External affair director jobs

We’re looking for an exceptional Associate Director of Fundraising to lead one of the most ambitious and high-performing fundraising teams in the sector.  

At Blood Cancer UK, our fundraising is in a strong position. Over the last five years, we’ve doubled our income, achieved growth across every fundraising discipline, successfully launched new products, and reached new audiences.

We have fantastic momentum and the ambition to go even further. You would be joining us at an especially exciting time – we’re in the early stages of our first-ever major appeal and have already secured more than £8 million towards our £25 million target. Backed by a highly engaged and well-connected appeal board, this campaign has huge potential across Fundraising, but especially our high value audiences.

We’re looking for an experienced and confident high-value fundraiser — someone who can build authentic relationships with senior and influential supporters, open doors, and inspire people to be part of something transformative.

Alongside this, you’ll oversee our thriving mid-value and legacy fundraising programmes and help us deepen engagement with supporters across the UK.

Our community is the heartbeat of our organisation: passionate, determined people, often with a personal connection to blood cancer and a powerful desire to make a difference. With around five million people affected by blood cancer in the UK, the opportunity to grow our reach and impact is enormous.

You’ll bring ambition, passion and high standards, with the ability to lead and inspire a large, talented team of nearly 50 people. Collaboration will come naturally to you — you’ll build strong relationships across the organisation and be a key member of the Blood Cancer UK leadership team, creating a culture where people feel inspired to be their best.

Most importantly, you will make a real difference to the lives of people affected by blood cancer.

About Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust (JRCT)

JRCT is a grant-making Quaker Trust that supports people who are passionate about making a positive difference; whether they are advocating for some of the most vulnerable people in our society, promoting nonviolent responses to conflict, or taking steps towards an environmentally sustainable future.

Every year JRCT makes grants for all kinds of charitable work, from grassroots community groups to well-established charities working to build a peaceful and just world. We aim to be a responsive and supportive funder, working to strengthen the hands of people who are tackling the root causes of conflict and injustice.

In 2019, the Trust announced plans to significantly increase annual grant spending to over £10 million per year for the next ten years. The Trust further increased its grant-making in response to the Covid-19 crisis. Since then, we have grown our programme staff team in order to better support increased grant portfolios. 

Having publicly recognised the ways in which the Trust benefited from or contributed to oppressive practices including enslavement, indenture, colonialism, and Apartheid, JRCT has hired a Head of Reparations and made a commitment to a multi-million programme of reparative justice, the first phase of which will take place between 2026 and 2029. 

Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust currently runs five grant programmes: Peace and Security, Rights and Justice, Power and Accountability, Sustainable Future, and Northern Ireland as well as a Grassroots Movements pilot fund.

About the Role

As Executive Assistant, Reparations, this role supports the Head of Reparations and enables the smooth administrative and support aspects of the Head of Reparations’ affairs.

You will support the Head of Reparations in the effective execution of the reparations projects, which will include coordinating project activities, maintaining meticulous project and workplan documentation, managing communication within the reparations team, with the wider JRCT team, and with external stakeholders. Your role will also extend to scheduling and organising meetings, maintaining clear records, and aiding in the organisation of project tasks. You will work in an administrative capacity to ensure that project deadlines are kept and deliverables are met. As the reparations projects will involve extensive work with stakeholders in Africa and thew Caribbean, familiarity with African and Caribbean cultures, as well as relevant multi-lingual and / or multi-cultural competencies will be essential. 

This is a hybrid role requiring in-office attendance once or twice a week. The position is fixed-term until  April 2029, with a salary of £47,814 per annum.

The role is for 35 hours a week, and we are open to flexible working patterns.  We try to schedule meetings to accommodate caring responsibilities. Someone working remotely would be required to come to the York office for up to four days per month and also travel to meetings with some occasional overnight stays.

CENTRE FOR AGEING BETTER

Digital Marketing and Content Manager

· Permanent

· Salary £50,218 per annum

· Full time

· Flexible working options will be supported.

· Central London Office and Hybrid working (6 days a month office attendance)

We offer a pension scheme with employer contribution up to 10%, in addition you’ll receive 28 days holiday plus bank holidays, 24-hour access to a comprehensive employee assistance programme, cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan scheme and other benefits.

About the role

We’re looking for an experienced Digital Marketing and Content Manager to lead and evolve our digital approach at a critical time for the organisation following the launch of our new three-year strategy.

As Digital Marketing and Content Manager, you will play a critical role in amplifying our impact, turning complex research into compelling content, using digital channels to influence decisionmakers and ensuring our messaging reaches the audiences that can drive real change for older people.

You will manage one line report. You will work closely with an external agency to support website development as well as maximising the effectiveness of our marketing, SEO/GEO and user experience.

At a time of rapid technological change, this role will also help Ageing Better make smart, responsible use of AI and other emerging digital tools, strengthening our reach, effectiveness and influence.

About you

You’ll bring strong digital leadership, curiosity about new approaches, and sound judgement about what will genuinely add value.

You will have demonstrable experience of delivering a consistent stream of high quality, accessible and persuasive content across channels including social media, website, and e-newsletters.

You are confident in leading an organisation’s digital marketing strategy and skilled at using insights and data to grow reach, engagement and influence with target audiences across different digital channels.

You are used to managing a broad range of suppliers including our digital agency as well as designers, copywriters, filmmakers and other creative agencies involved in content creation.

You have a collaborative approach, are able to build relationships with a wide variety of people, and are an effective, supportive manager.

About us

The Centre for Ageing Better is a charitable foundation funded by The National Lottery Community Fund (NLCF) and part of the government’s What Works Network. We are fortunate to have monies remaining from our endowment from the NLCF to fully fund us until 2029, and we will be looking for new funding opportunities to sustain activity beyond 2029.

Everyone has the right to a good life as they get older, and our whole society benefits when people are able to age well. But far too many people face huge barriers, and as a result are living in bad housing, dealing with poverty and poor health and made to feel invisible in their communities and society.

The Centre for Ageing Better is an independent centre of excellence on ageing and demographic change. We work with national and local government, industries, businesses and community organisations to improve how people experience ageing. Our work focuses on creating better workplaces, homes and communities, while tackling ageism and addressing inequality in later life.

We are striving to create an organisation that reflects our society and the communities we serve with a workplace where everyone feels empowered and where diversity of background and thought is celebrated. We know there is more work to be done and are committed to continuing to improve our practice around Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion.

We very much welcome applications from minority groups and those underrepresented in our workforce. This especially includes people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, LGBT+ people, and Disabled people. 

We are a Positive Action employer, therefore in recruitment where two candidates are ‘as qualified as’ each other, we will favour a candidate from any group identified as currently underrepresented in our team based on protected characteristics as outlined in the Equality Act 2010.

To Apply

To apply, please follow the link to complete an application form and Equality and Diversity form.

Please address in your supporting statement how you meet the person specification for the role as fully as possible to demonstrate why you should be shortlisted for an interview for this post. 

Failure to do so will result in your application being automatically rejected.

We understand the benefits of using AI in the workplace and the support that generative AI can offer. However, we would encourage you to write your supporting statement and complete your application without the use of AI and if you do use AI, to avoid copy and pasting and to consider the value it will add. We encourage you to showcase your experience and knowledge using your own unique voice.

The closing date for this role is 9am 26th May, with in- person interviews to take place 8th June. 

We reserve the right to close this role early if a large volume of applications has been received. 

Salary: £41,500

Location: Hybrid Work Culture. We are proud to promote a truly hybrid work culture, recognising that every role is different, and everyone has unique needs and preferences. Our Hybrid Work Arrangement empowers each team member to work with their manager to choose the most effective way to work that balances your needs and Hospice UK’s.

Our office is a short walk from King’s Cross station in London. For this role, we need someone to come into the office at least one day a week, on a Tuesday. A day where all of Income Generation come into the office. You can work remotely for the rest of the time. Equally, you may prefer to work from the office full-time. We encourage all colleagues to visit member hospices to help inform our work and you may be able to work from there. 

Contractually this role is London-based.

Contract: 8 Month Contract ending on 31 March 2027

Benefits:

• 25 days annual leave pro rata based on the term of the contract
• Matched pension scheme up to 7% of salary
• Support for staff with caring responsibilities
• Family-friendly culture

How to apply: CV and supporting statement - using Hospice UK’s supporting statement document – available on our website to download.

Closing date for applications: 23:59 on Sunday 31 May 2026. 

Interview dates: Tuesday June 9 and Wednesday June 10. Interviews will take place online via MS Teams.

Job Information 

The Role

The Conference Manager (FTC) plays a significant part in delivering Hospice UK’s programme of conferences for our hospice membership. As a newly created position, you will take the lead on our one-day conferences while also supporting the delivery of our annual National Conference. 

Our conferences are central to our strategic aim of bringing the sector together to share expertise, collaborate and celebrate innovation. Your work will ensure our conferences are delivered to a high standard and that hospice delegates have access to relevant and timely learning opportunities. 

You will work with a range of internal and external stakeholder as well as the subject matter experts. Listening to their feedback, you will help shape the programme content, work with the wider project team to deliver a smooth and valuable learning opportunity for hospice colleagues. 

The Team

The Conference team is made up of the Senior Conference manager and the Programmes Team Administrator, with support from the Deputy Director of Programmes, Director of Programmes and subject matter experts across the organisation.

It is a mighty team of two, managing a portfolio of 5 in person conferences across the year, from our role focused one-day conferences of around 130 - 150 delegates to our annual National Conference, which welcomes over 1000 delegates.Our team works across the organisation and collaborates with lots of internal and external stakeholders. 

About You

You will have strong attention to detail, excellent organisational skills, and be confident building relationships with a wider range of stakeholders. 

You will bring:

• Proven experience of organising in person conferences, events or seminars (or similar complex activities) for around 130 people or more
• Ability to distil conversations, feedback and discussions into actionable insights that support effective planning.
• Naturally curious and proactive
• A self-motivated, self-sufficient approach to managing your workload
• Strong time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities

More information is available in the candidate information pack, which is available on our website to download.

Head of Public Affairs

Over the past 2 years, GuildHE has been transforming into the voice for distinctive higher education providers, building our brand on the principle that diversity is necessary for a healthy and vibrant higher education sector.  We have a new look, a renewed energy, and a bold vision for the future of distinctive institutions. Now, we need the final piece of the puzzle: our first-ever Head of Public Affairs. 

This is a landmark appointment for us. As a newly-created role following our recent rebranding, you’ll be building our external presence, taking our fresh identity and the work we’ve undertaken so far to the next level as we seek to double-down on our high-impact advocacy and engagement work.

As our inaugural Head of Public Affairs, you will have a unique mandate to shape the way GuildHE interacts with the world, where you can:

• Own the Narrative: Take our new brand and shape the 'GuildHE voice' across Westminster, the media, and the wider HE sector.

• Build the Blueprint: You will have the autonomy to design our engagement frameworks from scratch—working with the Director of Policy and Strategy to decide how we influence policy and how we best champion the value of specialist education.

• Create a Legacy: Because this is a brand-new headcount, every success will be yours to claim. You are here to build a function that will help define our influence for the next decade.

Who we’re looking for

We’re looking for someone who will champion diversity in higher education. From world-leading arts and agricultural institutions to large and distinctive HE providers who serve their students, industries and communities in innovative ways, you will find the common threads that bind our members and weave them into a compelling national story. You aren’t just representing institutions; you’re representing a vision of a more varied, vibrant educational landscape.

We’re looking for pioneers, who are energised by the phrase, “we haven’t done that before.” We’ve done the work on our look and feel—now we need you to provide the megaphone. If you’re a strategist who loves the 'start-up' energy of building and expanding functions within a respected, established body, we want to hear from you.

This this is the right job for you?  Please send a cover letter explaining that to us (max 2 pgs) and a CV by the deadline.

Application closing date: May 22

Interviews: June 3-4

 

As Head of Campaigns, Policy and Public Affairs, you will lead our work in securing policy changes that makes things better for people affected by Motor Neurone Disease (MND).

Too many people affected by MND are not getting the right level of care and support. So you will be responsible for the policy development, political and governmental engagement, and campaigning to address this. So along with a compassionate and nurturing leadership style, you will approach the role with pace and ambition, and a real impatience to deliver meaningful change.

MND awareness has increased dramatically, including among policymakers. So this is an opportunity to use your skills and experience to make a real difference to people with MND and their loved ones.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, manage, develop and deliver impactful campaigns, policy and public affairs activity with impact for people affected by MND
• Set priorities that reflect evidence, lived experience and political opportunity
• Develop relationships and influence decision-makers across Westminster, the Senedd and Stormont
• Build strong relationships with policymakers, the NHS and sector partners
• Ensure campaigns are planned, bold, creative and urgent in delivery
• Strengthen and support our community of campaigns volunteers
• Chair our internal access to treatments group
• Lead, support and develop the Campaigns, Policy and Public Affairs team
• Act as a key external spokesperson for the Motor Neurone Disease Association

About You

• An exceptional level of drive and ambition, and an infectious sense of impatience for the policy changes that will make life better for people affected by MND
• Proven success securing policy change through campaigning
• Excellent understanding of the policy landscape and a good understanding of how policy decisions are made
• Sophisticated influencing skills and political insight
• Experience leading, motivating and inspiring teams
• Clear, confident written and verbal communication
• Commitment to shaping work with people affected by motor neurone disease
• Experience of partnership or coalition working
• Experience of budget planning and financial oversight

Hybrid working expectations: London office attendance one day per week

Further information about MND Association and full job description is available in the attached Candidate Pack.

We are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusivity. We work to remove barriers for everyone affected by MND, employees, volunteers, and stakeholders.

As part of the Disability Confident Scheme, we guarantee interviews for disabled applicants who meet the role's requirements.

What We Offer

• 28 days holiday, increasing to 33 days after 5 years, plus Bank Holidays
• Access to UK Healthcare, including dental, eyecare, health screenings, and therapies
• 24/7 GP access via phone and video
• Life assurance and confidential counselling helplines
• Salary sacrifice schemes (Cycle to Work, Buy/Sell Annual Leave)
• Access to Benefit Hub for discounts on everyday shopping
• Enhanced pension scheme
• Opportunities for training and personal development
• Hybrid working

About Us

Motor Neurone Disease moves fast. It takes away time, it takes away independence and it has no cure. Every day we support people affected by MND. We fund ground-breaking research. We campaign for better care. We’re here for everyone who needs us. Because with MND, every day matters.

Location: Home based within commuting distance of either Edinburgh, Cardiff or Belfast 

Salary: £32,750 per annum
Hours: 35 hours per week 

Closing date: Monday 19 May 2026 at midnight 

Interview date: week commencing 25 May 2026 over video with possible second stage in person week commencing 1 June 2026 

This is a full time fixed-term position for one year (with possible extension subject to funding). 

Who we are looking for  

Breakthrough T1D is the UK’s leading type 1 diabetes charity, dedicated to funding research, advocating for change, and supporting the T1D community. A year into our exciting rebrand from JDRF to Breakthrough T1D, we’re looking for a Senior Policy and Public Affairs Officer – Devolved Nations to help us build on this momentum. 

The role of the Senior Policy and Public Affairs Officer - Devolved Nations is vital to achieving our UK-wide advocacy mission: to reduce health inequalities in type 1 diabetes, to widen access to type 1 diabetes treatments and technologies and to ensure that people with type 1 get access to emerging new treatments and future cures in the devolved nations.  

You will lead on projects with key stakeholders and high-level Parliamentarians, such as our access to treatments and early detection work, as well as people with type 1 diabetes, policy makers and researchers. You will help to deliver Breakthrough T1D’s influencing plans, improving access to and choice of type 1 diabetes treatments and technology in the devolved nations.  

Experience required 

• Experience of working successfully with politicians, their offices, Government departments, and other public affairs audiences to influence policy and to influence public/stakeholder discourse  

• Experience of leading public affairs delivery in one of more of the devolved nations  

• Experience in analysing Government policy in-depth and creating policy briefings   

• Experience of drafting briefings, reports and policy submissions   

• Experience of communicating across a range of parliamentary and professional stakeholders at all levels  

• Demonstrable knowledge, interest and experience of working in a public affairs and policy-based environment  

• Experience of organising stakeholder events  

About Breakthrough T1D 

Breakthrough T1D is the world’s leading charitable research funder into type 1 diabetes, improving lives until we find the cure. We are dedicated to our 400,000 strong type 1 community in the UK and work closely with our international affiliates across the world, including the US, Canada and Australia. 

You will find a vibrant atmosphere and spirited team at Breakthrough T1D, always striving to make a difference to people living with type 1. 

Employee benefits 

As an employer we offer: 

• Hybrid working arrangements 

• Flexible working and will consider compressed hours 

• Generous annual leave entitlement – 25 days per year plus bank holidays for full-time staff with leave increasing after three and five years’ service 

• Health cash plan that allows you to claim for some treatments such as dental, optical and physiotherapy treatment 

• Season ticket and cycle loan 

• Pension scheme 

• Family-friendly policies – maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave at enhanced rates 

• Personalised training to suit your career aspirations and professional development 

Breakthrough T1D is an equal opportunity employer, we welcome applications from all individuals regardless of race, gender, disability, religious belief, sexual orientation or age. 

Are you passionate about building relationships to drive meaningful change to make a real difference in people’s lives? Samaritans is the UK and Ireland’s leading suicide prevention charity. While we are best known for listening to those who need us, we also work to influence change through our advocacy campaigning and relationships with political stakeholders.​

We are looking for a Public Affairs and Campaigns Officer to join our team and help influence decision makers and mobilise our campaigners to achieve our vision of fewer lives lost to suicide. You’ll play a pivotal role in delivering inspiring public affairs and advocacy campaign activity that help achieve our policy and influencing aims, resulting in lasting system change.​

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About the Role

As Public Affairs and Campaigns Officer, you will lead on the development and delivery of impactful advocacy campaigns and public affairs activity, managing supporter journeys and mobilisation, as well as political engagement. It involves building strong relationships with parliamentarians, Samaritans branches and people with lived experience, while producing high‑quality campaign actions, briefings, events, and intelligence to influence change.

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Contract

£30,000-£33,000 per annum plus benefits

Full Time (35hrs per week)

Permanent

Hybrid working with link to Ewell office

In-person working: Meeting in person and working collaboratively are things we value. We work in person around 2 days per month. This role will also involve regular travel to Westminster.

We are passionate about flexible working, talk to us about your preferences 

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What You’ll Do

• Develop and deliver effective advocacy campaign actions.
• Manage campaign data, mailing lists and inboxes.
• Support strategy development for campaigns and lead community mobilisation.
• Promote our campaigning work internally and externally.
• Build and maintain public affairs relationships, particularly with parliamentarians.
• Monitor parliamentary developments and identify opportunities for influencing.
• Coordinate political engagement events.
• Provide secretariat support to relevant APPGs.

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What You’ll Bring

• Strong experience designing impactful advocacy campaigns.
• Solid understanding of public affairs and the Westminster environment.
• Excellent communication, facilitation and relationship‑building skills.
• Highly organised, proactive and adaptable, with strong project and time‑management skills.
• (Desirable) Knowledge of suicide prevention and mental health policy, local and regional political structures, and experience within complex service‑delivery charities.​

Full Job Description and Person Specification attached

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Why Samaritans?

At Samaritans, you’ll be part of a people-first organisation deeply committed to inclusion, compassion and learning. You’ll contribute to a team where your voice matters, your expertise makes a difference, and your work helps save lives.​

We welcome applications from individuals with lived experience and encourage those from underrepresented communities to apply. We are committed to creating an environment where all our people feel seen, heard and supported.​

You’ll join a values-led organisation with a powerful mission and a collaborative culture. We offer flexible hybrid working, excellent benefits, and the chance to make a tangible difference in suicide prevention across the UK and Ireland.​

For further information about Samaritans, including our charity structure, values, employee benefits, and application process, please read our recruitment brochure available here. You can also visit our careers website to access this.​

We recognise the enormous benefits and the social justice imperatives of ensuring diversity at every level of our organisation. Samaritans is wholly committed to inclusion and diversity and to building a culture and environment where everyone is appreciated for the unique person they are. To ensure Samaritans is representative of those we support and who support us, we particularly welcome applications from disabled, racialised minority and LGBTQ+ candidates, as these people are under-represented at Samaritans.​

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Apply now

If this sounds like the opportunity for you, please apply. You will be asked to some answer short application questions (please keep your answers to max 300 words) and to upload your CV.​

Applications close:09:00am on Tuesday 2nd June 

Interviews: w/c 15th June 

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At Samaritans, human connection is at the heart of everything we do.

We do not use AI at any stage during the selection process. Your application will always be carefully reviewed by the recruiting manager or a member of the Talent Attraction Team.

We kindly ask that you avoid using AI tools to generate your application or interview answers. We want to hear your own ideas, insights, and writing style so your unique strengths can shine through.

Crisis is the national charity for people experiencing homelessness. We have embarked on our 10-year strategy for ending homelessness. We know it is not inevitable. We know together we can end it.

About us

Crisis is the national charity for people experiencing homelessness. We know that homelessness is not inevitable. We know that together we can end it.

This is an extremely exciting time to join the team, as we anticipate the implementation of new homelessness legislation that holds the potential to be world leading and seek to develop relationships with the newly elected Senedd and Welsh Government.

You will lead our agenda in Wales to achieve positive and lasting change to end homelessness. This is an extremely exciting time to join the team, as the Wales Government introduces homelessness prevention legislation that will be world leading.

Location: Crisis Skylight South Wales, 163 St Helens Road, Swansea, SA14DQ. Option of hybrid working from home (minimum 1 day a week in the Skylight) with the ability to travel across Wales and within the UK for training and meetings.

Contract: Fixed term up to 11 months (available as a secondment)

Salary: £57,452 per annum

About the role

As Head of Policy and Communications in Wales you will lead a team working across policy, public affairs and communications to deliver the changes needed to address homelessness in Wales. After the formation of a new government in Wales, this role will be working closely with politicians, government officials, sector leads, and people with lived experience of homelessness to ensure Crisis’ goal of ending all forms of homelessness in Wales is a priority and bring about the changes needed to meet this goal.

About you

To be successful in this role you will have excellent knowledge and experience of developing and securing policy change at a national government level and raising the profile of an organisation through advocacy and strategic communications.

Ideally you will have experience across policy, public affairs and media work, and excel at building stakeholder relations. You will be an experienced spokesperson and understand how to communicate policy matters in a simple and concise way. You will have understanding and knowledge of developing policy and influencing objectives informed by frontline staff and working with people with lived experience of an issue and staff.

Please see the full Job Pack linked below, for a full list of requirements for this role. We realise that long lists of criteria can be daunting, and you may not want to apply for a role unless you feel 100% qualified. However, if you feel you have relevant examples to answer the screening questions, we encourage you to apply.

We believe diversity is a strength, and our aim is to make sure that Crisis truly reflects the communities we serve. We are actively working towards our organisation being a place where everyone can thrive and make their best contribution to our mission of ending homelessness for good. We know that the more perspectives, voices, and experiences we can bring to this work, the better. We particularly welcome applications from people who have lived experience of homelessness, and people from all marginalised groups, communities and backgrounds.

Working at Crisis

Our values, Bold, Impactful, Collaborative and Equitable, are at the heart of everything we do as we continue in our mission to end homelessness.

Our staff, members and volunteers are vital to getting the right government policies in place, providing breakthrough services, and building a supportive community. We’ll lead by example to nurture a positive and ambitious workplace guided by ending homelessness.

As a member of the team, you will have access to a wide range of employee benefits including:

• A competitive salary. Please note our salaries are fixed to counter inequity and we do not negotiate at offer stage
• Interest free loans for travel season ticket, cycle to work, and deposit to secure a tenancy
• Pension scheme with an employer contribution of 8.5%
• 28 days’ annual leave (pro rata) which increases with service to 31 days and the option to purchase up to 10 additional days leave
• Flexible working around the core hours 10am-4pm
• And more! (Full list of benefits available on website)

Alongside our excellent staff benefits, we will support your ongoing development to build your skills, experience and career.

When you join us, you will have the opportunity to join our staff diversity networks, which aim to champion issues across the organisation, enable staff to be their authentic and best selves and contribute to making Crisis a truly diverse organisation.

When you join us, you will have the opportunity to join our staff diversity networks, which aim to champion issues across the organisation, enable staff to be their authentic and best selves and contribute to making Crisis a truly diverse organisation.

How do I apply?

Please click on the 'Apply for Job' button below. Our shortlisting process is anonymised as part of our commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion. We do not ask for CVs, instead we ask you complete the work history section and answer the screening questions for us to be able to assess you fairly and objectively. At least two members of staff score all applications.

Closing date: Sunday 14th June at 23:59

Interview date and location: Friday 26th June, in-person at Crisis Skylight South Wales, 163 St Helens Road, Swansea, SA1 4DQ

AI in Job Applications

We understand some candidates use AI tools when applying. Whilst we welcome the use of technology to support clear communication and structure, we want to learn more about you, so please ensure that your application reflects your own skills, knowledge and experiences.

Accessibility

We want our recruitment process to be as accessible as possible. If you need us to make an adjustment or provide additional support as you apply for a role, please contact our Talent Acquisition team to discuss how we can help.

For more information about our work please visit

@Crisis_Cymru on Instagram

@CrisisWales on X

Crisis Skylight South Wales on Facebook

Registered Charity Numbers: E&W1082947, SC040094

We are seeking to appoint a new Director of Member Engagement to join our Senior Leadership Team and play a critical role in strengthening AoC’s relationship with its member colleges at a time of significant change for the sector. 

The Association of Colleges (AoC) is the national representative body for further education colleges in England. We have very high membership numbers and recent surveys show that member satisfaction is also high, but the world is changing fast, and the expectations on and challenges for colleges are increasing. We need to respond to those changes and ensure our support and advocacy for our members remains high quality, respected and valued.

This is a newly created role to help us do that, reporting directly to the Chief Executive, with responsibility for leading AoC’s membership engagement, regional member services and governance offer, ensuring a coherent, high-quality and consistent experience for member colleges across England.

Everything we do at AoC is aimed at helping colleges deliver on their purpose and continue making an impact. Colleges educate and train 1.6 million people each year. As their not-for-profit membership body AoC:

• Influences government and local and national policymakers to create the environment for strong and sustainable colleges at the heart of the economy.
• Provides high quality professional support, advice and intelligence to meet the needs of every member college.
• Champions and enhances the reputation of colleges, leaders, staff and students.

With a strong financial base and a strong team of passionate and highly dedicated staff, AoC will launch our new strategic plan in September 2026. The new Director of Member Engagement will provide strategic leadership to AoC’s regional structure, drive proactive and data-informed engagement with members and stakeholders, and be a part of the overall senior leadership team. This role will help maintain our position as a trusted, influential and indispensable partner to colleges at both national and regional level.

This role offers an opportunity to work within an organisation with purpose and impact in a sector that enriches lives through lifelong learning. If you are a strong leader, with excellent communication skills, able to travel regularly to provide a national presence for AoC senior leadership and strong support to a dispersed team, we would like to hear from you.

At AoC, we value trust, flexibility and professional growth. You’ll join a high-performing, mission-led organisation that offers generous benefits, flexible working, and opportunities to develop your career while making a positive impact on the FE community.

Please review the full job description and person specification, which outlines the role in more detail. If you have any questions or would like to have an informal discussion about the role please contact the Group HR Director.

Hours: Full Time, 37.5 Hours per week

How to Apply: If you think you have the skills, experience, and attributes to hit the ground running in this position, we would welcome your application. Click 'apply now' below.

To be considered for this role, your application must be submitted and received by 5pm on 25 May 2026.

Interviews: 
1st Stage - W/C 8 June
- Online interview
Location: online via Microsoft Teams

2nd Stage - W/C 15 June
- Candidates shortlisted for the final stage will have the opportunity to meet with the Deputy CEO
Location: online via Microsoft Teams

Final Stage - 25 June (fixed date)
- In person interview with a presentation exercise
Location: onsite @AoC London Office

AoC is committed to providing equal opportunities and embracing diversity. We encourage applications from everyone and will not discriminate against any applicants on the basis of age, disability, sex, gender identity, marital status, pregnancy, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation.

If you have a disability and would prefer to apply in a different format or would like us to make reasonable adjustments to enable you to apply or attend any interview, please contact us.

Thank you for your interest in this opportunity to join the AoC team.

REF-228 441

Role purpose

The Head of Finance is a key member of the Charity’s senior management team, working closely with the chief executive, directors, and trustees. The head of finance will lead the day-to-day financial operations of the Charity, including budgeting, reporting, audit, payroll, and pensions. Managing the finance manager and management accountant, the Head of Finance will ensure the effective running of the finance department and smooth day-to-day processes. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive, you will be a key advisor on strategic financial decisions, balancing meticulous operational control with strategic planning.

As the Head of Finance, you will:

• Proactively contribute to the development and delivery of the Charity’s strategy through developing long-term financial planning to underpin our objectives.
• Act as senior finance business partner to the senior leadership team, supporting strategic and operational decision-making.
• Lead on the annual audit and production of statutory accounts, ensuring effective management of the audit process.
• Support the rest of the Charity team to become financially informed and comfortable understanding financial performance, control, and accountability.

Main responsibilities

Financial controls, reporting, and operational finance

• Lead the finance function of the Charity, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant financial management and reporting.
• Ensure that appropriately robust internal financial and operational controls are in place.
• Ensure that our unrestricted and restricted funds and accounting records are maintained in accordance with legal and regulatory requirements and best practice.
• Ensure timely and accurate monthly management accounts and other reports are produced by the finance team and distributed to members of the senior management team, encouraging ownership of departmental budgets.
• Manage and oversee accounts receivable and payable, ensuring strong cash management.
• Ensure all banking facilities, financial systems, and internal processes function to a high standard and enable the Charity to carry out its transactional and operational financial functions.
• Lead financial risk identification and mitigation, working closely with the chief executive and leadership team, and reporting to the board of trustees.

Financial administration and governance

• Manage the production of statutory accounts in line with the Charity SORP and lead the annual external audit process.
• Oversee our tax affairs, including PAYE, national insurance, corporation tax, VAT, and gift aid.
• Responsible for our payroll and pensions functions.
• Maintain and continuously improve financial policies, procedures, and controls, working closely with the fundraising and operations teams to ensure organisational efficiency.
• Identify and escalate financial risks to the chief executive and board
• Line manage and support the management accountant and finance manager, ensuring professional development and high-quality output.

Person specification

Knowledge and experience

We are looking for candidates with demonstrable strategic financial leadership spanning organisational planning, budgeting, risk, and reporting. You will have:

• You must be a fully qualified accountant (ACCA, ACA, OR CIMA)
• Excellent knowledge of charity financial management, SORP, and audit is essential.
• Experience of effective budget setting and implementing controls and processes to manage and monitoring budgets
• Firm understanding of risk management
• Experience of improving policies and processes in comparable organisations
• Success in delivering increased cost effectiveness
• Evidence of building financial impact and performance metrics and reporting
• Understanding of the requirements of legislation, Charity Commission and professional body guidance on a being a well-run and financially accountable Charity
• Considerable experience of management and development of staff

Skills, abilities, and behaviours

• A strategic thinker with the ability to see the bigger picture and make decisions in line with the charity’s needs as part of a team
• Strong change management skills with experience of managing teams through change
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to interpret and communicate financial information to a non-specialist audience
• Strong organisational development skills, able to identify and act on opportunities to drive performance in business
• Experience of the charity or not-for-profit environment (this could be gained as a trustee) preferably with some understanding of charity funding and investment management
• Collaborative working style with excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Resilient with a flexible, creative and solutions-focused approach to problem-solving

We are looking for a highly motivated and organised individual to maintain, develop and continuously improve our systems. The role will be an integral part of the Living Wage Operations Team, providing strategic technical support and ensure the integrity of our systems, often overseeing development projects with external partners.

The Operations and Data Manager will need to be highly numerate and have great analytical skills to support our monitoring and evaluation functions, working with the Head of Operations and Insight on financial and budgeting management, reconciliation and forecasting for the Living Wage Foundation. The suitable candidate will be detail-oriented, be able to demonstrate their ability to seek out improvements and problem solve creatively and have experience working with Salesforce or equivalent CRM systems.

Main Purpose and Scope of the Job

Main point of contact and support for organisational corporate compliance and the efficient and effective management of Corporate Services activities including Members governance admin activities, Insurance compliance and renewals, Indian Liaison Office (ILO) compliance, and supporting portfolio compliance activities.

Key Activities

Corporate Services

• Lead the drafting, monitoring, implementation, and regular review of Corporate Services and IT policies.
• Act as the primary point of contact for all insurance matters, including compliance, administration, renewals, claims, travel insurance, and ad hoc queries.
• Ensure full compliance with ILO statutory requirements and other countries (e.g. Kenya) compliance as required.

Governance

• Ensure governance activities (Members and FRC), are undertaken efficiently and effectively and prepare minutes of meetings. (May involve some international travel).
• Collate completed Conflicts of Interest & Confidentiality forms and summarise data for the Register, circulating it for meeting reports.

Finance & Audit (Internal)

• Be the primary contact with BDO (Internal Auditors) and prepare, collate and provide all necessary requests for information.
• Review payments - Cheque signatory, authorised signatory and approval of certain invoices to delegated authority level.

Due Diligence

• Support the Head of Legal Affairs by reviewing due diligence documentation from a corporate services and finance point of view to ensure risks (financial and/or reputational) are duly highlighted.

Other

• Support staff and ensure the function’s activities are delivered to the highest standard whilst optimising available resource utilisation.
• Support the Senior Director, Corporate Services & Finance.

Qualifications / experience required (in order to successfully carry out the job role)

• A degree in a relevant field such as Business Administration, or Policy and Business Compliance.
• Experience of working in the charity sector (desirable).
• Experience of developing and maintaining policies.
• Experience managing compliance frameworks across multiple jurisdictions.
• Experience handling insurance claims and renewals.
• Experience of governance responsibilities & senior team interaction.
• Experience supporting internal or external audits.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex corporate situations.
• Excel literate to a detailed level plus experience of other MS Office programmes and report writing.

*** Application extension: we are welcoming applications until 24th May ***

We are looking for an enthusiastic individual with experience working in a policy role focused on food or related issues (climate, nutrition, health or education). You will have knowledge of the political landscape in the UK and experience working with or in government departments, academia and NGOs on a range of policy issues.

It is an exciting time in food policy, and in this role you’ll have opportunities to work across our national policy portfolio, whether its exploring the link between climate change and food prices, developing our proposition for a Good Food Bill, improving the Healthy Start scheme, or strengthening public sector procurement.

The postholder will manage a variety of high impact activities and outputs that are used to drive forward change across our national policy areas and will work will colleagues across the organisation working in national policy, local policy, communications, events and food business transformation to do this.

Due to the evolving policy landscape, there will be a chance to tailor the role to the interests and experience of the successful candidate.

Across these workstreams, you’ll get a chance to:

• contribute to the refinement of policy asks and comms messaging,
• undertake desk research to inform policy,
• coordinate activities with different stakeholders and partners working across different policy areas
• support Ambassadors on advocacy related to dietary inequalities
• support communications and campaign work related to this work

Job Description:

Management and Strategy

• Support the policy portfolio of campaigns and projects across our national policy areas, including on food prices and food inflation, our Good Food Bill campaign, Healthy Start and early years.
• Work closely with the Policy and Advocacy Manager to develop and implement project plans and deliverables across these areas
• Maintain a careful record of our policy impact according to our agreed metrics within our Monitoring Evaluation and Learning framework.
• Policy and research
• Synthesize evidence for and play a significant part in the development of position statements/briefings/reports, working closely with the wider policy team and our designer.
• Support the Public Affairs lead to develop policy products for use in parliamentary engagement.
• Working closely with our Research Lead, identify evidence gaps and policy research questions which are relevant to our policy work to support new positions and generate new ideas for research or evidence collection which help achieve our policy goals.
• Work where needed with external contractors in the delivery of specific pieces of work, setting clear expectations and holding them accountable for delivery.
• Stakeholder engagement
• Develop and maintain a strong civil society network of stakeholders, working to broaden the support base for specific policies.
• Participate in coalitions of organisations who are campaigning together on specific areas of policy change.
• Develop and maintain relationships with junior civil servants in key departments across all policy areas.
• Work with the Citizens Engagement Manager to identify opportunities to bring Adult and Young Food Ambassadors into policy activities and research.
• Represent the Food Foundation and present our work in external events and meetings with relevant audiences and the media.
• Budgets and fundraising
• Administer grants which support our projects and ensure that funders are kept well informed, receive timely reports and that budgets are kept on track.
• Maintain good relationships with funders according to their requirements and provide input to proposals and funding bids.

Communications and campaigns

• Develop a comprehensive approach to dissemination of our policy outputs so they reach our intended audiences.
• Act as a local/regional media spokesperson, brief journalists, and respond to media queries.
• Contribute policy and evidence expertise to support campaign delivery.
• Contribute policy expertise to press releases, newsletters, web copy, podcasts and blogs.
• Support the maintenance of website pages related to project areas.
• Draft social media posts and newsletters.

Personal Profile

Technical skills:

• Knowledge and understanding of the food system, food and nutrition and/or health policy and policy levers for change.
• Strong knowledge of the mechanics of the UK policy-making landscape, including the workings of Westminster and Whitehall.
• Proven experience in synthesising evidence and using evidence to make a case for change.
• Proven experience in writing reports and briefings for different audiences, with the ability to explain complex and highly nuanced subject matter in plain English.
• Previous experience working in a policy role, refining policy asks and communicating these with different stakeholders
• Excellent analytic skills and close attention to detail.

Personal skills:

• Proven experience in budget management, project management and reporting to funders.
• Proven experience in managing multiple projects concurrently to tight deadlines and prioritising workload.
• Strong interpersonal skills and experience working collaboratively as a member of an interdisciplinary team.
• Strong presentation skills and confidence in speaking to external audiences.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral.
• Ability to problem-solve and manage risk.
• Ability to work independently and manage own time effectively.
• Ability to build strong relationships with all members of the team.
• Open to giving and receiving challenging viewpoints.
• Resilience and tenacity whilst recognising the need for self-awareness and the impact of actions on others and the organisation.
• Willingness to travel for project meetings and dissemination events.
• A confident networker who enjoys building connections and relationships with new people.

This job description is intended as an outline indicator of general areas of activity only. The Food Foundation is a small charity and as such all staff are expected to vary their duties as necessary to meet the needs of the organisation.

Please see the full job pack on our website