85 Director of operations and volunteer management jobs

About School of Hard Knocks

School of Hard Knocks (SOHK) is one of the UK’s leading education charities, working in 29 secondary schools across England, Scotland, and Wales. Using rugby as a key delivery tool, we support young people who are struggling to engage in early secondary education - often because of anxiety, low confidence, disrupted home lives, or behavioural challenges rooted in trauma. For many of the children we support, life has already brought more hardship than most adults experience in a lifetime. Our purpose is clear: to help young people facing complex challenges break the cycle and move towards a safer, stronger, more hopeful future.

The SOHK Schools Programme is a two-year intervention working with cohorts of around 20 pupils from Year 7 through to Year 9. Pupils are selected by the school and are typically among the hardest to reach young people. Each week, we deliver half a day of rugby training and classroom sessions built around our 3Cs framework, covering topics such as growth mindset, goal setting, and decision-making, alongside monthly one-to-one sessions with every pupil. The programme’s impact is evaluated by SOHK staff, teachers, parents, and the pupils themselves.

90% of our participants report feeling more confident and more engaged with school after taking part, with long-term effects on attendance, attainment, and life outcomes. Find out more about our Schools Programme.

Since 2023, SOHK has been proud to partner with Impetus, a charity that invests in and supports organisations helping young people from disadvantaged backgrounds succeed. This partnership combines investment with strategic and organisational development support, helping to strengthen our impact and set SOHK up for sustainable growth.

We are proud to be delivering long-term programmes that meaningfully reach hundreds of young people each year - but the societal need is vast. Our ambitious four-year strategic plan targets growth, aiming to bring our impactful programme to hundreds more young people each year.

“Despite the usual challenges that every education or sport for development charity faces, School of Hard Knocks really is unique. It is not so much what we deliver at a programme level (which is of course brilliant) but who we are as a team. If you are a values-led leader and love the idea of ‘team’, then School of Hard Knocks is the place for you.”

- Ken Cowen, Founder and outgoing CEO

The Role

The CEO is the public face and leader of SOHK, responsible for the overall strategic direction, vision, and management of the charity - ensuring SOHK meets its mission and strategic objectives while maintaining strong relationships with Trustees, staff, supporters, and the wider SOHK community. We’re looking for a mission-driven charity leader and effective fundraiser, capable of building a sustainable growth model.

Strategy and Direction

● Be the face and voice of the charity - its principal ambassador

● Lead the development and periodic review of SOHK’s strategy with the Trustees and Senior Management Team

● Translate the 2026-30 strategy into organisational priorities, plans, and goals

● Ensure safeguarding, wellbeing, and the lived experience of young people remain central to every decision and growth plan

Programme Delivery, Quality and Impact

● Hold a high bar for programme quality and outcomes for young people

● Line-manage and support the Director of Programmes, working with delivery teams and partners to build a world-class, evidence-based intervention

● Ensure SOHK can evidence the impact of its programmes, with insights feeding back into constant improvement

Income Generation, Fundraising and External Relations

● Lead income generation across trusts and foundations, corporate partnerships, individual giving, and challenges and events

● Line-manage and support the Head of Fundraising in executing a comprehensive fundraising strategy

● Hold senior relationships with funders and partners, building SOHK’s brand, reputation, and profile

Leading People, Culture and Operations

● Build and lead a high-performing Senior Management Team

● Foster a positive, inclusive, high-performing culture aligned with SOHK’s values

● Line-manage and support the Director of Finance & Operations, ensuring operational excellence

Governance and the Board

● Act as the primary link between the organisation and the Trustees

● Attend all Trustee meetings (held quarterly) and provide timely, accurate reporting

● Ensure compliance with all legal, regulatory, and Charity Commission requirements

About You

Essential

● Proven senior leadership experience in the charity, education, youth, or social impact sector - whether as CEO or as part of an executive team - including working directly with a Board of Trustees

● Demonstrated success in building or significantly growing an organisation, programme, or initiative

● A collaborative and values-led leadership style, with the ability to inspire trust, hold people to account, and build high-performing teams

● Strong track record of income generation, including securing significant funding from trusts, foundations, corporates, or major donors

● Experience of financial oversight, budgeting, and organisational planning at a senior level

● Strategic thinker, able to translate vision into clear plans and delivery

● Strong relationship-builder and communicator, confident with a wide range of stakeholders

Desirable

● Previous charity CEO experience - a bonus, but not essential; we know brilliant candidates come from a wide range of backgrounds

● Direct classroom, youth work, or education leadership experience

● Knowledge of the UK education system and youth policy landscape

● Experience of scaling a multi-site delivery organisation and working with local authorities

Personal Attributes

● Deep commitment to improving outcomes for young people, especially those facing disadvantage

● Resilient and persistent, able to work under pressure and navigate setbacks

● Collaborative, open, and reflective leader who seeks feedback and learns from it

Terms of Appointment

Contract type

Full-time, permanent

Location

Greater London, with offices in Edinburgh & Cardiff

Salary

£85,000 – £90,000 per year + £5,000 PRP

Reports to

Chair of the Board of Trustees

Direct reports

Director of Programmes; Head of Fundraising; Director of Finance & Operations

Travel

Regular UK travel, primarily to Edinburgh and Cardiff. Occasional evenings for stakeholder engagement and fundraising events

Trustee meetings

Quarterly, in London, in the evening, plus ad hoc subcommittees

The Youth Adventure Trust is a youth development charity working with vulnerable young people aged 11 to 16 years old from Somerset, Wiltshire and Swindon. Our outdoor activity based YAT Adventure Programme enables young people to challenge themselves, experience success, learn to go beyond their own expectations and grow in confidence. Through a series of residential camps and day activities they are able to build resilience, self esteem and develop social and life skills. The YAT Resilience Programme works to the same outcomes through a year long programme of monthly activities, home-based challenges and reflective practice. Our Mentoring Programme works with those young people in need of some additional individualised support at the end of our other programmes. The Trust’s Bursary Programme is open to all those young people who have completed an initial programme, in order to assist their next steps into further activities. Our aim is to make a lasting improvement to the lives of vulnerable young people. All our services are provided completely free of charge to the young people who are nominated by schools and other youth organisations to take part. 

The Role

We are looking for an experienced, dynamic and motivated Programme Manager to support, deliver and manage our outdoor based development programmes. 

Responsibilities will include:

• Acting as the key point of contact to organise, deliver and oversee the programme to a group of young people, including managing and supporting activity days and residential adventures throughout the year.

• Recruiting young people to the programme, working in collaboration with our referral partners including schools and other organisations, ensuring all involved have an excellent understanding, relationship and experience with the Youth Adventure Trust.

• Working in partnership with the young people’s families to promote full attendance, effective participation and ensure they have all the information they require. 

• Carrying out direct work with young people to help support their needs and fulfil the Youth Adventure Trust’s aims.

• Providing ongoing feedback to young people, parents, carers and schools.

• Supporting the effective monitoring of the programme and measurement of young people’s developmental outcomes.

• Working with the Mentoring Managers to select and support young people moving on to the Mentoring Programme, and promote take up of the Bursary Programme. 

• Ensuring the highest standards of support, safety and safeguarding across the programme and all aspects of the Youth Adventure Trust’s work.

• Completing the day-to-day administration and management of the programme. This will include maintaining a database, producing written communications and reports, information leaflets, website updates, budget monitoring, booking and negotiating with providers, and an array of detailed record keeping.

• Contributing to organisational planning and development, including supporting the development of further opportunities for young people. 

• Supporting the fundraising team through providing feedback, reports or event support.

You will also;

• Be involved in sector networking and awareness raising on behalf of the Trust.

• Act as an ambassador for the Youth Adventure Trust at all times.

The post is subject to a six months’ probationary period.

The Candidate

To be up to the challenge you’ll need an excellent understanding and a proven track record of relevant experience working with vulnerable young people. You’ll need demonstrable skills at building effective relationships with young people, parents/carers and professional organisations. You’ll need strong influencing and motivational skills; the capacity to get the best out of people and confidently deal with issues and challenges. You’ll be an excellent communicator, planner and problem solver, a strong team player and an exemplary role model. 

We need someone with:- 

• Commitment to safeguarding and dedication to promoting the welfare of young people.

• Relevant experience of managing young people, preferably in activity based and outdoor environments, as well as away from this.

• Experience in working in partnership with other professional organisations and parents/carers.

• Strong leadership and team skills to motivate, support and work alongside a team of volunteers, activity instructors and logistics staff. 

• Self-motivation with the ability to work on their own initiative to plan and manage their workload.

• Strong IT skills including experience of MS Office, web based platforms and databases.

• Excellent administrative skills and a methodical and thorough approach.

• The ability to perform well and problem solve in high-stress and changing situations. Ability to be flexible and dynamic in approach.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

• A positive attitude, high energy and enthusiasm for the work of the Youth Adventure Trust; an understanding of the positive impact outdoor adventure can have on vulnerable young people, and a desire to help inspire young lives.

In addition:-

• The ability to work flexible hours, evenings and weekends as required is essential - the role includes attending occasional trips staying away from home, and monthly weekend days working on activities. If you are looking for a predictable 9-5 work environment, this won’t be the right fit.

• The role is home-based, located in or with close proximity to Wiltshire and Somerset

• A full current driving licence and access to your own vehicle is required.

Safer Recruitment

The Youth Adventure Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and requires all employees to share this commitment. The suitability of all prospective employees will be assessed during the recruitment process in line with this commitment and in compliance with current employment legislation, and relevant safeguarding legislation and statutory guidance. 

Please be advised;

• a satisfactory Enhanced DBS Disclosure with Children’s Barred List will be required for this post;

• we will seek references on shortlisted candidates before interview, and may approach previous employers for information to verify particular experience or qualifications;

• if the applicant is shortlisted, any relevant issues arising from his or her references or application will be taken up at interview; 

• in accordance with due diligence checks, online searches may be conducted as part of the selection process on shortlisted candidates;

• if the applicant is currently working with children, on either a paid or voluntary basis, his or her current employer will be asked about disciplinary offences relating to children, including any in which the penalty is “time expired” (e.g. where a warning could no longer be taken into account in any new disciplinary hearing), and whether the applicant has been the subject of any child protection concerns, and if so, the outcome of any enquiry or disciplinary procedure. If the applicant is not currently working with children but has done so in the past, then contact will be made with that employer who will be asked about these issues; and 

• applicants should note that providing false information is an offence and could result in the application being rejected, or dismissal if the applicant has been selected, and possible referral to the police.

Please review our Safeguarding Policy available on our website.

How to Apply

Please complete the Application Form which includes the opportunity to outline why you think you are suitable for this role, making specific reference to the Role and Candidate Specifications above.

The Application Form should be returned to:

Abigail Hinds, Operations Coordinator 

Applications Closing Date: Friday 9th October at 9am

Shortlisted candidates will be notified by 5pm on Friday 9th October

Interview Date: Thursday 15th October, Frome, Somerset

A second interview will be held for selected candidates on Tuesday 27th October in the Wiltshire area. 

The Youth Adventure Trust sincerely thanks all those who apply, however only those considered for an interview will be contacted.

Dean Farm Trust is seeking an experienced and compassionate Sanctuary Operations Manager to take responsibility for the day-to-day leadership and operational management of our 32-acre animal sanctuary near Chepstow.

Home to 200 rescued animals, including pigs, cows, sheep, goats, equines and birds, Dean Farm Trust provides a home for life to animals in need. This is a senior, hands-on leadership role with animal welfare at its heart.

The Sanctuary Operations Manager will lead our on-site team, working through our Team Leaders to ensure the Sanctuary operates safely, effectively and to the highest standards of animal welfare. The role will oversee staffing and rotas, volunteer development, recruitment and training, budgets and resources, facilities and maintenance, land and pasture management, health and safety, compliance, contractors, projects and the operational delivery of Sanctuary events and activities.

We are looking for someone with strong leadership and people-management experience who is confident managing a busy operational environment and developing both staff and volunteers. You will need to be organised, practical and able to balance the immediate demands of running a sanctuary with longer-term planning and improvement.

This is an important appointment for Dean Farm Trust as we strengthen our operational structure and build a sustainable future for the Sanctuary. The successful candidate will work closely with the Director and Trustees while taking real ownership of Sanctuary operations and providing strong, consistent on-site leadership.

A genuine commitment to animal welfare and to the values of Dean Farm Trust is essential.

Please read our full Candidate Pack before applying. It includes the complete Job Description, information about Dean Farm Trust and further background on why we are recruiting for this role now.

NWLLC is a community-based legal practice and a registered charity. We comprise the Brent Community Law Centre and Camden Community Law Centre.

NWLLC now works across northwest London supporting residents to understand and enforce their legal rights.  In doing so, we address the root causes of social injustice – poverty, family breakdown, unemployment and exploitation.

NWLLC provides full legal casework, representation and advice in the following areas of social welfare law – Housing, Immigration & Asylum and Welfare Rights. In 2024-25 we assisted over 3500 people. We represent clients in all courts and tribunals.

We provide outreach advice services in Brent and Camden including Camden Safety Net.

We also provide the housing duty solicitor schemes at Central London Country Court giving emergency representation in possession hearings for rent and owned homes and at the warrant stage for evictions.

To oversee and manage all financial and accounts record keeping and maintain all operations and compliance to ensure the smooth running of a legal practice.

Key Tasks

 Finance

1. Maintain our Quickbooks accounts system/ Clio Case Management System

2. Process payment requests, staff and volunteers expenses and invoices

3. Identify and follow up debtors

4. Monthly reconciliation and bookkeeping of all cards and accounts 

5. Assist with preparation of monthly management, year-end accounts and audit process

6. Work with the Director for the takeover of the calculation and reporting of the taxes owed by the law centre

7. Work with the Director to take over the administration of the NWLLC payroll and pension

8. Responsible for liaison with external accountants and auditors

Legal Practice and Billing

1. Preparing information and submitting for all monthly reports to the Legal Aid Agency, including CWA (Legal Help) and Court Duty submissions

2. Work with the Director to take over the preparation of work in progress reports

3. Work with the Director to prepare and disseminate monthly billing reports

4. Work with the Supervising solicitor and the SMT to identify cases to push through the billing process.

National Trust
Director of People
Salary: £140,000 per annum
Closing Date: Monday 5th October 2026
Location: Flexible, with regular travel across the UK - including to our Swindon and London offices

At the National Trust, we care for nature, beauty and history for everyone, for ever. As we embark on the next phase of our 2035 strategy, we’re seeking a Director of People who will help build the leadership, culture, capability and organisational effectiveness needed to deliver lasting impact for people and nature across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Behind our purpose sits one of the UK's largest and most complex people-led organisations, bringing together more than 14,000 staff and 45,000 volunteers who care for and champion our extraordinary places. The Director of People will join our Executive team and play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our organisation, influencing organisational strategy and leading the people agenda at the highest level. Working alongside Executive colleagues, you’ll ensure we have the culture, leadership, capability and workforce needed to deliver our ambitions to restore nature, increase access to nature, beauty and history and inspire more people to care and take action for generations to come.

As Director of People, you will lead a broad portfolio spanning People Services, People Partnering and Development, People Engagement and Volunteering, Business Services and Legal Services. You will play a critical role in shaping organisational culture, supporting strategic decision-making and ensuring that our staff and volunteers can contribute with confidence, purpose and impact.

This is a role for a values-driven and influential leader who combines strategic vision with practical delivery, bringing people together to navigate complexity, embrace change and build an organisation that is inclusive, resilient and ready for the future.

We welcome applications from candidates who have gained the following experience through a range of sectors, disciplines and career paths, and who can bring diverse perspectives to this important leadership role.

• Executive or director-level leadership experience within a significant and complex organisation.
• Deep expertise across people strategy, organisational development, culture, workforce planning and employee relations.
• A track record of leading large-scale organisational change and transformation.
• Experience of influencing Boards, executive teams and senior stakeholders on strategic people matters.
• The ability to inspire, develop and lead high-performing teams through complexity and change.
• Strong commercial and organisational awareness, coupled with sound financial judgement.
• A genuine commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, with experience of creating environments where people can thrive.
• An affinity with purpose-led organisations and a belief in the role people play in delivering meaningful societal impact.

The National Trust’s commitment is “For everyone, for ever.” Bringing that promise to life starts with the people that work here. It means building teams with a diverse range of backgrounds, cultures and experiences. It means creating an inclusive environment where everyone is able to thrive. Our positions are open to all, and we welcome applications from all backgrounds to support our ambitions of reflecting the communities we serve and ending unequal access. 

There is flexibility regarding your contractual place of work. However, you will need to be able to travel regularly to our Swindon and London offices. Our hybrid working policy means you can balance office and home working with site visits and meetings at other National Trust places. We’ll talk about this in more detail at interview, but you should expect to be at a National Trust site for 40–60% of your working week.

To learn more about this opportunity, please visit our microsite, where you'll find the candidate pack, further information about the role and details of how to apply. Contact details for any additional queries can also be found there.

12-month fixed-term contract | Full-time 

Salary: £58,560 – £71,480 per annum

Hours: 35 per week

Location: Home-based with regular national travel 

Job reference number: 1766

Help shape the future of Cranstoun’s services 

Cranstoun is a social justice and harm reduction charity supporting and empowering people to live healthier and safer lives. Each year, we support more than 45,000 people through services including substance use, criminal justice, domestic abuse, housing and services for children and young people. 

Following a successful five-year strategy and significant growth, we remain ambitious about the difference we can make. As we enter our next phase, we are investing in the leadership and operational capability needed to support our continued development. We are now recruiting an Assistant Directors of Services to join our senior management team. 

This is a significant senior leadership role offering the opportunity to lead substantial service portfolios while helping shape how Cranstoun’s services are led and delivered across the organisation. 

The role 

Reporting to the Director of Operations, you will lead a substantial portfolio of complex commissioned services and senior operational managers. 

You will lead nine services with nine direct reports, spanning criminal justice and housing/homelessness provision. You will have clear accountability for ensuring services are safe, effective and well-led, with strong contractual performance, financial sustainability and positive outcomes for the people and communities we support. 

You will provide operational grip and evidence-based assurance, strengthen safeguarding and management accountability, build effective relationships with commissioners and partners, and ensure risks and underperformance are identified, escalated and addressed early. 

You will also work collectively with fellow senior operational leaders to embed a One Cranstoun approach, strengthening common standards, sharing learning, developing leadership capability and improving quality and resilience across our services. 

What you will be accountable for 

As an Assistant Director, you will take senior operational accountability for: 

• Safe, effective and well-led services – ensuring strong safeguarding, quality, operational risk management and service user outcomes.  
• Contractual performance – ensuring services deliver against contractual requirements and KPIs, with strong commissioner relationships and timely action to address underperformance.  
• Financial sustainability – maintaining strong financial oversight, effective workforce management and oversight of the sustainability of individual contracts.  
• Evidence-based assurance – using reliable performance, quality, workforce and financial information to identify risks and drive improvement.  
• Collective organisational leadership – working beyond individual portfolio boundaries to build consistent standards, stronger leadership and shared ways of working across Cranstoun.  

You will lead and develop senior operational managers, set clear expectations and create a culture in which support and accountability operate together. 

You will also lead and contribute to service mobilisation, transformation, workforce planning and continuous improvement. 

Who we are looking for 

We are looking for established senior operational leaders with substantial experience leading complex commissioned services and geographically dispersed teams. 

You will bring a strong track record of: 

• leading safe, high-quality services for people with complex needs;  
• safeguarding, quality and operational risk management;  
• contract and performance management;  
• managing significant service budgets and improving financial performance;  
• building effective relationships with commissioners, regulators and strategic partners;  
• leading service improvement, mobilisation and organisational change;  
• developing senior operational managers and addressing underperformance; and  
• using performance, quality, workforce and financial information to provide assurance and drive improvement.  

You will need to combine strategic leadership with operational pragmatism, understanding the detail when necessary while maintaining oversight of performance, risk, quality and sustainability across a complex portfolio. 

Above all, we are looking for collaborative, credible and values-led leaders who can support and challenge in equal measure, build leadership capability and bring people together around common standards and organisational priorities. 

Specialist experience 

For this role, you will need significant leadership experience across both Criminal Justice and Housing/Homelessness services, including housing or accommodation-based provision. 

You will understand the complexity of working across criminal justice, housing, local government and other statutory systems and be experienced in building effective relationships with commissioners and partners while maintaining strong operational and contractual oversight. 

This is a 12-month fixed-term appointment at an important stage in Cranstoun’s transformation, offering the opportunity to lead a significant portfolio, strengthen operational performance and help shape the future development of our operating model. 

Be part of Cranstoun’s next chapter 

Our successful five-year strategy has seen Cranstoun grow considerably, extending our reach and the range of services we provide. We remain ambitious and innovative, committed to developing services that respond to the changing needs of people and communities. 

As we look to the future, we are investing in the leadership, operational capability and organisational infrastructure needed to support our continued development, strengthening operational governance, consistency and assurance across our services. 

This role offers the opportunity to do more than manage established portfolios. You will help shape the future of our services and build an Operations Directorate characterised by high standards, clear accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement. 

Find out more 

Please refer to the accompanying recruitment pack for the full Job Description, Person Specification and details of the application process.

Please note: All posts are subject to an Enhanced DBS check.

How to Apply:

For more details and to apply, please visit our website via the apply button. Please quote the appropriate Job Ref in all correspondence.

Applicants must be able to provide satisfactory evidence of their right to work in the UK at the application stage.

Sponsorship is not available for this post. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK that does not require employer sponsorship for the duration of the appointment.

Closing date: Sunday 20 September 2026.

We are an inclusive employer, committed to promoting equality and diversity in all areas of our work. 

Registered Charity No: 1061582

Help transform healthcare for patients across Bristol, Weston and beyond

At Bristol & Weston Hospitals Charity, we do great things for everyone. From first breaths to final goodbyes, our work touches over 1.75 million patients across our hospitals. Together with our supporters, NHS colleagues and partners, we fund projects that bring comfort, hope and innovation to patients and their families.

We're looking for an experienced and strategic finance leader to join our Senior Management Team during an exciting period of delivery and growth following our recent merger with Southmead Hospital Charity.

This is a rare opportunity to use your expertise to help improve healthcare for patients, families and NHS staff across the region. Reporting directly to the CEO, you'll play a pivotal role in shaping the charity's future, ensuring strong financial stewardship, effective governance and operational excellence across the organisation so that together we can create the greatest possible impact.

About the role

As Director of Finance & Operations, you'll provide strategic leadership across finance, operations, governance, risk management and charitable grant-making. You'll work closely with the CEO, Trustees and senior colleagues, helping guide key decisions that support the charity's long-term sustainability and impact.

No two days will be the same. One moment you could be presenting financial insights to the Board, the next working alongside NHS colleagues to identify where charitable funding can make the greatest difference for patients, families and staff. You might be leading an operational improvement project, overseeing risk and governance, supporting investment decisions, or helping develop our people and culture. You'll also have opportunities to meet the incredible supporters, donors and fundraisers whose generosity makes our work possible, giving you a direct connection to the impact of the charity and the communities we serve.

You'll lead and support a talented team, including our Financial Controller, Head of Grants and Head of Operations, creating an environment where people can thrive and continue delivering outstanding results.

About you

We're looking for a qualified accountant with significant senior leadership experience in the charity sector and a track record of providing strategic financial leadership at executive or director level.

You'll bring:

• Strong experience presenting to boards and trustees and influencing decision-making.
• Expertise in financial strategy, budgeting, cashflow management, reporting and audit.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to make complex financial information clear and accessible.
• Experience of charity governance, risk management and regulatory compliance.
• A collaborative leadership style and a talent for building trusted relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Experience leading operational, digital or systems improvement initiatives.

Most importantly, you'll share our commitment to improving healthcare and making a lasting difference for patients and communities across Bristol, Weston and beyond.

Please note we are looking for the successful candidate to start in early to mid October to ensure a handover period with the substantive Director of Finance & Operations before she goes on maternity leave.

Why join us?

This is an opportunity to use your financial and operational expertise for a cause that matters. You'll join a passionate and supportive team and play a key role in helping the charity deliver extraordinary impact in our hospitals every day. In addition, you'll enjoy: 

• 27 days annual holiday entitlement plus an additional day off on your birthday and a wellbeing day. Plus, an additional two days leave after five years of service.

• Commitment to hybrid and flexible working. 

• Competitive pension scheme. We'll match employee pension contributions up to 8% (minimum 5%). 

• Additional support via our enhanced Employee Assistance Programme, including up to eight sessions with a licensed counsellor. 

• Life assurance cover - 4x annual salary 

• Commitment to training and development with budget set aside 

• Medicash health plan - claim cash towards a range of medical costs 

• Free Blue Light Card that allows access to hundreds of discounts at major retailers. 

If you're an experienced charity finance leader who combines strategic thinking with hands-on delivery, we'd love to hear from you.

1st stage interviews: 23/24th September.2nd stage interviews: 29/30th September.

DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

Bristol & Weston Hospitals Charity is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion.

We are committed to a fair and inclusive recruitment process and use anonymised recruitment, removing personal details such as names and email addresses during shortlisting.

As a Disability Confident and Mindful Employer, we will offer an interview to a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants who meet the eseential criteria for the role. If you wish to share information about a disability or long-term condition and would like us to consider any adjustments, please let us know in your application.

Permanent | Full-time 

Salary: £58,560 – £71,480 per annum

Hours: 35 per week

Location: Home-based with regular national travel 

Job reference number: 1766

Help shape the future of Cranstoun’s services 

Cranstoun is a social justice and harm reduction charity supporting and empowering people to live healthier and safer lives. Each year, we support more than 45,000 people through services including substance use, criminal justice, domestic abuse, housing and services for children and young people. 

Following a successful five-year strategy and significant growth, we remain ambitious about the difference we can make. As we enter our next phase, we are investing in the leadership and operational capability needed to support our continued development. We are now recruiting an Assistant Directors of Service to join our senior management team.

This is a significant senior leadership role offering the opportunity to lead substantial service portfolios while helping shape how Cranstoun’s services are led and delivered across the organisation. 

The role

Reporting to the Director of Operations, you will lead a substantial portfolio of complex commissioned services and senior operational managers. 

You will lead eight services with nine direct reports, spanning substance use and services for children and young people. You will have clear accountability for ensuring services are safe, effective and well-led, with strong contractual performance, financial sustainability and positive outcomes for the people and communities we support. 

You will provide operational grip and evidence-based assurance, strengthen safeguarding and management accountability, build effective relationships with commissioners and partners, and ensure risks and underperformance are identified, escalated and addressed early. 

You will also work collectively with fellow senior operational leaders to embed a One Cranstoun approach, strengthening common standards, sharing learning, developing leadership capability and improving quality and resilience across our services. 

What you will be accountable for 

As an Assistant Director, you will take senior operational accountability for: 

• Safe, effective and well-led services – ensuring strong safeguarding, quality, operational risk management and service user outcomes.  
• Contractual performance – ensuring services deliver against contractual requirements and KPIs, with strong commissioner relationships and timely action to address underperformance.  
• Financial sustainability – maintaining strong financial oversight, effective workforce management and oversight of the sustainability of individual contracts.  
• Evidence-based assurance – using reliable performance, quality, workforce and financial information to identify risks and drive improvement.  
• Collective organisational leadership – working beyond individual portfolio boundaries to build consistent standards, stronger leadership and shared ways of working across Cranstoun.  

You will lead and develop senior operational managers, set clear expectations and create a culture in which support and accountability operate together. 

You will also lead and contribute to service mobilisation, transformation, workforce planning and continuous improvement. 

Who we are looking for 

We are looking for established senior operational leaders with substantial experience leading complex commissioned services and geographically dispersed teams. 

You will bring a strong track record of: 

• leading safe, high-quality services for people with complex needs;  
• safeguarding, quality and operational risk management;  
• contract and performance management;  
• managing significant service budgets and improving financial performance;  
• building effective relationships with commissioners, regulators and strategic partners;  
• leading service improvement, mobilisation and organisational change;  
• developing senior operational managers and addressing underperformance; and  
• using performance, quality, workforce and financial information to provide assurance and drive improvement.  

You will need to combine strategic leadership with operational pragmatism, understanding the detail when necessary while maintaining oversight of performance, risk, quality and sustainability across a complex portfolio. 

Above all, we are looking for collaborative, credible and values-led leaders who can support and challenge in equal measure, build leadership capability and bring people together around common standards and organisational priorities. 

Specialist experience 

For this role, significant senior leadership experience within substance use services is essential, including experience of leading CQC-regulated provision and maintaining high standards of quality, safety and regulatory compliance. 

You will also need a strong understanding of safeguarding and the governance required to deliver safe and effective services for children and young people. Direct operational experience of Children & Young People services would be valuable, but we are equally interested in candidates who can demonstrate strong safeguarding and CYP governance experience alongside substantial substance use leadership. 

This permanent appointment offers the opportunity to provide long-term leadership to a significant portfolio and help shape the future development of Cranstoun’s services. 

Be part of Cranstoun’s next chapter 

Our successful five-year strategy has seen Cranstoun grow considerably, extending our reach and the range of services we provide. We remain ambitious and innovative, committed to developing services that respond to the changing needs of people and communities. 

As we look to the future, we are investing in the leadership, operational capability and organisational infrastructure needed to support our continued development, strengthening operational governance, consistency and assurance across our services. 

This role offers the opportunity to do more than manage established portfolios. You will help shape the future of our services and build an Operations Directorate characterised by high standards, clear accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement. 

Find out more 

Please refer to the accompanying recruitment pack for the full Job Description, Person Specification and details of the application process.

Please note: All posts are subject to an Enhanced DBS check.

How to Apply:

For more details and to apply, please visit our website via the apply button. Please quote the appropriate Job Ref in all correspondence.

Applicants must be able to provide satisfactory evidence of their right to work in the UK at the application stage.

Sponsorship is not available for this post. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK that does not require employer sponsorship for the duration of the appointment.

Closing date: Sunday 20 September 2026.

We are an inclusive employer, committed to promoting equality and diversity in all areas of our work. 

Registered Charity No: 1061582

About our organisation

Music as Therapy International is looking for an ambitious, creative and relationship-focused Fundraising Manager to lead our fundraising as we enter an exciting new phase of our development.

Registered in 1998 and recently converted to a CIO, we are a small, established charity with a big ambition: To inspire, guide and champion caregivers to use music to strengthen care. Our work equips caregivers with practical skills and approaches that use music to improve the lives of people in vulnerable situations around the world.

We have entered a new strategic period focused on extending our reach, evolving our training and securing the future of music in care. In 2025 we operated with an income of c.£225k.  We are now looking for someone to build on this, bringing fundraising expertise, initiative and curiosity to help us turn our strategic ambitions into sustainable growth. 

About the role

As our Fundraising Manager, you will have a genuinely influential role in making that ambition possible. Working closely with our Director and wider team, you will take the lead on developing and delivering our fundraising strategy across trusts and foundations, major donors, regular giving, community fundraising, corporate partnerships and legacies.

This is not a role where you will be one small part of a large fundraising machine. You will have the opportunity to shape our approach, develop meaningful relationships with supporters and funders, identify new opportunities and turn our impact into compelling propositions that inspire people to give.

If you are an experienced fundraiser who enjoys having responsibility, building relationships and seeing the direct results of your work, we would like to hear from you.

Lead safeguarding. Shape culture. Enable safer churches.

The Diocese of London is seeking an exceptional safeguarding leader to serve as our first Director of Safeguarding.

This is a pivotal leadership role at the heart of the Church of England’s largest and most diverse diocese, driving a culture that is preventative, accountable, transparent and focused on learning and improvement.

The successful candidate will provide strategic leadership for safeguarding across the Diocese, oversee governance and assurance, lead a skilled safeguarding team, and champion the voices of victims and survivors.

We are looking for a credible and experienced professional with significant safeguarding expertise, strong professional judgement, and a passion for enabling safer churches.

Join us in shaping the future of safeguarding in London. We would be delighted to hear from you.

The postholder will have an enhanced DBS check.

The closing date for applications is Sunday, 20 September at 5pm. The selection day will take place in-person on Thursday, 22 October. 

Please refer to the Candidate Information pack for the full details of the Role, Responsibilities and Person Specification.

Help shape the future of an ambitious local charity

MRS Independent Living supports older people, disabled people and people experiencing mental health challenges to live independently, stay active and remain connected to their communities. We combine practical in-home support with innovative community-led projects that tackle inequalities and improve wellbeing.

We're looking for a Deputy Director who is excited by the opportunity to help lead this established local charity into its next chapter. 

This is a role for someone who enjoys thinking strategically while also rolling up their sleeves to make things happen. You'll work alongside the Director to shape our future, develop new services, build partnerships and secure funding. You'll also be happy stepping into day-to-day operations when needed to support the team, maintain continuity and ensure our services are high quality and running smoothly.

Whether your background is primarily in fundraising and you're looking to broaden your operational leadership experience, or you've led services and want to develop your fundraising and strategic skills, this role offers an excellent opportunity to build a well-rounded senior leadership career.

About the role

As Deputy Director you'll provide leadership across our community projects, helping us develop and deliver sustainable, high-quality services that make a real difference to our community.

You'll:

• Work with the Director and Board to shape organisational strategy and future development.

• Lead fundraising from trusts, foundations, corporate partners and other income sources.

• Oversee our community projects, ensuring they deliver expected outcomes.

• Support, coach and develop project staff and volunteers.

• Build strong partnerships across the voluntary, health and public sectors.

• Lead monitoring, evaluation and reporting to demonstrate our impact.

• Deputise for the Director when required.

• Take a practical, hands-on approach - providing operational support wherever it's needed. 

We're looking for someone who has:

• Experience in fundraising, service management or both, ideally within the charity and voluntary sector.

• Ideas to develop and grow our community work, and the confidence and project management skills to operationalise them. 

• Strong leadership skills and the ability to motivate and support others.

• Excellent relationship and partnership-building skills.

• A collaborative, adaptable approach with the confidence to switch between strategic thinking and practical delivery.

• A commitment to co-production, equity and user-led approaches.

Why join us?

This is a rare opportunity to help shape the future of a respected local charity while developing your own senior leadership experience.

You'll join a small, supportive team where your ideas will influence organisational strategy, new services and long-term sustainability. No two days are the same, and you'll have the opportunity to work across fundraising, operations, partnerships, governance and organisational development—making this an ideal stepping stone towards a Director or CEO role.

If you're looking for a leadership role where you can make a tangible difference to people's lives while broadening your skills and experience, we'd love to hear from you.

Our staff benefits include: 

• Flexible and hybrid working

• Generous holiday allowance of 28 days (pro rata) per year plus bank holidays, rising to 29 days after one years’ service

• Enhanced sick leave and pay

• Enhanced family leave and pay

• Ongoing opportunities for learning and professional development

• Employer pension contributions of 4%

• Life assurance cover equivalent to one year’s annual salary for members of our workplace pension scheme

An opportunity to play a pivotal leadership role in a highly respected local charity that makes a real difference to people affected by cancer across West Berkshire.

As Director of Operations at Newbury Cancer Care, you will be at the heart of the charity, leading its day-to-day operations and working closely with the Board of Trustees, employees, volunteers, healthcare partners and the wider local community.

This is a broad, hands-on leadership role for someone who enjoys making things happen. You will provide direction and support to the team, ensure the charity operates effectively and responsibly, build strong relationships across our network and help ensure our services continue to meet the needs of local cancer patients and their families.

We are looking for a confident, compassionate and highly organised individual who can work independently, motivate others and comfortably move between strategic conversations and the practical realities of running a small charity. Experience within the charity sector would be particularly valuable, as would knowledge of charity governance, the NHS or fundraising, but equally important is an understanding of what it takes to lead a purpose-driven organisation where people and community are at the centre of everything we do.

For the right person, this is an opportunity to take on a genuinely varied and rewarding role with considerable autonomy and the chance to make a visible difference within the local community.

What you'll be doing

• Lead the operational management of Newbury Cancer Care
• Build strong relationships with trustees, volunteers, NHS teams and community partners
• Support the development of new services and future strategy
• Ensure the charity meets governance and Charity Commission requirements
• Manage budgets and financial reporting using Sage
• Lead and support volunteers, including recruitment and development
• Oversee office administration, communications and publicity
• Help identify fundraising opportunities and support community engagement
• Represent the charity at meetings, events and presentations
• Drive continuous improvement to ensure we deliver the very best support for local people affected by cancer.

About you

We're looking for someone who is equally comfortable thinking strategically and rolling up their sleeves to get things done.

You'll be:

• A self-starter who enjoys working independently
• An experienced operational or charity leader
• Comfortable working with a Board of Trustees
• A confident people manager with excellent relationship-building skills
• Organised, pragmatic and able to manage multiple priorities
• Financially confident, with experience using accounting software such as Sage
• A strong communicator with excellent networking skills
• Emotionally resilient and compassionate, with the ability to support people facing difficult circumstances
• Confident using Microsoft Office and digital tools, including social media.

We'd also love to hear from you if you have experience of:

• Working within the charity sector
• NHS or healthcare environments
• Charity governance
• Fundraising and community engagement.

Why join us?

This is more than an operations role.

It's an opportunity to lead a respected local charity that genuinely changes lives every day. You'll work alongside passionate trustees, dedicated volunteers and healthcare professionals, helping ensure people affected by cancer receive the support they need, when they need it most.

Job title: Services Manager (Maternity Cover)

Salary: £44,558 – £45,895

Hours: Full-time 37.5 hours per week (part time or flexible working options considered)

Location: Home-based ideally Wales or Midlands area, but any location will be considered, with travel around England and Wales

Contract: Fixed term – 9 months from December 2026

Are you an experienced employability service manager who would be able to confidently step into a 9-month maternity cover position and oversee a team of up to eight passionate and person-centred Employment Consultants, helping them deliver personalised, high-quality support to veterans and their families?  You will also have the opportunity to contribute to our services development and continual improvement programme.

At The Poppy Factory, we believe that everyone who has served our country deserves the opportunity to build a fulfilling life beyond the armed forces. For over a century, we have stood alongside veterans and their families, evolving our services to support veterans and adult family members to overcome barriers to employment and transform their lives.

What we're looking for

• A collaborative mindset: You will thrive working as part of a team with colleagues based across the UK who support each other in what can sometimes be a challenging role. You enjoy building strong partnerships, and work effectively with colleagues and external organisations to enhance the services we offer.

• Motivation and commitment: You understand that supporting people facing complex challenges can be demanding, and you're ready to bring the energy, empathy and resilience needed to support your team to succeed.

• Adaptability: You will often need to balance competing priorities or quickly shift focus depending on the needs of the team you will be supporting and the clients they are working with.

• An empowering approach: You believe in people and their potential. Whether supervising your team or developing services, your goal is to support others to grow, achieve and thrive.

Why should you apply?

• A chance to make a lasting impact: Your work will help veterans and their families move forward in life with confidence and dignity.

• Competitive salary and benefits including generous holiday and pension contributions.

• A welcoming and empowering culture, with regular opportunities for team connecting and shared learning throughout the year.

• Flexibility and variety: a mix of travelling in your area, home working and to the Poppy Factory in Richmond, London

• Autonomy and influence: The opportunity to shape your region, build meaningful partnerships, and develop services that meet real needs.

• Be part of an iconic charity with over a century of history supporting the Armed Forces community.

For further information, including the full job description for the role, please refer to the candidate pack.

Due to the travel requirements of the role and the region covered, it is essential that the post holder is able to meet these requirements through their own transport arrangements.

How to apply

To apply for this position please click "Apply for this job" to submit your CV and a covering letter outlining how you meet the essential criteria in the person specification. Please address your covering letter to Debbie Boughtflower, Director of Operations.

Top tip: we don't recommend using AI to generate your covering letter (we've seen a lot of covering letters and we promise, we can tell!) - we want to know what makes YOU a good fit for the role, and AI covering letters can't capture your personality, values and qualities, or what makes your specific combination of skills and experience an ideal candidate. 

The closing date for applications will be 23 September 2026. Please note, we cannot accept late or incomplete applications. Only applications submitted through the online process will be considered.

Online interviews will be held on 1 or 2 October 2026, with potential second interviews on 12 October 2026 in person @ The Poppy Factory in Richmond, London.

To arrange an informal conversation about the role, please contact Kirsty Gronow 

No agencies please.

The successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced DBS check.

This is an exciting opportunity to join Home-Start Kirklees at a time of growth and development. You’ll play a key role in shaping services that support local families, leading a passionate team and helping ensure children have the best possible start in life.  This lead role is fundamental to overseeing all operational delivery of services, managing projects, developing the workforce and partnership engagement.

Home-Start is a voluntary organisation committed to promoting the welfare of families through recruiting and training volunteers to provide family support. Our vision is that families will be safe, healthy and resilient and that children will have the best start in life.

We are currently recruiting for an Operations Lead

Location:  Huddersfield Town Centre Office. Partnership work across Kirklees required. Hybrid and flexible working pattern available.

Salary: NJC Scale SCP 29-32 (£39,862 - £42,839 pro rata). Starting salary SCP 29, increasing to SCP 30 after a successful probationary period.

Hours: 37 hours per week (negotiable part-time hours available).

Benefits: Generous annual leave allowance including Birthday leave with one week extra annual leave after 5 years’ service.  Well-being support (Employee Assistance Programme). Professional development and travel expenses paid. Free parking at town centre office location.

Family friendly policies.

This is an exciting opportunity to join Home-Start Kirklees at a time of growth and development.

You’ll play a key role in shaping services that support local families, leading a passionate team and helping ensure children have the best possible start in life.  This lead role is fundamental to overseeing all operational delivery of services, managing projects, developing the workforce and partnership engagement.

Essential requirements include:

• Good interpersonal, motivational and communication skills
• A passion for working in the voluntary sector and making a difference to families
• Excellent leadership and project management skills
• Experience of developing effective working partnerships with stakeholders

Please contact us for an application pack

The closing date for applications is 12 noon on Monday 14th September 2026

Interviews for this post will be held on Thursday 24th September 2026

Please do not send CVs.

 Any offer of employment will be subject to a satisfactory DBS check at enhanced level and barring service check and the receipt of appropriate references.

Home-Start Kirklees is committed to a policy of equality and diversity which respects the identity, rights and value of all individuals.  We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and all staff working with these groups are expected to share a commitment to this. You will be expected to report any concerns relating to the safeguarding of children and/or young people in accordance with agreed procedures. If your own conduct in relation to the safeguarding of children or young people gives cause for concern, Home-Start Kirklees child protection procedures will be followed, alongside implementation of the charity’s disciplinary procedure.