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CENTRE FOR AGEING BETTER

Head of External Affairs (Maternity cover) - January 2027 start

· Maternity cover

· Salary £62,388 per annum

· Full or part time (minimum 4 days a week)

· Flexible working options will be supported.

· Central London Office and Hybrid working (at least 6 days a month office attendance)

We offer a pension scheme with employer contribution up to 10%, in addition you’ll receive 28 days holiday plus bank holidays, 24-hour access to a comprehensive employee assistance programme, cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan scheme and other benefits.

Help shape the country's response to an ageing society

The Centre for Ageing Better is looking for an experienced, politically astute and ambitious Head of External Affairs to join us on a maternity cover contract.

This is a unique opportunity to lead one of the country's most influential voices on ageing at a time of significant social, economic and political change. As Head of External Affairs, you will lead our communications, public affairs and campaigning work, helping us secure greater government attention, commitment and action on the opportunities and challenges of our ageing society.

Alongside leading a high-performing team, you will personally drive some of our most strategically important influencing priorities. Working closely with senior leaders across the organisation, you will lead high-profile programmes of work across our action areas of Work, Homes & Communities and Ageism & Inequality, helping to ensure that government, parliamentarians, local leaders and other decision-makers take meaningful action to improve the experience of ageing. These programmes will sit at the heart of our efforts to make ageing a mainstream political priority and secure practical policy change.

This is an ideal role for someone who combines outstanding strategic leadership with a track record of delivering high-impact public affairs, policy and communications programmes that have achieved real-world change.

About you

We're looking for someone who brings a blend of strategic leadership, political awareness and hands-on delivery experience.

You will have:

• Significant experience in public affairs, strategic communications, campaigning and policy influencing.
• A strong track record of securing policy, political or systems change through effective influencing and stakeholder engagement.
• Experience of working successfully with Westminster, Whitehall and other senior decision-makers.
• Demonstrable experience of developing policy positions and translating evidence, research and evaluation into compelling content and influencing narratives.
• Experience of leading high-profile programmes, campaigns or initiatives that have attracted government attention and resulted in action from decision-makers.
• A track record of developing and delivering integrated communications and influencing strategies that achieve measurable impact.
• Excellent writing, stakeholder management and political influencing skills.
• Strong leadership and people management experience, with the ability to motivate and develop high-performing teams.
• The ability to think strategically while also delivering complex projects and responding to a fast-changing external environment.

About us

The Centre for Ageing Better is an independent centre of excellence on ageing and demographic change. We work with national and local government, industries, businesses and community organisations to improve how people experience ageing. Our work focuses on creating better workplaces, homes and communities, while tackling ageism and addressing inequality in later life.

The Centre for Ageing Better is a charitable foundation funded by The National Lottery Community Fund (NLCF) and part of the government’s What Works Network. We are fortunate to have monies remaining from our endowment from the NLCF to fully fund us until 2029, and we will be looking for new funding opportunities to sustain activity beyond 2029.

We are striving to create an organisation that reflects our society and the communities we serve with a workplace where everyone feels empowered and where diversity of background and thought is celebrated. We know there is more work to be done and are committed to continuing to improve our practice around Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion.

We very much welcome applications from minority groups and those underrepresented in our workforce. This especially includes people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, LGBT+ people, and Disabled people. 

We are a Positive Action employer, therefore in recruitment where two candidates are ‘as qualified as’ each other, we will favour a candidate from any group identified as currently underrepresented in our team based on protected characteristics as outlined in the Equality Act 2010.

To Apply

To apply, please follow the link to complete an application form and Equality and Diversity form.

Please address in your supporting statement how you meet the person specification for the role as fully as possible to demonstrate why you should be shortlisted for an interview for this post.

Failure to do so will result in your application being automatically rejected.

We understand the benefits of using AI in the workplace and the support that generative AI can offer. However, we would encourage you to write your supporting statement and complete your application without the use of AI and if you do use AI, to avoid copy and pasting and to consider the value it will add. We encourage you to showcase your experience and knowledge using your own unique voice.

The closing date for this role is 9am on Monday 28th September, with in- person interviews to take place during the week commencing 26th October with an expected W/C 4th January start date.

Scope and senior accountability

Hold delegated senior responsibility for the performance, quality, workforce, safeguarding and development of the children and family services portfolio.

Lead EHWP+ as a key commissioned programme, ensuring that delivery remains aligned with contract requirements, local need, agreed outcomes and Spring North’s values.

Hold senior accountability for the effective management and delivery of counselling and therapeutic services within the portfolio, including service quality, practitioner practice, professional standards, supervision arrangements and continuous improvement.

Balance strategic direction with strong operational grip, intervening early where delivery, safety, quality, finance or partnership performance is at risk.

Contribute to whole-organisation leadership, growth, resilience and culture as an active member of the Senior Leadership Team.

4. Key accountabilities

4.1 Strategic leadership of children and family services

• Develop and implement a clear strategic direction for EHWP+ and the wider children and family services portfolio, aligned with Spring North’s organisational strategy and local commissioning priorities.
• Maintain a strong understanding of the changing needs of children, young people, parents and carers, using data, lived experience, professional insight and community intelligence to shape priorities.
• Create a more connected portfolio by linking existing services, clarifying pathways and reducing gaps, duplication and avoidable hand-offs for families.
• Promote early help, prevention, relationship-based and strengths-based approaches that improve emotional health, wellbeing, resilience and family outcomes.
• Keep abreast of policy, legislation, evidence and emerging practice affecting children, young people and families, translating these into proportionate action.

4.2 EHWP+ programme leadership and delivery

• Provide senior leadership and direction to the EHWP+ team, creating a shared focus on access, quality, outcomes, partnership delivery and continuous improvement.
• Lead the operational delivery of counselling and therapeutic provision, ensuring clear service models, referral and allocation arrangements, appropriate caseload management, safe thresholds, effective practitioner deployment and consistent therapeutic practice across employed teams and delivery partners.
• Ensure counselling and therapeutic interventions are delivered by appropriately qualified and competent practitioners, with suitable induction, supervision, continuing professional development and access to specialist or clinical advice where required.
•  Ensure that service plans, capacity, resources and delivery arrangements are sufficient to meet contractual commitments and respond appropriately to local need.
• Establish clear management arrangements, decision-making routes and performance expectations across employed teams and delivery partners.
•  Review delivery data, caseload or activity information, outcomes, waiting times, feedback and emerging risks; agree and monitor corrective action where required.
• Ensure that the voice of children, young people, parents and carers is visible in-service design, review and improvement.
• Support effective mobilisation, change and service redesign when contracts, need or evidence require a different delivery response.

The Role

This is an exciting time to join Starlight. We already have considerable expertise across influence, insight and communications and a strong platform from which to build. Recent opportunities with broadcasters, parliamentarians and other influential audiences demonstrate the potential to take Starlight's voice further. The Head of Influence, Insight and Communications will bring these strands together, working with talented colleagues to spot, shape and amplify opportunities that advance our ambition to end preventable trauma in children's healthcare.

As we enter the next phase of Starlight's development, with our new strategy to end preventable trauma for children in healthcare, our focus is on increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of our influencing work. Our aim is to build on our strong existing capability, bringing together complementary specialist teams to create greater strategic impact, stronger external influence and an even more integrated approach to delivering our mission.

This new Influence, Insight and Communications role brings together the existing influencing, insight and communications teams, recognising the significant overlap between strategic communications, public affairs, campaigns, insight and organisational influence. The role will provide strategic leadership across these disciplines, enabling Starlight to connect research, lived experience, policy engagement and communications around organisational priorities, and maximise our external impact.

The role will sit within the Play in Healthcare team, reflecting the shift in emphasis of our communications and marketing activity towards influencing, campaigning and systems change. It plays a critical part in making children's experiences visible, amplifying the voices of children and families, and building understanding of why emotionally safe healthcare matters.

Reporting to the Director of Play in Healthcare, and working closely with the Director of Income Generation & Engagement, the postholder will bring together Starlight's existing expertise in influence, insight and communications to translate evidence and lived experience into compelling narratives, policy positions, thought leadership and strategic communications that strengthen Starlight's reputation, influence decision-makers and support organisational growth. The postholder will identify, shape and amplify opportunities to position Starlight as a trusted voice on children's healthcare experiences and the role of play in supporting children's wellbeing, development and emotional safety.

About Starlight

Starlight is the national charity for children's play in healthcare.

We believe that healthcare should be a more humane and child-centred experience for every child. We work across the UK to champion the importance of play during treatment, care and recovery, supporting children, parents and carers, and healthcare professionals.

Our ambition is to end preventable trauma in children's healthcare.

We are a multi-award-winning, creative and innovative organisation with a busy and varied fundraising portfolio. We are seeking an experienced leader with significant expertise in fundraising compliance, risk management and supporter experience to help shape and enable our fundraising ambitions while ensuring the highest standards of governance, ethics and regulatory compliance. This is a maternity cover role until December 2027.

As Head of Compliance & Supporter Care, you will lead our Fundraising Compliance, Supporter Care and Office Management functions, providing strategic oversight across these critical areas. Acting as War Child UK's senior lead for fundraising compliance and due diligence, you will work closely with the CEO, Leadership Group and Board of Trustees to manage organisational risk, strengthen compliance frameworks and support innovative fundraising activity within an ethical and regulatory framework.

You will also lead our Supporter Care function, ensuring an excellent supporter experience, high service standards and continuous improvement, while providing strategic oversight of office management, facilities, health and safety to ensure colleagues have the environment and support they need to deliver our mission.

Reporting to the Supporter Engagement Director, this is a highly visible leadership role requiring strong judgement, relationship-building skills and the ability to balance organisational ambition with effective governance and risk management.

Working hours: Full-time (37.5 hours per week) is preferred. We are also open to applications from candidates seeking a reduced working pattern of 30-33.75 hours per week (0.8-0.9 FTE), worked across 4 or 5 days.

Hybrid working: This role is based on a hybrid working arrangement, with an expectation of around two days per week in our London office. There is flexibility regarding which days these are, depending on business and team needs. Given the nature of the role, regular in-person attendance is important for office oversight, relationship-building and key meetings.

If you share our values and believe that children’s lives should not be torn apart by war, we want to hear from you.

Below are some of the experiences and qualities we’re looking for. You can read the full job advert on our careers site.

• An experienced fundraising compliance expert, with excellent knowledge of Data Protection, Premium Rate Services regulation, Charities Acts, Code of Fundraising Practice, ASA codes and Gift Aid

• Experienced in working closely with or leading a Supporter Care function, with demonstrable knowledge of:
  • Supporting and motivating a team
  • Working with donors in potentially vulnerable circumstances
  • Complex complaints handling
• Someone who is experienced in creating and implementing policy frameworks and processes in the areas of compliance and due diligence, in a way which is appropriate to the organisation and rolled out in an engaging and audience appropriate way.
• Detailed, process driven and excellent at retaining and translating important information for fundraisers with little knowledge of compliance practices.
• Able to identify and effectively communicate potential risks or areas of concern for the organisation in relation to our policies and external regulation.
• Someone who enjoys working collaboratively to find creative solutions and mitigations to ensure War Child can continue to fundraise innovatively.
• A confident presenter and communicator who is passionate about building and maintaining inter-personal relationships at work with a variety of stakeholders, from junior member of staff through to CEO.

• Someone with a good understanding of the principles of fundraising regulation and data protection requirements, and their implications for fundraising policy and practice.

What we can offer you

At War Child, we genuinely value different ways of working. Our goal is to support our employees to do their best work while ensuring we continue to deliver for children affected by conflict. Some of our benefits include:

• Flexible working culture and flexible public holidays
• 28 days annual leave (pro-rata), plus bank holidays, which increases by one day per year on your work anniversary, up to a maximum of 33 days.
• Pension- 5% employer contribution (increasing to 6% after one year’s service), with minimum employee contribution.
• Health and wellbeing- employees may take advantage of a healthcare cash plan, a GP 24/7 helpline, cancer cover, and a range of wellbeing initiatives and training. All employees have access to free, confidential one-to-one wellbeing consultations with trained counsellors.

This role offers an incredible opportunity to make a tangible difference at a time of unprecedented need. Join us in standing up for children affected by war and help create a future where no child’s life is torn apart by conflict.

About the Royal School for the Blind Charity

The Royal School for the Blind Charity Liverpool is a charity that runs both a School for young people aged 2-19 years old and an adult day service for young adults over the age of 19 with vision impairment, sensory, or additional needs. Although our funding comes from a variety of sources, we are starting to fundraise to support our income and make our work more sustainable for the future. Income generated will support the development of our pupils and young adults, prepare them for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life and encourage their independence, communication and mobility. 

Why this role matters

We have ambitious plans for the future including building a new Centre to provide opportunities for therapies and independent growth for young people, and we know that developing sustainable voluntary income will be critical to achieving them. That's why we're investing in fundraising and creating this new role. As our first Development Manager, you'll have the opportunity to build our fundraising approach from the ground up, developing new relationships with individuals, businesses, communities and charitable funders and helping us tell the story of our work to new audiences.

Role Overview and Application Process

Job Title: Charity Development Manager

Hours: Full Time (37 hours per week)

Location: This role can be either office-based at the Royal School for the Blind Charity, or hybrid. 

Responsible to: Charity Leadership Group and managed by Head of Central Services

Pay Scale: £35k - £40k, depending on experience (NJC 26-30)

Term: Two-year fixed term in the first instance, with the ambition to establish fundraising as a sustainable long-term function within the charity.

This is a rare opportunity to build and shape a new fundraising operation from the ground up, playing a pivotal role in the long-term growth and sustainability of the Royal School for the Blind Charity. As the function develops, there will be scope to expand its reach and impact, offering excellent potential for career progression.

The Charity Development Manager will lead efforts to secure vital income that underpins the charity’s vision and purpose, driving support through donor engagement, targeted campaigns, and strategic fundraising initiatives. Our long-term ambition is to build a diversified fundraising programme capable of generating approximately £400,000 annually. This role will be instrumental in developing and delivering a growing, high-performing fundraising portfolio.

We are looking for an experienced fundraising professional who can design and deliver a robust, evidence-based fundraising strategy. This will involve gaining a deep understanding of the charity’s mission, stakeholders, and audiences, as well as the broader funding landscape, creating a diversified and effective approach that maximizes income and long-term sustainability. This is an exciting time for the Charity as we become much more outward-looking. Alongside our existing work, we have begun a capital building project to enhance our resources. When completed, the new Rushton Centre will house facilities which are open to the public, including a hydrotherapy pool and a café. At the heart of this is a wish to make the Royal School for the Blind Charity part of the fabric of the City.

In this new post we are looking for someone who can help open up our work to the wider public: the role is well suited to an experienced fundraiser looking for autonomy and the opportunity to help shape the next chapter in the charity’s history.

Although this is a new standalone fundraising role, you won't be building the function in isolation. The post sits within a well-established and supportive team and will be strategically led by the Charity Leadership group and Board of Trustees. In addition, you will have access to colleagues across our services to help bring our impact to life, and support to develop campaigns and engage new audiences. Alongside this, the Charity is currently fundraising for a capital project for a significant new building to resource our activities and reach out into the wider community. Whilst this is a separate project, in the future there will be exciting opportunities to link the new building into the core fundraising strategy.

For full roles and responsibilities please see the application pack.

Applications close: 9am on Wednesday 21st October

Shortlisting: Thursday 22nd October

Interviews: Wednesday 4th November

Preferred start date: January 2027 (or as soon as possible)

Safeguarding

The Charity considers safeguarding as its highest priority and fosters an active safeguarding culture. The post will be subject to a range of pre-employment checks, including collection of 3 references, online checks and an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check. 

The National Biodiversity Network Trust is the UK charity dedicated to making biodiversity data accessible and useful. We co-ordinate the National Biodiversity Network, develop the NBN Atlas, support iNaturalistUK and are developing the NBN Record Manager. Our work connects biological recording, digital infrastructure and better decisions for nature across the UK. 

Our vision is Nature thriving everywhere, in all its diversity.
Our mission is Making data work for nature.

We are looking for an experienced leader to undertake a newly-created Head of Data & Digital role reporting to the Chief Executive Officer on a full-time fixed-term contract of 24 months.
 

Purpose of Job
 

• Lead the NBN Trust’s data and digital function, providing strategic and functional leadership across the NBN Atlas, related digital products and services, and the Trust’s wider data and digital portfolio.

• Line manages the Trust’s data and technical team managers, ensuring clear priorities, strong performance, proportionate governance, and effective delivery across business as usual, funded projects, and strategic development.

• Ensure the Trust’s data and digital work is led in a way that is inclusive, accessible, and supportive of a diverse range of staff, partners, and users.

• Deliver the Trust’s 2-year National Lottery Heritage Fund’s organisational sustainability project, “Building a Sustainable Future for the UK’s Biodiversity Data Heritage”, including the development and testing of value-added data and digital services, hosted products, and support offers that strengthen financial resilience without compromising the Trust’s public good role.

• Support the strategic direction, stewardship, and future sustainability of the NBN Atlas, related digital products and services, and the Trust’s wider technical delivery, ensuring that risks, opportunities, and investment choices are well managed.

•  Play an active role in the NBN Trust’s Executive Team, contributing to organisational planning, funding development, cross Trust collaboration, and external engagement where this supports delivery and the Trust’s wider strategic objectives.

• The role provides strategic and functional leadership across the Trust’s data and digital work, working closely with the Principal Software Engineer as the Trust’s senior software engineering lead. 

Main Responsibilities
 

Strategic Leadership and Function Management
 

·   Lead the Trust’s data and digital function, aligning work with organisational priorities, the NBN Atlas strategy, and the wider Operating Plan.

·   Provide strategic advice to the CEO and senior colleagues on delivery priorities, service development, digital risk, technical resilience, and future investment needs.

·   Translate complex technical, delivery, and service development issues into clear options, trade-offs, and recommendations for the CEO, Executive Team, Board, and relevant committees.

·   Lead, line manage, and develop the Trust’s data and technical managers, and relevant technical project staff, ensuring clear objectives, strong management practice, accountability, wellbeing support, and effective performance management.

·   Build leadership capacity within the function, supporting managers to develop their teams, handle performance issues well, and contribute positively to the Trust’s culture and ways of working.

·   Assess capacity, sequencing, and resource pressures across the data and digital portfolio, working with team managers to identify priorities, trade-offs, and resourcing needs and advise the CEO accordingly.

·   Work across the Trust to improve prioritisation, sequencing, decision making, and resource allocation across data and digital activity.

·      Champion inclusive leadership and equality, diversity and inclusion in team management, service design, recruitment, and ways of working, helping ensure the Trust’s data and digital function is accessible, supportive, and well-led.

Data Infrastructure, Services, and Innovation
 

·    Provide strategic leadership for the stewardship, prioritisation, development, and continuous improvement of the NBN Atlas and related data and digital products and services, working with the relevant data, technical, and programme leads.

·    Ensure data and digital activity support the long-term accessibility, usability, quality, and public value of biodiversity records and related digital services.

·    Lead diagnostic work, market testing, and service development to identify viable value-added data and digital offers, working with relevant data, technical, programme, and commercial colleagues to shape propositions.

·    Oversee the selection, development, and testing of pilot services, hosted products, training, or support offers, working with the relevant delivery leads and refining propositions in light of evidence, demand, legal advice, licensing constraints, and delivery capacity.

Governance, Risk and Project Delivery
 

·    Lead delivery of the organisational resilience project within agreed scope, time, and budget, with support from colleagues and external consultants as required.

·    Ensure major data and digital programmes have proportionate project governance, reporting, stakeholder, and advisory arrangements in place, working with relevant programme and project leads and identifying additional project support where required.

·     Commission and manage consultants and contractors, ensuring briefs are clear, outputs are practical, and learning is embedded in delivery, working with relevant technical or data leads where specialist assessment or oversight is required.

·     Act as the senior staff lead for the Data and Technology Committee, working in partnership with its Trustee Chair and relevant data and technical leads to support effective oversight of the Trust’s data and digital infrastructure, strategic development, risk, and associated governance.

·     Oversee function-level risks relating to data and digital resilience, data governance, licensing, delivery capacity, and service sustainability, working with the relevant technical and data leads to ensure specialist risks are identified, managed, and escalated appropriately.

·     Balance governance, assurance, and innovation so that data and digital systems support delivery, resilience, and public value without creating unnecessary burden.

·      Work with finance and programme colleagues to ensure accurate budgeting, reporting, monitoring, and evidence of impact.

Partnerships, Income Development and External Engagement
 

·   Build and manage relationships with key partners, data providers, heritage and conservation organisations, public bodies, consultancies, funders, and prospective service users.

·   Help shape and test future income opportunities, including service offers, hosted portals, training, funded programmes, and strategic partnerships.

·    Develop and support fundable and deliverable future propositions arising from the work, ensuring the Trust is better positioned for long term resilience.

·    Act as the Trust’s UK Node Manager for GBIF, leading relationships, coordination, and representation linked to the UK Node function, and ensuring this role supports the Trust’s wider strategic, technical, and partnership objectives.

·    Represent the Trust externally on biodiversity data infrastructure, digital leadership, service development, standards, and innovation, working alongside relevant technical and data leads where specialist expertise is required

Trust Wide Contribution
 

·    Play an active role in the Executive Team, contributing to organisational planning, business improvement, and wider strategic discussions.

·    Keep the wider NBN Trust team up to date with, and involved in, relevant data and digital activity as appropriate.

·    Contribute to Trust wide initiatives, events, business planning, and other activities as needed.

·    Share ideas, lessons learned, and opportunities openly to improve organisational performance.

General Responsibilities  
 

• Attend any required learning and development opportunities. 
• Collaborate effectively with other departments.  
• Contribute to a respectful and inclusive working environment. 
• Ensure commitment to continuous professional development. 
• Follow organisational policies including Health & Safety, Cybersecurity, IT, Finance, and EDI.  

The ability to travel occasionally is required, including international travel. Candidates must also be based in and have the right to work in the UK, and be able to work effectively from home. 

These are the criteria we will be looking for in your application. If you don't meet all of them in full, but can offer something else that would help you excel in the role, we'd still encourage you to apply.

Essential Experience and Qualities
 

·   Strong leadership experience in data, digital, technical, product, or programme roles, ideally with responsibility for teams, delivery, and strategic planning.

·   Ability to operate at both strategic and practical levels, moving between organisational leadership, service design, risk management, and delivery oversight.
·   Experience of commissioning and managing consultants, contractors, or specialist external support to deliver clear and practical outputs.
·   Experience of developing partnerships, shaping propositions, or securing income through funded programmes, service offers, or strategic collaboration.
·   Good judgement, with the ability to assess trade-offs, challenge assumptions, and make proportionate decisions in a resource-constrained environment.
·   Strong communication and relationship management skills, including confidence with senior stakeholders, funders, partners, and technical specialists.

·   Knowledge of biodiversity data infrastructure, environmental data, heritage data, or closely related fields would be beneficial, but is not essential if the candidate can learn quickly and lead credibly.

·   Experience of working with Boards, committees, or governance groups, including presenting complex issues clearly and supporting effective decision-making.

 

Independent Age is the national charity working towards ending financial hardship in later life. 

Our Helpline and expert advisers offer free information and advice to older people without enough money to live on, while our external training equips professionals with the information they need to support older people on low incomes. Through our grants programme, we fund and support hundreds of local charities working with older people across the UK.  We use the knowledge and insight gained from our support services and partnerships to highlight the issues experienced by older people in poverty and campaign for change. 

We believe no one should face financial hardship in later life. We would love to find individuals from all walks of life and diverse backgrounds to join us on this journey.

Responsibilities and Person Specification:

As Head of Services Development, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of Independent Age’s services and maximising our impact for older people facing financial hardship. Reporting to the Director of Services, you will lead service development, innovation, quality, evaluation and strategic change across our service provision (information, advice and external training) ensuring they remain effective, evidence-led and responsive to changing needs. Working closely with colleagues across the charity and external partners, you will translate strategy into practical improvements, develop new opportunities for impact and collaboration, and embed a culture of continuous learning, improvement and innovation.

We use the knowledge and insight gained from our support services and partnerships to highlight the issues experienced by older people in poverty and campaign for change.

We're looking for a strategic and collaborative leader with experience of leading complex projects, organisational change and service improvement programmes. 

You will be skilled at turning strategy into delivery, bringing together people from different teams and disciplines to develop practical solutions that improve outcomes. You will be comfortable using data, insight and evidence to drive decision-making and have a track record of stakeholder engagement and identifying opportunities for innovation and growth. 

You will also bring experience of impact measurement, evaluation, quality assurance or performance frameworks, with the ability to use evidence to demonstrate value and improve services. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills are essential, alongside the confidence to influence senior stakeholders and work across organisational boundaries. An understanding of the needs of older people, the wider ageing sector and the role that data, learning and collaboration play in delivering social impact would be advantageous.

For full details on the role and requirements, please review the job description and person specification.  If your experience doesn’t align perfectly with all of the criteria in the person specification but you do meet most of them and are excited about the role, we encourage you to apply anyway. 

This is a full-time role, 35 hours per week, which you can choose to work over five days or a 9 day fortnight. 

What it’s like to work at Independent Age:

We celebrate diversity at Independent Age and champion the differences that make each of us unique. We actively support and encourage people from a variety of backgrounds, experiences and skill sets to join us and help shape what we do. We aim to attract and retain a wide range of talent and create an environment where everyone can feel safe, protected, welcome and included.

We offer great benefits including 28 days annual leave plus public holidays, a generous pension scheme with life assurance, and fantastic learning and development opportunities. We also offer a number of enhanced leave provisions and benefits.

We know that a good work life balance helps us perform at our best and supports wellbeing. Flexible working hours and hybrid working is standard for all (those contracted to work in the office usually attend 1 day per week). But if you need a different form of flexibility, we are always happy to talk flexible working. 

With an employee engagement score of 98%, colleagues say Independent Age is a great place to work. You can find out more about what it’s like to work at Independent Age on the careers page of our website.

Application Process:

To apply, please submit a CV and a Supporting Statement, detailing how your skills and experience meet the criteria within the Job Description and Person Specification, by visiting our jobs website.

We are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible to all. If you require any specific arrangements or adjustments to enable you to fully participate in the recruitment process, such as having the job description in a larger text format or to apply in an alternative format, please get in touch with us via the email address on the ‘Contact Us’ page on our jobs site. 

To support our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion our hiring managers use anonymous shortlisting. Please don’t include your name, photo, or any information that could indicate your gender or age in your CV and supporting statement, and don’t include your name in the title of any documents that you upload. However, please do include all dates of employment.  

Independent Age is committed to safeguarding and follows Safer Recruitment practices to ensure we are safeguarding those we work with. We therefore ask that you supply your full work history with explanations for any gaps in the application documents you submit and, if offered the post, we will require a minimum of two employment references including your current or most recent employer. A BASIC DBS check will be carried out for the successful candidate.

Closing Date: Friday 25 September at 11:59pm

Interview Dates: Monday 12 October at our London office, 18 Avonmore Road W14 8RR

The Head of Operations will provide strategic leadership and oversight of HEY Smile Foundation’s governance arrangements, organisational systems and infrastructure, human resources and culture, and buildings and facilities. The role will ensure Smile has the people, processes, controls and resources to deliver its purpose reliably and respond confidently to future opportunities. Working closely with the CEO and senior leadership team, the postholder will translate organisational strategy into a clear operational plan, strengthen accountability and lead improvements across the charity. They will provide the CEO and trustees with timely information, assurance and practical recommendations on operational performance, capacity and risk.

This is a senior leadership role combining strategic oversight with the ability to secure delivery through colleagues, managers and specialist providers. The postholder will establish clear responsibilities, standards and reporting, intervening directly where necessary and building capacity so that routine delivery does not depend on the CEO.

We're looking for the person to grow NHS charitable funds 🩷🩵💜

We're looking for a Head of Fundraising, a senior new role delivered in partnership with ELFT Charity, the NHS charity of East London NHS Foundation Trust.

This is the Charity's dedicated full-time fundraising post, and it marks a new phase of sustainable growth. You'll lead the day-to-day delivery of the fundraising strategy: building the relationships, propositions, campaigns and systems that grow support for work going beyond what core NHS funding can provide, across East London, Bedfordshire and Luton.

From community fundraising, grants and supporter development through to corporate partnerships and legacies, there is significant scope to shape and grow this function. You'll be employed by Compass Wellbeing CIC and work as an integral part of ELFT Charity.

If you bring broad fundraising experience, an entrepreneurial approach and the ability to turn ideas into compelling cases for support, we'd love to hear from you.

📍 East London, Bedfordshire & Luton | 🕐 Full-time, permanent | 💷 £50,000–£55,000

Head of Housing Development

Location: London/Hybrid

Salary: £80,000.00 per annum

Weekly Hours: 35

Reference: YMC1237090

About YMCA

Founded in England in 1844, YMCA today is a global Movement and the world's largest youth-focused charity, reaching more than 58 million people across 119 countries. In England & Wales, we are a federation of 80 local YMCAs, based in over 700 communities across 168 local authorities, supporting young people and communities to reach their potential. We are also the largest provider of supported accommodation in the country — a role that puts housing at the heart of our mission.

YMCA England & Wales is a £23 million organisation of more than 400 colleagues, supporting the wider Federation. Combined, the Movement's turnover across England & Wales reached £386 million in 2025–26. As we grow our income and impact, housing is one of our clearest opportunities for scale: through our 10,000 Homes ambition, we are building a national platform that will let local YMCAs deliver affordable and supported housing faster, at lower risk, and with a unified voice. As we take this ambition forward, we are seeking an established and inspirational Head of Housing Development to lead one of the most pivotal roles in our organisation.

About The Opportunity

This is a brand-new role. Our Head of Housing Development will establish and lead our national Housing Centre of Expertise: the capacity- and capability-building engine behind our 10,000 Homes ambition. This is not a scheme-delivery role — local YMCAs build, own and operate their own homes. Instead, you will mobilise the talent and resources of the Federation around a shared platform for scale: guiding local YMCAs from feasibility through to investment-readiness, brokering the partnerships and expertise no single YMCA could assemble alone, and leading a single national conversation with strategic partners including Homes England, the Greater London Authority and Welsh Government. You will establish a panel of preferred development partners, support funding bids, and help YMCAs learn from one another rather than rebuilding expertise scheme by scheme. Success will be measured by the pipeline and capability you build across the movement, not by any single project.

About You

You bring real knowledge of social and affordable housing development, including structuring significant financing models, grant regimes and the regulatory landscape, alongside hands-on experience of property development projects and securing private and public-sector funding. You know how to build strategic partnerships, convene and influence people you do not manage, and translate strategy into coordinated action across independent partners. Experience mobilising change across a federated, membership or infrastructure organisation would be a strong advantage, combined with an in-depth knowledge of  Homes England, Greater London Authority and Welsh Government or similar agencies. Above all, you are a natural relationship-builder who can represent YMCA with confidence at a senior, national level, while helping local YMCAs move further and faster together than they could alone.

Who we are
We are OUTpatients, the UK’s LGBTIQ+ cancer charity. Proudly led by and for our community, we are here to shake up the system, advocate for equity, and stand up for every LGBTIQ+ person affected by cancer. Our passion to support others is born out of personal experience; we understand what it’s like to not see yourself reflected in the services you use, and feel like you are left in the margins at a time when you most need personalised support. That is why we host peer support, educate healthcare professionals and help to shape national policy so that nobody has to go through cancer alone.

The position

The Head of Fundraising & Business Development is one of three new senior leadership roles we're creating alongside our CEO, the first time OUTpatients has built a leadership team of this kind. It's a rare chance to build an income generation function from scratch, not inherit and manage one that already exists.

You'll be the driving force behind how we fund our growth: designing and delivering a multi-channel income strategy spanning trusts and grants, corporate partnerships, individual giving and commercialised education products, and personally securing the gifts and partnerships that sustain our peer support, healthcare education and advocacy work. This is a hands-on, deeply personal role. You'll write the bids, pitch the sponsors and build the relationships yourself, not oversee others doing it.

Working closely with our incoming Chief Operating Officer and Chief Medical Officer, and reporting directly to our CEO, your work will directly shape how many more LGBTIQ+ people affected by cancer we're able to reach.

To learn more about the role, please read the attached Job Description.

About Hearing Dogs for Deaf People

National charity Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, trains dogs to transform the lives of deaf people and provides hearing loss services – because nobody with hearing loss should feel alone.

About the role

The New Business Manager will lead the proactive identification, cultivation, and conversion of new corporate partners. The role will be responsible for driving the development of tailored, high-impact proposals and pitches to engage relevant companies, securing strategic, multi-faceted partnerships that align with the charity’s mission and plans for growth.  

Working closely with the Head of Corporate Partnerships, the post-holder will play a key role in expanding our portfolio and building a robust, diverse pipeline of high-value corporate support. The role is based in the Income Generation Directorate. 

Key Responsibilities

New Business Development:

• Build a robust new business pipeline by prospecting, developing and winning new income from major, national and new corporate partners.  
• Negotiate, tailor and secure a variety of different kinds of new partnerships. 
• Lead on managing new business pitches including supporting and briefing senior stakeholders accompanying meetings.  
• Champion initiatives, projects and events that help the team to cultivate and win new partners.  

Relationship Building:

• Build strong, influential relationships with key decision-makers internally and externally.  
• Represent the charity at external events, meetings, and networking opportunities to grow visibility and connections.  

Strategy and Collaboration:

• Contribute to the development of the corporate new business strategy, including pipeline planning, prospect segmentation and market targeting.  
• Work closely with the Case for Support Manager and the Marketing and Communications Team to produce compelling, bespoke collateral. 
• Collaborate with the wider Income Generation team to ensure alignment across donor and partner strategies. 

Reporting and Administration:

• Maintain accurate prospect and pipeline data on the charity’s CRM system. 
• Produce regular activity reports, forecasts, and insight for the Head of Corporate Partnerships and the Senior Leadership Team. 
• Ensure compliance with internal policies and ethical fundraising standards.  

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

Essential:

• Experience of building strong successful long-term corporate partnerships.  
• Strong track record of securing multiple six-seven figure sums from partnerships and delivering against income targets.  
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage and influence stakeholders at all levels. 
• Excellent communication skills including diplomacy, presentation, negotiation and influencing skills.  
• A demonstrable entrepreneurial approach, with strong networking and research skills.  
• Highly self-motivated, proactive and comfortable working to ambitious targets.  
• Strong organisational skills with attention to detail and a methodical approach to pipeline development.  

Desirable:

• Experience working in a charity fundraising or high-value partnerships team. 
• Familiarity with CRM systems (e.g. Raiser’s Edge, Salesforce) and fundraising best practices.  
• Understanding of disability, health, or animal welfare sectors.  

Benefits:

• Employee Assistance Programme
• Death in Service Payment
• Annual leave enhancements recognising long service 
• Day off for your birthday 
• Defined contribution group personal pension plan 
• Enhanced sick pay 
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay 
• Eye care 
• Hearing tests 
• Learning and Development opportunities 
• Discounts on merchandise at Hearing Dog gift shops 
• Pet Dog Policy

Closing date: 14th October 2026.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 due to its duties involving the protection of children and/or adults at risk. Applicants are therefore required to disclose all spent and unspent convictions, cautions, warnings, and reprimands, as well as any relevant non-conviction information. The successful candidate will be required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check in accordance with the Police Act 1997 (Part V). 

UK Youth has launched an ambitious new strategy to widen the reach and deepen the impact of youth work and outdoor learning. At the heart of that strategy is a clear commitment: We Back Youth Work Leaders.

As our new Head of Network Development, you will turn that commitment into action.

You will lead the development and delivery of a powerful national offer that equips youth work leaders with the investment, support, relationships and connections they need to thrive. This includes leading our Grants+ approach—combining significant, multi-year grant funding with tailored organisational-development support—and developing partnerships that strengthen youth sector infrastructure locally, regionally and across the UK nations.

This role is about much more than managing a network. We are evolving towards a more relational way of working: listening deeply to youth-work leaders, understanding the realities they face, involving them in shaping our work and building relationships founded on trust, respect and shared purpose. You will ensure organisations can access the right support, expertise and opportunities—and that their insight continually shapes UK Youth’s work.

You will have the opportunity to lead the delivery of the £13 million UK Youth Fund, strengthen the resilience and effectiveness of grassroots youth organisations, and help create a more connected and equitable system of support for the wider sector.

We are looking for someone with deep knowledge and experience of youth work and the youth sector—someone who can talk the talk and walk the walk with youth organisation leaders. You will bring substantial experience of the youth work sector and infrastructure, organisational development and capacity building, alongside the strategic and operational leadership needed to deliver significant grant-making activity and complex partnerships.

You will be an inclusive and credible leader who can turn ambitious strategy into excellent delivery, bring people and organisations together, and remain focused on what youth work leaders need to succeed.

Across the country, youth workers are changing—and often saving—young lives. This is your opportunity to ensure the people and organisations doing that vital work have the investment, infrastructure and support they deserve.

Purpose of the job

The Head of Network Development will lead the operationalisation of UK Youth’s new We Back Youth Work Leaders strategic pillar. The role will turn our ambition to equip youth-work leaders with the skills, networks and confidence to deliver exceptional support into a coherent network development offer—leading our Grants+ approach of multi-year funding alongside tailored organisational development, and strengthening youth-sector infrastructure locally, regionally and across the UK nations.

Central to the role will be embedding UK Youth’s increasingly relational approach to its network: building trusted, mutually beneficial relationships with youth-work leaders; listening to and understanding their needs; involving them in shaping our support and connecting organisations to the right opportunities, expertise and infrastructure. Reporting to the Director of Network Delivery, the postholder will be responsible for translating this strategic ambition into high-quality, well-governed delivery, while ensuring that learning and insight from the network continually improve our work and contribute to securing sustainable investment in youth work and outdoor learning.

Why work at UK Youth?

Every young person deserves a youth worker. UK Youth exists to make that a reality. Our vision is a society that backs every young person - through each spark, struggle and success.

As the UK’s national infrastructure body for youth work, we strengthen and champion a diverse network of youth organisations, unlock investment, shape policy and build the evidence base for what works. At a time of growing need and inequality of access, our work has never been more important.

We are entering an exciting new phase of our strategy - focused on long-term resilience, income diversification and a transformational Capital Appeal to develop Avon Tyrrell as a national centre of excellence for outdoor learning. Joining UK Youth means being part of an ambitious, impact-driven organisation committed to strengthening youth work for generations to come.

Key responsibilities

 Portfolio leadership and delivery

• Lead the strategic and operational delivery of UK Youth’s network development portfolio, translating organisational strategy and funded commitments into clear plans, outcomes, budgets, milestones and accountabilities.

• Ensure programmes and services are delivered to a high standard, on time and within budget, with effective governance, performance management, risk control and escalation to the Director of Network Delivery.

• Mobilise new initiatives and partnerships, establishing proportionate delivery models, systems, teams and governance arrangements.

• Lead continuous improvement across the portfolio, responding effectively to evidence, partner feedback, changing needs and the external environment.

• Be a champion of UK Youth’s network across all of UK Youth’s work.

Grant making and organisational development

• Lead the delivery of UK Youth’s significant, multi-year grant-making portfolio, including the £13 million UK Youth Fund, ensuring responsible stewardship of charitable and restricted funds.

• Ensure effective management of the full grant lifecycle, including programme design, application and assessment, due diligence, decision-making, contracting, payments, monitoring, reporting, complaints and closure.

• Maintain robust and proportionate grant governance, financial controls, safeguarding assurance, risk management, data quality and compliance with funder and regulatory requirements.

• Lead an integrated organisational development offer alongside grant funding, enabling smaller youth and outdoor learning organisations to strengthen their financial sustainability, leadership, governance, workforce and resilience.

• Embed open, trusting, accessible and equitable grant-making practice, reducing unnecessary barriers while maintaining appropriate accountability.

Network and sector infrastructure support

• Develop and deliver UK Youth’s approach to engaging, connecting and supporting our national network, informed by the needs and experiences of youth work leaders and organisations.

• Create opportunities for peer learning, collaboration, knowledge exchange and access to relevant support across the network.

• Lead major initiatives that strengthen youth sector infrastructure locally, regionally and nationally, working with partners to improve the consistency, coordination and accessibility of support.

• Support regional and national partners to understand need, develop shared plans and approaches, and deliver locally relevant infrastructure and organisational support.

• Work with the Communications Team and relevant colleagues to ensure network communications are timely, accessible, coordinated and purposeful.

Experience we're after

• Substantial leadership experience within the youth sector, grounded in an in-depth understanding of youth work practice, youth work leadership and the realities facing youth organisations and their leaders.

• Experience of leading a complex, multi-year network development or comparable portfolio, translating strategy and funded commitments into successful delivery and managing significant budgets and risks.

• Experience of leading substantial grant making or onward funding activity, including governance, due diligence, financial oversight, risk and accountability.

• Substantial organisational development and capacity building experience, including diagnosing organisational needs and designing practical support that strengthens leadership, governance, financial sustainability, workforce and resilience.

• Experience of developing networks, partnerships or infrastructure across multiple organisations, regions or systems, with demonstrable credibility among youth organisation leaders.

What we can offer you

We offer a competitive range of benefits, good work/life balance, excellent learning and development opportunities and vibrant organisational culture:

• Flexible/Agile Working

• 27 days annual leave (24 days + 3 days winter closure) plus bank holidays (pro rata for part time employees)

• Funded training provided in; Safeguarding, GDPR, Information and Cyber Security & Equality & Diversity

• Other training available in support of your personal and professional development

• Pension scheme (currently UK Youth match employee contributions up to 5%)

• Membership of our life insurance scheme which would pay-out up to 4 times your salary

• Employee Assistance Programme to support employees both professionally and personally

• 20% discount off bookings at Avon Tyrrell, our New Forest Outdoor Centre, including camping, lodges and outdoor activities.

• IT equipment provided for the duration of contract

• CycleScheme and TechScheme

How to apply

If you would like to be considered for this fantastic opportunity, please complete an application via our completely anonymised recruitment system provided by Applied which looks to create a fair and unbiased application process for all. Scroll to the top of the page and start your application.

Closing date: 29th September 2026 at 09:00

Provisional First Stage Interview Dates: 5th & 6th October 2026

Provisional Final Stage Interview Dates (in person): 9th October 2026

As this role involves working in a regulated environment with young people, any offer will be conditional to satisfactory background checks, which include criminal record check and employment reference.

Please note CVs will be reviewed as the first stage of the recruitment process. Candidates who are shortlisted following the CV review will then have their sift questions assessed. Only candidates who meet the requirements at both stages will progress further in the recruitment process.

We are seeking a talented Director of Programme Delivery and Operations (maternity cover), fully committed to our widening participation cause, to join the Senior Leadership Team in a pivotal role for a growing and ambitious charity. 

You will have responsibility for ensuring we are providing high quality programme delivery to young people across our centre network, that are centres are functioning effectively, and that targets are monitored and met. And of course, you will need to have a genuine passion and enthusiasm for working with young people and helping them achieve their ambitions.

The Director of Programme Delivery and Operations is a Senior Leadership Team position within the charity and reports into the Chief Operating Officer. The role is responsible for oversight of all centre programme delivery and performance across our network of 44 local learning centres (and growing).

Contract

This is a fixed-term, maternity cover role until at least end of November 2027. This role can be either full-time or part-time (0.8 FTE) - responsibilities will be adjusted proportionally for part-time candidates.

Start date
January 2027 (or as otherwise agreed)

Working hours
Mon and Thurs: 09:30-18:00
Tues, Weds, Fri: 09:00-17:30
We are a delivery organisation providing frontline educational services for young people. We are an organisation with team members at different stages of their career, including many in their first roles: We are committed to nurturing talent and providing a developmental culture for all. Our team works in-person 4 days per week (or 3 days for a 0.8 FTE staff member)
with 1 day working from home. 

Location

The role would be based at one of our IntoUniversity centres in Birmingham, Bristol, Coventry, Leeds, London, Manchester or Nottingham, with regular travel across the network and to our Head Office in London. 

Salary

£62,500 (Plus additional London contribution of £2,800 for London-based candidates). Pro rata for part-time candidate.

Annual leave

This is the full-time staff entitlement and will be pro-rated for part-time staff.

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 
• Employee Assistance Programme including access to medical and legal support 
• Life Assurance scheme with AIG 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

Application deadline - 9am Monday 28th September 2026.

Interview Day (in-person at our Head Office in London) - Wednesday 7th October. Please ensure that you are available on this date.