14 Head business development jobs in Edinburgh

You will use a wide range of commercial and interpersonal skills to develop the way our services support children, young people and families.

The core area of your work will be working with teams of Barnardo's colleagues to produce compelling proposals to commissioners and partners in Scotland and Northern Ireland. As such, you'll be able to demonstrate:

• Strong organisational skills
• Meticulous attention to detail
• The ability to elicit and articulate great ideas
• Strong written and spoken communication

You will need to be a good writer, communicating ideas effectively on paper with an ability to analyse large volumes of information to develop clear and compelling responses to tenders. It is critical that you can build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to support the development of proposals and service design.

You will manage all aspects of proposals and tenders, leading the development and delivery of bids, working to deadlines, ensuring that we present strong business cases and bids that underpin successful outcomes. In addition, there will be the opportunity to help us develop new services and innovations in priority growth areas, monitor market intelligence, assess commercial and contract risks and work alongside operational colleagues in Children's Services.

Your project management skills may have been developed in any sector, and may need further development, but your commitment to the work we do will be demonstrated by your enthusiasm and ability to learn. In Business Development we are a supportive team, with stimulating and challenging work and extensive opportunities to learn and to help Barnardo's transform the lives of the UK's most vulnerable children.

These roles will operate on a 'Work from Anywhere' basis, meaning that you can work both from home and/or from an office 'hub' that's nearest to where you live. Some travel across Scotland and Northern Ireland may be required.

Barnardo's believe in creating equality of opportunity in the workplace and supporting people to manage their work-life balance; we are therefore open to offering flexible working arrangements.

Please note due to the high volume of applications for some posts, this advert might close before the displayed closing date.  We recommend that you apply for this role as soon as possible

Lead services that support those who serve on the frontline
 

DMWS is seeking an experienced operational leader to develop and deliver high-quality services for blue light organisations and their workforces. This senior role combines strategic thinking, practical delivery, partnership building and strong project management.
 

A key part of the role is bringing services together. You will work closely with DMWS welfare teams, psychological services and clinical governance colleagues to strengthen referrals, coordinate support pathways and ensure operational delivery is safe, responsive and well governed.
 

What you will do
·   Lead operational plans, service performance, contracts, budgets and improvement activity.
·   Manage service mobilisations, pilots and improvement projects from scope through delivery, evaluation and handover.
·   Build effective working relationships across welfare, psychological, occupational health and partner services.
·   Coordinate cross-functional teams, project governance, milestones, risks, dependencies and reporting.
·   Strengthen relationships with military, blue light organisations, commissioners, public-sector partners, funders and suppliers.
·   Use evidence, outcomes and feedback to improve services, demonstrate impact and create opportunities for sustainable growth.
·   Lead and develop staff while maintaining high standards of governance, safeguarding and compliance.
 

What you will bring
·   Senior operational leadership experience in a complex service environment.
·   Strong project or programme management skills and a track record of delivering change.
·   Credibility with varied stakeholders and the ability to work effectively across professional boundaries.
·   An understanding of welfare, wellbeing and psychological support pathways and the importance of clear clinical and safeguarding escalation.
·   Commercial awareness, sound financial judgement and a commitment to quality and value for money.
·   A collaborative, evidence-led and values-driven approach.
 

Why join DMWS?
 

This is an opportunity to shape a growing area of work, strengthen integrated support for military Services, blue light communities and help DMWS turn trusted expertise into sustainable, high-impact services across the UK. This role is progressive and offers the right candidate an opportunity 
 

How to apply
 

Please submit your CV and a supporting statement explaining how your experience meets the requirements of the role by 28th September 2026. Applicants must hold a full UK Driving Licence and have access to a vehicle which is required for this role. 
 

DMWS is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcomes applications from people of all backgrounds.

Head of Commercial
Reference: AUG20260202
Location: Flexible in UK
Hours: Full-Time, 37.5 hours per week
Contract: Permanent
Salary: £72,605.00 - £77,517.00 Per Annum
Benefits: Pension Scheme, Life Assurance Scheme, 26 days' Annual Leave

Reporting to the Executive Board Director for Income, Technology and Communications The Head of Commercial is a strategically important senior leadership role responsible for shaping the RSPB's commercial future and maximising the contribution commercial activity makes to the organisation's income, strategic ambitions and long-term success.

Leading a diverse, multi-channel portfolio spanning Retail, E-commerce, Licensing, Wholesale and Food & Beverage, together with the critical enabling functions of Buying & Merchandising and Fulfilment, you will bring these areas together to deliver sustainable income, exceptional customer experiences, and long-term organisational value.

As a senior commercial leader with significant proven successful experience, you will set and drive the commercial strategy, identifying new opportunities for growth, innovation and partnership while ensuring the RSPB continues to evolve and thrive in a changing market.

You will harness customer insight, expertise and market understanding to strengthen income streams, expand audience reach and maximise the value of the RSPB brand.

Working across the organisation and influencing at senior level, you will ensure customer needs are at the heart of commercial decision-making. By connecting commercial opportunity with strategic ambition, you will drive sustainable growth, strengthen supporter engagement, and deliver outstanding results.

This is a unique opportunity to combine senior strategic commercial leadership with purpose, translating commercial success into meaningful organisational impact.

Essential skills, knowledge and experience:

• Experience leading a commercial, retail, ecommerce, trading or other income-generating function at a senior level, with responsibility for strategic direction and performance
• Experience managing multi-million-pound income and expenditure budgets, including forecasting, commercial performance analysis and investment decision-making.
• Experience developing and delivering commercial strategies, using commercial and financial insight to identify opportunities and make decisions that drive growth, profitability and sustainable income.
• Experience working across complex organisations or partnerships, building relationships and influencing senior stakeholders without relying on direct authority.
• Experience presenting complex performance, governance or strategic information to senior decision-makers, such as Boards, Trustees or Executive-level stakeholders.
• Experience negotiating and managing commercial partnerships and contracts, including identifying and managing associated commercial risks.
• Knowledge of retail, ecommerce and a range of other commercial or trading models, such as licensing, wholesale or food and beverage, and how these contribute to customer growth, experience and income generation
• Experience using customer or audience insight to inform commercial decisions, improve customer experience and support audience or supporter growth.
• Experience leading organisational change and improvement, introducing new approaches and delivering agreed strategic outcomes.
• Experience leading and developing multidisciplinary teams to deliver agreed objectives, including supporting individual and team performance and development
• Able to communicate complex commercial and financial information clearly and use evidence to influence senior stakeholders, support decision-making and build effective partnerships.

Additional Information

This is a Permanent Full-Time role for 37.5 hours per week.

Closing date: 23:59, Tuesday, 6th October 2026
We are looking to conduct first interviews for this position on 4th and 5th November.

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

We are committed to developing an inclusive and diverse RSPB, in which everyone feels supported, valued, and able to be their full selves. To achieve our vision of creating a world richer in nature, we need more people, and more diverse people, on nature’s side. People of colour and disabled people are currently underrepresented across the environment, climate, sustainability, and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled, we are particularly interested in receiving your application. Contact us to discuss any additional support you may need to complete your application.

The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

The RSPB is a licenced sponsor. this role is not eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship - the successful applicant will need to have a pre-existing Right to Work in the UK in order to be offered an employment contract.

In order to apply you will be required to upload a CV and complete an application form where you will have the opportunity to explain how you meet the set criteria above.

Contact us to discuss any additional support you may need to complete your application or if you require any reasonable adjustment.

No agencies please.

Head of Public Fundraising & Engagement (9-Month Maternity Cover)

Location:

Remote with some travelling needs to Leatherhead and Redhill, Surrey and other areas related to Fundraising Team activities

Salary:

£55,000 per annum plus SeeAbility benefits

Hours:

Full time, 37.5 hours per week

Contract:

Fixed Term, 9 Month (Maternity Cover)

Join us in transforming lives

SeeAbility is a specialist charity supporting people with learning disabilities, autism and sight loss to live ambitious, fulfilling lives. We are seeking an experienced and dynamic Head of Public Fundraising & Engagement to join us on a 9-month maternity cover contract.

This is a fantastic opportunity for an accomplished fundraising leader to step into a well-established role, providing strategic leadership to our public fundraising and engagement programme during an important period for the organisation.

About the Role

Reporting to the Director of Development, you will lead our public fundraising and supporter engagement activity, driving income growth across individual giving, community fundraising, events, challenges and supporter stewardship.

You will manage and motivate a talented team, ensuring delivery against ambitious income targets while continuing to build strong relationships with supporters, volunteers and stakeholders.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading the delivery of SeeAbility's public fundraising and engagement strategy.
• Driving income growth and supporter retention across multiple fundraising streams.
• Developing innovative campaigns and supporter journeys.
• Leading, coaching and developing a high-performing team.
• Monitoring performance, budgets and fundraising KPIs.
• Working collaboratively across the organisation to maximise supporter engagement and impact.
• Ensuring fundraising activities remain compliant and aligned with best practice.

About You

We are looking for a confident and inspiring fundraising professional who can quickly build relationships, provide strong leadership and maintain momentum across a busy fundraising portfolio.

You will have:

• Significant experience in public fundraising, supporter engagement or individual giving.
• A proven track record of achieving income growth and fundraising targets.
• Experience managing and developing teams.
• Strong strategic and operational planning skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities.
• A collaborative, proactive and solutions-focused approach.

Why Join SeeAbility?

At SeeAbility, you'll be joining a passionate and supportive team committed to making a real difference to people's lives. This is an opportunity to play a key leadership role, contribute immediately and help shape the future of our fundraising and engagement activities.

We offer:

• Flexible and hybrid working
• A supportive and inclusive culture
• Competitive salary and benefits package
• The opportunity to make a meaningful impact from day one

Apply Today

If you are an experienced fundraising leader looking for an exciting interim opportunity where you can make an immediate difference, we'd love to hear from you. Please see the Job Profile for extensive details about the role.

Join SeeAbility and help us create a world where people with learning disabilities, autism and sight loss can achieve extraordinary things.

Safer Recruitment

SeeAbility is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the people we support. All colleagues are expected to uphold this commitment.

Successful applicants will be subject to safer recruitment checks, including:

• Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check (where appropriate)
• Identity, current address and right-to-work verification

• Health declaration to ensure that you are medically suitable for the role you have been offered

• Employment references relating to work with children or vulnerable adults

All checks are completed at SeeAbility’s expense before a start date is confirmed.

Diversity & Inclusion

We are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer and are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace.

• We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities and experiences, including those with disabilities or who are neurodivergent.
• Reasonable adjustments are available throughout the recruitment process.
• In exceptional circumstances, a genuine occupational requirement may apply under the Equality Act 2010 (Schedule 9, Part 1)

For this role, gender is considered a genuine occupational requirement in accordance with Schedule 9, Paragraph 1 of the Equality Act 2010

As part of the leadership team, you'll hold ultimate responsibility across our democratic lottery delivery teams, develop partnerships, and help shape where we go next as an organisation. You'll grow our opportunities through a considered and systematic approach to business development - new applications, bids and partnerships - and the revenue that comes with them, with support from the team.

This is a role for someone who's genuinely committed to democratic renewal, and good at bringing people together across different contexts and cultures.

Key Responsibilities

1. Driving the organisation forward
   1. Working alongside the other directors to shape the organisation's strategy
   2. Imagining and developing new applications/markets for sortition and deliberation; translating ideas into concrete opportunities, bids, contracts, and revenue
   3. Spotting and pursuing new opportunities (bids including fundraising, partnerships, earned revenue) particularly at an international level, with the support of the team
   4. Leading the growth, sustainability and adoption of OpenDLP, our open-source democratic lottery software on a global scale (including but not limited to, building strategic partnerships, developing sustainable revenue models, and promoting adoption amongst users)
2. Connecting the global sector
   1. Maintaining and developing relationships with key global partners, funders, and stakeholders
   2. Keeping up with what's happening in the deliberative democracy world and bringing relevant
      opportunities back to the team
   3. Sharing best practice across teams and helping raise standards across the sector
3. Leading the team
   1. Strategic oversight of Democratic Lottery teams
   2. Line managing Heads of teams, one of whom is based in Australia which will require some flexibility in hours, and a few more team members
   3. Coordinating and facilitating budget proposals from the Democratic Lottery teams, making sure resources are allocated fairly and teams have what they need
   4. Contributing to a Working Group (to be decided)

Please see the recruitment pack for more details.

💚 About Movement

Movement builds the campaign infrastructure behind some of the most effective progressive organisations in Europe. Our platform powers CRM, communications, and campaigning for trade unions, NGOs, charities, and political parties. The Labour Party used Movement to win the 2024 General Election. The NEU, UNISON and Greenpeace use it every day to organise, mobilise, and win.

🎯 The role

Our clients split into two worlds. Trade unions run ballots, organise workplaces, and mobilise reps. NGOs and political parties run campaigns, fundraise, and fight elections. Each world deserves a dedicated lead who knows it inside out.

You'll be that lead for NGOs and political parties, working alongside our Head of Campaign Success for Trade Unions. You'll take on our priority NGO and political party accounts.

The shape of the role will shift as the segment grows. Our trade union book is deep. Our NGO book has flagship names but fewer of them, so at the start you'll spend a lot of time helping us win new NGO and political party clients. Sales for this segment is founder-led, and you'll be the founder's right hand: running demos, working events, building relationships across the sector, and onboarding what we win together. As the book fills out, the role tilts towards account management and campaign success. You'll be growing your own future job.

This is a hands-on role. You'll set up accounts from scratch, work out how a client's structure maps onto the platform, and troubleshoot technical issues as readily as you'll run a demo or a renewal conversation. You'll also take your turn on the support rota alongside other campaign success team members.

You'll manage one direct report. Their role covers our client community, training, webinars, case studies, frontline support, and some of our smaller NGO accounts.

🛠️ What you'll do

🚀 Help grow the NGO and political party segment (the biggest part at first)

• Work alongside the founder leading sales for this segment as their right hand on every deal
• Run product demos, solo or as part of a founder-led pitch
• Represent Movement at sector events, conferences, and meet-ups. Build the network that brings deals in
• Follow up inbound leads and keep longer conversations warm
• Help build proposals and contribute to RFP responses

🤝 Own our priority NGO and political party accounts (growing as we win)

• Build strong relationships with campaigners, digital leads, and data teams at our NGO and party clients
• Run onboarding for the accounts we land: kick-off, training, launch planning, and the first 90 days
• Drive adoption of the features that move the needle for each client, from branded RCS to share testing to organiser dashboards
• Lead renewal conversations. Spot churn risk early and act on it
• Find expansion opportunities and turn them into proposals
• Run quarterly reviews that clients actually find useful

🔧 Be the technical lead for your accounts

• Set up new accounts: provisioning, custom fields, tags, segments, and templates
• Configure integrations, single sign-on, and sender domains
• Triage and resolve technical issues for your accounts, escalating to engineering when needed
• Take your share of support days on the rota, covering the inbox for the whole client base alongside the rest of the team
• Translate between campaigners and engineers. You'll be fluent in both languages

🌱 Manage and develop your direct report

• Set priorities for our client community, training, webinar, and case study work
• Oversee our smaller NGO & WhatsApp only account book, which your report manages day to day
• Support their development as their role grows
• Build support workflows that scale as the client base does

🔍 Who we're looking for

You've probably done one of these:

• Worked in sales, account management, or implementation at a campaigning platform or similar such as Action Network, Engaging Networks, or NationBuilder, and know how NGOs buy
• Run digital, data, or a CRM at an NGO, charity, or political party, and been the person who actually built the segments and fixed the emails
• Led campaigns with serious digital infrastructure behind them and managed the platform relationship from the client side

Experience inside the NGO, charity, or party world counts for a lot here, especially alongside commercial experience. We're not ruling out people from outside the sector.

✅ You'll need

• Confidence running demos and holding your own in commercial conversations, plus a genuine appetite for events and networking
• Real experience with campaigning or CRM platforms as a power user or administrator
• The technical depth to build an organisation from scratch. Give you a client's structure, branches, regions, teams, campaigns, and you can work out how it maps onto fields, tags, lists, audiences, and permissions
• The ability to read HTML or SQL and follow a technical conversation. You don't need to be an engineer, but you can't be scared of the tools
• Strong relationship skills. Clients should feel you're on their team
• A track record on retention. Renewals landed, churn spotted early, accounts kept and grown
• Experience managing someone, and the appetite to develop a report whose role is growing
• Willingness to take your share of support days. Everyone here covers the inbox, us included
• Genuine commitment to progressive causes. Our clients will feel if you don't mean it

✨ It would help if you have

• Knowledge of email deliverability, GDPR in a campaigning context, or the European progressive tech landscape
• A second European language

🎉 Why this role

• You'll own the priority accounts in a whole segment, and work shoulder to shoulder with a founder to grow it
• You'll see the whole company, not one corner of it
• A four day week as standard, remote-first with a London office when you want it
• Your clients will be organisations fighting for things that matter, and your work will directly affect whether they win
• Movement is profitable and growing, and this role grows with the segment you build

Shape the future of the UK’s dedicated Muslim Cancer Support Network by providing critical administrative support. Safeena was created to ensure no Muslim facing cancer feels alone.

As we grow from a volunteer‑led initiative into a professionally governed national organisation, we are recruiting an Administrator who will play a central role in supporting our Head of Transformation and strengthening the foundations of our charity.

Home‑based (UK) with occasional travel

This role is ideal for someone who is organised, proactive and passionate about health equity. You will be at the heart of Safeena’s transformation programme, helping build systems, processes and governance that enable our volunteers, community champions and befriending teams to support Muslims affected by cancer with dignity, compassion and culturally sensitive care.

Why this role matters

Safeena is delivering a major two‑year transformation programme focused on building organisational capacity, strengthening governance, developing a skilled volunteer workforce and expanding cancer awareness activity across mosques and Muslim communities. Your administrative leadership will help ensure Safeena becomes a credible, compliant and high‑performing national charity capable of reaching thousands.

About Safeena

Safeena provides faith‑informed emotional support, peer befriending, bereavement support, cancer literacy education, and culturally sensitive volunteer services. Our work is rooted in sincerity (ikhlas), accountability, service (khidma) and compassion, ensuring every individual receives care that respects their faith, culture and dignity.

Key Responsibilities

Inbox & Communication Management

• Manage and triage the Head of Transformation and Hello inboxes

• Draft responses, prioritise actions and maintain professional communication with partners and volunteers

Meetings & Coordination

• Organise meetings, workshops and community sessions

• Prepare agendas, papers and pre‑reads

• Take accurate minutes and maintain action logs

Documentation & Governance

• Format and proofread reports, papers and presentations

• Maintain project documentation and support governance processes

• Assist with board and steering group preparation

Project Administration

• Maintain project documentation

• Support reporting, monitoring and data collection

• Assist with onboarding and close‑down of project activities

General Administrative Duties

• Diary coordination, travel arrangements and basic financial admin

• Maintain confidentiality and uphold Safeena’s safeguarding standards

Person Specification

Essential

• Strong organisational and communication skills

• Experience managing inboxes, documentation and meeting coordination

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office

• Ability to work independently and handle sensitive information

Desirable

• Experience in healthcare, charity or transformation settings

• Understanding of culturally competent or faith‑informed support environments

Elrha is a global organisation that finds solutions to complex humanitarian problems through research and innovation. 

We are looking to recruit a Research & Innovation Manager (Maternity Cover) to join our Programmes team on a fixed-term basis. Funding for the role is currently secured until 28 February 2027. While we anticipate the maternity cover requirement continuing until the end of November 2027, any extension beyond 28 February 2027 will be dependent on funding being confirmed. 

In this role, you will have the opportunity to lead and shape Elrha's Readiness to Scale Pipeline, supporting innovative humanitarian solutions as they progress towards wider adoption and real-world impact. You will work closely with promising scaling grantees and technical partners, providing strategic oversight, strengthening quality and learning, and helping to navigate risks and opportunities. As a key member of the team, you will play an important role in advancing and evolving Elrha's approach to scaling and adoption, contributing to the future of humanitarian innovation globally. 

Your application will need to demonstrate: 

• Experience of managing complex grants, programmes or projects, including monitoring performance and impact. 
• Experience designing and delivering applied learning and capacity building activities, including needs assessments, learning journeys and strategy development. 
• An understanding of how innovations can achieve scale, adoption and sustainable impact. 
• Excellent stakeholder management and collaboration skills, with the ability to engage diverse partners and build effective relationships. 
• Proven ability to coordinate delivery, manage risk and drive high-quality outcomes. 
• An interest in the humanitarian or development sectors, ideally demonstrated through academic qualifications and/or paid or voluntary work.

Experience of donor engagement, systems and design thinking methods, mentoring innovators or working within humanitarian innovation would also be an advantage. 

If you want to be part of an organisation that creates positive change in the humanitarian sector, then join us and we’ll give you every opportunity to succeed. 

We offer: 

• Remote working as standard – staff can access office bases in London, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Manchester if required/ appropriate. We expect staff to attend team meetings and away days in person as required. 
• As standard we work 35 hours per week. We are also happy to discuss flexible working patterns and many of our staff work non-standard working hours. 
• Our benefits include minimum 5% employer pension contribution (3% employee contribution), life cover, organisational sick pay, family friendly pay and leave schemes; 26-day basic annual leave entitlement with incremental increase depending on length of service, opportunities for learning and development, a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) and retail discounts platform. 
• Please read through the Information for Candidates document for further information about working at Elrha including information about Our Values, Strategy, Benefits and Salaries. 

Note for applicants: 

• Candidates must have the independent right to work in UK, and be resident in the UK, at the time of appointment as we are unable to support visa sponsorship for this role. 
• This is a maternity cover position. Funding for the role is currently confirmed until 28 February 2027. Any extension beyond this date will be subject to the availability of funding and the ongoing requirements of the role. 
• Please read through the job description for a detailed list of requirements, and ensure you complete the personal statement to explain how you feel you meet the requirements of the role and why you feel this is next career move for you. Applications without this information will not be shortlisted. 
• Elrha is an independent subsidiary of SCUK and benefits from some SCUK systems and processes. 
• We reserve the right to close the advert early should we receive a very high volume of applications. 
• We do not use recruitment agencies.

Closing date: 20 September 2026 

Interview dates: w/c 5 October 2026 

The role

At Cruse, our strategy, sets out our charity’s plans to grow our income and build on our expertise and unique position in the sector. We provide expert bereavement and grief information and support, and our charity has been supporting people for over 65 years. We support adults, children and young people across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, through our national services, over 80 local branches and online information about grief and bereavement.

To lead and grow Cruse’s community fundraising and events programme, maximising income from existing activities/events while developing new fundraising opportunities. The postholder will take ownership of event planning and delivery, supporter engagement and volunteer and Branch fundraising coordination, helping to increase unrestricted income. This role is responsible for the planning and delivery of major events such as Cruse walks, whilst also creating new fundraising events for supporters to engage with us. Based in either the South of England or Wales

How to apply

Your application must consist of a CV and covering letter, which outlines your suitability for the role with reference to the Job Description and Person Specification and should be no longer than two pages. Please note that if you application does not include both a CV and covering letter, your application may not be considered. 

The closing date for applications is 25 September 2026 with interviews taking place week commencing 5 October 2026. We reserve the right to close the advert early, as interviews will be held as suitable candidates apply.

Please be advised that if you do not hear from us by 5 October 2026, unfortunately on this occasion you have not been shortlisted.

Cruse welcomes and encourages applications from all protected groups as defined by the Equality Act 2010. Appointment will be made on merit.

Criminal Record Checks

All staff are required to complete a Criminal Record check. Staff working directly with clients will be required to complete an enhanced check. We comply with the relevant codes of practice and they can be viewed online:

• Applicants in England and Wales: DBS Code of Practice
• Applicants in Northern Ireland: AccessNI Code of Practice

Previous convictions will not prevent full consideration of your application to work with Cruse. Our Recruitment of Ex-offenders’ Policy & Handling Criminal Record Check Data Policy are available on request by email.

We comply with all relevant data protection legislation and process your data fairly.

Permanent | Full-time 

Salary: £58,560 – £71,480 per annum

Hours: 35 per week

Location: Home-based with regular national travel 

Job reference number: 1766

Help shape the future of Cranstoun’s services 

Cranstoun is a social justice and harm reduction charity supporting and empowering people to live healthier and safer lives. Each year, we support more than 45,000 people through services including substance use, criminal justice, domestic abuse, housing and services for children and young people. 

Following a successful five-year strategy and significant growth, we remain ambitious about the difference we can make. As we enter our next phase, we are investing in the leadership and operational capability needed to support our continued development. We are now recruiting an Assistant Directors of Service to join our senior management team.

This is a significant senior leadership role offering the opportunity to lead substantial service portfolios while helping shape how Cranstoun’s services are led and delivered across the organisation. 

The role

Reporting to the Director of Operations, you will lead a substantial portfolio of complex commissioned services and senior operational managers. 

You will lead eight services with nine direct reports, spanning substance use and services for children and young people. You will have clear accountability for ensuring services are safe, effective and well-led, with strong contractual performance, financial sustainability and positive outcomes for the people and communities we support. 

You will provide operational grip and evidence-based assurance, strengthen safeguarding and management accountability, build effective relationships with commissioners and partners, and ensure risks and underperformance are identified, escalated and addressed early. 

You will also work collectively with fellow senior operational leaders to embed a One Cranstoun approach, strengthening common standards, sharing learning, developing leadership capability and improving quality and resilience across our services. 

What you will be accountable for 

As an Assistant Director, you will take senior operational accountability for: 

• Safe, effective and well-led services – ensuring strong safeguarding, quality, operational risk management and service user outcomes.  
• Contractual performance – ensuring services deliver against contractual requirements and KPIs, with strong commissioner relationships and timely action to address underperformance.  
• Financial sustainability – maintaining strong financial oversight, effective workforce management and oversight of the sustainability of individual contracts.  
• Evidence-based assurance – using reliable performance, quality, workforce and financial information to identify risks and drive improvement.  
• Collective organisational leadership – working beyond individual portfolio boundaries to build consistent standards, stronger leadership and shared ways of working across Cranstoun.  

You will lead and develop senior operational managers, set clear expectations and create a culture in which support and accountability operate together. 

You will also lead and contribute to service mobilisation, transformation, workforce planning and continuous improvement. 

Who we are looking for 

We are looking for established senior operational leaders with substantial experience leading complex commissioned services and geographically dispersed teams. 

You will bring a strong track record of: 

• leading safe, high-quality services for people with complex needs;  
• safeguarding, quality and operational risk management;  
• contract and performance management;  
• managing significant service budgets and improving financial performance;  
• building effective relationships with commissioners, regulators and strategic partners;  
• leading service improvement, mobilisation and organisational change;  
• developing senior operational managers and addressing underperformance; and  
• using performance, quality, workforce and financial information to provide assurance and drive improvement.  

You will need to combine strategic leadership with operational pragmatism, understanding the detail when necessary while maintaining oversight of performance, risk, quality and sustainability across a complex portfolio. 

Above all, we are looking for collaborative, credible and values-led leaders who can support and challenge in equal measure, build leadership capability and bring people together around common standards and organisational priorities. 

Specialist experience 

For this role, significant senior leadership experience within substance use services is essential, including experience of leading CQC-regulated provision and maintaining high standards of quality, safety and regulatory compliance. 

You will also need a strong understanding of safeguarding and the governance required to deliver safe and effective services for children and young people. Direct operational experience of Children & Young People services would be valuable, but we are equally interested in candidates who can demonstrate strong safeguarding and CYP governance experience alongside substantial substance use leadership. 

This permanent appointment offers the opportunity to provide long-term leadership to a significant portfolio and help shape the future development of Cranstoun’s services. 

Be part of Cranstoun’s next chapter 

Our successful five-year strategy has seen Cranstoun grow considerably, extending our reach and the range of services we provide. We remain ambitious and innovative, committed to developing services that respond to the changing needs of people and communities. 

As we look to the future, we are investing in the leadership, operational capability and organisational infrastructure needed to support our continued development, strengthening operational governance, consistency and assurance across our services. 

This role offers the opportunity to do more than manage established portfolios. You will help shape the future of our services and build an Operations Directorate characterised by high standards, clear accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement. 

Find out more 

Please refer to the accompanying recruitment pack for the full Job Description, Person Specification and details of the application process.

Please note: All posts are subject to an Enhanced DBS check.

How to Apply:

For more details and to apply, please visit our website via the apply button. Please quote the appropriate Job Ref in all correspondence.

Applicants must be able to provide satisfactory evidence of their right to work in the UK at the application stage.

Sponsorship is not available for this post. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK that does not require employer sponsorship for the duration of the appointment.

Closing date: Sunday 20 September 2026.

We are an inclusive employer, committed to promoting equality and diversity in all areas of our work. 

Registered Charity No: 1061582

Farm Discovery Programme Manager

Salary: £40,170 | Home-based | 35 hours per week | Permanent

This is a varied senior role combining programme leadership, team and contract management, quality assurance, safeguarding, data and financial oversight, partnership development and programme improvement.

You’ll ensure our Farm Discovery team has the clarity, support and resources they need to deliver consistently high-quality educational experiences for children from disadvantaged communities. You’ll also use data, feedback and evaluation to improve the programme, develop partnerships and contribute to its future growth and development.

We’re looking for someone who:

• Has a strong track record in programme management and leading complex delivery
• Is outstanding at enabling and leading educators and dispersed teams
• Understands the primary education context in England
• Can build strong relationships with schools, farmers, funders and partners
• Has experience of quality, safeguarding, health and safety and risk management
• Is confident using data, managing budgets and improving systems and processes
• Can communicate effectively and work collaboratively across an organisation
• Shares our commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for children experiencing disadvantage

The role is home-based, with regular travel across England and North Wales, including overnight stays, an essential part of the role. Reasonable travel and accommodation expenses are covered.

Hours: 35 hours per week, with flexible working arrangements considered, including slightly reduced or compressed hours for the right candidate.

Closing date: Thursday 8 October 2026, midday.
CVs not accepted for this role. Please see our website for more information.

About Us

Roots HR is a dynamic and growing HR consultancy specialising in providing tailored, pragmatic human resources solutions to social sector employers, including charities. We believe in the power of HR to transform the social sector, and we are looking for an experienced Senior HR Consultant to join our small but dedicated team.

We are founded on the belief that social sector organisations of all sizes should have access to high quality, practical and affordable human resources services. We recognise the challenges for such organisations and develop our services to meet the needs of the social sector, in terms of culture, risk and scale. We deliver those services on a more than profit basis to meet our social purpose.

Our market leading COMPLY service is in high demand, and we are now seeking to grow our team with the appointment of an HR Consultant who will provide comprehensive and pragmatic HR advice, documentation, and compliance support to clients by phone, Teams / Zoom and email.

Position Overview
Our market-leading COMPLY service is in high demand. We are now looking for a Senior HR Consultant to coordinate its day-to-day delivery, provide technical leadership to the HR Consultants delivering the service and maintain an active portfolio of consultancy work.

This is a hands-on senior role for an accomplished HR practitioner who combines strong employment law and employee relations expertise with sound judgement, excellent client care and the ability to coach and develop others. You will coordinate workloads, oversee case management, maintain service standards and act as the first point of escalation for complex HR and service-delivery matters.

What you will do

• Coordinate the day-to-day operation of the HR Advice Service, ensuring client enquiries are handled promptly, professionally and in line with agreed service standards
• Oversee ongoing casework, deadlines, service levels, capacity and risk, escalating major concerns to the Head of Service Delivery
• Provide technical oversight, quality assurance and practical support on complex employee relations casework and HR documentation
• Allocate and prioritise work fairly across consultants and associates, monitoring utilisation, billable time and project scheduling
• Lead monthly one-to-ones and support the wellbeing, performance, capability and development of team members
• Maintain your own client portfolio, providing pragmatic advice and producing high-quality contracts, policies, reports, letters and case-management documentation
• Support client relationships, identify recurring needs and use feedback to improve systems, processes and service delivery
• Contribute to proposals, scoping discussions, tenders, webinars, articles, newsletters and other business-development activity.

The successful candidate will, along with other essential criteria:

• Be qualified to Chartered MCIPD level or as a minimum hold a level 7 qualification in HR
• Have extensive experience of delivering robust generalist HR advice and guidance, including advising and coaching line managers and advising to a successful conclusion on a broad range of complex employee relations issues
• Social sector experience or exposure, gained through employment, volunteering or governance role(s) with extensive and broad operational delivery of robust generalist HR advice and guidance
• Bring strong quality-assurance and technical-review skills across HR casework and documentation
• Have experience of managing client relationships and resolving service-delivery issues
• Have excellent communication skills and be extremely skilled in influencing at all levels
• Have excellent written skills, able to produce high-quality reports and other documentation
• Be passionate about human resources and committed to updating their knowledge on a frequent basis
• Ideally, you will bring experience of leading or coordinating a team.

In return for your skills and commitment we can offer you:

• A wide range of interesting and demanding work in a sector where HR effectiveness impacts on the life of the community
• A friendly, team-oriented, supportive and trusting work environment
• Coaching and support in consultancy skills and practices
• Partnering internally with experienced and supportive colleagues.

To apply: Submit your CV and cover letter using our online system by no later than 11.59pm on Sunday 4 October 2026.

Roots HR CIC is an equal opportunities employer welcoming application from all sections of the community. Continued eligibility to work in the UK is required.

Strictly no contact from agencies please.

REF-230756

Every grant you win becomes someone's first conversation in English, their first step into a job interview, their first time speaking up at a housing tribunal.

English for Action (EFA) is looking for a Partnerships Manager to grow the funding that powers our free, participatory ESOL classes for around 400 migrants across London. Our classes don't just teach English, they build the confidence and collective power people need to organise around housing and employment rights.

About the role

Working closely with our Fundraising Lead, you'll take real ownership of relationships with trusts, foundations and corporate funders, while helping shape how we diversify our income going forward. This is a role with genuine scope to bring your own ideas and see them through, not just execute someone else's plan.

You will:
- Write compelling grant applications, funding proposals and reports that win and retain funding
- Research and build a realistic pipeline of trusts, liveries and corporate foundations
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with existing donors and prospects
- Contribute to EFA's fundraising strategy, including newer income streams such as statutory, corporate, individual giving, membership and events
- Liaise with our Executive Team, Hub Leads and Project Managers so funding proposals stay grounded in what's actually happening in our classrooms and communities
- Maintain accurate donor and grant records on Donorfy, and support monitoring and evaluation of project outcomes

About you

You don't need a degree, and you're not expected to tick every box, nobody does. We're looking for someone with a track record of successful grant writing, strong research and relationship-building skills, and the organisation to manage multiple funding deadlines at once. Knowledge of the UK charity sector and UK trusts and foundations is essential; experience with public sector or EU education funding is a bonus.

If you have lived experience of migration and/or learning English as an additional language, we'd love to hear from you and how you'd like to draw on it in this role.

About EFA

English for Action provides free, participatory, empowering ESOL classes for migrants in London, spaces where students build community and organise collectively around issues like employment and housing rights. We're a national centre of good practice for a radical, participatory approach to ESOL, and we share this approach through training, research and partnerships. We're a team of 11 staff, a wider team of volunteers, and 7 trustees, run through shared leadership rather than a CEO, decisions are made collaboratively, and we aim for our structure to reflect that.

What we offer

- 22.5 hours (3 days) a week, mostly remote, with just monthly in-person meetings in London
- 28 days' annual leave (pro rata) after probation, plus bank holidays, plus a full week's paid closure over Christmas
- 6% matched pension contribution
- Enhanced sick pay, and enhanced maternity/paternity/adoption/shared parental leave
- Wellbeing allowance and full entitlement to leave for sickness, including mental ill-health
- A genuinely flat, non-hierarchical culture with collaborative decision-making on strategy and practice
- Tech and cycle scheme, and actively encouraged continuous personal development

Equal opportunities

EFA particularly encourages applications from people of colour, who are currently underrepresented at EFA and across the charity sector, and from people who have experienced moving to the UK or have English as an additional language. Where two or more candidates are of equal merit, priority may be given to a candidate from a less well-represented group. Please let us know about any access or other requirements we can accommodate.

Closing date: 11.59pm, Wednesday 30th September 2026
Skills test: w/c 5th October 2026 (writing and budgeting)
Interviews: Friday 9th / 16th October 2026

Questions before applying? Email Gina Rodriguez (HR Lead)