Head of advocacy jobs
Position: Director of External Affairs
Type: Full-time (35 hours a week), permanent
Location: Office-based in London with flexibility to work remotely
Salary: £73,653 per annum plus excellent benefits
Salary Band: Band 5
About us
We make sure people living with MS are at the centre of everything we do. And it’s this commitment that unites us across the UK.
Our strategy is based on what people affected by MS have told us is important to them. It gives us a clear and determined focus.
Our work is based on the hopes and aspirations of our MS community. Together we campaign at all levels, fund ground-breaking research and provide award winning support and information.
Our people are our greatest asset and the key to our success. We offer a vibrant, progressive working environment where you'll be able to make a difference.
About this job
It is a very exciting time to join the MS Society as Director of External Affairs a brand-new role in the organisation. We are implementing an ambitious cross-organisational transformation programme. And we have just started a new 2025-29 strategy.
We’re looking for an experienced and focused leader who has the ability to drive forward our brilliant Policy & Evidence, Campaign & Public Affairs and PR teams. We’re looking for someone who can work collaboratively across the organisation to ensure our work has a positive impact for the MS community.
With the ability to provide strategic and thought leadership, you’ll act as the leading authority on matters relating to external affairs, providing advice across the organisation including to the Executive Group and Trustees.
You’ll have significant experience of developing and implementing relevant external affairs strategies and of successfully leading policy, communications or campaigning functions in an organisation of comparable size and complexity. You’ll also need to be influential both internally and externally, including representing the MS Society at a range of external meetings with a variety of audiences.
As well as leading on planning and budget setting for the external affairs functions, as a member of the leadership team, you will also contribute to the strategic leadership, planning and policy formulation of the MS Society as a whole.
We’re looking for someone who is committed to collaborative working, who is excellent at building relationships and trust with colleagues at all levels, and whose focus is on supporting high performing teams and enabling them to do their best for the MS community.
Closing date for applications: 9:00 am Monday 12 May 2025
Anticipated interview date:
First interviews: Friday 23 May 2025
Second interviews: Wednesday 28 May 2025 or Thursday 29 May 2025
Interested?
PLEASE PRESS THE 'HOW TO APPLY' BUTTON FOR MORE INFORMATION.
Equal Opportunities
We particularly welcome applications from people with disabilities and or from ethnic minority backgrounds.
We’d be grateful if you downloaded and completed the equality and diversity monitoring form and submit it with your application.
Disability Confident Employer
We’re a Disability Confident Employer and we’re committed to promoting equality and diversity.
You can ask for reasonable adjustments as part of both our recruitment and new starter on-boarding processes.
If you need any help or adjustments to apply for this role, please contact us. You can also ask for the application materials to be sent to you in a different format. Such as for them to be sent to you by email or in a larger word format.
More about our employee benefits:
We have a wide range of employee benefits including (but not limited to):
Encouraging work life balance
- 38 days paid annual leave (including bank holidays), pro-rata for part-time
- More annual leave entitlement, based on length of employment
- Smart working options (with the opportunity to work remotely and find a smart working pattern that suits both you and us)
- Flexible working options
Caring for you and your family
- Generous sick pay entitlement
- More sick pay entitlement, based on length of employment
- Opportunity to buy and sell annual leave in each calendar year
- Free access to a GP virtually 24 hours a day/7 days a week allowing you unlimited advice, reassurance and where appropriate diagnosis
- Enhanced leave for new parents
- Free access to a confidential 24 hours a day/7 days a week helpline service for both you and your family with a specialist range of support and information
- Special leave options (such as up to 5 days paid leave for domestic or personal emergencies a year)
- 10 days paid disability leave a year, pro-rata for part-time
- 10 days paid carers’ leave a year, pro-rata for part-time
- Cycle to work scheme
- Death in service scheme
- New family-friendly benefits, including paid leave:
- In the event of miscarriage or still birth
- To support fertility treatments
- For antenatal appointments for both parents
Thinking about your finances
- Enhanced salary sacrifice pension scheme
- Discounted season ticket loan and interest-free emergency loans
- Give as you earn to support other charities of your choice before tax
- New employee portal including lifestyle savings vouchers and personal wellbeing
Enriching your life at work
- Personalised development plans with a wide range of training courses and opportunities to source additional training options with your line manager
- Yearly internal apprenticeship opportunities
- New, modern offices that embrace working together both in-person and remotely
- Various opportunities to influence how we internally operate (including surveys, and focus and committee groups)
- Active and supportive internal employee networking groups for collaboration and peer support
- 2 days paid leave a year for volunteering for MS Society activities during normal working hours (such as fundraising events, or campaigning in the local community)
- 2 days paid leave a year for volunteering with other charities during normal
Safeguarding
We’re committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of everyone who uses our services and we come into contact with.
This is regardless of Gender, Race, Disability, Sexual orientation, Religion or belief, Pregnancy, Gender reassignment.
We recognise our particular responsibility to make sure vulnerable adults and children are protected.
We have measures in place to protect everyone we come into contact with from abuse and maltreatment of all kinds.
Your right to work in the UK
You must have the right to work in the UK to work in paid employment with us. You’ll need to share documents showing you’re eligible to work in the UK if we offer you employment.
You can find the UK visas and permits granting you the right to work in the UK on the UK Government website. We currently don’t have a Sponsor Licence agreement with the Home Office and aren’t able to support you with your visa applications.
No agencies please.
To fund world-leading research, share the latest information and campaign for everyone's rights. Together we are a community. Together we can stop MS
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Are you passionate about building new relationships? Are you a brilliant communicator? Then this role could be for you!
Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity are hiring for a Senior Fundraising Executive to join our Hospital Engagement team. This position is based in the hospital for 3 days per week, with the remaining time spent working from home.
As a Senior Executive, your main focus is to build relationships and connections within the hospital in order to increase the Charity’s visibility, drive income growth and referrals from patient families, visitors and hospital staff.
Salary
The salary for this position is £35,051 per annum.
Key Responsibilities
This is a varied role where you will:
- Engage and develop strong working relationships with hospital staff members.
- Roll out a patient family fundraising training programme, delivering training to staff groups, identifying fundraising champions within the hospital and increase patient family referrals.
- Collaborate with the Hospital Engagement team to recruit and relationship manage hospital staff in our Charity Champions Programme.
- Collaborate across the charity with our Grants, Brand Marketing and Communications team to coordinate charity family activity and implement a hospital engagement and communications plan.
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
This role is focused on relationship building and influencing and we’re looking for someone with:
- Experience working with the public in a customer facing role.
- Ability to build relationships and influence stakeholders of all levels of seniority.
- Strong communication skills and emotional intelligence. (you will need to be comfortable working with patient families in a hospital environment).
- Confident delivering presentations and training.
- Experience working with or managing volunteers.
Whilst you’ll be an employee of the Charity, this role requires you to be onsite at the hospital for 3 days per week (with the rest of the time spent working remotely).
The hospital is a large site and you’ll be physically attending different department meetings, organising events, and hosting events (ensuring branded stock is available, moving boxes, helping with event set up).
About the Team
This role sits within the Hospital Engagement function within the Community team, whose purpose is to drive the charity’s presence within the hospital to build key relationships and increase income from patient families and hospital staff.
This is a role with regular hospital contact and appointment to the role will require the individual to meet any hospital access requirements which may change over time.
Closing Date: 8th May 2025
Interviews: 1st stage virtual on 13th May, 2nd stage in person 20th May
We are Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity. We stop at nothing to help give seriously ill children childhoods that are fuller, funner and longer.
About UP
Unlocking Potential deliver high performing therapeutic programmes and education provision for children and young people with SEMH needs. We work in collaboration with families, communities, and other partners to ensure that children and young people access the interventions they need to thrive.
Mission
We work collaboratively with communities to enable children and young people with social, emotional, and mental health needs to unlock their full potential
Values
Trust
We build trust by being honest, transparent, and accountable in the way we work with children and young people, staff, and partners and by providing services and programmes whose outcomes are measurable and evidenced based.
Collaborative
Relationships are at the heart of our work. We prioritise communication and collaboration with partners, families, and communities, believing that by working together we create more effective and holistic outcomes for children and young people.
Empowering
We co-create opportunities for our children, young people, parents/carers and staff to actively participate in decision-making that influences change. We promote the voices of children and young people in our organisation and the wider community.
Nurturing
We provide a nurturing approach based on safety and space for creativity, exploration, and growth. We support and care for our children, young people, and staff to realise their potential.
Impact
We are committed to measuring our impact through a data driven method to develop our programmes and make a greater difference to the lives of children, young people, and their parents and carers.
Overview
We will be launching our new programme from September 2025, initially as a pilot working with families across Wandsworth, with aims to be able to expand and continue beyond this.
We are seeking an experienced and passionate Family Support Manager to play a pivotal role in establishing our new Family Support programme. Your initial focus will be leading on the development of the service, implementing policies and procedures, building referral pathways, and recruiting a team of skilled Family Support Workers.
Once the service is established, you will manage a high-quality programme providing support and guidance to families facing complex challenges. Your role will involve overseeing a team of Family Support Workers, case management, fostering effective collaboration with internal and external multidisciplinary teams, and leading the service under a shared vision to ensure the well-being of children and their families.
Using a restorative approach, you will develop strong relationships to support families and empower them to take an active role in their own support plans and interventions, helping them build resilience and make informed decisions. A commitment to safeguarding excellence will be at the heart of everything you do.
This role would be an exciting opportunity for a qualified Social Worker or an experienced professional with a background in setting up and developing family support services. It offers a genuine opportunity to shape a new service and build an impactful team to make a real difference in the lives of children, young people, and their families.
Job Title: Finance Officer
Job Description
Job purpose
You will be responsible for managing the financial transactions of the organisation. Working closely with the Finance Manager to ensure all financial systems are implemented effectively while ensuring data integrity and compliance with accounting standards. In addition, you will assist the Finance Manager in maintaining a functional and safe office environment in accordance with employment and health and safety laws.
Key duties:
Financial:
Accounts Payable
- Manage the day-to-day accounts payable activity to support the organisation's short-term obligations owed to its creditors or suppliers, including but not limited to:
- Utilise cloud-based software to manage supplier invoice activity.
- Dealing with external creditor and supplier queries.
- Assisting the Finance Manager with supplier contract renewals.
- Manage and reconcile expense activity across all business cards utilising cloud-based software where appropriate.
- Resolve accounting discrepancies.
Account Receivable
- Manage the day-to-day accounts receivable activity between the organisation and its clients, customers, and donors, including but not limited to:
- Process all incoming post and utilise the CRM database to record any fundraising income.
- Ensure cheques are deposited weekly in accordance with finance policy and procedures.
- Ensure accurate billing for goods or services, not including those related to healthcare.
- Reconcile incoming payments against all invoices.
Month End and Period End
- Assist the Finance Manager in the preparation of accurate monthly, quarterly, and yearly accounts by performing activities including but not limited to:
- Auditing and correcting where necessary the accounting allocation of transactional detail in accounting software.
- Monitor and audit aged debtors and creditors- correcting errors, reconciling unallocated payments, and chasing missing invoices where needed.
- Utilise the CRM database to calculate and submit the monthly gift aid return and perform the journal entry into accounting software.
Payroll Administration
- Collate salary transactional data from payroll reports, update payroll apportionment sheet and prepare journal for entry into accounting software.
Participate in Finance Audits
- Maintain records at a level which meets the needs of external auditors. Assist the Finance Manager in the preparation of document evidence and be on hand to assist during the field week section of the external audit.
Office Duties
- Assist the Finance Manager in various office duties including but not limited to:
- Monitoring office supply levels and replenish where necessary.
- Maintaining the organisation's small asset register.
Other duties
- To maintain a high level of confidentiality at all times throughout all duties and responsibilities
- Attend and contribute constructively to meetings as required.
- Positively promote the work and activities of Action for M.E. at all times.
- Keep up-to-date with best practice and comply with relevant legislation and regulatory requirements, working within the organisation’s policies and procedures and ensure that good practice is observed.
- Undertake any other reasonable activity in line with the responsibilities of the post as requested by the Finance Manager, Chief Executive or any other member of the Senior Leadership Team.
Person specification
Qualifications
- Relevant qualifications or demonstrable experience relevant to the job role
Experience and Knowledge
- Experience in finance administration.
- Working knowledge of data protection requirements relevant to the role
- Track record of delivering results and team support
- Demonstrable administrative skills with attention to detail
- Knowledge of accounting principles (desirable)
- Experience of working with Sage (desirable)
- Experience of using databases (preferably Raiser’s Edge; desirable)
Skills and Behaviours
- Accuracy, numeracy and an attention to detail
- Excellent communication skills with people from a range of backgrounds at all levels in an organisation including good telephone manner
- Ability to learn on the job
- Able to work methodically, managing and prioritising a varied workload
- Ability to use own initiative and work well in a team
- Ability to use own initiative, work independently and to work well in a team
- Flexible and adaptable approach
- Strong MS Office skills including the ability to use Word, Excel, databases and web-related programmes and software
Attitudes
- Perseverance
- Enthusiasm
- Integrity
- Openness
- Compassionate
- Courageous
- Resilient
Key Competencies
- Effective communicator
- Collaborative
- Values-based approach
Our mission is to improve the lives of people affected by ME. Better meeting their needs today while taking action to secure change for tomorrow.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Could you be the new Worker Organiser in our team? This 12 month post will lead on worker outreach and organising with onshore and offshore energy workers. Working from our existing contact list, and making new contacts through online and in person outreach, you will be responsible for building links with energy workers and community members and planning interventions.
Being based in the north east of Scotland will be a significant advantage, and we encourage applications from people based in for example Aberdeenshire, Moray and Highlands. However, this role would also work if you were able to travel there regularly.
Platform's team has staff at various locations aroudn the UK, including Wales, Scotland and England. We are organised around collective decsion within a flat structure.
Platform works towards a just future beyond fossil fuels.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.