Head of engagement jobs in winsford, cheshire west and chester

PRIMARY OUTPUTS

To contribute to raising funds through high-quality bid and application processes which includes supporting the development of funding applications, stakeholder engagement. Evaluation reports and research underpinned by excellent communication skills. 

To raise awareness of DMWS services through print, web and social media activity.

All the work must ensure that DMWS’ mission, values and aims are clearly articulated in a professional manner and that our vision for sustainability and growth to support our beneficiaries is successful.

To apply please submit a CV and covering letter explaining why you would be a good fit for the role. Please remember to click on ‘upload’ otherwise we may not receive your attachments.Applicants must hold a full UK Driving Licence and have access to a vehicle which may occasionally be required for this role.  Applications will be considered as they are submitted. DMWS reserve the right to close the application process early and feedback will only be provided to candidates who attend interviews.

Key Responsibilities 

• Contribute to the writing of consistently high-quality funding applications and bid documents which are accurate, substantiated, and contain compelling content.  Ensure these are submitted to deadline and in line with the funders criteria as well as DMWS aims. 

• Write, edit and submit evaluation reports as required by the funder – working with the Grant Manager and operational colleagues for support. 

• Develop, update, and maintain an electronic project bid library resource, including written templates and application responses. 

• Maintain an up to date register of all grant and trust fund providers applied to for projects, submission deadlines, and other relevant information, including timeframes for re-applying. 

• Research and assess potential opportunities to obtain funding from grant making trusts and foundations, organisations, in order to sustain and develop DMWS services against strategic aims. 

• Contribute to the development and updating of DMWS Website 

• Develop and promote content for DMWS Social Media channels and other communication mechanism including print and online. 

• Identify and build strong internal and external relationships. 
   

As and when required, attend at various meetings and events at headquarters or other locations. 

Work with other head office and operational colleagues to share intelligence and contribute to the delivery of DMWS Strategy and organisational sustainability. 

General Support Tasks 

• Promote the vision, mission and values of DMWS 

• Contribute creative thinking, ideas and support to colleagues to help facilitate the promotion of a positive organisational environment.

• Represent and promote DMWS and its services, working with and supporting other staff, maintaining a positive and professional approach with all contacts both internal and external. 

• Engage in, and undertake with enthusiasm, all opportunities for training and professional development in order to achieve additional skills as the role and organisation develops. 

• Adhere to the terms and conditions of employment working within the policies and procedures of DMWS. 

• Be responsible for own safety and others affected by your activities and to ensure adherence to DMWS’ policies and procedures regarding Health & Safety, GDPR, Data Protection, and confidentiality. 

• Develop and maintain effective communications within DMWS to optimise outcomes. 

• To establish and maintain links to other organisations relevant to the post, and to ensure that those links are shared as appropriate. 

• To be aware of, and work to, safeguarding principles, practice and procedures. 

The list of duties in the job description should not be regarded as exclusive or exhaustive. There will be other duties and requirements associated with the role and, in addition, as a term of employment you may be required to undertake various other duties as may reasonably be required 

Person Specification 

• Demonstrable experience of securing or involvement in funding through bid writing and funding applications. 

• Demonstrable ability to communicate compelling messages in written form. 

• Experience of coordinating and updating a knowledgebase system. 

• Experience in organising, prioritising, and managing your time effectively. 

• Creative instinct and ability to think laterally about new business opportunities. 

• Collaborative and adaptive working. 

• Experience of raising funds within the third sector. 

• Experience of research and data analysis. 

• Experience of working within the health, social care, wellbeing, or military third sector is desirable but not essential. 

• Experience of working within project delivery or project development is desirable but not essential. 

Skills 

• Strong interpersonal skills that enable you to communicate internally and externally, and the ability to engage clearly with people at all levels. 

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. 

• Accuracy and management of deadlines. 

• Team working skills and the ability to work independently with little direction to prioritise work areas. 

• Excellent IT skills including use of Word, Excel and PowerPoint Packages. 

• Confident, self- motivated, target driven, strong team player. 

• Ability to work under pressure and to demanding deadlines, delivering objectives to agreed timescales. 

Personal Qualities 

• The ability to deal positively within deadlines and presenting information with accuracy 

• A flexible approach to work. 

• Willingness to travel to DMWS HQ and other locations as required, with some overnight stays, and occasional weekend work. 

• Proactive, committed, and forward thinking. 

• Engaging manner and personality with the ability to forge effective working relationships with a range of staff and other stakeholders. 

• Personal sensitivity, empathy, and flexibility to operate within the distinctive ethos and structure of DMWS. 

• Strong commitment to DMWS’ aims of providing medical welfare services to those in need.

BENEFITS

We offer employees the following benefits: -
• Annual Leave: We give employees 30 days a year annual leave plus Public Holidays (pro-rata'd for part-time employees).
• Pension: Auto enrolment onto DMWS workplace pension scheme – subject to eligibility. You will make a minimum contribution of 5% which DMWS will match. Contributions will be matched up to 6% by DMWS.
• Death in Service Scheme: Three times your annual salary to nominated beneficiaries - subject to eligibility.
• Flexible Working: All flexible working requests are considered - many of our staff work flexible hours and work wholly, or partly from home.
• Smart Health: Access to a 24/7 virtual GP service, with a counselling service and on-line help and support around health and well-being matters.
• Work-based Parking/Mileage: For those who pay to park at their work-base, fees are repaid through expenses. Mileage claims are reimbursed in line with HMRC guidelines.
• Enhanced Sick Pay: Enhanced sick pay scheme for all employees upon completion of their probationary period.
• Staff Recognition: Staff are regularly recognised for their work by the leadership team and their peers, via internal events, social media, and industry awards.
• Personal Development Programme: DMWS supports employee continuing professional development and training.
• Above all, being part of the DMWS team means that you are making a difference to the lives of those working on the frontline.
• Great training opportunities
• £25 contribution towards eye tests and a contribution of £50 towards glasses. (As long as they are only needed for DSE use and not otherwise needed on a standard prescription).
• Enhanced maternity / paternity / adoption family friendly benefits

Unifrog’s mission
 

We’re on a mission to level the playing field when it comes to young people finding and applying for their next step after school. We're achieving this by bringing all the available information into one single, impartial, user-friendly platform that helps students to make the best choices, and submit the strongest applications. We also empower teachers and counsellors to manage the progression process effectively.
 

Our outlook is global - we work with schools and universities all over the world, from the US to New Zealand, and from Italy to Hong Kong. We want to make it so that young people can compare every opportunity taught in English, wherever it is in the world, and have all the support they need to make successful applications.
 

We have a clear social purpose, and we’re hugely ambitious. We already work with over half of UK secondary schools, and hundreds of international schools. We are growing rapidly in terms of the number of our customers, in terms of how much they use our platform, and in terms of the breadth of products we offer.
 

Our team is at the heart of our business and is integral to our success. We work hard to foster a culture of openness, happiness and innovation, and we commit to helping every individual learn and grow so that they can reach their full potential. We want to hire talented people, whatever their background. If you are excited by our mission and are ready to work hard, please don’t hesitate to apply. We look forward to hearing from you!
 

We believe in the power of diversity. If you are from an ethnic minority background, we would like to strongly encourage you to apply. In advance of applying, if you have any questions about working at Unifrog, please contact Mhairi (details on our website). 

 

The role and your key responsibilities
 

As an Account Manager, your role is to make sure that all partners in your area make the most out of the Unifrog platform. You’ll build and maintain excellent working relationships with your partner schools and colleges, and provide expert guidance on how to embed the platform across all year groups.

You will cover your own area of the country with occasional travel to your partner schools and colleges (on average 1-2 days per week).
 

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Work with schools and colleges to provide resources and strategies which maximise staff and student engagement with Unifrog, identifying and promoting best practice across partner schools.

• Deliver targeted training sessions to staff within our partner schools and colleges via workshops and presentations, delivered remotely or in person.

• Work with your partner Area Manager to improve Unifrog engagement and achieve a sky high resubscription rate.

• Monitor and analyse usage across partner schools and colleges; identifying partners that need additional support to use the platform effectively.

• Listen to teachers and students about how we can improve our customer service and the Unifrog platform.

• Attend conferences and run CPD events on behalf of Unifrog.

What we’re looking for

• Strong communication skills – written, over the phone and on video calls.

• Track record of excellent relationship management.

• Extremely well organised.

• Keen attention to detail.

• Active listening and objection handling skills.

• A background and interest in education would be an advantage.

• Proactive attitude and willingness to get stuck in.

You will be joining a team of highly motivated people who are passionate about our mission of helping students to find the best next step for them after school. If this excites you and you’re an energetic person who is willing to learn, then we’d love to hear from you.
 

Working together

You’ll work closely alongside an Area Manager in your region, and with our Partner Success team to provide the best service to your schools and colleges. You will be part of a fantastic team of Account Managers, and line-managed by a Senior Account Manager. 

 

Benefits

Head to our jobs page for a full list of the excellent benefits we offer our team.

• Join one of ‘the best organisations to escape to’ and help transform careers and destinations in schools. We’re also a certified Great Place to Work.

• Become part of a committed, dynamic and growing team. We want to build the team at Unifrog for the long term – if you do well, we will do our best to make you want to stay at the company for a long time.

• Professional development is important at Unifrog. You will define your own 6-month objectives and will be supported by your line manager and the rest of the team to achieve them. You will have an annual training allowance to spend on what you need to grow and progress.

• Influence the company’s direction: we love to promote great ideas, wherever they come from.
  
   

Key details
 

• £37,306 per annum pro rata (Grade B), plus commission, car allowance, and a share in a company-wide performance bonus. 

• OTE £43,000 (pro rata).

• Maternity Cover - fixed term up to 12 months.

• 28 days paid holiday per year (plus bank holidays) (pro rata).

• Working hours are 9:00am to 5:00pm, Monday to Thursday, and 9:00am to 4:30pm on Friday.

• Full UK driving licence and access to a car is essential.

• All travel expenses covered.

• Candidate must be based in Nottinghamshire or Leicestershire.

• Home based with some travel to schools and colleges in the East Midlands.

• Start date: w/c 18th August 2025.

• To discuss any details about the role before applying, please contact Mhairi (details on our website).

• We can only consider candidates who have the right to work in the UK.

 

Application process

Deadline: 10:00AM (BST) Friday 16th May 2025.
 

Stage 1: Application form (~1 hour) ✍️

• Visit our website to upload your CV and complete the questions and tasks below. Please note that we do not review CVs at this stage of the application process so please be as specific as possible about your experience.
   

i. With reference to examples of your recent experience, what would make you an excellent candidate for this role? (250 words)

ii. Tell us about a time when you have had to build a relationship with someone when it was particularly challenging. What was your approach? (250 words)

iii. You notice that one of your partner schools is not engaging with Unifrog across the whole school. How would you approach the situation to maximise staff and student engagement with the platform and resources? (250 words)

Stage 2: Phone task (15 minutes) 

• A short role play task over the phone. We will schedule these tasks throughout the application window.

Stage 3: Video call interview (1 hour) 

• Short demonstration of a Unifrog tool (resources will be provided) (20 mins)

• Standard Q&A from a panel of three, including questions about your experiences and how these relate to the role, and scenario questions based on common situations you might face (plus time for your questions) (40 mins).
   

• Video call interviews will be held on w/c 26th May 2025.

Your answers are an opportunity to let us know more about your motivations and experience. While we understand that candidates might want to use AI to improve parts of their application, we strongly encourage you to write your answers independently. 

Please note, we compare all answers to an AI generated answer. Where we suspect AI has been used to write the majority of the answer, this will be taken into consideration when scoring.

 

Inclusion and diversity at Unifrog

• Within the company we try to foster a culture of innovation, and a happy working environment, both because this is the right thing to do, and because we think this results in the most effective team. To this end we believe in open communication, celebrating successes, supporting each other, not being afraid to be wrong or to fail, and promoting good ideas wherever they come from.

• As a platform that supports teachers and students from a huge variety of backgrounds it’s important that our team and leadership reflects this diversity. This is something we are actively working towards and prioritising. We want to embed diversity, equity and inclusion across everything we do, continually evaluating policies and practices to make sure they are inclusive and equitable.

• To make sure everyone’s voice is heard and people have the opportunities to learn to be better allies in the workplace, we encourage the team to share what they’re celebrating, facilitate training and group discussions, and seek regular feedback about what more the company could do to help people feel included.

• To ensure that our recruitment process is consistent and fair, we anonymise your application and therefore do not see your name, personal, educational or professional background. We also randomise the order of responses so that it’s less likely that a candidate is advantaged or disadvantaged by where their answers appear compared to other candidates. 

Introduction to TDS

TDS is a not-for-profit organisation with a clear social purpose: to raise standards in the private rented sector. Established to create a fairer and more professional rental market by protecting deposits and resolving deposit disputes, TDS has since expanded its mission. Today, we invest in a range of additional services and initiatives that further our commitment to improving the sector.

Key initiatives relevant to this role include:
- Developing an influential research programme to ensure that laws and regulations are informed by robust evidence.
- Funding a range of projects and organisations through our two independent charities.
- Leveraging our direct communication channels with millions of tenants, landlords, and letting agents to educate and inform all parties.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Key initiatives relevant to this role include:
- Developing an influential research programme to ensure that laws and regulations are informed by robust evidence.
- Funding a range of projects and organisations through our two independent charities.
- Leveraging our direct communication channels with millions of tenants, landlords, and letting agents to educate and inform all parties.

Introduction to the Role

We are looking for a Research and Policy Officer (Maternity Cover) to join our expanding Policy and Research department, which also oversees the TDS Charitable Foundation. This is a pivotal role supporting our mission to improve standards in the private rented sector through impactful research, thought leadership, and policy engagement.
The successful candidate will play a key part in delivering our research programme, including overseeing flagship projects like the Voice of the Tenant and Voice of the Landlord surveys, and producing high-quality qualitative and quantitative research.

You will also support the smooth running of the Charitable Foundation’s grant-making and governance activities and contribute to our work influencing policy and practice across the UK’s private rented sector.
This is a great opportunity for someone passionate about housing, with a solid grounding in research and an interest in policy, to join a values-driven organisation delivering real-world impact.

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Research
1. Collaborate with external research contractors to deliver the regular ‘Voice of the Tenant’ and ‘Voice of the Landlord’ Survey.
2. Ensure the research findings are widely disseminated through different channels, including events, publications, briefings and digital content.
3. Help identify research gaps and contribute to the development execution of new research projects or commissioning of external research.
4. Conduct proactive desk-based research to identify emerging trends, new policy developments, and partnership opportunities relevant to the Foundation and the sector.
5. Undertake in-house research activities, such as literature reviews, focus groups, stakeholder interviews, where required.
6. Contribute to the drafting and production of high-quality research reports and briefings, ensuring clarity, accessibility, and relevance for policy and practice audiences.

Policy
7. Monitor and analyse relevant legislative and regulatory developments, consultations, and debates, identifying implications for the sector and TDS’s work.
8. Support the development of TDS’s policy positions by preparing briefings, drafting responses to consultations, and summarising evidence from research.
9. Help communicate TDS’s policy insights and positions clearly and effectively to internal stakeholders, partners, and decision-makers.

Charity co-ordination
10. Act as a key point of contact for grant-funded projects, supporting projects to share progress and impact, and identify any support needs.
11. Help to Coordinate the TDS Charitable Foundation’s quarterly Board of Trustee meetings, including preparing board papers, taking minutes, and following up on actions.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential characteristics

1. Qualifications and experience
Essential:

• Educated to degree level in a relevant subject.
• At least 3 years’ experience in research, social policy or similar role (or equivalent post-graduate study).
• Knowledge of research design
• Proven track record of producing content to communicate to different audiences.
• Experience of building relationships with external stakeholders.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of the housing sector or charitable work.

2.  Job Knowledge
Must be able to:

• Demonstrate excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Show an ability to build relationships with stakeholders.
• Demonstrate organisational skills to help coordinate multiple projects.
• Utilise strong IT skills including sound knowledge of MS Office.
• Prove ability to write content for different audiences.

3. Communication
Must be able to:

• Work as part of a team;
• Have good interpersonal skills, communicating effectively with colleagues, funded projects and other stakeholders.

4. Equal Opportunities

• Must be able to demonstrate a commitment to equal opportunities, diversity and inclusion.

5. Required behaviour and attitude

• Applicants must be able to:
• demonstrate an affinity for customer excellence
• recognise the importance of fairness in all of our work
• demonstrate how they are making a difference in the work that they do
• is able to articulate the importance of teamwork
• are committed to excellence in all that we do;
• help create a great place to work.

TDS offers a plethora of benefits inclusive of:

• 33 days holiday inc bank holidays
• BUPA Private healthcare
• BUPA Wellbeing cash plan
• Pension Scheme
• Additional day off for your birthday
• Plus many more!

Hours of the role
35 hours per week. Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

To apply, please submit your CV and a covering letting outlining how your skills and experience match the person specification.

TDS is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion in our workforce and to be truly representative of all sections of society and our customers.

Senior Accessibility Specialist
Reference: APR20257021
Location: Flexible in UK
Salary: £44,315.00 - £47,312.00 Per Annum
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full Time, 37.5 hours a week – Flexible working pattens to be discussed
Benefits: Pension Scheme, Life Assurance Scheme, 26 days' Annual Leave

Whilst we have a huge presence and influence in the conservation sector we recognise that our work is not reaching everyone. We need to enable more, and more diverse people to engage with and act for nature.

Recognising that people are at the heart of delivering our ambitions, we have an exciting opportunity for a talented person to join as Senior Accessibility Specialist. 

What’s the job about?

Our 2030 strategy commits the RSPB to becoming more relevant to the communities and supporters we work with by involving a more diverse range of people. Recognising that people are at the heart of delivering our ambitions, we have an exciting opportunity for a talented person to join as Senior Accessibility Specialist. Reporting to the Head of EDI, and as part of the EDI leadership team, you’ll hold close relationships with a wide range of stakeholders across the organisation. You’ll work collaboratively to support the transformation in behaviours and skills needed to make the RSPB a more accessible and equitable place for all.

The role does have flexibility to shape and innovate but will be focused on the continuation and delivery of two main priorities:

1. Working with our nature reserve teams to implement accessibility improvements that make our spaces more inclusive for Staff, Volunteers and Visitors
2. Working with Communications and Learning and Development teams, internal networks and other stakeholders, to deliver better experiences for our disabled workforce from the point they apply for a role.

Essentials:

• Experienced in delivering strategic accessibility interventions and influencing positive change at all levels of a large and complex organisation and the wider sector
• Personal commitment to making a tangible difference to accessibility with a focus on physical disability, sensory disabilities and neurodiverse people and communities.
• An advocate and practitioner of accessible design and clear communication
• Background and confidence in working with people with lived experience of access barriers and providing support and advice to organisations around accessibility.
• Comfortable to proactively challenge internal policy, practices and communications to better include marginalised groups. 
• Expertise on accessible communications, with experience working to improve standards of internal communications and co-designing engaging content for external communication
• Excellent interpersonal and influencing skills to role model and drive behaviour change across all areas of accessibility
• In depth knowledge of accessibility standards and best practise within the UK. Including: WCAG, social model of disability, universal design principles, access to work, reasonable adjustments and working application of the Equality Act 2010
• Significant experience of designing and delivering resources and training around accessibility in a range of formats to meet learner needs
• Strong internal and external stakeholder management skills, ability to recognise a build key relationships and influence at a sector level
• Sound understanding of intersectionality of disability and other protected characteristics and a good generalist EDI knowledge to inform specialist advice and guidance
• Strong and effective communication skills, with ability to influence leaders and mobilise other teams to act
• Strong written communication and digital presentations skills to communicate accessibility and disability inclusion to a wide range of audiences
• Analytical evaluation to inform and report on areas of focus and impact
• Awareness of project and process management to enable work to be planned and delivered to a high quality, on time and within resource capacity

Desirable:

• Experience or interest in accessibility in the Conservation section, nature or climate emergency
• Understanding of the intersectional context of race and gender equity within accessibility
• Practical experience supporting accessibility changes at visitor attractions
• Experience working in the Voluntary sector or in volunteering
• Experience of movement building or membership organisations

Additional Information

This role is available full time and permanently for 37.5 hours a week, but we welcome applications for those looking for different working patterns and are happy to discuss further with interested candidates.

We are committed to developing an inclusive and diverse RSPB, in which everyone feels supported, valued, and able to be their full selves. To achieve our vision of creating a world richer in nature, we need more people, and more diverse people, on nature’s side. People of colour and disabled people are currently underrepresented across the environment, climate, sustainability, and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled, we are particularly interested in receiving your application.

Closing date: 23:59, Wednesday 21st May 2025
Interviews will take place around the 18th and 19th of June.
Please note: We reserve the right to close this advert at any time.

Open briefings
If this sounds like the role for you and you'd like more information on what the day-to-day responsibilities are, or a chance to ask questions, please get un touch with EDI at RSPB to enquire about one of our open briefings.

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

As part of this application process you will be asked to complete an application form including evidence on how you meet the skills, knowledge, and experience listed above. Contact us to discuss any additional support you may need to complete your application.

This role is not eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship - the successful applicant will need to have a pre-existing Right to Work in the UK in order to be offered an employment contract.

No agencies please.