quality fundraising content
- Experienced in developing and owning a marketing and communications strategy, with a strong understanding of how to balance organisational visibility, thought leadership and sector influence with coherence, strategic focus and income generation
- Demonstrated ability to work closely with a Founding CEO to shape and steward the organisationʼs external narrative and brand. Comfortable working in a founder-led environment, providing expertise and constructive challenge while ensuring the organisation maintains a clear, consistent and coherent external voice
Desirable Experience
- Experienced fundraising for a technical advisory, systems change or government-facing organisation
- Knowledge of the ECD, education or early childhood sector and its funding landscape
- Familiarity with the Big Bang Philanthropy network or equivalent impact-focused funder communities
- Experience working alongside advocacy and partnerships teams, providing communications expertise and strategic coherence to their external activity
- Familiarity with the funding landscape for organisations operating in Sub-Saharan Africa
- Experience working remotely across multiple countries and effectively collaborating with cross-cultural teams
Behaviours & Ways of Working
- A doer, equally comfortable in strategic conversations and writing a funding proposal
- Sets a high bar for quality and clarity in all external communications and holds it consistently
- Builds a strong, trust-based partnership with the Founding CEO, provides honest challenge and operates effectively within a founder-led dynamic without losing their own voice or judgement
- Collaborative and cross-organisational. Invests in strong relationships with programme, MEL and finance colleagues, understanding that the best fundraising is grounded in organisational reality
- Calm and focused under pressure - able to manage competing priorities and maintain quality when the stakes are high
What We Offer
- Competitive salary commensurate with experience
- 25 days annual leave
- Health insurance
- Pension contribution
- Generous learning and development budget
- Flexible, remote working
Application Instruction
Interested candidates are encouraged to read the Job Description carefully before applying to ensure they understand the role and meet the required criteria.
To apply, please complete the pre-screening questions and submit your updated CV
PLEASE NOTE - Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Timeline
Closing Date: 3rd September 2026
Our Stance
Lively Minds operates a strict Safeguarding Policy and is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of children and vulnerable people. As part of our recruitment process, the suitability of successful candidates will be verified through appropriate background checks including professional references and police checks.
Lively Minds is fully committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and to providing equal opportunities throughout our recruitment process. We want this commitment to be reflected in the diversity of the people who work for us, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities, experiences and perspectives.
We are committed to ensuring that recruitment decisions are based on merit, skills, experience and suitability for the role, and that all candidates are treated fairly and with respect throughout the recruitment process.
Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Submit your application as normal and our system will anonymise it for you. Your personal information will be hidden until the recruiter contacts you.
About us
Community rail is a unique and growing grassroots movement made up of community rail partnerships, station volunteer groups and other community-led initiatives across Britain.
Together, these organisations and volunteers deliver a wide range of initiatives, from engaging young people and building confidence in rail travel, to improving accessibility, enhancing stations, supporting biodiversity projects and creating community spaces that bring people together.
Community Rail Network is the national membership and umbrella body for the community rail movement across England, Scotland and Wales. We empower, support and champion community-led partnerships and groups, helping them create social, environmental and economic value through their work.
Our team of 22 colleagues is based across Britain, working mainly from home while coming together regularly online and in person. We are a collaborative, values-led organisation, passionate about making a difference through community rail.
We believe in nurturing talent, supporting professional development and creating an environment where everyone can reach their potential while maintaining a healthy work–life balance.
About this role and your main responsibilities
We are looking for a compassionate, collaborative and creative leader to head up our work with members. Everyone on the team is here for our members, but you will lead the way in ensuring everything we do is driven by what members need, now and in the future, to help them develop, grow and thrive. You’ll also help ensure our members have a great experience whenever they are accessing our support and services.
As a member of the senior leadership team, you’ll actively contribute towards its collective work in driving organisational performance and success, including growing investment in our work so we can make an even bigger difference for our members and the communities they serve.
Please see the attached introduction from our Chief Executive and role profile for further information about the position, including its principal responsibilities and the experience, skills and attributes we are looking for.
Other information
The role will involve regular travel across England, Scotland and Wales to raise the organisation’s profile and engage with members, partners and key stakeholders.
There is flexibility on your location given the requirement to travel and that your office will be home-based. You will need to travel to in-person quarterly team meetings (usually in London or the north of England) and to Board meetings which alternate between online and London.
It is expected that travel will be by public transport and easy access to the rail network is therefore required to ensure journeys can be made sustainably.
This is a full-time position, 37 hours per week. We use a flexi-time system with core hours 10am-3pm, and are committed to being a flexible, supportive and understanding employer. This is a permanent position with a probationary period of three months.
Successful applicants will need to provide proof that they have the right to work in the UK and provide two references.
Community Rail Network is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from disabled people and Black, Asian and other minoritised groups, who meet with the skills and competencies for this role. We will provide reasonable adjustments for interviews as required.
Apply via CharityJob by Monday 7 September 2026, 12:30pm. Upload your CV and paste your personal statement into the cover letter section. Your statement should explain how you meet the experience criteria in the person specification and be no more than 1,000 words. You do not need to address the skills/abilities section at this stage; this will be assessed at interview. Please include a daytime telephone number, email address and current notice period in your CV.
Interviews will be held in Derby on 17 September. If a second round is required, it will take place online on 22 or 23 September. Interview invitations will be issued by telephone by 11 September. Unfortunately, we cannot provide feedback to unsuccessful applicants.
Championing the community rail movement | Connecting people and their railways | Creating inclusive, empowered, sustainable and healthy communities
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Location note:please see location information below - we actively encourage applications from people across Europe, and a relocation package is available for candidates moving to either country if necessary.
Lead the strategy and team behind Europe’s push for protein diversification.
The Good Food Institute Europe (GFI Europe) is a nonprofit think tank at the forefront of the movement to transform meat production in order to solve some of the world’s biggest problems, from climate change and global hunger to antibiotic resistance and animal suffering. Our vision is a thriving world, fed sustainably.
With a nonprofit entity in Belgium, a branch in the UK and colleagues working from seven other countries that make up GFI Europe, we are also part of an international network of affiliates. We advance the science, policies and investment needed to make plant-based, cultivated and fermentation-made meat delicious, affordable and accessible across Europe. Please check out the rest of our website, our 2025 Year in Review and our 2025 Europe highlights blog post to find out more about who we are and what we do.
We are looking for an Executive Director to lead GFI Europe’s strategy and team, play a key role in shaping and advancing GFI’s global strategy, and foster the relationships and organisational strength needed to accelerate the shift towards a resilient and sustainable food system.
How you will make a difference
You will have high responsibility and high impact. Reporting to, and appointed by, the Board of GFI Europe, you will lead a ~50-person team working from nine European countries.
You will:
-
Enable strategic focus:
-
Align the team around a clear and compelling organisational direction that aligns with the GFI network’s mission and theory of change.
-
Translate organisational direction into high-level priorities in collaboration with GFI Europe’s Leadership Team.
-
Ensure Europe’s strategic decisions are made well – soliciting the right input from the right people, preserving autonomy in areas of specific expertise, and making decisions when organisation-wide trade-offs are required.
-
Take ultimate responsibility for maximising outcomes and impact in pursuit of our mission.
-
-
Provide leadership to the team:
-
Empower, develop and inspire a high-performing, people-centric team.
-
Lead GFI Europe’s Leadership Team, formed of six department heads, ensuring they continue to function on a ‘first-team’ basis to achieve organisational objectives.
-
Champion and uphold a values-driven culture built upon transparency, autonomy, collaboration, accountability, and psychological safety. Champion the integration of diversity, equity and inclusion into the team’s day-to-day work.
-
-
Represent GFI Europe in GFI’s international network:
-
Participate in international strategic and coordination workstreams as a member of GFI’s Regional Leadership Group, comprising GFI’s affiliate leads.
-
Act as the primary liaison between GFI’s affiliates and European teams on strategies, processes and goals. Ensure the Europe team can successfully connect with, influence, support and navigate a complex international network, including global workstreams such as fundraising and impact reporting.
-
Participate in discussions about global strategy and resource allocation so as to maximise GFI’s overall mission impact, including communicating GFI Europe’s strategy, resourcing needs and contributions as part of the international GFI network.
-
-
Represent GFI Europe in front of donors and external stakeholders:
-
Work closely with global and Europe-based fundraising teams to help ensure GFI achieves its fundraising goals.
-
Build and maintain strong relationships with donors, prospective supporters and key stakeholders.
-
Serve as a public representative of, and spokesperson for, the organisation by speaking at conferences, events, and with the media.
-
-
Oversee organisational health:
-
Ensure strong governance, legal compliance, financial sustainability and reporting in partnership with the Board and the Head of Operations.
-
Be the main legal representative of the organisation, reviewing and signing all legally relevant agreements and organisational documents.
-
-
Perform other duties as appropriate.
Core capabilities needed to succeed in this role:
-
Mission alignment. A passion for GFI’s philosophy and mission.
-
Strategic judgement. Strong analytical skills and sound judgement, being able to absorb and process a range of types of information, understand the activities that GFI undertakes, and provide leadership and guidance to team members. You have the experience and ability to make strategic trade-offs across projects, functions, teams, countries/regions, programmes, etc – weighing resource allocation, prioritising impact, and communicating those decisions clearly and inclusively to stakeholders.
-
Thoughtful leadership. You align teams behind a clear and impactful vision. You know when to persevere and when to change course, and have led people, both directly and indirectly, to deliver impact. You trust the people closest to the work to make decisions, and you address hard topics when they truly matter. You own mistakes and make a genuine effort to learn and grow from them. You are intentional about remote leadership.
-
Understanding the wider context. You can make sense of the political, economic and cultural forces shaping Europe’s food system today and are adept at drawing on patterns and ideas from outside our field to identify possible implications for GFI Europe’s next move.
-
Excellent people skills. High emotional intelligence and an ability to diplomatically engage across perspectives, being able to build and maintain trust with colleagues and stakeholders across multiple cultures, viewpoints and needs within Europe and beyond.
-
Financial literacy. Skilled at overseeing substantial financial resources, including partnering with the operations team on resource allocation. You have held accountability for a significant organisational budget and can interpret financial data to make sound, well-informed decisions.
-
Fundraising acumen. You understand how GFI’s strategy, culture, and mission impact shape the organisation’s ability to raise funds and steward donors, and you’re enthusiastic about partnering with the fundraising team to make this happen. You bring an understanding of the philanthropic sector and donor relationships, or of fundraising in other sectors (eg, the private sector or government), while deferring to the fundraising team’s expertise on how donor relationships are best managed.
-
Strong communication skills. An ability to convincingly articulate and explain our mission and work and to represent the organisation in the media, with programmatic stakeholders, and with donors. Comfort adapting your tone and message for different audiences across diverse cultures, and excellent verbal and written English skills.
-
Flexible approach to work. We estimate that travel will account for approximately six weeks of the year. This will likely consist of two GFI Europe team-wide retreats (3-5 days each), one leadership retreat (2-3 days), other sporadic trips generally lasting 1-3 days, and occasional longer trips of approximately 5-7 days (for conferences and donor or partner meetings across Europe and internationally). In addition, you will need occasional flexibility in your working hours to accommodate coordination with other affiliates around the world.
-
Integrity. You do what you say you’ll do, and are discreet when handling confidential information.
It would be an advantage to have the following, though none are prerequisites:
-
Sector familiarity. Familiarity with or experience working in the food system, alternative proteins or an adjacent sector in Europe.
-
Impact leadership. Strong knowledge and/or experience of being part of the leadership team of a nonprofit, think tank or other social impact-focused organisation.
-
Governance and compliance experience. Experience with legal representation and board reporting, and/or experience working on nonprofit compliance, especially in Belgium.
-
Fundraising partnership experience. You’ve contributed to fundraising in a supportive capacity – whether managing a fundraising function, advising on donor and prospect strategy, joining donor conversations alongside a development team, or shaping fundraising strategy at an executive level.
-
Network experience. Experience working in one or more network models (eg, affiliate or franchise-style, federation, confederation, etc).
-
Languages. The ability to work in European languages in addition to English.
The Fine Print:
-
Terms of employment: Full-time (flexible hours), permanent.
-
Location: This role can be based in either Belgium or the United Kingdom, where GFI Europe has established entities and where you must have the right to work. We actively encourage applications from people across Europe, and a relocation package is available for candidates moving to either country if necessary.
-
Relocation support will be provided with a budget of up to £8,000 in the UK or €8,700 in Belgium, which can be used for transport, temporary housing, and other relocation expenses deemed necessary.
-
-
Salary and benefits: The salary and benefits packages for all of our roles are researched and benchmarked based on similar nonprofit roles in the country/location of hire.
-
Belgium: €7,900-€8,900 gross monthly salary (€109,925-€123,907 annually including 13th month and holiday pay).
-
Plus benefits including home-working allowance (if applicable), meal vouchers, eco vouchers, and professional development allocation.
-
-
United Kingdom: £90,500-£104,000 gross annual salary.
-
-
You can read more about our wider benefits offering on our website.
-
Right to work requirements: The successful candidate must, by the start of the employment, have permission to work in the country where they are based for the role, and be able to travel within the EU and internationally.
- Application Deadline: 13 September 2026, 11.59pm CEST. We will get back to all candidates after that date, no matter the outcome of their application.
-
Right to work requirements: The successful candidate must, by the start of the employment, have permission to work in the country where they are based for the role, and be able to travel within the EU and internationally.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Join BrainWaves at an exciting stage of growth and help build the sustainable income behind our ambitious plans to improve young people’s mental health.
This is a rare opportunity for a proactive fundraiser to take real ownership of a growing fundraising programme, working with experienced specialists while broadening your expertise across trusts, major donors, corporate partnerships and individual giving.
About BrainWaves Research
BrainWaves Research is a charity working to improve young people’s mental health and wellbeing through research, education and collaboration.
We bring together scientists, educators, schools and young people to build a stronger understanding of adolescent mental health and translate evidence into practical support. Our work combines a major longitudinal research study with evidence-based educational resources for schools.
BrainWaves is a long-term collaboration involving the University of Oxford, Swansea University and The Day News & Media. We are entering an exciting stage of growth and are looking for a proactive and versatile Fundraising Manager to help secure the sustainable income needed to achieve our ambitions.
The opportunity
You will lead the day-to-day delivery of fundraising across trusts and foundations, major donors, corporate partnerships and individual giving, developing new opportunities as well as managing and growing existing relationships.
The role may particularly suit someone with strong experience in one area – most likely trusts and foundations or high-value giving – who is ready to broaden their expertise across a mixed portfolio.
You will work particularly closely with our fractional Fundraising Director, who will provide strategic direction and support, as well as experienced specialists in major gifts and events, senior volunteers and colleagues across BrainWaves.
This is a hands-on role with significant autonomy. We are looking for someone proactive, ambitious and organised who enjoys turning strategy into action, building relationships, improving systems and hitting targets. Above all, you will be passionate about our mission to improve young people’s mental health.
Key responsibilities
Fundraising and income growth
-
Work with the Fundraising Director and COO to deliver BrainWaves’ fundraising strategy and annual income plan.
-
Manage and grow a pipeline across trusts and foundations, major donors, corporates and individual giving.
-
Research and develop new prospects, partnerships and sustainable income opportunities.
-
Prepare compelling cases for support, grant applications, proposals, presentations and donor communications.
-
Take ownership of agreed income targets, deadlines and activity plans, monitoring performance and forecasting income.
-
Manage funder and supporter relationships from initial approach through to reporting and stewardship.
Major donors, corporates and supporters
-
Work with the Fundraising Director, trustees, senior volunteers and specialist advisers to identify, cultivate and steward high-value prospects.
-
Build relationships with companies whose values and interests align with BrainWaves and develop appropriate partnership opportunities.
-
Help develop our individual-giving programme, including appeals, regular giving and supporter journeys.
-
Manage and improve our use of JustGiving and other digital fundraising platforms.
-
Support donor and cultivation events, including prospect identification, communications and follow-up.
CRM, data and fundraising operations
-
Take day-to-day ownership of BrainWaves’ CRM, ensuring supporter, prospect, donation and relationship records are accurate and up to date.
-
Improve how the CRM is used for pipeline management, reporting, segmentation, stewardship and task management.
-
Establish clear and consistent processes for recording and using fundraising information.
-
Produce regular pipeline, income and forecasting reports and use data to identify opportunities, gaps and risks.
-
Ensure information from JustGiving and other platforms is captured and followed up appropriately.
-
Maintain high standards of data protection, fundraising compliance and data quality.
Collaborative working
-
Work closely with the Fundraising Director and experienced freelance specialists in fundraising strategy, major gifts and events.
-
Collaborate with colleagues across communications, research and operations to develop strong fundraising propositions and materials.
-
Support trustees and senior volunteers in their fundraising activity.
-
Attend occasional meetings and events, primarily in Oxford and London.
About you
You will be a confident and proactive fundraiser with strong experience in at least one income stream and an appetite to broaden your expertise.
You will be a persuasive communicator and excellent relationship builder, comfortable managing multiple prospects, deadlines and priorities. You will enjoy working in a small, evolving organisation where initiative is valued and will be effective working independently from home while staying closely connected to the wider team.
Most importantly, you will be motivated by ambitious targets and genuinely excited by BrainWaves’ mission.
Essential experience and skills
-
Experience of securing income within a charity, university, research institution or other purpose-led organisation.
-
Strong experience in at least one fundraising stream, such as trusts and foundations, major donors, corporates or individual giving.
-
Evidence of meeting fundraising targets or contributing significantly to income growth.
-
Experience of managing prospects from research and qualification through to solicitation and stewardship.
-
Excellent written skills, including producing persuasive applications, proposals and donor communications.
-
Strong relationship-building and stakeholder-management skills.
-
Ability to understand complex information and turn it into a clear and compelling case for support.
-
Experience of using a fundraising CRM to manage pipelines, records and reporting.
-
Excellent organisation, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
-
A proactive, resourceful and collaborative approach.
-
A genuine commitment to BrainWaves’ purpose.
Desirable experience
-
Experience across more than one fundraising income stream.
-
Trusts and foundations and/or major donor fundraising experience.
-
Experience of corporate partnerships.
-
Experience of using and improving a CRM, particularly Beacon or a similar system.
-
Experience of JustGiving or similar digital fundraising platforms.
-
Experience of fundraising for mental health, young people, education, science, health or research.
-
Knowledge of fundraising regulation and data protection.
-
Experience of donor cultivation or fundraising events.
What we offer
-
The opportunity to shape and grow fundraising within an ambitious charity.
-
Close working with an experienced Fundraising Director and senior fundraising specialists.
-
Significant autonomy and the opportunity to broaden your fundraising experience.
-
Meaningful work supporting research and education focused on adolescent mental health.
-
A flexible, predominantly home-based role.
-
25 days’ annual leave pro rata.
-
Auto-enrolment into our pension scheme after successful completion of a three-month probation period.
-
Reasonable travel expenses for required meetings and events.
We are not looking for freelance consultants or consultancies to contact us for this role, as we really want someone to embed in our team.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
We are seeking an ambitious and motivated Head of Research to oversee the delivery of our research funding programme. You will ensure our funding is delivered strategically with the greatest impact possible for people affected by MND. You will manage our research team to oversee the development and delivery of effective funding schemes, partnerships and initiatives, whilst ensuring the outputs of our research are monitored and evaluated, to communicate our impact and inform our future activities.
This is a key role in our small, agile organisation that will involve close working across the charity, and the research community. We are looking for someone with strong experience in research and people management, working experience in drug discovery, with excellent communication skills and strong motivation to make a difference for people affected by MND.
Team Structure:
You will report to the Director of Research and manage a team of four: three Research Programme Managers and a Research Officer.
Key responsibilities:
-
Have day-to-day responsibility for distribution of the charity’s research funding, developing detailed annual plans and delivering against time and budget;
-
Be responsible for overseeing governance and compliance for all research funding activities, including adherence to standards set by the Association of Medical Research Charities;
-
Identify opportunities for improvements to grant management systems, processes and documentation and work closely with the research team to ensure they are implemented;
-
Maintain oversight of the research programme budget, working closely with the research and finance teams to plan, monitor and forecast;
-
Oversee the development and implementation of new funding schemes and research initiatives to ensure our funds are delivered for maximum impact and address gaps in the research landscape;
-
Oversee the setup and delivery of large collaborative research programmes including managing relationships with joint funders and other partner organisations;
-
Build and maintain strong relationships with the research community, including members of our review committees and grant holders;
-
Oversee the development and implementation of a robust impact evaluation framework to monitor, report and evaluate the impact of the research we fund and use this information to inform our future funding activities;
-
Ensure the outputs of our research funding activities inform the work of the charity, working with the research and communication teams to create and disseminate compelling and engaging scientific content to engage supporters and drive income;
-
Maintain a strong understanding of the MND research landscape, using those insights to inform our research activities;
-
Develop a high performing team, ensuring team members are supported and developed to contribute to their full potential in the achievement of the charity’s aims;
-
Oversee the delivery of research events e.g. annual meetings to bring together our researchers;
-
Support the development and implementation of future research strategies, working closely with the Director of Research;
-
Represent the Foundation at external meetings including international conferences;
-
Deputise for the Director of Research as required;
-
Undertake other appropriate work as required by the Director of Research.
Skills and experience required:
-
Educated to postgraduate level, or with similar experience in a relevant biomedical science subject e.g. biochemistry, molecular sciences, neuroscience, pharmacology;
-
Working experience of drug discovery, gained either in the bio-pharmaceutical industry or an academic setting;
-
Significant experience in research management, ideally within a charity or government funding organisation;
-
Proven leadership and people management skills with direct line management experience;
-
The ability to think strategically, navigate uncertainty and adapt to evolving environments;
-
A great communicator, with excellent written and oral skills and the ability to build and maintain relationships with a wide range of stakeholders;
-
Motivated to make a real difference for those living with MND and future generations.
Please note, this role involves occasional overnight stays from home, occasional international travel and occasional attendance at meetings and events during evenings and weekends. Candidates must have the existing right to work in the UK.
We are My Name'5 Doddie Foundation and we're absolutely committed to our goal: A World Free of MND



The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
This is a pivotal senior leadership role with full strategic and operational accountability. Leadership and exceptional communication skills will be critical as The DBR Foundation establishes and grows. Reporting to the Board of Trustees, the Chief Executive Officer will have a proven track record and experience as a CEO or in a similar executive leadership position. An extensive knowledge of the implementation of charity governance will be essential in this role.
The Chief Executive Officer will be responsible for the drafting and implementation of policies and procedures, ensuring financial sustainability, overseeing activities, memberships, fundraising and advocacy.
The Chief Executive Officer will have responsibility for recruitment and establishing a new team, resources and managing key relationships in line with the overall strategic policies, direction, goals and budget, for the purposes of advancing The DBR Foundation’s objectives, purpose and identity worldwide.
The DBR Foundation’s objectives are:
- The improvement of health by furthering the advancement of the theory and practice of Deep Brain Reorienting ("DBR")
- The relief of emotional and psychological distress wherever it may arise by the provision of appropriate DBR training and therapy
- The relief of poverty and distress wherever it may arise by the provision of humanitarian aid, by supporting other like-minded charities
Key Responsibilities
Leadership, Strategy & Organisational Direction:
- Lead strategic initiatives and sustainable organisational long-term development
- Drive sustainable growth and measurable impact
- Lead organisational strategy and service development
Operations & Service Quality:
- Oversee all operational delivery
- Ensure members are equipped with relevant, up-to-date, and impactful resources
Financial Management, Corporate Governance & Regulatory Compliance:
- Provide strong financial oversight and sustainability planning
- Ensure regulatory, and governance compliance
- Performance and risk overview to the Board of Trustees
Business Development & Commissioning:
- Income strategy and fundraising
- Grant applications and partnership funding
- Building relationships and funder partnerships
People & Values:
- Build a high performing operational team
- Establish a culture that reflects the core values and culture of the Foundation
External Engagement & Stewardship:
- Act as senior ambassador and spokesperson
- Represent the Foundation across statutory, voluntary, education and health sectors
- Strengthen partnerships and influence
Essential Skills:
- Senior leadership experience in the charity, public or social sector
- Strong organisational and operational management experience
- Experience working with a Board of Trustees
- Proven financial oversight and budget responsibility
- Experience delivering organisational strategy
- Fundraising or income generation leadership experience
- Strong partnership and stakeholder management skills
- Commissioning and contract delivery experience
PLEASE BE AWARE THAT WE ARE UNABLE TO ACCEPT APPLICATIONS FROM WITHIN THE DBR MEMBERSHIP.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Chief Operating Officer (COO)
Contract: Permanent / Full Time
Salary: C. £130k per annum, depending on experience
Location: Remote / UK Based (regular travel to London office and other locations as required)
Closing Date: 10th September
Interview Dates: 5th & 7th October
Introduction
Doing Good Recruitment is proud to be exclusively partnering with a highly respected health organisation to appoint an exceptional Chief Operating Officer (COO). This critical leadership role will drive organisational transformation, operational excellence and long-term sustainable impact.
The Role
Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the COO will serve as a key strategic adviser and member of the executive leadership team, helping to shape organisational priorities and ensure effective delivery across a complex international organisation. Working closely with the CEO, Board and senior stakeholders, the COO will play a central role in driving organisational performance, strengthening governance and ensuring resources are deployed effectively to support long-term objectives.
The role will provide strategic leadership across core corporate functions, including people, finance, governance, risk, technology and business operations. The next postholder will ensure the organisation's operational infrastructure, systems and processes effectively support performance, fundraising and programme delivery, while positioning the organisation for long-term success.
About You
The successful candidate will bring substantial executive leadership experience, ideally gained within a complex, purpose-led or internationally operating organisation. As a fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent), you will possess excellent financial and commercial acumen, with experience leading organisational planning, overseeing significant budgets and providing strategic financial insight at the highest level. Experience of presenting to and working closely with Boards, Finance Committees and other senior governance groups will be essential.
The right candidate will be able to demonstrate a track record of leading business improvement, organisational change and operational modernisation, alongside the ability to build credibility and influence across diverse stakeholder groups. This unique opportunity requires a collaborative and pragmatic leader who combines sound judgement with effective delivery, enabling organisations to adapt, grow and achieve sustainable impact. Experience of digital innovation, data-driven decision-making and the effective application of emerging technologies, including AI, would be advantageous.
Disability Confident
Our client is Disability Confident. Candidates who meet the essential criteria for the role and identify as having a disability (found on the application page) will be guaranteed an interview as part of their commitment to creating an inclusive and accessible recruitment process.
Inclusion Statement
Doing Good Recruitment is committed to the highest standards of equitable and inclusive recruitment. We actively welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, race, ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, caring responsibilities, socio-economic background, or any other protected characteristic. We recognise that exceptional candidates do not always meet every requirement listed in a job description. If your experience aligns with most of the criteria and you are excited by the opportunity, we encourage you to apply.
We believe that the organisations and people, that come together to make the world a better place, deserve the very best helping hand for hiring.
Reporting to: Fundraising Lead
Hours: Full Time (35 hours per week)
Key Relationships: Products Manager, Stewardship Manager, Fundraising Lead, Director of Development, CEO, COO, Trustees, External Partners
Location: Remote Working, with national travel requirements for meetings, events and collaboration.
Overall Purpose
The Partnerships and Philanthropy Manager will both raise money to support the sustainability of NHS Charities Together and contribute to supporting NHS Charities to increase their income.
The focus of the role is on developing and leading partnerships with corporates and philanthropy.
Overall Objectives
- To generate income across a portfolio of corporate partnerships and charitable trusts and foundations
- To support NHS charities to raise income from partnerships
- Work flexibly as part of a Development Team, supporting the range of fundraising and income generation that the team targets.
Key Responsibilities
The main duties and responsibilities of the role holder are as outlined below:
Partnership Development & Delivery
- Manage the range of existing partnerships across corporate and philanthropic audiences, creating and implementing bespoke solicitation and stewardship plans, generating income for the organisation or NHS Charities
- Translate our work into compelling and bespoke cases for support, making relevant and appropriate asks and soliciting multi-year strategic partnerships
- Identifyand develop new partnership opportunities whichbenefitour organisation or NHS Charities
- Develop opportunities for and deliver sponsorship income for our activity and events
Collaboration & Sector Support
- Work collaboratively with member NHS Charities to understand their fundraising needs, challenges, and opportunities.
- Build strong relationships with key stakeholders across the sector, supporting them to understand the most appropriate role for partnership-based fundraising
- Share learning and best practice from partnership relationships to inform future developments and sector growth.
- Contribute to supporting NHS Charities to raise their income, providing advice and guidance 1:1 and through supporting the delivery of member events
- Where required support the delivery of paid for consulting support to NHS charities on fundraising
- Keep abreast of trends in fundraising within and beyond the health sector.
Leadership & Financial Management
- Establish clear objectives, KPIs, and evaluation frameworks for all partnerships
- Monitor the performance and financial return of our partnerships work, producing regular reports and insights to inform decision-making.
- Provide effective line management to team members, ensuring they have clear objectives, professional development, and deliver high performance.
- Manage budgets as required, monitoring income and expenditure to ensure targets and forecasts are met, and reporting any variances promptly.
- Produce regular performance and income reports and insights to inform strategy and continuous improvement.
- Contribute to the effective running of the team, and participate in relevant training and team meetings.
- Ensure donor records are kept up to date on the fundraising database, and ensure our CRM records of key relationships are maintained
- Ensure all appropriate due diligence is undertaken and necessary gift agreements are in place.
- Ensure that all fundraising activity complies with the Fundraising Regulator’s Code of Fundraising Practice and relevant legislation.
Cross-Team Collaboration & Stakeholder Management
- Liaise with teams across the organisation to collaborate on member facing activity and ensuring our product offers fit with our member segmentation approaches.
- Support the team on other fundraising activity, for example around events, or in the cultivation and recruitment of individual donors
Competencies
Teamwork – ‘One charity’, working within and across teams
- Collaborates across teams, ensuring our activity is aligned with our wider support of members.
Building trust and respect – listen, feedback and learn
- Models our values through their work, seeking to support colleagues and understand their perspectives.
- Proactive, and adaptable to support the wider work of the organisation as required.
Responsibility – owning your part in our success
- Demonstrates commitment to delivering exceptional partnerships.
- Takes responsibility for developing and leading successful relationships which generate income.
Professionalism – creating an environment to achieve success
- Takes a learning approach to ensure we continually improve.
- Upholds the highest standards of integrity, ethics, and transparency, ensuring we always work within the Fundraising Code.
Stakeholder focus – understanding the needs of our key stakeholders and audiences
- Passionate about supporting NHS charities and helping them to increase their income.
- Seeks to understand the needs of NHS charities, shaping our support to maximise our impact in supporting them to raise income.
- Ensures our own fundraising does not compete with members.
Acumen – Sound decision-making
- Adapts and shapes partnerships based on learning to deliver success.
- Identifies and shapes member support around what is most effective.
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
- Fundraising Qualification, Chartered Institute of Fundraising, or equivalent
- Significant experience of fundraising, and the role and theory of fundraising through partnerships and/or philanthropic relationships
- Experience of securing significant partnerships of at least 5 figures from corporate partners, individuals or family foundations and managing relationships with major supporters
- Knowledge of the current philanthropy and High Net Worth Individual and/or corporate landscape and insight into future trends
- Excellent project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and stakeholders.
- Creative thinker with a commercial mindset
- Collaborative working style with excellent stakeholder management skills
- Experience managing and developing team members.
- Influencing skills, with experience of working across teams or partner organisations.
- Experience of database management and using a fundraising CRM system
- An excellent communicator, in person and in written work
- Experience working within an NHS charity or large health-related fundraising environment.
- Experience in building credibility with senior external stakeholders and managing relationships with diplomacy
- Experience managing external relationships with suppliers
Other duties
- Visibly live NHS Charities Togethers values, including our commitment to diversity and inclusion.
- Carrying out the duties of postin accordance withNHS Charities Togethers policies and procedures on Health and Safety and take responsibility for ensuring personal health and safety.
- Working flexibly, prioritising workload, and working effectively as part of a team. Demonstrating an ability to work calmly and effectively when under pressure of tight deadlines, to deliver work on time and to a high standard.
- Adhere to relevant legislation, best practice, policies, and processes including, but not limited to charity law, the fundraising regulator, GDPR and professional codes and standards.
This is not meant to be an exhaustive list of duties. The need for flexibility is required, and the post holder is expected to carry out any other related duties that are within the employee’s skills and abilities whenever reasonably instructed.
The Belay Foundation supports adoptive, kinship and special guardianship families raising children who have experienced early developmental trauma, often alongside neurodiversity. Founded in 2020 from lived experience, Belay offers something many families struggle to find elsewhere: practical, in-home support and expert guidance that’s genuinely trauma-responsive, delivered by people who understand what these families are living through.
Why now? - Belay has just spent a year strengthening its foundations - redesigning services, building organisational capacity and setting an ambitious growth plan. The groundwork is done. What we need now is a permanent CEO with the vision to take a small, high-impact charity and turn real momentum into lasting change - for families and for how the sector understands and responds to developmental trauma.
About the role - You’ll provide strategic and financial leadership across a small team, working closely with an exceptional Board and Belay’s Founder, who remains closely involved as Services Director. You’ll lead fundraising and income diversification, shape Belay’s public voice and ensure the organisation’s trauma-responsive, DDP-informed model continues to deliver real impact as it scales.
This is a rare chance to take the helm of an organisation with an innovative model, a loyal community and genuine room to grow - and to leave your mark on how the UK supports some of its most vulnerable children and families.
This is a home‑based role, but applicants must be permanently based, and have the right to work, in the United Kingdom. For legal, tax, and operational reasons, we cannot consider applications from outside the UK.
Please see the CEO Application Pack for further details, including the full job description and the application/ interview process.
The Belay Foundation aims to improve the life chances of children in adoptive, kinship care and special guardian families.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.