Funding development manager jobs in Belfast

Title: Trusts and Foundations Fundraising Manager

Duty Station: Home-based
 
Duration: 3 months with possible extension

Reporting to: Director of Fundraising and Strategic Partnerships

Start Date: September 2026

About HelpAge

HelpAge International works with a diverse global network of around 200 organisations across 99 countries to promote the rights of older people to lead dignified, healthy and secure lives. 

Through partnership and collaborations, we work to ensure the inclusion of older people across society and strive to deliver a just and fair world for everyone as they get older. Our work is driven by our desire to achieve real impact for older people, to be inclusive, to work in partnership and to learn from our shared experience. 

Background

HelpAge International is seeking to diversify and grow philanthropic income from trusts and foundations from the US philanthropic markets.

An initial prospect mapping exercise is currently being undertaken by an external consultant, identifying a broad range of potential trusts, foundations, and philanthropic opportunities. HelpAge aims to build on this work through a short-term assignment that combines prospect qualification with active donor outreach and engagement to assess the level of market interest and develop a robust pipeline for future cultivation.

The assignment will also support the organisation in assessing the value of different funding intelligence platforms through the use of free trial subscriptions.

Purpose of the assignment

• Build on the initial prospect research undertaken.
• Qualify and prioritise prospective trusts and foundations.
• Actively engage with prospective donors to test interest and build relationships.
• Identify funding opportunities aligned with HelpAge International's priorities.
• Develop a realistic cultivation pipeline and recommended engagement strategy.
• Assess the value of fundraising databases to support future investment decisions.

Scope of work

Prospect qualification and research

• Review and refine the existing prospect list.
• Undertake further research to assess:
  • strategic fit
  • thematic priorities
  • geographic focus
  • average grant size
  • openness to unsolicited approaches
  • existing grantees and partnership opportunities.

Prospects should be categorised according to priority and likelihood of success.

Active donor outreach and engagement

Proactively engage with selected prospects to assess donor interest and identify potential opportunities.

This includes:

• drafting and sending introductory emails
• seeking warm introductions through existing contacts and networks
• arranging exploratory meetings
• preparing briefing notes and meeting materials
• following up with prospects following meetings or discussions
• identifying opportunities for further cultivation and relationship development

Records will be maintained of:

• contacts established
• meetings held
• donor feedback
• potential next steps
• indications of interest

Pipeline development

Develop and maintain a prospect pipeline comprising:

· Tier 1 – High Priority Prospects

o Strong strategic alignment and realistic funding potential.

· Tier 2 – Medium Priority Prospects

o Promising opportunities requiring further cultivation.

· Tier 3 – Long-Term Prospects

o Strategic opportunities requiring longer-term relationship building.

For each prospect, provide:

• rationale for prioritisation
• indicative grant size
• likely programme interests
• recommended engagement strategy
• suggested next steps

Opportunity identification

Identify and circulate relevant funding opportunities including:

• trusts and foundations
• challenge funds
• philanthropic collaboratives
• donor-advised funds and intermediary mechanisms
• companies

Funding database assessment

Undertake monthly free trials of fundraising databases and assess their suitability for HelpAge International.

• Instrumentl
• Fundraisio
• Cause IQ
• FundsforNGOs Premium

For each platform assess:

• quality of information
• international coverage
• coverage of US foundations
• ease of use
• value for money
• overall suitability for HelpAge's fundraising strategy

Deliverables

By the end of the assignment:

· Prioritised prospect pipeline

Including:

• high-priority prospects
• medium-priority prospects
• longer-term opportunities

Including recommended engagement strategies and indicative funding potential.

· Donor engagement tracker

Recording:

• outreach undertaken
• meetings secured
• contacts established
• feedback received
• recommended next steps

· Opportunity tracker

Including:

• open calls
• deadlines
• funding priorities
• recommended actions

· Database assessment paper

Comparing the fundraising databases and recommending whether HelpAge should invest in any of them.

· Final Report

Providing:

· key findings

· priority prospects

· donor intelligence and feedback

· recommended cultivation approaches

· suggested next steps for the fundraising team

· recommendations for future investment in trusts and foundations fundraising

Profile and requirements

Essential

• Proven experience securing funding from trusts and foundations
• Experience of cultivating and managing donor relationships
• Knowledge of US and international philanthropy
• Strong prospect research and pipeline management skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Desirable

• Experience within international development or humanitarian organisations
• Existing networks within US and international philanthropy
• Knowledge of ageing, health systems, social protection or humanitarian sectors

Safeguarding, Ethics and Compliance 

HelpAge International is committed to safeguarding the communities with which we work, our partners, staff, and any others who come into contact with our work. 

The Consultant is required to: 

· Prevent harm and abuse arising from their work, conduct, or engagement with HelpAge activities;

· Report any safeguarding concerns, incidents, or suspicions promptly through HelpAge’s reporting mechanisms;

· Comply with HelpAge’s Safeguarding Policy and associated frameworks, including the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA);

· Complete any mandatory safeguarding training or briefings as required for the assignment.

In addition, the Consultant is required to adhere to HelpAge International’s key policies and standards, including but not limited to: 

· Code of Conduct

· Safeguarding Policy

· Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) Policy

· Anti-Fraud and Bribery Policy

· Anti-Bullying, Harassment and Sexual Harassment Policy

· Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Policy

· Raising a Concern (Whistleblowing) Policy

· Social Media Policy

The Consultant is expected to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with these policies at all times while engaged with HelpAge.

Failure to comply with these requirements may result in termination of the  contract and, where appropriate, further action. 

The purpose of this role is to lead the design and delivery of learning programmes that help social entrepreneurs create lasting impact. You’ll take direct responsibility for facilitating cohorts as well as leading 1-2-1 coaching and diagnostics, and delivering Action Learning Sets, SSE’s long-standing peer-coaching method (training provided). You’ll hold accountability for the quality of programmes allocated to you. You’ll work alongside our learning facilitators and our learning and enterprise development managers to ensure every programme stays true to our action learning approach.

As SSE deepens its focus on commercial acumen and scale-up support, you’ll help make sure that direction reaches every cohort you work with — keeping your programmes as sharp, practical and impactful as everything else we do. You’ll bring your own commercial awareness to how you facilitate, and build relationships with contributors, speakers and specialists who can bring real-world commercial expertise into the room for your cohorts.

You’ll succeed in this role if you believe in what social entrepreneurship can achieve and want to support social ventures to grow and create more impact in their communities and beyond.

• Reports to: Chief Executive Officer, working closely with the Programmes Lead and Finance & Governance Lead.
• Hours: We anticipate appointing this role as a 2 days per week (0.4 FTE) employee. However, we are also open to hearing from experienced freelance fundraising professionals who are interested in delivering an agreed programme of work on a consultancy basis, equivalent to approximately one day per week.
• Salary: Employee: £27,000–£31,000 FTE (£10,800–£12,400 pro rata for 2 days/16 hours per week), depending on experience. Consultancy: Day rate to be agreed, depending on experience and scope of work.
• Location: Remote, with approximately two consecutive days per month at our office in Liverpool and occasional travel for meetings or events.
• Contract: 24 month fixed term (with the intention to extend, subject to funding).
• Probation Period: 3 months
• Line Management: This role has no line management responsibility.

About Worldwide Radiology

Worldwide Radiology is a UK registered charity working to improve access to high-quality diagnostic imaging in low- and middle-income countries.

Working alongside hospitals, universities and health partners around the world, we develop practical, sustainable solutions that strengthen radiology services and improve patient care. Much of our work is delivered through a global network of volunteers and long-term partnerships.

We're at an exciting stage in our development. Over recent years our fundraising income has grown significantly, but we're now looking to broaden and strengthen our funding base so we can increase our impact.

This new role offers the opportunity to become Worldwide Radiology's dedicated fundraising lead, helping shape the next stage of the organisation's growth.

About the Role

This is an excellent opportunity for an ambitious fundraiser ready to take the next step in their career and take ownership of fundraising within a growing charity.

As Worldwide Radiology's dedicated fundraising professional, you will lead our day-to-day fundraising activity across community fundraising, individual giving and trusts and foundations. You'll be responsible for planning and delivering fundraising campaigns, stewarding donors and writing funding applications that help sustain and grow our work.

You'll also support the CEO and Programmes Lead in developing larger strategic partnerships with major funders and corporate partners through research, proposal coordination and pipeline management.

Unlike many early-career fundraising roles, this position offers genuine ownership from early on. You'll lead fundraising across your portfolio while working closely with colleagues who have experience securing grants and developing partnerships, giving you the support and mentoring to develop your skills and confidence.

While we expect to appoint a Fundraising Manager on a part-time basis, we also recognise that an experienced fundraising consultant may bring a different but equally valuable skillset. We're therefore open to considering either model, provided the successful candidate can take ownership of our fundraising programme and help build the systems, relationships and pipeline needed to support Worldwide Radiology's long-term growth.

What Success Looks Like

During your first 12–18 months you will:

• Lead successful delivery of WWR's community fundraising programme, including the Big Give Christmas Challenge and other supporter campaigns.
• Develop and manage a healthy pipeline of trust and foundation applications.
• Build strong relationships with our existing donors and funders.
• Help diversify the organisation's income by developing new fundraising opportunities.
• Introduce systems and processes that strengthen fundraising as the organisation continues to grow.

Key Responsibilities

Fundraising (Lead)

You will take ownership of WWR's fundraising activity across your portfolio, working closely with the CEO while leading delivery day-to-day. Responsibilities include:

• Leading delivery of fundraising across community fundraising, individual giving and smaller trusts and foundations.
• Researching, writing and submitting grant applications to trusts and foundations.
• Managing relationships with existing trust funders and individual donors, including stewardship and reporting.
• Planning and delivering community fundraising campaigns, supporter events and online fundraising activities, including the Big Give Christmas Challenge and JustGiving campaigns.
• Developing opportunities to grow our supporter base and increase donor retention.
• Maintaining accurate fundraising records, donor data and reporting.
• Monitoring fundraising activity and providing regular updates to the CEO.
• Supporting the development of fundraising plans and identifying new income opportunities.

Partnerships (Support)

Working alongside the CEO and Programmes Lead, you will:

• Research prospective major trusts, foundations and corporate partners.
• Prepare briefing papers and background research ahead of meetings.
• Coordinate development of larger funding proposals by gathering information, managing timelines and tracking actions.
• Maintain the strategic funding pipeline and prospect tracker.
• Support follow-up from meetings, conferences and partnership discussions.
• Help identify opportunities to strengthen relationships with healthcare organisations, companies and strategic partners.

Person Specification

We recognise that no candidate will meet every criterion. If you can demonstrate most of the following, we'd love to hear from you:

• Experience in a fundraising, development or partnerships role within the charity sector.
• Experience researching and writing, or supporting the development of, funding applications to trusts and foundations.
• Excellent written communication skills with the ability to write compelling funding applications and supporter communications.
• Excellent relationship-building skills, with experience working positively with supporters, volunteers, partners or external stakeholders.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to maintain accurate records and manage information across multiple projects and deadlines.
• Comfortable working in a digital, remote environment and confident learning new systems, including fundraising CRM platforms.
• Enthusiasm for Worldwide Radiology's mission and the role of global health partnerships.

Desirable attributes:

• Experience delivering community fundraising campaigns or challenge events.
• Experience using fundraising CRMs or donor databases.
• Experience of the Big Give Christmas Challenge or similar match-funding campaigns.
• Experience supporting corporate partnerships or major donor fundraising.
• An interest in global health, healthcare or international development.

Why Join Worldwide Radiology?

This is a rare opportunity to take ownership of fundraising within a growing international charity at an early stage in your career.

You'll have the chance to lead fundraising campaigns, develop relationships with donors and funders, and shape how fundraising grows over the coming years. At the same time, you'll benefit from the guidance and support of experienced colleagues, giving you the opportunity to develop your skills while making a tangible contribution to improving access to diagnostic imaging around the world.

We're committed to supporting your professional development through mentoring, networking opportunities and relevant fundraising training, helping you build the skills and experience to progress your fundraising career.

We offer:

• Flexible remote working.
• A collaborative, supportive team with minimal hierarchy.
• Opportunities for professional development and responsibility.
• Up to 4% matched pension contribution.
• 25 days Annual leave plus 8 public holidays (pro rata).

Service Development Manager

We are looking for an experienced and resourceful Service Development Manager to work closely with the CEO to establish and deliver a strong presence across Forest of Dean, Cheltenham and Tewkesbury.

This is an opportunity to join a supportive and purpose-driven team where your work will make a direct difference to families across Gloucestershire.

Position: Service Development Manager

Location: Remote/Gloucestershire, with regular travel across Forest of Dean, Cheltenham and Tewkesbury and occasional attendance at the Stroud office

Hours: Part-time, 30 hours per week

Salary: £38,000 pro rata (£30,811 actual salary for 30 hours per week)

Contract: 24-month fixed-term contract

Closing Date: 20th September 2026. This job opportunity may close early if we find an appropriate candidate before the closing date.

The Role

This is a hands-on role combining direct family support, project management, service development and partnership building. You will hold an appropriate caseload, develop new activity, build strong local referral pathways and help turn the countywide plans into practical support for families.

We need someone who is confident working independently, takes ownership, builds relationships quickly and can find practical solutions when there is no obvious route forward. The initial focus will be Forest of Dean, Cheltenham and Tewkesbury, but the role is designed to evolve as our countywide work develops.

Key accountabilities include:

• Service development and delivery
• Direct family support
• Project management
• Partnerships and referral pathways
• Funding, monitoring and sustainability
• Safeguarding and quality

The first year will focus on developing and delivering Home-Start services across Forest of Dean, Cheltenham and Tewkesbury. As the countywide work develops, the focus of the role may evolve to support wider service development across Gloucestershire.

For the first six weeks, the post will be predominantly based at the Stroud office for induction and orientation.

After this, the role will be mainly home and community based, with regular travel across Forest of Dean, Cheltenham and Tewkesbury and occasional attendance at the Stroud office.

About You

We are looking for someone who is practical, resourceful and motivated by making things happen.

You will be comfortable supporting a family one day and developing a new partnership or service the next and have enough frontline experience to understand what works for families and enough project-management discipline to turn ideas into effective delivery. You will not be joining a finished project with every detail already decided. We need someone who can understand the objective, identify what needs to happen next and move the work forward.

You will have experience of:

• Direct service delivery, ideally with families, children or communities
• Holding a caseload or providing ongoing one-to-one support
• Project management
• Developing or implementing new projects or services
• Building effective relationships with external organisations and professionals
• Working independently and taking responsibility for delivery
• Safeguarding and professional boundaries.

Practical requirements

You must:

• be able to drive;
• be willing and able to travel independently across Gloucestershire;
• be able to work predominantly from the Stroud office during the initial six-week induction period;
• subsequently be comfortable working from home and community locations;
• be confident using standard IT and case-recording systems.

If this sounds like you, then apply today!

About the Organisation

Join a voluntary organisation committed to promoting the welfare of families with at least one child under five years of age. Trained home-visiting volunteers offer regular friendship, emotional, and practical support to help families experiencing a challenging time in their lives. The service is unique and also offers free support peer groups, antenatal, postnatal, and perinatal mental health services.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, cultures, faith groups, and socioeconomic circumstances, as well as from people who are disabled, neurodivergent, LGBTQ+, or from different age groups. We also value applications from those with caring responsibilities or non-traditional career paths.

You may also have experience in areas such as Service Development Manager, Service Development Manager Lead, Service Development Manager Deputy, Service Development Officer, Service Development Manager, Service Delivery Manager, Service Delivery Manager Lead, Service Delivery Manager Deputy, Service Development Officer, Service Delivery Manager, Service Manager.

Please note this role is advertised by the recruitment agency acting for the client, Not For Profit People. #INDNFP

For nearly 20 years, Lively Minds has been proving that parents are the sleeping giants of early childhood development. With strong evidence and a national scale proof point in Ghana, we have shown that parent powered approaches delivered through government systems can transform children's lives at scale.

We are now at a pivotal moment. We have the evidence, the model and the momentum, and we need the funding, profile and influence to match our ambition. This is a rare opportunity to lead income generation and external voice for an award winning NGO entering an exciting new phase of growth. You will lead our fundraising strategy and direct engagement with Funders ensuring that we maximise all funding opportunities as we continue our strategic evolution. You will also shape a compelling external narrative that will help position Lively Minds as the definitive partner for governments strengthening their early childhood development systems.

If you are an exceptional fundraiser and communicator who is equally comfortable in a strategic conversation and writing a winning proposal, we would love to hear from you.

Read the full advert and apply below. Closing date: 3rd September 2026.

About Lively Minds

Lively Minds is an award-winning NGO with nearly 20 years of experience designing, testing and scaling early childhood development (ECD) solutions across the Global South. Our core idea is simple but radical: parents are the sleeping giants of ECD. Governments and donors have long overlooked parents, assuming that poverty and low literacy make them unable or unwilling to support their childrenʼs development. We have spent two decades proving otherwise. With RCT-backed evidence and a national-scale proof point in Ghana, we have demonstrated that parent-powered approaches, delivered through government systems, can achieve meaningful child development outcomes at scale.

Our 2026–2028 strategy marks a pivotal shift. Having demonstrated what is possible, we are now helping pioneer an innovative model of country-led sustainable scale. Rather than delivering programmes ourselves, we provide lean, time-limited technical advisory support to governments to help them integrate parent-powered ECD into their own systems, budgets and institutions. We are currently working with the governments of Ghana, Uganda, Oromia state (Ethiopia) and The Gambia in 2026, growing to six or more country engagements by 2028. Our ambition is to catalyse a sector-wide shift, positioning Lively Minds as the definitive partner for governments seeking to strengthen their ECD systems.

Our scale strategy rests on three interdependent pillars: fixed-term Technical Advisory partnerships with governments; the development of a modular radio model simple and affordable enough for governments to adopt and fund independently; and an advocacy and sector influence agenda designed to make parent-powered ECD the norm globally.

Purpose of the Role

Lively Minds is at a critical inflection point. We have the evidence, the model and the momentum. We now need the funding, profile and sector influence to match our ambition. The Director of Fundraising and Communications is a priority hire, created to provide the dedicated, experienced leadership that this moment demands.

The Director will own and drive Lively Mindsʼ income generation, building new funder relationships, managing and deepening existing ones, and ensuring the organisation has the pipeline, discipline and quality of engagement to meet and exceed its fundraising targets. Working in close partnership with the Founding CEO, who retains ownership of a small number of long-standing strategic relationships, the Director will take primary responsibility for securing the funding that makes the 2026–2028 strategy deliverable, and that opens the door to greater scale beyond it. We need to raise approximately £3.4m over the next 3 years to deliver our strategy. But our ambition is to exceed that target so we can support additional governments.

Alongside fundraising, the Director will provide strategic leadership to Lively Mindsʼ communications and advocacy work, ensuring that the organisationʼs external voice is compelling and that we are building credibility in the spaces where funding decisions are made. The Director will lead and provide strategic coherence to a small but outward-facing team, including Head of Partnerships and Advocacy Lead who are active on the international stage. Lively Minds is committed to thought-leadership and active external engagement, but equally committed to ensuring that communications resource is deployed with discipline and rigour. The Director will set a clear strategic filter for where the organisation shows up, what it publishes and who it engages: prioritising focus and quality over volume, and always asking whether external activity is building the relationships and reputation that ultimately drive income and/or systems change.

Lively Minds is a dispersed, remote organisation. The Directorʼs team the Advocacy Lead, Development Manager and Communications Officer - are internationally distributed. The ability to lead, develop and maintain high standards across a dispersed team is essential. The role requires regular travel to international conferences and events.

Key Responsibilities

Fundraising Strategy & Income Generation

• Own and deliver the multi-year fundraising strategy with clear priorities, targets, income streams and a disciplined pipeline to support the 2026–2028 strategy and future scale
• Steward existing funder relationships, turning strong partnerships into long-term supporters, advocates and connectors to new funding opportunities.
• Lead the shift towards Big Bet and catalytic funding, personally cultivating and negotiating high-value, multi-year partnerships and positioning Lively Minds for system-level scale
• Maintain a high standard of fundraising quality, pipeline management and forecasting, while coaching the team to produce compelling, sophisticated fundraising materials
•  Build and continuously strengthen a diverse funding pipeline, identifying emerging opportunities, new funding markets and strategic partnerships that reduce concentration risk and support long-term financial sustainability

Communications, Brand & Advocacy

• Own and deliver Lively Mindsʼ communications and marketing strategy, balancing visibility and sector influence with the need to strengthen fundraising and systems-change objectives
• Partner closely with the CEO to shape and steward a coherent external narrative, brand and messaging framework across all audiences and channels
• Oversee high-quality core communications and fundraising materials, including cases for support, pitch decks, website content, proposals and donor reports
• Provide strategic communications expertise to Advocacy, Partnerships and MEL, ensuring evidence and learning are translated into compelling narratives and consistent external messaging
• Lead efforts to strengthen Lively Mindsʼ profile and thought leadership in the ECD sector, identifying opportunities for strategic media, events, publications and external platforms that reinforce its positioning and influence

Organizational Leadership&TeamDevelopment

• Contribute actively to SMT and organisational strategy, bringing funder intelligence, external perspective and communications expertise to strategic decision-making.
• Work closely with Finance and MEL to align fundraising targets, forecasting, budgets and evidence, ensuring proposals are credible, accurately costed and evidence-led
• Act as the organisationʼs communications subject matter expert, providing guidance and challenge to ensure high-quality, consistent external communications
• Lead and develop the Advocacy Lead, Development Manager and Communications Officer, fostering a team culture of quality, accountability, strategic clarity and continuous improvement
• Build strong cross-organisational collaboration, ensuring teams understand how fundraising, communications, advocacy and evidence work together to advance Lively Mindsʼ strategic priorities

Person Specification

Essential Experience & Skills

• 10+ years of significant senior-level fundraising experience within international development, education, philanthropy or a comparable sector
• Proven track record of securing major grants from foundations, institutional donors and high-net-worth individuals, alongside demonstrated experience securing or meaningfully progressing large-scale, catalytic funding from Big Bet philanthropy programmes such as the Audacious Project, Skoll Foundation or comparable funders. A strong understanding of what these funders look for and how to position an organisation compellingly within their processes is essential
• Exceptional fundraising writing skills, with the ability to personally develop compelling cases for support, funding proposals, award applications and pitch decks tailored to sophisticated impact funders. This is a hands-on role requiring both strong writing capability and the ability to coach others to consistently produce high-quality fundraising content
• Experienced in developing and owning a marketing and communications strategy, with a strong understanding of how to balance organisational visibility, thought leadership and sector influence with coherence, strategic focus and income generation
• Demonstrated ability to work closely with a Founding CEO to shape and steward the organisationʼs external narrative and brand. Comfortable working in a founder-led environment, providing expertise and constructive challenge while ensuring the organisation maintains a clear, consistent and coherent external voice

Desirable Experience

• Experienced fundraising for a technical advisory, systems change or government-facing organisation
• Knowledge of the ECD, education or early childhood sector and its funding landscape
• Familiarity with the Big Bang Philanthropy network or equivalent impact-focused funder communities
• Experience working alongside advocacy and partnerships teams, providing communications expertise and strategic coherence to their external activity
• Familiarity with the funding landscape for organisations operating in Sub-Saharan Africa
• Experience working remotely across multiple countries and effectively collaborating with cross-cultural teams

Behaviours & Ways of Working

• A doer, equally comfortable in strategic conversations and writing a funding proposal
• Sets a high bar for quality and clarity in all external communications and holds it consistently
• Builds a strong, trust-based partnership with the Founding CEO, provides honest challenge and operates effectively within a founder-led dynamic without losing their own voice or judgement
• Collaborative and cross-organisational. Invests in strong relationships with programme, MEL and finance colleagues, understanding that the best fundraising is grounded in organisational reality
• Calm and focused under pressure - able to manage competing priorities and maintain quality when the stakes are high

What We Offer

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience
• 25 days annual leave
• Health insurance
• Pension contribution
• Generous learning and development budget
• Flexible, remote working

Application Instruction

Interested candidates are encouraged to read the Job Description carefully before applying to ensure they understand the role and meet the required criteria.

To apply, please complete the pre-screening questions and submit your updated CV

PLEASE NOTE - Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Timeline

Closing Date: 3rd September 2026

Our Stance

Lively Minds operates a strict Safeguarding Policy and is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of children and vulnerable people. As part of our recruitment process, the suitability of successful candidates will be verified through appropriate background checks including professional references and police checks.

Lively Minds is fully committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and to providing equal opportunities throughout our recruitment process. We want this commitment to be reflected in the diversity of the people who work for us, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities, experiences and perspectives.

We are committed to ensuring that recruitment decisions are based on merit, skills, experience and suitability for the role, and that all candidates are treated fairly and with respect throughout the recruitment process.

The Bridge Group is currently seeking a Partnerships and Development Manager to support our work as a leading independent research and advisory charity promoting socio-economic inclusion through evidence, insight and collaboration.

For over a decade, the Bridge Group has worked with organisations across sectors, asking the right questions, uncovering what works, and turning data-led insights into meaningful change.

Our vision is an education system and a labour market where background is no barrier – and everyone, wherever they started in life, has the chance to realise their potential.

To help us move into the next ten years with energy, vision and a healthy funding portfolio, we are looking to engage a new fundraising and business development professional to help us develop our fundraising strategy and seek out new sources of income.

We would particularly welcome your application if you:

• Have at least 3 years’ experience of working in a fundraising or a similar role that covered at least two of the following areas:
  • proposal and/or grant application development
  • client or donor liaison
  • philanthropic fundraising (from individuals and/or foundations)
  • promotional content writing.
• Have excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Enjoy networking and relationship-building and would be comfortable representing the charity and its values to clients, partners and potential funders.
• Have a strong understanding of the charity sector and fundraising networks and mechanisms.
• Have experience of project, programme or funder portfolio management.
• Would welcome a remote-working role with occasional travel, and are happy to work as part of a small team.  

If you’re interested in applying, please visit our website at the link below. Applications from people who come from a lower socio-economic background or historically under-represented group are particularly encouraged. We are also inclusive of people who are neurodivergent, or have a health condition or a disability, and would make reasonable adjustments for this at both the interview stage (please specify in your application) and, should your application be successful, in the workplace.

Online interviews are planned for the week commencing 05 October 2026.

Job description

 Overall purpose of role

As WeProtect Global Alliance Fundraising and Grants Manager,you will:

• Lead the day-to-day management of a multi-donor grant portfolio (restricted and unrestricted) to ensure donor obligations are met in full and on time.
• Optimise and maintain grants management systems (calendars, trackers, templates, CRM, workflows) proportionate to a small organisation operating at global scale.
• Produce and co-ordinate high-quality donor reporting and contribute to renewal and proposal development, working closely with the Head of Development and collaborating with the Deputy Head of Operations and Finance, as well as colleagues in the Strategy and Members teams.
• Ensure and strengthen donor compliance, due diligence, and data assurance across the grant lifecycle in line with donor requirements, relevant regulations (including UK and EU), and best practice standards (including GDPR).
• Support the Head of Development and Deputy Head of Operations and Finance with grant budgets, forecasts and pipeline, supporting decision-making by the Executive Team and Board.

Key responsibilities

Portfolio ownership & planning

• Maintain a live grants calendar covering deliverables, reports, payments, audits and evaluations; ensure all internal and donor deadlines are met.
• Act as primary point of contact for assigned donors on contractual, reporting, and routine relationship matters, escalating strategically as needed.

 Reporting & stewardship

• Coordinate the production of timely, accurate and outcome-focused narrative and financial reports, synthesising inputs from programme, policy, finance and leadership colleagues.
• Support contract amendments/variations, no-cost extensions, and budget realignments in collaboration with the Head of Development and Deputy Head of Operations and Finance.

Compliance, risk & due diligence

• Interpret, operationalise, and ensure adherence to donor terms and conditions, including eligibility rules, procurement, safeguarding, DEI, anti-fraud, and data protection requirements.
• Contribute to risk registers linked to grants and grant files (audit-ready) with clear decision trails.
• Support alignment with UK and EU regulatory frameworks and internal policies.

Budgeting, finance & cost recovery

• Support the Head of Development and Deputy Head of Operations and Finance to maintain budgets, forecasts, and cashflows to delivery plans.
• Support cost recovery and overhead allocation approaches and ensure compliant coding and reporting for restricted awards (i.e. timesheets and expense coding).
• Track income recognition and receivables against milestones; prepare payment requests/invoices as required.

Proposals, renewals & pipeline support

• Work with and report to the Head of Development to identify and develop new funding opportunities.
• Support the preparation of compelling proposals, concept notes, and donor presentations tailored to institutional, foundation, and private sector partners.
• Conduct donor research and maintain a live fundraising tracker and CRM system to support proactive pipeline management.
• Contribute to the cultivation and stewardship of funders, preparing impact reports, case studies, and donor communications.
• Coordinate cross-team inputs for donor meetings, funding campaigns, or events that support income generation.

Systems, data & process improvement

• Utilise available grants management tools (e.g., trackers, templates, checklists, shared drives/SharePoint, CRM).

· Promote disciplined data management, ensuring GDPR-compliant document storage and access controls.

• Provide training and guidance to colleagues on grant requirements and internal workflows.

Governance & internal collaboration

• Prepare or contribute to concise briefings, dashboards, and summaries for the Head of Development, Executive Team, and Global Policy Board.
• Contribute to annual planning, KPI setting, and impact measurement related to fundraising and grant delivery.
• Support continuous improvement in monitoring, evaluation, and learning.

Expectations

Cross-functional operational collaboration

• Contribute to the WeProtect Global Alliance operational compliance, financial and grant management processes and systems.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues to deliver cross-functional projects that will strengthen the reach and impact of the WeProtect Global Alliance Secretariat.

Building an inclusive culture

• Play a proactive role in ensuring equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) is embedded in everything we do.
• Embrace diversity and recognise different perspectives within collaborative working to create a more impactful and effective organisation. 
• Commit to ensuring all employees are treated fairly and equitably at work, feel like they belong, and promote equality in physical and mental health for all.

Other

• To attend and contribute to meetings, training, and other events as required.
• To actively participate in our supervision and appraisal process.
• To ensure that all responsibilities and activities within this post are delivered in accordance with WeProtect Global Alliance core values and relevant corporate, organisational, financial, and compliance policies.
• To travel to meetings, which may require the need to work unsociable hours, e.g. attending evening or weekend meetings.
• To adhere to relevant legal and statutory requirements including the Data Protection Act and the Health and Safety at Work Act.
• To use WeProtect Global Alliance resources responsibly.

As a global, multi-sector alliance, ensuring equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) is embedded in everything we do is a critical priority. We embrace diversity and understand that being an inclusive organisation, recognising different perspectives, will enable us to be impactful and effective. We are committed to ensuring all our employees are treated fairly and equitably at work and promoting equality in physical and mental health for all.

Person Specification

Essential criteria

Experience

1. Substantial hands-on experience managing multi-donor grants across the full lifecycle, from start-up to close-out with a diverse donor community (governments/multilaterals, trusts and foundations, and private donors), including restricted awards.

2. Proven track record coordinating high-quality donor reports and ensuring contractual compliance across multiple awards and deadlines.

3. Demonstrable experience collaborating internally and leading applications, funding reports, financial reporting (budgets, forecasts, cost recovery, and expenditure monitoring).

4. Experience of preparing concept notes, proposals, and application forms for funding opportunities.

5. Experience with grant databases/CRM.

6. Stakeholder management skills, with experience liaising with donors and supporting senior leaders with briefings and stewardship.

7. Experience in due diligence, risk management and audit-readiness for grants (e.g., procurement, safeguarding, sanctions/PEP checks, data protection).

8. Proven experience working autonomously in a fast-paced environment to deliver a broad range of donor activities.

Skills

1. Outstanding organisation and time management, with the ability to manage competing deadlines and maintain meticulous records.

2. Excellent written communication, able to synthesise complex information into clear, outcome-focused reports and proposals.

3. Financial literacy: confident reviewing budgets, variances and forecasts; advanced Excel skills and comfort with shared-working tools (MS Office, Teams, SharePoint).

4. Analytical judgement and problem-solving, with a pragmatic, solutions-focused mindset.

5. Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a remote, international team, exercising discretion and sound judgement.

6. Commitment to safeguarding, child protection, EDI, and ethical fundraising practice.

Knowledge

1. Practical understanding of donor compliance for public/institutional and philanthropic funders, including awareness of different types of donor reporting requirements.

2. Knowledge of monitoring, evaluation and learning principles and how to evidence impact and learning in grant reports.

3. Familiarity with data protection (GDPR) and information governance in grants contexts.

4. Understanding of WeProtect Global Alliance’s mission, vision, values, and global operating context.

Other

1. A willingness to travel and work unsocial hours (time in lieu can be claimed)

2. Commitment to your own continuing professional and personal development

3. To uphold high standards of work, standards, and conduct in line with WeProtect Global Alliance values.

Desirable Criteria

1. Experience setting up or improving grants management systems (trackers, calendars, templates, workflows) proportionate to a small organisation.

2. Experience of using online funding and grant management portals.

3. Awareness of global child protection policies and procedures within the digital arena and a genuine passion for child protection

Diversity, inclusion, and equity

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation. We actively welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, including those of different ages, genders, ethnicities, sexual orientations, abilities, and lived experiences. We particularly encourage applications from individuals who are part of communities that are under-represented in our sector, including Black, Asian, and other ethnic minorities, disabled people, and LGBTQ+ individuals.

Safeguarding and values

As a child-focused organisation, we have a strong commitment to child safeguarding and rigorous procedures. The successful candidate will be required to provide two referees and to undergo a criminal record check. 

All staff are expected to act at all times in a manner consistent with our values and in compliance with our policies and procedures, including our Safeguarding Policy and Code of Conduct.

Our values are:

· Empowerment – collaboration, innovation, challenge

· Accountability – responsibility, delivery, safeguarding

· Respect – honesty, feedback, inclusion.

This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced relationship fundraiser to join Kids and play a key role in growing our philanthropic income. If you are passionate about building meaningful donor relationships and creating lasting impact for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), we'd love to hear from you.

Philanthropy and Relationships Manager

Location: Home-based with regular travel for face-to-face meetings
Hours: 36 hours per week (flexible working arrangements can be discussed at interview)
Salary: £35,000 per annum

About the Role

We're looking for an ambitious and motivated Philanthropy and Relationships Manager to lead the development of our major donor programme. Building on recent strategic recommendations, you will develop and deliver a sustainable fundraising programme that grows support from mid-level and major donors.

Working closely with the Head of Fundraising and colleagues across the organisation, you will identify, cultivate and steward high-value supporters, creating compelling opportunities for them to invest in Kids' mission. You will play a vital role in securing significant gifts and developing long-term partnerships that help children and young people with SEND achieve their full potential.

This role offers the opportunity to shape and grow a portfolio of supporters while helping to create a culture of philanthropy across the organisation.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy and Planning

• Develop and implement a measurable strategy for philanthropic growth.
• Work closely with the Head of Fundraising to strengthen and embed a culture of philanthropy across Kids.
• Collaborate with colleagues to identify, cultivate and solicit major donor prospects.
• Provide guidance and support to colleagues on donor engagement and relationship management.

Relationship Management

• Build, manage and strengthen relationships with existing supporters.
• Understand donor motivations and create tailored engagement plans that inspire long-term support.
• Represent Kids at networking and cultivation events, building visibility and awareness of our work.
• Work collaboratively with service delivery teams to demonstrate the impact of donor support.

Prospect Development

• Manage and grow a mid-level giving programme.
• Develop and maintain a strong pipeline of prospective donors through research, identification and outreach.
• Build and manage a portfolio of mid-level and major donor prospects.
• Work with the Events Manager to deliver engaging donor cultivation events.

Income Generation and CRM Management

• Take ownership of individual income targets and contribute to wider fundraising goals.
• Manage donor pipelines, forecasting and reporting through Donorfy CRM.
• Monitor performance and identify opportunities to maximise income growth.

Donor Communications

• Develop compelling cases for support and impact reports.
• Create personalised communications and proposals that align with donors' interests and motivations.
• Deliver a high-quality donor experience that encourages long-term engagement and investment.

About You

We are looking for someone who can demonstrate:

• Proven success in networking and relationship building that has resulted in financial support.
• Experience securing new gifts and developing new donor relationships.
• A strong track record of building and managing fundraising pipelines and supporter portfolios.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence and engage high-value supporters.
• Experience using CRM systems and data to manage donor relationships, forecasting and reporting.
• Strong budgeting and financial forecasting skills.
• Experience researching and identifying prospective donors.
• Confidence engaging and influencing senior stakeholders, including CEOs, trustees and decision-makers.
• The initiative and resilience to build new relationships from the ground up.
• A genuine passion for improving outcomes for children and young people with SEND and their families.
• An understanding of the policy and influencing landscape affecting children and young people with SEND.

Why Join Kids?

At Kids, you'll be part of a dedicated team committed to creating brighter futures for disabled children, young people and their families. This is an exciting opportunity to shape a growing philanthropy programme, develop meaningful supporter relationships and secure transformational gifts that make a lasting difference.

Apply today and help us create life-changing opportunities for children and young people with SEND.

For further details about the role, responsibilities and requirements, please refer to the full Job Description attached.

We encourage early applications as we reserve the right to close this vacancy ahead of the advertised closing date if we receive a high volume of suitable applications

Role   Project Co-ordinator – AAFDA All

Organisation: AAFDA – Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse

Project: AAFDA All

Role title: Project Co-ordinator

Salary: £35,000 pro rata to £28,000

Hours: 4 days per week Location: Home-based, with travel across England as required

Reports to: Operations Manager

Contract: Fixed term subject to funding (4-year grant)

AAFDA All is funded by The National Lottery Community Fund

About AAFDA

AAFDA is a national charity providing specialist, trauma-informed advocacy, emotional support and peer support to families bereaved by fatal domestic abuse, including domestic homicide, suicide where domestic abuse was a known factor, and unexplained deaths linked to abuse. We work to raise the status of bereaved families, strengthen professional and systemic responses, and influence policy and practice so that lessons are learned and future deaths are prevented.

About AAFDA All

AAFDA All is a four-year project developed in partnership with Imkaan to create, pilot and evaluate a culturally responsive advocacy and peer support service for bereaved family members from Black and minoritised communities who have lost a loved one to fatal domestic abuse. The project aims to reduce barriers to support, build trust with communities and specialist organisations, strengthen peer connection, and ensure that lived experience shapes service development, practice and wider systems change.

Role Purpose

The Project Co-ordinator will lead the development, co-ordination and day-to-day delivery of AAFDA All, ensuring that the service is trauma-informed, culturally responsive, safe, accessible and shaped by the voices of bereaved family members from Black and minoritised communities. The postholder will work closely with AAFDA colleagues, Imkaan, the Specialist Advocate, volunteers, community partners, statutory agencies and the Service User Advisory Group to develop referral pathways, support co production, co-ordinate peer support activity, monitor outcomes and embed learning across the programme.

In return for joining us, we will offer you:

· 25 days annual leave per annum, plus bank holidays (Pro rata)

· Excellent development and training opportunities

· Pension Scheme

· Healthcare Scheme

· Employee Assist Scheme

Application Instructions 

To apply for this role, please submit a supporting statement along with your CV. by Closing date: 13th September 2026

Interviews will be held on 

21st, 23rd and 25th September 2026 

As part of our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, we particularly welcome applications from candidates from Black and minoritised ethnic backgrounds who possess the necessary trauma-informed community insights and reach, understanding and skills to build trust and deliver the project aims safely and effectively.

Applicants will be shortlisted according to how well they meet the criteria in the person specification.

Please highlight and explain how you meet these in your supporting statement. If you have been shortlisted for interview, you will be informed by email. Regrettably, we are normally unable to acknowledge unsuccessful applicants.

Please note that we will not progress applications where the supporting statement does not address the criteria for the role being applied for.

About the role

As Head of Research and Evaluation, you will be responsible for the development and delivery of our research and evaluation strategies. This work will help us to understand and provide insight into the challenges and difficulties faced by families with disabled children, the quality of services we provide and the difference our support makes for the families we serve.

You will ensure that the voice of families is at the centre of our research and evaluation approach to help shape existing and new programmes and services, and our policy and public affairs work.

If you join us, you’ll be:

• Leading the continued development and implementation of Family Fund’s research and evaluation strategies.
• Developing and overseeing our evaluation and service quality frameworks, including our Theory of Change outcomes measurement framework.
• Championing the ‘voice of families’, embedding their lived experience at the heart of our research.
• Managing and delivering high-quality research and evaluation projects/initiatives.
• Producing accessible, engaging, and impactful research outputs for a variety of audiences.
• Promoting the use of innovative and participatory research methodologies.
• Presenting and disseminating research findings internally and externally, including at events, conferences, and through publications.
• Developing and maintaining strong relationships with stakeholders and representing Family Fund in strategic research partnerships, networks, and advisory forums.
• Commissioning external research and evaluation where appropriate, ensuring quality, value for money.
• Maintaining oversight of the team’s input to government/ funder reporting, ensuring timely and accurate submissions aligned to contractual and organisational requirements.
• Providing visible, hands-on leadership and line management to the Research and Evaluation Team.

About you

For this role you will need to have experience in developing and managing research and evaluation strategies, frameworks, activities and production of subsequent products. You will also need to have experience of working in partnership with other organisations, and of resource and budget management.

To be successful in this role, you will need excellent analytical skills as well as sound knowledge of quantitative and qualitative methodology and best practice through the research cycle. You will need to have good writing skills and an ability to communicate effectively with different audiences. You will also need to have the ability to interpret and present research in an accessible and engaging way.

You will be a self and team motivator with excellent communication skills, and the ability to develop and sustain positive relationships with a range of stakeholders. You will be pro-active and driven to succeed.  

About us

Family Fund is a great place to work for great people. We provide a challenging and rewarding working environment where every staff member can make their mark.

We are a values based organisation and we aim to show our values in all that we do. Read our staff stories here, and see how our staff display our values every day.

We commit to inclusion, equity and diversity and we welcome applications from all parts of the community. Family Fund is a Disability Confident Leader. We will invite to interview all disabled applicants who meet the requirements for the role. If you have a disability, and are happy to let us know, please highlight this in your covering letter. We have also signed the Armed Forces Covenant and we welcome applications from the Armed Forces Community.

How to apply

Please read and download the job description. 

When you’re ready to apply, complete the online application and submit a CV and a covering letter.  Your letter will need to explain what skills and qualities you would bring to the team. 

Please note that the successful candidate will be required to complete pre-employment checks that meet the Baseline Personnel Security Standard.  This includes a right-to-work check, a basic check for unspent criminal convictions, and an employment history verification for the last three years.

Service Delivery Administration Manager

We are seeking an experienced and highly organised Service Delivery Administration Manager to lead the Administration Hubs in the Midlands and South East Localities.

Position: 000044 Service Delivery Administration Manager

Location: Home-based, Midlands or South East Locality. However, frequent travel will be required as part of this role (may include team meetings or other work-related meetings)

Hours: Full-time, 35 hours per week 

Salary: Circa £33,500 per annum

Contract: Permanent

Benefits: 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays (this will increase with service up to 30 days, full time equivalent) cashback and discount scheme, employee assistance programme, learning and development, pension scheme, Life Assurance, Eye Care vouchers, Long Service Award, Health Cash Plan, flexible working opportunities available.

Closing Date: Sunday 13 September 2026

Interview Date: 8 and 9 October 2026 . Interviews will be held via video conferencing. Please let us know if this will present any challenges when you email your application.

The Role

Reporting to the Service Support Lead, the Service Delivery Administration Manager will work to ensure the Administration Hubs are delivering high-quality administrative support to Locality Impact service delivery teams. 

Key responsibilities will include:

• Line management of Service Delivery Administrators, including recruitment, training, support and supervision, creating a positive leadership environment
• Managing performance improvement
• Supporting process improvements and creating efficiencies within the admin hub, including key stakeholders at relevant points.
• Working with Service Delivery Coaches to ensure quality administrative support is provided to commissioned services.
• Contributing to the wider Service Delivery Admin function across Locality Impact

About You

You will have:

• Experience of supporting remote teams
• Excellent communication skills
• Experience of writing and implementing new administration processes
• Experience of building and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders

This role requires frequent travel to provide face to face 1:1s, Admin Hub team meetings and wider management meetings. The teams you will be line managing are based in the Midlands and South East Locality. Candidates must be able to demonstrate how they can meet this requirement of the role

To fulfil the role, you must be a resident of the UK and have the right to work in the UK.

Applications

To apply you’ll be redirected to the organisation website where you can download the full role profile. You’ll need to submit a CV and cover letter demonstrating how you meet the person specification detailed in the role profile, and what you bring to the role in terms of your skills and experience.

If you are applying under the Disability Confident scheme, please indicate this in your supporting statement when applying for the role.

Stroke Association

Finding strength through support

The Stroke Association is the only charity in the UK providing lifelong support for all stroke survivors and their families. We provide tailored support to tens of thousands of stroke survivors each year. This support includes one-to-one and group support, funding vital scientific research into stroke prevention, acute treatment, recovery and long-term care, and campaigning to secure the best care for everyone affected by stroke. 

We’re here for stroke survivors and their loved ones, from the moment they enter the new and frightening post-stroke world, supporting them every step of the way as they find their strength and their way back to life.

It’s only thanks to the generosity of our supporters and donors that we can provide vital support. 

Stroke Association is driven by our ambition to improve the lives of everyone affected by stroke. This means we’re determined to create an equitable and inclusive workplace that benefits from the difference, and thrives on the diversity, of our people. Guided by Our approach to solving inequity in stroke, we are prioritising listening to, and learning from, lived experience across our charity.

We are working to improve the representation of this lived experience at all levels within the Stroke Association and we are eager to recruit applicants from a variety of communities and backgrounds. We are keen to receive applications from people affected by stroke, people of colour, members of LGBT+ communities, and disabled people because these identities and experiences are underrepresented and would add enormous value to how we work.

We are a Disability Confident employer, and we are making great progress focusing on flexible working, reasonable adjustments and access to work. Our charity has a variety of staff network groups and we're committed to continuously improving our diversity and inclusion efforts. If you have questions, or access needs, we’re happy to discuss any support and adjustments we can make throughout the recruitment process so that you’re able to contribute your best in a way that meets your needs.

You may also have experience in areas such as Service Delivery Administration Manager, Service Delivery Admin Manager, Service Administration Manager, Service Admin Manager.

Please note this role is advertised by the recruitment agency acting for the client, Not For Profit People. #INDNFP

We are seeking an ambitious and motivated Head of Research to oversee the delivery of our research funding programme. You will ensure our funding is delivered strategically with the greatest impact possible for people affected by MND. You will manage our research team to oversee the development and delivery of effective funding schemes, partnerships and initiatives, whilst ensuring the outputs of our research are monitored and evaluated, to communicate our impact and inform our future activities.

This is a key role in our small, agile organisation that will involve close working across the charity, and the research community. We are looking for someone with strong experience in research and people management, working experience in drug discovery, with excellent communication skills and strong motivation to make a difference for people affected by MND. 

Team Structure: 

You will report to the Director of Research and manage a team of four: three Research Programme Managers and a Research Officer. 

Key responsibilities: 

• Have day-to-day responsibility for distribution of the charity’s research funding, developing detailed annual plans and delivering against time and budget; 

• Be responsible for overseeing governance and compliance for all research funding activities, including adherence to standards set by the Association of Medical Research Charities; 

• Identify opportunities for improvements to grant management systems, processes and documentation and work closely with the research team to ensure they are implemented; 

• Maintain oversight of the research programme budget, working closely with the research and finance teams to plan, monitor and forecast; 

• Oversee the development and implementation of new funding schemes and research initiatives to ensure our funds are delivered for maximum impact and address gaps in the research landscape; 

• Oversee the setup and delivery of large collaborative research programmes including managing relationships with joint funders and other partner organisations; 

• Build and maintain strong relationships with the research community, including members of our review committees and grant holders; 

• Oversee the development and implementation of a robust impact evaluation framework to monitor, report and evaluate the impact of the research we fund and use this information to inform our future funding activities; 

• Ensure the outputs of our research funding activities inform the work of the charity, working with the research and communication teams to create and disseminate compelling and engaging scientific content to engage supporters and drive income; 

• Maintain a strong understanding of the MND research landscape, using those insights to inform our research activities; 

• Develop a high performing team, ensuring team members are supported and developed to contribute to their full potential in the achievement of the charity’s aims; 

• Oversee the delivery of research events e.g. annual meetings to bring together our researchers; 

• Support the development and implementation of future research strategies, working closely with the Director of Research; 

• Represent the Foundation at external meetings including international conferences; 

• Deputise for the Director of Research as required; 

• Undertake other appropriate work as required by the Director of Research. 

Skills and experience required: 

• Educated to postgraduate level, or with similar experience in a relevant biomedical science subject e.g. biochemistry, molecular sciences, neuroscience, pharmacology; 

• Working experience of drug discovery, gained either in the bio-pharmaceutical industry or an academic setting; 

• Significant experience in research management, ideally within a charity or government funding organisation; 

• Proven leadership and people management skills with direct line management experience; 

• The ability to think strategically, navigate uncertainty and adapt to evolving environments; 

• A great communicator, with excellent written and oral skills and the ability to build and maintain relationships with a wide range of stakeholders; 

• Motivated to make a real difference for those living with MND and future generations. 

Please note, this role involves occasional overnight stays from home, occasional international travel and occasional attendance at meetings and events during evenings and weekends. Candidates must have the existing right to work in the UK.

SOS UK is looking for a Project Manager to deliver our engagement work with a focus on our Climate Action Fund programme – Student Energy Action for Life (SEAL).

Role details

Location: Home working in (or close to) London, Midlands or Manchester

Working patterns: 1 FTE (35 hours per week) with typical working times between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday. The role includes weekly travel with early starts and late returns, and approx. 6 overnight stays a year. 

Salary: Starting salary £32,289 per annum, rising to £36,843, plus London Weighting of up to £3,655 pro rata where applicable. We also provide up to a 6% pension contribution and life assurance.

Contract: Fixed term until December 2029

Closing date for applications: 31st August 2026 at 11.59pm

Interview dates: 14th September 2026 (TBC). All interviews will be held online.

About the role

This role will be primarily focusing on our Climate Action Fund programme – Student Energy Action for Life (SEAL), with opportunity to contribute towards our wider engagement programmes. SEAL has a twofold vision; to support students navigating the home energy system and to improve access to student energy efficient properties via landlord engagement and student campaigning. 

Key responsibilities include:

• Engage, maintain and develop strong relationships with key stakeholders particularly landlords and students' unions, as well as students, volunteers, universities, local authorities, and other key organisations. 
• Support landlords, student letting agencies and students’ unions to improve the energy efficiency of student accommodation, focusing on implementing energy efficiency initiatives, advice and support.
• Plan, design, and deliver engaging training sessions to a variety of audiences.
• Provide support for students’ union officers and other student campaigners working on housing energy efficiency campaigns, including the design and implementation of a national student home energy campaign.
• Support with the creation and management of sector wide student energy efficiency advisory groups including a home energy efficiency network, student advisory group and stakeholder advisory group.
• Contribute to the development and delivery of programme resources and communications, including social media and website updates. 
• Recruit, coordinate, and support student volunteers including line management of student staff when required.

Please read a full description of the role’s responsibilities and person specification (knowledge, skills, attributes, qualifications and experience) in the role profile.

Introducing SOS UK

SOS UK is a UK based charity transforming education so people protect the climate and nature.

Our education system helped cause the climate and nature crisis, but now we’re making it the solution. We are fighting to make sure everyone develops a commitment to protecting the earth and puts it to work – whether it’s at school, university or in their careers.

By empowering students and educators to build a better world, we can transform the lives of generations to come. In just a few years we have developed unstoppable student leaders. Behind these leaders every step of the way is the SOS UK community making sure students don’t have to fight for change alone. We unite people from every background, inside and outside education, because protecting our earth matters to each and every one of us.

Who we are

IPSEA (Independent Provider of Special Education Advice) is a national charity working to ensure that children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) receive the educational support they are legally entitled to. Since we were formed in 1983, we have helped to improve the education experience of thousands of children and young people across England. We do this by providing free and independent legal advice and casework support for families, undertaking policy work and delivering training on the SEND legal framework.

What you’ll do

Reports to: Chief Executive

Location: Home-based or Hybrid (with frequent travel for events and meeting with parliamentarians and other stakeholders) 

We are seeking a Policy Manager to lead IPSEA's policy and influencing work to achieve positive change for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their families. Working closely with the Chief Executive, Head of Legal and Training, trustees and colleagues across the organisation, you will set strategic policy priorities and develop evidence-based influencing plans that support IPSEA's mission and long-term objectives.

Drawing on insights from our advice and tribunal services, legal expertise and the experiences of families, you will identify systemic issues within the SEND system and develop policy solutions that improve children and young people's access to the support and education to which they are entitled. You will ensure that IPSEA's policy positions are credible, legally robust and informed by the lived experiences of those we support.

You will lead IPSEA's engagement with government, Parliament and other key decision-makers, identifying opportunities to influence legislation, policy and practice at both national and local level. This includes overseeing responses to consultations, parliamentary inquiries and calls for evidence, as well as preparing briefings and strategic advice to support senior-level engagement and advocacy.

Working collaboratively with colleagues across legal, communications, fundraising and training teams, you will ensure IPSEA's policy, campaigning and public affairs activities are aligned and maximise the organisation's impact. You will also monitor developments across the political, legal and policy landscape, helping IPSEA respond proactively to emerging opportunities and challenges affecting the rights of children and young people with SEND.

This role offers the opportunity to make a real difference as part of a small, friendly, and dedicated team. If you are passionate about helping children and young people with SEND and have the skills and experience needed, we would love to hear from you.

Who are we looking for?

You will have significant experience in a senior policy and campaigning/public affairs role and have good knowledge of local and national government structure including the legislative process.

You the ability to build and maintain relationships with a range of stakeholders including MPs, civil servants, campaigners and parents. You exhibit tact and diplomacy and can be impactful with people of varying levels and experience.

Your research and critical thinking skills enable you to analyse policy and data to produce relevant reports and position papers. You have experience of drafting organisation responses to government consultations and parliamentary calls for evidence.

IPSEA should also reflect the communities we support. We would particularly like to hear from candidates from ethnic minority backgrounds, LGBTQIA+ people, under-served communities and disabled people, as well as those with lived experience of the SEND system, either as a child or as a parent/carer.

What we can offer you

• 5% employer pension contributions
• Healthcare cash plan
• Flexible working arrangements
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays plus an additional day off for your birthday (pro-rata if part-time).

To apply

Visit our website to download a recruitment pack and application form.

Deadline for applications: 9am on 7 September 2026.

First-round interviews: on 15 September 2026 in our offices in Takeley, Essex, with second-round interviews (online) on 18 September 2026.

NO AGENCIES PLEASE.