Full-time Education and wellbeing specialist ( and jobs

About Topos Research UK and Topos Institute

Topos Research UK is an entrepreneurial, dynamic charity start-up in the UK (inc. 2024) with a parent charity start-up, Topos Institute in the US (inc. 2019). We are a non-profit research institute dedicated to realising a world where the systems that surround us benefit us all, so that society can better cooperate on critical issues — the climate crisis, pandemic responses, agricultural modelling, global access to education, and more — through interconnected systems that consider holistic impacts. We develop new tools for collective inquiry and modelling, enabled by a combination of novel foundational mathematics, open-source software engineering, and meaningful collaboration with domain specialists.

The Opportunity

We seek a strategic Operations Director to lead the successful scaling of our rapidly growing UK operation. This is a pivotal, creative leadership role reporting directly to our Board of Trustees, with day-to-day collaboration with board representative Brendan Fong (Topos UK Trustee and Topos USA CEO).

Current State:

• 1-year-old entity with £500k annual revenue
• 6 talented staff (research scientists, software engineers, postdocs)
• 3 planned new staff members within the next 6 months
• Two major grants: £600k (1-year) and £1.2M (2.25-year)
• Projected FY26 revenue: £1M

The Challenge: You’ll be our first senior operations hire, responsible for establishing the systems and culture that will enable Topos UK (and Topos as a whole) to thrive as we scale from startup to established institution, collaborating between the UK and US offices, and pioneering a new style of technology-oriented research organisation keenly focussed on improving lives.

Key Responsibilities

Operations & Finance Leadership

• Lead operations and finance for a projected £1M+ annual budget from research grants
• Support grant solicitation, budgeting, procurement, monitoring, and reporting
• Collaborate with financial consultants on organizational strategies, budgets, treasury, and tax affairs
• Coordinate with US-based Topos Institute on governance, consolidated reporting, and shared contracts

Strategic Planning & Culture Building

• Partner with the Board of Trustees and Topos Institute USA to develop and implement strategic plans aligned with our institutional mission
• Champion the critical role of operations and administration in achieving our research mission
• Establish and nurture an organizational culture that:
  • Integrates diverse perspectives and lived experiences
  • Views uncertainty as opportunity for innovation
  • Balances operational efficiency with academic freedom
  • Embodies public purpose, intellectual rigor, and collaboration

Team Leadership & Development

• Nurture and mentor our growing team of 6+ researchers and engineers
• Support individual career aspirations while building collective capacity
• Work with HR consultants to develop talent management systems and support organizational human resources needs
• Foster an environment where exceptional people can do their best work

Systems & Infrastructure

• Design and implement policies, internal controls, and procedures for sustainable growth
• Oversee operational functions including inventory management and facilities
• Oversee compliance, risk management, and organizational governance
• Manage physical space requirements, including future lease negotiations
• Coordinate legal affairs with Board of Trustees, sourcing expertise as needed

Stakeholder Management

• Serve as operational interface with funders, partners, and collaborators
• Represent Topos UK’s capabilities and needs to external stakeholders
• Support business development for future grant and contract opportunities
• Assume additional responsibilities as organizational needs evolve

What We’re Looking For

Essential Experience

• 5+ years in senior operations/finance roles at mission-driven organizations
• Proven ability to build systems and culture from the ground up
• Experience with research institutions, nonprofits, or technology startups
• Track record managing complex budgets and grant funding
• Track record of successfully impacting both strategic and tactical finance and administration initiatives

Leadership Qualities

• Collaborative, supportive management style with focus on team development
• Skilled at building consensus in a complex organisation and able to achieve results through influence and partnership
• Ability to foster inclusive environments where diverse perspectives thrive
• Experience mediating differences and supporting individual team member success
• Ability to communicate clearly and collaboratively, both internally and externally
• Creative problem-solving approach with strong analytical skills

Cultural Fit

• Intellectually curious with appreciation for technical research
• Mission-first orientation with commitment to public benefit
• Comfortable with complexity, ambiguity, and rapid change; sees challenges as opportunities for growth
• Committed to building inclusive, supportive team environments
• Values-driven leader who can balance efficiency with academic freedom
• Motivated by meaningful work that contributes to helping solve global-scale challenges
• Values continuous learning, diverse perspectives, and collaborative problem-solving
• Ability to periodically travel to the head office in Berkeley, California, or other locations as needed
• Flexibility with working hours, to accommodate for collaboration across global time zones
• Energetic, flexible, collaborative, and proactive; a team leader who can positively and productively impact both strategic and tactical finance and administration initiatives

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in relevant field (business, nonprofit management, etc.)
• Experience with international organizations or multi-entity coordination
• Familiarity with academic research environments
• Technical literacy sufficient to engage with mathematical/computational work

Why Topos UK

Exceptional Team: Collaborate with world-leading researchers and high calibre funding agencies.

Inclusive Environment: Be part of building a diverse team where different perspectives are valued and everyone can contribute their best work.

Meaningful Impact: Your operational excellence directly enables breakthrough research on humanity’s most pressing challenges—from climate change to public health to collaborative open science.

Technical Innovation: Support the development of genuinely novel technologies that could transform how humanity approaches complex, collaborative decision-making.

Supportive Culture: Join a caring, inquiry-driven community that values both intellectual rigor and personal well-being, with a strong focus on in-person office culture but flexibility to support work-life balance.

Growth Opportunity: Shape the foundational systems of an organization poised for significant expansion and impact.

Apply

Topos Research UK is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion. There is evidence to suggest that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every one of the qualifications as described in the job description. No matter who you are, if this role speaks to you, we encourage you to apply, even if you don’t believe you tick all the boxes. We’d especially like to encourage people from underrepresented backgrounds to apply.

If you require any adjustments to the application process, such as accessibility accommodations, additional preparation time, or other, please let us know in your application. We’re happy to support your needs and adjust the application process.

Next Steps: This role offers the rare opportunity to be the operational backbone behind important research that contributes to how humanity tackles global challenges. If you’re energized by building meaningful institutions and enabling exceptional people to do transformative work, we’d love to hear from you.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. We expect the process to include initial screening, work assessments, team interviews, and references.

Job Title: Eastern European IGVA

Location:Hybrid working with a requirement to occasionally work at Head Office (Vauxhall, London) and co-locations in three West London boroughs (Ealing, Brent, Hounslow)
Salary: £28,857.12 per annum (Inclusive of London Weighting, which may not be applicable depending on your home location and any agreed permanent homeworking arrangement)

Contract type: Permanent, Full-time

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

We are excited to share an opportunity to join Refuge as an Eastern European Independent Gender  Violence Advocate (IGVA) as we enter an important new chapter of growth, supported by funding from the National Lottery Community Fund. This is a vital role which provides high quality practical and emotional support to survivors of domestic abuse and their children in the community.

You will be part of a highly skilled and supportive team committed to collaborative working and continuous learning. This role offers the chance to strengthen multi-agency partnerships to enhance outreach and support for survivors, while also contributing to increasing professional understanding of the specific needs of Eastern European women and children affected by domestic abuse and violence.

You will provide capacity-building in the form of advice, advocacy, support, and briefings across three London boroughs to statutory agencies and community organizations around the needs of Eastern European domestic abuse survivors, to embed best practice across our communities.

It is essential for candidates to be proficient in one or more Eastern European languages.

We particularly encourage applications from Romanian, Lithuanian or Polish speaking candidates.

You will have proven experience of providing direct emotional and practical support to women as well as up-to-date knowledge of legislation relating to survivors of gender-based violence.

You will have excellent casework skills, good written and verbal communication skills, clear professional boundaries and be a proactive team player.

This post is restricted to women due to the nature of the role. The Occupational Requirement under Schedule 9 (part 1) of the Equality Act 2010 applies.

Closing date: 9am on 27 October 2025

Interview dates: 3 and 4 November 2025

In addition to the 50+ young people we see every day out our centre, New Horizon’s Outreach service works with young people on the streets and in the community. The team works pan London to deliver a youth-specific outreach service to young people currently or at risk of rough sleeping. We use our extensive housing expertise to place those young people into accommodation that is appropriate and safe, whilst encouraging them to access the day centre to benefit from the wide range of services we offer. This role will involve regualr outreach shifts (early mornings and late evenings) across London aswell as supporting our clients in the day centre and developing a best practice approach to supporting young rough sleepers and the hidden homeless. 

• Permanent, full-time role in the Rough Sleeping Team
• Salary: £31,200-£34,736
• Deadline to apply: 9am Friday 24 October

About Women in Prison

Women in Prison is a national, women-led, feminist organisation. We deliver front line support to women harmed by the criminal justice system, through our work in prisons, in the community and ‘through the prison gate’ as they resettle back into their communities. We also campaign for systems change that addresses the root causes of offending, reduces the harmful impact of prison, and creates workable, community-based alternatives to imprisonment.

Job Purpose:

Women in Prison’s Project Workers deliver high-quality, trauma-informed, independent advocacy for women in communities and in prisons, which focuses on early intervention, and holistic provision as part of a ‘whole system’ multi-agency response that looks to address the root causes of women’s offending. The primary purpose of this role is to provide in-depth, ongoing support to a caseload of women in the community of Greater Manchester.

Key Responsibility Areas:

1. Provide high-quality, trauma-responsive support to women in contact with, or at risk of contact with the criminal justice system.
2. Monitor case management systems to ensure accurate and timely data recording, aligning with contract KPIs and WIP policies.
3. Develop and maintain effective partnerships with statutory and voluntary sector services to ensure coordinated, multi-agency support for women.
4. Contribute to organisational development and personal growth through innovation, self-care, and professional learning.

​For the full job description, please download the recruitment pack.

About Women in Prison

Women in Prison is a national, women-led, feminist organisation. We deliver front line support to women harmed by the criminal justice system, through our work in prisons, in the community and ‘through the prison gate’ as they resettle back into their communities. We also campaign for systems change that addresses the root causes of offending, reduces the harmful impact of prison, and creates workable, community-based alternatives to imprisonment.

Job Description:

Job Purpose:
Women in Prison’s Advocates deliver high-quality, trauma-informed, independent advocacy for women in communities and in prisons, which focuses on early intervention, and holistic provision as part of a ‘whole system’ multi-agency response that looks to address the root causes of women’s offending. 

The primary purpose of this role is to provide in-depth, ongoing support to a caseload of women who have been referred for support by prison staff, predominately the Mental Health In-Reach Teams and Primary Care Teams.

Key Responsibility Areas:
1. Provide high-quality, trauma-responsive advocacy and support to women in contact with the criminal justice system.
2. Maintain case management systems to ensure accurate and timely data recording.
3. Develop effective relationships with key stakeholders such as statutory and voluntary sector agencies.

Use your housing expertise to support the growth and excellence of a fast-growing and highly respected youth charity. 

We are seeking an exceptional housing leader who brings experience of supporting organisational growth and excellence in social housing.

One YMCA is now one of the largest YMCA’s in Europe and our focus is supporting vulnerable people in Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire to develop the skills and confidence to live their life to the full.

In the last five years, we have trebled our income to £40m, more than doubled our staff numbers to 750 and increased our social housing units from 350 to nearly 800.

This is a new role that we have created to provide leadership to our supported housing (including YP OFSTED regulated housing) services. As our lead professional for housing and member of the Extended Executive Leadership Team, this role will be responsible for developing a housing vision and strategy aligned to the wider organisational strategy. This will ensure quality across all our housing sites and the overall scope of service delivery aligns and exceeds the expectations of our internal and external stakeholders.

With planned growth to 1000 units in the next two years plus preparing to be a Large Registered Provider this role will ensure processes, structures, systems and resourcing meet regulatory requirements and are consistently and innovatively delivering best value, sustainability and positive impact.

If you enjoy working in a dynamic organisation and are attracted to the challenge of working with highly committed staff, serving people with complex needs and in a context of organisational growth, we would love to hear from you.  

For more information please see the job pack attached. Closing date 13th October.