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Cerebra is the national charity dedicated to improving the lives of children with neurological conditions and their families. We provide vital research, support, and practical solutions that empower families facing complex challenges.
With an annual income of £3 million and a headcount of 68 employees, we have ambitious plans to double our income between 2025 and 2027, ensuring we can extend our impact, reach more families, and drive real change. To achieve this, we are investing in fundraising innovation, income generating ventures, and strategic partnerships, alongside enhancing our brand to increase our national recognition.
Our work is underpinned by our values ensuring that everything we do aligns with our mission to create a better world for children with neurological conditions.
This is an incredibly exciting time to join Cerebra, as we are preparing to launch our new strategy and brand. The COO is a vital leadership role that will support the drive towards even greater impact for children and families across the UK.
Our Services
Sleep Advice Service
Cerebra understands that if you have a child that doesn’t sleep, the whole family suffers. Many children with neurological conditions suffer from disrupted sleep. Our sleep advice service provides bespoke advice and support so that everyone can get a good night’s sleep.
Legal Rights Service
Our Legal Rights Service provides help and support to families of children with neurological conditions when they are faced with barriers and difficulties in accessing statutory support services they are entitled to. The service provides information on their legal entitlements.
Book and Toy Library Service
Our specialist postal lending library contains a wide range of books for both adults and children, plus a selection of sensory toys specifically chosen for children with a neurological condition.
Innovation and Product Design Service
Our Innovation Service designs and builds bespoke products that cater to the specific needs of children with neurological conditions. The aim of the service is to make products that are desirable and exciting, therefore promoting social inclusion, peer acceptance and enabling children to participate in everyday activities that are so often close to them.
Information Products
Cerebra publishes different information products to help families with a child with a neurological condition. Our information products offer comprehensive, up-to-date support and research-driven strategies to assist families with a wide range of issues.
Buzgi and Toy Adaptation Service
Cerebra designs and builds bespoke assistive equipment for disabled children, this includes creating custom mobility aids, switch‑adapted toys, and other innovative solutions to help children access play, learning, and independence.
The Bugzi - a mini powered wheelchair for children offers many children their first experience of independent mobility. It uses either a joystick or switches and adaptable seating for complex needs, and helps develop spatial awareness, confidence, and early mobility skills. The Bugzi is available through a national loan scheme.
Additionally, we operate commercial services (including a web shop) to supplement our income to support children and their families.
Our services are provided to families free of charge.
Job Title:
Chief Operating Officer
Reports To:
Chief Executive Officer
Direct reports:
3 senior managers (Finance (headcount of 3), HR (headcount of 1), IT (headcount of 5))
Purpose of the Role:
The Chief Operating Officer will play a vital role in supporting the Chief Executive Officer, Board and Leadership Team to deliver Cerebra’s vision and ambitious strategic aims. The Chief Operating Officer will provide strategic leadership and operational management across key areas within Cerebra including:
This is a pivotal executive leadership role, responsible for driving organisational performance, sustainability and growth. The COO will translate Cerebra’s strategic ambitions into effective operational delivery, ensuring robust governance, financial stewardship and a high-performing, values-led culture.
As a trusted advisor to the CEO and Board, the COO will lead core operational services and commercial activity, enabling the charity to maximise impact and generate sustainable income in support of its charitable objectives.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic & Executive Leadership
Chief Executive Officer
Chief Operating Officer
Director of Fundraising, Marketing and Communications
Director of Research and Support Services
Finance, Commercial & Sustainability
Operations & Infrastructure
People & Culture
Digital & Technology
Governance, Risk & Compliance
Leadership & Management
Key Attributes
Please see attached job description for the Person Specification.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Submit your application as normal and our system will anonymise it for you. Your personal information will be hidden until the recruiter contacts you.
We are looking for someone who is a qualified or part-qualified accountant (including qualified by experience) to take responsibiity for the full day-to-day running of the finance function, ensuring accurate financial records, strong controls and timely reporting.
You will have experience in a hands-on finance role and in producing management accounts and charity statutory returns. You'll have a strong accounting knowledge and good excel and accounting systems capability. Ideally, you'll have experience in small organisations in the charity or social impact sector and of business partnering.
Very importantly, you'll be collaborative and team oriented, able to manage competing priorities effectively and be adaptable and comfortable working in a fast paced and entrepreneurial environment.
You'll work closely with our part-time Finance Director to:
Key responsibilities:
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Submit your application as normal and our system will anonymise it for you. Your personal information will be hidden until the recruiter contacts you.
Lead a national charity at a pivotal moment of change and make a life‑changing impact for individuals and families affected by rare craniofacial conditions.
Headlines Craniofacial Support is a UK-based charity providing information, advice and support to individuals and families affected by craniosynostosis and other rare craniofacial conditions. The charity works closely with professional partners, including the 5 NHS Designated Specialist Craniofacial Units across the UK.
Craniosynostosis is a condition where two or more of the plates in the skull fuse prematurely, requiring medical support from a young age. Around 350 children are born with craniosynostosis each year in the UK.
Established by group of parents in 1993, Headlines now has over 2,500 members. Within our charity offer we send out regular newsletters and an annual magazine, Headline News. We also support families to connect through events such as an annual Family Weekend, conferences and Days Out, and provide information through our helpline and access to psychological support. We have private social media groups and specific groups within our membership who meet regularly including Cranio Dads, Young Persons Network and a Teens Group.
After 8 successful years, our current Director will be retiring in 2026 and we are now seeking an enthusiastic, inspirational and proactive individual to take up the reins.This is a rare opportunity to lead a well-established, respected national charity at an important moment of transition.
Strategic priorities for us, moving forward, include increasing our fundraising activities to ensure sustainability of the charity alongside the smooth running of our core activities in providing support, facilitating research and raising awareness.
Key responsibilities
The Executive Director will hold day-to-day responsibilities, working closely with the Chair and Trustee Board to provide effective leadership and operational management of the charity. Specifically, they will:
Person specification
Essential criteria
Desirable criteria
Other information
Headlines hosts events and fundraising activities throughout the whole of the UK. All Headlines staff are expected to work flexibly to support those activities as required, e.g. attendance at Annual Family Weekend, conferences, member events, supporter receptions and other related scientific meetings and conferences. This may occasionally require travel and overnight stays. In addition, all staff are expected to be self-servicing in terms of administration and basic digital skills. Please note that the list of duties is not exhaustive and additional responsibilities might occasionally arise and the workload can vary across the year
Applicants need to submit the following:
• CV outlining your employment history and any relevant academic, professional or other
qualifications.
• Name and addresses of two referees, with at least one coming from your most recent employer.
• A supporting document demonstrating how you meet the essential and/or desirable criteria set out in the person
specification, and why you are interested in working for Headlines.
Shortlist interviews will take place online via videocall, with successful candidates progressing to an in-person interview in London, on a date to be confirmed.
Closing date for applications: Saturday 20th June at midnight
Headlines is the leading UK charity supporting people with craniosynostosis and other rare craniofacial conditions.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Involve Northwest is an innovative, community-based organisation with an approach that is grounded in our core belief that the services we offer are free, confidential, and are motivated for public benefit, and not profit.
Job Title: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Location: The Community Village, Rock Ferry, and the Wirral community.
Working Pattern: 35 Hours per week (to be discussed)
Salary: £70,000 - £75,000 per annum (FTE) Depending on experience
Reporting To: Board of Directors
Responsible For: Operations & HR Director, Finance Manager and supporting Consultants.
This role is subject to a DBS check and subscription to the update service in line with the internal Safer Recruitment Policy.
Core Responsibilities
Lead the organisation, establish its standards, and represent it as the public face and ambassador.
Serve as the organisation’s figurehead while strengthening and expanding relationships with commissioners and key stakeholders.
Define the strategic direction in collaboration with the Board of Trustees.
Implement the strategic plan and drive sustainable organisational growth.
Provide strong financial leadership, including budgeting, forecasting, income generation, and asset management.
Prioritise and advance the diversification of funding streams with overall accountability.
Ensure effective risk management and regulatory compliance including GDPR, H&S, Safeguarding, Charity Governance.
Build and develop a strong workforce while fostering a unified, one-team culture.
Leadership And Managerial Responsibilities
Lead the organisation, providing direct line management to the Operations and Human Resources Director, Finance Manager and Consultants.
Deliver strong, visible leadership across the organisation.
Accountable for shaping, influencing, and delivering both internal and external operational strategies.
Maintain strategic oversight of existing contracts and services, ensuring effective delivery and performance.
Develop, monitor, and review key operational resources, including business plans, business continuity plans, and risk registers.
Strategic Responsibilities
Scope and drive forward funding & partnership opportunities in support of sustainability and growth.
Grow Involve Northwest’s network of commissioners and strategic/mutually beneficial partnerships.
Identify the opportunities for collaboration and diversification.
Consider the organisation, its destination and routes to that destination with ‘out of the box’ thinking.
Reviewing all aspects of service provision and the roles of Involve Northwest personnel.
Oversee management of Involve Northwest assets, including any buildings.
Assist in identifying new premises and the basis upon which they are occupied (purchased/leased) in the context of Involve Northwest’s needs.
Lead on organisational change; provide governance around internal resources, communication and marketing, and growth.
Lead on all funding opportunities, including the scoping and writing of bids and responses to tender invitations, expressions of interest and soft market testing as appropriate.
Overseeing Involve Northwest’s communication and marketing strategy.
Partnerships Management
Involve Northwest is predominantly funded through contracts with central and local government. The successful person will interface directly with funders and commissioners, managing those relationships and attending contract meetings where appropriate. Attend external meetings/groups and act as the ‘face’ of the organisation, in collaboration with the Management Team.
The role will focus on growing Involve Northwest’s influence within our network of commissioners and strategic/mutually beneficial partnerships to secure future commissions in new delivery themes or areas in the Northwest that align with our strategy and vision.
You would also be expected to identify, explore, and develop new partnerships outside Involve Northwest’s traditional stakeholders with organisations in both the public and private sectors.
This role profile is not exhaustive and is subject to review in conjunction with the post holder and according to future changes/developments within the Company.
Company Duties and Responsibilities:
Evaluate and work in line with statutory requirements and company policies and procedures, including ISO9001:2015, the Companies Act, Charity Law and UK GDPR.
Work to Involve Northwest’s Safeguarding procedures.
Represent the charity in the best manner.
Demonstrate a commitment to the vision, values, and strategic aims of Involve Northwest.
Maintain high standards of professionalism and keep abreast of current legislation, standards, best practice and maintain a focus of continuous improvement.
Work within Involve Northwest’s practice standards.
Person Specification – Essential
Experience
Significant experience in a senior management role.
Development of a strategy with a proven record of implementation, tracking and monitoring progress.
Experience in securing year-on-year sustainable funding.
The ability to link operational delivery with the strategic plan to achieve its stated objectives.
Track record in delivering business change.
Risk management, business continuity and disaster recovery planning and testing
Working with commissioners/grant funders at senior levels.
Significant experience in overseeing bid/tender writing at an operational and strategic level, with the ability to present at all levels and deliver reports as required.
Strong decision-making skills.
Budget management experience.
Developing communication and delivery strategies.
Working in the third sector would be useful but is not essential.
Knowledge and Skills
Excellent people skills, including communication, relationship building and emotional intelligence.
Proven track record in change management.
Problem-solving, planning skills and innovative thinking.
The ability to implement strategies to meet the organisation’s goals agreed with the board of directors.
Understanding the importance of excellent employee management and have the ability to motivate.
Excellent organisational skills, results-driven, with a clear focus on outcomes.
Consider the organisation, its destination and routes to that destination with ‘out of the box’ thinking.
Personal Attributes
Innovative thinking.
A belief in the Organisation’s service delivery and objectives.
Enthusiasm and a catalyst to motivate others.
Be a visionary for the organisation and lead by example
Good communication skills with excellent people skills
Be compassionate and empathetic and have a high level of integrity.
The ability to deliver honest feedback in a direct but emotionally intelligent way.
Act with integrity and respect when working with all clients, agencies, and individuals.
Flexible, adaptable, and an excellent active listener.
Be a team player with an open and honest manner and be able to build effective relationships.
High level of personal resilience concerning workload and ability to discharge tasks.
Excellent organisational skills, hard-working, results-driven, with a clear focus on outcomes.
As a community-focused employer who values the health and well-being of our employees, Involve Northwest encourages a positive work-life balance and actively supports our staff so they can better support the community.
We offer a range of benefits to fulfil this, including:
· 25 Days Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays
· Birthday Day Off
· Company Pension & Health Cash Plan (eligible after 3 months)
· Extra days of annual leave for service loyalty
Please note this role is subject to a 6-month probation period, 2 satisfactory references, right to work and DBS check.
Involve Northwest is committed to the welfare and safety of all individuals, particularly those who are vulnerable or at risk. We recognise our responsibility to protect the well-being of children, young people, and adults who may come into contact with our charity and its projects. We have a clear Safer Recruitment Policy in place, which is applied to all staff, including third-party individuals and volunteers.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.