Director of programme strategy and partnerships jobs in camden, northamptonshire

Starlight has a long and successful track record of delivering high-profile, high-value special events, including the prestigious Blenheim Ball, Newbury Race Day, and until recently, the Highclere Clay Pigeon Shoot. These events are supported by influential committees and play a critical role in raising income, stewarding donors and connecting supporters with our purpose.

With a gap in our Philanthropy team and maternity leave expected to begin in March, this 18-month fixed-term role exists to lead and deliver Starlight’s flagship events at a senior level, with immediate responsibility for the Blenheim Ball (April) –  the event Tatler refers to as “ society’s smartest ball “chaired by Lady Alexandra Spencer Churchill; and Newbury Race Day (May) – one of Starlight’s longest-standing and most successful supporter events, hosted by Nicky Henderson and his Committee.

This is a senior, delivery-focused role designed for an experienced events professional who can hit the ground running and immediately take ownership of two flagship events. Working closely with the Committees, you will bring leadership, strategic judgement and outstanding project management to ensure these events continue to excel in reputation, income and supporter experience.

We are specifically looking for talented individuals who have a short notice period and are available to start in January. Candidates need only apply if available through to April 2026 with no planned significant periods of leave.

This role would suit a professional individual with solid current trade union knowledge, with excellent communication skills, with proven experience of implementing projects to diverse international and multi-cultural environments and fundraising in a global context. 

The Head of Union Building will lead a team at head office and work collaboratively with Union Building related staff in our regions to develop and deliver the ITF’s ambitious Union Building programme and its growth path. This includes the development, implementation and monitoring of strategies to ensure that Union Building portfolio and funding grows, and that Union Building projects achieve their agreed objectives and are coherently reported in line with TUSSO standards. The role will also contribute to the strategies required to fulfil the ITF’s overall objectives.

Due to the international aspects of the organisation’s work, a good working knowledge of another language would be an advantage. Proficient in using standard office equipment and other relevant software.

ITF offers a highly competitive defined benefit pension salary scheme, a flexible hybrid working model, enabling staff to work from home as well as the office, as well as the opportunity to work in a state-of-the-art modern office building in central London.

Chief Executive Officer - FoodCycle
Location: Vauxhall, London (flexible working; regular travel to Projects and for meeting with key stakeholders required)
Salary: circa £75,000
Contract: Permanent, full-time (35–37.5 hours per week)

Are you ready to lead FoodCycle through a period of consolidation and sustainable growth, protecting its volunteer-led, guest-centred model while building reliable income streams and scaling proven pilots?

About FoodCycle
FoodCycle is a national charity running volunteer-powered community dining projects that combine rescued surplus food, spare kitchen space and local volunteers to deliver free, hot, sociable three-course meals. Our work sits at the intersection of food-waste reduction, food-poverty relief and loneliness prevention. Nationally scaled but locally delivered, FoodCycle has grown rapidly, enjoys strong volunteer goodwill and is developing promising trading and schools pilots to strengthen sustainability.

As our next CEO you will:

• Shape strategy & impact - co-create and implement a clear 3–5 year strategy and a focused 12-month operational plan with measurable milestones.

• Stabilise leadership & culture - provide visible, warm and practical leadership across Projects; develop the senior team and protect volunteer trust.

• Secure financial sustainability - own the income strategy, diversify revenue across trusts, individual giving, corporate partnerships and trading, and present credible cashflow plans to the board.

• Build commercial & trading capacity - drive Manor House and other trading pilots towards viable, repeatable income models.

• Safeguard quality & risk - ensure robust safeguarding, food-safety and operational thresholds for opening new Projects.

• Raise profile & partnerships - act as FoodCycle’s principal ambassador to corporates, funders, local authorities and policy audiences.

Who you are

• A senior leader with experience stabilising and growing people-facing, delivery-focused organisations.

• Proven at generating income from multiple streams, with commercial fluency to develop simple trading models and convert corporate engagement into lasting partnerships.

• Financially literate - comfortable owning budgets, forecasting and discussing risk with trustees.

• Excellent at people and change management - able to build and motivate small national teams and large volunteer cohorts.

• Data-driven, curious and pragmatic - tests pilots, embeds what works and sets clear go/no-go criteria for scale.

• Values-driven and visible - passionate about food justice, guest dignity and volunteer leadership.

• Right to work in the UK and satisfactory DBS checks required.

Why FoodCycle?

• Lead a nationally recognised, volunteer-led movement tackling food waste, food poverty and social isolation.

• Play a pivotal role growing promising trading and schools pilots to create sustainable income.

• Work with an engaged Chair and committed board, and a small, passionate national team.

• Be part of a friendly, non-hierarchical culture where leaders are visible in Projects.

For full details of the role including how to apply, please download the full appointment brief. For an informal and confidential conversation about this position, please contact Jenny Hills at Harris Hill at via the apply button with times to speak and (optional but appreciated) a CV or professional profile which will be treated with the strictest confidence.

Closing date for applications: 9am, Monday 19th January 2026

As leading charity recruitment specialists and a certified B Corp, Harris Hill is committed to high and ever-improving standards of equitable and inclusive recruitment. We actively welcome applications from all sections of the community regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexuality and other protected characteristics.

Purpose of the job

This role is responsible for the design of UK Youth’s support to young people, youth organisations and youth workers. This could include structured youth work programmes, funding and grants+ programmes, professional development programmes, and campaigns.

You will lead and oversee end-to-end design processes, ensuring that UK Youth develops fully packaged offers that respond to the evidence base and people’s needs, drive forward our strategy and achieve incredible impact. You will work across UK Youth teams, with external design partners, and meaningfully involving young people and the professionals who support them in the design process.

You will be experienced in developing high quality funding propositions (proactively and in response to new business opportunities). You will be confident in taking a human-centred design approach to tackle some of the youth sector’s knottiest problems.  You will design solutions to important problems, ensuring that they are feasible, equitable, impactful and scalable.

In 2026, our priority topics for youth work programmes and network development are: mental health and wellbeing, employability, social cohesion and community safety.

 As a leader, you will work closely with research, evaluation, policy, service delivery, network development, and fundraising teams. You will help to improve the skills and confidence of colleagues across UK Youth to apply design methods in their own work and collaborate effectively with the Design team.

Why work at UK Youth?

UK Youth wants all young people to be equipped to thrive and empowered to contribute at every stage of their lives. Youth work can be life changing (and even life saving.) In 2026, we will be launching our new strategy, positioning UK Youth to unlock youth work so that every young person in the UK can benefit. We work with others to ensure that the youth sector is strengthened and that provision is youth-led, evidence-informed, and delivers high-quality outcomes.

 UK Youth plays a unique role in addressing the lack of investment in the youth sector, the lack of cross-sector understanding in how youth work makes a difference, and the limited opportunities to embed effective solutions. These factors lead to mass inequality of access to youth services for young people. Come and be part of this change in a driven and supportive team that puts evidence at the heart of our work.

Role Responsibilities

• Designing Solutions

• Developing new business and funding propositions

• Embedding Human Centred Design

• Building a strong external network to support the Design team’s work

• Operations

Experience we're after

• Significant experience of leading and overseeing the development of new business propositions and proposals to time-limited funding opportunities

• Significant experience of designing interventions (digital and/or physical) for young people and/or those who support them 

• Experience using human-centred-design methods and mindsets; managing projects across the end-to-end design process

• Proven track record of inspiring and motivating diverse teams and improving collaborative ways of working across teams and departments

• Experience of developing high quality programme content and curricula for young people, youth workers and/or outdoor learning instructors (desirable)

• Experience of commissioning and managing external design freelancers and consultants (desirable)

• Experience of designing and/or delivering professional development programmes (desirable)

What we can offer you

We offer a competitive range of benefits, good work/life balance, excellent learning and development opportunities and vibrant organisational culture:

• Flexible/Agile Working

• 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays (pro rata for part time employees)

• Funded training provided in; Safeguarding, GDPR, Information and Cyber Security & Equality & Diversity

• Other training available in support of your personal and professional development

• Pension scheme (currently UK Youth match employee contributions up to 5%)

• Membership of our life insurance scheme which would pay-out up to 4 times your salary

• Employee Assistance Programme to support employees both professionally and personally

• 20% discount off bookings at Avon Tyrrell, our New Forest Outdoor Centre, including camping, lodges and outdoor activities.

• IT equipment provided for the duration of contract

• CycleScheme and TechScheme

How to apply

If you would like to be considered for this fantastic opportunity, please complete an application via our completely anonymised recruitment system provided by Applied which looks to create a fair and unbiased application process for all. Scroll to the top of the page and start your application.

Closing date: Sunday 4th January 2026 at 23:59pm

Provisional Interview Dates: 12th and 13th January 2026

As this role involves working in a regulated environment with young people, any offer will be conditional to satisfactory background checks, which include criminal record check and employment reference.

At our charity, we believe in the transformative power of holidays - especially for families facing some of life's toughest challenges.

Behind every joyful moment we create is a team of dedicated professionals ensuring our operations are financially and strategically aligned. As we grow, we're looking for an Operations Manager who shares our values and wants to make a meaningul impact through scaling up delivery, unlocking new partnerships, and showing the impact holidays have on well-being and resilience. 

As Operations Manager, you'll oversee the end to end experience for families, ensure compliance and quality, and use data and insights to drive continuous improvement. You'll also play a vital role in demonstrating the difference our work makes to families, funders and to us.

If you're pasionate about operational excellence, thrive in a fast paced environment, and want to make a tangible difference for families across the UK, we'd love to hear from you. This is a hands-on management role with real scope to shape how we deliver and grow.

Join us and help transform lives.

We are looking to recruit a talented fundraising administrator who wants their work to make a real difference. In this pivotal role, you’ll be the backbone of our fundraising team, helping us secure the resources that change lives.  This is an exciting role that will work alongside our Fundraising and Legacy Administrator, and you’ll ensure that all our supporters, whether individuals or organisations, feel valued and appreciated, receiving superb customer care.  

As first point of contact for enquiries, you’ll take pride in ensuring that every donation is accurately logged and processed flawlessly and that all enquiries are managed with care.  A team-player, you’ll thrive in supporting your line management and recognise the opportunity to be part of something meaningful.

Please refer to the job description for further information.

In your cv and cover letter please outline how you meet the requirements of the role and why you would like to work for us. You must account for any gaps in your employment history.

The Centre is an equal opportunities employer.  We are always looking for talented people from all backgrounds to join us and help improve the lives of homeless young people, insecurely housed families and their children.  We particularly want to encourage people from under-represented groups in the not-for-profit sector to step forward and apply to work with us. We require our staff to recognise the valuable role that volunteers play in our work and to welcome and support volunteers with whom they work.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. We require job applicants, staff and volunteers to complete a criminal records self-declaration and to undertake a basic DBS check for this role.

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK. We are unable to sponsor visas.

Benefits

· 26 days’ leave, rising to 28 days’ leave after two years’ service (pro rata for part time staff)

· Discretionary wellbeing and celebratory days

· Workplace pension scheme and we’ll match employee contributions up to a maximum of 6%

· Life assurance cover (after probation passed)

· Employee assistance programme

· Season ticket loan

· Training and development opportunities

· Access to Blue Light Card discounts

The Head of Clinical Governance will lead and enhance the organisation’s commitment to delivering high-quality, safe care for children. This role is pivotal in overseeing clinical governance frameworks, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards, managing clinical risks, and implementing quality improvement initiatives. The postholder will work collaboratively across teams to promote a culture of safety and continuous improvement, aligning with The Children’s Trust’s strategic objectives. Whilst the post directly reports to the Director of Nursing and Quality, the remit of the role spans the whole organisation and works across all clinical directorates.

Interview date: Friday 2 January 2026

This role is not open for sponsorship.

Duties and Responsibilities

Clinical Governance

• Develop and maintain an effective clinical governance framework that supports safe and high-quality care.
• Facilitate regular clinical governance meetings to discuss performance, incidents, and quality improvement initiatives.
• Ensure that clinical pathways and practices are aligned with best practice guidelines and evidence-based standards.

Patient Safety

• Lead initiatives to enhance patient safety across all services, promoting a culture of transparency and reporting.
• Implement and maintain the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF), ensuring that learning from incidents is captured and shared.
• Monitor and report on patient safety metrics, identifying areas for improvement and ensuring appropriate action plans are developed.

Clinical Risk Management

• Identify, assess, and manage clinical risks within the organisation, ensuring effective risk mitigation strategies are in place.
• Conduct regular reviews of incident reports and risk assessments to inform organisational learning and development.
• Oversee the management of serious incidents, ensuring thorough investigations and appropriate follow-up actions are completed.

Quality Improvement

• Develop and implement quality improvement initiatives aimed at enhancing patient outcomes and experiences.
• Lead quality impact assessments for new initiatives or changes in practice, evaluating potential risks and benefits and manage the organisational governance in relation to these.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to promote a culture of continuous quality improvement.

Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure compliance with relevant legislation, standards, and guidelines, including CQC regulations and national safety frameworks.
• Maintain an up-to-date understanding of regulatory changes and ensure organisational policies and practices reflect these updates.
• Coordinate and draft the annual organisation quality account.

Clinical Audit

• Design and implement a comprehensive clinical audit program that evaluates the quality of care and compliance with clinical standards.
• Analyse audit findings to identify trends and areas for improvement, facilitating the development of action plans.

Incident Management

• Oversee the incident management process, ensuring that incidents are reported, investigated, and learned from effectively.
• Develop strategies to communicate learning from incidents across the organisation to promote a culture of safety.

Professional Standards

• Promote adherence to professional standards and best practices among clinical staff, ensuring high levels of accountability and professionalism.
• Monitor compliance with organisational policies and procedures, implementing corrective actions as needed.

Policies and Procedures

• Develop, review, and update clinical policies and procedures to ensure they align with current best practices and regulatory requirements.
• Ensure all staff are trained and knowledgeable about relevant policies and procedures.

Medical Records

Ensure that medical records are maintained accurately and confidentially, supporting patient safety and care continuity.

Medicines Management

• Line manage the lead pharmacist and wider pharmacy team
• Oversee medicines management processes, ensuring compliance with best practices and safe medication administration.

Complaints and Patient Experience

• Manage the complaints process, ensuring that concerns are addressed promptly and appropriately, and lessons learned are disseminated.
• Work to enhance patient experience through feedback mechanisms, ensuring that patient voices are heard and acted upon.

General

• Undertake other or additional duties that are within your skills and abilities, as the organisation may reasonably require from time to time.
• Act as a critical member of the Nursing and Care senior leadership team.

Health and Safety

Adhere to all Health and Safety guidelines, principles and regulations required to perform your role and comply with The Children’s Trust policies and procedures.

Wellbeing and Emotional Resilience

• Maintains a positive approach and outlook when dealing with change and overcoming challenges and problems.
• Recognises own limitations, develops realistic goals, and uses support network resource when or if necessary.
• Treats challenges and problems as a learning experience.
• Remains organised and focused when under pressure.
• Responds appropriately and effectively to all constructive feedback.
• Motivates self and other.

Education & Qualifications:

• Active NMC membership
• Educated to Masters degree level in a relevant area (or relevant experience), and / or with relevant post graduate teaching or leadership qualifications.

Experience:

• Evidence of significant operational leadership experience at AfC band 8a equivalent or above
• Experience working with children with learning disability
• Experience of working within quality and clinical governance dedicated roles
• Experience within training/education/practice-based education and presenting effectively to a variety of audiences
• Experience managing significant budgets
• Experience writing business cases for service proposals
• Experience of effective partnership working with internal and external stakeholders
• Management of change

Skills & Abilities:

• Dynamic, passionate, open, participative, and supportive leadership style
• Strong influencing skills
• Ability to develop and deliver innovative training programmes
• Clinically credible in own area of practice
• Able to deliver a multi-faceted service balancing the capacity of each area to meet service needs and priorities.
• Effective communicator

Knowledge:

Strong understanding of:

• Health care educational framework and of developing training strategies
• Clinical and operational audit data and analysis/presentation methodology
• Multidisciplinary team working
• Care of children with learning disabilities
• Safeguarding
• Quality improvement programmes and methodologies

Personal Qualities:

• Commitment to the vision and values of The Children’s Trust.
• Flexible and ‘can do’ attitude to competing commitments in workload.
• Highly motivated and reliable.
• Ability to cope working in a demanding environment.
• Commitment to maintaining personal wellbeing and the wellbeing of colleagues. 

About Us

The Children’s Trust is the UK’s leading charity for children with acquired brain injury, providing expert rehabilitation, education, therapy, and care at our national specialist centre in Tadworth, and to children and their families across the UK, via our Brain Injury Community Service.

Boasting a beautiful 24-acre site in Surrey, we are located just outside of London, close to the M25 (accessible via Junction 8, A217 to Tadworth) and easily accessible via National Rail, by way of: Clapham Junction, Sutton, and Epsom.

Staff Benefits

The work we do is highly rewarding, and in addition to an attractive salary, we offer a valuable range of benefits on our staff flexible benefits platform, on-site nursery, free eye tests, enhanced Maternity and Paternity Pay, time out days for those experiencing menopause symptoms and time off for gender reassignment.

We also offer additional annual leave days for those with long service, with entitlements ranging from 35 to 41 days (including bank holidays) depending on your length of service.

Other benefits include free on-site parking; a staff shuttle service from Epsom and Sutton train stations to Tadworth Court, subsidised cafeteria, on-site staff accommodation (subject to availability), the ability to retain your NHS pension (where applicable), Teacher’s pension (where applicable) or the opportunity to join an alternative scheme, and the opportunity to develop your career in a supportive and collaborative environment.

Rehabilitation of Offenders

Many roles at The Children’s Trust are exempt from the provisions of Section 4 (2) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, by virtue of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013 and 2020) and as such, are subject to an Enhanced DBS check.  Successful applicants will be required to complete an Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check, which will disclose all unspent convictions and adult cautions and any spent convictions or adult cautions that would not be protected.  The exceptions to this are our retail roles within The Children’s Trust shops, which are subject to Basic DBS checks which will disclose unspent convictions or adult cautions.

Equal Opportunity Employer

To help us achieve our ambition to give children and young people with brain injury and neurodisability the opportunity to live the best life possible, we want to accurately reflect the UK’s diverse population. We want equity, diversity, and inclusion to be at the heart of everything we do, and our people, services, and culture to reflect the diverse needs of all. Through our diversity and inclusion strategy, we have made a commitment to increase the diversity of our charity and create an inclusive culture. We have networks across the organisation working to ensure that these aims are met - including an LGBTQIA2S+ group, Ethnic Diversity Group, and Spark – our broad EDI group. Read more about our EDI work here. We welcome applications from all who share our ambition regardless of background. We will strive to ensure that any reasonable adjustments are made in respect of interview and working arrangements.

Online Searches

In accordance with statutory safeguarding and child protection guidance, online searches will be conducted for shortlisted candidates before interview. The online searches will be conducted by a person who is independent of the interview and selection process and will focus on relevant information returned via searches of the candidate’s name (and variations thereof). Social media searches will be limited to professional platforms such as LinkedIn. Any concerns relating to suitability for work with children and young people will be forwarded to the interview panel, for discussion during the interview.

Use your strategic human resource leadership skills to help bring freedom from slavery and violence.

At IJM, we’re seeing the impossible become reality: entire justice systems transformed, violence reduced by up to 85%, and thousands of lives transformed. Now we’re stepping into a new season—scaling to rescue and protect millions.

To get there, we’re looking for an HR Business Partner to support the growth of our Programme Offices and Advancement Offices in Europe and Africa. You will serve as a bridge between regional and global leaders, ensuring we are aligned to our ambitious global mission and priorities. You will develop a strategic HR function for the region that supports talent acquisition and development, embeds our culture of agility and partnership, data-driven decision-making and spiritual formation.

You will bring outstanding HR business partnering experience at progressively senior levels, ideally within complex, matrixed and global organizations, a passion for justice and a mature Christian faith.

If you’re ready to put your strategic HR leadership skills to work so that all may be free, please see the job pack attached and prayerfully consider joining us. Closing date 7th January.

The Freedom Fund

The Freedom Fund is a global non-profit dedicated to ending modern slavery. Since 2014, we’ve invested over $100 million into frontline organisations and coalitions, helping to shift power to local actors and create lasting systems change. Our new strategy doubles down on this commitment, investing in anti-slavery movements, fostering collaboration, and working as a trusted partner to the incredible people and organisations driving this work forward. 
 
Safeguarding Manager
This is a key role in the Freedom Fund’s Safeguarding Manager will work closely with colleagues to lead efforts to build internal capacity and embed strong, inclusive safeguarding practices throughout our work. You’ll coordinate a network of safeguarding focal points and champions across teams and geographies, helping ensure safeguarding is an active, everyday part of our organizational culture.

Interview process: 2 stage interview process: week commencing 5th January 2026
Please see the job description for all details.

Switchback is built on the transformational power of trusted relationships – and that applies to our supporters and partners too. As we get ready to launch our next strategic plan, we’re looking for a new Head of Development to help us grow an even stronger supporter base across the full fundraising landscape, ranging from philanthropy to corporate partnerships, to trusts and foundations.

We are an ambitious team who want to make a huge difference, both to the lives of the young men we support and to society through transforming the justice system.

As Head of Development and a member of the Leadership Team, you will play a key role in shaping and leading a new and ambitious Development Strategy to secure the resources we need to grow our frontline and influencing impact. You’ll lead on supporting and galvanizing our small but mighty Development Team to grow their skills and Switchback’s income. You’ll oversee our development systems and processes, maintaining our trajectory of growth to ensure we remain sustainable in future years. And you’ll understand how to interpret and use our robust data and compelling Trainee journeys to make a compelling case for support to the full range of existing and potential supporters.

We’ve grown our income from £1m in 2022 to £1.5m in 2025 and know that further growth requires a clear development strategy which engages supporters in our vision for transforming more lives through better resettlement policy and practice.

This is an exciting role for a first-time leader - you will be fully supported by an experienced CEO and a collaborative Leadership Team, with a focus on your professional development. You’ll be joining at an exciting time of growth and building on a strong fundraising track record.
Our ambitious new strategic plan aims to support more Londoners than ever by 2030 and build the evidence for transforming national resettlement policy, with a staff team of 30 dedicated individuals aiming to push forward that vision. We are a hands-on, collaborative team, so you’ll need to enjoy getting stuck in with everything from bid writing to pitching to building our pipeline of prospective supporters.

We are seeking someone with a strong track record in building long-term funding relationships, who can apply that skill across the whole fundraising landscape, including with both institutions (corporates, trusts and foundations, and statutory grants) and individuals (high net worth philanthropists and individual regular donors).

You’ll be a confident bid writer who can guide your team in producing high quality applications and funder reports. You’ll be happy to absorb and build on Switchback’s style and continuously promote our gold standard of stewardship, which bolsters Switchback’s funder base.

Joining Switchback means you will also work closely with all members of our dedicated team, giving you a unique perspective that will support your work in demonstrating to funders how and why their support matters, and how supporting Switchback will help them meet their own charitable aims.

If you are an experienced, successful and creative fundraiser with a track record in building long-term relationships and who shares our values and vision, we would love to hear from you.

About SPANA

SPANA (The Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad) is the global charity for the working animals of the world. Since our foundation in 1923, we have worked where they work, to support the welfare of working animals, including horses, donkeys, mules, oxen, dogs and camels.

About this role

The Veterinary Adviser will join SPANA’s team of advisers in the Global Animal Health and Welfare Directorate (AHW), which is closely aligned with the Global Programmes Department. The teams work closely together to co-deliver projects that sustainably benefit the health and welfare of working animals and the communities relying on them, promoting a One Health and One Welfare approach.

The AHW team hold responsibility for delivering technical expertise in animal health and welfare, and support partner projects to deliver animal health and welfare services in line with SPANA’s quality standards framework.
The Veterinary Adviser will provide technical advice, training and support across the organisation and for SPANA’s global network of partners. They will implement tools for monitoring of working animal health and welfare data and utilise this information to inform approaches and interventions

The Veterinary Adviser will provide technical advice, training and support across the organisation and for SPANA’s global network of partners. They will implement tools for monitoring of working animal health and welfare data and utilise this information to inform approaches and interventions.

Contract, location and salary

This is a full-time (34.5 hour per week), permanent role based in the UK. SPANA works on a hybrid basis, and staff come into our office in London for approximately 1-2 days per month (or more if preferred). 

The salary for this role is c.£42k per annum, subject to skills and experience. SPANA provides employee benefits including a generous company pensions scheme and healthcare cashplan with Medicash. 

Full details and how to apply

Please review the job description for full details including a person specification and information on how to apply.

The deadline for applications is 23:59 GMT on 04 January 2026. 

Candidates must have the right to work in the UK.

Do you enjoy crafting stories that bridge divides and create powerful connections? Are you an organised, proactive operator who thrives in a dynamic team? Do you want to help shape a growing community of social leaders tackling poverty in the United Kingdom?

UK Acumen Academy is looking for a Communications & Operations Officer to support our programmes and spread the word about our UK Fellows. We are seeking a self-starter with experience designing and delivering impactful communications who’s eager to learn, collaborate, and grow.

About UK Acumen Academy

UK Acumen Academy is a charity (Charity number 1185457) that develops and delivers transformative leadership programmes, including the Acumen Fellowship, to equip social entrepreneurs across the United Kingdom with the tools and community needed to strengthen their leadership, scale their impact, and create lasting change. 

As the regional partner of Acumen Academy, the world’s school for social change, we are building a locally-rooted and globally-connected network of extraordinary leaders and organisations dedicated to solving problems of poverty and building a world based on dignity.

Through our flagship UK Fellows Programme, we have provided catalytic support to 85 Founders, CEOs, and senior leaders, whose innovations have positively impacted over 3 million lives across the United Kingdom.

Role Summary

As Communications & Operations Officer, you will strengthen how Acumen Academy UK communicates and delivers its mission - supporting bold social leaders and amplifying their stories of change.

Your focus will be on communications: creating and sharing campaigns that tell the story of our Fellows, programmes, and partnerships. Alongside this, you will play a key operations support role, ensuring the smooth running of our programmes, events, and participant communications.

Working closely with the UK Director, Senior Programme Manager, and Acumen Academy’s global marketing team, you’ll help shape how we reach new audiences, engage our growing community, and turn insights into action - while developing your own professional skills and networks.

This role is a full-time role and has a salary of £25,000 to £28,000 per year (depending on experience).

Key Responsibilities

Communications

• Design and deliver digital campaigns, newsletters, and social media that amplify the work and impact of UK Fellows

• Write and edit engaging content for blogs, reports, and events that tell the story of our community and partners

• Collaborate with Acumen Academy’s global marketing team to align messaging, share content, and contribute to global storytelling initiatives

• Track and evaluate engagement data to inform strategy and improve communications performance

• Create visual assets (using Canva or Adobe Creative Cloud) that are on-brand, accessible, and inspiring

Operations

• Coordinate event logistics, participant communications, and cohort updates to support smooth programme delivery

• Manage systems such as Airtable, GDrive, and Microsoft Excel for data tracking and reporting

• Support data collection and impact reporting for projects and funders

• Contribute to improving internal processes that strengthen the participant and partner experience

Qualifications and skills

• Experience creating and managing digital communications (email, social media, web, or campaigns)

• Have an eye for detail

• Can use data to learn and refine

• Comfortable with ambiguity and can take initiative

• Can build strong, authentic relationships and enjoy working collaboratively

• Care deeply about social change and are aligned with Acumen’s values: humility & audacity, integrity & respect, listening & leadership, generosity & accountability

Nice to have:

• Experience crafting stories that connect diverse audiences to purpose

• Familiarity with Canva, Adobe Creative Cloud, Hubspot, or similar tools

• Experience working in purpose-driven or community-focused organisations

• An understanding of the UK social-impact ecosystem

About Time to Shine: This role is part of the Time to Shine leadership programme established by The Rank Foundation. If successful, you will join a cohort of emerging leaders across the Rank network. Over 12 months, you will take part in structured training and peer learning designed to strengthen your leadership, communication, and organisational skills while contributing to your host organisation’s impact.

We encourage applications from people with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. You do not need to meet every criterion to be considered. As this role is part of the Rank Foundation’s Time to Shine programme, we particularly welcome applications from people who may be underemployed or unemployed, while still warmly encouraging anyone who feels they could thrive in the role to apply.

Employee benefits at UK Acumen Academy

We care about our people and giving them the things they need to succeed, and we are passionate about UK Acumen Academy being a great place to work. Wherever possible we aim to give each person responsibility to choose when and where they work, and to find the right balance between team-based and home working. We have shared office space in Somerset House, and for those working at home we’ll provide you with a laptop and an allowance to get yourself set up. Our pro-rata benefits include:

• Flexible working (with 2 days in the office)

• 33 fully flexible holiday days (including the 8 UK bank holidays)

• £600 annual budget for learning and development

• Access to all Acumen Academy’s online courses free of charge

• Monthly in-person team days

• Monthly working-from-home allowance

• Enhanced maternity and paternity leave

• 3% employer pension contribution

How to apply: 

• Stage 1: Complete your online application (tell us what you can do)

• Stage 2: Invited to an video interview with the UK Senior Programme Manager

• Stage 3: Invited to complete a short case-study exercise (show us what you can do)

• Stage 4: Invited to a video/in-person interview with the UK Acumen Academy team

Diversity: UK Acumen Academy knows that we are strongest when our team has a variety of experience, expertise, and insights to draw from. For us, diversity isn’t merely a strategy: it’s an essential part of our organisational success. We are committed to ensuring that UK Acumen Academy is representative of our society at large, and is an inclusive environment for all, regardless of race, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, faith, and socioeconomic background.

We are delighted to be working in partnership with Bird Song Trust. As a recently-established family foundation, Bird Song Trust awards grants totalling between £2.5m and £4m annually, with room to grow. Motivated by a strong Christian faith, the founders are passionate about seeing thriving families equipped to break cycles of deprivation, and building greater understanding of eating disorders to improve treatment and support.

We are seeking a strategic and relational Grants Manager to help take the Trust into its next stage of implementation and growth. Acting as second-in-command to the Director, you'll manage grants across the portfolio with a particular focus on the deprivation programme, which funds organisations supporting families, tackling homelessness and preparing young people for valuable roles in society.

In this influential role, you'll support the Director in developing grant making strategy, research organisations and assess applications, and monitor existing grants making recommendations for continuation or termination. You'll produce board papers and presentations, supervise the Grants Officer overseeing the Eating Disorders programme, and promote the Trust's founding Christian ethos by representing them at events and supporting Christian grantees. Because the Trust is fully funded, you'll have the opportunity to support projects at the cutting edge or in areas other funders aren't focusing on.

The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate:

• Experience with grants, either as a grant maker or as a grantee
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Numerate and confident working accurately with large numbers
• Excellent attention to detail with professional standards of literacy and proficiency in Excel

This is a unique opportunity for a practising Christian with vibrant and active faith to combine strategic grant making with meaningful relationship building. You'll be part of a small, dedicated team working from a beautiful office in Canary Wharf.

This role is subject to a Basic DBS check, which will be carried out by the employer.

For more information, please contact Nick Thomas, Recruitment Consultant, Charisma Charity Recruitment. Your application should be submitted through the Charisma website and include your CV and supporting statement.

We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender, religion*, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law.

*In accordance with the Equality Act 2010, Part 1, Schedule 9, it is a genuine occupational requirement that the post holder is a practicing Christian.

Contract & Hours: Permanent, Full time (40 hours), open to part time (min 32 hours)

Location: Hybrid, Canary Wharf (at least 50% office based)

Closing date for applications: Sunday 4th January 2026

Charisma vetting interviews must be completed by: Wednesday 7th January 2026

Interviews with Bird Song Trust: w/c 16th January 2026

Final interviews with Bird Song Trust: w/c 23rd January 2026

This is an exciting role leading our committed policy team leading the fight to end child poverty in the UK. The development and implementation of a UK-wide cross-government child poverty strategy means this is a great time to join CPAG as we look to influence policy makers to adopt our evidence-based policy solutions to child poverty.

We are looking for someone to take a lead role in developing evidence-based policy positions to support CPAG’s influencing and campaigns work. You will have knowledge of political processes and how external organisations can effect change. You will have a track record of producing high quality research and analysis, including policy briefings, on social policy issues. You will have experience of managing a small team and working collaboratively to identify policy issues and develop solutions with colleagues across the organisation, as well as externally.

The postholder will be working in a fast moving, high profile and complex policy environment and will need to balance short term priorities with long term objectives. Current priorities include influencing the implementation of the forthcoming child poverty strategy, gathering and sharing analysis and expertise with the DWP as part of their review of universal credit, and monitoring the development of forthcoming changes to disability benefits.

We welcome applications from individuals with the skills and experience outlined and we can be flexible about working arrangements. We operate a hybrid working system and would be happy to discuss any flexibilities required. CPAG is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion which you can read more about in the job pack.

We welcome applications on a secondment basis.

For more information about this post and to apply download the Head of Policy job pack.

If you have questions or need specific arrangements or reasonable adjustments to take part in the selection process, please contact us.

Closing date for applications: Sunday 4th January 2026 (midnight)

Interviews will take place: Tuesday 13th January 2026