Head of leadership development jobs in london

Actors’ Trust supports professional actors and stage managers in times of need, and our bold new Acting for Impact strategy seeks to increase the charity’s reach and impact within the performing arts community.

The Finance & Office Executive will play a key role in ensuring the financial health and effective administration of the charity. Working closely with the CEO and Head of Finance & Operations, the postholder will provide financial assistance, manage the office, and undertake the administrative functions required to support the smooth running of the charity.

This role is perfect for someone who enjoys working with numbers, systems and people. You’ll play a key role in supporting and delivering the charity’s financial and operational strategy and enabling the Trustees to fulfil their legal and fiduciary obligations. You will ensure that our finance processes and office run smoothly, including diary management, and that key governance and HR processes and procedures comply with law and with our policies.

We are looking for an energetic and motivated self-starter keen to take on a new challenge within a fast growing organisation, to join us and support our team. You will have an appetite for detail and a focus on standards. Additionally, you will be a problem solver, team player, able to quickly adapt, (and to ask for help when you need it) and you’ll have the self-belief and capacity to develop trusted relationships with stakeholders at every level. 

See the attached Job Description for more details.

How to Apply

• Please apply with an up-to-date CV including a daytime phone and email contact, and a brief covering letter telling us why you’re a good fit for this role.
• The closing date and time for applications is 9am, 9th January 2026.
• Interviews will be held on Thursday 15th January 2026

Summary

EduSpots is an innovative, dynamic, and community-orientated UK and Ghanaian registered charity which connects, trains, and equips grassroots voluntary educators (named ‘Catalysts’) to drive community-led change through education spaces named ‘Spots’. Our vision is of a world in which communities unite to create the futures they want to see, through education.

Since 2016, through collaborating with over 400 local voluntary community educators and actors – named ‘Catalysts’ – who take a central leadership role in the development of the network, we have supported 50 communities in creating and running community-led and owned education spaces named ‘Spots’’. Together, we are developing a model for a community-led education space with accompanying network engagement that could have global relevance. 

Our Ghana-based team creates collaborative learning opportunities through three leadership programmes for Catalysts which are increasingly facilitated by the EduSpots app: the Ignite, Catalyse and Inspire Mentoring Programmes. These enable the Catalysts to lead EduKidz (early years education), DigLit (digital literacy), EcoSTEM (STEM and environmental education) and Ignite Equity (gender equity) clubs for learners typically aged 3-16, alongside locally designed education projects, reaching over 10,000 learners of all ages annually. 

We are in an exciting period of our development, having more than doubled our income, programme breadth and reach in the last two years, with a recent independent evaluation by Expectation State offering further evidence in support of our model’s outcomes. We have been recently selected for two accelerator programmes, who are supporting us as we consider the scaling potential of our model. In the period, we are aiming to double our network reach, bringing an additional 50 Spots into the network.

We won the Tes International Award in 2018 and the Big Give Supporters’ Choice Award in 2022, and we were recently selected as a finalist for the 2023 Their World Scale-Up Innovation Prize. In 2021, our Founder was a Finalist in the UNESCO-backed $1 million Global Teacher Prize.

We are excited by our future. 

About this role 

The Global Head of Operations is a new role being introduced in 2026 with the core purpose of strengthening systems, processes and strategic delivery across both EduSpots Global and EduSpots Ghana, offering hands-on support to the CEO and wider staff across a range of areas.

In this senior role, you will work closely alongside the CEO, offering her the advice and skills needed to move EduSpots successfully through a complex period of growth in a challenging fundraising context, enabling more learners and Catalysts to participate in a unique community-led model of education, whilst sharing our practice more widely.

We are looking for an organised and empathetic strategic leader, ideally with strong or developing skills across project management, finance, HR and MEL skills and an ability to work independently in a fast moving work environment.

This role has the potential to grow into a Director of Global Operations or Deputy CEO role in time for outstanding candidates, and carries significant organisation-wide responsibility.

Candidates should hold a genuine passion for educational equity, a strong belief in the power of community-led models to transform lives at scale and a high level of flexibility in a fast-changing yet friendly and playful work environment.

Whilst this role is remote, and open to all global candidates, you will need to have understanding and experience of UK law, accounting and policy development, or a strong appetite to build experience in this area quickly.

Main duties and responsibilities 

Systems

• Work with the CEO and staff to proactively strengthen systems and processes across the organisation, including monitoring, evaluation and learning frameworks and operations. 
• Support the wider team with IT, including general skill development, leading the Google Space system. 
• Monitor compliance to organisational policies and lead the quarterly review of the organisational risk register, working with the Ghana Head of Operations. 

Finance 

• Work with the Finance and Admin Officer to produce monthly and quarterly global management accounts, cash flow analysis and to complete the annual audit. 
• Lead the financial planning of the organisation, working with the CEO and the Ghana Head of Operations to create the annual budget. 
• Work with the Ghana Head of Operations to strengthen financial systems, processes, and training across the organisation. 
• Work with the Ghana Head of Operations to prepare budgets for funding bids as needed.
• Work with the grants team to track grant spending and produce consolidated financial reports (including expenditure from the UK and Ghana) for donors. 
• Ensure EduSpots’ new accounting software (QuickBooks) is fully embedded and utilised.
• Oversee bank account management, including payments, checking bank statements, and reviewing bank reconciliations for UK and Ghana.
• Ensure staff payroll (likely to be outsourced) and payments to freelancers / consultants are done accurately and in a timely manner.

HR

• Work alongside the CEO, Head of Operations, Safeguarding and Inclusion Managers  and wider staff to develop strategies to sustain and strengthen a high performing and friendly work culture. 
• Work across the team to strengthen HR and performance management structures, informed by best practice and legal frameworks. 
• Lead the recruitment of staff, consultants and volunteers in the UK (advertising roles, drafting contracts, contacting referees and completing all filing and administration relating to recruitment).
• Onboard new staff, provide training on policies and procedures, and track key information (leave, appraisals, etc) for UK staff. 
• Regularly review and keep the Staff Handbook up to date.
• Depending on skill-set, work with the CEO to lead professional development for staff across the organisation, liaising with trustees and advisory group members.

Administration & Governance

• Manage and maintain databases and our Google Drive system. 
• Ensure compliance with GDPR and adherence to our child safeguarding and protection policy. 
• Maintain insurance renewals, tracking and filing.
• Review and keep up to date all organisational policies in line with current legislation, working with the Trustees and Directors. 
• Assist the CEO in the administration relating to EduSpots’ governance, including board meeting arrangements and minute taking.
• Support the CEO in all ad-hoc tasks that arise, working closely alongside her to ensure the smooth running of the organisation. 

Strategic insight 

• Work closely with the CEO and staff/Catalysts across the organisation to ensure all EduSpots’ decision-making is strategic and in the best interests of the Catalysts, Sparks and Communities we partner with. 

Other areas 

• Depending on experience, you may in time take on management responsibilities for some staff, but this role is principally a systems strengthening and quality improvement role, working closely with the CEO to offer advice and additional capacity. 
• Depending on experience, you may support with grants writing / management and/or community fundraising. Experience of fundraising would be of significant benefit to the organisation in this key leadership role. 

Personal Specification 

Essential 

• Minimum of 7 years’ experience of operations in a small/medium charity context. 
• Self-starter with the ability to hit the ground running and work with minimal supervision with high levels of flexibility.
• Self-motivated, with an ability to motivate and energise others.
• High level strategic understanding, critical thinking and the ability to strengthen systems in a fast-paced high performance environment.
• Excellent communication, both oral and written.
• The ability to thrive and adapt in a fast-paced, creative and impact-driven culture. 
• Strong administrative skills with a high level of attention to detail. 
• Experience in creating user-friendly tools and processes to support project and quality management.
• Experience using Google Suite, with strong Excel skills.
• Tech savvy – ability to learn new tech tools efficiently.
• Experience coordinating others. 
• Excellent interpersonal and teamwork skills with strong empathy and cultural sensitivity 
• Strong personal alignment with the mission, vision and values of EduSpots. 

Highly desirable 

• Experience supporting charity Boards, and working with external bodies including auditors, tax authorities, and other official bodies is highly desirable.
• Experience complying and strong familiarity with UK charity regulations and requirements.
• Experience preparing budgets and financial reports for donors/grants. 
• Experience of working in a cross-cultural team.
• Experience of working with an international charity would be advantageous. 

Please send a tailored covering letter and CV addressed to the CEO Miss Cat Davison by Wednesday 31st December with a hope to meet shortlisted candidates for a first-round interview in the week starting Monday 12th January. 

**Please note our client is a 4-day-week employer**

Our client is a small, independent housing association providing general and supported housing for single homeless people across London. Their mission is to provide housing and skills development to people in need, providing a safe space in which they can attain independence. They are now recruiting an interim Head of Housing Services (initially on a 6 month fixed term contract) to provide strong leadership across our client’s housing portfolio.

As interim Head of Housing Services, you will provide inspiring leadership to your housing operations team, supporting staff to achieve tangible social impact and/or recovery outcomes in line with the organisation’s mission and with funder’s contractual obligations. You will act as strategic lead for income, service and performance management of our client’s property portfolio, ensuring compliance of housing stock and tenancy matters within legal and statutory requirements. You will prepare and present accurate performance reports for the entire portfolio, reporting on voids, rent management and tenant engagement outcomes to the CEO and local authority partners, identifying corrective action where needed. You will develop and manage effective allocation processes for maximum occupancy and will work closely with other delivery colleagues to ensure that housing is accessible and operates in line with any funding criteria.

To apply for this role, you will have experience of managing housing services (general needs or homelessness), including budget management and performance reporting. You will have demonstrable experience of managing and developing housing staff (including managing staff across dispersed locations) and will have strong networking and negotiating skills. You will have knowledge of housing law, statutory and regulatory, and will have good practice requirements of housing providers (especially as it relates to housing management and health & safety). Overall, you will be an experienced housing management professional, passionate about delivering high quality housing services to a variety of people. 

If you are interested in finding out more about this exciting opportunity, please register your interest and submit your CV by clicking 'apply now' below.

At Prospectus, we are committed to building inclusive and diverse organisations and welcome applications from all sections of the community. We invest in your journey as a candidate and are committed to supporting you in your application. If you are enthusiastic about working with a fantastic charity that makes a real difference in people's lives, we would love to hear from you!

Please note this role will be working 4 days a week (32 hours), 3 days in the office or across services, and 1 day from home.

Please only apply if you are available immediately or have no more than a 1 month notice period.

Circa £66,000 per annum

Permanent

Part home/Part office (London) based

UNICEF ensures more of the world’s children are vaccinated, educated and protected than any other organisation. We have done more to influence laws and policies to help protect children than anyone else. We get things done. And we’re not going to stop until the world is a safe place for all our children.

This is a great opportunity to join the UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK) as Head of UK Policy and Advocacy and shape and lead the direction of our child rights work in the UK.

In this role you will oversee our domestic/UK-facing child rights policy work with an overarching focus on improving early childhood outcomes and reducing disparities between children across the UK. You’ll be joining at an exciting time for the team as it develops the next phase of our cross-organisational Early Moments Matter campaign and deepens its policy influencing work through the production of new evidence, briefings and engagement across the sector and government departments. You will play an active role in the Advocacy Leadership Team, ensuring our work is underpinned by robust strategies and analysis, and is undertaken in a way that reflects our organisational values.

To succeed in this role, you will have an in-depth understanding and experience of policy-making processes and influencing strategies in the UK. You will have an excellent understanding of the policy context of child rights in the UK, and be able to translate that knowledge and expertise into support for team members to deliver ambitious change for children. You will be passionate about centering lived experience, and be able to lead the team in strengthening engagement of rightsholders in the development and delivery of our policy work.

Act now and visit the website via the apply button to apply online.

Closing date: 9am, Monday 19 January 2026.

Interview date: Week beginning 02 February 2026 via video conferencing (MS Teams).

In return, we offer:

· excellent pay and benefits (including flexible working, generous annual leave and pension, big brand discounts and wellbeing tools)

· outstanding training and learning opportunities and the support to flourish in your role

· impressive open plan office space and facilities on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

· an open culture and workplace with colleagues who share our values, enjoy their work and are motivated to do their utmost for children.

· the opportunity to work in a leading children’s organisation making a difference to children around the world

Our application process: We use a system called "Applied" that anonymises your responses and focuses on your actual skills that are relevant to this role. This benefits you by giving you a greater chance of expressing your skills in this objective selection process.

We are gradually moving back to our offices on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford, East London and we anticipate most colleagues will work one or two days a week in the office and the rest of the time from home.  We will happily discuss other flexible options to suit your circumstances.

We particularly welcome applications from black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates, LGBTQ+ candidates, disabled candidates, and from men, because we would like to increase the representation of these groups at this level at UNICEF UK. We want to do this because we know greater diversity will lead to even greater results for children.

UNICEF UK promotes equality, diversity and inclusion in our workplace. We make employment decisions by matching business 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.

We welcome a conversation about your flexible working requirements, personal growth, and promoting a workplace where you can be yourself and achieve success based only on your merit.

The successful candidate will be required to apply for a criminal records check. A criminal record will not necessarily bar you from working with us. This will depend on the nature of the role and the circumstances of your offences.

We only accept online applications as this saves us money, making more funds available for us to help ensure children’s rights.

If you require support in completing the online form or an application form in an alternative format, please contact the Supporter Care line during office hours.

If you do not hear from us within 14 days of the closing date, please assume your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion. Please note that we only provide feedback to shortlisted candidates.

Registered Charity Nos. 1072612 (England and Wales) SC043677 (Scotland)

Your mission

We are looking for an ambitious, experienced Head of Brand Marketing, who has a strategic mindset and is motivated by commercial creativity. Reporting into the Marketing Director, the role will lead CALM’s brand marketing to drive awareness, deepen understanding of CALM’s mission and to inspire action to change culture and ultimately prevent suicide. They will be responsible for the strategic direction, creative leadership and guardianship of the CALM brand — ensuring our campaigns, partnerships and marketing communications are bold, distinctive, integrated and achieve real impact.

This is a unique opportunity for a strategic yet hands-on marketing leader to take the award-winning CALM brand to the next level.

Responsibilities

Brand Strategy & Leadership

• Own and evolve CALM’s brand strategy, ensuring it aligns with organisational goals and keeps CALM culturally relevant and distinctive.

• Lead on long-term brand positioning, audience strategy and messaging frameworks that build understanding of CALM’s mission and grow awareness, trust and engagement.

• Champion insight-led decision making — using audience, behavioural and brand tracking data to inform strategy, planning and creative direction.

• Partner with the Services team to drive attitudinal and behavioural change, as well as the Fundraising team to grow income, through an integrated marketing approach.

• Act as brand guardian — ensuring a consistent and compelling tone of voice, visual identity and narrative across all CALM activity and partnerships.

• Build brand literacy across CALM, enabling colleagues and partners to understand and apply the brand effectively.

Campaign & Creative Direction

• Oversee development and delivery of integrated brand campaigns that capture public attention and drive measurable shifts in awareness, engagement and action.

• Set strategic direction, creative standards and success measures for major campaigns and brand moments.

• Lead collaboration between in-house teams, agencies and partners to deliver brave, high-impact creative work.

• Ensure all campaign and partnership activations deliver meaningful value and reinforce CALM’s strategic priorities.

Partnerships & Brand Growth

• Work closely with Partnerships Director to shape and evaluate brand collaborations — ensuring external activity amplifies CALM’s message while protecting brand integrity.

• Develop frameworks for assessing new brand and media partnership opportunities based on reach, relevance and values alignment.

• Represent CALM’s brand voice externally with media, creative and commercial partners.

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead and inspire a high-performing Brand Marketing team, providing clear direction, coaching and development opportunities.

• Line manage Head of Creative Operations, Brand & Campaigns Lead and Creative Lead, supporting them to achieve their objectives.

• Foster a culture of creativity, collaboration and accountability across the wider MarComms function.

• Manage budgets and resources effectively, ensuring best-in-class delivery within agreed targets.

• Contribute as part of the MarComms senior leadership team to overall strategy, planning and organisational development.

• Promote and role model collaborative working across the team and with other teams.

• Demonstrate cross-organisational leadership.

• Confidently represent CALM at key meetings and events.

Competencies:

We’re looking for a bold, collaborative and emotionally intelligent brand leader who brings:

• Strong understanding of brand-building principles and integrated marketing best practice. 

• Strong analytical skills and data interpretation abilities in order to make informed strategic decisions.

• Creative thinker with excellent judgement and a proactive, hands-on attitude: willing to roll up your sleeves and engage deeply with all aspects of the role.

• Growth mindset and a focus on work that delivers tangible impact.

• Exceptional leadership skills and a genuine passion for storytelling, the cause and delivering CALM’s mission.

• Excellent writing, communication and interpersonal skills.

• Ability to collaborate, influence stakeholders effectively and positively contribute to team culture.

Experience:

• Proven experience - in an in-house or agency role - in a senior brand marketing role, developing and executing brand strategies, and brand management.

• Extensive experience leading integrated brand campaigns. 

• Strong background in using data-driven insights and behaviour change thinking.

• Experience in leading a high-performing team, driving brand growth.

• Proven track record in effective budget management, optimising spend for maximum ROI. 

• Experience of managing relationships with external and creative suppliers.

• Experience of working in a fast-paced environment with conflicting priorities and deadlines.

• Experience of the not-for-profit sector is beneficial.

Why us?

Reports to: Marketing Director

Contract: Full time, permanent

Benefits: Unlimited annual leave, Healthcare cash plan, 6% pension contribution, therapeutic services (after completion of probation), hybrid working & a nine day fortnight.

Based: London Waterloo twice a week (Wednesdays and Thursdays) / Remote Working (Monday, Tuesday & Friday), 9.30am - 5.30pm.

Closing date: Sunday 14 December. 

Right to work in the UK

To apply, you’ll need to already hold the right to work in the UK, as we’re not able to offer visa sponsorship for this role.

The Role

• To be the strategic lead for income, service, and performance management of Causeway’s Property portfolio. To support housing staff to achieve tangible social impact and/or recovery outcomes in line with Causeway’s mission and with funder’s contractual obligations.
• Provide inspiring leadership to the Housing Operations Team as a whole and develop opportunities for skills and knowledge development and understanding to enhance staff performance.
• To prepare and present accurate performance reports for the entire portfolio reporting on voids, rent management and tenant engagement outcomes to the CEO and local authority partners, identifying corrective action where needed.
• To ensure compliance of housing stock and tenancy matters within legal and statutory requirements.
• To ensure continuous learning and development across the Housing Operations Team by disseminating learning and sharing best practice.
• To develop and manage effective allocation processes for maximum occupancy and work closely with the other delivery colleagues across the organisation to ensure that housing is accessible and operates in line with any funding criteria.
• Champion client involvement and ensuring best practice in this area is embedded in policies and procedures.
• To be the primary point of contact for owning RP’s and private landlords, lead on landlord issues and disputes
• To represent the CEO at external events and meetings when necessary.

Our Organisation

You will work a combination of office, client-home, community, and home-based working. Causeway is a 4-day week employer, so you will work 32 hours over 4 days a week. Causeway is a London living wage employer. You will receive a 6% pension contribution, rising to 12% after two years service. We also offer an employee assistance programme that provides free financial, legal, and mental health advice and support to our employees. We provide core training, and continuous learning and development throughout your career with us. Travel schemes such as cycle to work and travelcard loans are also available.

A little bit about the role 

Location: Hybrid, 2 days a week expected in our London Office.

Salary: £65,431.97 (including London Office Allowance) plus competitive pension

Please note that this role will be closing on Monday 5 January 2026 at 9am.

The Principal Practice Tutor will play a leading role in and delivering Frontline’s Approach Social Work programme, a fast-track master’s in social work.  This is an exciting role for someone who wishes to combine management and leadership responsibilities whilst keeping a close connection to the work of their team by working directly with participants on the programme.  

The role of Principal Practice Tutor is to provide programme leadership and team management ensuring a high-quality teaching experience as well as ensuring excellent participant placement experience by supporting Consultant Social Workers. 

The role comprises of six core areas of responsibility: 

• Programme leadership and team management
• Resolve escalated participant issues
• Practice learning of participants 
• Support of Consultant Social Workers 
• Delivery (teaching) and Quality Assurance (marking) of the programme’s curriculum
• Supporting and operationalising wider organisational objectives 

You will work alongside the Head of Delivery, Principal Curriculum Leads and Principal Partnership Leads to ensure a high quality, effective learning experience for our participants. You are responsible for successfully incorporating best practice in pedagogy, through the provision of training, guidance and quality assurance activities across teams. 

We are actively seeking applicants from Global Majority backgrounds.

A little bit about you 

We are looking for a master’s-qualified, SWE-registered social worker with substantial children and families experience and a passion for developing others. You’ll be an engaging leader with strong practice insight, confident decision-making skills and a commitment to inclusive, anti-racist social work education.

We have a fast-moving culture within the team and organisation, so we’re looking for someone who is who is well organised, details-focused and can use their initiative to do what works. You will have excellent communication skills, be able to build relationships with people and be willing to learn. There are lots of opportunities for growth and development in this role – and for the right candidate to make the role their own. 

If you feel you have the skills to make a real impact and contribute to creating lasting social change for children and families, we would love to hear from you. 

Important information

We have increased the diversity of Frontline’s workforce in the last 12 months, but we need to do more to have greater racialised minority representation in our senior roles. We know the value racialised minority voices bring and therefore, we are strongly encouraging applicants from these backgrounds to apply. We are also a disability confident employer and welcome applicants with disabilities.

We recognise that artificial intelligence (AI) such as ‘ChatGPT’ etc can be useful for applicants e.g. to shorten an initial draft, so we do not attempt to have an absolute ban on AI in applications. However we would caution applicants not to rely too much on AI in drafting answers to application questions. We want to hear your authentic voice arising out of your experience, and we will be looking for answers that use examples and experiences that are specific to you. You are more likely to be able to produce that kind of content yourself than an AI will.

We reserve the right to close this role ahead of the deadline once we reach a suitable number of applications, so please apply as soon as you can!

This role is ineligible for sponsorship and so all applicants must have the right to work in the UK.

We’re Anthony Nolan. We’re here to uncover the answers inside us. Answers for people with blood cancer and blood disorders. Answers that will not only improve lives today but save them tomorrow.

By uniting people and science, we’re growing our world-leading stem cell register, so everyone who needs a transplant, can find their lifesaving match. We’re currently giving four people a day another chance to live.

Driven by patients, backed by stem cell donors, and powered by science, we won’t stop until we’ve unlocked the cures, treatments and transplants that will transform the future for more patients. And together, we can reach the remarkable day where every patient who needs us can not only survive, but thrive.

If you're inspired by this vision, and feel you have the skills and experience we need to help achieve it, we'd love you to join our lifesaving team.

We are looking for a Senior Marketing Manager to join our Marketing team.

Title: Senior Marketing Manager

Salary: £49,000 per annum

Contract: Permanent

Hours: 35 per week (standard Anthony Nolan working hours)

Location: Hybrid, with head office in Hampstead, London

The Senior Marketing Manager is an integral role to ensuring we are reaching our audiences effectively. You will develop and implement marketing strategies for Anthony Nolan’s marketing campaigns and audience approaches, and support our fundraising, register development and patient services colleagues in delivering their campaigns with your team.

You will be responsible for developing and utilising insight to grow awareness in these audiences, driving brand uplift to encourage future action and loyalty. You will lead your team of audience specialist marketing managers in driving successful marketing campaigns and activity, leading on key audience journeys, and providing marketing advice and practical support to other teams across the organisation. You will work closely with and support the Head of Marketing & Brand to deliver against key marketing and organisational objectives.

What’s in it for you?

• A competitive salary
• 27 days annual leave, pension scheme, childcare vouchers, access to counselling via a 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme
• A stimulating work environment full of opportunities to learn and develop
• Life Assurance of four times annual salary
• Travel season ticket loan, Cycle to work Scheme
• And more! (further details on our Life at Anthony Nolan page)

Please check out the full job description attached to this advert, or hyperlinked at the bottom of the description on our website, and you can read more about what to expect on the Our recruitment process page.

Release your remarkable, join our team and give someone another chance to live.

Anthony Nolan is a Disability Confident Committed and Living Wage accredited employer. 

All applicants must be able to demonstrate the right to work in the UK.

Purpose of the job

This role is responsible for the design of UK Youth’s support to young people, youth organisations and youth workers. This could include structured youth work programmes, funding and grants+ programmes, professional development programmes, and campaigns.

You will lead and oversee end-to-end design processes, ensuring that UK Youth develops fully packaged offers that respond to the evidence base and people’s needs, drive forward our strategy and achieve incredible impact. You will work across UK Youth teams, with external design partners, and meaningfully involving young people and the professionals who support them in the design process.

You will be experienced in developing high quality funding propositions (proactively and in response to new business opportunities). You will be confident in taking a human-centred design approach to tackle some of the youth sector’s knottiest problems.  You will design solutions to important problems, ensuring that they are feasible, equitable, impactful and scalable.

In 2026, our priority topics for youth work programmes and network development are: mental health and wellbeing, employability, social cohesion and community safety.

 As a leader, you will work closely with research, evaluation, policy, service delivery, network development, and fundraising teams. You will help to improve the skills and confidence of colleagues across UK Youth to apply design methods in their own work and collaborate effectively with the Design team.

Why work at UK Youth?

UK Youth wants all young people to be equipped to thrive and empowered to contribute at every stage of their lives. Youth work can be life changing (and even life saving.) In 2026, we will be launching our new strategy, positioning UK Youth to unlock youth work so that every young person in the UK can benefit. We work with others to ensure that the youth sector is strengthened and that provision is youth-led, evidence-informed, and delivers high-quality outcomes.

 UK Youth plays a unique role in addressing the lack of investment in the youth sector, the lack of cross-sector understanding in how youth work makes a difference, and the limited opportunities to embed effective solutions. These factors lead to mass inequality of access to youth services for young people. Come and be part of this change in a driven and supportive team that puts evidence at the heart of our work.

Role Responsibilities

• Designing Solutions

• Developing new business and funding propositions

• Embedding Human Centred Design

• Building a strong external network to support the Design team’s work

• Operations

Experience we're after

• Significant experience of leading and overseeing the development of new business propositions and proposals to time-limited funding opportunities

• Significant experience of designing interventions (digital and/or physical) for young people and/or those who support them 

• Experience using human-centred-design methods and mindsets; managing projects across the end-to-end design process

• Proven track record of inspiring and motivating diverse teams and improving collaborative ways of working across teams and departments

• Experience of developing high quality programme content and curricula for young people, youth workers and/or outdoor learning instructors (desirable)

• Experience of commissioning and managing external design freelancers and consultants (desirable)

• Experience of designing and/or delivering professional development programmes (desirable)

What we can offer you

We offer a competitive range of benefits, good work/life balance, excellent learning and development opportunities and vibrant organisational culture:

• Flexible/Agile Working

• 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays (pro rata for part time employees)

• Funded training provided in; Safeguarding, GDPR, Information and Cyber Security & Equality & Diversity

• Other training available in support of your personal and professional development

• Pension scheme (currently UK Youth match employee contributions up to 5%)

• Membership of our life insurance scheme which would pay-out up to 4 times your salary

• Employee Assistance Programme to support employees both professionally and personally

• 20% discount off bookings at Avon Tyrrell, our New Forest Outdoor Centre, including camping, lodges and outdoor activities.

• IT equipment provided for the duration of contract

• CycleScheme and TechScheme

How to apply

If you would like to be considered for this fantastic opportunity, please complete an application via our completely anonymised recruitment system provided by Applied which looks to create a fair and unbiased application process for all. Scroll to the top of the page and start your application.

Closing date: Sunday 4th January 2026 at 23:59pm

Provisional Interview Dates: 12th and 13th January 2026

As this role involves working in a regulated environment with young people, any offer will be conditional to satisfactory background checks, which include criminal record check and employment reference.

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.

Nacro is seeking an experienced and dynamic Head of Policy & Public Affairs to lead our strategic policy development and influencing work with Government, officials, and other key decision-makers. This pivotal role will shape and deliver a high-impact policy and public affairs strategy that improves the lives of the people we support—those affected by the criminal justice system, housing insecurity, and barriers to education.

You will be Nacro’s senior voice in government spaces, the media, and across the public affairs landscape. You will ensure our policy positions are evidence-based, rooted in lived experience, and influential at the highest levels.

 

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Policy & Public Affairs

• Lead Nacro’s strategic policy and public affairs activity with Government, parliamentarians, officials, and other stakeholders.
• Develop and implement a compelling public affairs strategy that drives meaningful change.
• Build and maintain strong, productive relationships with senior policymakers.
• Represent Nacro externally, including with senior stakeholders and in the media.
• Oversee the development of evidence-based policy positions and research projects that support Nacro’s strategic objectives.
• Ensure service user experience informs all policy and influencing work.
• Produce and oversee high-quality policy outputs including consultation responses, briefings, reports, blogs, and media commentary.
• Safeguard Nacro’s reputation as a trusted and authoritative source of insight and expertise.
• Provide strategic political intelligence and advice to the Director of Engagement & Impact and the Chief Executive.

People Leadership

• Lead, motivate, and support a high-performing team, setting clear direction and expectations.
• Model Nacro’s values and behaviours, enabling a positive, inclusive, and accountable culture.
• Manage communication channels effectively, ensuring key organisational messages are understood and cascaded.
• Set objectives, monitor performance, and hold regular one-to-one meetings.
• Support professional development and wellbeing across the team while driving innovation and high standards.
• Take responsibility for all aspects of people management, including recruitment, conduct, performance, and attendance.
• Recognise, reward, and encourage excellent performance.
   

Leadership Across the Organisation

• Play an active role in the Senior Leadership Team, helping to drive organisational strategy.
• Operate both strategically and operationally, identifying opportunities and risks for Nacro.
   

Professional Expertise

• Significant senior-level experience in policy and public affairs.
• Strong track record of leading policy campaigns that delivered real impact.
• Excellent political awareness, judgement, and communication skills—both written and verbal.
• Knowledge of criminal justice, education, young people’s policy, or housing policy (desirable).

Performance & Compliance

• Set and deliver directorate performance targets, ensuring effective management of budgets and resources.
• Oversee health & safety responsibilities in your area.
• Contribute to business development and bid work in partnership with relevant teams.
• Ensure accurate and timely record-keeping and reporting.
• Promote and uphold Nacro’s values, safeguarding, data protection, and equality and diversity policies.
• Represent Nacro positively, building strong internal and external relationships.

Why Join Nacro?

We believe that everyone deserves a good education, a safe and secure place to live, the right to be heard, and the chance to start again, with support from someone on their side.

That’s why our housing, education, justice, and health and wellbeing services work alongside people to give them the support and skills they need to succeed. And it’s why we fight for their voices to be heard and campaign together to create lasting change.

We see your future, whatever the past.

If you are a strategic thinker, an influential communicator, and passionate about social justice—we want to hear from you.

 Apply now to lead change where it matters most

Job Profile

Reporting to the Managing Director, you will lead on the recruitment, retention, and value growth of Afghanaid’s supporter base by directing and implementing communications, fundraising and engagement strategies, aligned with broader organisation goals. Designing and managing a tight budget, you will direct the Communication and Giving unit to maximise their success.

You will provide strategic and supervisory oversight of fundraising income from individual giving, regular giving, major donors, trusts and foundations, corporates, community and student fundraising and events, managing annual fundraising appeals and driving organisational unrestricted income growth. 

You will lead on communications for Afghanaid, overseeing print, digital, and paid marketing activities and the growth of communications channels. You will execute Afghanaid’s organisational brand strategy which ensures the integrity of the brand and maximises awareness. You will manage all public relations including crisis communications, as well as the growth of strategic media placements and high profile relationships. You will drive the success of organisational impact storytelling and communications for both internal and external stakeholders. As a member of the executive department, you will collaborate and synergise with other departments to promote organisational success.

Key Responsibilities:

• Drive organisational strategy, culture and cross-department collaboration to advance Afghanaid’s mission and objectives.

• Lead development and delivery of Communications, Engagement and Fundraising strategies and work plans.

• Line manage and develop a high-performing team, including staff, volunteers and interns.

• Build and maintain relationships with consultants, agencies and pro bono partners.

• Oversee budgets, reporting and data-driven performance management to ensure efficiency and impact.

• Promote a positive and cohesive London team environment, coordinating hybrid working, inductions and HR support.

• Oversee public fundraising strategy across multiple income streams.

• Lead design and delivery of internal and external appeals, campaigns and donor stewardship.

• Identify new funding opportunities, partnerships and innovation in engagement.

• Oversee the full range of Afghanaid’s event portfolio, and attend relevant events to represent Afghanaid;

• Ensure effective CRM management, data integrity and financial reconciliation.

• Serve as brand guardian, ensuring consistency and evolution of Afghanaid’s identity.

• Oversee creation and execution of integrated communications and marketing plans.

• Direct production of engaging digital and print content, including newsletters, social media, and fundraising collateral.

• Manage website optimisation, SEO and analytics to drive engagement and conversions.

• Lead innovation in digital marketing, email campaigns and supporter journeys.

• Advise leadership on reputation management and crisis communications.

• Develop media policies and act as spokesperson when required.

• Manage proactive and reactive media relations, building relationships with journalists, influencers and advocates.

• Promote Afghanaid’s thought leadership through strategic storytelling and public commentary.

• Commission and direct multimedia content to strengthen organisational storytelling.

• Lead content planning, production and performance analysis.

• Champion participatory storytelling approaches and creative innovation.

Undertake any other duties as and when required by the line director.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

You will be an experienced and dynamic communicator with significant demonstrable experience in fundraising and/or communications at a senior level, coupled with an awareness and up to date knowledge and experience of the tools that would maximise the success of our communications and fundraising activities. In addition, you will have excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to confidently build and maintain strong relationships with a diverse group of stakeholders. Possessing strong management skills, you will have experience of managing small multi-disciplinary teams, providing direction and leadership to enable development and high performance, and the ability to role-model a culture of equality, diversity and inclusion.

Education/ Training

Master’s Degree in communications, marketing, public fundraising or another relevant field (or at least 5-years’ experience).

Work Experience

• At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in fundraising, supporter engagement or communications, with at least 2 years’ experience directly managing staff.

• Experience developing and leading integrated multi-channel and multi-stakeholder communications, engagement and/or fundraising strategies.

• Experience in growing audiences, engagement and/or income streams.

• Experience communicating about and/or fundraising for and/or maintaining engagement with Afghanistan or a similar context.

• Experience using KPIs and data to make data-driven decisions to improve efficacy and efficiency.

• Experience managing and monitoring a tight budget.

• Experience conceptualising, producing and commissioning multimedia content, from marketing and fundraising collateral to audiovisual content.

• Experience running full-funnel, multi-channel marketing strategies including paid advertising.

• Understanding of risks associated with communications, public fundraising, and NGO operating contexts, and experience in mitigating those risks.

• Experience supervising, organising, motivating and developing staff.

• In depth knowledge of trends in storytelling, brand, PR, marketing and fundraising.

Professional Skills, Competencies, Values and Attitudes

Afghanaid’s core values are creativity, fairness and honesty. Our staff is passionate about and proud of Afghanaid. Teamwork is fundamental to our standards and demonstrated by taking initiative, assisting others and taking on additional responsibilities and tasks if necessary. We are results driven, committed and motivated to achieve targets and take accountability for our own actions.

Specifically, the holder of this position should also demonstrate the following:

Essential

• Fluent in spoken and written English. 

• Track record of increasing audiences, fundraising totals and engagement metrics from multiple different sources, with a strong business development mindset.

• Experience securing five or six figure gifts from funders;

• Solutions and results orientated; energised by thinking outside the box, and by finding and pursuing novel or innovative approaches and solutions.

• Experience using Salesforce CRM and Marketing Cloud

• Skilled at spotting and prioritising opportunities and synergies, and effective in securing wide-ranging forms of engagement and partnership.

• Excellent listening, speaking and writing skills; strong capabilities of persuasion and a proven track record of uniting people around a common goal.

• Multimedia skills, with knowledge, experience and enthusiasm in driving digital innovation.

• Highly organised with strong leadership and project management skills, able to collaboratively manage competing priorities with senior and junior colleagues.

• Demonstrably skilled brand custodian, able to mitigate risks, anticipate and capitalise upon opportunities, and strengthen reputation.

• Capable of working independently as well as collaboratively, both in leading a team and as part of the team.

• Passionate about driving change, and inspiring individuals and groups to support a cause to deliver that change.

Desirable

• Experience working within an international development or humanitarian context, particularly with causes related to Afghanistan

• Strategic understanding of UK and global fundraising landscapes and emerging giving trends.

• Proven ability to represent an organisation publicly with confidence, professionalism and credibility.

• Experience guiding senior leaders or trustees on media, communications and reputational matters.

• Skilled in crisis communications and reputation management.

• Understanding of inclusive and ethical storytelling practices, with sensitivity to safeguarding considerations.

• Experience developing high-value corporate or media partnerships.

• Comfortable working in a fast-moving, resource-limited environment and adapting to changing external circumstances.

The Organisation

Afghanaid is a British humanitarian and development organisation. For over forty years, our dedicated personnel have worked with millions of families in some of the poorest and most remote communities in Afghanistan. We build basic services, improve livelihoods, strengthen the rights of women and children, help communities protect against natural disasters and adapt to climate change, and respond to humanitarian emergencies. We are headquartered in Kabul, and operate provincial and district offices across Afghanistan, as well as a Marketing and Fundraising office in London. We employ around 500 personnel, 97% of whom are Afghans.

Other Information

Afghanaid’s core values are creativity, fairness and honesty. Our staff are passionate about and proud to work at Afghanaid. Teamwork is fundamental to our standards and demonstrated by taking initiative, assisting others and taking on additional responsibilities and tasks if necessary. We are results driven, committed and motivated to achieve targets and take accountability for our own actions.

Our remuneration and benefits package is competitive with other similar organisations. 

This position presents an excellent opportunity for someone who has the ambition and determination to move up in their career.

Making The Leap seeks to appoint a dynamic Educational Partnerships Manager to play a pivotal role in securing, growing, and nurturing partnerships with schools across the UK. Reporting to the Head of Educational Partnerships, the successful candidate will drive engagement with schools, teachers, and senior leaders to expand the reach and impact of Making The Leap’s programmes. This role focuses on building strong, strategic relationships with education providers while maintaining links with community organisations, colleges, universities, and corporate partners to promote MTL’s services and mission.

Making The Leap is an innovative societal change charity that aims to make a big difference. From direct delivery, to advocacy and leadership, we believe passionately that those we exist to serve have the right to be anything they want to be. To say that this is an exciting time for the organisation would be an understatement, as our incredible funders, donors, partners and supporters have given us the chance to move to the next level, and have further influence and delivery nationally.

The ethos of the organisation is to be passionate about helping young people from less-advantaged backgrounds; build up other charities and community groups and want to partner with them or support them; want to work with businesses and organisations to get things done; and care deeply about addressing racial inequity.

The organisation has a number of strands: core Making The Leap; the UK Social Mobility Awards; the Social Mobility Podcast and The Social Mobility List.

Contract Type: Permanent

Salary: Circa £32,300

Hours: 37 per week

Department: People Culture & Leadership

Directorate: Continuous Improvement

Location: Working from home, with occasional UK travel

Reports to: Senior PCL Specialist

As part of the NFCC People Culture and Leadership (PCL) Hub this post plays a key role in supporting and enabling fire and rescue services (FRS) to drive organisational and culture change.

The postholder will use their subject matter knowledge, skills and experience alongside the principles of project management to support the design, development and implementation of a range of PCL products and services. Whilst the role supports all PCL activities, the role will have a focus on Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI)-related projects, therefore experience in this area is particularly desirable. Moreover we require someone with relevant knowledge and experience in one or more fields of the people/HR/OD/EDI profession.

Evaluating the effectiveness of the NFCC’s PCL products and their benefits to FRS’s will be a key aspect of the role and the postholder will undertake a range of evaluation activities to identify improvements and make recommendations for improvement. They will be responsible for implementing agreed changes and maintaining PCL products to ensure they remain fit-for-purpose.

Stakeholder engagement is a key element of the role by building effective relationships and establishing networks to improve the uptake/adoption of PCL products and drive culture change.

If this sounds like the kind of opportunity that you would be interested in; please have a look at the detailed Job description on the NFCC website and apply.

How to apply:

Please complete the application form linked from the ‘apply now’ button on the NFCC website. CV’s will NOT be accepted for this position.

Closing Date – 4 January 2026 with interviews being conducted on the 15 January 2026.

PLEASE NOTE - THIS VACANCY WILL CLOSE BEFORE THE CLOSING DATE IF WE RECEIVE A HIGH NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS.

NFCC is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults and will require a DBS check to be completed prior to commencing in post.

NFCC is committed to being an inclusive employer. We comply with the Equality Act 2010, and we believe that everyone deserves to work in safe environments that are free from bullying, harassment and discrimination, abuse, and harm, where they feel supported, welcome, and able to thrive.

NFCC acknowledges the duty of care to safeguard, protect and promote the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and is committed to ensuring safeguarding practice reflects statutory responsibilities, government guidance and complies with best practice, all staff are expected to share this commitment.