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This is an exciting opportunity to steer Asylum Aid at an important time in its 30-year existence. As Executive Director you will be responsible for delivering on our strategy for impact. You will oversee our work to increase access to expert, trauma-informed legal representation to those in the asylum, trafficking and statelessness systems and lead our policy and strategic legal work to achieve systemic change that contributes towards our vision.

You will line manage the Director of Legal Casework to oversee the provision of supportive and enabling leadership to Asylum Aid caseworkers so that they can continue to deliver high quality expert advice in complex cases, while being supported in their professional development and wellbeing. You will also manage and develop the work of our welfare advice team within the Westminster Advice Services Partnership and beyond, and work collaboratively with colleagues in the sector to build capacity and increase our impact. 

The ideal candidate, who may be legally qualified, will have experience of leadership in the charity/NGO sector and a sound understanding of the asylum, human rights and trafficking processes in the UK and the legal frameworks which govern the protection of refugees, survivors of trafficking and stateless people, and of the role of law in achieving system change.

We are looking for someone who is strategically minded and passionate about providing supportive and inclusive leadership to our expert team. You will be committed to our objectives and to the role which expert legal representation plays in enabling people in need of protection in the UK to obtain it.

As is the nature of this sector, the role may be exposed to a high volume of traumatic and distressing material and, whilst they will be supported by the Helen Bamber Foundation Group CEO and surrounding team, the candidate should also be able to demonstrate knowledge of good self-care principles in an intense work environment and dissemination of those principles to junior members of the team.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Leadership and strategy

·Be responsible, with the support of the Helen Bamber Foundation Group CEO, for the development, implementation and monitoring of Asylum Aid’s organisational strategy

·Provide leadership and strategic direction at Asylum Aid in accordance with its aims and objectives, with the support of the Director of Legal Casework

·Act as external spokesperson for Asylum Aid, maintaining and strengthening Asylum Aid’s position as a leader in the refugee rights, statelessness and legal aid sectors;

·Work collaboratively with others in the sector to promote and strengthen Asylum Aid’s work, identify and establish potential partnerships, with the support of the Director of Legal Casework;

·Work collaboratively with the Helen Bamber Foundation Group CEO and Executive Leadership team to drive the implementation of the Group strategic framework;

·Ensure that all reporting and monitoring requirements are met to support fundraising, contract compliance and monitoring strategic impact;

·Support the cross collaboration of the Asylum Aid team with the Helen Bamber Foundation team and play an active part in the management of the Helen Bamber Foundation Group.

Governance  

·Act as the Data Protection Supervisor with responsibility for data protection and cyber security within Asylum Aid

·Together with the Helen Bamber Foundation Group CEO and designated safeguarding leads, be responsible for child and adult safeguarding within Asylum Aid

·In collaboration with the Director of Legal Casework, ensure compliance by Asylum Aid with all legal and regulatory obligations, including the Legal Aid Agency contract, the Immigration Advice Authority and Solicitors Regulation Authority;

·Lead on the preparation and presentation of quarterly reports on Asylum Aid’s activities, strategy and risks to the Asylum Aid Board, the Finance and Fundraising Committee and the People and Governance Committee;

·Lead on the preparation of the Trustees’ annual report and ensure that monitoring and evaluation systems are adequate to enable reporting on Asylum Aid’s activities and impact.

Management and Supervision 

·Responsible for line management of the Director of Legal Casework and Welfare Advice service coordinator, and other team supervisors as required;

·Together with the Group Director of People, responsible for Human Resources and implementation of the People Strategy within Asylum Aid, including development and implementation of HR policies and procedures;

·Together with the Director of Legal Casework and team supervisors, drive the effective management and supervision of the Asylum Aid team and ensure that they comply with relevant professional standards and accreditation;

·Foster a supportive and inclusive team culture at Asylum Aid in which each member feels valued and supported to develop professionally and to perform to the best of their ability;

·Ensure the team’s well-being and that self-care practices are established and work in tandem with the Director of Legal Casework and supervisors to ensure trauma-informed ways of working.

Policy & Strategic Legal Work

·Together with the Group Director of Policy, identify policy priorities and coordinate the preparation of evidence and briefings drawing on Asylum Aid’s experience and expertise to influence system change;

·Build and maintain relationships and partnerships with sector colleagues to support joint strategic engagement including policy advocacy and strategic legal work;

·Work closely with the Director of Legal Casework and team supervisors to drive changes in the UK asylum, trafficking and statelessness systems through strategic legal work.

Finance & Fundraising

·Work closely with the CEO and the Helen Bamber Foundation Group Finance Team to set and manage budget(s) and general financial matters for Asylum Aid

·Together with the Director of Legal Casework and the Group Finance Team, establish systems for monitoring legal aid Work In Progress and billing, and securing casework income including legal aid, and inter partes income from judicial review cases;

·Work closely with the Helen Bamber Foundation Group Fundraising and Communications Team to secure funding for Asylum Aid from a range of sources including trusts and foundations, corporate philanthropy and major donors;

·Ensure that Legal Aid and other income is maximised, and targets are achieved.

Other duties

·Manage the recruitment and supervision of volunteers where necessary in collaboration with the Helen Bamber Foundation Group Volunteers Coordinator;

·Support the Helen Bamber Foundation Group Facilities team to ensure the smooth running of the office and that the facilities meet the needs of Asylum Aid;

·Work outside normal office hours as required and travel in order to carry out the responsibilities of the post.

·To undertake any task that may be requested from time to time that may be consistent with the nature and scope of this post.

Essential Experience, Skills and Knowledge

•Experience of running a small to medium sized charity/legal NGO and/or legal department within the NGO sector (or other equivalent senior management role);

•Demonstrable experience of managing and leading a successful team and the ability to manage a growing team with mixed roles from team supervisors to administrative support staff, working co-operatively with colleagues to maintain transparency and effective working relationships within the team;

•Strong communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with people from a wide range of backgrounds

•Strong understanding of good governance including legal, regulatory and financial responsibilities;

•Ability to work with a range of stakeholders from trustees to external partners;

•Experience of leading and/or participating in organisational strategic planning;

·Experience of legal policy work within the human rights field and /or of strategic litigation, whether as an NGO claimant or legal representative;

•Experience of managing diverse funding sources and setting and implementing budgets;

•Experience of working in a service delivery partnership with other organisations;

•Experience of fundraising, especially grants from trusts and foundations;

•Sound working knowledge of the law and policy as it relates to immigration,  asylum, human rights and modern slavery/trafficking;

•Demonstrable understanding of the asylum and human rights sector in the UK;

•An understanding of the barriers migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers face regarding access to legal advice, reasons why they may become destitute and why this makes it more difficult to access advice and support; and

•The passion for working empathetically and supportively with migrants, refugees, stateless people and asylum seekers.

Desirable Experience

·Experience of managing the delivery of frontline casework with people in the asylum or trafficking systems

·Experience of tendering for and delivering publicly funded contracts e.g. LAA or local authority funding;

·Working knowledge of Legal Aid Agency contracts, including the delivery of casework and billing under a legal aid contract in the immigration and asylum category and/or the public law category;

How to apply 

The first stage is to complete on our online application form on our website by 9am on 23 June 2025.

The website form will ask you to:

1.Upload a short covering letter. Please tell us why the position appeals to you, and how your relevant skills and experience, including any voluntary experience and lived experience, matches the listed responsibilities and person specification. Please also state in your covering letter when you would be available to start the role.

2.Upload your current CV

3.Complete an online Equal Opportunities monitoring form – completion of this form will help us ensure that our recruitment procedures operate in such a way as to provide genuine equality of opportunity. The questions are entirely optional, and this information will not be available to members of the selection panel.

For an informal conversation about the post before applying, please contact Alison Pickup, the current Executive Director.

Selection Process

We anticipate that we will invite candidates to an initial online interview on Wednesday 3rd July 2025, followed by shortlisted candidates attending in-person interviews at our office in Old Street on Wednesday 9 July 2025.

We regret that we can only respond to applicants who make it to the interview stage.

We offer a guaranteed initial interview for refugees, stateless people and others with lived experience of forced migration, provided that they meet at least 50% of the essential criteria.

Eligibility

Please note that the successful candidate must have the right to work in the UK (as a small charity we do not have the capacity to sponsor work visas).

Successful candidates will also be subject to a basic DBS check. If appointed, you will also be required to give your consent to the charity to receive regular updates on your criminal records status throughout your employment and to disclose any relevant convictions incurred during your time with us.

Adjustments

We are committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process and we’ll always endeavour to be as accommodating as possible. If you require a different format of the application form, such as large print or Word format, or if you would like to discuss any specific requirements, please get in touch with us.

EQUITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

Our commitment to principles of equity, diversity and inclusion is an integral part of our approach to our clients, our volunteers and our staff, and we are an equal opportunities and Living Wage employer.

We are committed to attracting and recruiting diverse candidates because we are keen to make sure that our staff, trustees, volunteers and ambassadors reflect the communities we serve and the wider community we work in.

We genuinely welcome and encourage applications from candidates from a range of backgrounds, especially people of colour, people with disabilities, people from low socio-economic backgrounds, refugees, stateless people and others with lived experience of forced migration or trauma and of the housing and welfare system, who are under-represented in our organisation.

We recognise and value the role of lived experience in meeting the needs of our clients and acknowledge the under-representation of people with lived experience of forced migration and statelessness in the advice sector. We value experience gained overseas as well as in the UK.

We are also proud to be a member of the Experts by Experience Employment Network which aims to increase representation of people with lived experience in the charitable sector.

If you are an expert by experience (a refugee or a migrant with direct, first-hand experience of issues and challenges of the UK asylum or immigration system), you can ask for an independent and confidential support for your job application from the Experts by Experience Employment Network and access other information and resources which may help in preparing your job application.

Please complete the form on their website to request support and they will confirm if they can match you with a mentor to support your application.

Sands exists to save babies’ lives and ensure that anyone affected by pregnancy loss or baby death receives the support and care they need.

Bereaved parents and families are at the heart of why Sands exists. Sharing their experiences of pregnancy and baby loss, and what connects and involves them with our work, is both an important part of their bereavement journey and a way to demonstrate the need for our vision and mission to succeed. This role will help us to show in a real and human, authentic way, what Sands is doing to save babies’ lives and support bereaved families.

Sharing these personal stories in external communications will help us reach more people, bringing to life the work we do in a way that engages diverse audiences, and increasing the likelihood of their taking actions in support of Sands.  

This new role has been developed to support the Communications & Engagement team to develop our story-telling function, build our real stories library and ensure the associated consent and stewardship processes are compassionate, efficient and effective. The Stories Officer will ensure wherever possible, that external communications assets and content created by teams across Sands includes the voices of people touched by pregnancy and baby loss – including those who have been personally affected, and those who are allies of Sands, such as healthcare professionals, corporate partners, research partners, fundraisers and more.

You will have experience of working in a charity stories or communications team, or in a stories-led environment such as journalism.

A good knowledge of compliance and safeguarding issues, including experience of working with vulnerable people in a communications context is required.

With excellent written communication and creative skills, you will be able to produce work that captures and conveys real life experiences in a sensitive and compassionate tone.

You will be highly organised with the ability to multi-task and work across more than one project simultaneously.

Make a real difference in the lives of asylum seekers!
Join New Citizens’ Gateway as an Outreach Support Officer and help deliver vital frontline support to people living in London hotels. You’ll be part of a passionate team working to reduce isolation, improve wellbeing, and empower individuals on their journey toward integration and independence.

We offer a supportive working environment with excellent benefits including:

• 6% employer pension contribution

• 34 days annual leave (including bank holidays)

• Ongoing training and professional development opportunities

New Citizens’ Gateway (NCG) is an independent, registered charity working in partnership with individuals and agencies to improve the quality of life for refugees and asylum seekers. Our aim is to reduce health inequalities, combat social exclusion and poverty, and support integration and independence.

We are looking to appoint a highly motivated and experienced Outreach Support Officer to join our small, friendly, and dedicated team. This role will focus on delivering high-quality, person-centred support to asylum seekers, particularly those currently accommodated in hotels across London.

This is a key position within NCG and will play a vital role in supporting our advice team to deliver an efficient, effective, and holistic support service tailored to the complex needs of asylum seekers and refugees.

The ideal candidate will have:

• Direct experience of supporting asylum seekers and refugees

• Strong knowledge of the asylum support system and the challenges faced by individuals in the asylum process

• An understanding of available resources and services that support asylum seekers and how to access them

• Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills

• The ability to work both independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced environment

• A flexible and proactive approach with the capacity to manage a varied workload

• Fluency in a community language is an advantage

Opportunity!

SteelWatch offers a unique opportunity for an expert in steel decarbonisation with a passion for driving climate action. If you can communicate your technical analysis  to challenge legacy steelmakers with clarity and conviction, this role is for you.

In this new role as SteelWatch Industry Decarbonisation Lead, you will have the opportunity to deepen and articulate the arguments of SteelWatch, providing vigilant scrutiny and an international voice for steel decarbonisation.

The ideal candidate will be an excellent communicator and natural collaborator who combines technical understanding of steel decarbonisation internationally with an ability to spot trends and their significance in data and detail. The role could be an ideal next step for professionals coming from consultancy, decarbonisation initiatives, companies in the iron and steel value chain, trade associations, international agencies, and civil society. 

Summary of the role

The Industry Decarbonisation Lead will shape SteelWatch’s position on steel decarbonisation to inform our change-making strategies, provide overall management and cohesion across our work on data analysis and industry insight, and act as a spokesperson in conversation with industry stakeholders.

The organisation

SteelWatch is an international climate campaign organisation, driving corporate accountability and action in the steel sector. Our vision is a steel sector that underpins a thriving zero emissions economy. We are a change-making organisation, with the task of driving change in an entrenched, powerful, technologically-confident sector that faces little climate pressure. SteelWatch is a non-profit registered in the Netherlands in 2023. Having grown to a team of 20, we are still a young organisation, learning-by-doing, working with fluid teams not rigid structures, ensuring we evolve, test, and learn. We seek team members who will enjoy breaking new ground with us.

We run corporate campaigns and challenge the global steel industry to replace complacency with urgent action in line with the 1.5C limit. SteelWatch has established a strong visible presence among civil society and steel industry stakeholders. We are increasingly recognised as an authoritative and challenging voice on steel decarbonisation, invited to engage in industry events and debates internationally.

Accurate and credible data, robust analysis and our global, long-term, climate-first lens on sector decarbonisation, are key strengths that underpin our campaigns and dialogue. We complement the work of other civil society change-makers bringing a vigilant voice and corporate scrutiny. We currently focus on OECD countries, and specifically across Europe and Japan, with team members in Europe/Africa and Asia-Pacific timezones.

Role and Responsibilities

The Industry Decarbonisation Lead is a new role, which will work in close collaboration with colleagues across the organisation and is fundamental to the long-term strategy of SteelWatch to transform the iron and steel industry. The core purpose of the role is to cultivate our collective ability to harness credible evidence for our campaigns, and to engage effectively with industry with an ambitious well-informed vision for decarbonisation.

For the initial year(s),  there are three main areas of responsibility.

1. The Lead will be responsible for navigating and shaping SteelWatch’s positions and point of view on relevant issues regarding steel decarbonisation with a goal of driving long term transition to near-zero emissions steelmaking.
2. The Lead will be responsible for managing and shaping our range of work on data, evidence, insights and analysis -with the team members involved -  to ensure the quality and relevance of our evidence base and our industry intelligence.
3. The Lead will be one of the key spokespeople for the organisation, particularly in industry dialogue and events. The role will report to the Executive Director and is likely to line-manage 1-3 people.

Success for this role will depend on close collaboration with others in SteelWatch including the:

• Steel Analyst, and other team members and consultants working on data and analysis;
• Campaigns Teams, ensuring campaigns are well evidenced, informed and targeted on the critical issues.
• Communications Team, ensuring everything that we externally communicate is consistent and credible, as accuracy is key in our role to speak truth to power.
• Executive Director, sharing the work of representation of SteelWatch externally and updating our arguments as the steel industry evolves.

Responsibilities

1. Shape, evolve and articulate SteelWatch’s positions and point of view on steel decarbonisation:

SteelWatch already has a strong point of view (POV) on many of the core elements of the iron and steel transition. However, the POV needs to be continually reviewed in the light of new developments, on occasion adapted, and extended to new emerging issues. Sharpening the POV is a collaborative process -  the Industry Decarbonisation Lead will be responsible for steering and landing this process. The Lead will:

• Ensure the POV is constantly evolved,improved and adapted through collaboration, guiding the process and landing the outcome;
• Ensure the POV is clearly articulated and socialised internally and externally with allies.

2. Manage and shape our range of work on data, industry trends, and analysis.

SteelWatch currently has in-depth data and news tracking on two companies, the targets of our corporate campaigns. We track iron and steel industry news and analyse industry announcements. We are developing our capacity to react to steel news globally, track blast furnaces investments and other announcements, and rate and rank companies.  The Industry Decarbonisation Lead will, in collaboration with the Steel Analyst:

• Shape and prioritise our work on gathering data,  tracking industry news, and analysing industry strategies,  to support and inform the priorities of the organisation, and ensure we make best use of the information in our campaigns.
• Build capacity within SteelWatch to do this consistently across our growing portfolio of work.
• Ensure the quality and relevance of our evidence base, and the processes we have for updating and using it.
• Continue to build our capacity to assess industry announcements and to use that analysis effectively for pressure.
• Scope, support, and lead projects that are data analysis projects, and hold responsibility for the data analysis component of other projects/campaigns. These are likely to include, corporate scorecard, blast furnace trackers, and data visualisation.

3. Ensure relevance, consistency and accuracy in our external communications.

Our external communications are based on credible evidence and SteelWatch’s POV  combined with core narrative (responsibility of the Comms team), and campaign arguments and tactics (responsibility of the Campaigns Team).  Working closely with the Steel Analyst who currently is the ‘source of truth’ and fact-checker, the Industry Decarbonisation Lead will:

• Ensure all external outputs are factually correct, credible and in line with our point of view.
• Develop processes and materials that increase technical understanding and consistency across team members and amongst those we communicate most closely with (eg allies, core media).
• Ensure robust processes are in place for fact-checking.
• Lead the development of our series of SteelWatch Explainers to present key concepts in accessible form among allies and industry.
• Support the Communications and Campaign teams to assess what reactive news to prioritise, and to respond quickly and accurately.
• Strengthen our ability to brief and correct journalists, dealing with their misunderstandings around iron and steel.

4. Act as spokesperson for SteelWatch in industry dialogue.

SteelWatch is vigilant and challenging to the steel industry. Our tone of voice varies from the creative campaigns, to the engaged dialogue. The Industry Decarbonisation Lead is expected to communicate externally and directly in dialogue, in writing and especially with the industry stakeholders at conferences, in private meetings or via social media.  The lead is not the only voice of the organisation, but should be a focal point in building consistency. They will:

• Attend industry events and discussions, representing SW point of view and strengthening our industry connections;
• Speak at industry events, speak to the media where appropriate.
• Produce high quality written materials, support those written by colleagues, and support high quality data visualisation that communicates our messages.
• Engage actively on LinkedIn (and/or other social media) to respond to industry commentary and engage as SteelWatch.

5. Build relations with industry

SteelWatch is building relations with industry actors, both to share our views and ensure we are up to date on latest trends. The Lead will:

• Through industry events, networks and dialogue, strengthening our industry connections;
• Build relations with industry to acquire up to date information, and increase our ability to sense-check news and respond to trends.
• Keep abreast of industry conversations in order to identify the most relevant shifts, key topics or opportunities for SteelWatch to create pressure for change.
• Support others in SteelWatch to engage with industry, particularly in other regions and languages than your own.

6. Provide line management and task management to team members engaged in data and analysis.

SteelWatch currently has a mixture of long-term and short-term or part-time staff and consultants working on data, tracking and analysis.  They are managed by different team members.  The Industry Decarbonisation Lead will:

• Set objectives and define tasks for the data team, in line with overall SteelWatch strategy and plans, as they evolve. Provide line management for core data team members.
• Manage consultants focused on data or analysis, adapting TORs and finding new consultants as needed;
• Ensure synergy across the various team members  and their work.

Essential skills and experience

• Ten or more years of experience in industry, energy, and/or decarbonisation, of which at least 2 years focused on the steel industry.
• In-depth knowledge of steel decarbonisation pathways, current trends, the challenges and opportunities.
• Proven ability to manage and interpret data, and to use data for powerful arguments.
• Excellent writing and communication skills in English, a talent for conveying complex ideas in understandable ways.
• Proven capacity to build collaboration with non-technical colleagues and enhance organisational capacity to use data and evidence. 

Desired skills and experience

• Experience working across a range of topics, projects and tasks, juggling short-term deadlines and long-term priorities.
• We are particularly interested in candidates that bring deep expertise in the energy transition, and/or in financial analysis of companies' approach to decarbonisation, as these would complement existing skills.
• Knowledge of steel decarbonisation across different geographies, particularly including countries of Asia.
• Experience in climate and/or campaigning organisations (professional or voluntary)

Essential competencies and aptitude

• An eye for detail and ability to ensure 100% accuracy;
• A strategic mind, an instinct to see the big picture, long-term trend, and ability to spot opportunities for engagement or leverage;
• Willingness and ability to toggle between the detail and the strategic;
• Ability to work at pace, with the rhythm of a campaign organisation.
• Excellent people skills and proven track record as a team player, able to work well with colleagues across cultures and geographies;
• Flexibility to work early or late hours on some days each week to overlap with other time zones and to travel 3-6 times per year.
• An affinity with the messaging and campaign approach of SteelWatch. You do not have to have campaign experience or act as a campaigner, but you must agree with the level of transformation that we believe is required, and be excited to contribute your skills to an organisation that critiques the limited ambition of current industry players.

Language requirements

• Ability to work in English at a professional level is a requirement. Additional skills in European or Asian languages are useful, particularly Mandarin, Portuguese or German.

 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Country location

This role is open to candidates working in timezones UTC -1 to UTC +4 and in countries in which it is possible to have a 2-year fixed term employment contract with an Employer of Record. Within Europe, we welcome applications from candidates based in the Netherlands, UK and Germany, and in addition we welcome applications from candidates in Africa or the Middle East.

Location and remote working and travel

• Location: work location is remote from your home base. Staff members work remotely and online on a daily basis.
• Travel is an essential part of the role.  If you are constrained in your ability or permissions to travel, please discuss this before investing in an application.
• Travel to an annual full team retreat is essential - this happens once a year and may be in Asia, Europe or other. Additional travel for events and face to face time is expected. This may be in Europe, Asia, or elsewhere and likely to be 2-5 times a year.
• While we offer flexibility for you to work away from home base, this will need to be coordinated with travel of other colleagues, may depend on timezone changes and/or be limited by legal contracting constraints.

Working conditions and benefits

• Working hours are flexible. Whichever time zone you are in, you will need to have flexibility to work early or late across different time zones straddling Asia/Pacific/ Europe&Africa /UK. You also have the opportunity to build in some flexibility around your own non-work commitments.
• This role is full time, 5 days/week.  We may also consider 4 days a week (Monday to Thursday) but would require flexibility around this. If you prefer part time please indicate this at time of application.
• The initial contract period will be up to 24 months with a possibility to renew, depending on country regulations. The type of contract will depend on the location.
• You must have a valid work permit in the country where you plan to be employed. SteelWatch is not in a position to support a visa process.
• Remuneration is according to SteelWatch norms,  level of experience and location of employment. For a technical expert in this Lead role, a Netherlands-based salary is in the range of  €72,000 - 92,000.  Salaries are adjusted by location. 
• Our leave policy, unless varied by national regulation, provides 34 days in total combining public holidays and paid leave in all countries, plus birthday leave and inspiration time.

Ethics:  we are a values-based organisation. Every staff member and consultant is asked to sign our Ethics statement and help us as an organisation live up to our values.

Equal opportunities:  we strive to be an equal opportunities employer. We actively welcome applications from candidates from historically underrepresented groups in the climate change movement.  If you require any adaptation or assistance during the application process, please be sure to let us know so that we can adjust.