Head of family support jobs

Back Up is an organisation that has inspired and supported people affected by spinal cord injury to get the most out of life for almost 40 years.

Today, the organisation is leading the way in helping people adjust positively to life after a spinal cord injury. The organisation's services are delivered by people who've been there, who understand the journey, and know how to support others. Whether it's building practical skills through wheelchair skills training, boosting confidence via participation in life-changing courses, or supporting families through challenging times, Back Up is there for everyone affected by spinal cord injury.

Charity People is delighted to be supporting this incredible organisation to recruit for a part time Director of Communications and Marketing who will join the team at a key point in the early stages of their new strategy, as they launch a new brand and head into their 40th birthday year with the vision to ensure everyone affected by spinal cord injury can reach their full potential - no matter their age, background, injury level or any other factor.

Part time Director of Communications and Marketing
Contract: Permanent role
Hours: Part time, 21 hours per week
Salary: £60,000 to £70,000 per annum FTE (pro-rata for 0.6 hour week to between £36,000 and £42,000)
Location: Hybrid - home based with at least one day per week in the charity HO in Wandsworth, South London
Closing date for applications: Monday 15th December at 9am
Interviews: first stage interview held remotely on Wednesday 7th January, with second round being held in person on Tuesday 15th January

The Director of Communications and Marketing will combine strategic leadership with a readiness to get hands-on where needed, building sustainable systems, processes, and team capacity that set Back Up to achieve long-term success.

Your core responsibilities will include:

* Building on existing plans develop and deliver a comprehensive 2030 communications and marketing strategy aligned with organisational and departmental plans.
* Serve as strategic communications advisor to the CEO and SLT on reputation, brand positioning, and stakeholder engagement; and lead cross departmental collaboration to deliver shared objectives
* Build and nurture strategic partnerships with key media, influencers, and sector organisations.
* Oversee the successful phased launch and roll-out of Back Up's new brand across all channels from January 2025.
* Ensure storytelling is compelling, authentic, and inclusive, reflecting the lived experience of people with spinal cord injury.
* Oversee creative strategy, commissioning, and content planning, ensuring quality and alignment with Back Up's mission.
* Champion accessible communications that reach and resonate with diverse audiences.
* Provide strategic oversight of digital marketing and online engagement, including social media, to grow reach and impact.
* Champion the ethical use of AI and emerging technologies in communications, ensuring robust governance and responsible practice.
* Introduce systems and processes to measure digital performance and optimise engagement.
* Line manage a team of five in total with direct line management responsibility for two Communications and Marketing Managers, ensuring clarity, accountability, and professional development.
* Model a creative, ambitious, and positive culture in line with Back Up's values.
* Build long-term team capability in brand, digital, and storytelling.
* Manage external agencies, freelancers, and suppliers to deliver high-quality outputs.
* Maintain strong financial management and risk controls within agreed budgets, and report clearly and regularly to CEO, SLT, and Board on communications impact, reputation, and reach.

We'd love to hear from candidates with the following skills and experience:

* Previous Director-level leadership experience of communications and marketing functions (charity or comparable sector).
* Proven track record in developing and delivering successful communication and marketing strategies.
* Strong expertise in brand management, digital engagement, and integrated campaigns across multiple channels.
* Experience leading a significant brand roll-out or website redevelopment project.
* Understanding of digital transformation, including CRM/data integration, marketing automation, and analytics.
* Knowledge of accessibility standards and inclusive communications practices.
* Familiarity with the ethical application of AI and emerging digital tools in communications.
* Strong financial and risk management skills.
* Outstanding storytelling, presentation, and influencing skills, with gravitas to act as an organisational ambassador.
* Ability to lead through change, build effective partnerships, and inspire teams.
* Alignment with Back Up's values: we embrace challenge, we have fun, we build inclusive communities, and we are ambitious for each other.

Additionally, we're particularly keen to speak to anyone who has lived experience of disability or spinal cord injury, however this is in no way essential.

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.

Medical Detection Dogs trains dogs to save lives.

We train specialist dogs to detect the odour of human disease, providing life-saving alert assistance dogs to people with complex health problems across the UK and collaborating with NHS Trusts and other researchers and Universities both in the UK and internationally to advance the early diagnosis of disease.

We have an exciting new opportunity to join this small but fast-growing charity that is a world leader in its specialist innovative field.

JOB TITLE:                       Puppy Assistance Dog Trainer

LOCATION:Great Horwood, Buckinghamshire, MK17 0NP (Office-Based)

SALARY:£24,000 - £27,000 based on experience

JOB TYPE:Full-time permanent, with occasional evenings and weekends required

REPORTS TO:                   Head of Canine Supply, Training and Welfare

We are looking for someone with the skills, experience and passion to join our team of trainers. They will be responsible for approximately 20 puppies from the age of around 8 weeks through to approximately 16 months of age. Ensuring they receive the highest standard of socialisation and training, thereby maximising their chances of becoming a Medical Detection Dog.

Responsibilities

Training and Development of Puppies

• Take responsibility for a group of puppies allocated to socialisers living in your geographical area
• When required, take dogs home during the training period to ensure continuous development and reinforcement of training routines.
• Provide training that adheres to ADUK regulations and MDD quality standards in accordance with timescales and targets.
• To deliver effective training by holding puppy classes, 121’s and home visits with socialisers in your geographical area
• Conduct regular training sessions with assistance dog puppies in training in various environments to ensure they are confident and responsive in real-world settings
• To prepare the puppy to be a Medical Alert Assistance Dog, using positive reinforcement techniques to teach desired behaviours and modify unwanted behaviours
• Regularly monitor progress of the puppies in your area and provide detailed, evidenced feedback to the senior team within Dog Supply and training
• Support and assist when required with the potential matches for a particular assistance dog partnership.
• To successfully prepare the puppy to pass the relevant Assistance Dog assessments
• Where necessary, highlight to your line manager, any dogs that are not progressing sufficiently through the training programme

Socialiser Support

• Be the first point of contact for the socialisers in your area, which will include guidance, support and instruction to socialisers on effective work and training with their assistance dogs.
• Provide general health care advice within your core working hours.

Socialiser Recruitment

• When required, assist in the recruitment of new volunteer socialisers.
• When  required, to assess prospective new volunteer socialisers, including home, workplace, pet dog and children assessments.

Other

• Update the Harlequin CRM database in a timely fashion to ensure accurate and up to date training, veterinary and health records.
• Support the charity’s fundraising, communications and volunteering teams as required, specifically in relation to your area.
• Share best practice with colleagues across the charity.
• Other tasks or ad hoc duties agreed with your line manager required to ensure the successful running of the charity.

Knowledge and Experience

• Experience in training Assistance Dogs
• Minimum of 1-2 years of experience in dog training
• Basic theory of practical dog training
• Law in relation to dogs
• Knowledge of medical conditions relevant to puppies between 8 weeks and 2 years of age
• Dog and human psychology
• Health and safety implications of dog and socialiser handling
• Experience and understanding of ADUK, ADI regulations and MDD's internal quality standards

Skills and Abilities

Ability to demonstrate high quality judgement and a proven track record in relation to the following:

• Dog training matters including the analysis of temperaments, appropriate training methods and requirements necessary to maintain public perception in assistance dogs
• Solutions to training and behavioural problems
• Socialiser training including the ability to assess each person’s preferred learning style and adapt as appropriate your training approach, the specific programmes to be followed,
• Strong and clear teaching and instructing skills
• Ability to plan work, be organised and ensure that time is utilised effectively for yourself, colleagues and socialisers
• Ability to communicate effectively and appropriately with a wide range of people internally and externally. This will include clients and their families, fosterers, other professional service providers, members of the public, the media, managers and other colleagues
• High level of IT literacy and report writing skills including experience of using Microsoft based programs such as Outlook, Word, Excel, Internet Explorer and Power Point

Personal Attributes

You should be supportive of the charitable aims of Medical Detection Dogs and capable of working as part of a team, as well as able to motivate yourself. 

You should be adaptable and positively embrace change by not only being flexible towards the ideas of others but also putting forward ideas to colleagues. This will involve creativity in problem solving and making appropriate responses to new ideas and unexpected situations.

DIVERITY, EQUALITY & INCLUSION

We are a welcoming, diverse and inclusive charity. Medical Detection Dogs thrives when everyone feels comfortable bringing their best self to work. We celebrate difference, whilst striving to create an environment where colleagues feel respected and valued for their unique potential. We are committed to our values on equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Values & Behaviours

Working at Medical Detection Dogs will be a richly rewarding experience.

Our Values & Behaviours encapsulate who we are, what we stand for and what it will feel like to be part of our team:

• We are respectful.
• We stay positive.
• We strive for excellence.
• We communicate and listen.
• We are ambassadors.
• We are one team.

And of course, we advocate for Medical Detection Dogs whenever we get the chance, and we pride ourselves on our role as ambassadors for the charity.

Benefits

• Sick Pay
• Health Cover
• 26 days holiday, increasing with service
• 5% Employer Pension Contribution
• Free On-site parking
• Life Insurance

Finally, the successful candidate will also be expected to:

• Hold a full UK Driving Licence
• Provide proof of identity and eligibility to work in the UK.
• Undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
• Work some evenings and weekends

ShareAction is an independent charity and an expert on responsible investment. We work to build a world where the financial system serves our planet and its people. We set ambitious standards for how financial institutions, through their investment decisions, can protect our planet and its people and campaign for this approach to become the norm. We convene shareholders to collectively push companies to tackle the climate crisis, protect nature, improve workers’ rights and shape healthier societies. In the UK and EU, we advocate for financial regulation that has society’s best interests at its core.

Our Fundraising Team is formed of three fundraising strands, an established Trust & Foundation (T&F) grants programme, a developing high-net-worth individuals (HNWI) programme and a digital fundraising stream raising income from the public.

We are seeking a Trusts & Major Gifts Senior Fundraising Manager to expertly cultivate and steward T&F and HNWI relationships to secure new and existing funding opportunities.

Position

As part of the Fundraising Team, you will play a pivotal role in driving ShareAction’s fundraising strategy and enabling the organisation to deliver its mission. Reporting to the Head of Fundraising, you will lead your own portfolio of high-value trusts and foundations, securing major multi-year partnerships that underpin the organisation’s work. You will also play a key role in developing our major gifts programme, cultivating relationships with high-net-worth individuals and bringing six- and seven-figure philanthropic support on board.

You will be building on the momentum of our fundraising growth, playing a vital role in supporting the organisation’s sustainability and enabling us to deliver even greater impact in a ‘transition’ year where we are launching our new five-year strategy.

A typical week will involve researching and identifying new prospects, managing and deepening relationships with existing donors, and developing compelling propositions aligned with ShareAction’s five-year strategy. You will collaborate with colleagues across teams, ensuring a coordinated and strategic approach to fundraising and keeping senior staff and trustees informed of pipeline and cultivation plans. Line management and development of the Major Donor Manager is a critical element of the role, providing coaching, guidance, and oversight to deliver against the major gifts strategy.

You will also attend funder and prospect meetings in London, deliver excellent stewardship to retain and grow support, and monitor activity and track progress using Salesforce and project management tools. Staying up to date with sector trends and philanthropy developments, you will ensure ShareAction maintains a forward-looking and innovative approach to fundraising.

Through building strong relationships with stakeholders, delivering impactful propositions, and developing a high-performing team, you will help ShareAction secure the resources it needs to drive meaningful change and advance its mission of responsible investment and financial system reform.

If this role sounds like something that would build on your current skill set and engage you, we’d love to hear from you!

What you’ll bring to the team

We want to hear from you if you have significant experience in fundraising from trusts and foundations and major gifts, with a proven track record of securing six-figure, multi-year gifts and managing long-term philanthropic relationships. You’ll be highly skilled at building and sustaining networks with senior internal and external stakeholders, including trustees, programme directors, CEOs, and family offices, and you’ll be confident operating at the highest levels to inspire support for ShareAction’s mission.

This role would suit someone who enjoys developing compelling fundraising propositions, identifying and cultivating new opportunities, and working strategically to grow income streams. You will be an excellent relationship manager with sophisticated communication skills, persuasive writing ability, and the capacity to influence and inspire colleagues and donors alike. Exceptional organisational skills, entrepreneurial thinking, and strategic insight are essential, as is the ability to line-manage, coach, and develop the Major Donor Manager to achieve ambitious goals.

While experience with international fundraising, campaigning NGOs, or financial sector knowledge is desirable, we welcome applications from candidates who bring transferable skills, creativity, and a passion for advancing responsible investment.

We have a hybrid working policy in place, and the Fundraising Team meets monthly in the London office. As this role involves regular meetings with London-based donors and prospects, there is an expectation that you will be able to attend the office or stakeholder meetings on average 4–6 times a month.

What we will do for you

We are a fast-paced organisation that has grown substantially over the past few years. We recognise that our people work hard to advocate for responsible investment and drive meaningful engagement with those who have the power to create a brighter future. Every day, they bring their expertise, passion and persistence to build a world where the financial system serves our people and planet. We want to ensure we provide the right environment for our colleagues to thrive, and we are committed to improving our employee offer where possible.

Currently, we are pleased to offer:

• A commitment to flexible working: over 60% of our employees have some sort of flexible working arrangement in place.
• Hybrid working: we are committed to supporting our staff to work in a way that suits their lifestyle and meets the requirements of their role.
• Internal promotion and development opportunities: we offer a range of ways to improve your skills and focus on what you love, including promotion, secondment, or sideways development opportunities. For some levels of roles, we also offer direct progression.
• The opportunity to help make a difference: we tackle some of the world’s biggest social and environmental challenges. We offer opportunities for you to develop your skills and experience in a friendly, flexible and supportive working environment.
• A unionised work environment: our staff have the opportunity to join the union and are supported by our recognised union, Unite. We regularly consult and negotiate with our employees on workplace matters ranging from working conditions to pay.
• Regular in-person meetings, including all-staff away days, retreats and directorate strategy days to create connected teams.
• 8% non-contributory pension invested with NEST and their green funds.
• A health care plan with Bupa.
• An employee assistance programme: advice and support, lifestyle discounts and short-term counselling.
• Death in service cover of 3x salary.
• 25 days’ annual leave (increasing with length of service) plus office closure at the end of the year, ensuring everyone gets time to switch off together.
• Enhanced family leave pay: up to 18 weeks paid at 90% for either parent.
• Enhanced sick pay starting at 5 weeks’ full pay from day 1.
• Season ticket loan and cycle-to-work scheme.

ShareAction values and respects all differences in people (seen and unseen) and welcomes applications from all backgrounds, communities and industries. We are committed to having a team that is made up of diverse skills, experiences and abilities, and we are working hard to provide an environment where all can bring their authentic selves to work. We know that some people won’t apply for a role unless they meet all the requirements listed in the job description. If this is the case for you, but you think you would excel in this role, we want to hear from you!

For further information and to apply, please visit our website via the Apply button.

Closing date: Midday on Monday, 15th December 2025.
First interviews: Wednesday, 7th January 2026 (online).
Second interviews: Wednesday, 14th January 2026 (online). 

N.B. We will be contacting successful applicants to arrange the first interviews before the Christmas break.

To be considered for this post, you must be legally eligible to work in the UK; unfortunately, we are unable to provide visa sponsorship.

Social Development Direct is a mission-driven, international development consultancy with a global reputation for excellence in gender equality and social inclusion. As a social enterprise subsidiary of Plan International UK, we combine commercial agility with a deep commitment to social change.

We are seeking a Managing Director who will lead the next phase of SDDirect’s development, advancing the organisation’s influence and impact. 

The Managing Director will report into the CEO of Plan International UK and the SDDirect Board, and will provide inspirational leadership to SDDirect’s talented and motivated executive and staff, ensuring the organisation continues to deliver excellent technical quality alongside sustainable commercial performance.

This role offers a unique opportunity for a dynamic, values-led and engaging leader, with drive, resilience and commercial acumen.A high level of commercial awareness combined with a social justice technical background, and a proven track record of successfully leading and managing a commercial enterprise, consultancy or similar organisation or unit in the international development sector, is highly preferable for this position.

For more information about the company, role and responsibilities, please find the full job description and person specification below. 

How to Apply: Please click 'Redirect to recruiter' for details on how to apply for this position.

If you would like a confidential discussion about the role, please get in touch with Sue Griffiths, Managing Director, to arrange this. Contact details can be found in the job description.