External relations manager jobs in Belfast

What does it take to lead the national voice for special schools at a time of real change?

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – National Association of Special Schools (NASS)

National – home-based, with regular travel across England and Wales, particularly London

£90,000–£110,000 per annum

Full-time, permanent.

About NASS 

The National Association of Special Schools (NASS) is the membership association for special schools in England and Wales. We bring together independent special schools, non-maintained special schools, special academies, maintained special schools and multi-academy trusts with specialist provision.

We exist to inform, support and represent our members, helping specialist schools improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND and secure the place of specialist provision within the wider education system. NASS is known for being accessible, responsive and personal, combining national influence with practical support that members value as timely, human and trustworthy.

This is a pivotal moment for the organisation. In February this year, the Department for Education published a major white paper on SEND reform which will require NASS to both influence national policy on behalf of our members and children and young people, as well as support them to navigate the changes. Our new CEO will need to review our strategy while building on our strong platform and momentum to further deepen our influence and strengthen our internal capacity.

As our next Chief Executive, you will:

• Strategy & Impact: Lead NASS through a period of policy and structural change, ensuring the organisation remains clear on purpose, responsive to members and influential in the SEND landscape.
• Governance & Finance: Work closely with the Board of Trustees to provide strong governance, prudent financial stewardship, robust risk management and clear strategic oversight.
• Operational Leadership: Provide confident leadership to a small, remote team, strengthening collaboration, accountability, resilience and a positive, high-trust culture.
• Income Generation: Oversee budgeting, planning and reporting while developing thoughtful opportunities to diversify income through membership, partnerships, events and related activity.
• Community & Partnerships: Build and sustain trusted relationships with government, parliament, regulators, sector bodies and member schools, ensuring NASS remains relevant and well connected.
• Member Services: Protect and enhance the practical offer to members, from briefings and special interest groups to conferences, webinars, training and peer-to-peer learning.
• Brand & Profile: Act as a credible public ambassador for NASS, helping to modernise communications and broaden the organisation’s voice beyond a founder-shaped model.
• Future Growth: Shape a distributed leadership profile and support a more varied, accessible and engaging approach to membership, advocacy and communications.
• A seasoned senior leader with experience in a charity, membership body, education or public sector setting, and a clear track record of leading through change.
• A strong strategic thinker, able to absorb complex information quickly and translate it into clear, practical direction.
• A confident communicator with the gravitas to represent NASS with members, staff, trustees, MPs, peers, media and national partners.
• A politically astute relationship-builder, comfortable navigating a complex and fast-moving external environment.
• Experienced in governance, with a sound understanding of working with boards or trustees and supporting effective decision-making.
• Numerate and commercially minded, with experience of budgets, financial planning, income generation or partnership development.
• Credible, approachable and resilient, with the emotional intelligence to lead well in a high-profile, remote and sometimes uncertain context.
• Direct SEND experience would be a significant advantage, alongside understanding of specialist education or similarly complex stakeholder environments.

Why NASS?

• This is a chance to lead a respected, member-led organisation with a strong national reputation and a clear public purpose.
• You will help shape the future of specialist education at a time when SEND reform is high on the agenda.
• NASS has a loyal, experienced and collegiate remote staff team, supported by an active Board of Trustees.
• The organisation offers a genuinely influential platform, with strong connections across the sector and with government.

Application

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

Closing date for applications: 9am, Monday 8th June 2026

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

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Officer

We are seeking a passionate and knowledgeable Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Officer to join the EDI function on a part-time basis, with a particular focus on supporting the Witness Service.

This role is home-based but will require occasional travel within England and Wales.

Position: 6745 Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Officer

Location: Remote

Hours: Part time, 18.75 per week (flexible - hours to be spread across 3 days between Monday and Friday)

Contract: Permanent

Salary: £15,750 per annum (FTE £31,500 per annum)

Closing Date: 15/06/2026. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, if enough suitable applications are received.

The Role

The Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Officer will support the National Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Lead to achieve delivery of meaningful and evidence-based equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) initiatives across the charity, with a particular focus on the Witness Service. This will include work to help develop the Witness Service, and the charity more widely, to be proactively antiracist.

The EDI Officer will provide advice and guidance in relation to a wide range of EDI queries, including areas such as equality impact assessments, reasonable adjustments and interpretation services. You will help to boost Witness Service employee and volunteer engagement in EDI initiatives and promote best practice.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide expert advice and guidance on a wide range of EDI queries.
• Review and support with the completion of Equality Impact Assessments.
• Support staff and volunteer network leads to grow their networks and engage the Witness Service.
• Develop evidence-based resources around a range of EDI topics.
• Promote antiracism at all opportunities.
• Support the delivery of EDI project work.
• Undertake data analysis and reporting.
• Provide administrative support for projects and meetings, keeping accurate records.

About You

You will be passionate about helping to shape inclusive environments that allow our employees, volunteers and service users to feel safe and supported. You will use your EDI knowledge to work with internal and external stakeholders, championing lived experience and intersectionality.

You will need:

• Strong communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information in an accessible way, both verbally and in writing.
• Experience of supporting the delivery of a range of EDI initiatives.
• Strong understanding of equality legislation and best practice, as well as current challenges affecting EDI.
• Experience of analysing data and produce data reports using Microsoft Excel.
• Passion for advancing equality, diversity and inclusion with an intersectional focus.
• Organised and methodical approach with the ability to plan and prioritise a highly varied workload effectively.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team, including with internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong IT and administrative skills including the use of Microsoft Office packages.

About the Witness Service

The Witness Service provides free, independent support to any witness giving evidence in criminal courts in England and Wales, both for the prosecution and the defence. The trained staff and volunteers help people understand what to expect before, during and after a trial, and offer practical and emotional support every step of the way, so witnesses can give their best evidence. The Witness Service also supports bereaved family members, friends and family who are accompanying witnesses in court.

If you are passionate about supporting victims of crime and have the necessary skills and experience, we encourage you to apply.

In Return…

Benefits include:

• Flexible Working Options: Including hybrid working.
• Generous Annual Leave: 28 days plus Bank Holidays, increasing to 33 days plus Bank Holidays, with options to buy or sell annual leave.
• Birthday Leave: An extra day off for your birthday.
• Pension Plan: 5% employer contribution.
• Enhanced Allowances: Enhanced sick pay, maternity, and paternity payments.
• Exclusive Discounts: High Street, retail, holiday, gym, entertainment, and leisure discounts.
• Financial Wellbeing: Access to our financial wellbeing hub and salary-deducted finance.
• Wellbeing Support: Employee assistance programme and wellbeing support.
• Inclusive Networks: Access to EDI networks and colleague cafes.
• Sustainable Travel: Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loans.
• Career Development: Ongoing training and support with opportunities for career progression.

About the Organisation

This independent charity is dedicated to supporting people affected by crime and traumatic incidents in England and Wales.  They are at the heart of the organisation and the support and campaigns are informed and shaped by them and their experiences.

The organisation is committed to recruiting with care and to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Background checks and Disclosed Barring Service checks may be required.

Our client is proud to celebrate diversity and create a workplace where everyone feels they belong. They are committed to being an antiracist organisation, and actively welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, including those from Black and Asian and other minoritised communities.

As a Disability Confident Employer, they will offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet all essential criteria for a job where it is practicable to do so and are also happy to make reasonable adjustments during the recruitment and selection process.

You may have experience in areas such as Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Officer, EDI, advice, information, volunteer, data, criminal justice, community, social welfare, Equality Officer, Diversity & Inclusion Officer, EDI Officer, Equality Diversity & Inclusion Officer.

Please note this role is being advertised by NFP People on behalf of our client.  #INDNFP  

This role will support the development and delivery of our services and resources for young people born with a cleft lip and/or palate. Working closely with the Engagement & Services team to help us achieve our mission. 

The Youth Engagement Coordinator will sit within the Engagement & Services Team. They will join a friendly and supportive team of seven colleagues who, together, are responsible for the delivery of CLAPA’s adult, family, children and young people and involvement services. The post holder will develop and deliver services for eight- to seventeen-year-olds, which will enable the young cleft community to connect, share experiences and access guidance and emotional support. Shaping what support looks like, creating positive impact and strengthening reach, this new role for CLAPA will make a real difference to the lives of children and young people born with a cleft.

If you think you have the talent, passion and experience to help us ensure we can always meet the needs of the community we serve, we want to hear from you.

Release Counselling and Therapy for Women is entering an exciting new chapter. 

Founded in Brighton and Hove in 2013, Release has grown from a small local charity into a financially robust organisation with a growing national reach. Under the leadership of our outgoing CEO, the charity has been transformed—moving from a challenging financial position to one with strong reserves, clear sustainability, and ambitious plans for growth. 

We now provide affordable 1:1 online counselling to women across the UK, alongside specialist group programmes supporting maternal mental health and key life transitions. One-to-one counselling is a core offer and a vital income stream, enabling us to extend our reach while staying true to our values. 

This period has also seen Release grow to working with over 20 dedicated volunteer counsellors, strengthening our capacity and community impact. 

As our CEO steps down, Release is ready for its next phase—building on strong foundations, amplifying our national impact, and remaining firmly rooted in our purpose: being a charity that supports women’s mental health, run by women, for women.