Head of education and learning jobs

You will hold an integral role at the DEC for accurately and efficiently managing DEC’s accounting function, ensuring compliance with charity and donor regulations. You will oversee budgeting, grant management, and donor reporting with transparency and accuracy. You will provide financial insights to support cross organisational projects and program delivery and hold a key role in developing and implementing financial strategies that align with our vision and strategic planning.

About You

You will be a confident communicator, who can engage with diverse internal & external stakeholders, including funders and partners, creating a collaborative approach to meet varying commitments. You must be ACA/ACCA/CIMA qualified (or equivalent) with senior finance leadership experience in the non-profit or NGO sector and demonstrate strong understanding of charity accounting standards and donor compliance requirements.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Processes

• Ensure accurate income/expenditure recording, bank reconciliations, and daily donation processing.
• Manage monthly accounting routines, prepare management accounts, and lead budget/forecast reviews.
• Coordinate annual and strategic budgeting, financial reporting, and analysis.
• Oversee income reconciliation across multiple streams and liaise with fundraising teams.
• Review and process drawdown payments to member agencies.
• Maintain and update accounting systems and support procurement processes.

Financial Controls

• Lead annual accounts preparation and audits; ensure regulatory compliance.
• Manage pension schedules and benefits compliance.
• Ensure tax compliance (VAT, Corporation Tax, Employment Taxes).
• Audit gift aid claims and maintain robust financial control environment.
• Update financial policies, procedures, and systems, support due diligence standards.

Financial Analysis & Reporting

• Oversee appeal finances, income tracking, and fund allocation.
• Coordinate governance processes (e.g., Indicator of Capacity) with member agencies.
• Monitor legacy income and liaise with fundraising/legal teams.
• Deliver annual report and accounts; produce reports for executive team and committees.

Leadership & Team Management

• Deputise for the Director of Finance and Resources.
• Prepare papers for finance committees and membership groups.
• Oversee finance team members and provide leadership support.

If you have used Sun Accounts (Infor SunSystems Cloud) or similar, have worked within a UK charity context and dealt with restricted funds, have prepared budgets, annual accounts and monitored cash flow and treasury management, then we would love to hear from you.

The DEC is an equal opportunities employer and provides opportunities to learn and grow in an inclusive, supportive, and productive environment. We encourage applications from anyone who can meet the criteria, regardless of gender, race, age, disability, sexuality, or religion.

How to apply

If you have the skills and passion for this role, please apply by 9am, Thursday 29th January 2026.

We are unable to support applications for our vacancies if you do not have the right to work in the UK.

The DEC is committed to the safeguarding and protection of children and vulnerable adults and participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this Scheme, we will request information from successful applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. 

By applying, the job applicant confirms their understanding of, and consent, to these recruitment procedures.

About the DEC

The DEC is made up of 15 member charities who are experts in humanitarian aid and specialise in different areas of disaster response. They come together to speak in one voice and make fundraising more efficient when we launch an appeal. Our members fund our running costs, and we give them back the money we raise in our appeals to carry out their vital work.

Do you want to improve the lives of people with disabilities and vulnerable people?

Humanity & Inclusion UK is looking for a Head of Institutional Relations (maternity cover) to lead our engagement with institutional donors, programme partners and allies in the UK. This is a fantastic opportunity to lead a dynamic team in the delivery and implementation of an ambitious institutional relations strategy. With a particular focus on the FCDO and Start Network alongside  growing our Australian and Irish portfolios, you will build partnerships and maximise income and influence to achieve our strategic aims. As a member of the HI UK Leadership Team, you will also play an important role in shaping the culture and direction of the organisation as a whole.

Background Information and Purpose of Post

The Head of Institutional Relations leads HI’s engagement with institutional donors, programme partners and allies in the UK, working closely with colleagues from across the global HI Federation, including our country programmes and our technical departments.

You will lead a dynamic team in the delivery and implementation of an ambitious institutional relations strategy. With a particular focus on the FCDO and Start Network alongside growing our Australian and Irish portfolios, you will build partnerships and maximise income and influence to achieve our strategic aims. This will involve managing relations with a wide range of actors, building our profile and responding quickly and effectively to opportunities. You will oversee and strengthen our compliance with donor requirements, ensure our programmes are effectively supported to implement grants and consolidate our capacity to bid for and manage commercial contracts.

As a member of the HI UK Leadership Team, you will also play an important role in shaping the culture and direction of the organisation as a whole.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Leadership and management

• Implement our ambitious plan for institutional relations, staying aligned with the organisation’s objectives and responding appropriately to the external environment.
• Contribute to the implementation of the network-wide institutional funding strategy.
• Lead, empower and motivate your team to achieve their goals, providing support as needed.
• Manage the team budget, including planning, phasing and forecasting in line with the organisation’s financial procedures.
• Participate as an active and constructive member of the Leadership Team, promoting a positive culture, modelling excellent behaviour and supporting cross-organisational initiatives.
• Provide timely and accurate reporting to the Chief Executive, trustees and Federation as required.

Institutional Relations

• Lead the team in ambitious engagement strategies for all donors in the portfolio, particularly the FCDO, Start Network, Australian DFAT and Irish Aid, strengthening existing relationships and, where appropriate, developing new ones.
• Ensure the team develops and maintains expertise on UK donor priorities, expectations and compliance requirements and is proactively analysing, interpreting and sharing this knowledge internally with relevant colleagues across the Federation.
• With your team, build the ability of our country programmes to engage with our donors locally and to comply with donor requirements, including through training.
• Oversee the process of identifying, analysing and sharing new funding opportunities with relevant colleagues, taking a lead when needed on coordinating large multi-country/framework bids to our donors.
• Maintain a network of contacts at other organisations and, working closely with operational and technical colleagues, build relationships with potential partners, including supporting the development of consortia for new bids when required.
• Contribute to building HI’s capacity to bid for and manage commercial contracts, including frameworks.
• Support the team with risk-based contract analysis and negotiation, due diligence and donor compliance.
• Ensure your team is delivering timely and high-quality reporting and grant/contract management, including follow-up of payment requests and tracking.
• Oversee the team’s information management tools and champion HI-wide internal processes and tools such as the CRM.
• Participate in the Bond Disability and Development Group, including supporting its influencing to promote greater emphasis on disability inclusion by the UK Government.
• Monitor and respond to threats and opportunities relating to the UK aid budget and aid policy, as well as for other donors in our portfolio where capacity allows.
• Support your team, the Chief Executive and technical colleagues to engage appropriately with other relevant networks in the UK to influence the UK government and raise HI’s profile (e.g. on specific crisis contexts, the impact of counter-terrorism legislation, health, education, humanitarian mine action, climate change etc.).
• Contribute to engaging with the Start Network and implementing our Start Network strategy.

Other duties

• Maintain a positive and collaborative working relationship with HI UK colleagues and the Federation’s institutional funding, operations and advocacy teams.
• Represent the organisation at relevant external events and meetings.

· Keep abreast of developments within the sector by liaising with counterparts in other NGOs and relevant networks.

• Keep up to date with any relevant changes in legislation, regulatory procedures, innovation, best practice and industry standards.
• Any other activities commensurate with the level of the post, as may be required.

Person Specification

We genuinely value diversity and are looking to build a team of people with a wide of range of personal and professional experience. If you don’t meet all of the criteria listed below but feel you would be a good candidate for this role, please apply. If you would like an informal conversation about this, please do send us an email or call us – we would love to hear from you.

Essential criteria

· Substantial relevant experience with INGOs, including at least five years’ experience managing strategic relationships with donors, partners and/or networks.

· A track record of securing and managing institutional income.

· Good knowledge of the FCDO as a donor and influencing target.

· Excellent management skills, including the ability to provide appropriate support and to develop colleagues’ capabilities.

· Excellent relationship-building, networking and negotiation skills, both internal and external, and at a variety of levels.

· Demonstrated capacity to design and deliver high-quality proposals, reports and briefs.

· An entrepreneurial thinker with a strong ability to identify opportunities, cultivate prospects and achieve strategic aims.

· Ability to carry out sound strategic analysis, identifying key trends and producing clear summaries from complex information.

· Good understanding of project design, programme quality and effective delivery.

· Excellent planning skills and an ability to work under pressure, to prioritise and to meet standards and deadlines.

· A collaborative and team-oriented approach with strong self-motivation.

· Ability to work effectively in an international and multicultural organisation.

· Willingness to travel and to work outside of office hours when necessary.

· Good IT skills (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams).

· Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.

· Commitment to creating and maintaining an inclusive and protective environment for everyone that comes in contact with the organisation.

Desirable criteria

· A track record of securing and managing funding from, building relationships with and influencing DFAT and/or Irish Aid

· Good knowledge of the Start Network

· Experience of bidding for and managing commercial contracts for humanitarian and development programmes.

· Experience of cross-organisational leadership.

· Understanding of key humanitarian and development issues.

· Understanding of and experience of advocacy or campaigns, including working with the UK political system.

· Experience of developing NGO or academic partnerships.

· Lived experience of disability or from one of our countries of operation.

· French-language proficiency.

Equal Opportunities Policy

HI UK is committed to diversity and inclusion. We recognise that discrimination shapes the opportunities that many people have in society and that people have different needs in order to realise their full potential.

Addressing this requires organisations to be proactive in creating environments that encourage the inclusion and development of all. Though we still have a long way to go, inclusion is central to our identity at HI UK and we are strongly committed to the continuous work that it requires.

We are particularly interested in hearing from candidates with disabilities and/or from Black and minority ethnic backgrounds, to help make us more representative. If you declare a disability and you meet the minimum requirements for the role, we will offer you an interview to demonstrate your skills. In the event that we receive a high level of applications for a role, we will invite those applicants who best meet the person specification.

Job Title: Regional Coordinator – North West (Inspiring the Future)

Reports to: Senior Project Manager - Primary Futures

Location: Home based with regular travel across the North West region with a primary focus on Chester, Cheshire West and a secondary focus on Northwest Lancashire. Very occasional travel to London where the charity itself is based. Travel costs will be remunerated via expenses.

Purpose: This is a fantastic opportunity to take on a newly created post in the role of Regional Coordinator – North West for Education and Employers Charity; supporting the delivery of our internationally recognised flagship career-related learning programme in schools. The programme is called Inspiring the Future and is known as Primary Futures in primary schools.

Through our programmes, we bring inspiring volunteers from the world of work into schools, helping children learn in a fun way about a wide range of future jobs and career pathways, broadening their horizons and raising their aspirations and attainment. School activity sits at the heart of our charity’s mission which is to: ‘ensure that every young person in our country, wherever they live, whatever their parents or carers’ circumstances, has the opportunity to meet a diverse range of volunteers to hear first-hand about jobs and the world of work’.

This important role will be part of a friendly and supportive ‘Schools Team’, and the post has responsibility for supporting the local northwest delivery of a key primary school focussed project for the charity, funded by the Westminster Foundation. Responsibilities include initiating, developing, and managing relationships with primary schools in Chester, Cheshire West and Northwest Lancashire.

The role will include working closely day to day with local teachers/ schools to organise and deliver an exciting range of virtual and face-to-face events and activities in their schools. The role will also require the postholder to initiate and build positive partnerships with local employers and organisations to recruit and engage more inspiring volunteers to support these activities in schools.

Remuneration: £26-28k per annum depending on experience

Additional Terms: We offer an excellent overall package with 30 days paid holiday, exclusive of Statutory Bank Holidays, plus a competitive pension scheme and a volunteering allowance of up to 5 days per annum – pro rata in accordance with the length of contract. Additional family friendly benefits, including enhancements to Statutory Payments.

Appointment Terms: Permanent and full time

Job Purpose:

The postholder will report to the experienced Senior Project Manager - Primary Futures and work closely with a friendly, supportive and experienced set of colleagues across the wider Inspiring the Future team. The successful appointee will be responsible for working closely with volunteers from the world of work and primary school staff – supporting the effective delivery of interactive career related learning activities aimed at primary school children. It is a fantastic opportunity to make a difference to children and young people, particularly in less advantaged areas, by helping to broaden their horizons and raise their aspirations.

This is a newly created role to support delivery of an exciting multi-year project, kindly funded by the Westminster Foundation as part of our Primary Futures programme. The postholder will draw upon our revolutionary online platform that helps connect schools with a huge range of diverse, inspirational volunteers that have registered with our charity and who come from a wide range of exciting sectors of the economy. You will have the chance to engage directly with primary school children by facilitating interactive virtual and in-person activities with volunteers. While experience of working in or with schools may be an advantage, it is not essential.

The role will be home based with regular travel to nominated primary schools within the allocated region and very occasional meetings at the charity’s office in central London. Working with schools, the successful candidate will be responsible for targets within their region, managing the relationship with schools and volunteers/ employers.

The role, will by its nature, involve extensive travel across the region with a primary focus on Chester and Cheshire West and a secondary focus on North West Lancashire. Therefore, access to a car/public transport is essential. Regular virtual meetings with the wider team and occasional face-to-face team meetings either in London or another convenient location will be a requirement. The Regional Coordinator will make effective daily use of our Customer Relationship Management system (based on Salesforce technology) to manage data and delivery. 

What we are looking for in a candidate:

We are seeking a driven, highly capable, and enthusiastic Regional Coordinator who can deliver engaging presentations to employers, children, and teachers; confidently manage relationships at varying levels; and work efficiently to support the achievement of key targets.  You will bring excellent communication, organisational, and administrative skills, along with experience in relationship management. If you are motivated, enjoy connecting with people, and want to make a real difference in schools, this role could be the perfect fit for you!

Education and Employers is a small charity of supportive and fun colleagues, working at a rapid pace to bring about change. This is a dynamic role for someone passionate about motivating and inspiring children and who relishes working with a range of stakeholders to create impactful activities.

The exact brief to be finalised with the successful candidate and the funder but the role will be expected to undertake the following key accountabilities:

Key Accountabilities:

We will look to finalise these with the successful candidate but the postholder will have a range of responsibilities, including but not limited to the following:

Relationship building – The job holder will need to build positive relationships

• Re-engage with primary schools who have previously worked with us under a forerunner project that was undertaken last year
• Identify and initiate relationships with new target schools across the identified regions of Chester, Cheshire West and Northwest Lancashire in relation to the Westminster Foundation project
• Develop and manage these school relationships over the lifetime of the project, coordinating their day-to-day engagement in our career related learning (CRL) sessions and deepening their connection to the charity’s work
• Organise virtual and face-to-face activities including school liaison, securing volunteers via the Inspiring the Future system and host on tech platforms (Zoom, MS Teams etc)
• Work with the Primary Futures Manager to build relationships and to capture and exchange good practice between schools and teaching professionals, from all areas involved in the project
• Build relationships with the charity’s partnerships team to ensure that contacts and volunteers from the wider work of the charity are harnessed to support the Westminster Foundation funded project where possible

Delivery – the job holder will need to present/facilitate sessions to local schools and stakeholders

• Plan and arrange all logistics for the events that the postholder will deliver directly with schools. These will be both virtual and in person delivered in school settings
• Facilitate interactive virtual and face-to-face activities to connect pupils with volunteers through themed sessions, Q&A or job guessing-game format.
• Support and host teacher training sessions, staff meetings and info webinars to promote Inspiring the Future and encourage engagement and independent usage of the platform.
• Identify and connect with local employers, engaging the support of their organisation and staff, to secure and encourage local volunteers to help deliver CRL activities within funded projects.

Resource development, technology, data and reporting – the jobholder will need to use our technology, gather impact data on our behalf, develop resources, and make improvement suggestions

• Track and report back to the Primary Futures Manager, delivery against agreed targets and impact. This could include gathering baseline and impact data like pupil/ teacher surveys, feedback quotes, and photos of our activities (permissions to be obtained from the schools).
• Use Salesforce CRM to support with data management, assisting with maintaining up to date records and supporting data cleansing as needed
• Support the development of educational resources for teachers and pupils that provide insight into the world of work and different sectors
• Other ad hoc administrative tasks to support successful delivery of the project whilst always having a positive focus on improvements and ‘how can we do things better’.
• Promote Education and Employers wider offer and programmes as appropriate across the wider North West region. This would include our pilot project with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to inspire young people to consider future careers in local media

Person specification:

We are looking for someone with the following Skills/ Knowledge/ Expertise

Essential

• Minimum two years’ experience in a relationship management, school engagement, or school-based role. Other relevant experience will be considered if it demonstrates the candidate can undertake the accountabilities above
• Experience in successful relationship management – ability to engage confidently and sensitively with schools/colleges and employers and at a range of levels of seniority up to and including headteacher level
• Outstanding customer service and telephone manner, including handling large volumes of email enquiries and dealing with difficult situations politely and assertively
• Strong organisational and administrative skills including close attention to detail and effective time management
• Persuasive and confident communicator who is influential, and effective in presenting a concept both in person and on the phone.
• Good level of education, demonstrating capability in producing written content to a high standard.
• Demonstrable experience of managing a diverse workload; being able to prioritise work and working under pressure.
• Good working knowledge and practical application of Microsoft Office tools
• Willingness to travel either by car or public transport (‘Clean’ full driving license if preferred method of transport is driving)

Desirable

• Passion for supporting young people in realising their potential through harnessing skilled volunteers to engage in education
• Experience in virtual and in-person facilitation with children and young people
• Experience of project management and delivery
• Experience of client relationships management (CRM) databases, in particular Salesforce
• Experience of marketing to schools
• Experience of working in a small team
• Experience of working with volunteers
• Understanding of safeguarding, risk management and data protection
• Comfort and confidence in working with data to inform actions

Personal Attributes

• Commitment to uphold our charity’s five values - Inspiring, Inclusive, Innovative, Impactful, Integrity
• Flexible – responsive to changing operational context and new opportunities
• Team Player: working collaboratively and flexibly to achieve outcomes and is keen to add value to the organisation’s culture and ethos
• Able to undertake some occasional work in the evenings and at weekends, although this is not a regular or likely day-to-day requirement of the role

Application process

The Education and Employers Charity values having a diverse workforce.  We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals from all backgrounds. We offer a range of inclusive employment and family friendly policies as well as flexible working arrangements in order to support staff from different backgrounds. 

The closing date for applications is 9am on Wednesday 4th February and interviews will take place at our London office on Wednesday 11th February. Please send a covering letter of no more than 2-3 sides of A4 setting out your interest in and suitability for the role against the job description and person specification, together with an up to date CV. Please include your name and the role applied for in the subject line of your e-mail. Thank you

*Please note, in your cover letter we have a strong preference for human-written content. We want to hear about you, your genuine interest in the role, and why from your experience, skills, and personality you feel you are a great fit for the role

We will only consider applications with both a CV and covering letter and applications will only be accepted from those with the right to work in the UK with a valid passport/visa. 

Thank you for taking the time to consider this role. We very much look forward to receiving your application!

The Charity is fully committed to safeguarding those in our care. We plan our recruitment processes to ensure effective timelines for any required vetting processes such as enhanced DBS, qualification, reference and identity checks. The Charity also ensures that each staff member is appropriately trained for their duties with a comprehensive induction process on commencement and regular CPD in areas like safeguarding. 

About the Education and Employers Charity

Education and Employers is an independent UK based charity launched in 2009 with the original vision of “providing children and young people with the inspiration, motivation, knowledge, skills and opportunities they need to help them achieve their potential”. Our current strategic plan and mission is available to read here. It aims to achieve this by working with schools, employers, the national bodies that represent them and a wide range of other partners including the government and third sector organisations. The charity also works with partners internationally – more details here.

The charity runs Inspiring the Future, a free service which uses innovative match-making technology to connect volunteers with state schools and colleges, quickly, simply and at scale. Schools can very easily search a massive database of willing volunteers, filter against a wide range of criteria – e.g. subject, sector, career route and send them a message. It enables young people, wherever they live, whichever school they attend, the opportunity to meet people from a wide range of backgrounds doing jobs from across the whole world of work.

Over 90,000 people have already volunteered in the UK - people from all levels: apprentices to CEOs and all sectors: apps designers to zoologists and over 85% of English secondary schools and 42% of primary schools have registered with us. People can volunteer from an hour a year in a local primary or secondary school to chat informally about their job and career route, take part in career speed networking session, give careers insights, provide mock interviews or feedback on CVs through to serving as a governor or trustee.  There is also the opportunity to link up with schools for workplace visits, job shadowing and mentoring.

Inspiring the Future operates on a technology platform kindly developed in partnership with Deloitte, Salesforce and Ordnance Survey. It allows the charity to run national campaigns and others focused on specific geographic areas or economic sectors such as engineering, science, health and arts and culture. The campaigns have secured high profile support across government, business and teacher associations and ongoing corporate partnerships including our lead corporate partner Bank of America.

In partnership with the National Association of Head Teachers the charity has developed a version for primary schools called Primary Futures and over 6,500 primaries have already signed up. To see a short clip on how it works please click here.  All campaigns run through Inspiring the Future share a common objective: to broaden young people’s horizons, raise their aspirations and show them the range of opportunities and careers routes e.g. apprenticeships and university open to them. Over 5 million interactions between young people and volunteers from the world of work have already taken place.

Since the Charity’s launch it has sought to understand what difference employer engagement in education makes to young people and the economy. It works with academics and researchers from around the world and its own research is regularly cited by government and international organisations like the OECD. The research, which has informed and influenced a range of government policies, shows that employer engagement helps improve social mobility, reduces the likelihood of young people becoming NEET (not in education, employment of training), increases the amount they earn in adult life, helps them make better informed career choices and leads to improvements in educational attainment.

Job Title: Schools Engagement Coordinator (Inspiring the Future)

Reports to: Head of School Programmes

Location: Quantum House, 22 – 24 Red Lion Court, Fleet Street, EC4A 3AB. The role is open to hybrid working but the candidate would be expected to be in the office one day per week

Purpose: This is a fantastic opportunity to take on the role of Schools Engagement Coordinator for Education and Employers on the internationally recognised Inspiring the Future programme. As a charity, our mission is to: ‘ensure that every young person in our country, wherever they live, whatever their parents or carers’ circumstances, has the opportunity to meet a diverse range of volunteers to hear first-hand about jobs and the world of work’.

This key post is part of the Schools Engagement Team with responsibility for working closely with primary school and secondary school teachers and leaders to support them with running activities involving a diverse range of volunteers from the world of work. The role is rewarding and varied and will include supporting delivery of funded projects aimed at these audiences and general administrative support. 

Remuneration: £27k per annum

Additional Terms: We offer an excellent overall package with 30 days paid holiday, exclusive of Statutory Bank Holidays, plus a competitive pension scheme and a volunteering allowance of up to 5 days per annum – pro rata in accordance with the length of contract. Additional family friendly benefits, including enhancements to Statutory Payments.

Appointment Terms: Permanent and full time

Job Purpose:

Reporting to the Head of Schools Programmes, the Schools Engagement Coordinator is responsible for working closely with school staff in promoting and empowering schools to utilise Inspiring the Future and Primary Futures, alongside delivering virtual activities for schools. These programmes are an online system connecting schools to an enormous range of fascinating volunteers from the world of work for virtual or in person activities to raise aspirations, provide insight into jobs, tackle stereotypes and demonstrate how learning at school in the present links to opportunities in the future.

This role will be split between supporting the general self-service programme for schools nationally in an administrative capacity and delivering on funded projects including delivering activities to a case load of schools across parts of the country. There is opportunity to interface directly with children and young people from both secondary and primary schools. through facilitating virtual and in person interactive activities with volunteers.

What we are looking for in a candidate:

Education and Employers is a small charity working at a rapid pace to bring about change. This is a dynamic role for someone looking to gain a breadth of experience in the charity sector and keen to learn about the education sector and career-related learning, social mobility and volunteer engagement.  We are looking for someone passionate about motivating and inspiring children who relishes working with a range of stakeholders to create impactful activities.

The Engagement Coordinator will work closely with the Head of School Programmes and wider Inspiring the Future team to undertake the following key accountabilities:

Key Accountabilities:

The following areas are broken down to reflect the proportion of the role dedicated to each area, over the course of the academic year, with priorities differing at different times of year

Enquiries management and administrative support across the programme team:

• Managing the enquiries inbox and switchboard phone number, responding to enquiries from schools and volunteers about the charity’s work and programmes and how to sign up
• Providing targeted support to schools such as phone calls to primary, secondary schools and colleges independently utilising the programmes using a RAG (red, amber, green) system to convert them to successful activities
• Providing administrative support across the volunteer and school engagement teams, including record-keeping, data entry, meeting minute-taking, scheduling, event coordination, etc
• Monitoring new registrations from schools and sending welcome emails, keeping this up-to-date with the latest opportunities and messaging for schools
• Use Salesforce CRM to support with data management, assisting with maintaining up to date records and supporting data cleansing as needed
• Other ad-hoc administrative tasks as needed

School Engagement:

• Supporting new teacher registrants with onboarding processes such as welcome emails, platform demonstrations, info webinars
• Writing and coordinating persuasive communications campaigns to different groups of schools that have an interest in engaging with volunteers from the world of work
• In collaboration with rest of team, identifying need for and developing new resources and guidance to meet teacher needs and support them to make the most of our offers
• In collaboration with rest of team, developing and implementing new processes and technical improvements, to support increased school engagement.

Project Delivery:

• Recruiting and engaging schools according to the geographic or sector focus of a funded project
• Managing relationships with a case load of schools in different areas of the country to host planning calls, deliver sessions, gather evaluation data and ensure a legacy of independent usage
• Setting up virtual and face-to-face activities including school liaison, securing volunteers, test calls, setting up on the Inspiring the Future system and hosting on tech platforms e.g. Zoom
• Facilitating virtual and face to face activities to pupils to link with volunteers, hosting and designing themed sessions online to ensure an interactive and engaging experience for children and volunteers, following a Q&A or job guessing-game format.
• Supporting and co-hosting sessions to teachers including teacher training, staff meetings and info webinars to promote Inspiring the Future, deepen engagement and demonstrate independent usage
• Supporting the development of educational resources that provide insight into the world of work and different sectors

Person specification:

We are looking for someone with the following Skills/ Knowledge/ Expertise

Essential

• Minimum one year’s experience in a customer service, school engagement or school-based role
• Experience in successful relationship management – ability to engage confidently and sensitively with schools/colleges and at a range of levels of seniority up to and including headteacher level
• Outstanding customer service and telephone manner, including handling large volumes of email enquiries and dealing with difficult situations politely and assertively
• Strong organisational and administrative skills including close attention to detail and effective time management
• Persuasive and confident communicator who is influential, and effective in presenting a concept both in person and on the phone.
• Good level of education, demonstrating capability in producing written content to a high standard.
• Demonstrable experience of managing a diverse workload; being able to prioritise work and working under pressure.
• Good working knowledge and practical application of Microsoft Office tools

 Desirable

• Passion for supporting young people in realising their potential through harnessing skilled volunteers to engage in education
• Experience in virtual facilitation with children and young people
• Experience of project management and delivery
• Experience of client relationships management (CRM) databases, in particular Salesforce
• Experience of marketing to schools
• Experience of working in a small team
• Experience of working with volunteers
• Understanding of safeguarding, risk management and data protection
• Comfort and confidence in working with data to inform actions

Personal Attributes

• Commitment to uphold our charity’s five values - Inspiring, Inclusive, Innovative, Impactful, Integrity
• Flexible – responsive to changing operational context and new opportunities
• Team Player: working collaboratively and flexibly to achieve outcomes and is keen to add value to the organisation’s culture and ethos
• Able to undertake some occasional work in the evenings and at weekends
• Able to travel in the UK if required

Application process

The Education and Employers charity values having a diverse workforce.  We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals from all backgrounds. We offer a range of inclusive employment and family friendly policies as well as flexible working arrangements in order to support staff from different backgrounds. 

The closing date for applications is 9am on Wednesday 4th February and interviews will take place in the week of the 9th February. The organisation reserves the right to conduct interviews and appoint prior to the closing date dependent on the calibre of applications received.

Please send a covering letter of no more than 2-3 sides of A4 setting out your interest in and suitability for the role against the job description and person specification, together with an up to date CV. Please include your name and the role applied for in the subject line of your e-mail. Thank you

*Please note, in your cover letter we have a strong preference for human-written content. We want to hear about you, your genuine interest in the role, and why from your experience, skills, and personality you feel you are a great fit for the role

We will only consider applications with both a CV and covering letter and applications will only be accepted from those with the right to work in the UK with a valid passport/visa. 

Thank you for taking the time to consider this role. We very much look forward to receiving your application!

The Charity is fully committed to safeguarding those in our care. We plan our recruitment processes to ensure effective timelines for any required vetting processes such as enhanced DBS, qualification, reference and identity checks. The Charity also ensures that each staff member is appropriately trained for their duties with a comprehensive induction process on commencement and regular CPD in areas like safeguarding. 

About the Education and Employers Charity

Education and Employers is an independent UK based charity launched in 2009 with the original vision of “providing children and young people with the inspiration, motivation, knowledge, skills and opportunities they need to help them achieve their potential”. Our current strategic plan and mission is available to read here. It aims to achieve this by working with schools, employers, the national bodies that represent them and a wide range of other partners including the government and third sector organisations. The charity also works with partners internationally – more details here.

The charity runs Inspiring the Future, a free service which uses innovative match-making technology to connect volunteers with state schools and colleges, quickly, simply and at scale. Schools can very easily search a massive database of willing volunteers, filter against a wide range of criteria – e.g. subject, sector, career route and send them a message. It enables young people, wherever they live, whichever school they attend, the opportunity to meet people from a wide range of backgrounds doing jobs from across the whole world of work.

Over 90,000 people have already volunteered in the UK - people from all levels: apprentices to CEOs and all sectors: apps designers to zoologists and over 85% of English secondary schools and 42% of primary schools have registered with us. People can volunteer from an hour a year in a local primary or secondary school to chat informally about their job and career route, take part in career speed networking session, give careers insights, provide mock interviews or feedback on CVs through to serving as a governor or trustee.  There is also the opportunity to link up with schools for workplace visits, job shadowing and mentoring.

Inspiring the Future operates on a technology platform kindly developed in partnership with Deloitte, Salesforce and Ordnance Survey. It allows the charity to run national campaigns and others focused on specific geographic areas or economic sectors such as engineering, science, health and arts and culture. The campaigns have secured high profile support across government, business and teacher associations and ongoing corporate partnerships including our lead corporate partner Bank of America.

In partnership with the National Association of Head Teachers the charity has developed a version for primary schools called Primary Futures and over 6,500 primaries have already signed up. To see a short clip on how it works please click here.  All campaigns run through Inspiring the Future share a common objective: to broaden young people’s horizons, raise their aspirations and show them the range of opportunities and careers routes e.g. apprenticeships and university open to them. Over 5 million interactions between young people and volunteers from the world of work have already taken place.

Since the Charity’s launch it has sought to understand what difference employer engagement in education makes to young people and the economy. It works with academics and researchers from around the world and its own research is regularly cited by government and international organisations like the OECD. The research, which has informed and influenced a range of government policies, shows that employer engagement helps improve social mobility, reduces the likelihood of young people becoming NEET (not in education, employment of training), increases the amount they earn in adult life, helps them make better informed career choices and leads to improvements in educational attainment.

Are you ready to help shape learning that truly supports people to thrive?

Strong learning underpins how we support our community, and at the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association the Learning and Development Manager will help shape the skills and confidence that move us forward.

As our Learning and Development Manager you will strengthen how we grow skills, build confidence and support all our people including staff and volunteers. A key part of this role is a genuine passion for delivering hands-on, engaging training that brings learning to life and supports people in a practical, meaningful way. You will guide the development of an inclusive learning culture that helps our teams work well together and prepares us for the future. You will join a supportive environment where we think big and focus on what matters most.

Hybrid Working and Flexibility: This role offers hybrid working, with the expectation to attend the office 2 days per week.

Key Responsibilities

• Create a clear, phased L&D roadmap that takes us from solid foundations to more modern and digital learning approaches
• Develop and deliver programmes that strengthen skills across all levels, with a strong focus on supporting managers and leaders
• Support and develop L&D team members
• Design and deliver regular learning opportunities including workshops, e-learning and practical sessions that support change and everyday effectiveness
• Use learning insights and data to understand successes, needs and inform planning
• Support a joined-up L&D partnering approach to offer tailored guidance to teams
• Lead and coordinate L&D projects and change initiatives in collaboration with leaders and experts
• Ensure all learning is inclusive and accessible for everyone
• Manage the L&D budget carefully and maximise value from the Apprenticeship Levy

About You

• Proven experience building or developing an L&D function from the ground up, ideally in a charity or purpose-led setting
• Strong background in blended learning across in-person, virtual and digital formats
• Solid project management experience, including LMS oversight
• Confident using data and insights to understand impact and inform decisions
• Good understanding of learning theories, best practice and emerging digital tools
• Professional study or equivalent experience in Education or Learning & Development

About Us:

Our vision is a world free from MND. Our mission is to improve care and support for people with MND, their families and carers. We fund and promote research that leads to new understanding and treatments and brings us closer to a cure for MND. The Association also campaigns and raises awareness so the needs of people with MND, and everyone who cares for them, are recognised, and addressed by wider society.

What We Offer:

• 28 days holiday, increasing to 33 days after 5 years, plus Bank Holidays.
• Access to UK Healthcare, including dental, eyecare, health screenings, and therapies.
• 24/7 GP access via phone and video.
• Life assurance and confidential counselling helplines.
• Salary sacrifice schemes (Cycle to Work, Buy/Sell Annual Leave).
• Access to Benefit Hub for discounts on everyday shopping.
• Enhanced pension scheme.
• Opportunities for training and personal development.
• Hybrid working.

The full job description and further information about working for the MND Association is available in the candidate pack.

Interviews are due to take place on Tuesday 24th February, face-to-face in London.

We are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusivity. We work to remove barriers for everyone affected by MND, employees, volunteers, and stakeholders.

As part of the Disability Confident Scheme, we guarantee interviews for disabled applicants who meet the role's requirements.

If you enjoy building strong relationships, finding practical solutions and working collaboratively, we’d love to hear from you. Join us as our Learning and Development Manager and help shape a confident, future-ready workforce.

Job Advert
JOB TITLE: Head of Operations
SALARY: £56,000 (pro rata)
LOCATION: LSE Students’ Union, Central London Office
WORKING HOURS: 22.2 hours per week (0.6 FTE)
CONTRACT TYPE: Permanent 
 

 
The LSE Students’ Union is seeking an experienced and strategic leader to join our Senior Leadership Team as Head of Operations. This is a newly created position, offering an exciting opportunity to take senior oversight of our central teams and ensure the effective delivery of our operational functions.
 

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, you will provide leadership and direction across finance, HR, governance, compliance, and risk management. Your work will underpin the Union’s ability to deliver its strategic objectives and maintain high standards of accountability, transparency, and operational excellence.
 

As Head of Operations, you will lead our finance and HR team, ensuring robust financial management, effective people practices, and strong governance frameworks. You will oversee budgeting, audits, and financial reporting, while promoting a positive and inclusive workplace culture. Acting as a key adviser to the Board of Trustees and relevant committees, you will also manage risk and data protection across the organisation.
 

Who are we?
 

LSESU is a vibrant, student-led organisation committed to helping LSE students make the most of the life-changing experiences open to them during their time at university. As part of our Senior Leadership Team, you will play a critical role in shaping our future and helping us to create a student experience which is enjoyable and empowering. 
 

 
Founded in 1897, LSE Students' Union is one of the oldest Students' Unions in the UK. We provide support, representation, and opportunities to help students thrive during their time at university. Everything we do is shaped by our members and guided by our values to be bold and inclusive, working collaboratively to create a welcoming community built on integrity and respect.
 

 
Who are we looking for?
 

We are looking for a candidate who combines strategic vision with operational expertise. You will bring a recognised accounting qualification and strong financial acumen, alongside experience in managing both finance and HR functions. Your knowledge of governance, compliance, and risk management frameworks will be essential, as will your ability to provide clear leadership and build effective relationships at all levels. 
 

You’ll need excellent organisation and planning skills, with a keen eye for detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively. A commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion is fundamental, together with an interest in working within a democratic, student-led environment.
 

Why apply?
 

As Head of Operations, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the Union and supporting thousands of students at one of the world’s leading universities. We offer:
 

-        25 days of holiday per year (pro rata)
 

-        Additional closure periods at Christmas and Easter
 

-        Free LSE Students’ Union gym membership 
 

-        Opportunities for professional development and growth.
 

-        Access to TOTUM (NUS) card, which provides a wide range of discounts
 

-        Flexibility for work-life balance
 

 How to apply
 

We want to ensure that all systems, policies and processes are free from bias or discrimination and are fair and accessible. Therefore, we ask that all candidates complete our application process by uploading the following three documents: 
 

Part 1: CV – Outlining your skills and experience to date.
 

Part 2: Supporting Statement – A one-page statement explaining your suitability for the role. This will be used to determine if you are shortlisted for an interview. Please do not include any personal information (e.g., name or date of birth). Use the attached job description and person specification to help with this. 
 

 
Part 3: Equal Opportunities Monitoring and Contact Form – This includes personal information so we can contact you if you are shortlisted for an interview. It also allows us to gather and analyse demographic information about our applicants. This form will only be seen by HR and will not impact shortlisting.
 

 
Want to apply?
 

To apply for this role, please complete an online application.

Job Application Timeline
Closing date: Thursday 29th January 2026 at 10am
Intended interview dates: 12th / 13th February 2026

Compulsory Requirement - The UK Government sets the legal regulations that we are required to follow. As an employer we must ensure that everyone is eligible to work in the UK and this is done by us checking and making a copy of the correct original identification/documentation before your first day of work. Currently we require you to have the right to work in the UK, as we are not a Home Office approved sponsor.

Nb: This piece of recruitment is rolling and may close at any time.

In recent years OTR has seen a significant increase in demand for our youth mental health services and we now reach over 17,000 young people each year. We are seeking a Head of Finance to oversee our (circa) £3m annual budget and to ensure that our finance operation is efficient and effective. This role will lead OTR’s finance function and, as well as having responsibility for day-to-day financial processes, will be a key member of the organisation’s senior leadership team (SLT). The role will involve providing financial insight to the SLT and Board of Trustees to improve understanding and inform strategic decision making. Examples of this will include analysing the financial performance of different activities of the organisation and preparing budget and forecast information. 

We are looking for an individual with demonstrable experience in a finance management role which includes a strategic focus, preferably in the voluntary sector. The successful candidate will be a flexible and meticulous individual who is able to present complex information to a range of audiences. Equally important is a strong personal interest in and commitment to the mental health and wellbeing of young people.

To find out more about the role please download the job pack. If you would like an informal chat about the role, please email the main contact as listed in the job pack

To apply for this role click the 'Apply now' button

We welcome applications from all sections of the community and are committed to developing a team that reflects the diversity of the people we work with

Safeguarding:

OTR is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We expect all staff, trustees, and volunteers to share this commitment.

As part of our Safer Recruitment practices, all roles involving contact with young people will be subject to robust pre-employment checks, including references, a full employment history, and an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Where applicable, overseas criminal record checks will also be required.

We are dedicated to creating a culture of vigilance, transparency, and accountability. Our safeguarding procedures are guided by the principle that the welfare of the child is paramount, and all staff are required to adhere to OTR’s Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy. 

OTR & Benefits:

OTR is a mental health social movement by and for young people. The charity is at an exciting stage of its 59-year history and is proud to be reaching more young people than ever before (around 17,000) across Bristol, South Gloucestershire, and North Somerset with creative and diverse mental health and wellbeing info and support. 

Our approach to mental health is grounded in a set of beliefs and values that underpin all of our work. We believe in celebrating diversity, empowering and mobilising young people to make change, and that catering to the unique strengths, interests and circumstances surrounding young people is key. Our approach centres on collaboration and partnership, building relationships between individuals, peers and communities. 

Each day is as engaging and fulfilling as the last, and with a network of supportive, community minded people, we hope you’ll feel welcome here. As a thank you, we like to compensate our employees for the important work they do with a range of benefits including a flexible leave policy, healthcare cost and wellbeing assistance with HealthShield, flexible and hybrid working arrangements, enhanced sick pay, parental leave, training and development, social and wellbeing events, and more (subject to contractual terms and conditions). 

A Willingness to Work with Difference 

At OTR, whatever your role or professional background, you will be expected to work in a way that is anti-oppressive and inclusive. A key focus for OTR is to develop an organisation that is inclusive for all but we do not claim to be experts in this. We are committed to continuous learning and improvement in these areas and invite you to join us on this journey. 

OTR recognises the benefits to individual practice and organisational credibility of having a diverse community of staff and volunteers and to this end is continually working towards building and maintaining an environment which values and pursues diversity accordingly. 

We recognise that tackling systemic inequality, prejudice, racism and oppressive practice requires each of us to actively engage, self-examine and make changes where necessary, in order to improve access and equitable experience for all in society and all of those who come through our doors at OTR.

Contract Type: Maternity cover until mid March 2027

Location: London or any of our national offices, with the expectation of being in the office 2-3 days per week and being able to travel to London for team meetings 1-2 times per month (travel expenses covered if based at an office outside London)  

1st stage interviews: 10th & 12th February (virtual over MS Teams)

2nd stage interviews: 19th February (in-person at our South London Centre or virtual over MS Teams if you're based outside London)

Young people need us more than ever, and at The King’s Trust, you can help make sure we’re there for them. As Head of Individual Giving and Legacies, you’ll play a crucial role in developing two of our key income streams, inspiring thousands of supporters to back our work and securing long-term pledges that transform futures.

This year is a particularly exciting one as it’s our 50th anniversary, so you’ll design and deliver powerful campaigns that encourage supporters to give again, attract new donors, and grow legacy commitments year on year. From shaping innovative fundraising products to creating meaningful supporter journeys, your leadership will ensure our donors feel connected, valued, and motivated to continue their support. With a talented team to guide and inspire, you’ll drive creativity, collaboration, and impact, turning generosity into life-changing opportunities for young people across the UK.

What happens next?  

Please submit a CV, and Cover Letter that includes your experience, transferrable skills and motivation to work for The King's Trust! The Team will be in touch about the next steps shortly after the closing date. 

Why do we need a Head of Individual Giving & Legacies? 

Last year, we helped more than 40,000 Young People, with three in four young people on our programmes moving into a positive outcome in work, education or training. The young people we help face a range of challenges, such as unemployment, mental health issues or some who have been in trouble with the law. We believe all young people should have the chance to succeed, and that young people are the key to a positive and prosperous future for all of us. We want to continue having a positive impact on young people’s lives and we couldn’t do this without the important work of our Head of Individual Giving & Legacies! 

Perks for working at The Trust! 

• Great holiday package! 30 days annual leave entitlement, plus bank holidays. Office closure on the days between Christmas and New Year 
• Flexible working! Where operationally possible, our roles require a combination of office days and working from home (please speak to the hiring manager about this particular role)
• You can volunteer for and/or attend events – The King's Trust Awards, Pride, active events etc. 
• In-house learning platform! Develop your skills for your career and your role 
• Benefits platform! Everything from health and financial well-being support to discounts on your favourite restaurants, shops and cinemas. 
• Personal development opportunities through our Networks – KT CAN (Cultural Awareness Network), KT GEN (Gender Equality Network), KT DAWN (Disability & Wellbeing Network), and PULSE (LGBTQIA+ Network). 
• Fantastic Family leave! Receive 13 weeks of full pay and 13 weeks of half pay for maternity and adoption leave. Receive 8 weeks of full pay for paternity leave. 
• Interest-free season ticket loans 
• The Trust will contribute 5% of your salary to the Trust Pension Scheme 
• Generous life assurance cover (4 x annual salary) 

Do you love supporting others to grow, succeed and deliver exceptional patient‑centred practice? If so, we’d love to hear from you.

Halton Haven Hospice is seeking a Clinical Nurse Educator, an inspiring clinician‑educator who will champion high‑quality learning, empower our staff and volunteers, and help us continue delivering exceptional hospice and end‑of‑life care.

About the Role

As our Clinical Nurse Educator, you will be at the heart of how we develop our people. You will play a key role in enhancing the clinical learning environment and promoting quality patient care through education, support and continuous professional development.

You’ll ensure our staff are confident, competent and compassionate — and you’ll help extend our reach by supporting external partners in the wider community.

• Develop and deliver innovative training programmes, competency study days and group/individual education sessions.
• Provide expert teaching on communication skills and other hospice training courses.

• Embed high standards of learning, development and assessment into daily clinical practice.
• Work alongside clinical teams to understand real world needs and support clinical practice.
• Support induction, preceptorship, and newly qualified colleagues.

• Help shape our annual training calendar for staff and volunteers.
• Generate reports and insights to guide future development plans.

• Support local nursing and care homes with palliative and end of life education

• Contribute to the delivery of high-quality, cost-effective training service within the Education & Training budget.

About You

We’re looking for someone who is:

• Passionate about education and lifelong training
• Motivated to improve standards of care across hospice and community settings
• Confident at teaching diverse groups and using digital learning tools
• A collaborative clinician who enjoys working as part of a supportive multidisciplinary team

You’ll be part of a warm, compassionate organisation where your ideas, leadership and expertise will have a real and lasting impact on patient care, staff development and the wider community.

If you’re ready to inspire, educate, and elevate the future of hospice care then please welcome this rare and exciting opportunity!

Please apply by submitting a completed application form to our HR Department 

Halton Haven Hospice is an Equal Opportunities Employer

All appointments are subject to Disclosure Barring Service checks

We reserve the right to close a job advert early where sufficient applications have been received.

Head of Governance

£50,718 - £58,726 plus London weighing if applicable

Location , Hybrid, with travel needed

The WEA is the UK’s largest voluntary sector provider of adult education, a charity dedicated to bringing high quality, professional education into the heart of communities.  

We are looking for talented individuals to help us deliver our mission – to bring lifelong learning within reach fighting inequality and promoting social justice.

Job Description

WEA are looking for talented individuals to help us deliver our mission – to bring education within reach. If that sounds like you, then please read on.

As the Head of Governance, you will work closely with the Director of Governance & Purpose (Company Secretary) to support the Chair of the Board of Trustees and the Chairs of committees with advice and support on standards of good governance, and compliance - particularly around or SDI status. 

Reporting to the Director of Governance and Purpose, the successful candidate will also ensure ongoing monitoring of governance effectiveness and continuous improvement, and the efficient and effective administration of governance process, including trustee and committee member recruitment and onboarding, tracking appointment terms, and annual skills audits. Along with other members of the corporate governance team, you will support the Board of Trustees and its committees, including the creation and retention of proper meeting records, and the appropriate support, training and development of Trustees and senior volunteers serving on committees of the Board. 

Together with the team, you will also provide support to ad hoc working groups and volunteer committees that may arise from time to time to provide important local insight and input to governance decision-making.

We have attached the full role profile, that lists the key deliverables, performance measures and experience/qualifications needed for this role. Please take your time to read through this, and if you’d like to apply, hit that button!

We are working hard to create a workplace that reflects the communities we seek to serve and in which everyone feels empowered to be themselves and work together to drive positive change. We strongly encourage applicants from a diverse range of candidates and encourage everyone with the appropriate skills, experiences and potential to apply.

Should you need any support with your application, then please get in touch. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible

In our recent OFSTED inspection, we received a GOOD overall grade, with an OUTSTANDING rating for Behaviour and Attitudes and Personal Development.

You can read more about our benefits and what it’s like to work here, on our website .

We’re an award-winning charity running local learning centres in the heart of the communities where the young people we support live. Our centres provide a high-impact education programme which includes practical learning support, pastoral care, and motivational and confidence-building activities for young people aged 7-18. Our aim is to enable students from the least advantaged neighbourhoods to realise their ambitions and achieve their wonderful potential.

As the UK’s leading university access organisation, our staff team is helping 56,000 young people each year at its 44 learning centres and extension projects across England and Scotland, and we plan to scale-up our provision to 50 centres over the coming years.

We are looking for a high-calibre candidate who will enjoy working each day with young people and who will thrive in a frontline, community-based, fast-paced and rewarding role. You will be taking up a permanent role as Centre Leader at our IntoUniversity centre in Southampton. You will have responsibility for running your IntoUniversity centre, including managing your team, planning and delivering the programme, liaising with external stakeholders and meeting  IntoUniversity’s targets for delivery.

A substantial element of this role is delivering our education programme to children and young people aged 7-18, so you will need to have a genuine passion and enthusiasm for working with young people, including leading a class of 30 from the front, working with small teams of children and providing one-to-one support.

The role at a glance

Contract: Full-time, permanent

Application deadline - 9am Monday 2nd February 2026

Interview day (in-person) - Thursday 12th February 2026

Start date: As soon as possible, to be agreed directly with the successful candidate

Working hours
Mon and Thurs: 09:30-18:00
Tues, Weds, Fri: 09:00-17:30

(Some additional weekend & unsocial hours will be required)

Centre Leaders are based at one of our IntoUniversity learning centres and work directly with young people, schools and families on a daily basis. It is therefore not a hybrid role and is based full-time in our centres

Location

IntoUniversity Southampton

The role requires intermittent travel in your region (usually within the day). Periodic travel out of the area is also required e.g. to London, this may include occasional overnight stays. 

Salary

£36,400 per annum.

Annual leave
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
• Summer working hours (finish at 1pm on Fridays for six weeks in the summer), pro-rated for staff joining after January in the same year 
• Employee Assistance Programme including access to wellbeing and legal support 
• Life Assurance scheme with Aviva 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

The Difference is an education charity, founded to change the story on lost learning. Our vision is to see lost learning falling nationally by 2030 and for schools to be better equipped to support all children, particularly those most vulnerable.

We are a small, growing charity delivering many school leadership programmes, with a growing research and policy arm. We have had excellent early impact but there is work ahead to capture this, share learning with schools and policy-makers, and campaign to lower exclusions across England.

The Role
This is an exciting time to join The Difference as we increase our impact, reach more schools, and develop our influencing strategy. As Head of Policy and Public Affairs you will: 
 

Design and execute an impactful influencing plan 

• Design an influencing plan - Identify via horizon scanning opportunities to influence national policy using open policy windows, or by nudging/creating new ones. 

• Execute an influencing plan - Utilise own assets and assets across the organisation, including the Director team, to deliver against the influencing plan.

• Relationship building - Build highly credible and impactful relationships with a variety of stakeholders who hold power. This will include policy makers in national governments, local government officials, politicians, other third sector organisations and think tanks. 

• Leadership - Play a significant role internally and externally in communicating the organisation’s policy position, raising organisational and own brand.

Build policy capacity and credibility across the organisation

• Policy positions and solutions- Use the concepts, work and experience of The Difference’s programmes to develop new, and refine existing, national policy positions to shift incentives. 

• Thought leadership - Be the organisation’s education policy and political expert. 

• Generating income - Use own and team’s expertise and credibility to generate income via speaking engagements and consultancy to support the organisation’s financial sustainability. 

Person Specification

Essential – We are looking for someone with the following knowledge, experience and skills, though you may be stronger in some areas than others:
 

• Deep expertise in education policy, particularly on the topic of lost learning and the various policy and political debates, including areas of controversy, surrounding this policy topic. 

• Strategic thinker with a proven track record in identifying policy windows and designing activities that lead to meaningful national policy change. 

• Excellent relationship builder, who brings with them their own network of influential stakeholders and has a plan for building new relationships. Adept at navigating tricky situations and explaining complex, sometimes difficult, messages.

• Expert convener with a strong knowledge of the education sector, including which schools, trusts and local authorities are influential and experience in bringing a variety of perspectives together to generate consensus. 

• Persuasive and clear writing style for publication, including reports, press, blogs and ghost writing for members of the senior leadership team, often based on consensus positions, and designed to communicate key messages for impact. 

• Confidence and credibility in communicating nuanced messages in a contentious landscape, in writing, verbally and in public (e.g. on panels), to raise the profile of The Difference. 

• Strong project manager who can design systems and processes to keep self, team and other stakeholders on task and on time. Experience of designing programmes of work and monitoring their effectiveness. Flexible project management style that can adapt to a changing environment. Confidence in managing a variety of stakeholders and supporting them to deliver on time. 

Desired – You are more likely to be successful in your application if you have one or more of the following: 

• Familiarity with The Difference’s programmatic work, theory and practice. 

• Lived experience or insight into the school experiences of marginalised young people (e.g. those with experience of the care system, mental ill health, special educational needs, exclusion, and racism).

We know that some people, especially those from marginalised backgrounds, may hesitate to apply unless they meet every listed requirement. If this role excites you and you believe you could make a strong contribution, we warmly encourage you to apply. 

We actively welcome applications from people whose backgrounds are under-represented in the charity sector, including but not limited to: people from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, LGBTQ+ people, people with disabilities, people with experience in the case system, non-graduates and first-in-family graduates.

Situated within beautiful gardens and grounds, the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability (RHN) is a leading national centre of excellence and one of the longest-running charities and independent hospitals in the UK.

Set in a stunning Grade II listed Victorian building, the RHN provides adult person-centred services across the entire care pathway—from post-acute rehabilitation to end-of-life care—for people with complex neuro-disabilities and their families. Underpinned by a strong research and education framework, the RHN is more than a hospital; it is a vibrant community where residents engage in music, art, and holistic support to achieve the best possible quality of life. 

The role:

A fantastic new opportunity has arisen at the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability for an ambitious and strategic Head of Fundraising to lead and expand the RHN’s income generation and manage and drive a high performing team.

The Head of Fundraising will be responsible for generating income from all fundraising income streams: Community, Events, Corporate, Trusts and Foundations, Legacy and Direct Mail (Donor Development). They will oversee all aspects of fundraising, including developing and implementing the Fundraising Strategy, managing key donor relationships, driving forward any capital appeals and leading a team of fundraising professionals.

Who we are looking for:

We are looking for a passionate, positive and highly experienced individual with a proven track record in senior fundraising roles within the charity sector and experience of successful income generation.  Candidates must be skilled on donor stewardship and stakeholder engagement, as well as being a confident and engaging public speaker.  Knowledge of fundraising standards and best practice are essential.

Main objectives of the role:

• Establish fundraising priorities and set fundraising goals in line with the wider organisational strategy
• Achieve the fundraising target and KPIs
• Lead on the organisation of a full calendar of fundraising events and activity and ensure applications are made in a timely manner
• Engage with Fellows, Trustees and volunteers to ensure wider RHN engagement
• Engage with internal teams to ensure the timely promotion of events, activities and to ensure engagement
• Work with clinical service teams particularly those areas fully funded by fundraising, to provide case studies and outcome reports
• To work closely with the Communications team to fully utilise social media and the RHN website for all fundraising events and activities.
• Act as the primary contact for volunteer committees and external partners as necessary

We are happy to consider applicants who are looking to work part-time for a minimum of 3 days a week. 

Candidates must be willing to work occasional evenings and weekends for events.

What we can offer you:

• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Hybrid working – a strong on-site presence is required for this role with a minimum of 3 days working on-site per week expected (pro rata for part-time)
• Free counselling and therapy sessions and other mental wellbeing support through our partner CIC Wellbeing
• Get involved in our free on-site wellbeing programs, including weekly yoga, and monthly pottery club (we are the UK’s only hospital with its own kiln)
• Financial support services such as low-interest loans and help with savings accounts through our partnership with London Capital Credit Union
• Join our wellbeing networks to connect with people in our hospital; we have a Pride network, Women’s network, and our Race Equality network. We also have heritage events to celebrate the diversity of our workforce – most recently we had a South East Asian celebration.
• Free on-site parking (rare in London)
• More benefits: Cycle2Work scheme, tech purchase support scheme, Blue Light Card discounts, and more.

Want to find out more?

We would be delighted to have an informal conversation with interested applicants and provide more details on the role, team and the RHN!   Please vist our website to view our full Job Description and learn more about us.

The Head of Safeguarding is a new role for the organisation. You will lead our safeguarding strategy and practice, ensuring we provide the highest standards of safety and care for the young people we support. You will act as Designated Safeguarding Lead, overseeing quality, consistency and continual development of safeguarding practice across the organisation. You will work closely with the Chief Operating Officer to develop and implement relevant safeguarding policies, facilitate staff training, embed learning from incidents, and ensure safeguarding is understood as everyone’s responsibility.

We are happy to consider candidates taking their first step into leadership and we will consider exceptional part time candidates to ensure we find the right person or people for the role. We particularly welcome candidates from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities as these are overrepresented communities in our services and yet underrepresented within our leadership.

• Permanent, full-time role in our Leadership Team (part-time considered)
• Salary: £46,800 (salary scale £46,800-£52,000)
• Deadline to apply: 9am, Friday 30 January 2026