Education development manager jobs in horton kirby, kent

Join a movement transforming how communities create lasting change. This isn't a typical charity role—it's a chance to shape the future of place-based working across the UK and help lead a growing organisation.

Place Matters is a small, entrepreneurial charity punching above its weight. We work at the intersection of communities, public services, funders, and policymakers to tackle the root causes of inequality and create changes that communities want to see. Our approach? Empower communities to lead change in their own places, learn from what works, and influence the systems that hold them back.

Why this role matters

This is a senior position on our Executive team, reporting directly to a co-CEO. You'll play a leadership role in developing our organisation—shaping strategy, building our team, and deepening partnerships. We're looking for someone colleagues and Trustees trust to make sound decisions on behalf of our mission.

Learning and practice development is at the heart of everything we do. You'll design and lead learning partnerships that build the capabilities of communities and organisations to work differently. You'll capture insights from the ground and turn them into accessible tools, frameworks, and resources that make place-based working more effective for everyone.

You need to be a team player, confident and with strong opinions, but low ego and collegiate

What you'll do

• Lead the development and delivery of Learning and Practice Development Partnerships
• Initiate, convene and participate in ‘field-building’ efforts that aim to influence the broader place-based change sector, bringing together community organisations, public sector organisations, policy makers, foundations and businesses to build broader support for community centred place-based change
• Develop Place Matters thought and practice leadership
• Draw together the themes and patterns from learning into regular blogs and publications to make the learning as widely accessible as possible and influence key policy makers and funders
• Initiate and convene field-building efforts to influence the broader place-based change sector
• Build a wide network of place-based practitioners from all sectors
• Play a key role in business development, securing new partnerships, fundraising, and improving organisational efficiency

See job description (JD) for full details

What makes this role special

• Executive leadership: Part of the leadership team shaping organisational direction
• Real autonomy: Lead your own projects, design new partnerships, represent Place Matters externally
• Learning culture: We practice what we preach—continuous learning and innovation are built in
• Flexible working: Hybrid arrangement, negotiable location, with UK travel (up to 50 days annually)
• Competitive salary: £65,000-£75,000 (negotiable based on experience)

Practical details

Ideally 37.5 hours per week (flexible) but we'll consider part-time. UK travel required, including occasional overnight stays and some evening/weekend work.

We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from disabled people and people from diverse backgrounds.

We'll conduct interviews on 19th and 21st January.

About the opportunity
Action Tutoring is the largest tutoring charity in the country. At the heart of our work is closing the attainment gap for pupils facing disadvantage in the UK by harnessing the power of tutoring. We are seeking an inspiring and strategic Interim Chief Executive Officer (maternity cover) to lead our growing charity, ensuring the charity continues to achieve benchmark-beating results for the pupils we support. In 2025-26, our work will reach 7,000 pupils supported by more than 80 staff and 2,500 volunteer tutors.  This role would suit someone with experience of interim senior leadership roles, wanting to make a difference in an area with proven impact on outcomes for children and young people.

Closing date: Wednesday, 17th December 2025
Interviews: Between 8th and 16th January 2026
Start date: Ideally, Monday, 23rd March 2026
Contract and hours: Fixed-term, 9 to 12-month maternity cover. We are open to discussions regarding the working pattern, and welcome applications for 0.8 FTE up to 1 FTE. A full working week is 37.5 hours. We offer flexible working hours. The core working hours are 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM. Applications from candidates seeking a secondment are welcome.
Location: Hybrid working with 2 or 3 days per week, in London, dependent on meetings and occasionally with short notice. Our London office address is: Fivefields, 8-10 Grosvenor Gardens, Victoria, SW1W 0DH
 

Duties and Responsibilities
The Interim CEO (maternity cover) is responsible for maintaining the high performance of the charity, overseeing the delivery of key strategic goals in line with our mission and aims. During the period of this appointment, you will lead the organisation through its annual school sales process (Spring 26), ensure the successful delivery of a key strategic project testing AI in our delivery model (Summer and Autumn 26) and set the organisation up for success in a new academic year (Autumn 26).

Vision, Strategy and Delivery

• Working with the Board to implement the vision and mission of the charity.
• Responsible for implementing the agreed strategy.

People and Cultural Leadership

• Overall people and cultural leadership, empowering the team the maintain the positive working culture with behaviours that align closely to the charity’s values.
• Ensuring operational excellence is maintained across the organisation.

Advocacy

• Representing Action Tutoring externally to a range of stakeholders, including school leaders, policymakers, the media and funders, to raise the profile of Action Tutoring and awareness of the cause.
• Sustain constructive working relationships with other education charities, sharing good practice and working collaboratively to improve educational outcomes.

Finance and Fundraising

• Overseeing financial management of the charity supported by the Director of Finance & Operations. 
• Lead fundraising alongside the Head of Philanthropy to ensure fundraising targets set by the Board are met.

Line Management

• Direct line management of the Senior Leadership Team (3 Directors), the Head of Impact & Quality and the Head of Philanthropy, covering the five departments of the organisati

A full list of duties and responsibilities can be found in the job description attached to the BreatheHR advert.

Person specification
Qualifications criteria:

• The right to work in the UK.

We are looking for some of the following attributes, though you might be more experienced in some areas than others: 

• Proven track record as a CEO in a not-for-profit organisation, experience as an Interim CEO is desirable but not essential. The ability to get up to speed quickly will be vital. 
• Experience of working within a delivery-based organisation and an understanding of how to ensure quality, efficiency, and impact in that context.
• Commercial mindset, with proven success in fundraising and/or sales targets to meet set targets and secure income for ongoing operations.
• Experience overseeing pilots of new delivery modes, applying a theory of change approach to learning.
• Experience in developing and executing strategic plans and complex projects to achieve organisational vision and mission.
• Strong communication skills, with experience representing organisations externally to various stakeholders (e.g., school leaders, partners, funders).
• Understanding of the education sector, and the needs and drivers of stakeholders across the education space.
• Ability to diagnose and dissect complex problems and encourage scalable solutions to novel issues.
• Experience in empowering senior leaders and the wider organisations to meet ambitious targets.
• Ability to foster a positive working culture, aligned with Action Tutoring’s values.
• Strong financial management skills.
• Knowledge of governance structures and experience in working closely with a board of trustees, including managing strategic risk.
• Comfortable with data and committed to driving impact across the organisation.

You will be likely be more successful in this role if you have the following personal attributes: 

• Passion for addressing educational disadvantage and closing the attainment gap.
• Collaborative mindset and the ability to build strong, constructive relationships with other organisations and charities, fostering collaboration and sharing of best practices.
• High ethical standards and personal integrity, with a commitment to transparency and accountability in leadership.
• Resilient and adaptable with the ability to thrive in an evolving and challenging external environment, and to adjust to shifts in the education landscape.
• Strong commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive working environment.

Salary: £46,698 (London) / £42,373 (National) per annum

Hours:                       35 hrs per week

Contract: Fixed term contract (until March 2027)

Benefits

· 27 days annual leave + statutory holidays + 3 closures days over the Christmas period;

· Flexible working for all staff including working from home / hybrid working, and flexi-time/TOIL scheme;

· Attractive family friendly policies;

· Private healthcare cover;

· Season ticket loans;

· Employee awards, and training and development opportunities.

For more information about our benefits please visit our website.

Office locations:  London, Bristol or homeworker

The role will involve spending a substantial amount of time in the East of England (including early starts/late finishes and overnight stays where required) and regular travel nationwide for NHF events and meetings. 

Please note, if office based, the successful candidate will be expected to carry out two days in-person working per week on average which will include attendance at your office location.

Flexible working arrangements can be discussed and agreed with the line manager subject to role and business needs.

An exciting opportunity has arisen at the National Housing Federation (NHF) to join our team of External Affairs Managers on a fixed-term basis to cover maternity leave. The NHF is the voice of housing associations in England. We are the trade body to almost 600 housing associations, who have grown from philanthropic roots to provide 2.6 million homes to around 6 million people. You can find further information about the NHF on our website.

Could you be our new External Affairs Manager, working closely with our housing association members across the East of England?

This is a unique and varied role which would appeal to someone with a background in areas such as stakeholder management, policy, public affairs, communications, programme management – or a combination of these areas! For example, you may be looking to step into a role to further develop your leadership and stakeholder engagement skills, whilst still building on your policy or programme management experience and knowledge.

You will operate at the heart of social housing by working with key decision makers across the housing association sector – including managing relationships with chief executives, chairs of boards and executive directors. Strong communication and influencing skills are essential to the role, as well as the confidence to work at the most senior levels.  

It is crucial that you can work collegiately to lead key programmes of work across the NHF with colleagues in other teams, for example from our policy, press, events, and public affairs teams. Equally, you will be comfortable working autonomously and shaping your own work programme.

The core of the role involves being responsible for engagement with a whole geographic region of our membership; and working closely on or leading one of the NHF’s key themes of work, which include areas such as supported housing; devolution; developing new homes; decarbonising existing homes; ensuring the building safety agenda is delivered; or representing our rural or smaller housing associations.

The role is wide ranging and in addition to stakeholder management and programme leadership, will include running roundtables between our members and government, chairing sessions at NHF conferences, and presenting political and policy updates to senior teams within housing associations.

You will be part of a team of eight External Affairs Managers sitting within the member services directorate, which is there to ensure that we provide excellent value for money for our housing association members.

Key elements of the role:

· You will build and maintain brilliant relationships with housing associations leaders, using your well-developed communication and advocacy skills to maximum effect.

· You will develop knowledge, insight and understanding of housing associations to shape our policy and influencing work and to create structured programmes of member engagement on critical policy and political issues.

· You will be the contact point for housing associations in your region, ensuring they receive first class customer service on the issues which matter to them. Working closely with NHF members you will facilitate the organisation of regional chief executive or leaders forums and sounding boards.

· In addition to your regional work, you will lead on the strategic planning and delivery of a key NHF policy priority. This will require collaborative working with colleagues from across the organisation and working with members across every region and specialism.  You will play a leadership role, creating structured engagement strategies to ensure members are able to influence policy as well as engaging key NHF stakeholders and sharing best practice.

· Your role will be to implement structured member engagement to ensure our policy priorities, positions and influencing work are member-led. This will include working directly with members to inform our policy positions and lead our influencing work.

· You will influence debates at the highest level and you will spot in advance and act strategically to mitigate the risk to our membership. As such, this role requires a high degree of political and organisational acumen and the ability to horizon scan.

· You will work with colleagues in our Commercial and Events teams to maximise commercial opportunities and help shape content at our conferences, as well chairing conference sessions.

· To be the face and voice of the NHF with members, stakeholders and the media.

· To ensure that as an organisation we deliver as a whole team, seamlessly, to members to achieve greatest impact in line with the business strategy.

· To maintain high quality standards and follow NHF policy and process.

The successful candidate:

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate:

· A sound knowledge and understanding of housing associations and issues affecting the wider sector.

· A sound understanding of the political and policy landscape that housing associations operate in.

· Demonstrable knowledge and experience of establishing and maintaining relationships with senior stakeholders, demonstrating excellent customer service and value for money.

· Effective communication skills, in person and in writing, including the ability to credibly and confidently present at meetings and events.

· Ability to listen to and influence senior stakeholders, demonstrating diplomacy, effective communication and negotiation skills.

· Clear leadership skills, able to lead complex and strategic programmes of work effectively, including experience of matrix managing and motivating a team.

· Excellent analytical skills and strategic nous with the ability to summarise complex information effectively to aid decision making.

· A commitment to excellent customer service.

· A positive, energetic and agile approach to work.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

The NHF has published its equality, diversity and inclusion strategy, which was co-created with staff. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and we value the contribution each individual makes to our work.  

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and are working to increase the diversity profile of our workforce. We are currently under-represented by ethnic minorities, people with a disability or disabilities and LGBTQ+, and would particularly welcome applications from people in these groups.

Disability confident employer

We are a disability confident employer and if you are a disabled person who meets the skills and experience we consider essential for the role, we will offer you an interview.

Please note: there may be occasions where it is not practicable or appropriate to interview all disabled people who meet the minimum criteria for the job. In certain recruitment situations such as high-volume of applications, we may be required to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people.
In these circumstances the NHF will select the disabled candidates who best meet the minimum criteria for the job rather than all of those that meet the minimum criteria, as we would do for non-disabled applicants. This is in line with the Disability Confident guidelines.

We are happy to consider reasonable adjustments to our recruitment process if you have a disability or have a condition that you feel may affect your performance during the recruitment process. Please contact the People team with your request or to arrange a time to discuss in more detail.

Our role profile and job advert can also be requested in large print or in accessible format via this email address.

Completing our Application Form

To apply for this role, please complete our online application form. The application form includes your employment and education history plus you will be asked to answer questions in relation to your knowledge, skills and experience, why you are applying for the role and questions in relation to our values. The application form is anonymous and will not require you to upload a CV or cover letter. This will help us to shortlist candidates for interview based solely on their knowledge, skills and experience.

Right to work in the UK/UK VISA sponsorship

You must have the right to work in the UK and it is important to note that the NHF does not sponsor individuals to work in the UK.

Closing date for applications: 4 January 2026

Interview date: 14 and 15 January 2026

Are you ready for something new?

Are you passionate about supporting vulnerable adults during critical moments in their care journey? As a Hospital Care Navigator, you’ll be a vital part of ensuring patients leave the hospital safely and confidently, with the right support in place.

In this rewarding role, you’ll be the single point of contact for adult patients preparing for discharge from the hospital. You’ll work closely with the Adult Social Care team, health professionals, hospital practitioners, and community services to:

• Identify needs and barriers to safe discharge
• Achieve safe and timely patient discharge
• Coordinate outpatient appointments and follow-up services
• Provide clear, compassionate advice and support to patients and their families
• Ensure patients understand their discharge plan every step of the way.

You’ll meet with patients, their families, friends, or carers to assess ongoing needs, ensuring a safe plan is in place for their return home. This could include ensuring that medication is arranged from the hospital pharmacy, someone is at home to greet them, food and heating are available, and the condition of the home is safe to return to. You may be required to liaise with Adult Social Care and other home providers to coordinate home support. You’ll follow up on calls or visits to ensure the patient is managing well at home. By providing the proper support, patients can be discharged sooner, and the risk of readmission is significantly reduced. 

We’re seeking someone who:

• Has experience working with vulnerable adults in social care, healthcare, or the community/voluntary sector
• Communicates with empathy and confidence across different teams at different levels, and with patients
• Is highly organised, with excellent time management skills
• Has awareness and respect for cultural differences
• (Bonus) Experience working in a hospital or clinical setting.

The role is based at our Southwark office, and you will be required to travel to hospitals and across the City of London, as well as to Tower Hamlets, Camden, Hackney, and Southwark.

Apply now and be part of something meaningful.

We offer our employees:

· Inclusive values-based environment

· Competitive remuneration package

· Workplace pension scheme

· Generous annual leave entitlement plus bank holidays

· Death in Service Benefit

· Cycle to Work Scheme

· Employee Supported Volunteering scheme

· Development opportunities

· and more

Imago is committed to Safer Recruitment practices, and the post is subject to references and an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.

Please submit your CV along with a brief covering note or visit our website for full details.

Imago recognises that many people in our society experience discrimination or lack of opportunity for reasons that are not fair. We aim to create a culture that respects and values each other’s differences, seeing these differences as an asset that improves our ability to meet the needs of the organisations and people we work with. We proactively seek to increase opportunities for inclusion and celebrate diversity across our organisation and within communities.

Imago recognises its duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of the children, young people and adults at risk who access its services or with whom it comes into contact.

Are you passionate about creating unforgettable experiences that make a real difference? Join the Orpheus Centre, a charity dedicated to promoting personal development through the arts, as our Special Events Coordinator. This is your chance to combine creativity, organisation, and purpose in a role that truly matters.

Location: The Orpheus Centre, Godstone, Surrey
Salary: £34,000 per annum
Hours: Full-time, 35 hours per week

About Us

At Orpheus, our core values—joyful, bold, inclusive, resilient, and determined—shape everything we do. We believe in empowering individuals through the arts and fostering a vibrant, supportive community.

What You’ll Do

• As Special Events Coordinator, you’ll be the driving force behind our fundraising and engagement events. From concept to completion, you’ll:
• Plan and deliver impactful events such as galas, community activities, and corporate functions.
• Manage budgets and targets, ensuring every event delivers value and supports our mission.
• Coordinate logistics, marketing, and build strong relationships with stakeholders, volunteers and partners to create seamless experiences.
• Champion our cause, engaging staff, volunteers, and supporters to amplify our impact.

What We’re Looking For

• At least 2 years’ experience in event planning and coordination.
• Strong organisational, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to manage budgets, negotiate contracts and work under pressure.
• A creative thinker who thrives on delivering exceptional experiences.
• A proactive, positive attitude and willingness to work occasional evenings and weekends.
• A full UK driving licence and access to a car.

Why Join Us?

• Be part of a passionate team that celebrates creativity and makes a tangible impact on people’s lives.
• Ongoing training and development opportunities, and the chance to work on events that truly matter
• A supportive, inclusive workplace where your ideas matter.

Join us in making a lasting difference in the lives of young disabled people through the power of the arts.

Orpheus is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people. All posts are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and satisfactory references. This post is classed as having a high degree of contact with vulnerable adults and is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. It is an offence to apply for this role if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children.

As part of our safer recruitment process and in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education 2025, online searches may be undertaken as part of due diligence.

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all sections of the community.

In order to be considered you must be eligible to work in the UK.

The Orpheus Centre is proud to be a disability confident employer.

We have made a positive commitment to employing disabled people. Reasonable adjustments will be made to the recruitment procedure as required in consultation with the applicant to ensure no-one is disadvantaged because of their disability. If a disabled person is selected for a position, reasonable adjustments will be made to the workplace, including premises and equipment, work duties and practices or policies, as appropriate. All disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role as set out in the role profile and person specification will be considered for interview.

 As a Disability Confident Employer, we are:

• Challenging attitudes towards disability
• Increasing understanding of disability
• Removing barriers to disabled people and those with long-term health conditions
• Ensuring that disabled people have the opportunities to fulfil their potential and realise their aspiration

No agencies please.

Our members are looking for an enthusiastic indovidual to join our Network Hope Activities team as staff cover for 9 months.

You will work under the direction of the Project Manager and alongside, tutors to deliver activities, support networks, health and wellbeing and training support to beneficiaries and to recruit, train and support a network of volunteers to facilitate the support groups. 

The role will involve collaboration with other local businesses and third sector organisations to deliver the activities. This Project’s aim is to support vulnerable disabled people (including those with learning disabilities, autism and those affected by mental health issues and their families) through consistent provision of health and wellbeing activities, pathways into employment training, sport and social activities, advice, signposting and peer support based both at our Resource Centre in W10 and out in the community.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES  
 
1. Supporting Tutors, volunteers, senior staff and beneficiaries 
 
Utilising EPM’s resources to lead in locally sourcing beneficiaries and volunteers from the local community. Liaise with the NHS and Social Services, partner providers and schools, colleges, community centres, voluntary organisations and referral agencies. 

· Facilitate and support local support groups, 

· Plan, arrange and run a variety of activities and training programmes. 

· Recruit and support a network of volunteers to co-facilitate support groups and activities 

· Under the direction of The Project Manager conduct home visits to assess the needs of the families and inform them of support available through Network Hope. 

· Arrange the selection and delivery of healthy food and drinks and running the catering and gardening training groups. 

· Work with sports and fitness tutors to ensure all equipment used in sports/fitness sessions are secure and meet health and safety standards. 

· Coordinate and oversee respite and peer group support to the families. 

· Develop, monitor, update and review individual action plans for all beneficiaries. 

· Conduct evaluation reports (including case studies) and work with senior management to collate the information. 

· Assist senior management in leading  advisory group meetings and lead/facilitate local support group meetings. 

          Other duties as required

Policy Specialist (children and young people)

Are you interested in improving the lives of children and young people with a learning disability? Can you turn complex ideas into evidence-based policy? Are you a skilled communicator able to influence decision-makers? If so, we would love to hear from you!

We are currently looking for a Policy Specialist to join Mencap. This position sits within the Policy and Public Affairs teams of Mencap’s Campaigns, Advocacy and Activism Directorate (CAA). You will work closely with our influencing, information and advice, campaigning, and research work, as well as sector partners like the Disabled Children's Partnership.

This is an exciting new role to deliver policy change and enhance the rights of children and young people with a learning disability. At a key time to influence Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) education reform, we are seeking a policy specialist to shape policy work that reflects the needs and experiences of children, young people, and their families. Working within the policy team, you will be responsible for developing evidence-based policy work and influencing decision-makers. 

This is a full time position (37.5 hours per week). We are flexible with your work location, but there may be some occasional travel needed to our London office or Westminster.

You will:

· Translate complex work into clear and persuasive policy briefings, consultation responses and reports.

· Work within wider coalitions of charities, building collaborative relationships and ensuring that the needs and priorities of our community are addressed.

· Develop and expand Mencap’s ‘Policy Shapers’ work, ensuring our work reflects the experiences of children and young people with a learning disability and their families.

· Support our information and advice team, briefing them on important developments, inputting into casework discussions relevant to your areas of work, and supporting the creation of public information resources.

· Represent Mencap at meetings and events, with MPs, civil servants, and sector partners.

· Identify and analyse relevant research to develop evidence-based policy recommendations.

You will bring to this role:

· Experience of working on public policy issues.

· Strong communication skills: experience tailoring your messaging to a variety of different audiences and representing an organisation.

· Experience building positive relationships and working collaboratively to achieve outcomes; able to positively challenge, negotiate and compromise.

· The ability to work on your own initiative while contributing to team priorities and sustain enthusiasm under pressure.

· Experience analysing evidence to develop recommendations.

· Knowledge the issues facing children and young people with a learning disability and/or the SEND system, as well as the wider parliamentary system.

· Passion about making the world a better place for people with a learning disability.

If you're passionate about driving meaningful change for children and young people with a learning disability and you're ready to use your policy expertise to make a real impact, please apply now with an up-to-date CV. This advert has been extended and will now close on Sunday, 4th January, 2026. Interviews are scheduled to take place via Microsoft Teams during the week commencing 12th January 2026.

Benefits

Here at Mencap, we offer an impressive range of benefits designed to support and reward our employees to ensure that our teams feel valued and appreciated.

Our benefits package offers 32 days of paid holiday (including bank holidays, pro rata), along with a range of perks such as discounts at leading high-street retailers, access to health cash plans, interest-free loans, and many more exciting offerings.

For more details on what we have to offer, please see the attached document outlining all the fantastic benefits available to you as a member of our team!

About Mencap

Our vision is for the UK to be the best place in the world for people with a learning disability to live happy and healthy lives.

We're here to support people with a learning disability, their families and their carers. We fight for a kinder, fairer and more inclusive society for people with a learning disability to live in.

At Mencap, everyone works with people with a learning disability either providing support or advice, or alongside one another as colleagues.

Belonging at Mencap is for everyone, every day, everywhere.

· Everyone is expected to treat people well and make Mencap an inclusive organisation.

· Every day we grow and learn. It’s okay to make mistakes but we learn from them and make changes

· Everywhere people will feel respected, valued, and safe to be themselves.

We have Belonging network groups that meet online and are open to all colleagues. The groups include people who identify as Black and Asian, LGBTQIA+, disabled or with a long- term health condition, women, parents and carers, and their allies.

We want to encourage everyone to apply to work at Mencap and we offer a variety of different contract types and working patterns. We’re not looking for specific experience. It is your personality and values that will make you a great colleague. We will train and develop you to succeed in the role you’re applying for.

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.

Are you passionate about school libraries? Do you believe in the power of school libraries to transform children and young people’s experiences in education? Can you communicate confidently to a wide audience and range of stakeholders?  

The School Library Association (SLA) supports approximately 2000 members working in schools across the UK with advice, training and advocacy. The School Library Lead will be at the forefront of our member offer and outreach, to help us deliver on our mission to support all those working in school libraries, so that more children and young people reach their full potential through the school library.   

This role will lead on providing advice, inspiration and support for schools looking to develop their school library provision and all the benefits this brings. An expert in school libraries, you will be comfortable supporting members 1:1, delivering training to larger audiences, providing consultancy to schools and sector organisations, writing training and resources, or preparing book recommendations. An exciting opportunity for someone experienced in school libraries with knowledge of the curriculum, teaching and learning and children’s books, you will be the first port of call for library advice and expertise, contributing to the growth and sustainability of the membership network.

You will be experienced in developing relationships with a variety of stakeholders at all levels relish a busy role. This will include supporting our Branch network, collaborating on initiatives for development, delivery and new projects as they come online. As resident children’s book expert, you will support with programmes and projects such as the SLA Information Book Award and member book-related events. You will work with your SLA colleagues to develop and deliver high-quality member events and training as well as advocacy events to raise awareness of the importance of school libraries. Using your sector insight, you will identify opportunities for development of initiatives that will support the SLA vision and mission enabling us to reach more children and young people through our work.  This is a busy and rewarding role and will suit someone with passion and resilience. 

This is a full time role working remotely, throughout the year (37 hours per week). Find out more about the role including full job description and how to apply by downloading the job specification pack. 

Application deadline: 19th December 

Interviews: First round interview (online): 13th/14th January

Second round interview in person TBC: 20th/22nd January 

Applications without a covering letter will not be considered. No agencies please.   

Due to the volume of applications we cannot provide individual feedback. We really appreciate your interest. If you haven’t heard from us within four weeks of the deadline, it means we’ve moved forward with other candidates on this occasion. We encourage you to apply again in the future. Please note we may close recruitment early should the right candidate be identified.  

Engagment Worker

When registering to this job board you will be redirected to the online application form. Please ensure that this is completed in full in order that your application can be reviewed.

Job Title: Engagement Worker

Location: Havering, based within the service. Unfortunately this service does not have step free access.

Salary: £27,000

Shift Pattern: 37.5 hours per week Monday to Sunday, 09:00 - 17:00 or 13:00 - 21:00 on a rota basis. Shift patterns and weekly hours may vary dependent on service and resident requirements

About the Role

We're looking for an Engagement Worker to join our residential service based in Havering which is a 25 bed, 24 hour service delivering support to adults who have multiple and complex needs within a supported accommodation setting. You will support with various aspects within the service, with a focus on providing social contact and company to help enhance quality of life, personal safety, health and security, sustainment of tenancy and improving financial independence. You will support our residents to gain the relevant skills and knowledge to gain greater independence, supporting them back into the community. 

You will be at the forefront of delivering a trauma-informed, person-centred service, supporting individuals through rehabilitation, reablement, and resettlement. This includes assisting with engagement activities, developing support plans, and providing access to appropriate interventions to help residents move towards independence.

Key Responsibilities include:

• Supporting residents to access the resources, tools, and networks they need to achieve their goals.
• Develop, participate in, and encourage residents to participate in the running and development of various projects and activities.
• Promoting independence through life skills training, practical support, and empowerment.
• Recognising and responding to mental and physical health needs and safeguarding concerns.
• Supporting the creation of a safe, welcoming and psychologically informed living environment.
• Carrying out housing management tasks including reporting repairs, maintaining communal areas, and health and safety checks.

About You

We’re looking for someone with a genuine passion and felt purpose to help people, challenge stigma, and make a real difference to people’s lives!
We are looking for a team player, driven to provide high quality care and support to others, an effective communicator who is able to build rapport with others from various backgrounds. You will be compassionate, supportive, and empowering to others, whilst able to form effective, positive and motivational relationships.

• Awareness of external opportunities which are available such as with education, employment and benefits
• Experience working with people with multiple and complex needs
• Ability to show empathy and compassion to our residents, and different challenges they face
• Ability  to motivate, and empower others to achieve their personal goals and overcome barriers
• IT ability to use our online CRM systems and Microsoft programs daily
• Understanding of the different needs people with multiple and complex needs have and be aware of the social marginalisation that can be attached to people who face personal challenges

Please refer to the JDPS attached for more details on the vacancy and our requirements/key criteria.

What we Offer

• 25 days (Full time equivalent) annual leave, increasing with the length of service
• Employer Pension Contribution
• Eligibility to register with Blue Light Discount Card
• Access to discounted tickets for music events, shows, sports and more
• Reflective Practice regular sessions with a therapist provided by an external provider to support Mental Health and Wellbeing at work
• Training and Development, including access to courses, upskilling, and progression plans
• Employee Assistance Programme, including counselling
• Life Assurance Scheme
• Cycle-to-work scheme
• Annual Staff Awards
• EDI Ambassador programme

About Social Interest Group (SIG)

SIG is a not-for-profit organisation providing thousands of people with good-quality support and care in residential, drop-in centres, community floating support settings, probation settings, and hospitals. We do so across London, Brighton, Bedfordshire, Luton, Kent and Liverpool. Our goal is to transform lives through empowering change. 

We believe good care and support improves lives with the vision to create healthier, safer, and more inclusive communities. Join us on our mission to empower independence through trauma-informed solutions and dynamic partnerships that keep people out of prison, out of hospital, and off the streets.
Want to know how we work? Watch our short Theory of Change video to see how we support people towards a brighter future: Theory of Change Further details can be found on our website here: Theory of Change - Social Interest Group - Social Interest Group. 

Additional Information

Please note that this job advert may close early due to screening applications on an ongoing basis. We advise applying as soon as possible for your application to be taken into consideration at the early stages.

Please note that as part of our process, we complete an enhanced DBS check, some roles may require further vetting. We encourage applicants from all backgrounds. If you have any questions regarding this, please contact us on the details below. 

Unfortunately, we are unable to provide sponsorship, please ensure you have full right to work in the UK prior to applying to our positions. 

Additional information on our company policies including Gender Pay, Equality and Diversity, Company Benefits and our Candidate Privacy Policy can be found on our website.

The Beyond Food Foundation is looking for a Programmes assistant. 

Do you have the skills to support groups of young people and adults to achieve their full potential? 

Do you want to be part of helping to change people's lives?

We are looking for someone to support the delivery of our life changing programmes. 

Ideally you will have some experience in working with young people, vulnerable adults or assisting with education / training programmes. 

Our programmes are built around the kitchen and dining table, you will work closely with a Chef trainer and Food Engagement Lead to make the sessions run smoothly. An understanding of food or the hospitality industry is a bonus. 

£29,000 - 35,000 per annum, experience dependant -  40hrs per week -  Monday - Friday. 

The Foundry, E6 5NX and across London as required. 

28 Days annual leave + bank holidays

Tender is an arts charity working with children and young people to prevent domestic abuse and sexual violence through creative projects. Our programmes are safe, enjoyable, age-appropriate spaces where young people can engage with sensitive topics and “rehearse” for real-life scenarios. Participants are encouraged to be both consumers and producers of learning through script-work, role-play and creative media such as films and art. Throughout, we enable young people to explore their choices, rights and expectations in relationships and to recognise the early warning signs of abuse.

We have an exciting opportunity for someone who is interested in both research and converting that research into compelling data and stories to support our policy and influencing work.

This role will sit within our Research & Impact team, but will work across our communications, fundraising, and policy & influencing teams, particularly working closely with our senior leadership team to support our policy & influencing work. By converting the evidence and research from the research & impact team in to actionable insights and recommendations which can be shared with our funders, supporters and key decision makers such as policy makers and civil servants, you will play an important role in promoting the importance of prevention work as a tool to prevent domestic abuse and sexual violence.

We are looking for someone with some experience in research and evaluation who has a passion for communication and storytelling. You will enjoy exploring quantitative and qualitative data to pull out meaningful insights, building relationships with a range of internal and external partners, and using data and evidence to persuade others to prioritise prevention-focused approaches to addressing societal issues.

Key responsibilities

The main responsibilities of this role are:

• EnsuringTender’s projects implement Tender’s Theory of Change and evaluation processes, and ensure learnings from evaluations are used to improve Tender’s work
• Analysing Tender’s evaluation results and carrying out secondary research to produce reports and guidance on best practice approaches to preventing domestic abuse and sexual violence
• Using the findings from Tender’s evaluations and research to author and disseminate (on behalf of Tender and working in partnership with other organisations) recommendations for policy makers on preventing domestic abuse and sexual violence

The essentials …

• Permanent, full-time
• £55,000 - £62,000 (depending on experience)
• 5 total direct reports (including 3 Leads; Training Courses, Venue Hire, & Energy Group Events, Senior Events Coordinator, and Events Marketing Executive)
• Hybrid working with 2-3 days a week at our London office

Who are we?

Founded in 1807, we are the oldest geological society in the world. Today, we are a world-leading communicator of Earth science – through publishing, library and information services, cutting-edge scientific conferences, education activities and outreach to the general public. We also provide impartial scientific information and evidence to support policy-making and public debate about the challenges facing humanity.

We have a membership (Fellowship) of c. 12,000, more than 2,000 of whom are based outside the UK. Approximately 3,000 are Chartered Geologists or Chartered Scientists - professionals who have demonstrated a high level of technical competence in their field and a commitment to professional ethics.

What you’ll be doing …

Our Head of Events (HoE) will bring leadership and strategic vision to the Society’s Events team encompassing scientific conferences, venue hire, and training courses, working to deliver the business plan and achieve targets for this active, income-generating department.

This role will be responsible for supporting the six-strong team in delivery of our busy events programme, working effectively with conference convenors, and providing exemplary support to our delegates, venue users, sponsors, and clients throughout the year. Working closely with the Director of Science & Engagement, our new HoE will work to develop robust and diverse income streams for the Society from our events as well as sponsorship and will oversee the expansion of our venue hire provision into new markets (e.g. weddings) in addition to seizing other opportunities for growth.

Overall responsibilities / requirements …

Management & Leadership:

• Shape and lead the Events team to deliver top-quality leadership and coordination of our events programmes and customer service for both internal users and external clients
• Continue to support a commercial approach to income generation across the Events department, to support revenue growth and diversification across sectors
• Grow event sponsorship, proactively identifying sponsorship opportunities and supporting the team, convenors, and others to become more confident in developing sponsor relationships and securing sponsorship income.
• Grow and nurture relationships with Fellows and external partners
• Grow and nurture relationships with internal staff across other departments, particularly those jointly responsible for delivering upon the Society’s strategic aims
• Provide leadership and mentorship to the Events team, supporting ongoing professional development
• Act as the senior Events representative at internal committee meetings, providing expert input on event strategy, performance, and future plans.
• Manage external relationships with Events partners, including catering suppliers, AV technicians, and Security where appropriate
• Lead on the delivery of appropriate Health & Safety management alongside equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility actions across the Events team and throughout our programme of public facing events

Conference Delivery:

• Oversee the management and delivery of Society conferences, events, and lectures alongside our Energy Group Lead and Senior Events Coordinator, including offsite delivery where appropriate
• Oversee the planning and delivery of flagship conferences for audiences of approximately 500+ delegates, ensuring high-quality audience experience and strong financial performance.
• Oversee the development and implementation of a strategy for the branding and marketing of events from web, print and social media alongside our Events Marketing Executive
• Embed a commercial approach to conference development and delivery
• Lead the development of partnerships across the Events team, including the management and delivery of joint, flagship events such as the Energy Geoscience Conference (EGC) series in partnership with GESGB
• Work closely with the Senior Leadership Team, staff, and Council, to grow the offering of Society events, in London and beyond
• Worth the wider staff team to ensure that our Conference provision is aligned to the Society’s science strategy & supports ongoing professional development for our fellows and members

Training Courses Delivery:

• Provide strategic oversight of the Society’s developing Training Course programme alongside our Training Courses Lead and Training Courses Committee to ensure commercial sustainability, quality, and growth
• Support the promotion and upscaling of our Training Courses programme alongside our Events Marketing Executive
• Work with the wider staff team to ensure that our Training Course provision is aligned to the Society’s science strategy & supports ongoing professional development for our fellows and members

Venue Hire Oversight:

• Provide strategic leadership, working with the Venue Hire Lead to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to grow and diversify venue hire revenue, aligned with the organisation’s wider commercial objectives.
• Lead on the design, launch, and ongoing development of our new Weddings venue hire initiative in partnership with our Venue Hire Lead following the granting of our wedding license from Westminster City Council, ensuring strong market positioning and a high-quality client experience
• Work with the wider events team to improve booking and on-the-day service for internal and external venue-hire clients
• Oversee and continuously improve the end-to-end booking journey and on-the-day service for internal and external venue-hire clients, working closely with the wider events team to deliver a consistently high standard of service.
• Lead on the procurement and management of key suppliers (including catering and other event services), running competitive tenders and negotiating contracts that best support the quality, profitability and sustainability of our events programme.

What we’re looking for …

Candidates for the role of Head of Events will be required to demonstrate a range of skills, competencies, and abilities for the post, and the successful candidate will have demonstrable experience within an Events team as well as leadership experience. The individual will need to be able to build relationships with stakeholders and clients from a variety of sectors and will need to demonstrate a variety of skills.

Qualification & Experience …

Leadership & Management:

• Experience of successfully implementing and leading change
• A track record of successfully building and nurturing strong and productive relationships, internally and externally
• A team worker with proven experience of working collaboratively to realise organisational objectives
• An ability to influence and inspire people successfully at all levels.

Other Qualities:

• Demonstrable ability to prioritise multiple tasks and work to tight deadlines when required
• Familiarity with the current Microsoft Office suite, and use of CRM systems
• Tact, tenacity, and a willingness to work in partnership with others
• Positivity and enthusiasm for the role, and support for your team
• Exceptional interpersonal and people-management skills
• A commitment to personal development and learning

Essential Criteria:

• Successful delivery of conferences and events
• A track record of successful leadership and management
• Financial management, commercial awareness, including budgetary management
• Commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion, and to the Society’s other core values as set out in our strategy
• Strong written and oral communication skills

Desirable Criteria:

• Venue management experience
• Successful delivery of academic and/or professional/B2B conferences
• Knowledge of legal and regulatory requirements relevant to public events and venue hire (e.g., licensing, GDPR)
• Experience of working with trustees, committee members, volunteers, and other stakeholders
• Commercial experience in a relevant sector
• Experience of training courses and/or ongoing professional development in a commercial capacity

A bit about us …

The Geological Society is a registered charity and employs just under 60 staff at its offices in London and Bath. Our London office is situated in the beautiful London hotspot of Piccadilly in Burlington House, just next door to The Royal Academy.

As an employee conscious company, we invest in our staff by emphasising training, growth and progression in every role. We firmly believe in creating a positive workplace wellbeing culture and offer a range of benefits to our staff including:

• 25 days basic holiday entitlement you start, increasing up to 30 days with continued service (pro-rated for part-time staff)
• Option to purchase up to 2 days extra holiday days per year
• Contributary pension scheme with 10% employer contribution
• Access to 24/7 online GP with mental health & wellbeing counselling
• Free premium Headspace account for you and 2 members of friends/family
• Discounts and recognitions scheme
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Season Ticket Loan scheme
• Life Assurance and Income Protection schemes
• Free access to Royal Academy exhibitions
• Free Geological Society Fellow membership for qualified staff

The Society is committed to fostering an inclusive culture that promotes equality, values diversity and maintains a harmonious inclusive environment in which the rights and dignity of all its members visitors and staff are respected. We are an equal opportunities employer and the post-holder will be expected to adhere to and support the Society’s commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion.

How to apply …

To apply for this position, please click the 'Apply' button above to be taken through to our recruitment page with full contact details.

As part of our inclusive recruitment initiative, we have introduced the concept of anonymous recruiting in order to evaluate applicants solely on their skills and experience. With this in mind, we encourage you to:

• Anonymise your application by stating only your initials in your CV (including your file name) and cover letter.
• State your initials only in the subject line when sending your application.
• Ensure that you have included your contact email and number, as well as dates when you will not be available or might have difficulty with the indicative timetable.

First round interviews will take place remotely. Please let us know if you will require any special provisions to be made should you be called for an interview. We regret that unsuccessful candidates will not be contacted.

All applicants must have the right to work in the UK. We are currently unable to support visa applications.

#events #head of events #events mangement #events lead #membership #science

If you share our vision that ‘every young person should be supported to gain the confidence, independence and skills they need for a better and brighter future’ we might have the perfect role for you!

ThinkForward is recruiting a Community Coach based in Islington and surround communities in London to deliver our unique programme supporting young people into further education and employment. If you are….

· Passionate about, and have experience in, supporting young people to make amazing decisions about their futures

· Committed to equity, diversity, anti-racist and anti-discriminatory practice

· Persistent, empathic and agile in your style of work and able to apply a coaching approach to the delivery of our programme

· Able to tell the stories of our work through data

· Confident in running one-to-one and group work sessions

· Knowledgeable of employability practices and the importance of tailored progression planning for young people

…then please click on the attached job pack for our role description and information pack for more details about ThinkForward and the role you could play, then apply via CharityJob with your CV and cover letter.

We look forward to hearing from you.