Director of programmes jobs

About us

Rainforest Foundation UK (RFUK) is a values-driven organisation working with Indigenous Peoples and local communities to protect the world’s rainforests and uphold their human rights. Since 1989, RFUK has partnered with forest peoples and grassroots organisations to secure land rights, challenge destructive industries, and influence laws and policies that safeguard forests and the people who depend on them.

Our mission is clear: to combine human rights and environmental protection to tackle deforestation. From the Congo Basin to the Amazon, our work has helped communities protect millions of hectares of rainforest. With a growing team of passionate advocates for social and environmental justice, we are committed to scaling up our impact to confront the accelerating climate and biodiversity crises.

About the role

The Head of External Relations is a key senior leadership role at Rainforest Foundation UK (RFUK) responsible for overseeing effective fundraising and communications strategies to support the organisation's work protecting rainforests and the rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities.

Reporting to the Executive Director, this role is responsible for building RFUK’s external profile and support for its ambitious 2033 vision to scale up community-led protection of tropical forests. The position combines strategic communications, outreach, targeted campaigns, and media engagement to connect RFUK’s impactful programmes to its growing audience, supporters and funders.

This a key role in the organisation, managing a small team, working closely with the Programmes team to craft compelling narratives that drive engagement and action, with the Operations team to ensure financial sustainability, and with the Executive Director to create and implement targeted fundraising strategies.

About you

This role requires a strong commitment to social and environmental justice, the ability to form and cultivate relationships with a range of different groups, and the ability to communicate complex issues persuasively.

You’re an experienced leader with a proven track record in both strategic communications and fundraising. You’re a creative communicator who can turn complex issues into persuasive, accessible messages that drive change and support for our mission. You know how to secure significant income from foundations, corporates, individuals and major donors, and you’re confident in building long-term relationships with diverse stakeholders. You thrive on collaboration, motivate teams to achieve ambitious goals, and bring resilience and cultural sensitivity to everything you do.

Job description and benefits

Please download the full job description from our website. We offer 30 days annual leave, 4% pension contributions, Employee Assistance Programme, learning and development allowance, and four weeks of work-from-anywhere flexibility.

Location

This role is offered as a hybrid role based in our Bethnal Green, London office. The postholder will be required to work in the office 2 days per week during their 6-month probation period. This can be reviewed with their Line Manager thereafter.

Application Process

To submit your application, kindly complete the online application form by 9AM, Friday 10 July. Please be aware that the form will be anonymised for review by the panel.

Please note that CVs will not be considered.

We strongly encourage all candidates to read the Recruitment FAQs page on our website before submitting their application.

Regrettably, due to the large number of applications we usually receive, it is not possible to write to you should you not be shortlisted for an interview. If you have not heard from us within 10 working days of the closing date, please assume that your application has not been successful on this occasion. 

Initial interviews with shortlisted candidates will be held online on Thursday 16 July. Please let us know in your application if you are available to attend an interview.

Location: The role is national, managing teams in Northern Ireland, Wales and across England. You will need to be able to work at one of our BookTrust offices in London, Leeds, Belfast or Cardiff for an average of 8 days per month whilst some of these collaboration days may be worked in partner locations, at events or stakeholder meetings in any part of the country. The position will require regular travel to BookTrust office bases and to visit and engage as needed.

BookTrust is the UK’s largest children’s reading charity. We know that children who read are happier, healthier, more empathetic, and more creative. They also do better at school.

Working with every local authority and across every region in the country, and supported by Arts Council funding, we reach over 3 million families a year via partners in schools, children’s centres, health visitors and libraries. This incredible network helps us to get children reading across the country.

This is a new role within the organisation and the new role holder will have a chance to shape and build the role over time.  You will be a strong leader with great people skills -experience of working with and leading teams working in geographically dispersed locations is advantageous. 

You will have a clear experience the public sector landscape with a track record of relationships building, and an understanding of the local government policy landscape. With a collaborative approach to working across interconnecting complex work areas, you will be comfortable working within a matrix style of management for your won direct reports and those of other teams. 

You may have charity or statutory setting experience, and will have the ability to set out a strategic direction for partnerships team members as well as being hands on in developing new relationships to support our work as well as being able to produce high quality written materials, analyse complex data and respond dynamically to a changing external landscape.

You will be an excellent communicator who manages up effectively and who is comfortable working across a matrixed managed team. You will have the ability to work closely with the Director of Partnerships in building relationships, and developing and delivering on strategies that support impact in our early years programmes by guiding the work of our partnerships team.  You will be working closely with key role holders such as but not confined to the Head of Partnerships Delivery, and Head of Programme for Vulnerable Children.

The Head of Partnerships Development will ensure increasingly effective pathways to families by setting out ways of working that ensure delivery teams can access these routes, influence decision makers and develop and build the right relationships for greatest impact. Along with the Director of partnerships the role holder will aim to both influence and respond to central, local and regional policy initiatives in the sector to support BookTrust’s mission to get all children reading, especially those from low income and vulnerable family backgrounds.
The role holder will ensure internal stakeholders are briefed on the local government landscape and that risks and opportunities are clearly articulated.

This work spans the organisation – from within our partnerships team to our research and impact, communications and external affairs, design and innovation, growth planning, communications, profile-raising and income generation – and requires strong collaborative working to draw on skills and capacity in all these areas. 

The role will work internally and externally to ensure the right inputs to ensure success for our scaled programmes, supporting everything from design to upskilling our team and relationship building across the local government and regional and country landscape.

To apply, please complete the application along with a copy of your CV.

Want to join us? To find out more about who we are please go to our website. 

We actively encourage applications from underrepresented groups and welcome candidates from all backgrounds and communities,

Please note that this advert may close early should we receive a high volume of suitable applications. 

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusivity

We aim to provide an inclusive recruitment process and actively welcome applications from diverse talent pools: minority ethnic candidates, candidates with disabilities and long-term conditions and candidates from underrepresented communities.

We are committed to equality of opportunity and want to ensure we have an accessible application process for all candidates. If you need any reasonable adjustments or would like us to do anything differently during the application process, please contact our HR team (contact details are available on our website).

BookTrust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. The recruitment and selection process reflect our commitment to safeguarding therefore, the suitability of all prospective employees will be assessed during the recruitment process in line with this commitment, and pre-employment checks.

Location: The role is national, managing teams in Northern Ireland, Wales and across England. You will need to be able to work at one of our BookTrust offices in London, Leeds, Belfast or Cardiff for an average of 8 days per month whilst some of these collaboration days may be worked in partner locations, at events or stakeholder meetings in any part of the country. The position will require regular travel to BookTrust office bases and to visit and engage as needed.

BookTrust is the UK’s largest children’s reading charity. We know that children who read are happier, healthier, more empathetic, and more creative. They also do better at school.

Working with every local authority and across every region in the country, and supported by Arts Council funding, we reach over 3 million families a year via partners in schools, children’s centres, health visitors and libraries. This incredible network helps us to get children reading across the country.

This is a new role within the organisation and the postholder will be responsible for defining aspects of the role, building relationships and processes that will enhance our ways of working as part of wider organisational processes. 

You will be an excellent communicator who manages up effectively and who is comfortable working across a matrixed managed team. You will work closely with the Director of Partnerships in building relationships, systems and processes that support our delivery across regions and countries as well as working closely with key role holders such as but not confined to the Head of Partnerships Development, and Head of Programme for Vulnerable Children.

The Head of Partnerships Delivery will lead and coordinate our early years scaled programme delivery as well as ensuring activities to support delivery and development of our vulnerable children’s work are catered or within team processes and relationship building with strategic and local stakeholders.

This work spans the organisation – and will have a close working relationships with key stakeholders in operations on aspects of the work as well as to research and impact, design and innovation, growth planning, communications, profile-raising and income generation – and requires strong collaborative working to draw on skills and capacity in all these areas. 

To apply, please complete the application along with a copy of your CV.

Want to join us? To find out more about who we are please go to our website. 

We actively encourage applications from underrepresented groups and welcome candidates from all backgrounds and communities. 

Please note that this advert may close early should we receive a high volume of suitable applications. 

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusivity

We aim to provide an inclusive recruitment process and actively welcome applications from diverse talent pools: minority ethnic candidates, candidates with disabilities and long-term conditions and candidates from underrepresented communities.

We are committed to equality of opportunity and want to ensure we have an accessible application process for all candidates. If you need any reasonable adjustments or would like us to do anything differently during the application process, please contact our HR team (contact details can be found on our website). 

BookTrust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. The recruitment and selection process reflect our commitment to safeguarding therefore, the suitability of all prospective employees will be assessed during the recruitment process in line with this commitment, and pre-employment checks.

Job Purpose

The Communications Lead will:

• Build brand awareness and help to ensure the TLC: Talk, Listen, Change Group brands are accurately and consistently represented at all times. In particular, ensure consistency in messaging and tone of voice for each brand and when communicating about the Group as a whole.
• Communicate effectively with our stakeholders (customers for our commercial subsidiaries plus funders, commissioners, supporters, partners and the public for the charity) to strengthen our relationships with them, creating high quality and engaging copy, marketing collateral and communications.
• Lead all internal communications across TLC, crafting clear, useful, positive and supportive information for our staff, volunteers and Board.
• Extend the TLC Group’s reach across the UK by delivering marketing campaigns that adhere to our brand guidelines and principles, strengthening our reputation over time with every piece of activity we deliver.
• Working with the rest of the Marketing (and wider Development and Partnerships) Department, take personal ownership and accountability for the execution of marketing activities according to agreed processes, on time, on budget and to high quality standards/

The Communications Lead will work particularly closely with our Creative Design Lead, who leads all aspects of design across the organisation.

Key Responsibilities

Copywriting and Content Creation

• Lead the creation of compelling written copy and marketing assets for a range of audiences and platforms to support the needs of colleagues across the TLC Group – including but not limited to: Engaging, persuasive and impactful sales pitches and proposals, Annual report, Case studies, Key messages, Quotes, Digital and printed collateral, Social and web content and assets, Press releases, Speeches, News articles.and other marketing materials
• Develop creative ways for this to build brand awareness, market services and facilities, communicate programmes, activities and impact.

Media and PR

• Lead on developing relations with media, generating and placing stories, and generating PR.
• Create media content including stories for press and publications
• Contribute to the identification and management of reputational and other communications and marketing-related risks. Social channels
• Create engaging and relevant written content for social media that helps grow our following and boost our reputation.
• Collaborate with our staff teams to ensure all our engagements are on brand and on message. 

Website

• Take responsibility for the development and management of all written aspects of the website, including generating content, maximising its potential and monitoring its impact. Fundraising and Influencing Work with the Development Team to:
• Produce regular supporter newsletters, mailings, reports and other content to engage with relevant stakeholders
• Lead the development of messaging, copy and content to support fundraising propositions, campaigns and events
• Help create and test high-level campaign / proposition messaging and lead the development of supporter copy for a range of applications and channels
• Create impactful and persuasive pieces to support with influencing. 

Internal Communications

• Work alongside the Creative Design Lead and Director of Business Services to further develop our internal communications streams.
• Craft organisation-wide announcements and produce organisation-wide communications in the form of (including but not limited to): - Newsletter, Lunch and learn sessions, with an aim of 6 taking place each year, Podcast (aim of once a month), You Said, We Did communications, CEO video messages, Updates on staff group / network activities, Internal events, including town halls and ‘coffee and cake’
• Support with the organisation of our annual TLC Group staff conference.

General

• Ensure marketing collateral is compliant, factually correct and internal charity practices are followed (e.g. GDPR, photo consent, claim substantiation, budgeting).
• Work with the Group Head of Marketing, Marketing Manager and Creative Design Lead to prepare, monitor and report on the annual Marketing and Communications budget.
• Develop creative communications ideas and keep abreast of latest trends and innovations to help inform our plans.

Location: Hybrid working between the Aldgate, London office and home.

We are looking for a skilled and enthusiastic leader to oversee and drive research and innovation funding at Asthma + Lung UK, shaping our funding strategy and maximising impact for people with respiratory diseases.

Asthma + Lung UK is the only charity in the UK fighting for everyone with a lung condition, aiming for a world where everyone can breathe with healthy lungs. We fund cutting-edge research and provide advice and support for the 12 million people who will get a lung condition during their lifetime. We also campaign for clean air and for better NHS diagnosis and treatment.

Reporting to the Director of Research + Innovation, you’ll drive delivery of our current Research + Innovation Strategy, launch transformative 2028 priorities and oversee our Respiratory Insights service. You will build partnerships, secure co-funding, and inspire a team to generate income, influence policy, and advance lung health outcomes while championing patient need and evidence.

To be successful in this role, you will be a strategic and influential leader with significant experience of managing research and innovation programmes, developing funding strategies and building successful partnerships. You will combine strong scientific knowledge and analytical skills with commercial awareness, excellent stakeholder management abilities and a passion for improving outcomes for people living with respiratory disease. Experience of working with academic stakeholders, managing complex projects and leading high-performing teams will be essential.

As well as a competitive salary, you’ll enjoy a range of benefits including 30 days annual leave (plus bank holidays), membership of a health cash plan, employee assistance programme, cycle-to-work scheme, interest-free annual season Travelcard loan and pension scheme. This is a fantastic opportunity to join an organisation committed to being the driving force behind the transformation of lung health.

Contract
Full-time, permanent
(We welcome proposals for flexible working arrangements)

Salary
£55k per annum

This is a newly created role. with responsibility for financial management owned previously by the Executive Director, supported by the Head of Finance & Operations. In the refreshed structure operational and finance functions are separated.

The purpose of this role is to ensure the organisation is financially sustainable, well governed, and able to deliver its mission effectively. You will lead the financial management of the organisation, ensuring robust financial control, high-quality reporting, and effective financial planning to support strategic decision-making and long-term sustainability. This is a hands-on, collaborative role in a busy team, spanning both strategic and operational finance.

Being a success in this role will essentially balance three things at the same time:
1. Financial stability, control and risk management
2. Artistic and charitable ambition
3. Long-term organisational resilience and sustainable growth

Over the last two years the Festival has refreshed a number of our platforms and ways of working, including updating our CRM, ticketing and finance systems (Xero). We have worked with an external consultancy firm who have reviewed our systems and processes in finance and recommended new approaches; we are seeking a financial leader who can continue to progress this transformation, embedding new systems and ways of working across the team, while managing the busy annual BAU finance operations. We are in year two of a refreshed Strategic Plan, with a focus on building organisational resilience, maximising income and building new revenue streams; our new Finance Director will play a key role in realising these ambitions.

The role will be the key liaison with the Audit & Risk Committee of the Board of Trustees.

Key Responsibilities:

• Financial leadership
• Financial reporting and insight
• Festival and programme support
• Sustainability and development support
• Systems and data
• Compliance, governance and risk management
• Leadership and team management

Essential Knowledge, skills and experience

• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA or equivalent experience)
• Significant senior financial management experience including Xero accounting system
• Experience of budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning
• Experience preparing statutory accounts and managing audits 
• Strong understanding of financial controls and governance
• Experience presenting financial information to boards or trustees
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
• Ability to work strategically and operationally in a fast-paced environment

For full information on key responsibilities and person specifications please see full Job Description on Edinburgh International Book Festival Website.

Key Dates:

Closing date for applications: Monday 29th June 2026. Please complete the online application using the links on our website. 

Interviews will be held in central Edinburgh during the week of 6th July. Remote interview requests will be considered but in person is preferred.

Join Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity and play a vital role in ensuring our teams can support families facing the unimaginable, helping us make a real difference.

We are looking for an experienced Operations Manager to take operational ownership of IT infrastructure and MSP relationship management, facilities, fleet, and contracts across our organisation. This is a wide-ranging role where your work directly underpins our frontline teams’ ability to deliver life-changing support to families with seriously ill children.

About the role:

Reporting directly to the Director of Finance and Operations, you will have input into how Rainbow Trust manages its IT, property and facilities, and fleet - while also leading on the day-to-day operational infrastructure across the organisation, including overall responsibility for our IT infrastructure and security. The role holder will act as the primary internal point of contact for our Managed Service Provider, overseeing service delivery, SLAs, and ensuring our IT infrastructure remains secure, compliant and fit for purpose

Managing the office facilities, leases, and contracts across our head office and nine regional sites, you will lead on contract negotiation and supplier management, managing a central administration budget and project manage office moves and operational projects.

With a focus on improving the efficiency of our systems, processes and ways of working, you will also line manage our Fleet Administrator, overseeing our fleet of 80 leased vehicles and be an integral part of decision making.

This is a substantive management role with real ownership, and meaningful variety - ideal for an experienced operations professional with a sound understanding of Microsoft Administration and cyber security ready to take on a broad remit in a values-driven organisation.

What we’re looking for:

Applications will be particularly welcome from those who have demonstrable experience of negotiating and managing contracts, including managed IT service contracts and budgets. A qualification in cyber security or IT and experience of Microsoft administration, cyber security and MSP management is also necessary for this role.

• A systematic and effective problem solver – you are self-disciplined and analytical, and you thrive on providing solutions, delivering high standards, and are skilled in appropriately tailoring your output to a range of different stakeholders for decision-making.
• A self-disciplined multi-tasker who is able to work independently and at a fast pace to meet deadlines – you are someone who perseveres and ensures close follow-up of delegated tasks to deliver consistently high-quality work through to completion.
• A strong verbal and written communicator with a high level of attention to detail – you’re a quick decision maker, who operates well within a defined area of control, basing your decisions on policy and procedures.
• You build strong working relationships both internally and externally – you are driven to achieve results and have the ability to train and support others to make correct decisions
• You work well within established systems, standards and procedures – you are accurate, highly numerate with excellent Excel skills and make fact-based and solution orientated decisions.

Why join us?

We’re proud to be a Two-Star Best Companies Top 50 mid-sized organisation and a Top 10 Charity, and we’re committed to creating a great place to work. You will benefit from:

• Pension scheme where we contribute 5% of your salary and you contribute at least 3%.
• Flexible working hours to balance home and working life.
• 25 days of annual leave plus public holidays – rising to 26 days after 1 year, 27 days after 5 years and 30 days after 11 years, with an additional 5 years to use in your 10th or 20th year of service (pro rata for part time).
• The option to buy/sell annual leave, as well as additional leave for your birthday, wedding/civil ceremony and an extra half day off for Christmas shopping.
• Time off in Lieu.
• Employee Assistance Programme with access to remote GP, counselling, physiotherapy, resources to support your mental health and financial wellbeing, as well as a 24/7 helpline via Help@Hand.
• Family friendly policies, focused on employee wellbeing, and an active cross-organisational wellbeing group running a number of initiatives throughout the year.
• Access to the Blue Light Card Scheme, and other rewards and discounts.
• Bike to work, season ticket loan and payroll giving schemes.
• A recommend a friend recruitment bonus scheme.
• Robust training and development programmes to support your learning and growth.

If you’d like to find out more about these benefits and working with us, please visit our why work with us page.

More information about us and our recruitment process can be found in our online Candidate Pack.

About us:

Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity enables families who have a child with a life-threatening or terminal illness to make the most of time together, providing expert, practical and emotional support, where they need it for as long as it is needed. For families living with childhood illness, time is everything. Right now, there are too many families coping alone with no support, no time to think, no time to make memories and no time for each other. We believe that no family should go through this alone, so we are here to change that.

Apply now:

To apply please send your CV and Covering letter to us via the link.

Your covering letter should highlight why your application should be considered above others and clearly state how your experience matches the essential criteria outlined in the Person Specification.

For a full job description and person specification please visit our website 

Please disclose in your covering letter if you have used AI for any part of your job application.

Early application is encouraged as we will review applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close the advert early.

Interviews will take place at our Head Office in Leatherhead. We will only contact those applicants who have been successful. If you require any adjustments during the interview process, please let us know.

An enhanced DBS disclosure will be required for this post.

Rainbow Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all employees to share this commitment.

Rainbow Trust is an equal opportunities employer, and we welcome applications from all backgrounds.

Director UK Resilience

 Location: UK Wide, Flexible (Hybrid)

Salary: £95,000 - £105,000 per annum, dependent on experience
Hours: 35 per week
Contract: Permanent

Are you ready to lead the British Red Cross’s crisis resilience across the UK - helping to prevent suffering, save lives and uphold dignity when it matters most?

This is a rarely advertised, high‑impact leadership opportunity to play a defining role in how the British Red Cross delivers its humanitarian mission across the UK. As Director of UK Resilience, you will lead at the moments when people are most vulnerable - shaping how communities prepare for crises, respond in emergencies, and recover with strength and dignity.

 You will set the strategic direction for a coordinated, UK‑wide approach to emergency response, recovery, preparedness and community education, working in close partnership with government, emergency services, local authorities and the voluntary sector. Your leadership will ensure the British Red Cross is ready to act swiftly and effectively in an increasingly complex and unpredictable crisis landscape.

 Embedded within UK Operations, you will provide national strategic leadership at scale, enabling the organisation to mobilise staff, volunteers and partners rapidly and with confidence. Operating within a complex matrix environment, you will bring together multidisciplinary teams and senior leaders, harnessing the depth of expertise across our workforce and volunteer network to deliver trusted, well‑coordinated humanitarian responses.

 With the reach, credibility and experience of the Red Cross Movement behind you, you will help deliver large‑scale, integrated responses alongside statutory responders - meeting immediate humanitarian need while strengthening long‑term community resilience. Representing the organisation nationally, you will build influential partnerships, support delivery of our 2030 Strategy, and help ensure our crisis response continues to evolve in line with our Fundamental Principles.

 At the heart of this role is a deep commitment to humanity. If you are motivated by purpose, ready to lead at national level, and driven to make a tangible difference in people’s lives when they need it most, this is your opportunity to help lead the Red Cross mission in the UK.

What will a day in the life of a UK Director of UK Resilience involve?

• Providing overall national strategic leadership for the British Red Cross’s UK resilience mission, shaping how we prepare for, respond to and recover from crises across the UK.
• Setting the direction and ensuring delivery of a nationally coherent, evidence‑based UK Resilience offer, aligned to the organisation’s 2030 Strategy and humanitarian mission.
• Leading a large, multidisciplinary directorate across Strategy & Performance, Product, Business Services and Operations, creating clarity of accountability and empowering teams to deliver at scale.
• Acting as the organisation’s professional authority on humanitarian resilience, ensuring British Red Cross expertise informs national policy, standards and practice.
• Building and sustaining strategic partnerships with government (including devolved administrations), statutory responders, civil contingencies partners and the voluntary and community sector.
• Ensuring resilience activity across the UK is effective, consistent, financially sustainable and grounded in operational delivery, with a clear focus on communities most exposed to risk.
• Working closely with operational leaders and volunteer teams to maintain readiness and the ability to scale quickly during crises.

To be a successful UK Director of UK Resilience, what will you need?

• Knowledge of national resilience systems, including preparedness, response and recovery arrangements operating across the UK.
• Senior-level experience of leading or influencing complex, multi-agency and multi-stakeholder environments, with the ability to work effectively across sectors.
• Experience of developing and delivering strategy at national or system level, including translating strategic intent into priorities and outcomes.
• Experience of building and sustaining strategic partnerships with government, emergency responders and voluntary and community sector organisations.
• Experience of operating with senior stakeholders, including producing high-quality strategic documents and Board-level papers.
• Understanding and experience of how risk, vulnerability and impact from crises differ across communities, and how this shapes effective resilience planning and delivery.

We understand that no candidate will meet every requirement. If your experience looks a little different but you feel you can bring value to this role, we would strongly encourage you to apply.

Interested? Apply now!
Please submit your application via the British Red Cross website. You’ll need an up-to-date CV and supporting statement as part of your application.

The closing date for applications is 23.59 on the 5th July 2026.

We’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation and we value different experiences and the perspectives that lived experience brings. We welcome applications from all backgrounds, particularly those underrepresented in leadership.

In return for your commitment and expertise, you’ll get:

• Flexible working: Remote and hybrid working, flexitime, compressed hours, and job sharing.
• Holidays: 36 days annual leave (including bank holidays) + option to buy 5 extra days.
• Pension scheme: Up to 6% contributory pension.
• Learning & Development: A wide range of career and learning opportunities.
• Discounts: Blue Light Discount Card, Tickets For Good & employee benefits platform.
• Wellbeing Support: Peer Supporters, CiC (EAP) & Headspace App.
• Cycle2Work: Lease a bicycle through the scheme.

We are proud to be a Disability Confident & Carer Confident employer.

We are dedicated to building an inclusive, equitable and wellbeing‑focused culture where everyone feels safe, valued and can thrive. Guided by our Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Wellbeing Strategy, we foster belonging, psychological and physical wellbeing, and work to remove barriers to fair opportunities. Grounded in compassion and anti‑racist practice, we listen to diverse voices, value lived experience and create environments where staff and volunteers can succeed.

Together, we are the world’s emergency responders.

About the role

This is a senior leader role and will play a key role in delivering financial strategy, having oversight of the charity’s finance function, and working with the Chief Operating Officer to ensure the charity’s long-term financial security. The role requires excellent accountancy skills, as well as previous experience in overseeing a range of finance functions and managing a team. You will oversee the charity’s financial accounts and reporting; bookkeeping and processing; budget and forecasts; and bank accounts. You will manage a full-time Finance Manager, who has two direct reports and a Senior Finance Officer who oversees tutor and staff payroll. You will champion the charity’s values and embody them in interactions with colleagues. You will be willing to learn and have a can-do attitude.

The successful candidate will be a qualified accountant, with significant professional experience across a range of areas within finance. Your work will be accurate, efficient, and transparent, setting the standard within the Finance Team. You will be comfortable working with colleagues across the charity to implement cost controls, and to collect and report on financial data. You will regularly present this data to senior members of staff, including at the quarterly Board of Trustees meetings and the charity’s Finance Committee of the Board of Trustees. You will be an adept project manager, able to coordinate actions, track progress and deliver results, alongside having strong attention to detail and people skills. Candidates for this role should be comfortable working in a busy, efficient and high-performing team.

This is a great opportunity to join The Brilliant Club Team at a time when we are moving into the delivery of our new Backing Brilliance strategy, with a commitment to financial sustainability. Over the course of the Join the Club strategy we had focused on developing new areas of work utilising a planned strategic reserves fund. Despite a challenging external environment, we are now in a position with the support of our fundraising revenue that our programmes have reached an economy of scale for long-term financial sustainability.

We are excited to meet candidates who want to join us on this journey.

About you

The role will best suit someone who

• Essential - Qualified accountant of a recognised accounting body (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent)
• Essential – Experience of managing accounts of £2m+
• Essential - Knowledge of accounting requirements, terminology, and processes, including UK GAAP 
• Essential - Knowledge of financial controls and understanding of best practice 
• Essential - Ability to deal with sensitive issues and to demonstrate strict confidentiality 
• Essential - Ability to manage external financial relationships, e.g., bank, debtors, auditors 
• Essential - Ability to use relevant software packages, e.g., Xero, Excel 
• Essential – Experience of line management
• Highly desirable - Knowledge of charity-specific reporting requirements 
• Desirable – Significant experience in an accounting or other relevant financial role
• Desirable - Knowledge of charity-specific reporting requirements 
• Essential – adhere to information security policies included in the charity’s ISO 27001 manual and complete information security training
• Has a demonstrable passion for furthering The Brilliant Club’s mission

Shape financial strategy and sustainability across our trust.

We are seeking an experienced and visionary Finance Director to lead the financial strategy and operations of the Cabot Learning Federation. This is a pivotal executive leadership role where you will provide assurance to the Chief Operating Officer, CEO and Board of Trustees across all financial matters, including financial sustainability, risk, and control frameworks.

As a key member of the Executive Team, you will play a central role in shaping the long-term financial direction of a large and growing multi-academy trust. You will lead the development and delivery of the Trust-wide financial strategy, ensuring that resources are aligned with priorities and delivering maximum impact for pupils, staff, and communities.

Working closely with senior leaders, Principals, Trustees, and external stakeholders, you will oversee financial planning, statutory reporting, and compliance across the Trust. You will ensure robust systems of internal control, champion value for money, and drive a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.

In this role, you will lead and develop a high-performing finance function across central and academy teams, ensuring strong financial management, effective business partnering, and high-quality support for decision-making at every level of the organisation.

Hours: Full-time, 37 hours per week, Monday to Friday, all year round. A part-time position for 4 days per week may be considered and can be discussed at interview.

Location: You will work through a blended model that includes home working and working at Federation House, Kingswood, Bristol.

About You

To be successful, you will be a highly accomplished and strategic finance leader, combining strong technical expertise with the ability to influence at the executive and board level.

You will have:

• A recognised accountancy qualification (CIMA, ACA or ACCA) with extensive senior-level experience
• Proven experience of leading financial strategy, planning and transformation across a complex organisation
• Strong understanding of financial governance, regulatory frameworks, and systems of internal control
• A track record of delivering value for money and driving organisational performance improvement
• Significant experience of leading, developing, and inspiring high-performing teams
• Excellent analytical skills, with the ability to interpret complex financial data and translate it into strategic insight
• The confidence and credibility to influence, challenge, and advise executive leaders, Trustees, and stakeholders
• Experience of working with external partners, including auditors, regulators, and funding bodies
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to present complex financial information clearly to diverse audiences

Why Join CLF?

As Finance Director, you will join our Executive Team at a critical stage in our growth, helping to shape the financial future of a large, complex and ambitious organisation.

In return, we can offer you:

• Access to a generous pension through the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Generous annual leave entitlement
• A comprehensive induction and ongoing commitment to wellbeing and career progression through a range of training, apprenticeships and in-role/wider-trust development opportunities
• Wellbeing support through an employee assistance programme
• Health benefits, including wellness sessions, gym discounts, and flu jabs
• A range of generous family leave options, including above-industry-average occupational maternity pay
• Cycle-to-work scheme and on-site parking

For further information and to apply for this exciting role, please visit our website via the Apply button.

Closing date: 28 June 2026.
Shortlisting date: 1 July 2026.

Interviews will be a two-stage process comprising an Assessment Morning on 6 July 2026 followed by a final interview on the afternoon of 8 July 2026. 

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive a high level of interest in the role. Therefore, candidates are advised to apply at their earliest convenience to avoid missing out.

We are an equal opportunity employer and proud to serve a diverse student population and our communities. We strongly believe that representation matters and so encourage applications from underrepresented and global majority groups, including ethnicity, gender, transgender, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion.

As a Disability Confident Committed Employer, we are dedicated to equity and inclusion and commit to interviewing applicants with a disability who meet the essential criteria. We aim to provide an inclusive and accessible recruitment process and support employees throughout their employment. If you have a disability, are neurodivergent, or require any adjustments to support you through the application or interview process, please let us know how we can assist.

We are seeking an exceptional governance leader to join a respected membership organisation with a long-standing commitment to advancing professional excellence and delivering positive societal impact. This is a rare opportunity to influence organisational strategy at the highest level while leading governance, risk, compliance, audit, and regulatory functions across a complex and evolving organisation.

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive and working closely with Trustees, senior leaders, and key committees, you will play a critical role in ensuring the organisation continues to operate with transparency, integrity, and accountability while supporting ambitious plans for the future.

If you are an experienced governance professional who enjoys balancing strategic leadership with practical delivery, this could be your next career-defining opportunity.

About the Role

This is a strategically important leadership position responsible for overseeing governance, compliance, risk management, internal audit, data protection, and organisational assurance.

You will provide expert advice to the Board of Trustees, senior committees, and executive leadership team, ensuring governance frameworks remain effective, proportionate, and aligned with best practice.

Leading a specialist team, you will champion a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and informed decision-making across the organisation. You will also play a key role in supporting organisational change, strengthening risk management capability, and embedding governance excellence throughout the business.

This role offers significant visibility and influence, providing the opportunity to work closely with senior stakeholders and contribute directly to organisational strategy and performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership across governance, risk, compliance, audit, and assurance functions.
• Act as a trusted adviser to Trustees, Board committees, and executive leaders on governance matters.
• Ensure governance structures, constitutional processes, and decision-making frameworks operate effectively and transparently.
• Lead the organisation's approach to risk management, ensuring risks are identified, assessed, monitored, and mitigated appropriately.
• Oversee internal audit programmes and drive implementation of recommendations that strengthen organisational performance.
• Act as the organisational lead for data protection and regulatory compliance.

About You

• You will be an experienced governance, company secretarial, legal, or regulatory professional with a track record of operating at a senior level within a complex organisation.
• You will bring strong strategic thinking alongside the ability to translate governance requirements into practical solutions that support organisational objectives.
• Experience within a membership body, charity, professional association, regulator, public body, or similarly governed organisation would be highly advantageous.

If you are passionate about governance, leadership, and organisational excellence, we would love to hear from you.

This is a critical role that is responsible for managing the charity's day-to-day people management and development, ensuring appropriate processes are in place and in line with current and relevant legislation. The People Manager will help develop a high-performance culture where all colleagues feel a sense of belonging and are able to fulfil their potential.

RESPONSIBILITIES & ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Provide proactive coaching on values alignment and desired behaviours, with support and advice to managers and team members        on    all matters relating to people.
• Support managers to create an inclusive culture and workplace that gets the best out of our people.
• Promote and advocate for early resolution when issues arise, including Performance Improvement guided by organisational values         and policies.
• Effectively manage employee relations (ER) issues alongside line managers including, but not limited to absences, performance             management, disciplinary, grievances and dismissals, escalating to the Director of People as required.
• Support the Director of People to deliver change management programmes including TUPE transfers, redundancy and service re-       organisations.
• Develop an understanding of challenges, opportunities and people priorities in each team and work with managers to develop long term resource plans and succession planning.
• Support the Director of People in the development of information, reports and analysis for managers, the Strategic Management Team and the Board, to deliver insights and take action.
• Work with the Finance Manager to ensure the accurate processing of payroll.
• Support the end-to-end recruitment process, including attraction, supporting with job descriptions, shortlisting, interviews and the induction process.
• Build and implement engagement processes and activities including surveys, focus groups, conferences/away days and exit interviews, ensuring they deliver continuous improvement and enhance our reputation as a great place to work.

ROLE

• Support the implementation of Belonging, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (BDE&I) and wellbeing strategies and programmes
• Support the Director of People with the development of reward and recognition programmes
• Support the Director of People in creating learning and development programmes
• Support with the management of the L&D budget and programme, ensuring effective return on investment and value for money.
• Manage the organisation’s people information systems and identify opportunities for enhanced digital services.
• Analyse data e.g., from engagement surveys, exit interviews and turnover to inform the People Strategy and implement improvements.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Experience

• Experience in managing, coaching and developing employees
• Degree in Organisational Psychology, HR, CIPD level 5 qualified or equivalent knowledge gained through experience
• Proven experience in managing the employee lifecycle (recruitment to exit)
• Adept at stakeholder management and relationship building across multiple teams
• Proven track record in managing varied, complex employee relations (ER) issues and capable of managing several issues at once
• Experience of planning and delivering L&D projects
• Experience of working successfully in a changing organisation where flexibility, agility and adaptability are essential.

Skills & knowledge

• Strong relationship building skills, you are equally comfortable having informal positive conversations as you are holding people to account and providing direct challenge
• Working knowledge of employment law, and able to use sound judgement on when we can be flexible and when we need to be rigid in our approach
• Confident in both written and spoken communication with the ability to present to internal audiences both virtually and in person
• High in emotional intelligence, psychological agility and a coaching mindset
• Highly numerate with strong analytical and problem-solving

Personal qualities

• Track record of delivering to tight deadlines and overcoming setbacks
• A focus on continuous process improvements through measurement, analysis and progress of actions in order to deliver service improvements
• Requirement to work at pace to respond to customer requirements whilst balancing key priorities
•  A focus on outstanding customer service excellence, high standards of attention to detail, quality, accuracy and responsiveness

Desirable criteria

• Experience in managing TUPE and redundancies

Before starting this position, you’ll need to undergo a criminal record check by the Disclosure and Barring Service. You must be entitled to work in the UK.

Director of Operations – Finance & Support Services
Dartington (& Torquay as required)
Working Hours: 37.5 hours per week, 52 weeks per year, ideally Monday-Friday 08.30-16.30
Salary: £51,663.00 - £59,597.00 per annum (DOE)

Are you a skilled operations professional with a background in finance?

We have a brand-new opportunity at Lifeworks Charity, for a Director of Operations (Finance & Support Services) to play a crucial role in our Central Support team. You will drive the sustainable growth and operational efficiency of the charity, directly contributing to our charitable impact.

You'll blend your financial expertise with your keen eye for operational oversight in this hybrid role, ensuring our resources are managed effectively to benefit the young people and families we support.

Who we are:

Since 1996, we've been empowering people with learning disabilities in Devon to achieve their dreams and build fulfilling lives. Our core values of kindness, respect, and positivity guide everything we do.

What you’ll do:

Finance

- Manage and maintain all financial aspects of the charity, including (but not limited to), budgeting, forecasting, reporting, ledgers, balance sheets, bank reconciliations, debtor accounts, cash flow management, insurances, property and procurement.
- Take a lead on the development of financial and fundraising processes and strategies.
- Manage and be the main point of contact for all aspects of ESFA and DfE funding compliance and reporting.
- Lead a small team to deliver outstanding support to the charity and act as a key financial advisor to managers across the organisation.
- Produce clear and concise monthly management accounts and provide financial insights to senior managers and the Board of Trustees.
- Working closely with external auditors, prepare and oversee our year end accounts.

Operations

- Ensure that charity governance and compliance is upheld, by contributing to record maintenance, managing registers and supporting with reviews of policies and procedures.
- Work with our external IT partners to manage our technology. You will make sure that the correct infrastructure, systems and processes are in the right place at the right time.
- Lead on IT security for the charity, implementing regular reviews to monitor compliance.
- Act as the Data Controller and manage all areas of data protection regulations, always prioritising data security.
- Develop and review charity policies as necessary, ensuring they align with best practices and legal requirements.
- Ensure compliance of Health and Safety policies, liaising with external advisors to maintain safety within the workplace.

Last but not least, we are looking for someone that is an advocate for people with learning disabilities and shares our common goal of making sure the people we support achieve their best lives with us. You may not be involved in the day-to-day work with our service users, but the work you will do is vital to the success of our charity.

What we're looking for:

You'll be a motivated and experienced professional who is passionate about making a difference. You should be:

- ACCA/CIMA/ACA part-qualified with significant experience (or fully qualified is a bonus!).
- A proven leader with the ability to inspire and develop a team.
- An expert in financial management, from budgeting to reporting.
- An excellent communicator who can clearly explain complex financial information to all audiences.
- Experienced in managing a broad portfolio, ideally including Health and Safety, IT, or facilities.
- Knowledgeable about governance frameworks and risk management.

If you are a strategic thinker with a hands-on approach and a desire to contribute to a vital cause, we would love to hear from you.

We're passionate about supporting our staff just as much as we are about supporting our service users. When you join our team, you can expect:

- An hourly rate above the Real Living Wage
- A holiday entitlement of 33 days’ holiday (inclusive of bank holidays)
- A fully funded DBS check and update service to ensure a smooth onboarding process
- Access to valuable resources including an employee assistance program to support your mental and emotional health

Building a diverse and safe team:

At Lifeworks, we're committed to fostering a workplace that reflects the diversity of our community. As a Disability Confident Employer, we actively encourage applications from individuals with disabilities who meet the job criteria, and we guarantee qualified candidates with disabilities an interview.

Lifeworks is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk. To achieve this commitment, we will ensure the continuous development, improvement and review of robust safeguarding processes and procedures that continuously promote a culture of vigilance in respect of safeguarding within our organisation. All staff undergo Safer Recruitment checks which include pre-employment checks, reference checks, and a DBS check with Barred List checks (where applicable).

Early applications encouraged!

This vacancy is scheduled to close on the 19th of July, but may close earlier if suitable candidates are identified. So, to ensure your application is considered, ensure you apply early!

The interview format will consist of 3 parts; a formal interview assessment, a short presentation and a Q&A with staff members. If you are selected for interview, further details will be shared ahead of the above date.

Apply today and tell us why you'd be a great fit for our team.

Please note that this role was previously advertised as Operations Manager. We ask that previous applicants of this role need not reapply.

We’d appreciate no contact from agencies regarding this role. We are only accepting direct applications.

We are seeking to appoint an experienced Project Development Officer to join our team as a pivotal element of our new National Lottery Heritage Fund-supported project.

The project will significantly augment our capacity to support UK synagogues in need of support to preserve their historic fabric and protect and make accessible the Jewish heritage they embody. The successful candidate will report to the Foundation's Projects Director, leading on essential organisational development and project set-up in the year 1 Development Phase of the project.

While a specialist consultant team will be recruited to implement this project during years 2-6 of the project subject to a successful Delivery Phase application, the Project Development Officer is integral to scoping and developing the delivery programme in the crucial initial planning of the project.