Head of infrastructure jobs in Manchester

The Talent Set are delighted to be partnering with Our Future to recruit their new Head of Scaling (Maternity Cover)

Our Future is a growing organisation working to put communities in control of their town’s future. We support local people to shape a shared vision, drive change from the ground up, and unlock long-term funding while influencing national policy to better support community-led change.

Having started in Grimsby and expanded to Rochdale, we’re now building a national movement.

The Role
As Head of Scaling (maternity cover), you’ll lead delivery of our plans to scale impact, including the growth of the Our Future model nationally, supporting towns to adopt via diverse scaling delivery models, and the delivery of tools and products to support this work.

You’ll support the infrastructure, partnerships and programmes that help towns take control of their future. This is a hands-on leadership role that blends strategy and delivery. You’ll work alongside others to turn ambition into action and build something that lasts.

This role begins with a handover period working alongside the current Head of Scaling, with a focus on getting up to speed with Our Future's newly developed scaling strategy and preparing for its delivery. From May 2026, the organisation will be transitioning from strategy development into active delivery- and this will be the primary focus of the cover period. The incoming Head of Scaling will play a central role in driving that transition forward, turning plans into action across all areas of the scaling programme.

Key Responsibilities

• Delivering Our Future’s scaling plans, including identifying new locations, developing pathways and offers for towns, and supporting pipeline activity
• Testing, iterating and piloting delivery models, including preparatory work for new approaches such as cohort delivery and capturing learning for replication
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with local authorities, national partners and funders
• Developing and sustaining a network of expert partners across civic participation, investment, community business and place?based change
• Lead the codification and scaling of Our Future’s model, ensuring tools, products and learning are embedded and shared effectively.
• Contribute to wider organisational priorities, supporting business development, collaborating with key internal stakeholders, and strengthening learning and impact across the organisation.

Experience & Skills
You will bring:

• A strong track record of delivering complex, multi?stakeholder programmes across multiple locations
• Experience turning strategies into practical tools, playbooks or learning models for diverse audiences
• Proven partnership?building experience across UK public, private and community sectors
• Strong communication skills across a range of audiences and channels
• A test?and?learn mindset, balanced with delivery focus

Knowledge & Understanding

• Understanding of social investment, grant funding or sustainable income models
• Experience in community development, civic engagement or place?based regeneration
• Familiarity with the UK policy and funding landscape
• A strong belief in the potential of people and places to drive change

Personal Qualities

• Proactive, delivery?focused and comfortable with complexity
• Self-starter with entrepreneurial energy
• Relational and grounded, with the ability to build trust and long term relationships on behalf of the organisation
• Strategic thinker who can also deliver operational detail
• Optimistic, pragmatic and adaptable
• Values?driven and aligned with Our Future’s joyful, generous and action?oriented culture

What We Offer
 

• We offer the ability to work compressed hours in a 4-day working week, with a focus on high quality delivery and outcomes not hours. We prioritise wellbeing and flexibility, but we’re also a small and agile team. When key moments or deadlines come around, we all pitch in and support each other
• 25 days’ holiday + bank holidays
• 10% employer pension contribution (3% employee)
• Flexible, values-driven working culture

How to Apply 
To apply, please submit your CV demonstrating your suitability for this role by clicking the 'apply now' button.

Please Note: All speculative/ direct CVs sent will be forwarded to The Talent Set for review. 

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

10GM is a partnership that supports the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector right across Greater Manchester. It brings together four local infrastructure organisations — Action Together, Bolton CVS, Manchester Community Central and Salford CVS — who work closely together to champion local voluntary and community action and social enterprise, helping communities thrive across the city‑region.

While this role is based at Action Together, you’ll be working as part of the wider 10GM team, contributing to work that has a Greater Manchester–wide focus and impact across all ten boroughs

GM Head of Programme- Spaces of Hope and Connection 

The role

Thanks to National Lottery players, 10GM, on behalf of Greater Manchester Live Well, will receive £16.5 million over four years from The National Lottery Community Fund, the UK’s largest community funder.

This investment in Live Well Spaces of Hope and Connection will create a network of 100+ inclusive, community-led and owned spaces across Greater Manchester where people can meet, belong and find everyday support.

The Head of Programme will lead and oversee delivery of this large-scale, multi-partner strategic lottery programme, ensuring delivery through funded partners is aligned to the programme’s mission, vision and values, while maintaining strong programme management, compliance and delivery of agreed outcomes.

Working in close partnership with the Strategic Director of 10GM, this role provides senior operational leadership—translating mission, vision and values into clear delivery plans, pace, coordination and assurance across the full programme lifecycle.

The ideal candidate

We are looking for a values‑driven programme leader with experience delivering complex, large-scale programmes through partnerships and/or multi‑stakeholder delivery models. You can translate strategic priorities into clear, accountable delivery plans that balance funder requirements with flexible, community‑led approaches. You will bring strong governance, budget and risk management skills, and are confident working across the VCSE, public sector and communities.

Equity and social justice are central to how you work. You will have experience embedding inclusive, community‑led approaches, using evidence and learning to reduce inequalities and improve impact. Comfortable with complexity and ambiguity, you can communicate clearly, build trusted relationships, and lead teams with a learning‑led, collaborative mindset.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Action Together we value diversity, promote equity and challenge discrimination. We encourage and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. We are committed to ensuring that no applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of gender, age, disability, religion, belief, sexual orientation, marital status, or race.

In order to ensure that our workforce reflects our communities across all levels of seniority, Action Together is offering a guaranteed interview to any candidate who meets the essential criteria listed in the person specification and who is also:

• A disabled person and/or
• A member of a community experiencing racial inequality 

Action Together is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children, young people and vulnerable adults with whom we work. We expect all of our employees to demonstrate this commitment.

Right to work

We do not hold a Sponsor License and are unable to accept applications which require sponsorship to work in the UK

Please note, the successful candidates will be required to undertake a basic Disclosure and barring Service (DBS) check. A positive Disclosure of Offences will not automatically bar an applicant from being appointed and suitable applicants will not be refused employment because of offences that are not relevant.

10GM is a partnership that supports the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector right across Greater Manchester. It brings together four local infrastructure organisations — Action Together, Bolton CVS, Manchester Community Central and Salford CVS — who work closely together to champion local voluntary and community action and social enterprise, helping communities thrive across the city‑region.

While this role is based at Action Together, you’ll be working as part of the wider 10GM team, contributing to work that has a Greater Manchester–wide focus and impact across all ten boroughs

GM Partnerships and Delivery Manager- Spaces of Hope and Connection 

The role

Thanks to National Lottery players, 10GM, on behalf of Greater Manchester Live Well, will receive £16.5 million over four years from The National Lottery Community Fund, the UK’s largest community funder.

This investment in Live Well Spaces of Hope and Connection will create a network of 100+ inclusive, community-led and owned spaces across Greater Manchester where people can meet, belong and find everyday support.

The Partnership and Delivery Manager plays a key role in translating the programme’s mission and values into meaningful change for communities, working with partners to enable inclusive, adaptive and community‑led delivery. Supporting the Head of Programmes, the role focuses on strengthening collaboration, nurturing trusted relationships, and maintaining a clear, connected view across workstreams and places.

You will convene partnership and learning spaces, surface opportunities and challenges early, and support partners to work in ways that build long‑term community power. Working closely with the Head of Programme, you will support coordinated problem‑solving, shared learning and innovation, creating an environment where partners feel supported to test, adapt and grow.

You will also help capture and share what is working- developing accessible learning and impact products that highlight community insight, stories of change and emerging systems shifts, to inspire partners and influence wider practice.

The ideal candidate

We are looking for a relational and values‑led professional with experience convening partnerships and facilitating inclusive spaces that support collaboration and shared action. You are able to build trust across diverse partners and communities, navigate power with care and confidence, and are committed to equity, community leadership and social justice.

You will bring experience working in or alongside the VCSE, with strong organisational and communication skills, able to coordinate activity across partners and turn learning and evidence into clear updates and compelling stories of change. You are someone who is comfortable with ambiguity, takes a reflective, learning‑led approach, and works collaboratively to support partners to deliver and grow.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Action Together we value diversity, promote equity and challenge discrimination. We encourage and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. We are committed to ensuring that no applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of gender, age, disability, religion, belief, sexual orientation, marital status, or race.

In order to ensure that our workforce reflects our communities across all levels of seniority, Action Together is offering a guaranteed interview to any candidate who meets the essential criteria listed in the person specification and who is also:

• A disabled person and/or
• A member of a community experiencing racial inequality 

Action Together is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children, young people and vulnerable adults with whom we work. We expect all of our employees to demonstrate this commitment.

Right to work

We do not hold a Sponsor License and are unable to accept applications which require sponsorship to work in the UK

Please note, the successful candidates will be required to undertake a basic Disclosure and barring Service (DBS) check. A positive Disclosure of Offences will not automatically bar an applicant from being appointed and suitable applicants will not be refused employment because of offences that are not relevant.

Location: United Kingdom, homebased with regular travel for meetings 
Contract: 1-year fixed term, Full-Time 35 hours position
Salary: Circa £45,000 per annum dependent on experience 
Excellent benefits: 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, rising to 28 days after 2 years, 30 days after 5 years. Enhanced maternity and paternity leave, employee assistance programme.  New joiners are also given access to personalised coaching through More Happi to support your transition into your new role. 

About us: 

Since 1958 International Cat Care (iCatCare) has been advancing the care of cats worldwide by sharing evidence-based expertise, as well as inspiring individuals and communities to drive change in the understanding, treatment and respect of cats. 

We have achieved this by providing cat caregivers, veterinary professionals and those working with unowned cats, with evidence-based, practical information, and the guidance and support they need to improve cat welfare. With better understanding of the species and their individual needs, we believe we can change the lives of millions of cats globally. 

About the role: 

We’re looking for an Accreditation & Licensing Advisor to support the review and development of iCatCare’s Cat Friendly accreditation and licensing schemes (Cat Friendly Clinic, Cat Friendly Homing, Easy to Give and Cat Friendly Approved) This role plays a key part in ensuring our programmes are strategically aligned, operationally effective, and deliver measurable impact for cat welfare. 

You’ll work closely with internal teams and external stakeholders to strengthen standards, improve processes, and help ensure our schemes are sustainable, robust, and internationally relevant. 

Key responsibilities 

• Contribute to the review and development of accreditation and licensing schemes, from application through to assessment and renewal 

• Monitor emerging global standards, legislation, and research relevant to animal welfare accreditation 

• Conduct competitor and sector analysis to inform scheme development 

• Support the creation of clear policies, procedures, guidance, and implementation plans 

• Work with data and digital teams to improve systems, reporting, and efficiency 

• Coordinate timelines, manage budgets, and identify risks and opportunities 

• Support stakeholder engagement, including scheme participants, sponsors, and partners 

• Gather, analyse, and report on data for accreditation submissions, performance monitoring, and impact measurement 

• Support financial modelling, reporting dashboards, and impact reports 

• Contribute to funding and sponsorship development alongside fundraising colleagues 

About You: 

You’ll bring experience in accreditation, licensing, quality management, compliance, or a related field, with a strong appreciation of the challenges involved in operating international accreditation and/or licensing programmes. You’ll be highly organised, comfortable managing multiple priorities, and confident working independently as well as collaboratively. 

You’ll communicate clearly and thoughtfully, build positive working relationships, and feel confident using data and digital tools to support decision making and reporting. Above all, you’ll be motivated by purpose and shared values, with a genuine commitment to improving cat welfare. 

This is a meaningful opportunity to play a part in improving the lives of cats worldwide, within a supportive, values driven charity where collaboration, learning, and impact matter. 

Closing Date: midnight 30th April
Face to face Interviews: 12th/13th May location TBC

iCatCare actively promotes equality, diversity and inclusion. Our application process is non-bias. 

We match charity needs with skills and experience of candidates, irrespective of 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.  

Elrha is a global organisation that finds solutions to complex humanitarian problems through research and innovation. 

 We are looking to recruit a Digital Innovation Adviser (Paternity Cover) to join our Programmes team on a fixed-term basis (16 weeks). This is an exciting opportunity for a technically-minded professional with a passion for responsible AI and digital innovation to play a central role in Elrha's growing portfolio of AI-focused work. 

In this role you will have the opportunity to shape how Elrha integrates AI and digital tools across its humanitarian research and innovation work. You will lead the delivery of our AI Lighthouse partnership with NetHope, act as our internal responsible AI adviser, and develop exciting new business development opportunities including an AI Sandbox and Rapid Innovation Fund. You will also play a key role in building Elrha's internal AI strategy and ensuring our digital platforms remain fit for purpose.

Your application will need to demonstrate: 

• Experience delivering digital or AI-enabled initiatives, with a good understanding of how AI is being adopted in practice across humanitarian or nonprofit organisations - including the governance challenges, ethical considerations, and barriers to scaling that commonly arise 
• Experience contributing to business development, including developing funding concepts, concept notes or proposals for donors in the digital innovation or humanitarian technology space 
• An understanding of responsible AI principles - including equity, inclusion, and what it means in practice to translate ethical frameworks into day-to-day institutional use - and the ability to act as an internal point of reference on these issues for colleagues 
• The ability to develop and communicate a clear internal strategy or policy position, working across teams to build consensus and prepare documents for senior sign-off 
• Strong analytical and written communication skills, with the ability to capture learning from technical initiatives and translate it into clear outputs for internal teams and external audiences 
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple workstreams independently, prioritising and delivering to a high standard under pressure 
• An interest in the humanitarian or development sectors, ideally demonstrated through academic qualifications and/or paid or voluntary work 
• Experience of large-scale digital innovation initiatives, humanitarian evidence synthesis, organisational digital transformation, or working with technical partners to design or implement AI-enabled solutions would also be an advantage. 

If you want to be part of an organisation that creates positive change in the humanitarian sector, then join us and we'll give you every opportunity to succeed.

We offer: 

• Remote working as standard – staff can access office bases in London, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Manchester if required/ appropriate. We expect staff to attend team meetings and away days in person as required. 
• As standard we work 35 hours per week. We are also happy to discuss flexible working patterns and many of our staff work non-standard working hours. 
• Our benefits include minimum 5% employer pension contribution (3% employee contribution), life cover, organisational sick pay, family friendly pay and leave schemes; 26-day basic annual leave entitlement with incremental increase depending on length of service, opportunities for learning and development, a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) and retail discounts platform. 
• Please read through the Information for Candidates document for further information about working at Elrha including information about Our Values, Strategy, Benefits and Salaries. 

Note for applicants: 

• Candidates must have the independent right to work in UK, and be resident in the UK, at the time of appointment as we are unable to support visa sponsorship for this role. 
• Please read through the job description for a detailed list of requirements, and ensure you complete the personal statement to explain how you feel you meet the requirements of the role and why you feel this is next career move for you. Applications without this information will not be shortlisted. 
• Elrha is an independent subsidiary of SCUK and benefits from some SCUK systems and processes. 
• We reserve the right to close the advert early should we receive a very high volume of applications. 
• We do not use recruitment agencies. 

Closing date:4 May

Interview dates:13 & 14 May

About Elrha 

Elrha is a global organisation that finds solutions to complex humanitarian problems through research and innovation. We fund and support projects that go on to shape the way in which people across the world are supported during a crisis. We're an established and respected part of the humanitarian community, working closely and meaningfully with our fellow networks and actors to make change happen.

Read our strategy: shaping the future: our strategy for research and innovation in humanitarian response 2023 - 2040. It sets out how we'll work with our community to realise its potential in humanitarian response, and how we'll capture the real change and improvements to the lives of people affected by crisis. 

Our strategy sets out our values by which we hold ourselves accountable as individuals and as an organisation and employer. 

• Putting people at the centre

• Working with others

• Acting responsibly

• Committed to learning

• Inspiring change 

Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion 

Elrha is committed to diversity and equality of opportunity in all aspects of our work both external and internal. We strive to be an inclusive employer and particularly encourage applications from under-represented groups such as returning parents or carers who are re-entering work after a career break, people who are LGBTQ+, from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, with a disability, impairment, learning difference or long-term condition, with caring responsibilities, from different nations and regions, and from less advantaged socioeconomic backgrounds. 

Please ensure you read the full job description, the Candidate Pack, and complete the Personal Statement as requested in the application process. We look forward to hearing from you. 

Hours: 37.5 hours per week (excluding breaks)

Days: To be worked over 5 days, Monday to Friday, with core hours between 8am – 6pm

Contract: 18 month fixed-term contract in the first instance (subject to the successful completion of a 6-month probationary period)

Responsible to: Bruce Poole, Senior Strategic Lead for Wellbeing, Health and Social Care

Place of work: Salford CVS’ offices in Eccles, Salford, M30 0FN 

We are seeking to recruit to a brand new post and are looking for an experienced and strategically minded person to strengthen Salford CVS’s strategic VCSE leadership role within Salford.

Main purposes of the post

To provide strategic leadership for Salford CVS’s health and social care work, ensuring the VCSE sector is influential, represented and embedded within key strategic partnerships, boards and system-wide initiatives across Salford.

The postholder will work closely with the Senior Strategic Lead for Wellbeing, Health and Social Care to shape strategic agendas, strengthen cross-sector relationships and ensure VCSE voices help influence the city’s long-term plans relating to Health and Social Care.

For more information, please download the full Job Pack.

How to apply

Please download and complete our application form via the ‘Apply’ button.

Closing date: Noon on Tuesday 12th May 2026.

Interview date: Friday 22nd May 2026, in person at Salford CVS’ offices.

Hours: 37.5 hours per week (excluding breaks)

Days: To be worked over 5 days, Monday to Friday, with core hours between 8am – 6pm

Contract: Initial 12 months fixed-term contract (with option to extend), subject to the successful completion of a 6-month probationary period

Responsible to: Senior Strategic Lead (People and Place)

Place of work: Salford CVS’ offices in Eccles, Salford, M30 0FN

We are seeking to recruit to a brand-new post and are looking for an experienced and strategically minded person to strengthen Salford CVS’s strategic VCSE leadership role within Salford.

Main purposes of the post

To provide strategic leadership for Salford CVS’s place-based work, ensuring the VCSE sector is influential, represented and embedded within key strategic partnerships, boards and system-wide initiatives across Salford. The postholder will work closely with the Senior Strategic Lead for People and Place to shape strategic agendas, strengthen cross-sector relationships and ensure VCSE voices help influence the city’s long-term plans relating to Pride in Place, regeneration, housing, social value, climate action, culture, and wider place-based priorities.

For more information, please download the full Job Pack.

How to apply

Please download and complete our application form via the ‘Apply’ button.

Closing date: Noon on Wednesday 13th May 2026.

Interview date: Thursday 21st May 2026 at Salford CVS offices in Eccles.