Head of public policy and programme director jobs

Join an amazing charity that makes a difference for the 110,000 adults and children in the UK with a muscle-wasting condition. This is a role where you can really make a difference.

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that reflects the communities we serve. We actively encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, particularly those from underrepresented groups including people from ethnic minority backgrounds, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those with lived experience of conditions we represent. We believe that diversity strengthens our work and helps us better support our beneficiaries.

This is an exciting time to join Muscular Dystrophy UK. We recently launched our new 10 year strategy to transform the lives of people living with muscle wasting conditions. Our vision is clear, a world without limits for people with 
muscle wasting conditions, and we won’t stop until we achieve it.

Main purpose of role:
This is a unique opportunity to lead Muscular Dystrophy UK’s policy work to improve access to treatment and shape life science policy for people living with muscle wasting conditions.

With exciting progress in treatment development but challenges with NHS system readiness, you’ll be at the forefront of efforts to ensure everyone in the UK can access the best available therapies—quickly and equitably. 

You’ll build strong relationships with governments, regulators, charities, and industry, lead our technology appraisal work, and grow our influence in life sciences policy, particularly around clinical trials and the implementation of the UK Life Sciences plan, drawing on Muscular Dystrophy UK’s rich history in medical research.

Working collaboratively across teams—including Policy and Campaigns, Research, Marketing and Communications, and our devolved nation leads in Services and Support—you’ll help deliver key strategic objectives. 

Reporting to the Director of Policy and Campaigns and working within a matrix structure with the Director of Research and Innovation, you’ll play a vital role in driving change and improving lives.

Benefits:

We appreciate the range of skills and experience our staff have to offer. In return for your enthusiasm and commitment we commit to actively developing and supporting you. We also offer a range of benefits including pension, life assurance, cycle scheme, health cash plan, financial wellbeing and an employee assistance programme.

Cover Letter Guidance for Applicants
When submitting your application, please ensure your cover letter provides clear evidence of the following:
• Experience in research, policy, public affairs, or a closely related field
• Proven ability to influence government, decision makers, or public policy — ideally within the health, life sciences, or disability sectors
• Strong understanding of NHS structures, regulatory frameworks, and health technology assessment (HTA) policies and processes
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information clearly to diverse audiences
•  Robust research and analytical skills, including the ability to gather, interpret, and present information persuasively

Your cover letter should demonstrate how your background aligns with these criteria, using specific examples where possible

Location: Head Office, London, SE1 (with flexibility for homeworking with regular travel to Westminster)
Closing date: Sunday 23rd November 
Interview dates Monday 1st and Tuesday 2nd December 2025

Please download the job description to see full role responsibilities​

This is a unique opportunity to help build an ambitious new function, with a portfolio of projects that will make a lasting difference for cats, dogs, and their owners. The work will be diverse, strategic, and deeply rewarding, and you’ll be collaborating with smart, compassionate colleagues across the organisation to create real social impact.

The newly created Advice & Support Team plays a critical role in delivering Battersea’s strategic focus on early intervention in the pet ownership journey. By offering well-timed expert and empathetic support and advice before owners reach crisis point, the team aims to prevent avoidable animal welfare issues and reduce the number of pets relinquished for preventable reasons.

This role will be pivotal in bringing Battersea’s ambitious Advice & Support strategy to life. It will involve leading and developing innovative, partner-oriented projects that provide practical solutions - from helping prospective owners make informed acquisition decisions to supporting struggling cat and dog owners when they need it most.

Success will require working cross-functionally within Battersea while also building and managing strong, ongoing relationships with external partners at a senior level both inside and outside the animal welfare sector. Current initiatives, such as our partnership with FareShare and pet food manufacturers to deliver pet food to owners in need, illustrate the type of collaborative, preventative work this role will initiate, manage or expand.

What we can offer you:
In return for your commitment to our cause and to recognise the value of our employees, Battersea offers a range of benefits to support the wellbeing of our employees. These include:

• 36 days of annual leave (inclusive of 8 days Bank Holiday leave allowance) per year for full time employees (pro-rated for part-time employees).
• Discounted gym memberships and cycle to work schemes.
• Employee Assistance Programme and access to Wellbeing Resources.
• Generous pension contributions - up to 10% employer contribution.
• Free healthcare cash plan, where you can claim for a range of treatment including dental, optical, physiotherapy, chiropody and acupuncture every year.

We are also committed to providing learning and development to our employees. During your time with us, we provide support for your professional and career development, including access to digital and in-person training programmes, leadership and management training, mentoring and much more.

Diversity and inclusion:
We are committed to providing a welcoming and inclusive experience for all staff, volunteers and trustees and those hoping to join us. We operate an anonymised shortlisting process and actively seek to ensure our process is fair and equitable for all.

We understand the value of diverse voices, perspectives, and experiences to help us deliver even more for our dogs and cats, and we welcome applicants from all sections of the community.

As a Disability Confident Committed Employer we will ask about any adjustments you may need at application and/or interview stage, and if you are offered a role with us, we’ll talk to you about any workplace adjustments you may need to help you perform at your best. 

 

More about us:
At Battersea, we aim to never turn away a dog or cat in need of help. We give each one lots of love, expert care and get to know their characters and quirks so we can find them a new home that’s just right for them. Join us and help us be here for every dog and cat, wherever they are, for as long as they need us.

 

Acceptable use of AI:
At Battersea, we value expertise. We recognise each candidate that applies to us will have a range of expertise they can offer us, so we want to hear about this in your own words. We understand the support that generative artificial intelligence (AI) software can offer but it can also lead to numerous applications presenting as generic and impersonal. This makes it difficult to gain understanding of your unique experience.

To best showcase yourself, we encourage you to write your responses without the assistance of AI. If you require the use of AI software to aid in completing your application, we ask you use the generative responses as a prompt for writing your answers and avoid copying and pasting. You must also ensure the information presented in your application accurately reflects your experience.

If you are successful to the interview stage of the recruitment process, we ask that you follow the below guidelines on the use of AI at interview stages:

Acceptable use:

• Researching sector trends, company information, or general interview tips.
• Practicing interview questions with AI tools to improve communication skills.
• Using AI to support with structuring your responses.

Please do not:

• Submit AI-generated responses as your own during the interview.
• Use AI to impersonate or misrepresent your experience or skills.
• Use AI tools during real-time interviews.

Closing date: 28th November 2025
All applications must be submitted before the closing date advertised. We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of applications is received.

Interview date(s): To be confirmed

For full details on the role, please download the recruitment pack from our Careers website.

Are you a senior international fundraiser who is looking for a new challenge?
We’re looking for an interim Head of International High Value Fundraising, who will take the lead on high value fundraising for our international work, ensuring our work can impact dogs and their owners across the world.

What does this role do?
As Head of International High Value Fundraising, you'll:

• lead the International High Value Fundraising team, providing direction and day-to-day leadership to inspire and support the team in cultivating transformational giving. Motivate and empower colleagues to unlock major opportunities in the United States and strengthen our approach in other regions.
• partner with other fundraising teams across Dogs Trust and our international partners, World Veterinary Service and Mission Rabies, to enhance and align global philanthropy strategies. Identify and pilot innovative approaches to generating significant new income and building long-term, sustainable partnerships.
• personally manage a portfolio of high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, foundations, and major donors, leading on all aspects of relationship management, from prospect identification and tailored proposal development to bespoke stewardship and long-term engagement that secures six-, seven-, and eight-figure gifts,
• represent Dogs Trust internationally, strengthening our global profile and cultivating relationships that increase awareness of, and secure substantial philanthropic support for, our international programmes.

This role is being offered as a fixed term, family leave cover role until January 2027. Interviews for this role are provisionally scheduled for Friday 21st November 2025, however, we may invite suitable candidates to interview for the role sooner. Interviews will take place on Teams.

Could this be you?
To be successful in this role, you’ll be a dynamic, innovative senior fundraiser, with a breadth of experience across different fundraising modalities in the international context, ideally with some experience of setting up a new function. You’ll have excellent communication and partnership management skills, with the ability to build strong relationships with varied internal and external stakeholders. This is a growing, changing role with lots of moving parts, so we’re looking for a someone who is flexible and adaptable, who proactively identifies challenges and opportunities. We’d love to hear from candidates who hit the ground running, and enjoy taking the lead on a new, exciting area of work. Above all, you’ll need a commitment to the work we do, and understand the importance of this work internationally.

About Dogs Trust
We love dogs. That’s why we do whatever we can to make sure every four-legged friend gets the love they deserve. We’ll never put a healthy dog down, so our work is focused on helping dogs in need, supporting owners every step of the walk, and creating a better world for dogs in the future. It’s what we’ve been doing since 1891 and how we’ve grown to become the UK’s leading dog charity, helping 12,000 loyal friends find their forever homes every year.

To apply for this position please click the APPLY NOW button. Our application process requires you submit a personal statement explaining your interest and suitability for the role.
 
Dogs are incredibly diverse, much like the humans that love them! At Dogs Trust we value diversity, and we're committed to fostering an inclusive culture. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, abilities, and cultures and believe that a diverse workforce helps us to achieve our mission. Our colleague networks give our people a voice, acting as vehicles for real and meaningful change within Dogs Trust. We truly want to see every candidate shine throughout the entire job application process, interview stages, and during their time with us. If there's anything on your mind or any adjustments you may need, don't hesitate to reach out to us. We're here to support you every step of the way.

About the role ofHead of Principal Donors

As Head of Principal Donors, you will lead and manage the Foundation’s philanthropy programme, working closely with our senior leadership team and our founder to personally cultivate and steward the Foundation’s principal donors. This includes overseeing our recently formed Accelerate Circle – a select group of visionary philanthropists who help drive the Foundation’s fundraising through their networks.

In this role you will:

• Develop and deliver the Foundation’s philanthropy strategy, playing an active
  leadership role in the successful delivery of income growth from UHNWI and
  HNWIs
• Develop the Accelerate Circle of patrons and deliver a solicitation strategy to
  expand membership and grow our community of donors and supporters
• Provide exceptional stewardship to existing donors and cultivate new donors
• Work closely with our founder and their office to design, plan and deliver highROI engagement such as income-generating dinners or paid speeches
• With the Director Fundraising and Communications, develop annual plans and
  budgets, along with longer term forecasts for income from individuals
• Work proactively with our Communications and Programmes teams to identify
  and create funded or high-return opportunities to gain visibility in key markets
• Support staff to deliver and, where appropriate, lead on fundraising and
  cultivation events and donor trips
• In consultation with the Director, lead on financial reporting for philanthropy
  income, advising on risks and opportunities, producing regular reports of
  income against plans and forecasts, and monitoring day to day income tracking

Our ideal candidate is: 

• Experienced in cultivating and stewarding high-net-worth individual donors – with a proven track record of securing six or seven figure donations
• Capable of developing and delivering a successful philanthropy strategy
• Comfortable and experienced working with high profile individuals and senior volunteers including managing development boards, giving circles or other forms of peer-to-peer fundraising approaches
• Excellent at managing relationships and able to successfully influence people at all levels with clear and persuasive communication

Based at our Head Office in Leatherhead, Surrey, KT22 0BX

Status:       Permanent

Salary:       Band 8b, £65,241 - £75,441, per annum, would consider band 8c, (up to £78,450 per annum), dependent on experience, plus 5% London Fringe Allowance (capped at £2,118 per annum)

Hours:       Full-time, 37.5 hours per week, Monday - Friday, 09:00 - 16:30, hybrid, 2 days in office, 3 days at home

________________________________________________________________________________

About Us:

Combat Stress is the UK’s leading mental health charity for veterans. For over a century we’ve been helping former service personnel deal with issues like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression. Today we provide specialist treatment and support for veterans from every service and conflict, focusing on those with complex mental health issues related to their military service. We provide a range of community, outpatient and residential mental health services to veterans with complex mental health problems. We provide services in-person, and via phone and online.

About the role:

In this role, you will lead in creating a culture in which all aspects of clinical governance are embedded to ensure that our commitment to deliver effective high quality care is continuously maintained, providing a safe, effective and rewarding experience for veterans throughout the recovery journey.  You will lead on our audits and complaints functions; by ensuring we remain compliant with statutory clinical regulations and ensuring that if veterans have cause to complain, their complaints are dealt with in a timely and professional way and the organisation learns from when things go wrong. The successful candidate will have excellent leadership skills enabling them to inspire, motivate and influence colleagues across the organisation. The ability to communicate effectively across all levels and disciplines is essential; as is the requirement to travel to our other sites.

We continually strive for excellence in all that we do and therefore this post requires a dynamic and inspirational leader who will take a pragmatic approach to the challenges that lie ahead.  We are looking for a highly driven individual with credible and demonstrable experience in quality and clinical governance, who is passionate about the work Combat Stress undertakes. We would expect you have experience in working in mental health services – whether in the NHS, voluntary or private sector.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who wants to stand out and make a difference in a national role for a unique and high-profile mental health charity.

This role is subject to a DBS check.

As a healthcare environment, and for the health and wellbeing of our staff, veterans and visitors, we encourage everyone at Combat Stress especially professionals that are veteran facing  to take up the offer to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19

What we offer:

You will work within a reputable charity that is constantly evolving to meet the needs of our veterans, that has a fantastic cause and a committed follower base.

Benefits:

•          30 days annual leave plus bank holidays and an additional increase to 33 days annual leave upon 10 years continuous service, plus bank holidays. 

•       Competitive stakeholder pension scheme - contributions matched up to 11% of salary

•       Discount shopping vouchers

•       Access to the Employee Assistance Programme

•          Flexible working

•          Access to Blue Light Card scheme

•          Death in Service Scheme

Starting Salary: £54,269 - £59,422 (including LW)  

Contract: Permanent  

Location: Romero House, London - Hybrid working with a minimum of 40% of your time in the London head Office

Job Profile

CAFOD has an ambition to be digital first in our marketing and communications, to stay ahead of emerging trends and make the most of what digital technology can offer to strengthen our relationships with our supporters and in our ways of working across the organisation. Digital technology has already transformed our communications and will continue to do so. This senior communications and marketing role will be responsible for steering the ongoing digital transformation of CAFODs work, primarily in the supporter programme and also across the wider organisation.

This role encompasses overall responsibility for the brand, digital marketing, messaging, proactive and reactive media relations, with a core focus on digital transformation across all platforms. This post will play a key role in guiding our digital shop fronts and marketing efforts, evolving supporter journeys, steering our email programme and leading on the digital infrastructure to enable delivery of our supporter programme. It will ensure that digital engagement and conversion is embedded and an integral part of our communications planning. 

This role will drive innovation and data-informed insight across the full spectrum of communications and wider organisation functions. It will embed a digital-first approach across teams and guide and accompany the wider organisation on harnessing opportunities of new technologies, making digital engagement integral to communications planning. 

This role will drive brand awareness, brand advocacy and action across our programmes to ensure CAFOD is top of mind amongst the Catholic Community of England and Wales, helping to grow support from our constituency. You will bring proven senior-level experience in digital communications and marketing, ideally within the charity sector. With a strong understanding of communications at a senior level with expert knowledge of digital channels, audience engagement, and online conversion, you also have a strategic grasp of how digital integrates into broader communications and supporter strategies. Your leadership style is collaborative and visionary, and you have the gravitas and expertise to set the digital marketing direction for a large organisation, while bringing all teams along with your vision.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the strategic development, direction setting and delivery of an ambitious, insight-led digital-first communications strategy that enhances supporter journeys, increases engagement and drives measurable growth in support of our supporter programme, especially our parishioner-first fundraising strategy. 

• Act as CAFODs senior expert on communications, advising the Executive team, across departments and influencing strategic decision-making, including on digital direction and development, at the highest level. 

• Lead complex cross-organisational projects that improve our digital supporter experience, from acquisition to long-term engagement and conversion, ensuring timeliness and consistency with supporter programme priorities, especially the parishioner-first fundraising strategy and approach. 

• Provide leadership and overall oversight of external communications and messaging, including brand consistency and press/media engagement, ensuring consistency between our fundraising efforts, our campaigning work and profiling our international work to supporters and key stakeholders.

• Lead and oversee the digital teams - email marketing programme, social media engagement, digital developments, campaigns and the website, to ensure user experience is optimised and platforms support our supporter programme and broader organisational strategic objectives and ambitions. 

• Lead the media team to explore and encourage new approaches including how we further maximise the digital media landscape.

• Line manage senior specialists across digital marketing, website, and media and PR, ensuring high performance and professional growth. 

• Work closely with IT, data and external agencies to ensure agile, secure and effective digital delivery across platforms. 

• Represent the organisation externally where appropriate, with a focus on digital thought leadership. 
• Develop and manage the communications budget effectively, aligning resources to priority areas and demonstrating clear impact. Agree and ensure accountability for objectives and KPIs as part of the wider supporter strategy, fostering a culture of ongoing learning, adaptation and improvement.  

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 

• Extensive experience in a senior digital communications and marketing leadership role, with demonstrable success in developing and delivering integrated and audience-led multi-channel communications and marketing strategies. 
• Strong experience of overseeing development of supporter journeys and objectives, website development, CRM integration and email engagement and conversion. 
• Passionate about digital innovation and technologies, with deep knowledge of platforms, formats, and trends. 
• Committed to insight-led and data-driven approaches with skills to use digital tools, platforms and analytics to shape decisions and measure impact. 
• Excellent leadership, inter-personal and team management skills, with the ability to develop and motivate multi-disciplinary teams. 
• Strong cross-functional project management ability, with experience leading organisational change in digital capability. 
• Understanding of broader communications and marketing disciplines, with the ability to ensure alignment and brand consistency and also oversee media and PR work, including reputational risk and crisis communications. 
• Understanding of the Catholic church in England and Wales and knowledge of Catholic Social Teaching. 
• A track record of strong written and spoken communication skills. 
• Highly organised, able to manage a busy workload and consistently meet deadlines. 

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 Conduct as an appendix to their contract of employment and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these documents.

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 his/her understanding of, and consent to, these recruitment procedures. 

Annual leave: 33 days (plus eight bank holidays)
Benefits:

• enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave, and shared parental pay
• family-friendly policies
• 8% employer pension contribution (Aviva) 
• three x basic salary life assurance cover
• free health cashback plan (Medicash): employee cover plus up to four dependent children
• 24/7 virtual GP access (UK registered), plus access to Best Doctors
  free, confidential employee assistance programme (Medicash)
• access to a wellbeing app
• flexible working options including hybrid working, flexible working patterns such as part-time, compressed hours, and more*
• learning and development opportunities including bespoke training and access to LinkedIn Learning)
• commitment to employee health and wellbeing.
• we have a Menopause Friendly accreditation and are a Disability Confident employer

This is a pivotal senior leadership role within Dementia UK, responsible for shaping and delivering the charity’s UK-wide policy and public affairs strategy to drive meaningful change for people affected by dementia.

The Head of Policy and Public Affairs will lead a dynamic team, providing strategic direction and expert insights to ensure the organisation’s influencing work is impactful, evidence-based, and aligned with its 2025–2030 strategy.

The postholder will play a central role in positioning Dementia UK as a thought leader in dementia care, championing the role of Admiral Nurses and ensuring that the lived experiences of people with dementia and their families are embedded in all policy outputs and public affairs activity.

Working closely with the Deputy Director of Policy, Campaigns and Public Affairs, and the Head of Campaigns, the postholder will lead the development and implementation of integrated influencing strategies across the UK, recognising the nuances of devolved governments and regional contexts. They will build and maintain relationships with high impact stakeholders in parliament, government, and across the sector to secure tangible policy improvements in dementia care and support.

To be successful in this role, you will bring significant experience working within policy and public affairs with proven experience of leading policy development from evidence-gathering through to publication and implementation. You will have a proven ability to lead, inspire and manage teams alongside a deep understanding of UK health and social care systems, including devolved policy landscapes in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

This is an exciting opportunity to influence national agendas and help ensure no one faces dementia alone.

Our culture

In addition to a competitive salary and a generous benefits package, we truly value our people. It’s important for us to create a workplace culture that looks after our people to support them in achieving their full potential. You will become part of a diverse and dedicated team who are supported to use and develop their skills. We recognise and value the key role you will play in delivering our strategic plans for the benefit of those living with dementia.  

Our staff have a voice. Representatives from different roles and levels across the organisation lead and positively contribute to our working groups around health and wellbeing, menopause, and equity, diversity and inclusion.  

Our supportive and nurturing workplace culture has recently earnt us recognition as the Sunday Times Best Place to Work in the non-profit and charities sector 2025 (big organisation).  

Dementia UK is proud to welcome everyone. We aim for a truly inclusive culture with talented, diverse teams that represent a variety of backgrounds, perspectives and skills. We celebrate differences and individuality and encourage everyone to join us and be their whole selves always.

Dementia UK is a Disability Confident employer. 

By applying to join Dementia UK, you acknowledge that in the event you are successful for the role, any offer and your ongoing employment will be conditional on you having or obtaining the right to work in the UK. 

*Please note that any decision on flexible working is based on business needs 

Head of Media and Public Affairs
£64,210 pa pro rata plus excellent benefits
London WC1 and home-based
35 hours per week
Fixed-term contract for 11 months (maternity cover) 

As Head of Media and Public Affairs you will lead, plan, develop and implement effective media and public affairs strategies to actively promote the RCPCH and its priorities for maximum influence and impact.

The Head of Media and Public Affairs is an important leadership role at the College. You will work closely with journalists and media organisations to champion the College in the media as well as securing political support for our policy messages, through stakeholder relationships within the UK Government, Whitehall and the Westminster Parliament.

Reporting to the Associate Director of Policy & External Affairs, you will manage, direct and motivate the team to successfully achieve performance goals. You will play a pivotal role in driving the College’s Westminster public affairs work to secure our advocacy goals and you will also manage the out-of-hours media rota, being flexible to be on-call to media as required. You will also take responsibility for preparing and monitoring the Media and Public Affairs team budget, ensuring that all operational expenditure is value for money.

Degree educated or with relevant professional experience you will have demonstrable experience of developing and implementing proactive media and public affairs strategies and a strong track record in leading, planning, implementing and evaluating integrated communications strategies.

With proven leadership and performance management skills, you should also have a background of working with and influencing senior managers and have proven stakeholder management skills, being able to develop and nurture high level contacts in media and government.

Experience of briefing senior staff to act as spokespeople through the media and in direct engagement with political stakeholders is essential. Direct experience of working within an organisation that delivers health or children’s services would be desirable. 

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health sets and maintains standards for the education and training of all doctors working in paediatrics and child health in the UK. We advocate on child health issues at home and internationally. Additionally, through a variety of activities, the College influences the quality of medical practice for children in hospital and in the community. 

The RCPCH has more than 25,000 members and fellows and employs around 200 staff, most of whom work in our London office in Holborn. We have a Devolved Nations team operating from Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Our College values: Include, Influence, Innovate and Inspire, are important to us. These values ensure we bring out the best in each other, strive forward together to make the College a positive and dynamic place to work. 

The RCPCH champions Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. Our workplace is inclusive, offering a supportive environment where staff can thrive. The College is keen to accept applications from people with protected characteristics. We believe that our staff should represent all of the diverse communities we serve. Join us to help realise our vision of a world where every child is healthy and well. 

The College operates a flexible and modern working policy, whereby our colleagues work in the office for a minimum of 40% over a 4 week cycle and the remainder from home. 

The RCPCH is committed to safeguarding the children, young people and adults it has contact with in the exercise of its functions and responsibilities. The RCPCH expects all staff to share this commitment – we place a high priority on ensuring only those who do so are recruited to work for us. 

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records.

Closing date: 23 November 2025.

About Demos

Demos is a highly respected cross-party think tank with a unique approach to making policy to solve our long term problems. Building on nearly 30 years of creativity, ideas and impact, Demos’s mission is to upgrade democracy: rebuilding the relationship between citizen and state. Our work explores the elements of a ‘New Deal’, in which power is devolved, citizens participate in policy making, and together as a nation we find answers to the challenges of our century.

About Waves

Demos is leading the largest trial of digital democracy in Britain. 

Trust in politics and politicians is in crisis. Only 24% of people trust politicians to make decisions in the best interests of the country. Polarisation is increasing. At the same time, people want to be involved in the public policy decisions that affect them. 

Waves is a €1 million project trialling new technology in local democracy, launched to bring people together to tackle contentious local issues and strengthen trust in local government. Thousands of local people will have the opportunity to shape local government policy on an issue affecting their area.

New AI-powered technology is intended to make it easier, cheaper and quicker for participants to have their say, identify areas of consensus, discuss difficult issues and work through trade-offs together. 

We are working in partnership with two trailblazing councils who are both embracing the opportunity to put the public at the heart of their policy making. The trial will begin in the London Borough of Camden to co-develop an approach to adult social care. The trial will then move on to South Staffordshire District Council as they develop an inclusive engagement process to prepare for their next local plan. The partners will also support a further 25 councils to observe and learn from the process so that they too can use the tools in the future.

About the role 

We are looking for an experienced programme manager who can steer Waves from now until it completes in December 2026. 

You would be joining the programme at a pivotal time as we move from the ‘set-up’ and ‘co-design’ phases of the first 6-months, to the start of the first of our two trials running sequentially over the next 11 months, before moving to a final ‘impact phase’ of dissemination of our toolkits, technology and learning in the final 6 months.

Programme management of Waves means ensuring that the whole project stays on track – on time and on budget – throughout its delivery. There are 5 partners, a number of suppliers and many moving parts, so it is critical that we find someone who can work across the whole programme, anticipating who needs to do what and by when, and ensuring that the programme is delivered successfully so we can draw learnings from it to share widely across the local government, democracy, and tech sectors. 

It is worth bearing in mind that Waves is a ‘test and learn’ trial of a new deliberative democratic process using existing and new technology. Therefore, the team is committed to learning from the project and being comfortable with the uncertainty of not knowing exactly what the outcomes are going to be. 

What you'll need to be sucessful

The types of knowledge, skills and experience we are looking for are below. We welcome a range of applications which include at least some of these attributes.

• Demonstrable experience managing an equivalent programme in terms of complexity, scale and partners with a solid understanding of project management methods.
• Understanding and commitment to the mission of the programme – motivated to tackle issues of low trust in democracy among UK citizens with digital democratic platforms and deliberative processes a crucial part of the solution.
• Team management, interpersonal and communication skills – ability to lead and motivate a team with diverse skills and priorities to deliver a programme of great complexity and uncertainty, including fostering collaboration and trust, managing conflicts, maintaining transparency and empowering different partners to perform effectively.
• Strong strategic thinking and decision-making skills – the ability to align activities with overall programme objectives, making informed decisions based on programme lead and partner inputs and, where possible, data and analysis, and drive the programme towards successful outcomes. 
• Ability to identify potential risks, develop mitigation strategies and manage issues that may arise during the programme lifecycle – ideally in an innovation context, one working with diverse partners with different ways of working or when using technology/ conducting trials with the public.
• An interest in, and comfort working with, innovative technologies that utilise AI and collect data, as well as an understanding of the risks and sensitivities surrounding the use of AI, among the public and within the public sector.
• Experience of owning and managing a large-scale budget, conducting calculations when there are changes from the plan, and maintaining clear and robust tracking of expenditure to ensure financial accountability.
• Demonstrable ability to adapt to changing circumstances, solve problems creatively and maintain momentum and energy during challenging situations.
• Highly collaborative, with a commitment to teamwork and inclusivity.

Application and selection process

To apply, please provide the following through our application form:

• an anonymised CV (with any references to your name and personal details removed)
• answers to four screening questions (up to 250 words each) 
• a completed copy of our diversity monitoring form (optional)

All applications will be evaluated and graded anonymously to minimise bias in our screening process.

Questions?

If you have any further questions or aren’t sure if the role is right for you, please feel free to reach out to us and we would be happy to answer any queries. 

We look forward to hearing from you!

Join an amazing charity that makes a difference for the 110,000 adults and children in the UK with a muscle-wasting condition. This is a role where you can really make a difference.

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that reflects the communities we serve. We actively encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, particularly those from underrepresented groups including people from ethnic minority backgrounds, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those with lived experience of conditions we represent. We believe that diversity strengthens our work and helps us better support our beneficiaries.

This is an exciting new opportunity to lead Muscular Dystrophy UK’s major public-facing campaigns and help drive meaningful change for people living with muscle wasting conditions.

You’ll be at the forefront of our campaigning work—building our infrastructure, shaping bold strategies, building a vibrant campaigning network, and empowering our community to influence policy and legislation. Working collaboratively across the organisation, especially with colleagues in Policy and Campaigns, Marketing and Communications, Fundraising, Volunteering, and Data, and our devolved nations leads in Services and Support, you’ll help create powerful supporter journeys and engagement activities that reflect the passion and urgency of our cause.

Reporting to the Director of Policy and Campaigns, you’ll play a key role in delivering Muscular Dystrophy UK’s policy and campaigning objectives as part of our new organisational strategy—making a tangible impact on the lives of thousands across the UK.

About us:

Muscular Dystrophy UK is the charity bringing individuals, families and professionals together to fight muscle-wasting conditions. We bring together more than 60 rare and very rare progressive muscle-weakening and wasting conditions, affecting around 110,000 children and adults in the UK. 

We share expert advice and support to live well now; fund groundbreaking research to understand the different conditions better and lead us to new treatments; work with the NHS towards universal access to specialist health; and together, campaign for people’s rights, better understanding, accessibility, and access to treatments.

Benefits:

We appreciate the range of skills and experience our staff have to offer. In return for your enthusiasm and commitment we commit to actively developing and supporting you. We also offer a range of benefits including pension, life assurance, cycle scheme, health cash plan, financial wellbeing and an employee assistance programme.

Location: Head Office, London, SE1 (with flexibility for homeworking)

Closing date: Sunday 16th November

Interview date: Tuesday 25th November

Please download the job description to see full role responsibilities

Do you have a strong appreciation for the role of philanthropy in the arts? Do you have experience developing and delivering individual giving and philanthropy strategies? If so, you could be our new Head of Philanthropy.

The Head of Philanthropy will lead on day-to-day fundraising across individual giving, memberships, appeals and campaigns for Leeds Playhouse. This role is central to building and sustaining a robust philanthropic programme, with a particular focus on developing a strong pipeline of mid- and high-level donors, cultivating and stewarding High Net Worth Individuals (HNWI), and driving engagement through compelling communications and events.

We are seeking an excellent communicator and strategic fundraiser who is creative, resilient, and highly motivated. The Head of Philanthropy will play a key role in shaping and delivering sustainable income growth through individual giving, and major donor engagement—ensuring our work is resourced for the long term.

The post-holder will report to the Strategic Director of Fundraising & Development, deputising as required, and will line manage the Development Administrator. This role is predominantly based at Leeds Playhouse with some scope for hybrid working, complementing the Strategic Director role (a part-time role, mostly working remotely).

This is a permanent, full time contract. We would like to fill a requirement for 35 hours per week, which is full-time for this role, with some flexibility to work evenings and weekends when required. However, we are open to hearing from people interested in part-time work or job sharing. Pay for the role is £35,700 per year based on 35 hours per week.

Benefits at Leeds Playhouse include 5 weeks holiday entitlement (plus 1.6 weeks of bank holidays), that increases with length of continuous employment; 2 wellbeing days a year; and discounts across our food and drinks, free show tickets and a local gym and swimming discount. Please see our job pack for more benefits we offer.

To find out more about this role, please download our job pack on our website.

To apply, please fill in both of the forms linked on our website listing before the deadline.

The closing date for applications is 10am Wednesday 12 November 2025.

Interviews are currently scheduled for 19 November 2025.

Job Title: Head of Philanthropy

Location: Hybrid with 2-3 days a week at our Head Office (Vauxhall) for donor meetings
Salary: £60,066 per annum (Inclusive of London Weighting, which may not be applicable depending on your home location and any agreed permanent homeworking arrangement)

Contract type: Full Time, Permanent 

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

This is an opportunity to join Refuge as our next Head of Philanthropy to provide strategic leadership to grow and diversify philanthropy income, delivering an ambitious growth plan across trusts and foundations and major donors.

The post holder will provide stragetic leadership to grow and diversify philanthropy income, delivering an ambitious growth plan across trusts and foundations, and major donors. You will strengthen existing relationships to deepen engagement and secure increased support, while proactively driving new business and developing robust pipelines to secure the long‑term sustainability and impact of Refuge’s work. 

Closing Date: 09:00am 17 November 2025

First Interview Stage Date: 26th and 27th November 2025 via video conference

Second Interview Stage Date: 3rd / 4th December in person 

We are looking for an experienced and passionate Research & Operations Manager to work as part of our Fundraising Team.

Imagine being part of an organisation whose common purpose is to help those who are severely impacted by mental illness. We believe that everyone should be treated with respect and dignity – and that’s why equity is one of our core values. We draw on the expertise, unique perspectives and lived experience of our people – regardless of who they are or their background – to help us become inclusive and anti-racist employer, campaigning organisation and service provider that reflect the diverse communities we support as a mental health charity.

The Fundraising team is a dynamic group of fundraisers who are passionately committed to raising money for our life-changing work in the mental health and mental illness space. We have a diverse portfolio of income streams spanning Events, Community, Individual Giving, Legacies, In-Memoriam, Philanthropy, Trusts & Grants and Partnerships.

Trusts & Grants have a strong track record at Rethink Mental Illness and a growing portfolio of supporters at Mental Health UK. The team is well-positioned to develop innovative funding propositions that support the future ambitions of both charities, working to achieve both in-year cornerstone grants and long-term, transformational funding. As a newly established programme, Philanthropy demonstrates exciting potential for both Rethink and MHUK, with initiatives spanning major donor and mid-value engagement. Corporate Partnerships have launched several exciting partnerships across both charities and that portfolio and team continue to grow.

How you will make a difference

We are looking for a Research and Operations Manager to join our passionate fundraising team. You will play a pivotal role in driving high-value fundraising outcomes across Rethink Mental Illness and Mental Health UK by delivering a strategic, insight-led approach to prospect research and portfolio management.

Managing the Senior Philanthropy and Research Officer you will oversee the identification, qualification and prioritisation of prospects across Philanthropy, Trusts & Grants and Corporate Partnerships. You will lead on due diligence processes, prospect pipeline management, connection mapping and the development of systems and tools that enable data-driven decision-making. Working closely with senior fundraisers and the Interim Head of Trusts and Philanthropy, you will ensure teams have the intelligence and insights needed to build strong, meaningful donor relationships.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion 

Diversity is important to us and we appreciate difference through difference, inclusiveness and belonging. It gives us a deeper understanding of the world, our society and the diverse communities we’re working with. By including everyone, we are able to draw on the unique experiences and expertise of our people to help shape and enrich our workplace and improve our services. One way we are doing is through our valued staff networks which play a critical and highly valued role in keeping us focused on creating a diverse, inclusive and engaged employer.  We recognise and support staff networks and support groups for our ethnically diverse and LGBTQIA+ colleagues. We are also proud to have been awarded Disability Confident Employer status and are a signatory to the Business in the Community Race at Work Charter. 

We aim for our workforce to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve; for those who work for us to feel heard, valued and feel they belong; and for our work to help tackle wider mental health inequalities. We therefore actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including applicants with lived experience of mental illness, those who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, Intersex, Asexual and any other gender identity not expressed here (LGBTQIA+); people who are neurodiverse, have a health condition, or a disability or hidden disability and people from an ethnically diverse background - regardless of your age, religious or spiritual belief, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, political view or socio-economic status.

Becoming a truly anti-racist organisation 

We have an ambition of become a truly anti-racist employer, campaigning organisation and service provider - and in our efforts to influence policy and wider societal factors impacting on mental health set out in our anti-racist statement . We have designed a multi-year anti-racist programme of work contained in our Race Equality Action Plan which demonstrates our intention to hold ourselves accountable and be judged on our progress on becoming a truly anti-racist organisation. You can read more about our progress here. 

Our work is needed now more than ever before. This is why we have embarked on an exciting new strategy to make tackling low numeracy an urgent, national issue. However, we will only achieve significant and lasting change by engaging other organisations to support and fund our work.

The Corporate Volunteering Manager plays a central role in this by managing our successful and impactful Corporate Volunteering Programme. Each year through this programme, we train hundreds of volunteers from our corporate partners to visit primary schools and share examples of how maths has helped them as adults, both in their careers and personal lives.

This crucial work helps change us to the inter-generational narrative about numeracy in the UK. Maths is not just something you ‘have to do at school’, but is a valuable skill that helps us get on at work, and manage our time and our money. The programme has been running for three years now, and this year’s activity looks set to have meaningful impact on at least 17,000 children across the UK.

You will be responsible for ensuring that volunteers are adequately trained, for recruiting appropriate schools for them to visit, and all the admin and reporting that supports the programme.

We are looking for someone who can ‘own the programme’, is committed to improving our processes and the efficiency of delivery, with strong line management skills, and a commitment to the professional development for the Corporate Volunteering Programmes Assistant.

National Numeracy is based in Brighton, East Sussex, but we are offering significant remote/hybrid and flexible working with this role. If you are not office based, then the expectation is that you will be in Brighton at least occasionally when the work requires it. The role may include occasional travel to London and beyond.