Head of communication jobs in Charing cross, greater london

We're hiring: Communications Manager

The Work Rights Centre is looking for a passionate communications or press professional to lead our agenda-setting media coverage. The successful candidate will develop and deliver our comms strategy, lead on media relations to amplify our impactful work, and devise strategic systems-change campaigns.

This is an ideal opportunity for a candidate with a strong sense of justice and storytelling background, who values impact, teamwork, and the autonomy of working in a diverse and agile team. We can accommodate flexible and remote work, and offer enhanced pension, annual leave, parental leave and sick pay benefits.

• Pay: £38,000 - £42,000
• Contract length: Permanent
• Hours: Full-time (37.5 hours per week) or part-time
• Location: London hybrid (with possibility of remote-only for an exceptional candidate)

The role

You’ll set the strategic direction of our comms work, ensuring that it drives our strategic objectives, and lead the press office function. You’ll find the story potential in our legal and research work, and secure extensive media coverage through maintaining strong relationships with journalists from across the political spectrum.  You will create and publish high-quality and up to date content across our website, newsletter and social media channels. This is a real opportunity to lead on all aspects of the communications function in an impactful organisation, and contribute to systemic change.

About you

We seek an enthusiastic and passionate professional with minimum 3-5 years experience in a dedicated communications or press role.

You will also have:

• A track-record of securing high-quality, agenda-setting media coverage.
• Good contacts across editorial boards.
• A track-record of successful delivery against comms objectives on social media.
• Experience developing, executing, and evaluating data-driven communication strategies.
• Strong understanding of the UK political and media landscape, with a sharp eye for reactive opportunities.
• Good knowledge of website and social media content management systems.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Please download the job description for full responsibilities and complete person specifications.

To apply send two samples of your recently published work, along with your  CV and cover letter by the end of Sunday 9th August.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced international advocacy professional to lead our global engagement strategy as our inaugural Head of Advocacy. You will be joining us at a pivotal moment on our mission as we continue to develop and implement our international engagement strategy and launch a new Global Institute for the 1001 Critical Days. As our Head of Advocacy you will elevate our influence on the global stage. You will work with our senior team to drive international advocacy and engagement with policymakers, parliamentarians, international organisations, and strategic partners. Your work will help us to position babies – and the 1,001 critical days – at the heart of global policy agendas.

To apply please click on the redirect to recruiter button. Please note that interviews will take place on Thursday 13 August. 

Put simply, there is nowhere else quite like it. Seven acres of park, playgrounds and Grade II listed community buildings, tucked into the heart of Bloomsbury, dedicated entirely to children and families and where no adult can enter without a child.

It has been this way since 1936 and our jobs and potentially yours, as our new Head of Estates, is to protect this sanctuary for children and young people for generations to come.

This isn’t your average Head of Estates role – it’s a role for someone that cares deeply about their work and someone who will thrive on the prospect of developing and protecting this iconic space for children and young people. The prospect of being able to see the tangible impact of your work in bringing joy to thousands of children and families across London, will hold huge appeal.

What you’ll be doing:

• Overseeing the day-to-day compliance, management and maintenance of our park, playgrounds, sports facilities, and Grade II listed buildings.
• Leading a small, multi-skilled Grounds and Facilities team — recruiting them, developing them, and building a culture they're proud to be part of.
• Overseeing contractors and capital works, from routine repairs to major building projects. 
• Sitting on the Senior Management Team to shape the charity's strategic plans.
• Looking after a grounds and facilities budget of c.£400K.
• Acting as one of four Designated Safeguarding Leads, because looking after this site 
means looking after the children in it.
 

Who we’re looking for:

• An inspiring leader, capable of galvanising and getting the best out of our small but agile team – you’ll thrive on managing people, seeing your team as your greatest asset.
• A systems person, who knows that quality systems and structures are key to consistent, high quality facility management
• Someone who sees the bigger picture but also knows how to balance this with a hands on operational approach when needed.
• Someone with an exceptional attention to detail – you’ll see things that others don’t, set standards at the highest level and help others understand why quality matters.
• An experienced facilities professional, capable of balancing the demands of managing a complex, public space and heritage site.
• A team player – someone with the conviction to own what they do but who also understands 
the value of working and learning from those around them.

About Play for Progress

This is an exciting moment for Play for Progress (PFP) as we celebrate our 10th anniversary and reflect on a decade of creative, therapeutic and community-building work with young people navigating the asylum system. Play for Progress is a Croydon-based charity dedicated to supporting unaccompanied young people seeking asylum, aged between 14 and 25. Through creative engagement, education, therapeutic & mental health support and community-building, we provide a space where young people can access opportunities, develop their skills, and find the support they need to navigate the challenges of displacement.

Our mission is simple but profound: to ensure that every young person who comes to us has the community to survive, the space to heal, and the stability to thrive. We are a small, close-knit team driven by a deep commitment to the young people we serve and we are looking for a Head of Therapeutic Services who shares that commitment.

The Role

This is a management  position with both strategic and clinical responsibility. As Head of Therapeutic Services, you will drive and develop our therapeutic offer, ensuring that our young people receive high-quality, evidence-based, and culturally responsive care. You will lead our team of multi disciplinary  therapists, providing clinical oversight and operational support, and  hold a small caseload of clients. You will also manage and oversee our weekly group therapy sessions on Tuesday afternoons in Croydon.

As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, the Head of Therapeutic Services will contribute to organisational strategy, safeguarding, service development and build strong working processes across the different strands of Play for Progress. You will work closely with the Executive Director and senior leadership team to shape the organisation’s Therapy Department.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership and Service Development 

• Provide strategic leadership for all therapeutic services, including individual therapy, group work, and psychosocial support programmes

• Develop and implement the clinical strategy aligned with the charity’s mission and the specific needs of traumatised young refugees

• Represent therapeutic services within the Senior Leadership Team.

• Contribute to organisational planning, annual reports and funding reports.

Clinical Practice

• Maintain overall responsibility for clinical quality and standards of practice (clinical and non-clinical) to multi-disciplinary colleagues. 

• Ensure all therapeutic work is grounded in trauma-informed and culturally sensitive, anti-racist practices.

• Provide clinical supervision to therapists and frontline staff.

• Maintain a small therapeutic caseload, modelling excellent trauma-informed practice.

• Support therapists with complex clinical work and risk management.

• Oversee clinical record keeping and documentation.

• Oversee clinical risk assessment and risk management across the team.

• Ensure appropriate use of our CRM software, In-Form, for accurate case management and attendance data.

• Keep up to date with developments in refugee mental health and trauma practice.

Safeguarding 

• Act as one of the Designated Safeguarding Leads.

• Provide safeguarding support and oversight to the therapy team.

• Respond to safeguarding concerns arising from therapeutic work.

• Ensure safeguarding records are accurate and appropriately shared across therapy and casework team.

• Work closely with other safeguarding leads and attend safeguarding meetings.

• Promote a strong safeguarding culture across therapeutic services.

Operational Management 

• Oversee referrals and allocation of one-to-one therapy.

• Monitor and manage therapy waiting lists and service capacity.

• Coordinate delivery of weekly Creative Arts Therapy programmes.

• Ensure effective programme logistics, room bookings and resources.

• Monitor attendance, outcomes and service data using In-form.

• Liaise with the Welcome Team to ensure young people are informed about Tuesday sessions. 

• Maintain communication with young people through weekly messages and group updates.

• Support visits from funders and external stakeholders if ever required.

Team Leadership 

• Line manage and support a small team of therapists and therapeutic support workers

• Leading on recruitment, induction and probation.

• Support professional development and CPD for the team.

• Foster a reflective, compassionate, trauma-informed and well-supervised working culture

• Lead therapy team meetings and planning days.

• Provide day-to-day support on clinical and operational matters.

Partnership Working & External Relationships

• Build strong relationships with CAMHS, social workers, legal representatives and community partners.

• Attend multi-agency meetings where appropriate.

• Advocate for the mental health needs of young refugees.

• Contribute to funding applications and impact reporting.

• Represent Play for Progress externally when required.

Who You Are

Essential

• Qualified therapist (e.g. BACP, UKCP, BPS, or equivalent accreditation) with substantial post-qualification experience

• Demonstrable experience working therapeutically with children and young people who have experienced trauma, ideally including refugee or forced migration contexts

• Strong understanding of complex trauma, PTSD, loss, grief, and the psychosocial impacts of displacement and persecution

• Good skill or ability to provide clinical supervision

• Knowledge of safeguarding legislation and practice in the UK

• Cultural humility and experience working across cultural and linguistic differences

• Experience managing or leading a small team

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills

Desirable

• Specialist training in trauma-focused modalities (e.g. EMDR, TF-CBT, somatic approaches, narrative therapy)

• Understanding of PfP’s approach to therapy 

• Experience working with interpreters

• Knowledge of the UK asylum system and its impact on mental health

• Experience contributing to fundraising or grant reporting

• Second language relevant to the communities served

What We Offer

• A flexible, supportive and genuinely values-driven working environment

• The chance to be part of an organisation doing vital and meaningful work with young people

• 20 days annual leave pro rata, plus bank holidays

• Pension - 5% contributory pension scheme with 3% employer contribution 

• Hybrid and flexible working arrangements

• Regular supervision and access to professional development opportunities

• A warm, diverse and inclusive team that reflects the communities we serve

Our Commitment to Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

Play for Progress is an equal opportunities employer. We warmly welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, and particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic communities and from people with direct, generational and/or indirect lived experience of the refugee  or asylum journey. We believe that a team which reflects the diversity of the young people we support makes us stronger and more effective in our work.

If you require any adjustments to support you through the recruitment process, please feel free to contact us.

The Talent Set are delighted to be partnering with Guy’s & St Thomas’ Foundation to recruit a new Head of Funding, joining their Funding & Impact team as a key senior leader responsible for shaping and delivering the Foundation’s funding strategy.

Head of Funding
Salary - £70,000 - £74,000
Location: London with hybrid working (2dpw on site)

Guy's & St Thomas' Foundation is an independent charitable foundation working to build a healthier society. Through funding, partnerships, research and innovation, the Foundation tackles some of the most pressing health challenges facing communities, with a particular focus on reducing health inequalities and improving health outcomes.

The Foundation combines grant-making with strategic influence and long-term investment to create lasting social impact, supporting innovative projects and programmes that improve health and healthcare outcomes for communities now and into the future.

As Head of Funding, you will lead the delivery and development of the Foundation’s funding portfolio, overseeing significant funding activity and ensuring resources are invested effectively to maximise impact. Working closely with the Director of Funding & Impact, you will help shape strategic priorities, build influential partnerships and lead a high-performing team responsible for delivering funding programmes from opportunity identification through to evaluation and learning.

As Head of Funding you will:

• Support the development and implementation of the Foundation’s funding strategy, ensuring alignment with organisational priorities and impact goals.
• Lead and manage the Funding Team, overseeing funding activity and ensuring delivery against strategic objectives.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with healthcare, research, academic and charitable sector partners.
• Oversee funding assessment, decision-making and governance processes, ensuring robust and effective grant-making practice.
• Lead funding committees and advisory processes, preparing high-quality recommendations and reports for decision-makers.
• Drive continuous improvement across funding policies, systems and ways of working to enhance effectiveness and impact.
• Work collaboratively with internal colleagues to support financial planning, reporting, evaluation and portfolio management activities.
• Represent the Foundation externally, promoting its funding and impact work and identifying opportunities for collaboration and influence.

You will bring:

• Significant experience leading funding, grant-making or investment programmes within a charity, healthcare, academic or funding environment.
• Strong understanding of the healthcare, research or scientific sectors and the opportunities and challenges they present.
• Experience managing funding committees, advisory groups, peer review processes or board-level decision-making activities.
• Demonstrable ability to develop strategy and translate this into effective operational delivery.
• Strong relationship-building skills, with a proven track record of managing complex stakeholder relationships and partnerships.
• Strategic leadership experience, including leading, motivating and developing high-performing teams.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, able to communicate complex information clearly to a range of audiences.
• Highly organised and analytical, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and make informed decisions in a complex environment.

How to Apply
To express an initial interest, please submit your CV demonstrating your suitability for this role by clicking the 'apply now' button (please do not apply via email). We aim to get back to all successful candidates within 48 working hours. 

Commitment to Diversity
The Talent Set are committed to diverse and inclusive recruitment practices, ensuring equal opportunities for all applicants regardless of race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, disability, or age. We actively encourage applications from a wide range of backgrounds and are always happy to make reasonable adjustments to ensure a fair recruitment process.

Role Overview
The Talent Set are delighted to partner with RNIB on a fantastic Head of PR & Strategic Communications role.

In this role, you will deliver a strong narrative that breaks down the social barriers faced by people with sight loss, and champions RNIB as the leading sight loss charity. You will spearhead a strategic, creative and insight-driven approach to media, PR, corporate communications and celebrity engagement whilst also leading a strong reactive response to deliver against the external engagement roadmap and manage risk and reputation for RNIB.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead RNIB's media, PR, corporate communications and celebrity engagement strategy, delivering strategic priorities and strengthen brand credibility, awareness and relevance. 
• Play a key role working closely with the Strategic Marketing team to align strategy, narrative and key messages to effectively attract, influence and engage priority audiences with the cause and charity.
• Build strong relationship with Insight and Policy and Campaigns to co-design insight-led strategies and shared approach to emerging issues.
• Ensure effective monitoring, measurement and evaluation of PR, media and corporate communications activity to ensure continual improvement in quality and reach. 
• Oversee the continuous development of an effective engagement programme with celebrities and content creators to support RNIB’s work and increase reach and engagement with priority audiences
• Lead on a thought-leadership programme across multiple platforms, that strongly establishes RNIB leaders as credible experts.

Person Specification

• An experienced, strategic and motivational leader with clear vision and direction and proven ability to lead teams and work effectively with peers.
• Senior level experience in a senior strategic communications role, successfully leading external communications and reputation management within a complex / diverse organisation.
• Significant knowledge of the national media, consumer, regional and specialist media, a strong awareness of UK news agenda and emerging issues and media opportunities.
• Significant experience leading proactive and reactive media relations that deliver against strategic priorities and enhance brand reputation.
• Experience of providing strategic advice to, and influencing, senior stakeholders, including the handling of sensitive situations, which may have a negative impact on the reputation of an organisation.
• Experience of developing and leading complex and high-risk communications strategies.
• Proven ability to develop high performing teams using skills in recruitment, development, succession planning, change management and performance management.
• Strong communication, influence and negotiation skills and the ability to form successful working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including colleagues, journalists and celebrities.
• Ability to plan over the medium to long term and deliver a rolling three-year plan, accompanied by experience of managing people and expenditure budgets

What’s on Offer

• Salary: £66,000 - £69,000
• Permanent, full-time
• Hybrid, London 1 day/week

How to Apply
To apply, please submit your CV demonstrating your suitability for this role by clicking the 'apply now' button (please do not apply via email). We aim to get back to all successful candidates within 48 working hours.

Commitment to Diversity
The Talent Set are committed to diverse and inclusive recruitment practices, ensuring equal opportunities for all applicants regardless of race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, disability, or age. We actively encourage applications from a wide range of backgrounds and are always happy to make reasonable adjustments to ensure a fair recruitment process.
 

Head of Philanthropy

Aquilas is delighted to be working with a leading children's health charity to recruit for a Head of Philanthropy to create and lead their major donor, Trusts and Foundations and Corporate partnerships programme.

This is a full time, permanent role to work from their London office (3 days per week in the office)

This is a critical senior leadership role responsible for developing and delivering an ambitious philanthropy strategy that will build a sustainable pipeline of five, six and seven-figure, multi-year gifts from high-net-worth individuals - as lifetime and legacy gifts - corporates and Trusts and Foundations while also refining a long-standing £multi-million-year IG programme.

The charity are looking for a strategic, relationship-led fundraising leader with a proven track record of securing significant support from high-net-worth individuals, corporates or Trusts and Foundations as well as experience of Direct Marketing. This is a new role, perfect for a fundraiser who loves building programmes.

For details on how to apply please click through to the job vacancy on the Aquilas website, where you can also find the full job description.

Aquilas are wholly committed to equality of opportunity and diversity and we warmly welcome applications from all suitably-qualified candidates.  We are truly invested in our candidates and being supportive and informative throughout the application journey

About the Role

As we scale, we are looking for a Head of Operations to provide operational leadership to ensure the charity operates effectively, compliantly and sustainably in line with its mission and ethos. Working closely with the CEO, you will support the translation of the vision into reality by building strong foundations, enabling effective delivery, and supporting the scaling of the organisational from a regional base to a nationally impactful charity.

This is a pivotal role shaping how BeSpace grows. You will lead on strengthening systems, people, governance and operational delivery embedding accountability, and continuous improvement.

In this role, you will:

Strengthen governance, risk and compliance

· Develop and maintain robust governance frameworks and ensure legal and regulatory compliance

· Embed effective risk management processes

· Oversee key compliance areas including safeguarding, GDPR and reporting

Build operational systems and infrastructure

· Develop and implement scalable systems, processes and internal controls

· Improve data management (including CRM) and strengthen reporting

· Contribute to ensuring operational readiness to support national growth

· Work with external providers on IT and financial system integration

Lead people, culture and organisational development

· Oversee recruitment, onboarding and retention of a high-performing team

· Strengthen performance management and accountability frameworks

· Support and foster a values-led, healthy team culture aligned with BeSpace’s mission

Enable delivery, impact and growth

· Strengthen operational support for programme delivery and expansion

· Support the translation of strategic ambitions into practical systems and ways of working

· Improve data insight to inform decision-making

· Support development of fundraising infrastructure.

Contribute to wider organisational life

· Work collaboratively across the team to support evolving priorities

· Act as an ambassador for BeSpace’s values and Christian ethos

About You

We are looking for someone who:

· Has experience in operations, programme or an organisational role with increasing responsibility or has had operational leadership, ideally within a growing or changing organisation

· Has good experience in developing systems, processes and organisational infrastructure

· Can work closely with a CEO to translate vision into operational delivery

· Has excellent organisational and project management skills

· Is proactive, collaborative and relational leader who builds strong teams and culture

 It would be a bonus if you:

 · Are an experienced operational leader motivated by impact, flexibility, and supporting the growth of a mission-led organisation

· Have significantly enabled the scaling of a regional organisation to national growth operationally.

· Have experience in fundraising systems or donor management

Salary: £64,093
Contract: Permanent
Location: London Hybrid, 2-3 days per week in Angel office
Closing date: ASAP
Benefits: 24-28 Days annual leave & option to buy/sell more, up to 5% pension contribution, Employee assistance programme, Life assurance cover, Health cash plan

We are very excited to be looking for a Head of Philanthropy to join a national disability charity, supporting people with complex disabilities to live connected and included lives.

With a new organisational strategy and recently implemented CRM system, the Head of Philanthropy will play a crucial role in shaping long-term philanthropic growth. Reporting to the Chief Fundraising & Marketing Officer, you will lead a talented team to develop an ambitious major donor programme, build a robust pipeline of high-value multi-year gifts, and create compelling propositions that inspire high-net-worth supporters.

As a skilled communicator, you’ll work effectively across a large and complex organisation, engaging senior stakeholders, ambassadors and donor networks to maximise opportunities and drive long-term impact for people with complex disabilities.

To be successful as the Head of Philanthropy you will need:

• Significant experience delivering and transforming a major donor programme, including securing multi-year, high-value gifts.
• Strong strategic leadership skills, with experience developing and leading high-performing teams.
• Outstanding relationship-building abilities, with the confidence and communication skills to influence senior stakeholders and engage high-net-worth individuals effectively.

If you would like to discuss this role with us, please contact us and quote the reference 2908JP

Ashby Jenkins Recruitment are a specialist charity recruitment agency, we use our extensive sector knowledge and experience to match candidates to the most suitable charity jobs. We are passionate about improving equality across the sector, you can read more about our commitment to diversity here.

We take a relationship-led approach to recruitment in the charity sector and partner with you as the leading charity recruitment agency.

If enough applications are received the charity reserve the right to end the application period sooner.
 

Harris Hill is delighted to be working on behalf of a globally respected international non-profit that investigates and exposes corruption, environmental abuse and human rights violations, driving change through evidence-based advocacy and high-impact campaigns. We are seeking an exceptional Head of Legal to join the organisation, providing strategic legal leadership at executive level while supporting work that delivers lasting global impact.

The organisation offers an outstanding approach to flexible working, operating a four-day working week (30 hours, Monday to Thursday) as its full-time equivalent, alongside hybrid working with two days a week in its London office.

Reporting directly to the CEO, this is a unique role combining strategic corporate governance with broad legal leadership. You will advise the CEO and Leadership Team on governance across the organisation's entities in the UK, Belgium and the US, helping to shape its future direction while ensuring robust compliance. Alongside this, you will oversee a varied legal portfolio, providing expert advice on editorial media law, investigations, publications, litigation, contracts, intellectual property, brand protection and regulatory matters. You will manage legal risk, coordinate external counsel, negotiate complex agreements and embed legal best practice across the organisation.

We are looking for a UK-qualified lawyer with significant senior-level experience, ideally gained in-house or within a complex international environment. You will bring deep expertise in editorial media law, litigation and commercial contracts, alongside the confidence to advise executive leaders on complex and high-profile issues. A strategic thinker with excellent judgement and communication skills, you will thrive in a fast-paced environment, balancing legal risk with organisational ambition. Most importantly, you will be motivated by the opportunity to use your expertise to support an organisation tackling some of the world's most pressing environmental and human rights challenges.

To apply, please submit your up-to-date CV by 31 July at 12.00 PM.

Please note, only successful applicants will be contacted with further information.

As a leading charity recruitment specialist and a certified B Corp™, Harris Hill is committed to high and ever-improving standards of equitable and inclusive recruitment. We actively welcome applications from all sections of the community regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexuality and other protected characteristics.

This is an exciting time to join us. As we grow our international efforts and sharpen our strategic focus, we are creating a new Head of Research & Grants role to lead our combined research and grant-making function. Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, you will be our senior operational and strategic leader for how we identify, fund and learn from the work that gives babies the best start in life.

The grants and research effort of the Foundation is focussed on the ‘So What?’. You will make sure every piece of ground breaking research and every charity grant adds to our global advocacy for babies, informing and educating policy makers across the world about the 1001 Critical Days and how they can help parents and carers give their babies the best start in life.

To apply, please click the redirect to recruiter button. Please note that interviews will take place on Tuesday 11 August. 

Our client is partnering with Robertson Bell on a retained basis to appoint a Head of Finance on a permanent basis. This is a pivotal leadership opportunity within an ambitious, internationally focused charity at an exciting stage of growth.

This is a unique opportunity to join a fast-growing, mission-driven organisation at a transformative stage in its journey. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive and working closely with Trustees, Board Members and senior stakeholders, the Head of Finance will play a central role in shaping financial strategy, strengthening operational maturity and supporting ambitious international growth plans.

The role

• Lead the development of the organisation's long-term financial strategy, supporting its next phase of growth and international expansion.
• Partner closely with the Chief Executive, Trustees, Board Members and leadership team, providing strategic financial insight to support organisational decision-making, programme investment and fundraising activity.
• Oversee all aspects of financial management across multiple international entities, ensuring robust financial controls, governance and compliance frameworks are in place.
• Lead budgeting, forecasting and scenario modelling processes, supporting both operational delivery and long-term strategic planning.
• Build strong relationships across fundraising, research and programme teams, supporting complex grant funding, restricted income management and commercial partnership activity.
• Oversee the production of monthly management accounts, statutory reporting, audit processes and regulatory submissions across multiple entities.
• Drive improvements in financial systems, reporting processes and operational efficiency as the organisation continues to scale.
• Provide leadership and development support to a small finance team, helping to build capability within the function.
• Act as a trusted advisor across the organisation, balancing hands-on operational delivery with strategic leadership.
• Represent finance confidently at Board and leadership level, communicating complex financial information clearly to non-finance stakeholders.

The organisation

Our client exists to deliver meaningful impact through innovation, collaboration and investment in research. It brings together experts, funders and partners from across the sector to challenge conventional thinking and accelerate progress towards its ambitious mission.

With income, activity and organisational complexity expected to grow significantly over the coming years, the charity is entering an exciting new phase of development. It combines the pace and agility of a scaling organisation with the credibility and influence of an internationally recognised charity.

The successful candidate will join a collaborative leadership team committed to building an organisation capable of delivering lasting impact. Alongside the opportunity to play a pivotal role within a purpose-driven organisation, the role offers flexible hybrid working, genuine work-life balance, professional development opportunities, private medical insurance, life insurance, pension contributions and generous annual leave.

Essential criteria

• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent) or qualified by experience.
• Strong experience in a senior finance leadership role within the charity sector.
• Proven experience managing financial operations, reporting, budgeting and forecasting within a growing organisation.
• Experience operating across complex stakeholder environments, with the confidence to influence and challenge senior leaders and Boards.
• Strong understanding of financial governance, controls, compliance and risk management.
• Strong commercial and analytical skills, with the ability to translate complex financial information into meaningful insight.
• Hands-on and adaptable approach, comfortable operating strategically while remaining close to operational detail.
• Excellent relationship-building and communication skills, with high levels of emotional intelligence and credibility.
• A proactive, solutions-focused mindset with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, evolving organisation.
• Experience working across multiple entities, funding streams or international operations would be highly advantageous.

If you are a strategic and hands-on finance leader looking to play a meaningful role within a high-growth charitable organisation, we would love to hear from you.

This role is based in London with an expectation of two days per week in the office.

Title:  Head of Campaigns

Salary:        £60,000

Contract:      Temporary

Hours:  37.5 per week (Monday to Friday) 

Holiday:  25 days per year plus bank holidays 

Location:  Home based with regular across the UK

Probationary Period:  3 months

Reports to:  Chief Executive

Benefits:  An additional 3 days holiday between Christmas and New Year

Flexitime policy

5% pension contribution

Anticipated contract duration:  9th November 2026 - February 2028 

We are River Action

We are a small and agile campaigning organisation on a mission to rescue the UK’s rivers from a toxic cocktail of agricultural, sewage and industrial pollution and water shortages. We support community action, galvanise and mobilise public opinion, influence government policy, take legal actions and call out destructive industrial practices to incentivise changes that end river pollution and secure freshwater. 

We are a talented team of positive disrupters and stakeholder mobilisers delivering our strategy to urgently protect and restore our rivers for the benefit of communities, rivers and wildlife.

Our rivers are our life support system and they are dying. We need urgent action to bring them back to life.

Who we are looking for

We're looking for an exceptional campaigner to lead an ambitious environmental campaigning  programme for just over a year to cover maternity leave. This is an exciting opportunity for an inspiring leader who can develop bold, strategic campaigns that shift public debate, influence decision-makers and deliver tangible environmental outcomes.

You'll be an experienced campaign strategist who understands that lasting change rarely comes from a single tactic. You'll know how to bring together compelling communications, evidence and investigations, grassroots mobilisation, political engagement, legal interventions and partnerships into integrated campaigns capable of changing policy, behaviour and corporate practice.

We're looking for someone who combines strategic vision with practical delivery. Someone who is comfortable making decisions in a fast-moving environment, spotting opportunities as they emerge and adapting campaigns to maximise impact.

Experience in environmental campaigning would be highly valuable, but above all we're looking for someone with an outstanding track record of leading successful campaigns that have shifted opinion, influenced policy or held powerful institutions to account.

We’re looking for someone who brings energy, creativity and courageous leadership. Someone who is excited by building campaigns that challenge the status quo, comfortable navigating complexity and able to combine bold thinking with sound judgement. You'll know when to disrupt, when to collaborate and how to inspire others to believe that together we can restore the UK’s rivers. 

If you're motivated by creating change, thrive in a dynamic environment and want to lead campaigns that make a genuine difference to one of the UK's greatest environmental challenges, we'd love to hear from you. 

What you’ll be doing:

As Head of Campaigns, you will be developing and delivering bold, integrated campaigns that drive lasting change for the UK's rivers. You'll lead and inspire a talented team of campaigners, helping them to develop innovative, impactful campaigns while fostering a collaborative, ambitious and supportive culture. You'll work closely with colleagues across communications, policy, legal, fundraising and research, ensuring our work is strategically aligned and greater than the sum of its parts.

Leading River Action's Campaigns Team, you will shape the organisation's campaigning strategy, ensuring our work is innovative, evidence-led and designed to influence public opinion, hold polluters to account and secure meaningful political and systemic change. You'll create campaigns that connect compelling storytelling with community mobilisation, strategic communications, political advocacy, legal action and partnerships, ensuring every part of our work contributes towards our mission to rescue the UK’s rivers.

You'll provide strategic leadership across the full campaign lifecycle, overseeing campaign planning, delivery, budgeting, resourcing and evaluation. You'll ensure our campaigns are informed by robust evidence, guided by clear objectives and measured against meaningful outcomes, using insight and learning to continually strengthen our impact.

You will lead River Action's communications and public profile, ensuring our campaigns cut through the national conversation, inspire public action and strengthen our reputation as one of the UK's leading environmental campaigning organisations. You’ll oversee media, messaging and campaign communications that amplify our voice and build public support for change.

Internally, you'll work in close partnership with the Head of Public Affairs to ensure our public campaigns reinforce and accelerate our political influencing work, while ensuring community campaigns and grassroots action inform our national priorities. You'll also work alongside the Head of Legal to develop campaigns involving strategic litigation to achieve change within and outside of court and legal processes, using legal action as a catalyst for wider public awareness, policy change and industry accountability.

As a member of River Action's Senior Management Team, you'll help shape the strategic direction of the organisation and contribute to organisational leadership beyond your own department. You'll work alongside the CEO and fellow Heads of Department to deliver our organisational strategy, embedding collaboration, innovation and impact across all areas of our work.

You'll also play a key role in securing the resources needed to deliver our ambitions. Working with the Head of Development, you'll help develop compelling funding proposals, inspire funders with our vision and demonstrate the impact of our work through robust monitoring, evaluation and reporting. Working with the Finance and Operations Manager, you'll oversee campaign budgets, ensuring resources are managed effectively and strategically.

Main Duties 

• Provide strategic leadership as a member of the Senior Management Team, supporting the CEO to deliver River Action's organisational strategy, theory of change and long-term vision.

• Lead the development and delivery of River Action's integrated campaigning strategy, ensuring our public campaigns drive measurable environmental, political and societal change.

• Develop and oversee a portfolio of ambitious national campaigns, identifying opportunities to influence public opinion, policy, regulation and industry practice through innovative and impactful campaigning.

• Lead River Action's communications, media and public engagement strategy, ensuring compelling storytelling, strong brand visibility and effective use of traditional, digital and social media to grow our influence and supporter base.

• Lead the planning and delivery of River Action’s creative interventions and actions, from polling, petitions and shareholder actions to public protests and high-profile actions.

• Serve as a senior public representative and spokesperson for River Action, building the organisation's profile and influence through media engagement, public speaking, stakeholder engagement and high-profile external events.

• Oversee River Action's digital campaigning platforms, including the strategic development of our website and digital engagement tools.

• Work closely with the Head of Public Affairs  to ensure campaigns and political advocacy are fully integrated, maximising opportunities to influence government, regulators and decision-makers.

• Work closely with the Head of Public Affairs to ensure grassroots action informs national campaigns, and national campaigns empower and amplify community action.

• Work with the Head of Legal to identify, develop and deliver strategic legal interventions that strengthen campaigns, increase accountability and drive systemic change beyond the courtroom.

• Build and maintain influential relationships with campaign partners, coalitions, NGOs, academics, community organisations, funders and other key stakeholders to maximise collective impact.

• Lead campaign planning, governance and delivery, ensuring campaigns are effectively resourced, managed and evaluated against agreed objectives, budgets and monitoring, evaluation and reporting (MER) frameworks.

• Lead, inspire and develop the Campaigns Team, fostering a collaborative, creative and high-performing culture that enables colleagues to thrive and deliver exceptional work.

• Work with the CEO, Head of Development and senior colleagues to secure funding for campaign activities, contributing to funding proposals, donor engagement and impact reporting.

• Work with the Finance and Operations Manager to develop, monitor and manage campaign budgets, ensuring resources are used effectively and strategically.

• Support organisational reporting by contributing to Board papers, quarterly and annual reports, organisational planning and performance monitoring.

Other Duties & Responsibilities 

• Adopt a positive approach to personal and professional development; engaging in one to one meetings and relevant training.

• Be aware of, and act on, relevant health and safety responsibilities as an employee of River Action and adhere to these wherever you are working.

• To maintain confidentiality in all areas of work at River Action.

• UK travel will be required. Training & operational activities may require overnight stays away from home, in which case standard River Action procedures apply.

• Demonstrate a strong commitment to creating an inclusive, equal and diverse workplace and a positive organisational culture.

• Work collaboratively with colleagues across River Action to collectively deliver our ethos and mission.

What you’ll bring

The position will suit a strategic, well organised, energetic, passionate and dedicated person. The ideal person will be an excellent leader, a people person, and thrive within a dynamic and fast-paced environment. The person will have a passion to protect and restore our waterways and hold those responsible for environmental destruction to account.

• Ability to think strategically to deliver campaigns that are positively disruptive and meet River Action values.

• Line management experience of highly experienced professionals, bringing out the best in your team.

• Creative attitude and skills for solving problems and raising awareness of problems and solutions.

• A head for organisation and excellent time management, bringing others along with you in planning and delivering interventions and projects at short notice and under pressure.

• Experience in public and/or political campaigning either within or outside the environmental sector.

• Experience and contacts in communications and PR. 

• An understanding of the issues that are impacting our rivers, and their solutions.

• The ability to establish and maintain effective contacts and relationships with senior and influential external individuals and bodies.

• The ability to communicate effectively and appropriately with a wide range of people both verbally and in writing including the media, community groups, other NGO representatives, government, industry leaders, supporters and followers on social media.

• Exceptional IT literacy and a head for figures and budgeting.

• Ability to work independently and take initiative to solve problems.

• Ability to work flexible hours as necessary.

• A good team player with a willingness to muck in as and where required.

• Ability to think clearly even when working under pressure.

• A passion for River Action’s mission and vision.

Diversity and Inclusion

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies show that women and people of colour are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single criteria. We are committed to building a diverse, inclusive and equitable workplace. So if you like the look of this role but your past experience does not align perfectly with everything in the job description, we would still like to hear from you. You may be just the right person for this or other roles. 

How to apply

To apply, please submit to jobs at riveractionuk dot com with the subject ‘Head of Campaigns’’:

• your CV (2 pages max), 

• a cover letter (2 pages max) explaining why you want to work for River Action and how your skills and experience meet the requirements of the role, and 

• a written submission (2 pages) as described below. 

Only applications including all three documents will be accepted. Please provide your documents in pdf format. 

Written submission

River Action is looking to develop a campaign around water security in the UK to launch in 2027. Please put together a campaign brief setting out the challenges faced, how we would develop and deliver this campaign including campaign asks; campaign outcomes; public, political and legal tactics; routes for funding and resource requirements.

Your campaign brief should be no longer than 2 sides of A4. 

Application process

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until 23:59 on 19th July.

Should your application be shortlisted, the next stage will involve an initial 30 minute interview on 28th July via video conference. You may then be invited to attend a second interview with a panel on 3rd August. 

Please indicate in your covering letter or in a covering email your availability for interviews on these dates.

If you have any questions about the role or your application, please contact us on jobs at riveractionuk dot com.

Head of Industrial Relations

£68,602 per annum + excellent benefits.

Home-based with travel to meetings/training across the country as required

Full time, permanent.

Lead negotiations. Influence change. Protect and strengthen the voice of school and college leaders.

Make A Difference

This is a rare opportunity to lead a highly influential function, shape national industrial relations activity and make a lasting difference to the professional lives of school and college leaders.

Why This Role Matters

As our clients Head of Industrial Relations, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring that school and college leaders have a strong and influential voice in shaping their pay, conditions and working environment. Leading their industrial relations and collective bargaining function, you will help safeguard members' rights, secure positive outcomes through negotiation, and strengthen their position as the leading professional body and trade union for education leaders. Your expertise will directly contribute to improving the working lives of members across the UK while ensuring the organisation remains legally compliant, strategically focused and highly respected within the sector.

Who We’re Looking For

Our client is seeking an experienced industrial relations, trade union or HR professional with a proven track record of leading successful negotiations at a senior level. You will bring substantial experience of collective bargaining, strong leadership capabilities, and a deep understanding of employment relations within complex organisations. You'll be a strategic thinker, an influential communicator and a confident relationship-builder who can work effectively with employers, trade unions, members and external stakeholders. A commitment to trade union principles, combined with the credibility to work alongside experienced school and college leaders, will be essential to your success in this role.

What You’ll Be Doing

You will lead and develop the Industrial Relations team, ensuring the delivery of a high-quality, consistent service to members nationwide. Working closely with employer groups, trade unions and local representatives, you will oversee negotiations, represent members at key joint negotiating committees, resolve disputes, and help secure the best possible terms, conditions and benefits for members. You will also provide strategic advice across the organisation, ensure compliance with relevant legislation and trade union requirements, support the development of local representatives, and contribute to the organisation's broader industrial relations strategy.

What our client can offer

Our client is an equal opportunities employer and offers a very generous package of benefits including

· Flexible working: Flexible working – a combination of working from home, attending external meetings and events and being in-person at their Leicester HQ as necessary.

· Generous leave: 33 days annual leave + bank holidays.

· Pension: 9% employer contribution.

· Professional development: Ongoing training and peer support.

· Expenses covered: Travel, home-working allowance, and equipment provided.

· Inclusive culture: They welcome applicants from all backgrounds and communities.

They encourage applications regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

This is a home-based role with travel across England and Wales to meetings and events as required. Reasonable travel expenses, IT and telephone equipment will be provided.

If you’re ready to lead a team that makes a real difference to education leaders and organisations across the UK, they would love to hear from you.

INTERESTED?

The closing date for application is 4pm on Wednesday 5 August 2026.

Interviews will be held in-person, at HQ in Leicester on Wednesday 19 August 2026.

Start date: Tuesday 1 December 2026 but dependent on individual circumstances.

TO APPLY

To download the job description and person specification, follow the link on the 'Apply here' button above (which will take you to Networx Recruitment's website). From there, please complete your email address in the top right-hand box and click on the green 'Apply Now' button and follow the online application process.