Fundraising and communications compliance officer jobs
Location: Reading, Hybrid (at least once per week to Reading Office
Hours: Full time
Salary: £27,790 per annum
Contract Type: Permanent
Campaign Closes: 9th March 2026
Interviews: Week commencing 9th March 2026
On occasion, we might close a vacancy early due to a high number of applications being received. Interested candidates are encouraged to submit their application as early as possible
Core Purpose
The Wish Assist Coordinator is responsible for the facilitation and delivery of wishes on behalf of Make-A-Wish UK’s international affiliates, ensuring that each wish experience is unique to the child / young person, creating magical experiences for them to cherish. The Wish Assist Coordinator is responsible for the facilitation and management of a large network of relationships primarily Make-A-Wish affiliates, partners and suppliers, but also the wish child and their family.
Key Responsibilities:
Wish Assist Delivery
- Manage and oversee a caseload of 70+ wishes, per annum.
- Work with our affiliates, suppliers, and volunteers to develop detailed event plans and facilitate bespoke wish experiences in line with the affiliate’s wish journey processes for international wish children.
- Manage and oversee 30+ RUSH wishes per annum
- Work with UK wish families to develop detailed event plans and facilitate bespoke wish experiences for UK based wish children with a short prognosis
- Prioritise workload effectively considering requirements for each wish and time difference between collaborating affiliates.
- Coordinate all required logistical aspects of the wish events, including transportation, accommodations, and medical equipment.
- Manage contracts, payments, and schedules with all third-party providers.
- Ensure timely delivery of services and materials.
- Ensure compliance with health, safety and legal requirements.
- Manage and oversee each wish to work within the individual specified budget with accuracy and care.
- Monitor and track all expenditures against individual wish budgets, ensuring all costs are accurately recorded on the Salesforce CRM system and aligned with financial policies, whilst sharing all expenditure with the originating affiliate.
- Identify and implement cost-saving measures without compromising the quality of the wish, negotiating with suppliers to secure the best terms.
- Procure £5,000+ in Gift in Kind income to be utilised on wishes.
- Ensure that each wish is magical and creates maximum impact for the wish child.
- Conduct post-event evaluation through conversations with affiliates and suppliers, to gather feedback and measure success.
- Working with the finance department, accurately and efficiently manage post-wish payments and invoicing to ensure wish costs are settled in a timely manner in line with Make-A-Wish SLAs.
Wish Assist Additional Responsibilities
- Support the Wishgranting Wish Assist Manager with wish forecasting and planning for Wish Assist wishes.
- Upload new Wish Assist requests to our Salesforce CRM system and keep accurate admin and data entry for efficient record keeping and communication between stakeholders in the wish.
- Ensuring all wish records and related data are stored and maintained on Make-A-Wish Information Systems and that all data is managed within set policies and procedures.
- Partake in regular forums regarding Wish Assist delivery with Make-A-Wish International and international colleagues to ensure best practice.
Safeguarding and Data Governance
- Ensure compliance with the organisation’s safeguarding policies.
- Complete mandatory safeguarding training and refreshers, as required.
- Promptly report any concerns or incidents regarding the safety and welfare of participants, particularly children and vulnerable adults, to the Designated Safeguarding Officer.
- Ensure that all wish events are conducted in a safe environment where participants feel secure and protected.
- Ensure all wish records and related data are stored and maintained on Make-A-Wish Information Systems and that all data is managed within set policies and procedures (such as data privacy, liability, consent forms, marketing permissions etc).
Organisational responsibilities
- Within Make-A-Wish's performance & growth framework “Being Brilliant” initiate regular conversations with your line manager when you discuss your role objectives, personal development, wellbeing and other topics
- Complete one Wish Discovery (meeting the wish children and their family to help them explore what their wish could be) and one fundraising event a year
- Attend whole organisation meetings like monthly symposium and townhall as well as ad-hoc training opportunities as required; and as much as possible attend social events happening twice a year.
- Work with your colleagues across the organisation within the framework set in Make-A-Wish Ways of Working
Essential Criteria
- A minimum of 1-year previous experience in roles with a customer service or events management specialism
- Experience in liaising directly with multiple stakeholders
- Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and administrative skills
- Excellent multitasking and task prioritisation skills
Skills, knowledge and behaviours required for this role
- High level of IT skills particularly in MS Office Suite
- Knowledge of how to keep to a budget and work within financial constraints.
- Experience working within a team environment but also able to work autonomously in a self-motivated way.
- Excellent organisational and time management skills with the ability to be able to prioritise an ever-changing workload.
- The ability to communicate effectively (written and verbal)
- Strong relationship management and negotiation skills to communicate effectively with our affiliates, suppliers, and stakeholders.
- The ability to problem-solve and make appropriate decisions independently – or seek advice and support when required.
- To be able to be flexible and open to change in a fast-paced working environment.
- Problem-solving and adaptability within a demanding case load of wishes
- Meticulous attention to detail to ensure every aspect of the wish logistics and wish admin are correct.
- Ability to handle stress and pressure when managing multiple projects simultaneously with emotional intelligence and resilience.
- Innovative thinking to plan and execute unique and memorable experiences for each individual wish family.
Together, we create joy, happiness and magical memories through life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Citizens UK
Citizens UK is the UK’s biggest, most diverse and most effective people-powered alliance. We bring communities and local organisations together to work on issues that matter; from campaigning for zebra crossings on dangerous roads, to reforming the immigration system, to the Living Wage campaign. We have a track record of winning change through hundreds of local and national campaigns. We know everyday people have the ability to shape the world around them. We believe that through developing local leaders, we can drive nationwide change and create community-led solutions to big and small problems.
Purpose
The Head of People & Culture ensures that Citizens UK has the people, organisational capacity and enabling culture required to deliver its mission of building people power and strengthening civil society. The role plays a central part in securing a workforce that is capable, motivated and aligned with Citizens UK’s values, enabling the organisation to build strong alliances, support local leadership and achieve lasting social change.
Working as part of the senior leadership team, and under the direction of the Executive Director, Finance & Operations, the role strengthens organisational effectiveness by embedding fair, inclusive and well-governed people practices. Through sound employment frameworks, statutory compliance and a culture that supports engagement, performance and wellbeing, the Head of People & Culture safeguards Citizens UK’s resilience, reputation and ability to deliver impact at scale.
Main Responsibilities
Working as the Head of People & Culture for Citizens UK, reporting to the Executive Director, Finance & Operations, your main responsibilities will include:
People & Culture Strategy
Ensure Citizens UK has the people, capability and organisational shape required to deliver its mission and sustain impact over time.
· Analyse organisational strategy, change priorities and external context to identify their implications for people, capability, structure and ways of working.
· Carry out workforce planning to assess current and future capacity and capability, identifying gaps, risks and realistic options to address them.
· Develop, maintain and refresh the People & Culture strategy so it responds directly to organisational needs and provides clear priorities for action.
· Provide expert people and culture advice to the Executive Leadership Team and Board, informing strategic discussions, trade-offs and decisions.
Talent Management
Develop and implement talent management processes that ensure Citizens UK attracts, retains and sustains the people needed to deliver its work.
· Lead recruitment, selection and onboarding to bring in people who can perform effectively in their roles and are aligned with Citizens UK’s values.
· Develop and maintain retention approaches focused on the key drivers of retention, including meaningful work, effective management, development opportunities, wellbeing, inclusion and fair treatment.
· Identify critical roles and critical talent and put in place practical succession and risk-mitigation plans, including knowledge transfer, handover planning and interim cover where needed.
· Monitor employee experience across the employment lifecycle, using insight from feedback and people data to improve people practices and ways of working.
Performance, Leadership & Capability
Strengthen organisational effectiveness by enabling teams to perform well, grow in capability and contribute consistently to shared goals.
· Maintain and operate performance management processes, including objective setting, regular feedback and reviews, ensuring that staff are clear on expectations and accountable for results.
· Support managers to address performance issues constructively by clarifying expectations, strengthening feedback, building capability and resolving barriers to effective performance.
· Coordinate and deliver learning and development activity that supports managers and staff to build skills, leadership capability and confidence in their roles.
Organisational Culture, Engagement & Wellbeing
Foster a working environment where people feel engaged, supported and able to do their best work together.
· Promote Citizens UK’s values in everyday people practices, supporting managers to translate values into consistent behaviours, decision-making and ways of working.
· Design and operate staff engagement and feedback mechanisms, ensuring staff voice is heard, themes are analysed, and practical actions are taken in response.
· Develop and maintain wellbeing approaches that support psychological safety, healthy workload management, early resolution of concerns and sustainable working practices.
· Support constructive relationships with the Trade Union and enable effective consultation and dialogue on people-related matters.
EDI & Safeguarding
Ensure Citizens UK is equitable, inclusive and safe for all by embedding fairness, care and accountability into how the organisation operates.
· Develop and implement Equity, Diversity and Inclusion priorities, using clear measures to monitor progress, identify gaps and support accountability across the organisation.
· Embed EDI considerations into recruitment, progression, policy development and everyday people decisions, working closely with relevant colleagues to ensure consistency in practice.
· Act as the People & Culture lead for safeguarding, ensuring responsibilities are clear, processes are understood, and concerns are handled appropriately, sensitively and in line with agreed procedures.
· Support managers and leaders to recognise and address inclusion or safeguarding issues early, escalating concerns where required and ensuring appropriate follow-up.
Governance, Risk & Compliance
Ensure Citizens UK has a clear, effective and trusted people governance framework that supports lawful decision-making, fair treatment and organisational confidence.
· Develop, review and maintain People & Culture policies and procedures, ensuring they are legally compliant, values-aligned and understood by managers and staff.
· Provide day-to-day advice and guidance on people-related risk and compliance, identifying emerging issues early and supporting proportionate, lawful responses.
· Manage disciplinary, grievance and other formal employment processes, ensuring fairness, consistency, appropriate documentation and timely resolution.
Systems & HR Operations
Ensure the efficient, reliable and compliant administration of people processes and systems.
· Operate and maintain HR systems, payroll processes and core people administration, ensuring accuracy, confidentiality and compliance with organisational and legal requirements.
· Review and improve people processes to reduce duplication, minimise manual work and improve efficiency, making best use of available technology and automation.
· Maintain accurate and up-to-date people records and data, ensuring information is accessible, secure and fit for reporting, audit and operational needs.
Functional Leadership & Resource Management
Build and manage CUK’s People & Culture function, ensuring that staff and resources contribute effectively to achievement of CUK’s mission.
· Plan, prioritise and sequence People & Culture work to ensure available capacity is focused on the organisation’s most important people risks and priorities.
· Manage the People & Culture budget, including payroll, monitoring spend and applying value-for-money principles in line with organisational policies.
· Manage People & Culture staff and outsourced service providers utilising an engaging leadership style to support effective delivery of expectations.
Personal Specification
(D) Desirable, (E) Essential
Qualifications
· (E) CIPD qualification (Level 7) or equivalent senior-level professional experience in People / HR leadership
· (D) Degree or equivalent qualification in human resources, organisational development, management or a related field
Experience
· (E) Significant experience in a senior People / HR role, ideally within a charity, not-for-profit or values-driven organisation
· (E) Experience of leading and delivering people and culture priorities in complex, mission-led organisations
· (E) Experience of advising Executive and Board-level stakeholders on people, culture, governance and risk matters
· (E) Experience of operating as a senior, hands-on HR generalist, covering strategy, policy, employee relations and operational delivery
· (E) Experience of workforce planning, recruitment, performance management and organisational change
· (D) Experience of working with trade unions or staff representative bodies
Key skills and knowledge
· (E) Strong generalist HR expertise across employment law, compliance, safeguarding, performance management and people governance
· (E) Proven ability to design and implement practical people processes that support performance, inclusion and wellbeing
· (E) Strong coaching capability, with the ability to support managers to address performance, capability and behavioural issues constructively
· (E) Ability to manage complex employee relations matters with judgement, fairness and confidence
· (E) Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present clear advice and recommendations to senior leaders and boards
· (D) Knowledge of HR systems, people data and process improvement to support efficient delivery
Personal qualities & values
· (E) Strong commitment to social justice, inclusion and the values and mission of Citizens UK
· (E) Values-led and relational leadership style, combining empathy, integrity and pragmatism
· (E) Resilient and adaptable, able to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced and evolving environment
· (E) Comfortable working within an accountable team culture, open to feedback, reflective practice and continuous improvement
· (D) Willingness to work occasional evenings or weekends, and to travel when required to support organisational priorities
First round interviews to be held on W/C 16 March 2026
Second round interviews to be held on W/C 23 March 2026
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Hours: Part Time (21 hours per week)
Contract: Fixed term to end of January 2028.
Salary: £26,100 – £28,200 pro rata (£43,500 - £47,000 FTE)
This is an important project working in partnership with Government, the NHS, partners and affected communities as part of national memorial activities to reflect on the impact of Covid-19 for people across the UK.
The contract is linked to the anticipated development and delivery timeline of the Reflection Spaces project, which is the primary focus of the role.
Key Relationships: Programme Leads, COO, Director of Strategic Engagement, AD Finance and Operations, Trustees, External Partners
Overall Purpose
The Project Manager will work with NHS member charities and key stakeholders to design, lead and manage a high-profile programme of activity alongside key partners and those with lived experience to create memorial reflection spaces for communities most impacted by COVID-19. This is referred to in this document at the ‘Reflection Spaces’ project.
You will bring a dynamic, can do approach to support the design and delivery of the Reflection Spaces project, ensuring collaboration across a wide range of stakeholders, including our identified NHS Member Charities, voluntary sector organisations, funders, evaluators and government officials to create beautiful high quality and reflective spaces supportive of those experiencing bereavement with creative elements to mark their significance.
It involves working collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders including our member charities, NHS trusts, funders, evaluators, and government officials, and ensuring initiatives are delivered successfully.
Overall Objectives
To support the design and implementation of new sensory reflection spaces that create a living memory and legacy for communities of those lost during the pandemic. The new COVID-19 memorials will be created across the country that reflect the importance of green spaces to the nation during the pandemic for health and wellbeing, and to bring people together in remembrance and commemoration to those who have experienced loss.
To convene and engage stakeholders to inform the national elements of the project including development of the creative brief, ensuring a golden thread that brings all of the locally funded projects together.
You will coordinate teams, stakeholders and partners to ensure high quality delivery, excellent interpretation and relevance through codesign to represent the user needs from established steering and engagement groups to ensure quality and impact.
You may also be required to oversee other NHS Charities Together initiatives successfully so they deliver on their objectives, managing stakeholders, and are delivered on time and to budget - in particular the Green Communities project, which is an existing grant programme with NHS Charities to create and improve green spaces and help improve the nation’s health.
Key Responsibilities
Project Design and Development
- Work with the Programme Leads and SRO to develop the Reflection Spaces project from design to implementation considering sustainability and legacy of local project design and implementation with NHS charity members.
- Managing high profile stakeholder relationships and partners across government, horticultural partners and bereavement organisations to codesign the programme of activity and/or high level design brief to guide local project delivery.
- Establish evaluation requirements for the programme and projects delivered at a local level and in line with partners involved, leading processes to convene, capture and share evidence, data and insight to support knowledge of impact for users of the spaces. Commission and manage external evaluations where appropriate, ensuring quality and alignment with project aims.
- Plan funding aspects of the programme allocating awards to chosen NHS Charities able to support the requirements of the spaces as per brief.
- Develop project plans with clear objectives, timelines, milestones and manage and monitor associated budget, ensuring that projects are financially sustainable and cover our costs.
Delivery and Management
- Lead initiatives, in particular the Reflection Spaces project, to ensure they are delivered on time, within scope and budget.
- Establish and oversee robust project governance, risk management, and reporting processes, maintaining strong administration and compliance throughout
- Regularly review and monitor impact against the goals of the programme, ensuring the benefits and impact we seek are being achieved
- Provide line management of staff where required, such as the Senior Projects Officer working across our other related greening projects
- Manage project resources and staff effectively, fostering a collaborative team culture and supporting and ensuring team members are empowered
- Support or lead the process of securing appropriate partnership propositions, selecting service contracts or grant arrangements where appropriate, with regard to considerations such as control and VAT efficiency. Where multiple potential partners exist, ensure we have effective decision making to select the most appropriate partnerships in line with our strategic criteria, either through procurement or application assessments and establish appropriate tender processes for artistic commissioning.
- Manage contracts or grant arrangements with external partners, including evaluators and delivery organisations, delegating as required; lead or support negotiations as needed and ensure partners meet their obligations.
- Oversee and manage the delivery of the Greener Communities project to completion.
Stakeholder Engagement & Collaboration
- Convene and engage stakeholders, including member charities, NHS trusts and employees, funders and evaluators, to co-produce and steer projects collaboratively.
- Facilitating and supporting engagement to harness lived experience voice to inform the design and delivery of locally delivered projects to ensure relevance and suitability of spaces and also to support national commemoration events such as the National Day of Reflection.
- Manage stakeholder relationships throughout the lifecycle of each project, ensuring effective communication and engagement.
- Provide support and guidance to member charities through the projects we fund, enabling high quality spaces and user experience and outcomes.
- Represent the organisation externally, acting as a champion for NHS Charities Together and NHS charities
- Form professional and beneficial relationships with internal and external stakeholders – including at a senior level, representing the department internally and externally and bringing your experience of greening for health.
- Work collaboratively with teams across the organisation to plan commemorative events around the National Day of Reflection and to support the design of communication plans.
Creative Arts Installation
- Lead the creative arts commissioning aspects of the Reflection Spaces project in collaboration with partners to ensure spaces have interpretation and recognition around their purpose and also any installation artwork featuring across all sites acting as the golden thread for the programme.
- Identify and build effective relationships with new stakeholders and funders who are required for the artistic aspects of the Reflection Spaces project to support ambition, working collaboratively to secure income such Arts Council applications or equivalent for the devolved nations such as Creative Scotland.
- Establish creative steering groups that help to codesign artistic aspects that will establish interpretation of the spaces and create a ‘golden thread’ unifying the spaces
Other duties
- Visibly live NHS Charities Togethers values of Human, Collaborative and Pioneering, including our commitment to diversity and inclusion.
- Carrying out the duties of post in accordance with NHS Charities Togethers policies and procedures on Health and Safety and take responsibility for ensuring personal health and safety.
- Working flexibly, prioritising workload, and working effectively as part of a team. Demonstrating an ability to work calmly and effectively when under pressure of tight deadlines, to deliver work on time and to a high standard.
- Work with organisational systems to capture and share stakeholder interactions in a timely manner
- Adhere to relevant legislation, best practice, policies, and processes including, but not limited to charity law, the fundraising regulator, GDPR and professional codes and standards.
This is not meant to be an exhaustive list of duties. The need for flexibility is required, and the post holder is expected to carry out any other related duties that are within the employee’s skills and abilities whenever reasonably instructed.
REF-227 012
Join Our Team!
We have a new vacancy (18 month fixed term contract) for a full-time Service Development Project Manager to lead the scoping, design, and development of new areas within Crohn’s & Colitis UK’s services portfolio. This role will ensure that emerging services respond to identified needs, reflect best practice, and align with the charity’s strategic objectives to support everyone affected by Crohn’s and Colitis.
About Us
We're the UK's leading charity for Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. Right now, an estimated 500,000 people in the UK are living with a lifelong disease many people have never heard of and for which there is no known cure. Because of the stigma and misunderstanding surrounding these diseases, thousands of people are suffering in silence. But we’re here to support and champion their cause and our ambitious plans will help to make a real difference.
Role Overview
You will lead on the scoping and exploration of new service areas, specifically children and young people, emotional wellbeing, diet, and fatigue. In doing so, you’ll gather and analyse insight from research, stakeholders, and lived experience to inform service design and ensure developments are evidence based and aligned with our strategy. You’ll work closely with teams across the organisation, including policy and research, to ensure feedback is used to inform planning and supports delivery in their areas. Furthermore, you’ll be using your management skills to support and provide effective day to day leadership and coordination within the Services & Support team.
About You
We are looking for someone with strong project management skills, who has experience of stakeholder engagement and an analytical skill set. You’ll have demonstrable experience of scoping, designing, and developing new services, programmes, or projects at a strategic level and experience of leading support services in a health charity
Please see our Recruitment Pack for details of our full Job Description and Person Specification.
Our Location
We are based in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, so we are easily accessible by road and rail. In this role, there is plenty of scope for working from home, although there will be times when you will need to be at face-to-face meetings. There is a requirement for you to attend a minimum of 12 in person days a year, including two Directorate meetings and the charity’s mandatory ‘All Staff Together’ days which take place four times a year at our offices in Hatfield or a location in London.
Benefits
- 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing one day per year up to 30 days
- Salary Sacrifice Pension scheme
- Flexible working options
- Enhanced maternity, adoption and paternity pay
- 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme
- Wellbeing programme
- Interest free loan for season tickets
- Cycle to work scheme
- Free parking and secure bike locks
- Training and development financial support and/or study leave
- Performance review and development scheme
Please note: no applications will move forward within the recruiting process without a supporting statement.
We are an inclusive employer and offer equal opportunities to all regardless of an individual’s age, disability, gender identity, marriage or civil partnership status, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.
We are not a licensed sponsor at this time. Any offer of employment will be made subject to the applicant residing in the UK and a valid right to work in the UK being provided.
We will not be accepting any contact from Recruitment Agencies or Media Sales
If you have any queries about this role, would like to have a conversation before formally applying, or if you have a disability and wish to request a reasonable adjustment at any stage of the recruitment process, please contact Siobahn Kewley (Head of Services & Support). Please see our Recruitment Pack for her contact details.
Please submit a CV and supporting statement outlining why you’d like to apply, how you fulfil the person specification, and what you feel you will bring to the role. You’ll need to refer to the Recruitment Pack attached for further information on how to apply.
Closing date: Monday 9 March 2026 at 9:00am
Interviews will be taking place on Friday 20 March 2026 and will be held remotely.
We break taboos, drive pioneering research, bring people together & campaign to improve lives. We are leading the fight against Crohn's & Colitis
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Join our dedicated Reproduction Team and bring your veterinary expertise to a programme built on ethics, compassion and exceptional welfare standards. This is your chance to play a vital role in ensuring every puppy begins life with the very best foundations.
As our Canine Reproduction Specialist, you’ll work hand‑in‑hand with our Veterinary Surgeon to support successful, welfare‑focused breeding outcomes. Your insight and care will help maximise conception rates and litter sizes, while safeguarding the physical and emotional wellbeing of every breeding dog.
You’ll champion best‑practice reproductive care, influence high‑quality decision‑making, and help ensure that long‑term comfort, health and happiness remain at the heart of every breeding choice we make.
Based at our National Breeding Centre near Leamington Spa, you’ll work 35 hours per week between 8am and 6pm, Monday–Friday. You’ll also participate in a 1 in 4 weekend rota, ensuring continuous, outstanding care for our dogs.
If you’re passionate about canine welfare and want your work to have a lasting, positive impact, we’d love to hear from you!
What You’ll Do
- Carry out key reproductive duties, including cytology, progesterone testing and supervising matings, ensuring the highest standards of welfare and outcomes.
- Support clinical care for breeding dogs, applying your knowledge of canine anatomy, physiology and behaviour.
- Maintain accurate records, analyse reproductive data and contribute to continuous improvement across the breeding programme.
- Develop skills in ultrasound and reproductive techniques, including artificial insemination, under veterinary direction (full training provided).
- Work collaboratively with colleagues, volunteers and external partners, representing the breeding programme professionally.
What You’ll Bring
- Registered Veterinary Nurse with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.
- Significant experience working in a veterinary practice.
- At least one year’s experience in a scientific or laboratory setting, with the ability and willingness to learn new techniques.
- Advanced knowledge of canine anatomy and reproduction, gained through academic study and/or practical experience.
- Strong understanding of canine behaviour, temperament and reproductive health.
- Good understanding of laboratory processes and equipment.
- Confident dog‑handling skills.
- Physical dexterity to safely supervise matings.
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to work effectively with colleagues at all levels.
- Competent user of Microsoft Office, including Excel and PowerPoint.
What We Offer
No two people with sight loss are the same — and none of our people are either. That’s why we’re proud to offer a range of person‑centred benefits designed to support each member of staff in the ways that matter most.
Our flexible benefits package includes a generous holiday allowance, a matched contributory pension scheme and access to discounts and cashback, giving you the freedom to choose the options that work best for you. It’s our way of showing how much our people mean to us and helping you feel supported both in and outside of work.
About Us
How to apply
Further details on the full role are attached below. When you are ready to apply, submit an online application form via this page.
If you would like to have an informal conversation about the role before applying, or require any accessibility support to apply, our friendly recruitment team is ready and waiting to help.
As part of your application ensure you provide evidence and examples of how your skills & experience meet the criteria as set out in the attached job description. You will also be asked to complete a few job-specific questions as part of this application process, so please be prepared to write your answers to these questions.
If you want to know more about the teams who work at Guide Dogs, you can find it on our Careers Page
Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
Guide Dogs welcomes applications from all sections of the community and actively encourages diversity to maximise achievements, creativity and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment, regardless of age, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, disability or nationality.
As a Disability Confident Employer, we are proud, whenever possible, to offer an interview to all candidates that meet our selection criteria, and who indicate they wish their application to be considered under our Disability Confident interview commitment. For more details, visit our careers site.
If you are successful you will need to provide evidence of your right to work in the UK via our digital ID checking supplier; in addition, we cannot offer visa sponsorship at this time.
Safeguarding
Guide Dogs is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children, young people and adults at risk of harm with whom we work. We expect all our employees and volunteers to fully share this commitment.
At Guide Dogs, we believe in fair and equitable hiring practices. A criminal record will not automatically disqualify an applicant from consideration for a position. Each case will be evaluated individually, taking into account the nature of the offense, its relevance to the role, and the time that has passed since the incident. We encourage all candidates to disclose relevant information, and we assure you that it will be handled confidentially and fairly.
Guide Dogs follow Safer Recruitment practices to ensure we are safeguarding the vulnerable people we work with. As part of this, we require a full work history with any gaps accounted for & a minimum of 2 professional referee details fully covering the past 5 years. If you are applying for a disclosure role, please note that you will be required to undergo an enhanced DBS check and sign up to the DBS update service.
For high volumes of applications, we reserve the right to close adverts earlier than advertised.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Our Second Home (OSH) is the UK’s youth movement for people with refugee backgrounds. We support young people to build community, become leaders, and flourish into adulthood in the place they call home.
Each year, hundreds of young people from dozens of countries and living in London & Bristol take part in our residential programmes, leadership training and youth hubs. Our residentials are often the first step – immersive, relationship-rich spaces where young people connect, reflect and begin to see themselves as leaders. From there, many move into leadership training and take on volunteer roles within the movement.
Our work is youth-led and rooted in lived experience. We are now implementing our 2025–2028 strategy, focused on strengthening quality, embedding learning and ensuring our growth is sustainable and safe.
The Head of Programmes is a senior leadership role, reporting to the CEO and managing two senior colleagues. You will hold responsibility for the quality, coherence and safeguarding of all programme activity.
Responsibilities (abridged - see attached job description)
Programme Leadership & Strategy in Practice
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Lead implementation of OSH’s 2025–2028 programme strategy.
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Oversee the design, quality and coherence of residentials, leadership training and hubs.
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Take operational responsibility for residential delivery, including participant referrals, recruitment of staff and freelancers, programme content and educational standards.
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Attend and lead approximately five residential programmes per year.
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Identify opportunities to strengthen youth engagement and leadership pathways as the organisation scales.
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Ensure programme data is accurately recorded and used to improve delivery.
Team Leadership
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Line manage the Communities Manager and Leadership & Volunteering Manager.
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Provide structured supervision, clear objectives and professional development support.
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Ensure strong coordination between hubs, residentials and leadership pathways.
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Build a culture of accountability, reflection and continuous improvement.
Safeguarding & Welfare
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Act as Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead and serve as DSL at events as required.
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Ensure safeguarding practice is robust, consistent and embedded across all activities.
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Respond to safeguarding and behavioural issues appropriately and oversee safe recruitment processes.
Partnerships, Budget & Oversight
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Maintain referral partnerships and represent OSH externally where appropriate.
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Hold programme budgets within agreed limits and ensure financial discipline.
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Embed monitoring, evaluation and reflective practice across the programme team.
Experience & Competencies (abridged - see attached job description)
Essential
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At least 5 years’ experience in youth or youth-centred programming, including residential or intensive settings.
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Experience designing and delivering leadership development or informal education programmes.
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Strong facilitation and training skills.
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Demonstrable experience managing staff and developing teams.
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Strong understanding of safeguarding practice and willingness to act as Deputy DSL.
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Experience working with young people from refugee or asylum-seeking backgrounds, or strong understanding of the issues affecting them.
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Ability to balance strategic oversight with hands-on delivery in a part-time senior leadership role.
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Strong organisational skills and commitment to inclusive, youth-led practice.
Desirable
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Level 3 Safeguarding training.
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Experience managing programme budgets.
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Experience contributing to organisational strategy or scaling programme models.
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Familiarity with Google Workspace, Beacon CRM, MyConcern or similar systems.
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Lived experience of migration or displacement.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.