Head of engagement jobs

Head of Research and Engagement

Salary: £34,032 pro rata for 21 hours per week (£56,720 FTE)

Letchworth Garden City/ home working (hybrid)

Part time (21 hours a week)

Permanent

Flexible working considered

Lead research, insight and engagement that helps shape better MS care. If you are an experienced neurology or MS healthcare professional with strong leadership, research and stakeholder skills, this is an opportunity to turn evidence and lived experience into action for people affected by MS.

Join our friendly team
We are looking for someone who can bring people together around evidence, insight and improvement. You will be confident working with health professionals, researchers and external partners, and able to translate findings into clear, practical outputs that support better services and care. You will bring strong communication, project management and analytical skills, with the ability to lead a small portfolio and build trusted relationships across the MS community.

Our charity
The MS Trust is a UK charity which is here to help everyone make sense of MS. We are here for everyone affected by MS, from the moment of diagnosis and throughout their journey. We're here today, tomorrow and every day after that.

The role
Head of Research and Engagement: This is a senior and varied role where you will lead and oversee our research grants, MS service mapping, supported research and Helpline. Working closely with the Director of Services, you will set priorities, manage key roles, develop stakeholder relationships and make sure our research and mapping findings are shared clearly, accurately and accessibly. You will help strengthen our engagement with the NHS, professional bodies and partners, ensuring our work is rooted in real experience and has practical impact for people with MS.

What we can offer

· 28 days annual leave per year plus bank holidays, which increases with length of service to 30 days.

· Company pension with enhanced employer contribution. Salary Sacrifice scheme available.

· Death in Service benefit.

· Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay.

· Sick pay.

· Hybrid working.

· Employee assistance Programme

· Fantastic office location with free parking, local to town centre and train station. Good transport links to London and Cambridge.

· Learning and development policy to develop all staff.

· Cycle to work scheme, Volunteering day and Season ticket loans.

To find out more and apply

Please visit our website to download a job pack and application form (CVs will not be considered).

As part of our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI), we appreciate your time completing the form, as this allows us to keep our recruitment process fair and neutral.

Closing date: 1 September 2026 at 9.00am

First Interviews: 17 September 2026

Hybrid - London WC1H - we operate hybrid, flexible working practices with 20% of your time per month being office based

Join the ACU as Head of Communications and Engagement and use your expertise and experience to help us in our mission to be the voice of Commonwealth universities, supporting them to collaborate and to advance their contribution to sustainable development.

Working at the intersection of higher education and international development, The ACU offers a unique opportunity to make a real difference. We are one of the largest, most diverse international university networks, bringing together over 400 members in more than 40 countries, and our official role within the Commonwealth and United Nations affords an impactful platform for advocacy and strategic partnerships.

The role
The Head of Communications and Engagement leads ACU's external voice and its member engagement function, ensuring that our member universities experience ACU as a present, credible and valuable partner. This role is the primary custodian of how ACU communicates with the world and how relationships with members, stakeholders and partners are built, maintained and deepened.

You will develop and lead an integrated communications and engagement strategy, ensuring all activity is strategically aligned, well-coordinated and delivered with maximum impact.

Working closely with the Director, you will provide leadership in shaping the external affairs of the ACU, finding new and creative ways to communicate ACU's work and impact, strengthen our position with key audiences and platform our advocacy messages within the sector and with key decisions makers including at major multilateral forums. You will oversee marketing efforts to drive participation with our member opportunities and for our managed programmes and will be responsible for contract fulfilment for a range of external clients. You will also lead on internal communications in support of our people and culture agenda. 

Working with the Head of Membership and Events and Head of Policy and Research, you will be jointly responsible for the membership strategy, leading an international engagement team to ensure that our offer is visible to members, and our diverse and geographically dispersed network feel engaged and see the value of membership.

Who are we looking for?
We are looking for an experienced senior leader who can bring a strategic and an integrated approach to communications and engagement, enjoys working in a collaborative international environment and who will foster creativity and innovation to deliver maximum impact.

You will:

• Bring a track record of leading integrated communications strategies in complex contexts, alongside experience of membership engagement or institutional relationship management at a senior level.
• Have worked at senior level in marketing or communications, be skilled in devising and implementing successful communication strategies and plans, audience segmentation, content creation, delivery and the use of the various channels for effectiveness
• Be comfortable holding the strategic and the relational in equal measure, and understand that in a membership organisation, communications and engagement are two sides of the same endeavour.
• Be a strategic thinker, know how to use data and insight to direct a team's activity, and understand how to design an engagement model that utilises personalised account management and varied communications channels to reach diverse audience segments with targeted messages 
• Be comfortable leading a small, dispersed team- including a network of regional engagement leads across ACU's core geographies - setting strategic direction and supporting consistent standards and autonomous delivery 
• Be energised rather than daunted by breadth: moving between brand strategy and member retention, hands-on delivery and team leadership

What to expect
We see equity, diversity and inclusion as fundamental to our mission and we value the many different perspectives that people from all backgrounds bring to our collective performance (you can find more about our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and safeguarding on our website by clicking here). We believe in investing in all our people and creating cultures in which everyone can thrive.

We offer a fantastic package of benefits including:

• 27 days annual leave, 8 bank holidays (pro rata - part-time employees) and 4 Christmas closure days
• Generous pension scheme – 5% employee contribution, 10% employer contribution 
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, and shared parental leave
• Significant investment into your personal and professional development
• Regular social activities
• Health and wellbeing programmes
• Give as you earn charitable donations scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Interest-free travel season ticket loan

How to apply
Apply via the apply button which will redirect you to our recruitment portal.

Closing date: 27th August 2026 at 23.45 pm.

Interviews will take place on 7th September 2026.

First stage interviews will take place virtually. A second stage will be conducted in-person at our London office in the week commencing 14/09/2026.

Our client is a national charity dedicated to tackling anti-Muslim hate and supporting those affected by it. Through victim support, research, community engagement and policy influence, they work to challenge Islamophobia and create lasting change. As the Trust expands its national reach, they are strengthening the senior leadership team to increase its impact, deepen the evidence base and ensure the voices and experiences of Muslim communities are reflected in both public policy and service delivery. Prospectus is proud to be partnering with the trust as they now recruit for a new Head of Community Engagement and Outreach.

This is a brand new position for the trust which will focus on building and developing relationships with Muslim communities across the UK, ensuring that community voice, needs and experience shape everything they do. The Head of Community Engagement and Outreach will develop and deliver a national community engagement strategy, prioritising areas of greatest need, building and sustaining relationships with mosques, community organisations, faith networks and grassroots groups across the UK. You will design and deliver outreach programmes that raise awareness of the trust's support services, build trust with communities and will grow their network of volunteers and ambassadors. You will also lead on the design and delivery of training programmes, delivered to a range of external partners, covering a range of important topics including community resilience, reporting a hate crime, and wellbeing support.

To apply for this multifaceted role, you will have significant experience of community engagement, outreach or partnership development, ideally within the charity, faith or public sector. You will have excellent relationship-building skills, with the confidence to engage community leaders, statutory partners and volunteers and will possess sound judgement, integrity and sensitivity when dealing with confidential information, delicate issues and vulnerable individuals. You will also have experience of designing and delivering tailored training programmes to diverse audiences, including community groups and institutional partners. A strong understanding of the issues facing Muslim communities in the UK, and the barriers to reporting hate crime is essential.

To apply for this role, please initially submit your CV (in Word format). Cover letters are not required at this stage.

The trust & Prospectus are both committed to creating a diverse, inclusive and equitable workplace. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds and particularly encourage applications from individuals with lived experience of the issues affecting the communities the trust serves. Recruitment decisions are made solely on merit, and reasonable adjustments will be provided throughout the recruitment process where needed.

Please note this is a full-time role which will be hybrid-working, with regular weekly travel across the UK depending on service need.
 

This is a pivotal leadership role at a defining moment in TLG's journey.

As TLG works towards its vision of fullness of life for every child, no matter what struggles they face, we believe the opportunity before us is significant. The mental health challenges facing children continue to grow, whilst churches and schools are actively seeking effective ways to respond.

The vision for this role is to help TLG substantially increase its reach and impact by growing strategic partnerships with churches, schools and wider stakeholders. At the heart of this ambition is TLG's belief that lasting transformation happens when school, home and church work together, creating a powerful network of support around a child.

This Role’s Impact:

The Head of Strategic Engagement will lead TLG's growth strategy, translating vision into influence, opportunity and sustainable growth. They will help shape and strengthen TLG's growth culture, bringing greater strategic focus to relationship-building, networking, pipeline development and partnership acquisition across the organisation. In doing so, they will help develop a more intentional and effective approach to sales, enabling TLG to achieve its ambitious 2030 goals.

A key aspect of the role will be driving the growth of TLG's therapeutic support offer, requiring proven expertise in building demand, securing contracts and developing strategic relationships with schools, Multi-Academy Trusts, local authorities and other commissioning bodies.

Working across the organisation, the postholder will strengthen our collective ability to identify opportunities, open doors and expand our reach to children and families through church and school partnerships. Central to TLG’s future growth is our ambition to deepen and scale the partnership between church, school and home. The successful candidate will be passionate about increasing these connections, working towards our vision of transforming the lives of 10,000 children through 400 active church partnerships by 2030.

Alongside this, they will help unlock new ways for churches to engage with our mission, strengthening existing partnership models whilst pioneering new opportunities that connect churches more deeply with the needs of children and families in their communities.

At a time when unprecedented numbers of children are experiencing challenges with emotional wellbeing and mental health, this role offers the opportunity to mobilise the Church's response to one of the defining social challenges of our generation.

TLG is a Christian charity and, as a team, we want to bring our faith to the work we do; as such, we are recruiting an individual with a strong and vibrant Christian faith. We would welcome applications from candidates from diverse backgrounds to enable us to better reflect the needs of the communities we serve.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis prior to the closing date, so we would encourage you to apply as soon as you’re able. We reserve the right to interview and appoint prior to the closing date.

Hours: Full time (37.5 hours per week)

Closing Date: Wednesday 7th October

Initial Interviews: Tuesday 13th October – Online

Final Interviews: Monday 19th October – at our National Support Centre in West Yorkshire

Head of Alumni Engagement & Operations with Kingston University
£60,996 (negotiable) | Full-time (37 hours) | Hybrid working | Kingston upon Thames
 

Charity People is delighted to be partnering with Kingston University to recruit their next Head of Alumni Engagement & Operations.

Kingston University has spent over 125 years transforming lives through education, innovation and opportunity. With TEF Gold recognition across the board, and a Town House Strategy that's rewriting what a modern education looks like, we are focused on helping students develop the skills, networks and experiences to thrive throughout their careers. Integral to this ambition is our global community of more than 280,000 alumni, who's futures have been shaped by the university.

As Head of Alumni Engagement & Operation, part of the senior leadership team of our Development, Alumni Relations and Engagement (DARE) team, you will help us build lifelong relationships with our alumni to support future growth and success.

About the role:

We have a 3-year strategy in place to develop alumni engagement, increase participation and embed philanthropy more deeply across the University, with full support of senior leadership across the board. This is a fantastic opportunity to join our growing team and work with senior stakeholders across the University, to champion the role alumni can play in student success, employability, mentoring, partnerships and philanthropy, and develop a lifelong alumni offer.

Reporting in to the Director of DARE, you'll lead a broad portfolio including alumni communications, events, volunteering, individual giving, CRM, data insight and operational delivery.

About you:

We're looking for someone who understands the power of communities and relationships.

This is a broad leadership role spanning alumni engagement, communications, volunteering, individual giving, CRM, data insight and operational delivery. While experience within alumni relations or advancement in higher education would be valuable, we're equally interested in hearing from candidates from the charity, membership, fundraising, supporter engagement or relationship management sectors. What matters most is your ability to build communities, create meaningful engagement opportunities, use insight to drive decision-making and inspire people to connect with a shared purpose.

You'll be strategic enough to shape the future direction of alumni engagement at Kingston, whilst remaining hands-on enough to build relationships, spot opportunities and bring colleagues and stakeholders with you.

You'll bring:

• Experience developing and delivering successful alumni engagement, advancement, membership, supporter engagement or relationship-management programmes.

• A track record of building communities, growing participation and creating meaningful engagement opportunities
• Strong leadership skills and experience developing high-performing teams
• Confidence using insight, data and CRM systems to inform strategy and decision-making
• Experience overseeing communications, events, volunteering, supporter engagement or related activities
• An understanding of how long-term relationships can lead to advocacy, mentoring, volunteering, partnerships and giving

Most importantly, you'll believe that alumni engagement is about much more than communications and events. You'll be excited by the opportunity to help graduates become mentors, volunteers, advocates, partners and lifelong supporters of the University.

Benefits include

• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Excellent pension scheme
• Hybrid working (with a minimum of 50% of time spent on campus)
• Access to professional development opportunities
• A supportive and inclusive working environment
• The opportunity to shape a high-profile function at one of London's leading universities

Key Dates:

• Closing date: 9th September 2026 - we encourage not delaying your application.
• Interviews: 28th and 30th September 2026 (in person)

How to apply

Charity People are managing this search on behalf of Kingston University.

In the first instance, please send your CV to Glen at Charity People. If your profile matches what we're looking for, we'll be in touch with the full candidate pack and further details about the recruitment process.

We want you to have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills, ability and potential. Please inform us if you require any assistance or adjustment to help ensure the application process works for you.

Charity People is a forward thinking, inclusive organisation that actively and deliberately promotes equity, diversity and inclusion. We know organisations thrive when inclusion is at the forefront. We evidence our commitment by matching charity needs with the skills and experience of candidates irrespective of background e.g. age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. We do this because we believe that greater diversity leads to greater results for the charities we work with.

Prospectus is delighted to be supporting our client, the UK’s national body for the humanities and social sciences, in its search for a Deputy Head of Global Strategy, Policy & Engagement.

The postholder will join the academy’s Global Strategy, Policy & Engagement Team at an exciting time for its international policy and engagement work. Reporting to the Head of Global Strategy, Policy & Engagement, this role will play a key part in shaping and delivering the academy’s international engagement strategy, strengthening relationships with key international partners, and contributing to the academy’s growing influence across global policy debates. The role will work particularly closely with a fellow Deputy Head leading on the Global (Dis)Order international policy programme and help lead the academy’s international engagement and partnerships portfolio, with particular responsibility for global relationship-building and engagement with international organisations and networks.

A key aspect of the role will be helping to develop and deliver the academy’s international policy activities in a rapidly evolving geopolitical environment. This will include identifying emerging opportunities and challenges, coordinating evidence-based policy outputs, convening expertise from across the humanities and social sciences, and ensuring the academy's work informs and influences decision-making at national and international levels. The role will involve fostering relationships with researchers, policymakers, governments, multilateral organisations, funders, think tanks and international partners to ensure the academy remains an influential voice within global policy discussions. The role includes the management of two Senior International Policy Advisers and candidates will be working with colleagues in the wider team in a matrix fashion requiring adaptability and flexibility.

The successful candidate will bring strong policy development and delivery experience, excellent stakeholder management skills and an ability to operate confidently across complex international environments. Experience of international engagement, diplomacy, multilateral organisations, international research policy or government relations would be particularly valuable. The academy is open to candidates from a range of backgrounds, including research funding organisations, government, think tanks, international bodies, academia or the wider policy sector, who can demonstrate the ability to work across multiple policy areas and thrive in a dynamic, fast-moving environment. The role requires candidates who enjoy working at pace, convening different stakeholders, and working in a versatile manner across a broad and various landscape of international engagement and policy issues.

Please apply in the first instance and we will contact suitable candidates for further conversations. Interviews will take place in person on 11th September. If you are not going to be available for an in-person interview on these dates, please make this clear within your application.

The organisation welcomes applications from people of all backgrounds, in line with its commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive working environment, promoting equal opportunity, and addressing under-representation. Reasonable adjustments are available throughout the recruitment process.

At Prospectus, we are committed to supporting you throughout your application journey. We welcome applications from all candidates regardless of age, disability, sex, gender identity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, marital status or pregnancy and maternity. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please contact Catherine Bunting at Prospectus.