234 Head of programmes and impact jobs

Base of Work: Hybrid, minimum 1 day per week at the Community Impact Bucks Office in Aylesbury

Hours: 16 hours per week

Salary: £32,000 FTE (£14,629 actual salary)

Contract: Permanent 

This is an exciting opportunity to shape how data and insight is used at Community Impact Bucks. You will strengthen our data practices, lead our monitoring analysis to ensure data is used effectively to support continuous improvement, planning and shape future projects and priorities. You will work closely with team members and project leads to understand how they collect and use data and insight across the organisation, being proactive in identifying and driving improvement.

The role will report to the Head of Programmes and Business Development.

About the charity  

Community Impact Bucks is a charity that uses its expertise to deliver, support and empower positive change for local charities, communities and people. Our mission is to enable and develop strong and vibrant communities in Buckinghamshire. 

We support charities, communities and volunteers to be the best they can be by:

• Building capacity empowering sustainable not-for-profit organisations and communities through practical support and development. 

• Enabling volunteering through Volunteer Bucks. 

• Developing partnerships and collaborations to influence change. 

• Delivering community-based services and projects to help people stay connected and independent. 

• Providing leadership and advocacy strengthening our sector’s voice and influence. 

At the heart of Buckinghamshire’s communities, Community Impact Bucks is a locally rooted charity committed to helping communities and charities thrive. Our impact is made possible by a passionate and committed team who believe in the power of local action and understand the places and people they serve. 

The role  

The Data, Insight and Impact Lead will help us understand, demonstrate and increase the difference we make. Working across our programmes and services, you will turn data into clear insights, reports, dashboards and impact stories that improve services, support decision-making and shape future priorities. 

Working alongside the Head of Programmes and Business Development and colleagues across the charity, you will bring together information from different programmes and systems. With strong analytical and reporting skills, experience of monitoring and evaluation, and confidence working with complex datasets, you will support colleagues to improve data quality, meet reporting requirements and use evidence to improve services and identify future opportunities. 

A key element of the role will be building a strong understanding of all areas of our work and collaborating with colleagues across the organisation. This will include regular in-person activity and collaboration with team members and the Senior Leadership Team. 

The role will be responsible for  

• Developing and improving data, insight and impact reporting across the charity.

• Analysing monitoring and evaluation data to demonstrate impact and support service improvement.

• Producing clear reports, dashboards, visualisations and impact stories for different audiences.

• Supporting project teams to collect accurate and useful data that meets operational and funder requirements.

• Improving data quality, consistency and validation across systems and supporting GDPR-compliant practice.

• Helping colleagues build their confidence and skills in using data and producing reports.

• Identifying effective digital tools and new approaches to data collection, analysis and reporting.

• Leading the preparation of data and insight for annual impact reporting.

• Promoting learning, reflection and evidence-informed decision-making across the charity. 

What we offer: 

• 25 days holiday (plus bank holidays and an additional 3 days between Christmas and New Year) 

• Onsite parking and lovely office setting 

• Wide range of free training courses, plus personal development opportunities 

• Supportive and inclusive environment with lots of positivity 

• Company pension scheme with 5% employer contribution 

Diversity and inclusion 

Community Impact Bucks is committed to challenging inequality and values the diversity of our communities in Buckinghamshire. We recognise that reflecting that diversity will only ever make our organisation better. We work to ensure an inclusive culture where colleagues feel welcomed and supported to succeed and thrive. We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, particularly those from under-represented communities. 

How to apply  

To apply, please send a CV with a cover letter explaining how your skills, experience and interests meet the Job Description and Person Specification by 4 October at 10pm. 

For more information, please download the Job Description and Person Specification located at the bottom of this ad, or visit our website - Community Impact Bucks. 

Interviews will take place in person at our office in Aylesbury. Interviews will take place week commencing 12 October.

Independent Age is the national charity working towards ending financial hardship in later life. 

Our Helpline and expert advisers offer free information and advice to older people without enough money to live on, while our external training equips professionals with the information they need to support older people on low incomes. Through our grants programme, we fund and support hundreds of local charities working with older people across the UK.  We use the knowledge and insight gained from our support services and partnerships to highlight the issues experienced by older people in poverty and campaign for change. 

We believe no one should face financial hardship in later life. We would love to find individuals from all walks of life and diverse backgrounds to join us on this journey.

Responsibilities and Person Specification:

As Head of Services Development, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of Independent Age’s services and maximising our impact for older people facing financial hardship. Reporting to the Director of Services, you will lead service development, innovation, quality, evaluation and strategic change across our service provision (information, advice and external training) ensuring they remain effective, evidence-led and responsive to changing needs. Working closely with colleagues across the charity and external partners, you will translate strategy into practical improvements, develop new opportunities for impact and collaboration, and embed a culture of continuous learning, improvement and innovation.

We use the knowledge and insight gained from our support services and partnerships to highlight the issues experienced by older people in poverty and campaign for change.

We're looking for a strategic and collaborative leader with experience of leading complex projects, organisational change and service improvement programmes. 

You will be skilled at turning strategy into delivery, bringing together people from different teams and disciplines to develop practical solutions that improve outcomes. You will be comfortable using data, insight and evidence to drive decision-making and have a track record of stakeholder engagement and identifying opportunities for innovation and growth. 

You will also bring experience of impact measurement, evaluation, quality assurance or performance frameworks, with the ability to use evidence to demonstrate value and improve services. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills are essential, alongside the confidence to influence senior stakeholders and work across organisational boundaries. An understanding of the needs of older people, the wider ageing sector and the role that data, learning and collaboration play in delivering social impact would be advantageous.

For full details on the role and requirements, please review the job description and person specification.  If your experience doesn’t align perfectly with all of the criteria in the person specification but you do meet most of them and are excited about the role, we encourage you to apply anyway. 

This is a full-time role, 35 hours per week, which you can choose to work over five days or a 9 day fortnight. 

What it’s like to work at Independent Age:

We celebrate diversity at Independent Age and champion the differences that make each of us unique. We actively support and encourage people from a variety of backgrounds, experiences and skill sets to join us and help shape what we do. We aim to attract and retain a wide range of talent and create an environment where everyone can feel safe, protected, welcome and included.

We offer great benefits including 28 days annual leave plus public holidays, a generous pension scheme with life assurance, and fantastic learning and development opportunities. We also offer a number of enhanced leave provisions and benefits.

We know that a good work life balance helps us perform at our best and supports wellbeing. Flexible working hours and hybrid working is standard for all (those contracted to work in the office usually attend 1 day per week). But if you need a different form of flexibility, we are always happy to talk flexible working. 

With an employee engagement score of 98%, colleagues say Independent Age is a great place to work. You can find out more about what it’s like to work at Independent Age on the careers page of our website.

Application Process:

To apply, please submit a CV and a Supporting Statement, detailing how your skills and experience meet the criteria within the Job Description and Person Specification, by visiting our jobs website.

We are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible to all. If you require any specific arrangements or adjustments to enable you to fully participate in the recruitment process, such as having the job description in a larger text format or to apply in an alternative format, please get in touch with us via the email address on the ‘Contact Us’ page on our jobs site. 

To support our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion our hiring managers use anonymous shortlisting. Please don’t include your name, photo, or any information that could indicate your gender or age in your CV and supporting statement, and don’t include your name in the title of any documents that you upload. However, please do include all dates of employment.  

Independent Age is committed to safeguarding and follows Safer Recruitment practices to ensure we are safeguarding those we work with. We therefore ask that you supply your full work history with explanations for any gaps in the application documents you submit and, if offered the post, we will require a minimum of two employment references including your current or most recent employer. A BASIC DBS check will be carried out for the successful candidate.

Closing Date: Friday 25 September at 11:59pm

Interview Dates: Monday 12 October at our London office, 18 Avonmore Road W14 8RR

Reporting to the CEO and working as part of the senior management team, you will have overall responsibility for fundraising income performance, the development and delivery of LLST’s fundraising strategy, and the successful delivery and growth of our events portfolio. This includes the London Legal Walk, our flagship mass-participation fundraising event.

The role will lead and develop a team of three to four (direct reports), build strong relationships with supporters, corporate partners, sponsors and other stakeholders, and use performance data, KPIs and return on investment to inform decision-making and future development.

We are looking for someone with significant experience of fundraising and income-generating events, a strong track record of meeting targets, and experience of developing fundraising strategies, and plans. You will also have experience of leading and developing staff, delivering complex events, and building effective external relationships.

The successful candidate will be confident operating at both a strategic and practical level, able to work collaboratively across a small organisation, and comfortable representing LLST externally and reporting to senior colleagues and Trustees.

Experience of the legal, access to justice or related charity sector, and experience of Salesforce, would be desirable but are not essential.

Are you an experienced operational leader who thrives on making organisations run brilliantly behind the scenes?

Southwark Charities is entering an exciting new chapter. With a £100m property portfolio, a growing grant programme and the development of 64 new almshouses, we're looking for an exceptional Head of Resources to lead the systems and processes that keep our charity strong.

Reporting to the CEO, you'll oversee finance, HR, IT, governance, property compliance, contracts and organisational systems, ensuring the charity operates efficiently, remains compliant and is well positioned for future growth. You'll work in a small, dedicated team while working closely with colleagues to deliver outstanding services for older people across Southwark.

This is a hands-on role for someone who enjoys improving processes, managing change and finding practical solutions. You'll bring experience in operations, finance or corporate services, excellent organisational skills and the confidence to work across multiple disciplines.

If you're looking for a varied senior role where your expertise will have a direct impact on people's lives and the future of a respected historic charity, we'd love to hear from you.

High Trees Community Development Trust is seeking an ambitious Head of Community Research & Impact to join our senior management team and lead one of our core service areas.

Community-led research sits at the heart of how High Trees works. Our approach aims to rebalance the role and power that communities have in deciding how research is informed, delivered and used to improve lives for Lambeth residents. Over recent years we have built a strong foundation for this work and developed two flagship community research partnerships — the Lambeth Peer Action Collective and the Lambeth Community Research Network. We are now looking for someone to significantly expand this work: building local evidence of community need, working with communities to identify solutions and appropriate responses to local challenges, and advocating for change to policy and practice where needed.

This is a broad and varied leadership role. Alongside our direct research programmes, you will lead the development of infrastructure around community-led research in Lambeth, so that voluntary and community sector (VCS) organisations can access the training, resources and networks they need to design and deliver their own research. You will also lead our Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning and Communications functions, ensuring the impact of everything we do is understood, evidenced and communicated well.

As part of High Trees’ senior management team, the Head of Community Research & Impact will not only oversee delivery in their service area, but also help shape organisational strategy, grow partnerships and income, and ensure we work as one High Trees — keeping our practice responsive, collaborative and always led by community need.

About High Trees

Based in Tulse Hill, High Trees has been rooted in the local community for nearly 30 years. We deliver community action, employment, education, youth services and community research, working in partnership with local people and local organisations to build stronger communities and create meaningful change. We are recognised for our collaborative, long-term approach and our ability to adapt and respond to the issues that matter most to local people.

About the role

As Head of Community Research & Impact, you will:

• Lead and inspire our Research & Impact team to deliver high-quality, community-led research that drives change.
• Shape and deliver High Trees’ strategic vision for community-led research, championing collaborative research practice across Lambeth.
• Take the lead on designing new research programmes, support with sourcing the funding to run them, and ensuring projects are completed to a high standard with high-quality outputs.
• Grow the infrastructure for community-led research locally, including through the Lambeth Community Research Network and the Lambeth Peer Action Collective.
• Support VCS organisations with community research training, resources and capacity building support.
• Lead and embed Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) and Communications across High Trees and our partnership work.
• Contribute as a member of High Trees’ senior management team, ensuring a joined-up approach across all our services.

About you

We are looking for someone who brings:

• Significant professional experience in research and/or community settings, with a track record of leading research projects.
• Experience of qualitative and mixed methods research and a working knowledge of participatory research approaches.
• A proven track record of leading teams and managing multiple projects and programmes at once.
• The ability to build trust and long-lasting relationships across community, academic, public sector and voluntary sector organisations.
• A strategic mindset, balancing day-to-day delivery with long-term vision.
• A solid understanding of the context in which High Trees delivers its work

Why join us?

This is a rare opportunity to take a senior leadership role in a values-led organisation at a time of growth and ambition. You will help set the standard for community-led research and system change, creating tools, resources and practices that benefit the wider sector — and be part of a collaborative team dedicated to creating lasting change.

We are seeking a talented Director of Programme Delivery and Operations (maternity cover), fully committed to our widening participation cause, to join the Senior Leadership Team in a pivotal role for a growing and ambitious charity. 

You will have responsibility for ensuring we are providing high quality programme delivery to young people across our centre network, that are centres are functioning effectively, and that targets are monitored and met. And of course, you will need to have a genuine passion and enthusiasm for working with young people and helping them achieve their ambitions.

The Director of Programme Delivery and Operations is a Senior Leadership Team position within the charity and reports into the Chief Operating Officer. The role is responsible for oversight of all centre programme delivery and performance across our network of 44 local learning centres (and growing).

Contract

This is a fixed-term, maternity cover role until at least end of November 2027. This role can be either full-time or part-time (0.8 FTE) - responsibilities will be adjusted proportionally for part-time candidates.

Start date
January 2027 (or as otherwise agreed)

Working hours
Mon and Thurs: 09:30-18:00
Tues, Weds, Fri: 09:00-17:30
We are a delivery organisation providing frontline educational services for young people. We are an organisation with team members at different stages of their career, including many in their first roles: We are committed to nurturing talent and providing a developmental culture for all. Our team works in-person 4 days per week (or 3 days for a 0.8 FTE staff member)
with 1 day working from home. 

Location

The role would be based at one of our IntoUniversity centres in Birmingham, Bristol, Coventry, Leeds, London, Manchester or Nottingham, with regular travel across the network and to our Head Office in London. 

Salary

£62,500 (Plus additional London contribution of £2,800 for London-based candidates). Pro rata for part-time candidate.

Annual leave

This is the full-time staff entitlement and will be pro-rated for part-time staff.

33 days (inc bank & public holidays)
+ 3 closure days (two in December and one in July)
+ additional length of service entitlement
(one day per year of service, up to 5 days)
 

Staff benefits

• Employer pension contributions of 6% (and up to 8% after two years)
• Year round ‘early finish’ Fridays at 4.30pm 
• Employee Assistance Programme including access to medical and legal support 
• Life Assurance scheme with AIG including SmartHealth service with access to 24/7 online GP appointments
• Interest-free new starter loans of up to £1,000 
• Cycle to Work Scheme and Travelcard Loan Scheme
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, shared parental and adoption pay and sick pay allowances
• Staff in FOCUS – rewards, competitions and prizes across the year

Application deadline - 9am Monday 28th September 2026.

Interview Day (in-person at our Head Office in London) - Wednesday 7th October. Please ensure that you are available on this date.

Help Shape a Brighter Future for Bedford

Do you have the vision to turn great ideas into impactful programmes? Are you committed to creating opportunities for children and young people, and helping communities to thrive?

The Harpur Trust is a charitable organisation that operates four leading independent schools, delivers a substantial community grants programme and sponsors the Heart Academies Trust. With more than 1,200 employees, we invest in education, community development and initiatives that improve life chances across Bedford Borough.

We are also a founding partner and host of Bedford Giving, a movement of businesses, charities and other partners, who have all come together to form Bedford Giving to help create a brighter future for the next generation in Bedford.

We're looking for a dynamic Programmes and Grants Manager to play a central role in delivering these missions. This is a unique opportunity to join a respected local charity and help shape the future of Bedford Giving.

About the Role

As Programmes and Grants Manager, you will lead the development, commissioning and management of high-impact programmes and partnerships across The Harpur Trust and Bedford Giving.

You'll take ideas from concept to delivery, identifying community needs, researching solutions, commissioning services, managing partnerships and ensuring programmes achieve meaningful outcomes.

This is a varied and rewarding role combining strategy, programme development, stakeholder engagement, grant-making and contract management.

You'll work closely with senior leaders, trustees, community organisations and delivery partners, helping to ensure that every pound invested delivers maximum impact.

About You

We're looking for someone who combines strong project or programme management skills with a genuine commitment to improving outcomes for children, young people and communities.

You will bring:

• Experience of programme development, commissioning, grant-making or service delivery within the charitable, public or voluntary sector.

• Strong project and contract management skills.

• Excellent relationship-building and stakeholder engagement abilities.

• Confidence managing multiple priorities and delivering work to a high standard.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

• A proactive, solutions-focused approach and a willingness to take initiative.

• A passion for creating positive social impact.

Why Join Us?

At The Harpur Trust, you'll be part of an organisation with a long history of investing in people and communities.

In return, we offer:

• A competitive salary up to £40,000.

• The opportunity to influence programmes that improve lives across Bedford.

• A supportive and collaborative working environment.

• Professional development and learning opportunities.

• Generous pension and employee benefits.

• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements where appropriate.

• The chance to work with inspiring partners across the charity, education and community sectors.

Interested?

Find out more by viewing the full job description and click on apply to find out where to send your CV and covering letter.

Head of Strategic Programmes

Help shape the future of the Church across Sussex.

We are seeking an experienced strategic leader to oversee an ambitious portfolio of programmes designed to help churches and communities flourish and grow.

Position: Head of Strategic Programmes

Location: Hove/Hybrid

Salary: £61,149 per annum

Contract: Fixed term until 31 December 2030, with the possibility of extension

Closing Date: 11 October 2026

Interview Date: Hove on 30 October 2026

About the Role

Working closely with the Diocesan Secretary, Bishops, Archdeacons and other senior leaders, you will lead the delivery and continued development of the Diocesan Growth Strategy.

You will provide strategic oversight of major programmes and projects with a combined budget exceeding £10 million. This includes leading a multidisciplinary team, strengthening programme governance and ensuring investment delivers measurable mission impact.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading the delivery and development of a portfolio of strategic programmes and projects
• Translating diocesan priorities into achievable plans and measurable outcomes
• Overseeing programme governance, performance reporting, risk management and evaluation
• Managing programme budgets, resources and delivery
• Leading, supporting and developing the Strategic Programmes team
• Building effective relationships with parishes, clergy, diocesan boards, senior leaders and national church partners
• Providing clear analysis, reports and recommendations to support strategic decision-making

About You

You will be a wise, experienced and collaborative leader who can work strategically within a complex, faith-based organisation.

You will have:

• Significant experience of leading large and complex programmes
• Experience of working with a diverse range of stakeholders
• Strong engagement and influencing skills at all levels
• Experience of managing budgets, resources and programme performance
• Excellent analytical, communication and report-writing skills
• The ability to turn strategic priorities into practical plans
• The confidence and judgement to work effectively with senior leaders
• The enthusiasm and self-motivation to lead and inspire others

A Genuine Occupational Requirement applies under paragraph 1 of Schedule 9 of the Equality Act 2010, and the successful candidate must be a practising Christian.

Full details can be found in the job description and person specification when you apply.

About the Organisation

The vision of the Diocese is to help people to know, love and follow Jesus. Based in Hove and serving the people of Sussex across more than 360 parishes and 154 church schools and the wider community, this is a great role for someone who supports the ethos, aims and objectives of the Diocese and the Church of England.

As an employer, and as a team, the mutual values at work are to be Respectful, Professional, Flexible and Supportive.

What is on offer:

• 28 days of annual leave, plus bank holidays and two privilege days per year
• Membership of the Church Worker’s Pension Scheme with a 15.1% employer contribution and an employee contribution between 0 and 6%
• Employee Assistance Programme with access to GP appointments, counselling and financial and legal support
• Flexible working, free parking, a ride to work scheme and development opportunities

Our client is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All post holders are expected to share this commitment and comply with the relevant safeguarding policy. This role is subject to an Enhanced DBS check and completion of the Church of England Confidential Declaration Form.

Other roles you may have experience of could include Head of Programmes, Director of Programmes, Strategic Programmes Manager, Programme Director, Head of Strategy, Portfolio Director, Transformation Director or Head of Strategic Development.

Please note this role is advertised by the recruitment agency acting for the client, Not For Profit People. #INDNFP

Note: This post is exempt under the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, Part 1, and is open to female applicants only, due to the nature of the role. Subject to an enhanced DBS check.

The Head of Youth Programmes sits in our Senior Leadership Team and holds overall operational responsibility for our frontline youth programmes across three pillars: Prevention, Intervention and Healing. The postholder leads and line manages the delivery team, and carries DSL responsibility for the organisation.

You'll lead delivery, expansion and impact evaluation across all three pillars, line manage the Education Lead, IDVA Team and Creative Projects leads, and work closely with the CEO to consolidate our delivery models. You'll hold responsibility as our Designated Safeguarding Lead, manage operational budgets, and build multi-agency partnerships across Barnet and neighbouring boroughs.

It's an opportunity to bring fresh energy and strategic leadership to a small, values-driven charity that trusts its team to do meaningful, creative work with the young people we support.

Essential criteria

• Experience as an IDVA, ISVA or in a comparable frontline advocacy role supporting young women and girls affected by domestic abuse, sexual violence or other forms of harm.
• A strong understanding of VAWG, domestic abuse and youth harm, grounded in survivor-centred and harm-prevention approaches.
• Experience of overseeing and responding to complex safeguarding through multi-agency working.
• At least Level 3 safeguarding training. Designated Safeguarding Lead training is desirable, or a willingness to complete this within an agreed timeframe.

We have highlighted the essentials above. The rest of the person specification, in the attached recruitment pack, is a guide to what we are looking for in a strong candidate, rather than a checklist. Your experience may not meet all of it, but if you have the essential experience we would encourage you to apply. We are just as interested in transferable experience as in a conventional career path.

Benefits

• Regular clinical supervision with an external practitioner 
• Health Assured Employee Assistance Programme, including a 24/7 helpline, counselling and a wellbeing app
• Free on-site parking in Colindale and funded travel between delivery sites

Details

£38,000 to £40,000 pro rata. 28 hours per week (four day working week). Permanent. Barnet, London / Hybrid.

Closing date: Thursday 15th October 2026. Interviews: w/c Monday 26th October 2026.

Job description

The Young Ealing Foundation is a place-based charity based in Ealing, West London which brings together the voluntary, statutory and private sectors in the local area to increase and improve opportunities for children, young people and families.

The Young Ealing Foundation’s vision is to ensure all young people in Ealing can access the opportunities and support they need to grow up and lead happy and safe lives, fulfil their potential and become a valued and listened to part of the local community. We work towards this by working with and in the community to empower small, local charities to thrive and flourish.

The Young Ealing Foundation is seeking to appoint a Head of Youth Voice and Advocacy to join our small but impactful team. Youth Voice and co-production is an important and developing strand of YEF's work and this role would suit someone with strong experience of co-production and project development.

Main purpose of the role:

· Work alongside young people to develop the delivery framework for the Ealing Youth Voice Strategy including oversight of existing and new programmes.

· Work with high-level strategic partners and stakeholders to advocate for youth-led coproduction and develop partnerships to extend the reach of YEF’s youth voice activities.

· Develop a robust impact measurement framework to create a culture of learning and enable sharing of best practice.

· Identify and apply for appropriate grants, contracts and other income streams to deliver the ambitions set out in the strategy.

· Oversee people and processes to ensure services meet high standards of delivery and compliance.

About School of Hard Knocks

School of Hard Knocks (SOHK) is one of the UK’s leading education charities, working in 29 secondary schools across England, Scotland, and Wales. Using rugby as a key delivery tool, we support young people who are struggling to engage in early secondary education - often because of anxiety, low confidence, disrupted home lives, or behavioural challenges rooted in trauma. For many of the children we support, life has already brought more hardship than most adults experience in a lifetime. Our purpose is clear: to help young people facing complex challenges break the cycle and move towards a safer, stronger, more hopeful future.

The SOHK Schools Programme is a two-year intervention working with cohorts of around 20 pupils from Year 7 through to Year 9. Pupils are selected by the school and are typically among the hardest to reach young people. Each week, we deliver half a day of rugby training and classroom sessions built around our 3Cs framework, covering topics such as growth mindset, goal setting, and decision-making, alongside monthly one-to-one sessions with every pupil. The programme’s impact is evaluated by SOHK staff, teachers, parents, and the pupils themselves.

90% of our participants report feeling more confident and more engaged with school after taking part, with long-term effects on attendance, attainment, and life outcomes. Find out more about our Schools Programme.

Since 2023, SOHK has been proud to partner with Impetus, a charity that invests in and supports organisations helping young people from disadvantaged backgrounds succeed. This partnership combines investment with strategic and organisational development support, helping to strengthen our impact and set SOHK up for sustainable growth.

We are proud to be delivering long-term programmes that meaningfully reach hundreds of young people each year - but the societal need is vast. Our ambitious four-year strategic plan targets growth, aiming to bring our impactful programme to hundreds more young people each year.

“Despite the usual challenges that every education or sport for development charity faces, School of Hard Knocks really is unique. It is not so much what we deliver at a programme level (which is of course brilliant) but who we are as a team. If you are a values-led leader and love the idea of ‘team’, then School of Hard Knocks is the place for you.”

- Ken Cowen, Founder and outgoing CEO

The Role

The CEO is the public face and leader of SOHK, responsible for the overall strategic direction, vision, and management of the charity - ensuring SOHK meets its mission and strategic objectives while maintaining strong relationships with Trustees, staff, supporters, and the wider SOHK community. We’re looking for a mission-driven charity leader and effective fundraiser, capable of building a sustainable growth model.

Strategy and Direction

● Be the face and voice of the charity - its principal ambassador

● Lead the development and periodic review of SOHK’s strategy with the Trustees and Senior Management Team

● Translate the 2026-30 strategy into organisational priorities, plans, and goals

● Ensure safeguarding, wellbeing, and the lived experience of young people remain central to every decision and growth plan

Programme Delivery, Quality and Impact

● Hold a high bar for programme quality and outcomes for young people

● Line-manage and support the Director of Programmes, working with delivery teams and partners to build a world-class, evidence-based intervention

● Ensure SOHK can evidence the impact of its programmes, with insights feeding back into constant improvement

Income Generation, Fundraising and External Relations

● Lead income generation across trusts and foundations, corporate partnerships, individual giving, and challenges and events

● Line-manage and support the Head of Fundraising in executing a comprehensive fundraising strategy

● Hold senior relationships with funders and partners, building SOHK’s brand, reputation, and profile

Leading People, Culture and Operations

● Build and lead a high-performing Senior Management Team

● Foster a positive, inclusive, high-performing culture aligned with SOHK’s values

● Line-manage and support the Director of Finance & Operations, ensuring operational excellence

Governance and the Board

● Act as the primary link between the organisation and the Trustees

● Attend all Trustee meetings (held quarterly) and provide timely, accurate reporting

● Ensure compliance with all legal, regulatory, and Charity Commission requirements

About You

Essential

● Proven senior leadership experience in the charity, education, youth, or social impact sector - whether as CEO or as part of an executive team - including working directly with a Board of Trustees

● Demonstrated success in building or significantly growing an organisation, programme, or initiative

● A collaborative and values-led leadership style, with the ability to inspire trust, hold people to account, and build high-performing teams

● Strong track record of income generation, including securing significant funding from trusts, foundations, corporates, or major donors

● Experience of financial oversight, budgeting, and organisational planning at a senior level

● Strategic thinker, able to translate vision into clear plans and delivery

● Strong relationship-builder and communicator, confident with a wide range of stakeholders

Desirable

● Previous charity CEO experience - a bonus, but not essential; we know brilliant candidates come from a wide range of backgrounds

● Direct classroom, youth work, or education leadership experience

● Knowledge of the UK education system and youth policy landscape

● Experience of scaling a multi-site delivery organisation and working with local authorities

Personal Attributes

● Deep commitment to improving outcomes for young people, especially those facing disadvantage

● Resilient and persistent, able to work under pressure and navigate setbacks

● Collaborative, open, and reflective leader who seeks feedback and learns from it

Terms of Appointment

Contract type

Full-time, permanent

Location

Greater London, with offices in Edinburgh & Cardiff

Salary

£85,000 – £90,000 per year + £5,000 PRP

Reports to

Chair of the Board of Trustees

Direct reports

Director of Programmes; Head of Fundraising; Director of Finance & Operations

Travel

Regular UK travel, primarily to Edinburgh and Cardiff. Occasional evenings for stakeholder engagement and fundraising events

Trustee meetings

Quarterly, in London, in the evening, plus ad hoc subcommittees

Hours: Part Time, 21 hours per week

Interviews: 14th & 15th October 2026

Employer: King's Trust International (not The King's Trust)

Help to shape programmes that create brighter futures for young people around the world. The King’s Trust International is looking for an inspiring Head of Programme Development to lead the creation of high-quality, evidence-informed and scalable programme models that help young people learn, earn and thrive. This is an exciting opportunity to support our programme design and content team in translating ambitious long-term strategy into practical programme models, curricula, tools and guidance that can make an impact across diverse global contexts. You will lead a talented team of specialists and work across the organisation to champion innovation, inclusion, safeguarding and impact. This permanent, part-time role is 21 hours per week and is London-based, with hybrid working and an expectation that at least 50% of contracted hours are spent in the office.

What you will do

• Lead the Programme Development function, setting a clear vision, priorities and quality standards.
• Oversee the design, testing and continuous improvement of inclusive youth programmes, blended learning models, curricula, training materials and delivery tools.
• Use evidence, data and learning to strengthen programme models, theories of change and measurable outcomes.
• Work with Delivery, Impact, Digital, Safeguarding and Fundraising colleagues to create scalable, fundable propositions and support their transition into delivery.
• Champion user-centred design, blended delivery and responsible uses of digital tools and AI.
• Develop a high-performing, collaborative team and manage resources, capacity and budgets effectively.

What we are looking for

You will bring strong programme development expertise, sound judgement and a track record of turning strategy into practical, adaptable approaches. You will understand how evidence, safeguarding and inclusion shape excellent programme design, you will be confident working across both online and offline delivery and you will be able to evidence significant experience working with partners across international or multi-country contexts. With a strong track record of leading and developing teams, you will create clarity, build alignment and enable others to do their best work. Above all, you will share our commitment to putting young people at the centre and creating meaningful, sustainable impact.

Perks for working at The King’s Trust International:

• Great holiday package. 30 days annual leave entitlement, plus public holidays. Office closure the days between Christmas and New Year
• Fantastic Family leave. Receive 13 weeks full pay and 13 weeks half pay for maternity and adoption leave, and pro rata entitlement for shared parental leave. Receive 8 weeks' full pay for paternity leave.
• Flexible and agile working. Where operationally possible, you can work your hours that support a work-life balance, including compressed hours and hybrid-working (part office - part home-based) or working from home options.
• Benefits platform. Everything from health and financial wellbeing support to discounts on your favourite restaurants, shops and cinemas
• A free employee assistance programme (EAP) to support your mental wellbeing.
• KTI will contribute 5% of your salary to the workplace Pension Scheme
• Generous life assurance cover (4 x annual salary)
• In-house and external training opportunities are available throughout the year

“Every young person deserves the opportunity to thrive, regardless of their background” - Shereen El-Shennawy, CEO, Inspire.

Are you driven by a passion for enhancing social mobility and supporting the futures of young people?

Do you have a practical understanding of work experience placements with a background leading teams and managing and developing services?

Hire Purpose is proud to lead the search to appoint a Head of Work Experience who will join Inspire in an established position that will positively impact the lives of thousands of young people across London.

And creating ‘impact’ is central to how Inspire deliver their programmes. Between 2024-25 alone, the charity enabled nearly 5,000 in person Work Experience placements, working with over 1,000 employers across their business partner network.

You can take a full look at their 2024-25 Impact Report here.

Salary: £33,438 (£41,797.40 FTE)

Start date: October / November 2026

Reporting to: Head of Programmes & Impact

Contract: Permanent. Part-time (0.8), spread across 4 or 5 days

Hybrid: Minimum 2 days pw at E15 2NH, 3 days remote.

As a key member of Inspire’s Senior Management Team you will be responsible for leading the delivery and continued development of their Work Experience service, ensuring high-quality, financially well-managed and compliant services that respond to the needs of young people, schools, employers and partners.

Crucially, this role requires an experienced people manager with excellent skills across stakeholder engagement, decision making, and attention to detail.

You will be responsible for:

• Overseeing service performance, resources and employer engagement to ensure programmes are well-run, compliant and responsive to young people and partners.
• Leading, developing, and supporting an experienced and capable Work Experience team, ensuring their accountable and high-performing culture continues to thrive.
• Representing Inspire externally, building productive, lasting relationships with key stakeholders including employers, schools, local authorities, funders and community partners, while also managing expectations and resolving issues swiftly.
• Leading the delivery of safe, inclusive and high-quality Work Experience programmes that build young people’s skills, confidence and employability.
• Managing budgets, as well as income and expenditure to ensure programmes are financially sustainable and deliver a return on investment.
• Fulfilling all duties in accordance with Inspire’s policies and procedures, particularly those relating to Safeguarding, Health and Safety, Equality, GDPR and financial controls.

A full list of duties can be found within the Job Description via Hire Purpose's careers page.

This is a highly rewarding opportunity to shape Inspire’s wider strategic direction, drive continuous improvements across the Work Experience service, and identify opportunities to expand and strengthen the provision of services and how customer relationships are developed.

Therefore, the Head of Work Experience must have:

• Practical understanding of Work Experience programmes and services for young people, alongside a genuine commitment to improving their opportunities and outcomes.
• Proven experience of leading, supporting and developing teams, creating clear expectations while ensuring consistently high standards.
• Excellent stakeholder and relationship management skills, with an ability to build productive partnerships with employers and other external organisations.
• Experience of managing services, programmes or contracts, including budgets, performance information and delivery against agreed standards and deadlines.
• Robust knowledge of safeguarding, health and safety, data protection, as well as the sound judgement and attention to detail needed to deliver safe and compliant services.

We are looking for someone with excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills, underpinned by a sharp focus on process and data-informed decision-making, and who will importantly keep up to date with legislative and policy change.

Hire Purpose champions inclusive recruitment.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and lived experiences. We uphold equal opportunity principles and challenge bias at every stage, partnering only with organisations that share our commitment to integrity, diversity, equity and inclusion.

Hire Purpose is also proud to be an active member of The TEAM Network, the UK’s largest recruitment community of independently owned recruitment businesses.

Want to make a difference to people experiencing homelessness? Step into a meaningful role helping run one of our most important services.

The Programmes Executive plays a central role in making our weekly Drop-in a welcoming, well-organised and valuable space for homeless and vulnerably housed adults.

The Drop-in is the primary focus of this role. It is a hands-on operational and frontline position, with responsibility for helping the Drop-in run smoothly from preparation through to close. This includes managing deliveries and donations, ensuring the venue and kitchen are properly set up, organising resources, coordinating and briefing volunteers, working with security and overseeing the practical flow of the evening.

The role is about more than logistics. The Executive will be a key guiding presence in the space, helping to shape its structure, atmosphere and culture. They will be visible and approachable, build positive relationships with guests, anticipate and manage issues, support volunteers and help ensure that the Drop-in is calm, welcoming, safe and respectful.

The Executive will also listen to what is happening on the ground, identify what is working and what could be improved and feed this back to the wider team. They will help guests understand and access relevant RESTART LIVES programmes and opportunities. They will be an important part of the Programmes team, supporting essential data and reporting, researching and sourcing facilitators, helping with programme logistics, contributing ideas for new activities and opportunities for guests and attending selected sessions. As part of this, they will run or help to run some activities such as Zumba, film club and board games before the main Drop-in service. These provide another opportunity to build trusted relationships with guests and encourage engagement with wider support.

This is an energetic, varied and hands-on role, offering the opportunity to have a genuine and positive impact on the experience of our guests and the wider work of RESTART LIVES. If this sounds like the kind of role you’d enjoy and you think you could bring the energy, warmth and initiative we’re looking for, we’d be delighted to hear from you.