Graduate programmes administrator jobs

South East London Mind’s award-winning Mindful Mums Programme aims to build resilience and prevent pregnant and new mums from developing mental health problems during the perinatal period (pregnancy up to 1 year). This year marks the service’s 10-year anniversary, supporting over 4,000 parents across South East London.

Our peer support volunteers are at the heart of what we do, helping us to deliver weekly wellbeing groups, walking groups and one-to-one befriending for new mothers and birthing people. Their dedication makes a real difference, and we are committed to supporting them every step of the way.

We are seeking a proactive Senior Peer Support Coordinator to lead on the provision of a high-quality peer support volunteer programme for over 50 volunteers. This role is responsible for all aspects of the volunteer life cycle, from marketing and recruitment, delivery of induction training on perinatal mental health and psychoeducational tools used within Mindful Mums, through to reflective supervision, delivering our CPD programme and finding the right role for each volunteer within the service. 

You will work alongside Senior Project Coordinators and the Service Manager to ensure we deliver on our targets, supporting with programming our wellbeing groups and one-to-one befriending. You will be a skilled people manager and effective communicator, responsible for the line management of staff and ensuring the service is represented at stakeholder and partner community events. You will be a confident facilitator, as some group delivery will be expected.

Like us, you will be passionate and knowledgeable about the role of peer support within recovery-focused perinatal mental health and the NHS Competence Framework for Mental Health Peer Support Workers. You will be experienced in supporting volunteers, providing supervision and acting as a mentor in their professional development. You will be highly organised with experience of project management in a target-driven environment.  An ability to work independently but collaboratively, to be proactive and highly organised is essential for this role.

Successful applicants will be expected to undergo an Enhanced Level Disclosure and Barring Service check.

Closing date: Sunday 8th February (11:59pm)

Likely interview date: Tuesday 24th February

We encourage early applications as we reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high number of applications.

About Us

SEL Mind supports people with mental health problems and dementia in the boroughs of Bromley, Greenwich, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark. We are proud of our diverse workforce and know that our organisation is made stronger by the variety of backgrounds, experience, and ideas within it. We promote a culture of inclusion and representation, and are working hard to build a workforce that even better reflects the communities we support.

SEL Mind is somewhere that you can be your authentic self without fear of discrimination on the grounds of ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, neurodivergence, gender, age, lived experience of mental health problems or anything else that’s part of who you are.

Read more about staff benefits and why staff love working here on our website.

We’re an award-winning charity running local learning centres in the heart of the communities where the young people we support live. Our centres provide a high-impact education programme which includes practical learning support, pastoral care, and motivational and confidence-building activities for young people aged 7-18. Our aim is to enable students from the least advantaged neighbourhoods to realise their ambitions and achieve their wonderful potential.

As the UK’s leading university access organisation, our staff team is helping 56,000 young people each year at its 44 learning centres and extension projects across England and Scotland, and we plan to scale-up our provision to 50 centres over the coming years.

We are looking for a high-calibre candidate who will enjoy working each day with young people and who will thrive in a frontline, community-based, fast-paced and rewarding role. You will be taking up a permanent role as Centre Leader at our IntoUniversity centre in Middlesbrough. You will have responsibility for running your IntoUniversity centre, including managing your team, planning and delivering the programme, liaising with external stakeholders and meeting  IntoUniversity’s targets for delivery.

A substantial element of this role is delivering our education programme to children and young people aged 7-18, so you will need to have a genuine passion and enthusiasm for working with young people, including leading a class of 30 from the front, working with small teams of children and providing one-to-one support.

The role at a glance

Contract: Full-time, permanent

Application deadline - 9am Tuesday 24th February 2026

Interview day (in-person) - Thursday 5th March 2026

Start date: As soon as possible, to be agreed directly with the successful candidate

Working hours
Mon and Thurs: 09:30-18:00
Tues, Weds, Fri: 09:00-17:30

(Some additional weekend & unsocial hours will be required)

Centre Leaders are based at one of our IntoUniversity learning centres and work directly with young people, schools and families on a daily basis. It is therefore not a hybrid role and is based full-time in our centres

Location

IntoUniversity Middlesbrough

The role requires intermittent travel in your region (usually within the day). Periodic travel out of the area is also required e.g. to London, this may include occasional overnight stays. 

Salary

£36,400 per annum.

Annual leave
33 days (inc bank & public holidays) + 3 closure days (two in December and one in July) + additional length of service entitlement (one day per year of service, up to 5 days)

Staff benefits

• Employer pension contributions of 6% (and up to 8% after two years)
• Year round ‘early finish’ Fridays at 4.30pm
• Summer working hours (finish at 1pm on Fridays for six weeks in the summer), pro-rated for staff joining after January in the same year 
• Employee Assistance Programme including access to wellbeing and legal support 
• Life Assurance scheme with Aviva including SmartHealth service with access to 24/7 online GP appointments
• Interest-free new starter loans of up to £1,000
• Cycle to Work Scheme and Travelcard Loan Scheme
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, shared parental and adoption pay and sick pay allowances
• Staff in FOCUS – rewards, competitions and prizes across the year

About the Role

The primary focus of the Grants Officer is to support schools and youth organisations to operate the Jack Petchey Achievement Award Scheme effectively and to promote, grow and deliver this and other Jack Petchey Foundation (JPF) grant programmes across London and Essex. This role will be largely responsible for London Boroughs across Central and South-West London, and act as the lead for specific uniform groups who deliver their activities cross-borough. Our work continually evolves, so we ask all Grants Officers to be flexible to allow us to rework geographical areas, as needed.

The Achievement Award Scheme is the Jack Petchey Foundation’s flagship programme, with more than 2,000 schemes being operated in more than 1,400 schools, colleges and youth organisations across London and Essex. Through the programme, we invest millions of pounds each year to support young people and youth work. This is an amazing chance for you to have a big impact across a large number of organisations.

The Achievement Award Scheme enables schools, colleges and youth organisations to recognise, reward and celebrate young people’s achievements. At the Jack Petchey Foundation, we are passionate about encouraging young people to raise their aspirations, believe in themselves and make a positive contribution to society. Our Achievement Awards are designed to recognise a wide range of achievement, not just those achieving academically but are also aimed at young people who are ‘doing their best’ or demonstrating leadership skills, resilience and determination.

The post holder will manage delivery of the scheme and associated small grants in an assigned area of London. They will be responsible for maintaining and developing positive relationships with schools and youth organisations. The role will involve significant travel to visit schools and youth organisations, as well as outreach and community engagement work to identify and support new groups to apply to join our scheme. This work will also require evenings and occasional weekend work, especially to carry out assessment and review visits with youth organisations and to participate in our Achievement Award celebration events.

The successful candidate would therefore be someone who has flexibility to travel, work out-of-office hours, enjoys building relationships and public speaking, as well as navigating a busy grants and assessment caseload (desk-based processing, telephone calls/emails, and daily use of a database). You will need to be happy to travel regularly around Central and South-West London, and to our office in Canary Wharf.

The Jack Petchey Foundation is an Equal Opportunities Employer and we seek to build a team that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We particularly welcome applications from black and minority ethnic candidates as they are currently under-represented in our team.

Key Priorities of the Role:

• To promote and strengthen the Jack Petchey Achievement Award Scheme and associated programmes (Leader Award Grants, Educational Visits and Learning Experiences, Environmental Awards and Partnership Programmes) in schools and youth organisations.

• To support schools and youth organisations to administer the Jack Petchey Achievement Award Scheme to a high standard and maximise the positive impact it has on young people.

• To ensure that schools and youth organisations make maximum use of the small programmes and partnership programmes associated with the Jack Petchey Achievement Award Scheme.

• To ensure that accurate data is recorded on all Jack Petchey Foundation systems.

• To support programme growth, impact and reach by building stakeholder relationships in your assigned local area.

• To assess new applications and monitor the impact of the Achievement Award Scheme and small grants awarded.

• To work with your colleagues in the Grants Team to deliver excellent grant making, review and improve processes, and strengthen relationships with all Jack Petchey Foundation stakeholders.

About You

This is an exciting time to join us as we grow our work as a charitable Foundation. You will have an opportunity to use and develop a wide range of skills in a friendly, dynamic and supportive team that is committed to growing our positive impact on young people.

The Grants Officer role demands a wide range of skills and a high degree of autonomy, reliability and flexibility. You will need to be an efficient, highly organised team member with excellent communication skills and a passion for our work. You will need to be able to manage your own workload within agreed targets and maintain a programme of planned visits, while creating new development opportunities.

You will possess an eye for detail, good administration skills and the ability to communicate confidently and present a positive external profile for the charity. Evening and weekend work is a requirement to meet the demands of this role. This is a busy and satisfying role, with each Grants Officer leading relationships with between 350-400 organisations. You will have strong planning skills and the ability to deal efficiently with regular grant applications, and with busy grant reporting periods twice a year.

Evening and weekend work is a requirement of this role, which on occasion can require up to two to three out-of-hours events in one week, depending on the event schedule. These are seasonal events, primarily during term-time and time off in lieu will be granted for additional hours worked. We aim for our Grants Officers to be working in the office two-three days/week, depending on their visits and events schedule.

This is a perfect time to join the Foundation to support us to deliver our strategic plan – while we also streamline our processes, improve our support to our grantees, and review our grant-making criteria and guidance. This is your chance to make your mark within a motivated and ambitious team and help us to reach even more young people with our funding.

Main Areas of Responsibility

1. Develop, manage and promote the Jack Petchey Achievement Award Scheme and other JPF opportunities

1.1. Identify schools and youth organisations not currently running the scheme and proactively promote the Achievement Award (AA) scheme to them, following up as required.

1.2 Receive, assess and process all grant applications to join the AA scheme, in accordance with Jack Petchey Foundation policies and procedures.

1.3 Attend, participate and assist with delivery of Achievement Award celebration events (usually evenings with some weekend events), including making a speech to congratulate the young people.

2. Quality Assurance for the Jack Petchey Achievement Award Scheme

2.1 Develop relationships with and support schools, alternative provision, and youth organisations on the Jack Petchey Achievement Award (AA) scheme to operate the scheme to the highest possible standard.

2.2 Provide timely support to such organisations to enable them to run the AA scheme effectively.

2.3 Implement a strategic approach to conducting face-to-face and digital assessment and monitoring visits to schools and youth organisations in your area on the Jack Petchey Achievement Award scheme, to ensure our funding is well spent and to identify opportunities to improve delivery.

2.4 Organise and deliver digital and in-person training and/or sessions to support schools and youth organisations to operate the Jack Petchey Achievement Award scheme effectively.

3. Administer the Jack Petchey Foundation grant making process

3.1 Ensure accurate records are kept on the Foundation’s database (Salesforce), including up-to-date contact details and records of communication with groups in receipt of or applying for grants.

3.2 Approve/authorise payment of AA grants and related programmes in accordance with our policies.

3.3 Ensure appropriate grant reporting by schools and youth organisations and negotiate return of funds where a grant has not been used in accordance with conditions.

3.4 Proactively manage risk, being alert to potential fraud.

3.5 Ensure that clubs and groups receive all necessary materials to operate the Achievement Award scheme effectively.

3.6 Assess and approve Leader Awards and Environmental Awards in accordance with our policy.

3.7 Assess applications for Leader Award Grants, Educational Visits and Learning Experiences Grants and Environmental Award Grants in accordance with our policy, with recommendations put forward to senior staff.

3.8 Provide regular updates on your work and Grants Officer patch during monthly one-to-ones. 

4. Promote the wider work of the Jack Petchey Foundation to schools and youth groups

4.1 Identify case studies and other stories and material that can be used for our communications, supporting communications team colleagues to raise awareness of our opportunities and impact.

4.2 Represent the Foundation at digital and physical events, local networks, funders’ fairs, and community or young people’s forums to help promote our Grant Programmes and other opportunities.

4.3 Assist with digital and face-to-face monitoring and reporting in relation to groups that have received a Jack Petchey Foundation Project Grant or other funding.

5. Other Responsibilities

5.1 Actively contribute to Grants team and Jack Petchey Foundation team meetings

5.2 Take a lead on specific projects and undertake other tasks as agreed with Director of Grants and Partnerships or Grants Manager

5.3 Contribute to the assessment of other small grant programmes as requested by the Director of Grants and Partnerships

5.4 Work with Director of Grants and Partnerships to present deep dives to Board on agreed small grant programmes, as requested

5.5 Provide telephone/email support and advice about our funding streams to existing grantees or potential applicants as part of the Grants Officer Duty Rota once/week

Please note these are the normal duties which the charity requires from the position. However, it is necessary for all staff to be flexible and all employees will be required from time to time to perform other duties as may be required by JPF.

Work at all times within the policies, procedures and values of the Jack Petchey Foundation, in particular safeguarding, health and safety, and data protection and consent policies.

Please complete the application form and return it to Nadia Jones by 9am on Monday 23rd February 2026.

Please also complete the diversity monitoring form that can be found in the pack.

Stage 1: First stage online interviews (20-30 minutes) will be held on Thursday 26th February and Friday 27th February 2026.

Stage 2: Candidates who progress to the next stage will be invited to attend an in-person interview on Monday 2nd March 2026. These will be held in person at the Jack Petchey Foundation (Dockmaster’s House, 1 Hertsmere Road, London, E14 8JJ).

Please note that these dates are fixed, and we encourage applicants to ensure availability if shortlisted.

This is a vacant post and we would be looking to start the successful candidate as soon as possible.

Do you want to be part of the team leading a busy Community Centre in the heart of Shoreditch that has a 135-year history of combating the challenges arising from deprivation and social exclusion in East London?

Who we are

St. Hilda’s East (SHE) is a local charity which aims to combat the challenges arising from deprivation and social exclusion through the delivery of a wide range of engaging activities which promote wellbeing and social connections. Located in Tower Hamlets, our services include pre-school sensory play, youth programmes, social activities and support for older people, advice, a food co-operative, wellbeing activities for people experiencing mental health issues, and volunteering placements.

Founded in 1889 by alumnae of Cheltenham Ladies’ College, we now work from two sites – our large, friendly community centre located in Shoreditch and an Elders Day Centre for the Bangladeshi and other communities in Shadwell. At our Shoreditch community centre, we deliver a wide range of services, activities and events and provide office and meeting space for other organisations. We also manage 2 neighbouring buildings which are tenanted.

Job Purpose:

Working from St. Hilda’s East Community Centre in Shoreditch, the Facilities Assistant will support the Head of Operations, in the day-to-day running and improvement of SHE’s buildings and spaces – ensuring they are tidy, safe, clean, fit for purpose and welcoming. This will involve improving and implementing best practice procedures primarily regarding facilities and all elements of health and safety across both our sites - ensuring that we comply with regulatory standards.

This job is for you if:

• you’re friendly, people focused and motivated by working in a community setting.
• are highly organised, practical and adaptable with great written and verbal communication skills and strong attention to detail.
• you have hands-on experience looking after buildings or facilities and feel confident managing health & safety, compliance, record keeping and contractors to keep spaces safe, tidy and well run. have a flexible, creative approach to work with the willingness to learn, handle multiple expectations and work within a diverse team.

Benefits 

You will have access to an Employee Assistance Program, Training & Development support, flexible working arrangements and 25 annual leave days prorated plus bank holidays.

Closing date for applications: 22nd February 2026 at 23:59 

Our Recruitment Policy: St Hilda's is committed to racial justice and wider inclusion anddiversity. We are working towards a goal where our team fully reflects the diversity anddifference in lived experiences of our local community.

About Working Well Trust

Working Well Trust is a mental health and employment charity in London. All of our projects share the aim of improving the lives of people with mental health support needs, learning disabilities and/or complex issues through training and employment.

We are recruiting a Community Outreach & Partnerships Officer to support the delivery of the Connect to Work programme across Kingston and Sutton. This is a full-time role (35 hours per week), working Monday to Friday, with core hours of 9.00am–4.30pm. Hybrid working is available, with a minimum of three days on site per week. Evening work may be required on occasion.

You will report to the Connect to Work Operations Manager and work closely with internal teams and local stakeholders to ensure the service is well integrated and reaches residents who will benefit most.

What you’ll be doing

If you were working with us, your days would be varied, outward-facing and rooted in partnership working. You would play a key role in building and maintaining strong relationships across Kingston and Sutton, working with local organisations to ensure eligible residents are identified, engaged and referred into the Connect to Work programme.

You would proactively engage with a wide range of partners, including Local Authority teams, Jobcentre Plus, health services, VCSE organisations and community groups. This would involve attending forums and partnership meetings, delivering tailored information sessions and presentations, and promoting the Connect to Work service so that referral pathways are clear, effective and aligned with contractual targets.

A central part of the role is ensuring Connect to Work is well integrated with existing local provision. You would work alongside partner teams, including co-locating where appropriate, to support warm handovers into the service and improve participant journeys. You would also identify gaps in local provision and work with internal colleagues to develop solutions that improve access and outcomes for residents.

You would manage and develop strong working relationships with key stakeholders, supported by the Operations Manager and Senior Integration and Partnership Manager. This includes maintaining regular 

communication with partners, contributing to partnership action plans, and providing updates on progress, impact and service developments. You would work collaboratively with internal teams to maximise opportunities for skills development, vacancies and sustainable employment outcomes.

Alongside outreach activity, you would ensure all work is delivered in line with contract requirements, safeguarding protocols and data protection standards. You would maintain accurate records of partnership engagement and referrals, provide timely updates and reports to support service monitoring, and contribute to internal meetings, service reviews and audits. The role also includes attending supervision, appraisal, training and development activities, and acting as a positive ambassador for the organisation by embedding its values in all interactions.

Above all, this role suits someone who enjoys working with people, building trusted partnerships, and helping communities connect with opportunities that support long-term employment and wellbeing.

What you’ll need

We are looking for someone who brings the following skills and experience:

• Experience of outreach, partnership working or community engagement within employment, health, social care or VCSE settings

• A strong understanding of the importance of integration and partnership working within employability programmes

• The ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders

• Confident verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present information clearly and persuasively

• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment

• Experience of working towards targets or outcomes while maintaining a people-centred approach

• Good digital skills, including Microsoft Office and the use of databases or CRM systems

• An understanding of confidentiality, safeguarding and data protection (GDPR) requirements

• A clear commitment to equality, inclusion and supporting people who face barriers to employment

The following experience and knowledge would be beneficial, but is not essential:

• Knowledge of Kingston’s local labour market, services and community networks

• Experience of working on government-funded employability programmes

• Experience of engaging people with mental health and/or physical health needs

• Experience of monitoring, recording or reporting on outreach and referral activity

What we offer 

• £35,000 per year 

• 30 days annual leave plus public holidays (FTE) 

• Paid company closed days at the end of the year (FTE) 

• Flexible, paid Wellbeing Hour every fortnight (FTE) 

• 6% employer pension contribution 

• Working Well Trust is an equal opportunities employer and Confident about Disabilities. 

What's next

• We actively recruit and carefully review all applications. Due to rapid service expansion, we have onboarded 20 external hires in the last six months. 

• Career development is real here: in the past year, 10 colleagues have progressed internally into Senior roles, Project Lead, Team Lead, and Operations Manager positions. We value ambition and celebrate progression. 

• To ensure we can best support the people and communities we serve, we progress applications only where candidates provide meaningful answers to the screening questions.

If you are ready to help us build a service that supports people into meaningful work, click Apply to submit your CV and answer the screening questions. Telephone and final interviews will be confirmed. 

Start your application today and take the next step in a rewarding career. 

Would you like to join an organisation that is striving for systemic change? We believe it is not enough to reform structures and systems which are foundationally discriminatory. We are calling for a complete overhaul, and for people with lived experience to lead that change.

We are recruiting a Communities & Programmes Officer (London) to help hold and grow our community organising and capacity-building work. As part of our dedicated team, you will have the chance to make a real impact, working closely with our Community & Capacity Building Manager and wider community of organisers, advisors, partners, and community organisations. 

You will be supporting a growing number of capacity-building spaces, community partnerships, and political education work, while also having opportunities for leadership development and to shape parts of the work around your own strengths and lived experience.

If you're motivated by social justice and have skills in administration, event or community organising, building relationships, and communicating across diverse audiences, we want to hear from you.

We are particularly encouraging applications from people with lived experience of migration, and welcome applications from racialised, disabled, working class and LGBTQ+ backgrounds.

As a lived experience and values-led organisation, and diverse team, we are looking for candidates with a:

• Commitment to upholding the rights of ALL migrants

• Real vision as to how this can be done in the current political, social and economic climate 

• A commitment to MRN's vision and values

The salary will be £28,860 per year. In addition, MRN contributes up to 6% of salary to pensions.

Closing date for applications: 23.59pm 16 February 2026.

Date for interviews: week commencing 2 March 2026.

This role will work as part of the Operations team to ensure that all Ogden Trust programmes are delivered to a high standard. The post holder will work with the Subject Knowledge for Physics Teaching (SKPT) team in particular to administer the SKPT programme in line with agreed systems and processes.

The Ogden Trust is a family charitable trust which supports the teaching and learning of physics. The Trust delivers professional development programmes for teachers of physics across England, supports schools and multi-academy trusts to improve their physics provision and works with universities to support highquality physics enrichment.

The role is responsible for managing programme applications and participation, as well as organising logistics of events and supporting the administrative processes of the programme. We are seeking someone with strong communication and problem solving skills, and basic skills in programme management.

This is an exciting chance to gain a full year of hands-on experience working with a place-based funder. You will be learning how funding decisions are made and how grants are administered to create real impact in local communities. You’ll not only develop practical skills in project delivery and grant management, but also build a strong understanding of the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector.

In addition to supporting grant administration, you will lead your own project from start to finish. This will involve conducting research, engaging with local organisations and sector leaders, and producing a clear, actionable plan that addresses a real need in the sector and how the Foundation can look to ease that need. You’ll have the autonomy to shape your project while receiving guidance and support from the Chief Executive and Grants and Programmes manager, giving you the perfect balance of independence and mentorship.

As part of this role, you will join the Rank Foundation’s Time to Shine Leadership Programme, a nationally recognised initiative designed to nurture future leaders in the charity sector. You’ll be part of a cohort of 55 emerging leaders across the UK, benefiting from tailored training, mentoring, and peer support. This programme will help you develop your leadership potential, grow your confidence, and prepare you for future roles within the VCSE sector.

If you are currently unemployed or under-employed, this opportunity offers a supportive and structured pathway to gain valuable experience, expand your professional network, and make a meaningful difference in communities

We all work flexibly between home, at our Redcar office or in the community. So you will need to be self-sufficient and able to manage your own workload. We encourage applications from people near the start of their career who want to develop with a new organisation, people who are currently underemployed looking for a change of career, or those returning or joining the workforce and are looking for a new challenge. We look for employees who have the ability to engage with a wide range of people, a supportive manner and a genuine passion for the work we do. This is a great opportunity for someone who is as excited as we are about making positive change across our area of benefit.

Please read the Time to Shine Programme guide on our website aswell as the Job Description before starting your application and ensure you meet the criteria listed.

The closing date for applications is 10am on Monday 2nd February 2026

Interviews will be held at our Redcar office in the Palace Hub TS10 3AE on 16 February.

About us

Waterloo Uncovered is the ground-breaking charity that combines world-class archaeology with veteran wellbeing and recovery.  Through a range of innovative programmes, from excavation on the battlefield of Waterloo to discovery of the objects uncovered in our extensive Finds collection, we support meaningful engagement in heritage.

The role

This is a fantastic opportunity for a proactive indivudal who enjoys working collaboratively as part of a small, dynamic and passionate team, alongside an extensive network of volunteers.  Working across all aspects of our administration, in support of our operational delivery, communications, fundraising and outreach. 

Key responsibilities:

• Programme administration, engaging directly in support of beneficiaries for onboarding, logistics and follow up, answering enquiries and general tasks.

• Customer service, responding to email and telephone enquiries and correspondence.

• CRM and data management, including managing donors, volunteers and a wide range of contacts and suppliers information.

• Virtual office support, arranging meetings and team events, providing secretariat to Trustee Board, office contracts, suppliers and administration.

• Completing research as requested, compiling and summarising information for drafting applications for grants and trusts, managing fundraising pipeline and tracking, reporting schedules and reports.

• Administration of social media accounts, support to drafts of newsletter and impact reports, and other communication initiatives.

• Event administration, including bookings, logistics and support to outreach.

Start date: Immediate

Location: We work remotely with 1-2 days in London per month at your own cost

Salary: £24-25,000

Hours of work: 37.5 hrs per week

How to apply: CV with covering letter outlining your motivations for the role and how you meet the person specification

Closing date: 17.00 on Thursday 5 February

Interviews: Friday 13th February 2026 (tbc)

No agencies please

Job title: Programme Assistant, Enquiries 

Line manager: Team Leader, Enquiries (Senior Officer, Enquiries in Team Leader’s absence) 

Salary: £30,000 

Type of contract: Permanent 

Start date: 16th February 2026 or shortly thereafter 

Benefits: 

• Challenging and rewarding work, always life-changing, sometimes lifesaving 

• Competitive salary 

• Team and individual training opportunities 

• Commitment to performance and personal development 

• Hybrid working, home and office (minimum 2 days each week in the office) 

• Eight hours each day Monday – Friday, with flexible working by arrangement around core hours of 10am – 4pm 

• 25 days plus Bank Holidays annual leave entitlement 

• 8% employer pension contribution 

• Convenient office location at Elephant and Castle, close to Tube (Bakerloo and Northern lines) and bus routes 

Role purpose statement: The Programme Assistant, Enquiries plays a vital role in the Fellowship Programme working directly with academics facing immediate risk in their home countries to carry out due diligence or signposting. This includes managing an individual caseload, dealing with prospective applications and general enquiries, providing administrative support to the Enquiries team as well as support across the Fellowship Programme when needed. 

Organisational Background 

The Council for At-Risk Academics is a UK-registered charity founded in 1933 under the leadership of William Beveridge, to rescue academics suffering persecution under the rise of Nazism and facilitate their continued work in safety. Sixteen Cara Fellows from the 1930s and 1940s became Nobel Laureates, and many more innovators in their fields, including, Nikolaus Pevsner, Lise Meitner and Karl Popper. A number of Cara’s founders and Council members also personally provided places and/or funds to help individual academics; and Cara, known in the 1930s as the AAC, later the SPSL, was closely involved in the successful effort in 1933 to bring to London the Warburg Institute art library, which had been prohibited by the Nazis, and six of its staff. The Fellowship Programme is the continuation of the rescue mission operation started in 1933. 

Cara has been a lifeline to academics at risk for over 90 years, as and when world events have placed them in the line of fire: Hungarian Uprising, Cold War, Apartheid South Africa, Iran, Latin American Juntas, Vietnam, Kosovo, DRC, Rwanda, Sudan, Zimbabwe etc. and, more recently Iraq, Turkey, Yemen, Palestine, Syria, Afghanistan and Ukraine. Cara support is typically framed as temporary sanctuary offered at times of heightened risk. 

Cara Objectives ‘To assist academics who have been, or are, or are at risk of being, subject to discrimination, persecution, suffering or violence on account of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion, to relieve needs among them and their dependants and ensure that their specialist knowledge and abilities can continue to be used for the benefit of the public.’ 

‘To advance education by supporting academics and their educational institutions in countries where their continuing work is at risk or compromised, to ensure that such academics and institutions can continue to fulfil their critical role as educators for the public benefit.’ 

This is a critical time to join our dedicated and friendly Fellowship Programme team as we expand our capacity to support at-risk academics from the Middle East, Sudan, Myanmar, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Russia and many other countries. 

Role & Responsibilities  

Casework  

• Signposting prospective applicants to the application form. 

• Manage own caseload, preparing cases for eligibility review, including arranging calls to speak with applicants, booking English language tests, and gathering all relevant documentation.

• Escalating complex cases to the Team Leader as required. 

• Maintain accurate and GDPR-Compliant records of casework activity. 

• Researching international affairs to develop understanding about risks applicants face. 

• Researching potential hosts for academic placements and liaising with external stakeholders in relation to applicants. 

• Attend weekly case review meetings with the team. 

Administration   

• Provide general administrative and logistical support, including answering phone enquiries. 

• Manage the general enquiries inbox, alongside another colleague, answering emails about the enquiries’ process, the Fellowship Programme and Cara. 

• Signpost enquiries to relevant colleagues internally and to other organisations where applicable. 

• Contribute to report writing. 

• Present and collect data on general enquiries and applications to the Programme. 

• Ensure safekeeping of confidential information. 

• Maintain excellent detailed records of correspondence, documents, and activities. 

• Provide administrative support to colleagues on projects as required.

Managerial Support  

• Contributing to Fellowship Programme policy changes and decision-making. 

• Provide advice and guidance to colleagues. 

Ad Hoc Responsibilities  

• Show adaptability and willingness to take on additional work when necessary. 

• Support the Fellowship Programme and Cara as a whole with ad hoc responsibilities.

Responsibilities also include related activities that might arise in relation to the Fellowship Programme as required by the Chief Executive and Deputy Chief Executive & Fellowship Programme Manager, and other senior colleagues. 

Person Specification 

Essential:  

• Bachelor’s degree 

• Fluent English (spoken and written) 

• Proactive with a willingness to learn 

• Confident and empathetic with strong interpersonal and communication skills 

• Ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment 

• Keen team player who is ready to support and help colleagues 

• Excellent record keeping and attention to detail 

• Ability to work independently and in a team 

• Good time management with ability to prioritise and independently work to deadlines 

• Understanding of issues of confidentiality

• Interest in and commitment to the work of Cara 

• Confident use of Microsoft package 

• Awareness of current global issues

• Ability to handle difficult conversations with sensitivity and resilience 

Desirable 

• Master’s or equivalent experience 

• Casework experience 

• Arabic language skills are desirable. Other foreign languages (such as Farsi/Dari, Pashto, Ukrainian and Russian) will also be considered 

• Salesforce/CRM software experience 

• Experience in a supporting role with people with lived experience of forced migration or other forms of severe adversity 

About the role

Listening Books is a national charity that provides an excellent audiobook lending service to anyone in the UK whose illness, disability, learning or mental health difficulty, impacts on their ability to read the printed word, or hold books. Our audiobook catalogue contains over 10,000 titles. We believe that books should be accessible to everyone.

The Membership and Recruitment Administrator will help increase referrals to our service, by building and developing relationships with local partner charities and other relevant organisations. They will allocate funding to eligible new and renewing sponsored members, helping to meet our funding requirements and expand the charity’s membership base.

They will undertake the retention of its sponsored and paying members, by contacting renewing individual and organisational members, with the intention of retaining as many as possible and encouraging their use of the audiobook service.

They will also provide administrative support to the charity, including answering the main telephone line and opening and processing post.

​The Person we are looking for

​We have a fantastic opportunity for the right candidate to join our small team to help grow Listening Books' reach. The ideal candidate will have excellent organisational and research skills and attention to detail, a friendly, can-do attitude, with a willingness to learn and be comfortable speaking to members and partners on the phone or online.

If you would like to expand your experience in the charity sector and have a passion for books and accessibility, then we would love to hear from you.

In return, we can offer you 20 days holiday (rising with service), plus bank holidays, as well as a generous pension scheme. 

Location

This is a hybrid role. Most tasks can be completed remotely, but you will be required to visit the office (Oval, London) for specific tasks, and we have a preference for this to be one day per week. Travel to attend events within the UK will also be required on occasion. 

How to Apply

If you would like to be considered for this position, please apply with your CV and a cover letter, ensuring that it addresses the person specification in the job description, which can be found when you click on 'Apply Now'.  Applicants who do not submit a covering letter will not be considered.

Deadline for applications: Wednesday 4th February at 6pm.  Please note that only candidates shortlisted for interview will be notified. Depending on volume of applications received, we reserve the right to close the vacancy earlier than this date, so please apply early if you are interested.

Interviews will be scheduled for 10th February, and will be held virtually on Teams or Zoom.

All appointments are subject to two satisfactory references, including a previous employer, evidence of the right to work in the UK and a basic DBS check.

Privacy notice: Details of unsuccessful applications will be held on record under the lawful basis of Listening Books’ legitimate business interests for a period of 6 months before being securely destroyed.

The Opportunity:   

The Aspiring Professionals Programme Coordinator (APPC) role will be well-suited to someone who is focused on the best ways they can help the aims of the charity as well as those of our participants and partners. An APPC is responsible for supporting the delivery and development of the Social Mobility Foundation’s programme of activities for young people through their S5-6/sixth form and university years.   
The SMF offers in-person and online support and opportunities, so this role will involve providing virtual and in-person support to students and working with employers across the UK.

Key Responsibility Areas:
1. Project Delivery 

• Deliver key projects including recruiting and onboarding students, creating digital resources and student events  
• Support with programme pilots, scoping (and delivering on) new activity   
• Collaborate and build relationships with our employer partners, schools, and universities to support our young people in their applications for university, internships and graduate roles  

 2. Monitoring and Evaluation  

• Maintain accurate records across relevant databases, updating data accurately and in a timely manner  
• Contribute to evaluation for key work areas (residentials, events, internships etc), produce high quality evaluation reports where required.

3. Stakeholder Management

• Communicate to internal and external stakeholders in a timely and professional manner
• Proactively update external partners (i.e. employers) on your work areas, flagging risks in a timely manner with relationship managers
• Manage internal student queries and maintain consistent stakeholder (e.g. students) processes through regular communication

4. Activity Delivery  

• Coordinate planning and delivery of skills sessions, partner events, university visits, and other activities, both virtually and in person across the Social Mobility Foundation’s target cities across the UK  
• Create digital resources to support all provisions

Please see full job description attached for more details. 

Person Specification:

We need someone who will demonstrate our organisational skills-based competencies - as listed below: 

1.  Leadership
2.  Communication
3.  Adaptability
4.  Professionalism 
5.  Decision-making

Technical knowledge, understanding and experience required:

• Basic Microsoft Office, particularly Microsoft Excel  
• A basic understanding of the barriers young people face in accessing university and particular careers  

Ways of working:

• Most of our work is office based, but you will spend a lot of time collaborating with other teams and clients via email, telephone and other communications channels such as Teams or Zoom.  
• This role requires you to attend staff residentials for students on our Programme. This means that during the summer period (Jul – Aug) you will be expected to stay overnight on-site (in the UK - exact location to be confirmed closer to the time) for a period of up to two-weeks, help run the residential and be responsible for the welfare of the young people involved.

Travel:

• Some travel, to other offices and other locations, will occasionally be expected. 

Benefits:

• 36/37 days' annual leave (England & Wales and Scotland respectively - includes bank and public holidays), with 3 of these days reserved for the annual end of year office closure
• Cycle to Work Scheme
•  5% Salary sacrifice pension scheme with enhanced matching employer contributions
• Employee Assistance Programme available to staff and their family
• Flexible work options such as hybrid working, flexitime, part-time
• Regular staff team building and business planning “away days”

Contract Type: Full-time / 18 Month Fixed-Term Contract
Salary Band:£29,900, plus £2,200 London weighting if applicable

Location: Birmingham, Glasgow, London, Liverpool, Manchester or Newcastle 

Hours: 5 days per week; 9AM-5.30PM (flexible working hours available). 

Start date: 9th March 2026 or ASAP, as agreed with candidate 

The Opportunity   

The postholder will be responsible for supporting with the oversight of our Aspiring Professionals Programme and Programme Delivery team, with approximately 70% of the activity provision sitting within our Volunteering and Mentoring provision.

The SMF offers in-person and online support and opportunities, so this role will involve providing virtual and in-person support to students and working with employers across the UK.

1. Line Management  

• Set and monitor goals for performance and development with direct reports  
• Coach staff, providing timely feedback and guidance 
• Evaluate performance on an ongoing basis, providing training and development opportunities where required  

 2. Project and Delivery Management  

• Project manage key delivery projects including the recruitment and retention of volunteers and mentors, event provision, student services and other programme work areas 
• Allocate staff to work areas across the Aspiring Professionals Programme, ensuring priority areas are being considered and work is allocated effectively  

3. Monitoring and Evaluation  

• Monitor progress on ongoing key delivery areas, taking corrective action where necessary and supporting the team to adapt where necessary  
• Oversee Salesforce data and other relevant platforms ensuring accuracy and timely updates  

4. Stakeholder Management  

• Steward relationships with critical stakeholders  
• Support staff to communicate efficiently with stakeholders  
• Identify opportunities for efficiency within process and work with the team to implement change  

Please see full job description attached for more details. 

Benefits

• 36/37 days (England & Wales and Scotland respectively - includes bank holidays) calculated on a pro rata basis with 3 of these days reserved for the annual end of year office closure.
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• 5% Salary sacrifice pension scheme with enhanced matching employer contributions
• Employee Assistance Programme available to staff and their family
• Flexible work options such as hybrid working, flexitime, part-time
• Regular staff team building and business planning “away days”

How to Apply

If you are interested in applying for this role, please head over to our website and answer the following questions:

1) Please outline why are interested in the role (500 words max).

2) What do you think motivates volunteers to support social mobility programmes? (250 words max)

3) How do you think volunteers could play a meaningful role in helping students overcome barriers to accessing university, degree apprenticeships, and high‑quality careers? (250 words max)

Please ensure that you send a covering letter explaining why you are suitable for this role when submitting your CV.

Please note, that we reserve the right to interview and appoint before the advertised closing date.

Overview

Race Against Dementia is a global charity founded by three-time Formula 1 World Champion Sir Jackie Stewart OBE to find preventions, treatments and cures for dementia – faster.

We fund and support pioneering early-career scientists around the world, giving them the tools, mentoring and Formula 1-inspired mindset to accelerate breakthroughs. From the UK to the USA, Australia to South Africa, our researchers are rethinking how dementia research is done – applying data science, AI and engineering to neuroscience in bold, collaborative ways.

This role sits within Race Against Dementia’s small, dynamic Operations team, who oversee the charity’s research programmes and internal processes. The team is responsible for managing Race Against Dementia’s research portfolio – from coordinating funding calls and supporting the selection of the projects we fund, to delivering the training and development programme for our researchers.

Purpose of the role

The Research Officer plays a central role in delivering Race Against Dementia’s research activity, helping to strengthen our research programmes and support the researchers we fund. The role combines strong organisational skills with clear science communication: coordinating processes, systems and partnerships to ensure smooth delivery, while translating research progress into accessible updates for internal and external audiences.

Duties and Responsibilities

Research administration:

• Manage the administration of all grant calls and related processes.
• Coordinate all incoming communications regarding research matters, ensuring timely, professional responses.
• Maintain team calendars and shared resources to support smooth team operations.
• Set up review sessions with Race Against Dementia Fellows to monitor progress.
• Support preparation of updates and progress reports for charity Trustees, funders and supporters.
• Work with the Research Manager to coordinate training activities for Race Against Dementia researchers.
• Support the planning and delivery of the annual in-person training event for Race Against Dementia researchers.
• Work closely with Race Against Dementia’s research partners and training partners to coordinate joint activities, communication, and ensure smooth delivery of collaborative projects and training activities.
• Undertake research to identify new organisations aligned with our mission.

Science communications

• Track key developments in dementia research and emerging trends in the field.
• Support the creation of research related social media content for the charity’s social media channels.
• Support the development of press materials to announce research updates and milestones.
• Contribute to copywriting and content development for the Race Against Dementia’s website.
• Work with the Research Manager to ensure the wider team is kept up to date with research developments across our network and the wider field.
• Help build and maintain a network of key dementia research stakeholders across academia and charities. 

Other duties

Carry out any other duties as required by the Research Manager, CEO and Board of Trustees including:

• To attend, where appropriate, local, regional and national meetings/events.
• To maintain a good knowledge of national and local initiatives which are of benefit to Race Against Dementia.
• To administer your own workload, including meeting targets and deadlines in line with the Race Against Dementia appraisal system.
• To attend relevant CPD training events as required.
• To undertake responsibility, as part of the team, for all Health and Safety work related matters.
• To work within the guidelines of Race Against Dementia’s policies and procedures.

All team members are expected to uphold and actively demonstrate Race Against Dementia’s values and purpose, fostering a culture of integrity, innovation, and shared ambition to accelerate progress in the race against dementia.