Director of operations social care jobs in wakefield, west yorkshire
ID: 1557
Job Title: Deputy Director of Services & Innovation, Central Region of England
Service: Services & Innovation
Salary: £65,782 - £72,959 Additionally, £480 home-based allowance FTE per annum
Location: Homebased with regular travel across the central region of England and occasional London Head Office.
Hours: full-time 37 hours per week.
We offer flexible working arrangements - please see below for more details.
Contract: Permanent
Family Action & the Role’s Impact:
At Family Action we support people through change, challenge or crisis. It’s what we’ve done for over 150 years. We protect children, support young people and adults and offer direct, practical help to families and communities.
We see first-hand the power of family to shape lives, for better or worse, so we speak up for the
importance of family in national and local policymaking, amplify family voices and represent the changing needs of families in the UK today.
Are you an innovative, strong, team player, who is solution focused and passionate about making a difference in everything you do? Do you have a proven track record of growth and retaining services, delivering excellent, inclusive services and cultivating quality and diversity? Are you looking for a diverse, ambitious and fast paced organisation – if so, you have found it.
About the role:
The roles primary function is to lead the operational teams and lead on strategic development and growth across the region. The post holder will model the organisations values; people focus, can do, excellence and mutual respect.
The Deputy Director leads the strategic development and transformation of Family Action services across the Central region, and implements the organisation’s strategic plan and its 5 key objectives. The role focuses on stakeholder engagement, partnership, service development, and system leadership across sectors. It requires inclusive leadership and the effective line management of Operational Managers and one Assistant Director.
The role has responsibility for service delivery, risk management, performance, quality and practice, safeguarding, income generation and budgets across the region. The post holder drives accountable leadership, innovation, co-creation, and continuous improvement across all the Central region. The Deputy Director will be an excellent communicator, highly resilient, and a decision maker, while always championing Family Action’s values in delivering inclusive, outcome-focused support for children, families, young people and adults.
Main Responsibilities:
· Be accountable for service delivery across the region, contractual performance, safeguarding, quality assurance, risk management, ensuring services meet regulatory standards, delivering positive outcomes and embedding equality, diversity and inclusion in everything we do.
· Lead senior stakeholder engagement and foster strong cross-sector partnerships across the geographic area.
· Line manage Operational Managers, and an Assistant Director, oversee budgets to ensure efficient, cost-effective service delivery. Champion the sharing of learning, development of staff and volunteers and best practice across services to support continuous improvement and innovation.
· Strategic and accountable leadership, leading the region by motivating and galvanizing the team to achieve innovation, growth and quality services maximising outcomes for the people we support
· Working alongside the Business Development & Corporate and Marketing team, drive the region’s income generation through generating and responding to new opportunities, and by leading innovative service design and modelling.
· Be part of a dynamic and supportive team of other regional and national Deputy Directors, sharing and influencing cross-organisational decision making, resource allocation, strategy and organizational development and leadership.
Main Requirements (for details check the job description and person specification):
· Passionate about social justice and improving the life chances and supporting children, young people and adults who experience disadvantage.
· We are looking for someone who has senior level leadership and management experience and expertise in at least one of the settings in social care, health, young people and community sector. Who is highly robust, able to priorities multiple workflows and issues, with a good understanding of and leadership around service risks and decision making.
· We are also looking for someone who can think strategically across systems, contribute to innovation, creativity and diversity, and is an excellent inclusive leader that can inspire their teams as well as their peers and senior leaders in Family Action.
· Appointments are subject to Family Action receiving a satisfactory disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service – Enhanced and children’s barred list.
· Benefits:
- an annual paid leave entitlement of 30 working days plus bank holidays
- up to 6% matched-pension contributions
- flexible working arrangements and new starters have the right to make flexible working requests from day one of employment
- enhanced paid sick leave and paid family leave provisions
- eye care and winter flu jabs vouchers
- cycle to work scheme
- investing in your professional development with ongoing quality training and career development opportunities
We are forward looking, ambitious and committed to continuous improvement. We are a people focused, can-do organisation, which strives for excellence in all we do and operates with mutual respect.
To Apply:
Click 'Apply Now' to complete our online application form by the closing date of Sunday 28th September at 23:59
Interviews and an assessment exercise will be virtual over Microsoft Teams – Week commencing 13th October.
For any queries, or if you would like to discuss any aspect of the selection process or the potential for flexible working, please email: Helen Cantrell (full email address on advert document)
All appointments with Family Action are subject to satisfactory Safer Recruitment checks.
Our commitment to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion:
We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that candidates may need during the recruitment process and you will be asked whether you require any adjustments if shortlisted for interview. We also make reasonable adjustments on the job, where required.
We are committed to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion in all that we do and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Intersectionality is important to us and we particularly welcome applications from ethnically diverse communities, LGBTQIA+ candidates and disabled candidates because we are committed to increasing the representation of these groups at Family Action. We know that greater diversity will lead to even greater results for families and children and we strive for our workforce to be truly representative of the diverse communities we support.
We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role. For this vacancy, we are also applying positive action to improve the representation of people of colour in management roles at Family Action. As such, the guaranteed interview scheme is extended to applicants of colour who meet the minimum criteria.
To help remove financial barriers to working with us, we will reimburse travel costs if you are invited to attend an interview in person.
Family Action is an award-winning national charity working from the heart of local communities across England and Wales.




The role of CEO at Emerge is full of opportunity and potential. It is varied and at times complex, requiring a person of integrity, person centred leadership skills and responsibility.
As a Christian organisation (as stated in our registered charity objectives) we require our CEO to have a Christian faith whose theology is worked out in their day-to-day life – professionally and personally. They must be a leader of integrity and compassion for young people, team members and the communities we serve and be committed to learning and growing personally so they are well placed to enable the same for others.
The attached recruitment pack expands on this, but the below points are a summary of the most important elements of the role and the person we are looking for which the staff team and trustees have highlighted.
We are looking for someone who:
· Has significant experience of leading organisations, projects and people, and is therefore able to articulate vision, design and deliver a strategy and lead an experienced staff team.
· Has a big heart – full of compassion for young people and evidenced commitment to engage those who find themselves marginalised.
· Has an active Christian faith evidenced in clear theology, thinking and practice.
· Has established youth sector and voluntary sector experience and therefore understands deeply the challenges young people face in our communities and our city.
· Is a leader with experience of training staff and delegating effectively to enable others to grow their skills and abilities.
· Can clearly understand and work with finances – setting and controlling budgets and working diligently and creatively to ensure continued financial sustainability.
· Is confident in representing Emerge externally, networking across various sectors, maintaining and developing new partnerships, writing reports and public documents and being our champion in every context.
· Has experience of overseeing the legal requirements of running an organisation, employing staff and running an effective charity.
· Has robust knowledge of safeguarding issues as evidenced by current training and qualification (DBS etc.)
We recognise that not every candidate interested in this role will have the full breadth of experience, knowledge and skills we outline in the job description and person specification on the following pages. We are therefore interested in hearing from people who feel they meet most of the criteria and clearly share our faith, values and vision strongly enough to lead the organisation.
The majority of the role fits within a standard working day, but it will involve some evening working, and occasional weekend work recognised through an informal time in lieu process. There is some scope to work at home occasionally but youth work and leading a youth work charity mainly requires your regular presence in our offices and venues.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
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!
Executive Director Stroke Support
Are you great at building relationships across the health and social care sector and beyond?
The Stroke Association are looking for an Executive Director (Stroke Support) to help guide and inspire the organisation. If this sounds like you, then apply today!
Position: EDT01 Executive Director (Stroke Support)
Location: Home-based (Frequent travel will be required)
Salary: Circa £105k
Hours: Full-time, 35 hours per week
Contract: Permanent
Benefits: 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays (this will increase with service up to 30 days, full time equivalent) cashback and discount scheme, employee assistance programme, learning and development, pension scheme, Life Assurance, Eye Care vouchers, Long Service Award, Tax-free childcare, Health Cash Plan, Working Pattern Agreement, flexible working opportunities available.
Closing Date: Midnight, Sunday 12 October 2025. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role.
Lead with purpose and help shape our future
As the Executive Director Stroke Support, you will work with the Chief Executive and wider Executive team, to help guide and inspire the organisation towards a future where everyone affected by stroke is supported to live their best life after stroke.
Ensuring that everyone can access the support they need in a way that suits them is a bold ambition requiring us to transform our culture and ways of working so that we become more agile in the complex and changing external environment. As Executive Director for Stroke Support, you will have a pivotal role in inspiring the organisation to do its best for stroke survivors, harnessing innovation and talent.
You’ll need to connect, convene and enable teams to transform the reach and impact of our operations through service design, digital innovation, and strategic partnerships.
Creating the conditions for teams to think creatively and radically about new approaches, you’ll use meaningful data to sense make and inform decisions that lead to improved beneficiary outcomes.
You’ll be great at building relationships across the health and social care sector and beyond, applying systems level strategic thinking that will underpin delivery of purpose and what matters most.
If you’re ready to inspire collaboration and lead with vision to deliver impact for all affected by stroke, join us as we step into our next chapter of cultural transformation.
About Us
The Stroke Association is the only charity in the UK providing lifelong support for all those affected by stroke and their families. We provide tailored support services to tens of thousands of stroke survivors each year. This support includes one-to-one and group support, funding vital scientific research into stroke prevention, acute treatment, recovery and long-term care, and campaigning to secure the best care for everyone affected by stroke. Finding strength through support.
We are a Disability Confident employer, and we are making great progress focusing on flexible working, reasonable adjustments and access to work. If you have questions, or access needs, we’re happy to discuss any support and adjustments we can make throughout the recruitment process so that you’re able to contribute your best in a way that meets your needs.
You may also have experience in areas such as Executive, Executive Director, Executive Director Health, Executive Director Stroke Support, Stroke Support Direct, Stroke Support Executive Director, Social Care Director, Health, Stroke, Disability.
PLEASE NOTE: This role is being advertised by NFP People on behalf of the organisation.
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!
Freelance Communications Manager (3 days/week, remote)
About Our Time
Our Time is a pioneering UK charity supporting children and young people who have a parent with a mental illness. We make sure these young people are not isolated or overlooked by providing tools, resources and safe spaces to help them thrive. We deliver innovative programmes, education, campaigning and advocacy that create lasting change.
The Role
We’re looking for a talented and hands-on Communications Manager to help amplify our impact at this exciting stage of growth.
Working closely with the Operations Director, you will manage and support our Social Media & Communications Officer while driving engaging communications across all channels.
Key responsibilities include:
-
Developing and implementing Our Time’s communications and campaign activity.
-
Managing, mentoring and supporting the Social Media & Communications Officer.
-
Creating high-quality digital content for our website, newsletters and social platforms.
-
Coordinating partner communications and supporting campaign mobilisation.
-
Overseeing storytelling and narrative development to strengthen advocacy and impact.
-
Monitoring and evaluating communications performance.
About You
You’ll bring established experience in communications, campaigns or advocacy (charity/NGO sector preferred) with strong digital content skills and social media management expertise. You’ll be confident managing colleagues or freelancers, an excellent writer and organiser, and able to work independently with initiative and creativity. Above all, you share our commitment to supporting children and families affected by parental mental illness.
Contract Details
-
Freelance contract, £180 per day
-
3 days per week, fully remote
-
Occasional in-person meetings (London/York)
How to Apply
Please download the application pack for full details on how to apply.
Please Note: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and the vacancy will close once a suitable candidate is appointed, so early applications are encouraged.
Our Time is committed to safeguarding children and young people. Offers are subject to proof of UK work eligibility, satisfactory references covering the past five years, and an Enhanced DBS check. We welcome applications from all identities and backgrounds and will make reasonable adjustments to support candidates through the process.
Our mission is for every child in the UK, who has a parent with a mental illness, will find the support they need, as early as possible.

The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Chief Executive Officer
We are seeking an inspiring and strategic leader to guide a well-established health support charity through its next stage of growth and transformation.
Position: Chief Executive Officer
Location: Shipley-based, with regular travel across Bradford and Craven District
Salary: £45,000+ depending on experience
Hours: Full-time, 37 hours per week
Contract: Permanent
Closing Date: Tuesday 30th September
Interview Date: Bradford, date to be confirmed
About the Role
This is a pivotal opportunity to shape the future of a respected local health charity. The organisation is moving towards a more personalised and outreach-focused model of care, and we are looking for a CEO who can combine empathy with business acumen to drive that change.
Key responsibilities include:
· Leading the development and delivery of the charity’s strategy and vision
· Driving income generation across diverse fundraising streams
· Overseeing financial planning, reporting and governance
· Supporting, developing and motivating staff and volunteers
· Building strong external partnerships and raising the organisation’s profile
· Ensuring compliance with safeguarding, data protection and charity regulations
· Acting as the charity’s public face and spokesperson
About You
We are looking for a confident and credible leader with:
· Experience of successfully leading and growing a charity or similar organisation
· A strong track record in strategic planning, governance and financial management
· Expertise in fundraising across trusts, foundations, corporate partnerships and community giving
· The ability to inspire teams, build partnerships and represent the organisation externally
· Excellent communication skills and a collaborative approach
· A genuine empathy with the challenges faced by people living with or affected by serious illness
A degree-level management qualification or equivalent experience is desirable. Use of a car and flexibility to travel within the region will be important for the role.
About the Organisation
For over 35 years, this Yorkshire-based charity has provided vital practical and emotional support to people living with or affected by serious illness and their families. Rooted in the community, the charity is now evolving to ensure its services remain accessible, relevant and impactful. This is a chance to join at a transformative moment and help shape its future direction.
Other roles you may have experience of could include; Charity Director, Managing Director, Operations Director, Head of Services, Fundraising Director, Chief Operating Officer, Programme Director, Senior Charity Leader
How to Apply
To apply, please send a CV and a statement (no longer than 2 pages) outlining why you are the right person for this role.
Safeguarding Statement
This charity is committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all individuals who participate in its programmes and of all staff and volunteers. Successful candidates will be required to carry out a disclosure and barring check.
Equal Opportunities and Diversity Statement
The organisation is an equal opportunities employer, values diversity and is strongly committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees and all applicants for employment.
Data Protection Statement
For information about how your data is used as part of the recruitment process, please contact us.
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!
Location: UK based – Hybrid to any UK office with national travel
Ref PDR-251
Closing date: 9.00 am on 29 September 2025
St Giles Trust is seeking a strategic and detail-oriented People Data and Reward Manager to lead our data, reward, and payroll functions. This is a key role in shaping how we use people data to drive inclusive, high-performing workplaces.
About the Role
You’ll lead a small team to deliver effective, compliant, and customer-focused people services. Working closely with senior leaders, you’ll ensure our HR and payroll systems support organisational goals, and that our reward practices are fair, transparent, and aligned with our values.
Key Responsibilities
• Lead the People Data and Reward team, providing strategic direction and operational oversight.
• Manage and enhance our integrated HR and payroll systems, including configuration and optimisation.
• Act as the data protection lead for People, ensuring compliance with legislation and best practice.
• Provide expert guidance to the Executive Director of People and Internal Operations on risks, issues, and opportunities.
• Support the development of inclusive reward strategies and data-driven decision-making.
About You
We’re looking for someone who:
• Has strong experience in HR data, payroll, and reward management.
• Is confident using HRIS platforms and Excel to analyse and report on people data.
• Understands how data supports equity, diversity, and inclusion goals.
• Is proactive, collaborative, and committed to creating a great place to work.
• Can lead with integrity and inspire others through inclusive practice.
In return, you can expect a competitive salary, generous leave allowance, staff pension, flexible working, a mentoring programme, an advice and counselling service, clinical therapist sessions, life insurance (4 x annual salary), duvet days, season ticket loan, employee perks programme, eye care voucher and much more.
To Apply
For further information and to apply visit our website via the apply button.
• Application Deadline: 9.00 am on 29 September 2025
• Interview Date: 10 October 2025
Please note: as an organisation that works with children and adults at risk we are committed to safeguarding, protecting and promoting the safety of our clients and successful applicants will be subject to a basic DBS check.
We are an equity and inclusion confident employer. We welcome all applications, and we particularly encourage applications from people of the global majority (black, brown, multi- heritage) and those who identify as disabled, neuroexpansive, neurodiverse, with any protected characteristics and/or social barriers or challenges. We value the empowering and informative impact that all lived experiences and diversity of thought can offer the organisation.
St Giles will guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria set out in the Job Description for the vacancy.
We will be reviewing applications as they are received, and reserve the right to close this advert early if a suitable candidate is appointed. We therefore strongly encourage early applications to avoid any disappointment.
We help people held back by poverty, unemployment, the criminal justice system, homelessness, exploitation and abuse to build a positive future.
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!
Location: UK based – Hybrid to any UK office with national travel
Closing date: Monday 29th September 2025 at 9:00am
Ref: HPOD-251
St Giles Trust is seeking a strategic, values-driven leader to join our People Team as Head of People and Organisational Development. This is a pivotal role in shaping our organisational culture, developing our people, and driving forward our strategic priorities.
About the Role
As Head of People and Organisational Development, you will lead a small but high-impact team to deliver inclusive, responsive, and customer-focused people services. You’ll work closely with senior leaders to embed a culture of high performance, wellbeing, and continuous development across the organisation.
Key Responsibilities
• Lead the People & Organisational Development function, providing strategic direction and operational excellence.
• Develop and deliver a learning and development strategy that supports internal progression and value for money.
• Design and implement an employee wellbeing strategy aligned to the employee lifecycle.
• Drive employee engagement and internal communications, ensuring alignment with our EDI commitments.
• Provide expert guidance to the Executive Director of People and Internal Operations on risks, issues, and strategic opportunities.
About You
We’re looking for someone who:
• Has significant experience in organisational and people development, internal communications and leadership.
• Is passionate about equity, diversity, and inclusion.
• Can lead and inspire teams to deliver impactful people services.
• Brings fresh thinking and a collaborative approach to change and transformation.
In return, you can expect a competitive salary, generous leave allowance, staff pension, flexible working, a mentoring programme, an advice and counselling service, clinical therapist sessions, life insurance (4 x annual salary), duvet days, season ticket loan, employee perks programme, eye care voucher and much more.
To Apply
For further information and to apply visit our website via the apply button.
• Application Deadline:9.00 am on 29 September 2025
• Interview Date: 9 October 2025
Please note: as an organisation that works with children and adults at risk we are committed to safeguarding, protecting and promoting the safety of our clients and successful applicants will be subject to a basic DBS check.
We are an equity and inclusion confident employer. We welcome all applications, and we particularly encourage applications from people of the global majority (black, brown, multi- heritage) and those who identify as disabled, neuroexpansive, neurodiverse, with any protected characteristics and/or social barriers or challenges. We value the empowering and informative impact that all lived experiences and diversity of thought can offer the organisation.
St Giles will guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria set out in the Job Description for the vacancy.
We will be reviewing applications as they are received, and reserve the right to close this advert early if a suitable candidate is appointed. We therefore strongly encourage early applications to avoid any disappointment.
We help people held back by poverty, unemployment, the criminal justice system, homelessness, exploitation and abuse to build a positive future.
Having adopted a new and ambitious strategy, and embarked on a period of transformational change, Two Saints are now looking to ensure they are in the strongest position to deliver their vision in what are difficult times. This vision is ‘to be a safety net for people in tough times and the springboard to a brighter future.’ The organisation delivers a full range of services to clients across Hampshire, Dorset, Berkshire and the Isle of Wight, and the role of the Two Saints Board is to guide, direct and challenge the plans and strategic decisions relating to these services.
So we’re looking for people who can help Two Saints deliver their vision, with a background and experience in either:
- Asset management, perhaps with experience of the net-zero agenda
- Supported housing services or social care
We’re interested in hearing from talented people who may be looking for their first governance role, and you may have had lived experience.
If you’re interested in what Two Saints do and feel you can make a contribution, we’d like to hear from you so take a look at the candidate pack here https://bit.ly/45U1yDX.
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!
This is a critical and exciting leadership role for the Bumblebee Conservation Trust which will take the Trust forward to the next phase of organisational growth, building on the superb achievements to date of our retiring CEO.
You’ll need passion and energy to work on some of the most profound challenges of our time. Nature needs its champions, and you’ll need to harness all of your skills, all of your personality, and your network to grow our influence, our impact, and our outcomes. You’ll excel at galvanising others to take action enabling us to achieve our aims and ensure bumblebees are thriving and valued by everyone.
This is an incredible opportunity to join a very special organisation with passionate and high-performing teams who are truly dedicated to our vital purpose.
Please refer to the CEO pack for further information.
The Trust is an Equal Opportunities employer. This means that whilst seeking employment or during such employment with the Trust, we will seek to ensure equality of treatment for all persons regardless of sex, race, age, marital or civil partnership status, disability, religion or belief, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, pregnancy or maternity status.
At the Trust, we have a clear goal: to be the place where a diverse mix of talented people want to come, to stay and do their best work. We pride ourselves on reaching for our vision, through the hard work and dedication of our passionate and creative employees.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
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!
Community Fundraiser - Home Counties
Are you ready to take on a new challenge with a leading charity making a real difference in brain tumour research?
Brain Tumour Research is seeking an experienced and motivated fundraiser to join our team. As a key part of our fundraising efforts in our high-performing East region, you will have the opportunity to drive income generation through a variety of initiatives, including challenge events, fundraising groups, and corporate partnerships such as charity of the year. You will also be responsible for driving initiatives to increase our profile and supporter base within Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Northamptonshire and Essex.
Key Responsibilities:
- Generate income across a range of community fundraising initiatives and events, with the opportunity to lead on key projects
- Steward supporters to help drive the charity’s fundraising activities and growth
- Work with the fundraising team to develop and maintain strong relationships with fundraisers, donors, partners, and key stakeholders
- Contribute towards the growth and success of fundraising efforts, ensuring a sustainable income stream for the vital ongoing funding of brain tumour research
Requirements:
- At least one year of fundraising experience, with a proven track record in income generation
- Strong experience in supporter stewardship
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to engage and inspire supporters and partners alike
- Passion for Brain Tumour Research and its mission to fund research and ultimately find a cure
If you are looking for a fulfilling and impactful role and have the level of experience and skill we are looking for, we welcome your application.
We will give preference to those candidates living in the Bucks, Beds and Northants areas of this region.
We reserve the right to close the application window early and advise candidates to apply in good time to avoid disappointment.
We are asking for a CV as the first step but applicants may be asked to provide a targeted covering letter as part of the selection process. Interviews will be conducted during the application window as appropriate, and will consist of a first interview via MS Teams, progressing, if successful to a face to face second interview, held at our offices in Milton Keynes.
Closing Date: 26th September 2025
We are looking for people who share our passion for finding a cure for brain tumours and who have the skills and experience to make a difference. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, cultures, genders, sexual orientations, abilities, and ages. We believe that diversity enriches our organisation and helps us achieve our mission. We are committed to providing an inclusive and supportive environment where everyone can be themselves and contribute to our vision.
To find a cure for all types of brain tumours To increase the UK investment in brain tumour research

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.
UK-based/ Colchester or Home-based with monthly travel to Colchester office. Overseas travel with trips lasting from 10-14 days.
This post requires the candidates to have independent rights to live and work in the UK
Background
Lepra is dedicated to addressing leprosy and lymphatic filariasis (LF) and their consequences through direct support, advocacy, and the promotion of inclusive communities. We work in Bangladesh and in India, through our sister organisation, LEPRA Society. We work in partnership with people affected by leprosy and LF to improve detection, ensure access to treatment and care, and promote inclusion and wellbeing. Last year we finalised our new Global Strategy for 2024-30, which will guide us in our efforts to accelerate progress towards global targets for leprosy and LF, and towards our vision of a world free from leprosy and LF.
Job Context
Our Global Strategy marks a significant evolution in our organisational direction, introducing innovative approaches and renewed priorities. This includes our first-ever global Theory of Change (ToC), our most comprehensive Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) framework to date, a Research and Innovation strategy, and a dedicated Advocacy sub-strategy to guide our influencing efforts.
With the Lepra Advocacy Strategy, we will be working over the next 6 years to strengthen our approaches to our advocacy efforts. The post holder will play a key role in supporting the roll out of the Advocacy strategy working closely with the Director of Programmes and Advocacy, the Head of Research, the Senior Programme Manager, the Programme Officer and the teams where we work.
Job Purpose
This role is an exciting role within the programmes team in response to evolving needs. The incoming post holder will work within the 5 person UK’s Programme and Advocacy team and will drive, advise and support the team in relation to Lepra’s advocacy profile. We are looking for an enthusiastic, motivated, strategic and creative person who has outstanding skills to engage and work with a diverse team. We are looking for someone to work with a clear strategy and then develop, grow and successfully shape the future of Lepra’s advocacy efforts.
Working Relationships
Reports to Lepra UK’s Director of Programmes and Advocacy (DPA)
Works closely with the Programmes and Advocacy Team
Close working links with colleagues in India and in Bangladesh and the UK’s communications team
International travel as needed for programmes oversight and support, and external representation.
Key responsibilities
Advocacy Delivery (50%)
Under the supervision of the DPA implement Lepra’s global Advocacy strategy and coordinate advocacy initiatives.
Serve as the driver of advocacy efforts, facilitating the transitional year of implementation including coordinating the Advocacy Steering Group; advocacy toolkit development; action planning.
Represent Lepra in specific fora and advocacy networks and within the broader leprosy and NTD community in close coordination with the DPA.
Produce quarterly advocacy newsletters
Maintain quarterly reports on flagging areas of concern and actioning steering committee advice.
Assist in the preparation of policy documents and the presentation of papers for publication, conferences, or specific institutions and/or individuals - identifying and targeting the most appropriate audiences.
Support and contribute to the development and implementation of initiatives that foster an inclusive, equitable, and diverse environment across organisational programmes, policies, and advocacy efforts.
Support and contribute to initiatives that promote inclusion and equity, with a strong focus on developing the leadership and advocacy capacity of people with lived experience of leprosy, ensuring their voices are central in decision-making and programme design.
Knowledge management / Learning and Development (20%)
Support the preparation of Lepra advocacy and policy documents.
Disseminate knowledge so that it is integrated into Lepra’s portfolio to amplify the impact for target audiences and improve their outcomes.
Facilitate the new knowledge and learning hub and forge a clear path for its evolution.
Facilitate knowledge sharing through updating the communications team with relevant materials for the new programme folder on the website.
Organise and develop advocacy training.
Develop and take ownership of the new programme’ s team knowledge sharing approaches.
Develop a workplan of knowledge sharing events.
Support annual review meetings.
Communications (10%)
Assist the programmes team with the documentation of Lepra examples and models of best practice, at the same time identifying and developing mechanisms and avenues for the effective dissemination of this knowledge – internally and externally.
Assist the programmes team, DPO, Chief Executive and Country Programme staff in the synthesis of complex technical/scientific information adapting it to language and formats easily used by target audiences.
Contribute to content development of community engagement materials (public information, brochures, leaflets) that help explain the operations and impact of Lepra’s work to LF and/or leprosy affected communities.
Maintain good working links with Lepra’s UK Fundraising and Communications Team, contributing towards UK facing communications materials as and when required.
Prepare updates, papers, and reports for trustee meetings, funding partners, and wherever else applicable.
External representation (10%)
Support the Chief Executive, DPA and programmes team to maintain and expand existing strategic relationships with key international stakeholders to further Lepra’s advocacy strategy and advance Lepra’s agenda.
Ensure Lepra’s external profile is raised and become the go-to organisation for the leprosy community in terms of advocacy and policy briefings.
Support the preparation of documents for presentation, publication or dissemination at international fora.
Develop/support the development of country specific briefing notes/press kits with the communications team.
Represent Lepra at key events, conferences, and meetings to enhance our visibility and opportunity for impact.
Safeguarding (5%)
Promote a culture of respect, transparency, and accountability within Lepra’s implemented projects.
Ensuring that safeguarding mechanisms are in place and remain at the heart of all activities.
Support the integration of strong safeguarding and PSEA practices into project design and delivery.
Monitoring, evaluation, and impact (5%)
Ensure that all advocacy and knowledge transfer efforts are captured and embedded in appropriate results frameworks, objectives, outputs, indicators and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Provide inputs to Lepra’s reports, according to Lepra’s needs.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
Relevant degree level of education in Public Health, Social Sciences, Global Health, Human Rights, Political Sciences or equivalent experience.
Desirable
Relevant post-graduate qualification
Relevant professional health-related qualification
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
Minimum of 2 yrs experience of advocacy/campaigning/policy work with an overseas development organisation
Experience of working to advance the rights of excluded populations
Extensive knowledge of global health issues and an up-to-date familiarity with issues and practice in the international development sector
Experience in planning and implementing successful strategies/campaigns/advocacy in Asia.
Experience in programme/project planning, budgeting, M&E and reporting, within a non-governmental organisation, including the preparation of reports for institutional donors.
Ability to analyse and act on data.
Experience of working on issues in relation to disability, mental health, gender, human rights and social inclusion.
Experience in project coordination and management.
Desirable
At least two years’ experience as an advocacy manager, preferably gained with an overseas development organisation or in academia, in a similar health focused role.
Familiarity with data visualisation tools and packages.
Proficiency in one or more Indian languages (e.g., Hindi, Tamil, Bengali, Telugu, etc.) is an asset.
Skills, Attitudes and Personal Qualities
Highly motivated individual with excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal to build strong relationships, negotiate and persuade a wide range of audiences, with confidence at presenting and representing.
Proven strength in both written and verbal communication
Able to reach, network with and communicate to a wide range of stakeholders and potential stakeholders.
Excellent attention to detail, and organisational and time management skills
Ability to manipulate and analyse data to draw useful conclusions to improve programme delivery.
Ability to use databases, Word, excel, PowerPoint and other Office packages
Ability to work independently, be flexible and prioritise workload.
Ability to travel within the UK and overseas.
The right to work in the UK.
We operate a non-bias recruitment process and run our job advertisements through anonymous recruitment methods.
We offer a lot of flexibility in working practices and there is free reserved parking available at our Colchester office. We also offer 26 days annual leave plus public holidays (pro-rated), pension, Employee Assistance Programme and support from an in-house well-being team.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited for interview. Please check your email inbox and spam/junk mail folder for any email correspondence for this vacancy.
If you require any reasonable considerations such as access or information in an alternative format, please inform us soon as you are able so that we can make the appropriate adjustments.
Please do not use AI to help you write cover letters, CVs and responses to any screening questions. We want to hear your original voice.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.