Head of policy poverty jobs in birmingham, west midlands

Do you share our dream of a UK where poverty is a thing of the past? 

Founded in 2019, the Poverty Truth Network believes that this can only happen when those most impacted by poverty are at the heart of the movement to end it. Our specific contribution brings together people experiencing poverty with those with responsibilities for alleviating it. “Nothing About Us Without Us Is For Us.” 

Thanks to funding from the National Lottery Community Fund, the PTN is recruiting a Partnerships Manager who will provide management and oversight of key partnerships essential to the delivery of the Network’s Strategic Plan, with a specific focus on the development and delivery of Regional Hubs.

You will have experience of establishing and delivering partnerships; dedicated to social justice; a commitment to collaborative working; and proven management experience.

Key Tasks

• To form part of the Core Leadership Team, providing overall strategic leadership across the Network 
• To manage the Partnership team, setting clear goals and objectives linked to the Strategic Plan 
• To lead on the development and support of Regional Hubs, including support with grant funding and income generation
• To act as the primary point of contact with Regional Hubs, for initial enquiries and ongoing relationships, including with staff and trustees
• To provide oversight of the Network’s Parliamentary work in Westminster and across the devolved administrations
• To oversee the Network’s Learning & Evaluation framework, offering insight and advice as appropriate, ensuring that agreed activities are delivered on time and in budget 
• To be the primary point of contact for partners working alongside the Network to deliver change in line with its Strategic Plan
• To recruit external partners to participate in the Mutual Mentoring programme
• To liaise closely with members of the Amplify Team in the development of national partnerships
• To develop and support work with creative partners to highlight the resilience of those struggling to overcome poverty
• To deputise for the Director as and when required
• To undertake other activities as needed dependent on jobholder’s knowledge, skills and experience

This role involves working from home with some travel.

This is an exciting opportunity for a skilled and thoughtful communicator to lead our communications and advocacy work during a period of maternity cover. 

At Martin James Foundation, we work alongside a network of committed partners who lead change for children and families in their contexts. Our role is to contribute where we can, granting funds, sharing learning, supporting campaigns, influencing systems and amplifying the good work already happening. You’ll lead on implementing our communications and advocacy strategy, manage key partnerships, and strengthen our presence across digital platforms. You’ll also support internal communications projects.

This role is central to how we tell our story, build meaningful collaboration, influence change and ensure the voices of those with lived experience are prioritised, listened to and able to lead change.

About Martin James Foundation

The Martin James Foundation (MJF) is a global network of charitable organisations working with a shared vision: a world in which children grow up and thrive in safe and loving families.

The Foundation is made up of:

· MJF Global – our programmes team, which uses the Foundation’s technical and financial resources to support locally rooted partner organisations around the world. Together, we work to strengthen families and reduce reliance on orphanages, contributing to global efforts to reform children’s care.

· Key Assets – a group of independent, non-profit fostering agencies operating in Australia, Canada and New Zealand. With over 30 years’ experience, they provide foster care, family strengthening, and support for people with disabilities. Their trauma-informed approach is built on strong partnerships and a commitment to meeting the unique needs of those they serve.

The Need

Millions of children are separated from their families, not because they have no one to care for them, but because of poverty, crisis, or a lack of support. Many end up in orphanages, yet removing a child from a struggling family does not solve poverty. It can deepen harm, sever vital family bonds, and leave children more vulnerable to instability, trafficking, and lifelong inequality. Our mission is to reduce the reliance on institutional care by supporting proven alternatives and advocating for systemic change.

What You’ll Do

 Advocacy & Policy Influence

• Lead the delivery of advocacy strategies to raise awareness about the benefits of family-based care and the harms of institutions, including orphanages
• Manage MJF Global’s advocacy partnerships, supporting joint campaigns and influencing initiatives
• Oversee project-based public affairs and PR efforts, coordinating with agencies, consultants and media stakeholders where needed
• Represent MJF Global in key coalitions, working groups, and sector events as required
• Strategic communications

Implement the communications strategy that aligns with our organisational goals

• Manage our editorial calendar across digital and offline channels, highlighting awareness days, partner updates and sector milestones
• Write and curate content for social media, newsletters, campaigns, and reports
• Oversee relationships with our design and web partners, ensuring consistency and quality

Stakeholder Engagement & Partnerships

• Support MJF’s global marketing working group by co-coordinating with marketing leads across Key Assets
• Strengthen relationships with internal teams and external collaborators, ensuring alignment on messaging and values
• Provide guidance to global partners, as requested/required, developing and implementing their own communications plans

Operational Comms & Tools

• Manage CRM platforms (e.g., MailChimp), website updates (WordPress), and file sharing (SharePoint and Google Drive)
• Use project management tools to track campaign and content workflows
• Lead quarterly reporting on communications and advocacy performance

What We’re Looking For

We’re seeking someone who is not only an excellent communicator but also a values-led leader, someone who can work with sensitivity across contexts and cultures, while keeping an eye on strategy and detail.

Essential

• An enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) or your country equivalent certificate (can be obtained upon appointment)
• Experience leading and implementing communications and/or advocacy strategies in the charity, NGO, or development sectors
• Strong understanding of care reform, family strengthening, or children’s rights issues
• Ability to manage relationships and partnerships, particularly in advocacy, policy or public affairs work
• Excellent communication skills across formats including written, verbal and visual. Fluency in English is required.
• A collaborative, curious and proactive mindset, with the ability to work independently and across cultures
• Commitment to equity, anti-racism, and decolonising approaches in communication and advocacy

Desirable

• Experience working in or with organisations in the Global South
• Familiarity with digital tools like Canva, WordPress, MailChimp, or Adobe Suite
• Experience in journalism, media relations, or public policy advocacy
• Confidence using communications to support locally led, ethical storytelling and systems change

What We Offer

• Fully remote working with flexible scheduling
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Meaningful work with a passionate, globally distributed team
• Opportunity to contribute to a mission-driven organisation that centres lived experience and ethical partnership

The Martin James Foundation strives to enable a diverse range of participation and contributions, and we welcome applications from all ages and backgrounds. People with lived experience of alternative care, and from people outside of the UK are encouraged to apply.

The Vacancy

Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW) is a faith-based humanitarian relief and development organisation working to save and transform the lives of some of the world’s most vulnerable people.  Established in 1984, with an active presence in over 45 countries, we strive to make the world a better and fairer place for those affected by poverty, conflict and natural disasters. 

IRW’s Office of the General Counsel Division is recruiting for the position of ‘Policy Coordinator’ to join its dynamic team. The organisation is currently operating a hybrid working model.

Job purpose:

With increasing accountability to our regulators, partners, institutional and community donors, it is essential that we have robust and effective policies and processes in place that are regularly reviewed and demonstrate the learning and growth of the organisation and holding ourselves to account both internally and externally. Our policies and internal protocols must reflect good practice within the INGO sector, adapt to advances in technology and frequent changes to legislation and regulatory requirements. Our commitment to developing our internal policies, protocols and processes illustrates how our organisation proactively manages and oversees the potential risks and requirements we must address on a daily basis in a structured way.  Our aim is to foster an environment of consistency in our working practices that increases confidence in the way we manage our operations and workforce.

This post will provide leadership for the highest possible quality and consistency of Operational Policy and Guideline Documents meeting rigorous international sector-relevant and ethical standards to help achieve our vision, mission, global strategy and year-to-year objectives.

The role will support the Policy and Compliance Manager by co-ordinating and leading in the development and improvement of our current internal processes to ensure the timely review, development and approval of our policy documents and providing appropriate technical and operational support to internal stakeholders and wider IR family.

The role will provide technical and administrative support to the Policy Review Committee and help maintain internal record keeping and associated resources.

The successful candidate must have:

• A degree or equivalent in English or relevant area
• Experience of writing and communicating effectively to internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience of producing written materials for internal and external audience
• Experience and working knowledge within a humanitarian/INGO setting
• Experience in report writing and presentation of data/information
• Experience of working with senior managers and executive to agree effective outcomes
• Research skills
• Experience in monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of policy compliance and implementation
• Ability to work autonomously and use initiative
• Experience of identifying and mitigating risks to the organisation  
• Excellent MS Office skills
• Ability to convey complex and technical information persuasively and with clarity to a diverse audience
• Ability to contribute to the review of policies and processes
• Process mapping
• Strong communication and representation skills
• Ability to manage workload independently and efficiently
• Good eye for detail - proof reading and editing documents
• Excellent organisational and record keeping skills
• Ability to synthesise data and information effectively
• Report writing skills in English
• Strong inter-personal skills
• Ability to establish and maintain strong working relationships
• Excellent analytical skills
• Good oral presentation skills
• Working calmly under pressure and meeting strict deadlines
• Ability to work independently and excellent time management skills
• Innovative thinker, able to develop and translate strategy into tactical action plans and deliverables

For more information, please click on the Documents tab above to view the full Job Description.

If you are talented, reliable, service-minded, resilient and a highly motivated professional looking for a meaningful career, with a strong commitment to IRW’s mission and values of sincerity, excellence, compassion, social justice and custodianship, please apply by completing our online application form.

For more information on the excellent company benefits we offer our employees, please visit our website.

PLEASE NOTE: Interviews are expected to take place on 16th June 2025.

Pre-employment Checks:

Any employment with Islamic Relief will be subject to the following checks:

• Screening clearance
• Proof of eligibility to live and work within the UK
• Receipt of satisfactory references

Please note, for UK-based roles, we are only able to accept applications from candidates who are eligible to work in the UK. We are unable to progress applications which would require sponsorship.

Our values and commitment to safeguarding

IRW is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and committed to promoting the welfare of children, young people, adults and beneficiaries with whom IRW engages. IRW expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us.

The post holder will undertake the appropriate level of training and is responsible for ensuring that they understand and work within the safeguarding policies of the organisation.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records checks. IRW also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.

In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment.

By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Islamic Relief is an equal opportunities employer

Job Profile

CAFOD’s mission in the Catholic community of England and Wales is to inspire and equip Catholics to actively engage in the Church’s efforts to overcome poverty and injustice. Our regional teams focus on recruiting and supporting a dedicated group of volunteers within parish and school communities, empowering them to educate, engage, and inspire others to act in solidarity for the common good. Regional teams also collaborate with clergy and other representatives across the Catholic community to ensure CAFOD’s volunteer programme is aligned with faith life.

The primary purpose of this role is to provide administrative and communications support to the Community Participation Coordinators across England and Wales, with a focus on the West & Wales region as the first point of contact. This includes coordinating administrative tasks performed by office volunteers and identifying opportunities for process improvements. The role also involves volunteer recruitment administration, overseeing and training Office Volunteers, and ensuring effective database management.

This role can be based anywhere in the UK including our head office in London, working from home, from one of CAFOD’s Volunteer Centres, or a combination of both. The role requires occasional travel to London and other areas within the East & West side of the country. Travel expenses will be reimbursed, and time off in lieu will be granted for travel beyond normal working hours.

This is a full-time position (35 hours per week) and reports to the Volunteer Support and Development Coordinator.

Key Responsibilities Overview
The post holder will play a key role in driving smooth, efficient operations across CAFOD’s West & Wales region. As the go-to person for admin excellence and volunteer support, you’ll work closely with your line manager and colleagues in the East to streamline processes, improve systems, and keep everything running like clockwork.

You’ll lead on volunteer recruitment and engagement—welcoming new volunteers, managing onboarding, and ensuring everyone feels valued, equipped, and inspired to support CAFOD’s work. Your people skills and attention to detail will shine as you manage applications, data entry, and training coordination.

Communications will be at the heart of your role. You’ll create engaging e-bulletins and social media content that keeps our community informed and motivated, while ensuring messages are clear, consistent, and aligned with CAFOD’s wider goals.

You’ll be the guardian of accurate data, working with office volunteers to maintain up-to-date records that support smarter outreach and efficient workflows. Your collaborative spirit will help strengthen connections across teams, share best practices, and contribute to creative new approaches for engaging communities.

This is a role for a proactive, organised, and people-focused individual who’s excited to innovate, solve problems, and make a tangible impact in a supportive, values-led organisation.

Safeguarding

All CAFOD staff share responsibility to promote and maintain a strong safeguarding culture, including identifying the key actions they should take given their role and responsibilities.

Person Specification

Understanding our context

1. Understanding Catholic identity: sympathetic knowledge of the life, culture and structure of the Catholic Church in England and Wales and an ability to work effectively within it and especially an understanding of parish community life.
2. Understanding CAFOD: ability to express what motivates people to volunteer for, and support, CAFOD and the main activities in which Catholic community primarily participate. Being informed about, supportive of, and actively promoting our anti-racism work.

Working together

1. Managing ourselves: strong interpersonal skills including an ability to develop personal relationships quickly and to convince others.  Ability to be self-motivated and able to work in isolation linking with different people in a variety of contexts; confident with articulating support required for you to work well.
2. Working with others: builds positive and fruitful partnerships, particularly with volunteers; works effectively as part of a team which may work at a distance to ensure sharing of good practice and shared workload; being willing and able to help other team members and be helped to achieve delivery of shared objectives.
3. Communicating: ability to identify how best to communicate instructions and processes clearly and how this helps achieve the objectives CAFOD seeks to deliver and how to share knowledge and information across teams.

Making change happen

1. Managing resources: confident with processing data for planning, monitoring and reporting:  proven time-management, data-management and organisational skills/experience of delegating tasks clearly and making improvements to processes.
2. Achieving results: ability and willingness to focus on achieving efficiencies, especially in support of regional plans for community participation and income growth.
3. Managing our performance: ability and willingness to work to targets and achieve results.

Job-Specific Competencies

Administrative Process Improvement:

Proven ability to assess, streamline, and document administrative processes. Strong organisational skills are required to manage a variety of tasks and ensure efficient delegation to volunteers. Ability to identify inefficiencies and propose practical solutions to enhance office operations.

Volunteer Recruitment & Engagement:

Expertise in recruiting, onboarding, and maintaining volunteer engagement. You will build strong relationships with volunteers, ensuring their experience is positive and aligned with CAFOD’s mission. Experience in using volunteer management systems and managing volunteer data is essential.

Communication & Content Creation: Strong written and verbal communication skills, with experience in producing engaging content for e-bulletins, newsletters, and other media resources. Ability to tailor messaging to different audiences, ensuring clarity and consistency in CAFOD’s communications.

Data Management & Accuracy:

Attention to detail is crucial for maintaining accurate records. Experience with databases, data segmentation, and ensuring data integrity is essential. A strong understanding of data protection standards, including GDPR, will be necessary.

Collaboration & Team Communication:

Effective communicator with internal teams, ensuring smooth communication and alignment across various regions. Ability to foster positive working relationships and collaborate across teams, both virtually and in person. Proficiency with communication tools like Microsoft Teams and Zoom is required.

Training & Support:

Experience in delivering training to volunteers and staff, ensuring they have the necessary skills and knowledge. Ability to provide ongoing support to regional office volunteers, helping them succeed and contribute effectively to the team.

Adaptability & Problem-solving:

Flexible and resourceful, able to adapt to changing priorities. You will be expected to identify challenges and propose solutions to keep operations running smoothly.

Commitment to CAFOD’s Mission & Values:

A deep understanding of CAFOD’s mission and Catholic social teaching, with the ability to align volunteer engagement and administrative activities with the organization’s goals of addressing poverty and injustice.

Use of Digital Tools & Systems:

Competence in using databases, Microsoft Office Suite, and collaboration tools. Ability to train volunteers in these systems to ensure smooth operations across teams.

Project Management & Accountability:

Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring tasks are completed within deadlines and to a high standard. You will be responsible for delivering results aligned with CAFOD’s objectives.

Safeguarding for Children and Vulnerable Adults

CAFOD recognises the personal dignity and rights of children and vulnerable adults, towards whom it has a special responsibility and a duty of care and respect.  CAFOD, and all its staff and volunteers, undertake to do all in our power to create a safe environment for children, young people and vulnerable adults and to prevent their physical, sexual or emotional abuse.  CAFOD is committed to acting at all times in the best interests of children and vulnerable adults, seeing these interests as paramount.  Any candidate offered a job with CAFOD will be expected to adhere to CAFOD’s Safeguarding policy and sign CAFOD’s Code of Behaviour as an appendix to their contract of employment and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these documents. This post involves contact with children, young people and vulnerable adults, or has responsibility for people who will do, and applicants will be subject to specific checks related to safeguarding issues.  If based in the UK the post holder is required to present or obtain a Disclosure from the DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service).  If the post is based outside the UK the post holder will be subject to a different checking process.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references, and appropriate screening checks can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. CAFOD also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of, and consent to, these recruitment procedures.

Please click here for a full list of CAFOD’s Staff Benefits

Come and join us and help make a real difference in the lives of the world’s poorest communities.

CAFOD is an equal opportunities employer. Recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults.

The Vacancy

Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW) is a faith-based humanitarian relief and development organisation working to save and transform the lives of some of the world’s most vulnerable people.  Established in 1984, with an active presence in over 45 countries, we strive to make the world a better and fairer place for those affected by poverty, conflict and natural disasters. 

IRW’s Office of the General Counsel Division is recruiting for the position of ‘Complaints & Compliance Administrator’ to join its dynamic team based in Birmingham, UK. The organisation is currently operating a hybrid working model.

Job purpose:

To assist with the day-to-day processing, reporting, oversight and management of a diverse range of incoming complaints and whistleblowing disclosures and appropriate escalation of complaints requiring escalation to relevant Area Leads.

The post will play an active role in providing support to the IRW Complaints Team ensuring compliance with associated policies and processes.  The role will involve the preparation of key documents and acting as a liaison with relevant internal and external stakeholders to compile and organise key information to support the work of the IRW Complaints Team. 

To provide support and assistance to the Policy and Compliance Manager in the effective and efficient management and administration of the Policy and Compliance function and wider needs of the Division.  To assist with ongoing reviews of internal or external policies and processes, production of resources, reports and associated materials and additional support as directed.

The successful candidate must have:

• A degree in a relevant qualification and/or significant experience suited to the wide remit of the role.
• Strong and seasoned analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to think creatively and laterally, to overcome challenges.
• Strong organisation skills and attention to detail to ensure delivery of high-quality work.
• Ability to prioritise and work efficiently under pressure and subject to changing priorities, meeting deadlines, and using judgment and initiative in problem resolution.
• Excellent communication (verbal and written) and interpersonal skills. Excellent written and spoken English in particular.
• Excellent levels of computer literacy including Microsoft Office applications. 
• Knowledge of compliance related subjects.
• Willingness to attend training where relevant.
• Independent and excellent time management skills
• Innovative thinker, able to develop and translate strategy into tactical action plans and deliverables.
• Experience of complaints resolution or customer facing role.
• Proven record of excellent people and interpersonal skills with strong communication skills at individual and group level. This includes ability to adapt to and engage within a multicultural and diverse environment.
• Previous experience of working within humanitarian and development (third) sector is an advantage.
• Proven ability and experience in analysing, interpreting and reporting on data which enables sound conclusion and recommendations to be drawn.
• Demonstrates the flexibility and energy that is required for self-management and prioritising workload.
• Ability to build constructive working relationships and ability to respond appropriately in fast changing and challenging situations.
• Willingness to travel within UK and internationally.

For more information, please click on the Documents tab above to view the full Job Description.

If you are talented, reliable, service-minded, resilient and a highly motivated professional looking for a meaningful career, with a strong commitment to IRW’s mission and values of sincerity, excellence, compassion, social justice and custodianship, please apply by completing our online application form.

For more information on the excellent company benefits we offer our employees, please visit our website.

PLEASE NOTE: Interviews are expected to take place on or around 18 June 2025.

Pre-employment Checks:

Any employment with Islamic Relief will be subject to the following checks:

• Screening clearance
• Proof of eligibility to live and work within the UK
• Receipt of satisfactory references

Please note, for UK-based roles, we are only able to accept applications from candidates who are eligible to work in the UK. We are unable to progress applications which would require sponsorship.

Our values and commitment to safeguarding

IRW is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and committed to promoting the welfare of children, young people, adults and beneficiaries with whom IRW engages. IRW expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us.

The post holder will undertake the appropriate level of training and is responsible for ensuring that they understand and work within the safeguarding policies of the organisation.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records checks. IRW also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.

In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment.

By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Islamic Relief is an equal opportunities employer

Salary: £28,000 plus London Weighting (£2,600) dependent on location

Location:Remote with frequent travel to projects in Hampshire, Berkshire and London. This includes projects in Aylesbury, High Wycombe, Havant, Portsmouth, Southampton, Slough and Reading. You can also work from FoodCycle’s office in Vauxhall, London

Hours: Full time, 37.5 hours per week

Contract: Permanent

If you love food and people, then this is the ideal job for you! We are FoodCycle, a multiple award-winning charity, with a vision to make food poverty, loneliness and food waste a thing of the past for every community.

In this role you will have the opportunity to manage and develop our community meals projects in your region. Our projects are spaces where volunteers are empowered to run their own community meals using surplus food. Our guests can look forward to a hearty weekly meal in their local community where they will make friends and feel well nourished.

You will manage recruit and train local volunteers to be empowered to run these projects. You will liaise with a network of charities, build local relationships and create the most incredible community meals in your area. You will also line manage a Project Support Officer working across London and the South East.

You will be an excellent communicator, with experience of recruiting and managing volunteers. Using strong organisation skills, you will ensure our volunteers are trained, supported and on-message with FoodCycle strategy, and are confident enough to self-organise and make a success of their projects.

You will live within Berkshire, Hampshire, Surrey, or London with easy access to these counties (South, West, or North West London). You will be willing and able to travel within the region, and to work some evenings and weekends.

Benefits: We offer 26.5 days holiday plus bank holidays, and additional holiday for length of service (pro-rata for part-time). Our healthcare package allows staff to claim money back on healthcare bills and includes access to telephone counselling and online GP appointments.

How to apply:  Please upload a CV of no more than two sides, and a covering note/letter of no more than two sides explaining why you are suitable for the role, via our vacancy website.

Deadline for your application:  11.59pm on Monday 26th May 2025.

Interview process: Shortlisted candidates will need to complete a 30 minute task prior to interview.

Inclusivity: FoodCycle is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from individuals of all backgrounds. We are committed to creating an inclusive and diverse workplace where everyone feels valued and respected.

Safeguarding: Safeguarding is Everyone’s business – FoodCycle is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare / wellbeing of children, young people and adults at risk. This role will therefore require a satisfactory Enhanced DBS check.

Please note that you will need to have existing Right to Work in the UK to apply for this role. We are unable to provide visa sponsorship.