Governance and policy officer jobs

Lead a pioneering national mental-health service for young people, rooted in nature and underpinned by strong clinical practice.

We are seeking an experienced Clinical or Counselling Psychologist to lead its development, accreditation and quality across the UK.

Salary: £57,528–£64,750 full-time equivalent (£34,517–£38,850 0.6 FTE) depending on experience 
Hours: 22.5 hours per week / three days per week
Contract: 18-month fixed term, with intention to extend subject to service growth and funding
Location: Hybrid, with travel to Dose of Nature locations and member organisations across the UK

Dose of Nature is a mental-health charity improving mental health and wellbeing through structured, evidence-informed engagement with nature.

We are developing a Young Person Memberships service for young people and young adults under 25. We will train and support trusted organisations to deliver the Dose of Nature model in their communities, providing the clinical framework, accreditation, supervision, quality assurance and evaluation needed for safe, effective and consistent delivery.

About the role

As Young People’s Clinical Service Lead, you will establish, deliver and grow this new service. Working with our Head of Clinical and Memberships Operations Lead, you will turn our clinical model into a scalable national service while protecting its quality, safety and integrity.

You will lead the clinical assessment and accreditation of member organisations; develop training and competency frameworks; provide supervision and consultation; establish governance, safeguarding and risk arrangements; monitor outcomes and quality; and build trusted relationships with NHS, voluntary-sector, youth-service and community partners.

About you

You will be a current HCPC-registered Clinical or Counselling Psychologist, with a doctoral-level qualification and experience broadly consistent with an NHS Band 8a role.

You will bring:

• Substantial post-qualification experience supporting young people or young adults experiencing mental-health difficulties;

• Strong skills in psychological assessment, formulation, intervention, clinical decision-making, safeguarding and risk management;

• Experience providing clinical supervision, consultation or reflective practice to other practitioners;

• Experience designing or delivering clinical training and assessing practitioner competence;

• Experience of developing, implementing or improving a clinical service; and

• The confidence to work across organisational boundaries, maintain clear clinical standards and help build a new national service.

• Experience in CAMHS, young-adult mental health, voluntary-sector provision, clinical governance, quality assurance, accreditation or partnership-led services would be valuable.

We offer hybrid and flexible working, employer pension contribution, pro-rata annual leave, professional supervision, CPD support and approved travel expenses.

Dose of Nature is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. This post is subject to enhanced DBS clearance, references, verification of qualifications and HCPC registration, and eligibility to work in the UK.

Please download the full Job Description and Person Specification before applying.

Join Together Active as our HR Admin Officer and help create a positive employee experience in a values-led charity tackling inequality through physical activity. 

This flexible, part-time role offers hybrid working, a 4-day-week organisation culture, and the opportunity to support recruitment, onboarding, HR administration and governance across our charity.

We're looking for an organised and proactive HR Admin Officer to support the smooth running of our people processes. Working closely with the Business Manager, you'll provide efficient, accurate and compliant HR administration across the employee and volunteer lifecycle. You'll play a key role in recruitment, onboarding, HR records management, compliance and governance support, helping to create a positive experience for everyone who works with Together Active.

About You

You'll be highly organised, detail-focused and confident managing confidential information. You'll have experience providing administrative support, strong communication skills, and a commitment to creating an inclusive workplace where people feel valued and supported. Experience of HR administration, recruitment processes or governance support would be advantageous.

Why Join Us?

• Part-time, 16 hours per week 
• Salary £28,000 FTE (£14,000 actual salary) 
• Hybrid working across home, office and Staffordshire locations
• 4-day working week organisation with no reduction in pay or holiday entitlement (pro rata) 
• Health and wellbeing cash plan, virtual GP and retail discounts.
• Up to 8% employer pension contribution.
• A collaborative, compassionate and inclusive team committed to making a difference across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.

Hours: Full-time

Pay: £83,840 - £88,490 GBP gross per annum (dependent on experience)

Duration: Permanent

Location: Manchester, UK (hybrid working available), with an expectation of up to 25% international travel to support UK-Med's international programmes, governance and humanitarian operations. The postholder must be deployable and able to travel internationally at short notice where operationally required)

Are you an exceptional finance leader ready to shape the future of a global humanitarian organisation?

UK-Med is a frontline medical aid charity, born of the NHS and committed for over 30 years to ensuring that everyone can access the healthcare they need when crises and disasters strike. We deploy emergency medical teams and health specialists worldwide, supporting communities affected by conflict, disease outbreaks and natural disasters, whilst strengthening local health systems and preparedness.

Reporting directly to the CEO and serving as a member of the Senior Management Team, the Director of Finance will provide strategic leadership across UK-Med's financial stewardship, sustainability, governance and organisational performance. As the organisation's principal financial adviser to the CEO, Board of Trustees and Board Committees, you will help shape UK-Med's long-term strategy and ensure the organisation remains financially resilient and well positioned to deliver its humanitarian mission.

Working closely with the Associate Director of Finance and colleagues across the organisation, you will lead the finance function and support delivery of UK-Med's Five-Year Strategy by strengthening financial governance, resilience and organisational sustainability across a complex, multi-country organisation.

You will be a fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA or equivalent) with substantial experience providing strategic financial leadership at executive level within a complex organisation. You will have a proven track record of advising CEOs, Boards and Audit & Risk Committees, leading organisational change and financial transformation, and overseeing complex budgets, diverse funding streams and robust financial governance. Experience within the humanitarian, international development, healthcare or wider charity sectors is essential, with knowledge of institutional donor funding and grant compliance highly desirable.

This is a unique opportunity to influence the strategic direction of one of the UK's leading humanitarian organisations, helping ensure UK-Med remains financially resilient and ready to respond wherever communities need us most.

Can you help build a world prepared to help?

How to apply

We strongly recommend that you read theCandidate Information Pack - Director of Finance - August 2026before applying for this role.

To apply, please submit a current CV and a supporting letter (2 pages) through our online jobs portal.

Please apply below, as soon as possible and no later than Monday 31st of August 2026.

UK-Med is committed to safeguarding of our personnel and beneficiaries and has a zero-tolerance approach to sexual exploitation and abuse. We conduct thorough vetting before any appointment is confirmed.

UK-Med is committed to the principles of diversity, equality, and inclusion. We strive to provide an inclusive and supportive environment where employees feel respected and supported to be able to fulfill their potential.

Students’ Union UCL is an organisation that exists to make more happen. We are the representative body for University College London’s (UCL) students, one of the most diverse student communities in the world.  Our vision is to provide an outstanding experience for all UCL students and to be one of the best students’ unions in the UK and the world.  We aim to build a vibrant and empowered student community with real influence in UCL and beyond, that enables students to enjoy their time at university; pursue their interests and passions; see the world in new ways; and develop the skills and experience to change the world for the better.

We are a registered charity employing over 150 career staff and 300 student staff, delivering a wide range of services and representative functions for UCL students. We have the widest portfolio of services of any student organisation in the country, managing UCL’s extracurricular programmes for sport, music, drama, dance, media, volunteering, academic societies and intercultural engagement; providing a wide range of fantastic social spaces; leading on student democracy and representation across UCL; and offering excellent student support services.

It's an exciting time to join our growing organisation as we lead the delivery of UCL’s ground-breaking Student Life Strategy. This is enabling us to build more programmes to improve students’ mental and physical wellbeing, promote genuine equity for all, build students’ skills and confidence, develop their international connections and intercultural skills, and make a real contribution to our local community.

The role is full time and permanent. Based at Bloomsbury campus but also expected to have a presence at UCL and Canary Wharf school of Management and other locations. 60/40% hybrid role (60% on campus). We will consider applications to work on a part-time, flexible, and job share basis wherever possible.

Job description

The Head of Facilities & Safety Governance provides strategic and operational leadership for the Union’s facilities functions, ensuring the delivery of excellent services to students, staff, and the public, while developing these services in line with the Union’s strategies and objectives.

This role holds the professional responsibility for service standards, Health & Safety Governance, budget control, compliance with all statutory and regulatory requirements, and clear assurance reporting to the Board of Trustees and Union committees.

This post holder will lead the Union’s Facilities Management service, overseeing external contracts like cleaning, security and pest control. They will ensure full compliance in Health and safety, manage reactive repairs, and guarantee buildings are safe, fit for purpose and in excellent condition providing an outstanding work environment including agile office spaces and excellent commercial and student activity spaces.

Interviews will take place on the 1st, 2nd & 3rd September 2026.

We can provide a skilled visa sponsorship for successful applicants, subject to specific role and individual eligibility requirements.

About us

Greyhound Rescue Wales (GRW) is Wales’ leading charity dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming greyhounds and lurchers. Founded in 1993, we have spent more than three decades championing the welfare of sighthounds and working towards our vision: a Wales without greyhound racing, where every greyhound and lurcher has a home and receives the best possible care.

In April 2026, after 25 years of determined campaigning to improve welfare and regulation within the racing industry, legislation to ban greyhound racing in Wales was finally passed. This landmark achievement marks the beginning of a new chapter for GRW as we expand our reach and capacity across the UK to ensure every greyhound leaving the racing industry has a rescue space, medical support and rehabilitation on the journey towards their forever home.

To help us grow sustainably and strengthen our long‑term impact, we are now seeking to develop our fundraising team with the creation of a Head of Fundraising role. You will lead and work closely with the Trusts & Foundations Officer, Sponsorship & Individual Giving Officer and Community & Events Fundraiser to deliver an annual income target of £400K+.

Role

The Head of Fundraising is a senior leadership role with overall accountability for the strategic development, operational effectiveness and performance of all fundraising activity at Greyhound Rescue Wales (GRW).

The role will drive, lead and grow our fundraising strategy and has responsibility for developing diverse, sustainable income streams and building strong relationships with supporters, partners, and funders.

The role holds end‑to‑end accountability for income delivery across trusts and foundations, community and event fundraising, and sponsorship and individual giving.

The Head of Fundraising provides clear leadership to the fundraising team and has line management responsibility for:

• Trusts and Foundations Officer
• Community and Events Fundraising Officer
• Sponsorship & Individual Giving Officer

Please see attached the full job description and person specification

This permanent, part-time role is ideal for someone with strong financial administration and bookkeeping experience who is committed to social justice and human rights. You'll be responsible for the day-to-day management of our finances, maintaining accurate records, supporting reporting and compliance, and providing financial information to help staff and trustees make informed decisions.

Join us and play a key role in supporting Just Fair's mission to secure economic, social and cultural rights for everyone in the UK.

Are you an experienced operational leader looking for the opportunity to help shape the future of a growing, ambitious and values-led charity?

Project 21 is looking for its first Chief Operating Officer to join us at an exciting point in our development, strengthening the organisation behind our services and helping us achieve even more for people with Down’s Syndrome and their families.

Project 21 is a growing charity providing opportunities, support and experiences for people with Down’s Syndrome across Suffolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire. Our work includes community-based learning, performing arts, residential trips, employment opportunities and family support, all underpinned by our belief that people with Down’s Syndrome should have every opportunity to belong, believe and achieve.

As Project 21 continues to grow, we are looking for an exceptional Chief Operating Officer (COO) to work alongside our CEO & Founder and provide strategic and operational leadership across the organisation.

This is a newly created role and a genuine opportunity to help shape the next chapter of Project 21.

The COO will lead our day-to-day organisational operations, providing oversight across people, services, finance, systems, governance, compliance and organisational development. You will lead and support our Senior Leadership Team, strengthen systems and processes, develop leadership capability and ensure our growing organisation remains safe, effective, sustainable and true to its values.

Crucially, the role will create greater capacity for our CEO to focus on Project 21’s long-term future, including strategic partnerships, fundraising and our ambitious Big Build vision.

We are looking for someone who combines strong operational and organisational leadership with excellent people skills. You will be comfortable moving between strategy and delivery, developing senior leaders, making decisions, improving systems and bringing clarity to a busy and evolving organisation.

You do not necessarily need to have been a COO before. We are interested in experienced senior leaders who can demonstrate the skills, judgement and leadership capability required to step into an organisation-wide role. Experience within charities, social care, SEND, education or another people-focused organisation would be particularly valuable.

This is an office-based leadership role at our Clubhouse in Suffolk, reflecting the importance we place on visible, accessible leadership and being connected to our members, families and colleagues. The role will also involve travel across Project 21 locations and to external meetings.

What we’re looking for

We’d particularly love to hear from someone who:

• Is an experienced and confident senior leader
• Is an excellent people manager who enjoys developing others
• Can translate strategy into effective operational delivery
• Has experience of organisational growth and change
• Understands good governance, HR, finance, risk and compliance
• Can develop effective systems and improve organisational efficiency
• Is comfortable making decisions and taking accountability
• Can build strong relationships with colleagues, families, trustees and external partners
• Shares our commitment to inclusion and person-centred practice
• Is excited by the opportunity to help build something, rather than simply maintain what already exists

Above all, we are looking for someone who understands that strong operations are ultimately about people. Someone who can bring structure without unnecessary bureaucracy, accountability without losing warmth, and professional leadership while protecting the culture that makes Project 21 special.

Salary: £55,000–£60,000 per annum
Hours: 40 hours per week Mon-Fri, with occasional Saturday on-call hours
Location: Project 21 Clubhouse, Brightwell Barns, Suffolk

If you are excited by the opportunity to play a significant role in the future of an ambitious charity and help us build the organisational foundations for our next stage of growth, we would love to hear from you.

We are looking for someone to contribute effectively to governing the organisation. You will have skills and experience in at least one of the following areas; housing development, property maintenance, strategic asset management or finance / treasury. Preferably, you will also have experience in the social housing sector.

About Hastoe

 Hastoe was established over 60 years ago and now manages more than 7,500 rented, shared ownership and leasehold homes, mainly located across the south of England from Devon to Norfolk. Since 1987 we have focused on being a leading rural housing specialist, helping to sustain rural areas by working in partnership with communities to deliver high-quality, affordable housing developments for local people. However, we still have properties in urban areas that remain important to us.

Our Business Strategy is focused on ensuring our homes are safe, that we deliver on our customer needs, and that we are sustainable as an organisation.

The role

As a Board Member you will be responsible for:

· Helping to set our strategic direction.

· Overseeing our financial and operational performance.

· Supporting effective governance and risk management.

· Ensuring regulatory compliance and customer focus.

· Acting as an ambassador and representing Hastoe.

The role is expected to require a time commitment of around 15 days a year, including an overnight stay to attend an away day. Our meetings are held during the day and generally in London. There may be occasional travel required to other locations, e.g for a scheme opening.

How to apply

Please submit your CV together with a covering letter which sets out your interest and related experience.

Please also include the names of two referees. Referees will not be approached until the final stages and not without your prior permission.

The closing date for applications is midnight on 20 September 2026.

This is an exciting opportunity to lead a respected and well-established charity with deep roots in the communities we serve. Jigsaw4u has a strong reputation and dedicated staff and volunteers.

As CEO, you will provide strategic, operational and cultural leadership, working closely with the Board of Trustees, staff, volunteers and partners to ensure the delivery of high-quality services.  You will drive our strategic priorities, strengthen financial sustainability, build effective partnerships and foster an inclusive, high-performance culture.

We are seeking a values-driven leader who can inspire confidence, champion collaboration and innovation and deliver meaningful outcomes for children, young people and families.

Lead safeguarding. Shape culture. Enable safer churches.

The Diocese of London is seeking an exceptional safeguarding leader to serve as our first Director of Safeguarding.

This is a pivotal leadership role at the heart of the Church of England’s largest and most diverse diocese, driving a culture that is preventative, accountable, transparent and focused on learning and improvement.

The successful candidate will provide strategic leadership for safeguarding across the Diocese, oversee governance and assurance, lead a skilled safeguarding team, and champion the voices of victims and survivors.

We are looking for a credible and experienced professional with significant safeguarding expertise, strong professional judgement, and a passion for enabling safer churches.

Join us in shaping the future of safeguarding in London. We would be delighted to hear from you.

The postholder will have an enhanced DBS check.

The closing date for applications is Sunday, 20 September at 5pm. The selection day will take place in-person on Thursday, 22 October. 

Please refer to the Candidate Information pack for the full details of the Role, Responsibilities and Person Specification.

About Us

We Are Survivors is a survivor-focused voluntary sector organisation that aims to create and facilitate safe spaces for male (including trans and non-binary individuals) survivors of sexual harms across Greater Manchester, providing access to quality-assured support. Our work is focused on developing ways for individuals to empower themselves to work through personal and sometimes painful issues, guided and supported by our trauma-informed team, following the trauma and recovery model.

Our vision is to have “A society where NO male survivor is left behind”

About the Roles

At We Are Survivors, every role exists for one reason: to support male survivors of sexual harms and the people who stand alongside them. While each position has a different focus, they all contribute to providing safe, effective and trauma-informed services that help survivors and their loved ones move forward.

Head of Support and Advocacy

The Head of Support and Advocacy provides operational leadership across We Are Survivors’ support and advocacy services. Working closely with the Service Director, Operations Director and Executive Team, the role ensures services are effective, well governed and meet the needs of survivors and their loved ones. This includes overseeing our trauma-informed, survivor-centred approach; monitoring service performance; safeguarding and record-keeping; and ensuring contractual commitments and quality standards are met. The role also represents the organisation in external partnerships and helps shape services in response to changes in policy, evidence and the needs of people with lived experience.

About You

Head of Support and Advocacy

You’ll be an experienced operational or clinical leader who is comfortable overseeing services that work with trauma, mental health and complex needs. You’ll understand how to balance compassionate, survivor-centred practice with effective governance, safeguarding, quality assurance and contractual performance. Experience of working with men, sexual harms or people with lived experience would be valuable, alongside the ability to build strong relationships with staff, partners and stakeholders. Most importantly, you’ll be someone who can lead with clarity, curiosity and care while helping services continue to learn and improve.

Why Join Us?

· a competitive salary.

· annual leave package with incremental rises plus bank holidays.

· company sick pay.

· Birthday annual leave.

· monthly clinical supervision.

· pension contribution.

· and a range of discount and benefit programmes.

York Travellers Trust (YTT) is seeking an inspiring, values-led Chief Executive to
lead our organisation through its next stage of development.

We work alongside the vibrant and resourceful Gypsy and Traveller communities of York and the surrounding area. We challenge discrimination and inequality, increase opportunities and life chances, and build bridges that promote understanding and community cohesion.

As Chief Executive, you will provide strategic leadership and hold overall responsibility for YTT’s performance, financial sustainability, governance, safeguarding and organisational development.

Working closely with our Board, staff and community members, you will:

 shape and deliver YTT’s strategic direction;
 strengthen our financial sustainability and develop new income opportunities;
 ensure our services remain effective, safe and responsive;
 build influential relationships with communities, funders, partners and
policymakers;
 champion the rights, needs and aspirations of Gypsy and Traveller
communities; and
 embed sociocratic and democratic ways of working so that community voices
genuinely shape our decisions.

We are looking for an experienced senior leader with a strong commitment to equality, social justice and community empowerment. You will have experience of leading in a charity, community organisation, public service or another values-led environment.

You will understand the strengths, needs and systemic barriers experienced by Gypsy and Traveller communities, gained through direct work with these communities or substantial experience alongside other marginalised groups.
You will combine strategic thinking with a collaborative, authentic and hands-on leadership style. You will also bring experience of managing people, working with a Board, overseeing finances, securing income and representing an organisation externally.

This is a rare opportunity to lead a trusted community organisation at an important point in its development. If you share our ambition for an inclusive, community-led and sustainable future, we would be delighted to hear from you.

The job description sets out the skills and experience we are looking for, but we know
that the right person may not tick every box. If you are passionate about our mission and bring significant relevant experience and the capacity to develop into the role, we would love to hear from you.

We are open to applications from people wishing to job share or looking for less than full-time hours; if this applies then let us know in your application.

Job Title: Chief Operating Officer (with CFO responsibilities) 

Location: Rugby or Hybrid/ Home with ability to travel to meet the charity’s needs
Reports to: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Salary: £68,000 - £75,000  
Contract Type: Full-time, Permanent
Closing Date: 21st August 2026

About HCPT

HCPT is a UK-based charity that provides life-changing pilgrimage experiences to Lourdes for children and adults with disabilities, complex medical needs, and social challenges of all faiths, and none. Every Easter and Summer, HCPT brings together thousands of volunteers, medical professionals, and chaplains to support pilgrims in a joyful, inclusive, and faith-filled environment. Our work is rooted in Christian values, community, and the belief that every person is uniquely gifted and loved.

Role Overview

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is a key member of HCPT’s Senior Leadership Team, responsible for the effective delivery and high performance of all operational and business support aspects of the charity’s work. This includes leadership of all business support functions; Finance, HR, IT and Governance, working with and through internal teams and external business partners.  As such we are looking for an experienced chartered accountant who is also astute in leading the wider business operation of medium sized charity.

The postholder will have oversight of the quality and efficiency aspects of all that we do in planning and execution of pilgrimages, care & safeguarding, compliance and infrastructure and will support the CEO to develop a culture of accountability and high impact, whilst staying true to our values of: Compassion, Faith, Inclusion, Community and Celebration.

The COO will ensure that HCPT’s operations are safe, efficient, and aligned with our Catholic ethos and mission of inclusion and care, and that our performance is optimised to deliver excellence, which is:  THE BEST pilgrimage experience we can offer as defined and measured by our beneficiaries and volunteers.

This is a senior role in volunteer-led organisation and as such the successful postholder will be required to exercise flexibility with evening and weekend work to meet the business needs of the charity, given the availability of our volunteer leaders who have professional commitments during the day. The role also requires the post holder to travel to and work in Lourdes for two weeks over Easter each year, leading operational delivery of our largest annual pilgrimage.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic & Operational Leadership

• Work closely with the CEO to implement HCPT’s strategic plan and vision.
• Lead and line manage internal business support functions and outsourced partners across; finance, HR and IT delivering excellence in our infrastructure.
• Support the CEO to realign the resources of the charity to improve performance, build capacity and increase impact, utilising the best in digital and AI tools to simplify complexity and create capacity.
• Lead on the development and tracking of departmental KPIs and dashboards, developing a culture focused on personal accountability, performance, quality management and continuous improvement.
• Support CEO to develop Operational Risk Register, Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity Plans.
• Line manage our Head of Care and Safeguarding, ensuring compliance with policies, procedures, and working as part of the wider care and safeguarding committees to anticipate legislative and other changes to how we deliver our mission in partnership with the CEO and Board of Trustees.
• Support CEO in project management of system migration and development of AI tools which drive efficiency and quality of service delivery.
• Support CEO in quality management and articulation of impact for all stakeholder groups.
• Deputise for the CEO as required.

Finance & Business Support Function Management

• Own and lead all financial strategy, planning, budgeting, forecasting, and reporting across the organisation. 
• Lead the internal finance team and external partners to deliver accurate, timely monthly and quarterly management accounts and financial insights. 
• Develop and implement HCPT’s long-term financial strategy, including reserves policy, sustainability planning, and scenario modelling. 
• Oversee cashflow management and liquidity planning in line with appropriate reserves levels, ensuring the financial resilience of the organisation. 
• Ensure robust financial controls, policies, and compliance with all statutory requirements, including VAT, Corporation Tax, and charity regulations. 
• Lead the organisation’s annual audit process and act as the primary finance liaison with auditors. 
• Drive value-for-money, cost optimisation, and financial efficiency across all operations and pilgrimage programmes. 
• Provide strategic financial insight, analysis, and challenge to the CEO and Board of Trustees, including leading financial reporting to the Board. 
• Partner with fundraising teams to support financially robust grant applications, pricing strategies, and impact reporting. 
• Oversee financial governance and reporting alignment across UK and French operations. 
• Lead and manage all business support functions, including HR, IT, and governance, ensuring effective integration with financial planning and control.

Performance Management & Growth

• Support the CEO with development and implementation of HCPT’s strategy for growth, ensuring all departments understand their roles and responsibilities, demonstrated by high performance.
• Lead on the development of HCPT-wide KPIs in the UK and French organisations and support the CEO to deliver the step change in a culture of accountability and leadership at every level.
• Devise and develop reporting frameworks and a dashboard for operational management reporting which links into the quarterly Board pack.

Governance & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with UK charity law, care & safeguarding regulations, data protection requirements, and health & safety standards.
• Maintain risk registers and lead on safeguarding and incident response protocols, working with and through the Head of Care & Safeguarding.
• Support the CEO and Board of Trustees with operational reporting and risk management as the key point of contact with our volunteer leaders relating to the business operations of the charity.
• Assume Company Secretary duties and ensure all legal and fiscal records and annual returns are prepared on time to our regulators, working in partnership with our professional services advisers, CEO, SLT and Board of Trustees.

People & Volunteer Management

• Lead and support a team of staff and volunteers, fostering a culture of compassion, professionalism, and collaboration.
• Oversee HR policies, recruitment, training, and wellbeing.
• Promote diversity, equity, and inclusion across all operations.

Systems & Infrastructure

• Ensure our systems and infrastructure are fit for purpose and can enable positive customer service approaches and develop SLAs internally and externally and which include what the organisation needs from our volunteers.
• Oversee the development and maintenance of systems for group registration, medical records, safeguarding, and volunteer management, including disposal in line with information lifecycle management and legislation governing this.
• Ensure data security, operational efficiency, and user-friendly processes for data management in line with GDPR and applicable data protection law.

Person Specification

Essential

• Significant experience in a senior operational leadership role, ideally within a UK charity or faith-based organisation.
• Strong demonstrable financial leadership and management of a medium sized charity with a turnover of £4m plus, and a recognised accountancy qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA).
• Strong experience of developing and delivering improvement methodology in change management programmes.
• Strong understanding of UK charity governance, safeguarding, and financial management.
• The ability to travel to Lourdes for two weeks each Easter to deliver the largest annual event for the charity.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• An understanding of HCPT’s spirituality, mission and values.

Desirable

• Experience working with Lourdes pilgrimages or Catholic diocesan structures.
• Familiarity with medical or care provision in a group travel context.
• Experience working in cross-cultural environments.

N.B. Please note the duties listed are not exhaustive and the charity may require different or additional duties to be undertaken depending on changing business needs.

What We Offer

• A meaningful leadership role in a mission-driven charity
• Flexible working arrangements and generous annual leave
• Up to 5% employer pension contributions, based on employee contributions
• Group life cover and healthcare benefits
• Opportunities for spiritual and professional development
• The chance to make a lasting impact on the lives of children and adults with additional needs

HCPT is committed to safeguarding children and adults at risk. The successful candidate will be required to complete an Enhanced DBS check before appointment, and references will be taken up prior to confirmation

About Us

For over 21 years, The Pickering Cancer Drop-In Centre has offered free, holistic support to anyone in our community affected by cancer through complementary therapies, talking therapies, art, and our supportive community.

In 2025 alone, we had 1,911 individual visits and 1,021 therapy sessions - entirely through the dedication of our volunteer team. We are currently renovating our new centre, and we want to use it to reach further into our community than ever before. This is the first paid role in our history.

About the Role

As our first Executive Director, you will be the single point of accountability between our Board of Trustees and the day-to-day operation of the Centre - working alongside our (voluntary) Centre Manager and (voluntary) Volunteer Manager to support their roles, not duplicate them. You'll lead our strategy delivery, guide the charity's move into its new home, and oversee a service redesign informed by a fresh programme of visitor, volunteer and community research.

About You

You already know how to do this job - you've held a senior, accountable position in a charity or comparable organisation and can bring that experience from day one. You're confident reporting to a board of trustees, comfortable getting things done, and able to win the trust of a highly experienced, long-standing volunteer team through competence and credibility, not authority alone.

Key Activity Areas

• Financial management – budgeting, financial controls, and reporting to the Board and Treasurer

• Governance & best practice – supporting trustees to discharge their statutory duties; maintaining the policy suite and risk register

• HR & people leadership – supporting our entire volunteer and therapist team; communication is key to our volunteers

• Fundraising – write and lead on a fundraising strategy, implement new funding streams and be the ‘face of Pickering’ – local networking will be essential

• Change management – leading the transition to our new centre and evolving service model with care and consultation

• Compliance – safeguarding, health and safety, GDPR, and other regulatory requirements

Qualifications - Desirable

All the below are not necessary qualifications but would assist with this role:

• CIPD qualification, or equivalent hands-on HR experience

• A recognised governance qualification (e.g. Chartered Governance Institute) or completion of a charity leadership programme or similar

• Financial management experience – a qualification would be useful but not essential

• Safeguarding lead training

Experience and Competencies — Essential

• Senior leadership experience with genuine authority and accountability in a charity or comparable mission-led organisation

• A track record of reporting to and working with a board of trustees or non-executive directors

• A track record of leading organisational change, with evidence it was genuinely adopted

• Sound financial literacy - budgets, management accounts, financial controls, dealing with auditors

• Working knowledge of safeguarding, risk management and regulatory compliance

• Excellent written and verbal communication, including board-level reporting as well as the ability to speak in public

• Experience making a leadership role pay for itself, through income generation, cost savings, or both

• A genuine, demonstrable commitment to Pickering's mission

Experience and Competencies — Desirable

• Fundraising experience across grants, trusts, community fundraising and corporate partnerships

• Experience within the cancer support, wider healthcare, or hospice sector

• Lived experience of cancer, personally or through supporting someone close to you

• Experience leading a refresh of a brand or a rebrand, service redesign, or physical relocation of services

• Familiarity with Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding local community

Safeguarding

This role involves working with adults who may be vulnerable by virtue of serious illness. The successful candidate will be required to undergo an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory reference checks before appointment, and will act as, or oversee, the charity's designated safeguarding lead.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Pickering is committed to equal opportunity for all and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation. A copy of our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policy is available on request.

How to Apply

Please apply by Sunday 6 September 2026. Interviews are expected to take place w/c 14 September 2026.