Head of research and programme policy jobs

We are looking for a policy adviser to work primarily in our resource stewardship theme to help deliver ambitious leadership for the environment. You will also have opportunities to work on projects in our Legislation & Governance unit.

Using your strong research and strong communication skills, you will contribute to work that shapes the future of circular economy policy and environmental legislation in the UK. Collaborating with colleagues across the organization, including in comms and politics, you will help identify compelling evidence, stories, and projects to drive better use of resources in the UK and will secure support for projects and policy proposals by building relationships with politicians and policymakers, environmental NGOs and community groups, business partners and other stakeholders.

This is a varied role that will also include project management to ensure effective delivery, including ensuring outputs and events are effectively planned and executed to deadline and to a high quality.

You will need to understand, or be willing to learn about, the political and environmental policy contexts we work in and the state of resources policy and wider environmental legislation in the UK.

We are looking for a dynamic, technically skilled Head of Evaluation to play a senior role in shaping and delivering Youth Futures’ evidence strategy.

You will lead a team of Evidence and Evaluation Managers and oversee a portfolio of complex evaluations, helping us generate credible, useful evidence about what works to support marginalised young people into good work.

• Reporting to the Deputy Director of Evidence and Evaluation, you will be responsible for ensuring high-quality delivery of a portfolio of complex impact evaluations.

• You will have a sound understanding of youth employment and/or skills and design evidence-generating projects in a complex field that includes partners from national and devolved government, the third sector and employers.

• You will manage a team of Evaluation Managers, supporting their development while delivering projects that inform Youth Futures’ strategic goals.

This is an opportunity to shape some of the most important evidence being generated on youth employment in England. The role suits someone who enjoys combining technical evaluation expertise with leadership, judgement and collaboration, and who wants their work to influence real decisions about how services, funders and policymakers support young people.

We currently operate a hybrid model of two-days per week in the office and three-days from home.

Please download our recruitment pack for more information on this opportunity. To apply, please visit our website.

Due to receiving high volumes of interest in our opportunities, this vacancy may close earlier than the advertised deadline. To ensure your application is considered, please submit it as soon as possible.

Head of Health Information and Support

Permanent

Salary: £55,000 - £60,000 per annum, plus benefits

London N1

Full time – 37.5 hours a week 

We're a hybrid working employer, meaning you're required to come into the office on average 2-3 days per week, currently Tuesday and Wednesday or Thursday

Closing date: 11.59pm, Mon 31 August 2026

First Interviews: 9/10/11 September 2026

Second interviews: 22/23 September 2026

An exciting opportunity for a Head of Health Information and Support has arisen at World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF).

World Cancer Research Fund champions the latest and most authoritative scientific research from around the world on cancer prevention and survival through diet, weight and physical activity, so that we can empower people to make informed lifestyle choices to reduce their cancer risk.

We are seeking an inspiring, strategic and collaborative leader to shape and deliver WCRF’s Health Information and Support strategy across three core audiences: the general public, health professionals and cancer survivors. The team turns WCRF’s scientific evidence on cancer prevention and survival into practical, accessible information, training and support based on our Cancer Prevention Recommendations. The postholder will lead and develop the team, ensuring its work is innovative, evidence-based, high quality and demonstrably effective.

Working across Science, Policy, Fundraising, Communications and Engagement, you will create new ways to share our health information, improve existing resources and services, and build impactful partnerships. You will ensure that public and patient insight shapes our work from cancer prevention to survivorship, strengthen programmes for health professionals and make effective use of digital channels. Responsibilities include contributing to our Medical Education programme, participating in working and steering groups and speaking at national conferences, networking at events, engaging corporate audiences and acting as a spokesperson in broadcast and print media. Ultimately, you will help establish WCRF as the go-to source of information and support on the links between cancer, nutrition and lifestyle.

The successful candidate will have a strong track record of implementing strategy, developing business and operational plans, and leading high-performing teams. 

You will bring substantial experience in areas such as health information or education, working with healthcare professionals, UK health policy, health science or research, or marketing health information and services. You will be confident in measuring impact, managing budgets and using data to improve performance, with strong knowledge of non-communicable diseases and issues including nutrition, obesity, diet and physical activity. An excellent communicator and relationship-builder, you will be proactive, creative and results-focused, able to operate at senior management level and open to using digital, AI and other emerging tools to improve effectiveness and efficiency.

Application Details:

If you are interested in this role and feel you possess the necessary requirements, please submit a current CV and covering letter (maximum 2 pages) by the closing date. You must have current right to work in the UK.

Please note: Your cover letter should highlight how your skills and experience will benefit WCRF and equip you for the role.
Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we are only able to provide feedback to shortlisted candidates. If you do not hear from us within 14 days of the closing date, please assume your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion. 

About Picker

Picker is an Oxford-based charity with an international reputation for measuring and improving patient, service user and staff experience. Our mission is to make person-centred health and social care a reality for everyone. We work with NHS organisations, government bodies, charities and healthcare providers in the UK and internationally.

About the role

The Research Manager is responsible for the programme management of the NHS Staff Survey Programme, providing leadership across all aspects of programme development, delivery and continuous improvement. The post holder is accountable for maintaining high standards of quality and customer service, ensuring the needs of NHS England and programme stakeholders are met.

This is an exciting opportunity to work at the centre of a high-profile national programme and help shape the future direction of staff experience measurement across the NHS.

Skills and experience

We are looking for someone with:

• Significant experience of applied quantitative research, including survey design, research methods, data analysis and reporting.
• Experience of managing complex research or survey programmes involving multiple stakeholders, competing priorities and tight deadlines.
• Strong leadership and project management skills, including planning resources, monitoring progress and driving successful delivery.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with experience of working effectively with clients, partners and external stakeholders.
• Strong analytical and numerical skills, with the ability to interpret and communicate findings clearly to a range of audiences.
• A degree (or equivalent professional experience) in a relevant discipline.

Experience of healthcare, social care or charity-sector research, alongside knowledge of software such as SPSS, Qualtrics or ClickUp, would be advantageous.

If you're passionate about using research to improve health and care services and are looking for an opportunity to lead high-profile national survey programmes, we'd love to hear from you.

Lead change. Shape policy. Amplify the voices of bereaved families.

Child Bereavement UK is looking for an accomplished Head of Policy & Research to lead our evidence and policy agenda at a pivotal time for the charity.

You'll bring a strong track record of leading policy and research activity, developing influential partnerships, and translating evidence into meaningful change. With an established understanding of the policy landscape and the credibility to engage senior stakeholders across health, social care, government and the voluntary sector, you'll play a key role in shaping policy and practice for bereaved families across the UK.

You'll lead our research programme, develop evidence-based positions, build strategic partnerships, and ensure the experiences of bereaved children, young people and parents bereaved of a baby or child are reflected in policy and practice across the UK.

We're looking for someone who:

• Has experience and established networks in policy and research.
• Can translate complex evidence into compelling recommendations for change.
• Is an exceptional relationship-builder, communicator and strategic thinker.
• Is passionate about improving outcomes for bereaved children, young people and parents.

This is a rare opportunity to shape national conversations, influence decision-makers and ensure lived experience is at the heart of policy and practice.

Please note, the role will involve regular travel to London based conferences, events and network meetings as required, plus occasional travel to team meetings in Birmingham.

Join us and help create lasting change for bereaved families across the UK.

Dreams Come True is entering Year 3 of a five-year dream-making programme across Blackpool and 
the North West. As the programme moves from establishment into growth, we are seeking a highly 
organised, relationship-focused Dreams Coordinator based in the North West to deliver life-changing 
dreams and strengthen the programme's reach and sustainability.
The role combines hands-on dream delivery with programme development. You will coordinate 
individual, urgent and community dreams from referral to completion, while continuing to grow 
referral pathways across education, health, social care and community settings so that more eligible 
children can access our support.
A key focus for Year 3 and beyond will be building strong local relationships with referrers, 
stakeholders, businesses, community partners and funders. You will act as a local ambassador for 
Dreams Come True, sharing programme impact and helping to identify funding, sponsorship and 
gifts in kind that support long-term sustainability.
This role is ideal for someone who combines compassion, creativity and excellent coordination skills 
with confidence in networking, stakeholder engagement and programme growth.

We’re looking for someone who makes things happen

We’re looking for a proactive, curious and practical research and evaluation leader who spots opportunities, builds partnerships, and helps us turn lived experience into evidence that improves services, influences policy and drives change.

The Hepatitis C Trust is one of the UK’s biggest lived-experience organisations working in Inclusion Health. With almost 500 staff and volunteers, our teams work in communities and prisons across England, and in parts of Scotland and Wales, reaching people that mainstream health services routinely struggle to engage.

This gives us a unique reach among populations whose voices are too often missing from research, policy and service design.

Our research and evaluation programme aims to:

• Evidence the impact of our programmes and services.
• Understand what works, and what doesn’t, in improving outcomes for marginalised and excluded communities.
• Strengthen our understanding of the value and potential of peer-led and lived experience approaches.
• Improve the representation of excluded populations in research, policy and service design.

We’re looking for someone who:

• Has a strong background in research and evaluation, including both qualitative and quantitative methods.
• Is proactive, self-directed and comfortable taking ownership of projects.
• Has experience of generating evidence that informs policy, practice or service improvement.
• Is excited by the potential of lived experience and peer-led approaches.
• Builds strong relationships and enjoys working collaboratively.
• Has excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Is committed to equity, inclusion and social justice.

Why this role?

You’ll have genuine autonomy to help shape a growing research and evaluation function within one of the UK’s leading lived-experience organisations. Most importantly, you’ll have the opportunity to generate evidence that changes services, influences policy and improves outcomes for some of the most marginalised communities in society.

Recruitment timetable

Application deadline: 11:59 PM on Sunday 23rd August

First-round interviews: 7-8 September 2026

Salary: £38-40k

The role can be full-time or part-time, depending on the successful candidate’s availability. Ideally, you’ll work from our London office at least two days a week, although we can be flexible for the right person.

The Hepatitis C Trust is committed to equity and inclusion, and particularly welcomes applications from people with lived experience of hepatitis C, drug use, homelessness, the criminal justice system, or other experiences of social exclusion.

Head of Research and Engagement

Salary: £34,032 pro rata for 21 hours per week (£56,720 FTE)

Letchworth Garden City/ home working (hybrid)

Part time (21 hours a week)

Permanent

Flexible working considered

Lead research, insight and engagement that helps shape better MS care. If you are an experienced neurology or MS healthcare professional with strong leadership, research and stakeholder skills, this is an opportunity to turn evidence and lived experience into action for people affected by MS.

Join our friendly team
We are looking for someone who can bring people together around evidence, insight and improvement. You will be confident working with health professionals, researchers and external partners, and able to translate findings into clear, practical outputs that support better services and care. You will bring strong communication, project management and analytical skills, with the ability to lead a small portfolio and build trusted relationships across the MS community.

Our charity
The MS Trust is a UK charity which is here to help everyone make sense of MS. We are here for everyone affected by MS, from the moment of diagnosis and throughout their journey. We're here today, tomorrow and every day after that.

The role
Head of Research and Engagement: This is a senior and varied role where you will lead and oversee our research grants, MS service mapping, supported research and Helpline. Working closely with the Director of Services, you will set priorities, manage key roles, develop stakeholder relationships and make sure our research and mapping findings are shared clearly, accurately and accessibly. You will help strengthen our engagement with the NHS, professional bodies and partners, ensuring our work is rooted in real experience and has practical impact for people with MS.

What we can offer

· 28 days annual leave per year plus bank holidays, which increases with length of service to 30 days.

· Company pension with enhanced employer contribution. Salary Sacrifice scheme available.

· Death in Service benefit.

· Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay.

· Sick pay.

· Hybrid working.

· Employee assistance Programme

· Fantastic office location with free parking, local to town centre and train station. Good transport links to London and Cambridge.

· Learning and development policy to develop all staff.

· Cycle to work scheme, Volunteering day and Season ticket loans.

To find out more and apply

Please visit our website to download a job pack and application form (CVs will not be considered).

As part of our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI), we appreciate your time completing the form, as this allows us to keep our recruitment process fair and neutral.

Closing date: 1 September 2026 at 9.00am

First Interviews: 17 September 2026

Founded in 1860, Providence Row is a specialist homelessness charity working in East London and the City, deliberately operating at the most acute end of the homelessness spectrum.

The charity reaches around 1,200 individuals (annually) with the most deep-rooted needs; people whose interlinking mental and physical health, and trauma and substance use challenges mean they often struggle to access mainstream support. Providence Row provides a wide range of Crisis and Progression services including showers, meals, advice & support, health and wellbeing services, drug and alcohol harm reduction, psychotherapy, a hospital discharge service, and learning, training and work-readiness programmes, amongst others. In 2025/26, we supported 1,270 people through 36,313 tailored interventions. 

About this role

We have some ambitious income targets over the next few years to help deliver our bold plans in support of our increasing numbers of complex and vulnerable clients. 

If you have experience of delivering against an annual fundraising target of up to, or exceeding, £150k and want to help more people experiencing homelessness to have access to vital, and, often life-changing, services like our award-winning physical and mental health programmes, then we can’t wait to hear from you so you can tell us more about how you meet the criteria detailed in the Job Description and Person Specification, enclosed with this Job Ad.

There are many opportunities for the right candidate to develop in the role while working independently and as part of a committed team by using your excellent creativity, written, verbal and persuasion skills to secure and steward partnerships with existing and new supporters, alongside the Head of Philanthropy, and wider fundraising team.

We are keen to receive applications from people with a minimum of 3 years’ experience in fundraising and partnership development and who want to take their skills to the next level by helping further grow our Trusts and Foundations partnerships, as well as those with other similar supporters including Livery Companies, so we can continue responding to the needs of our clients and the evolving homelessness emergency.

If the above sounds like a good fit for you and you felt motivated and excited to join our small, fun, dedicated and impactful Fundraising and Marketing Team, then we would love to hear from you.

Research shows some people, especially women and marginalised groups, may hesitate to apply unless they match all the criteria. However, we want to assure everyone that we encourage applications from all individuals, regardless of whether they fulfil every point in the job description. Your unique perspective matters to us – please apply with confidence.

Benefits

• 27 days holiday plus bank holidays
• Pension scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Season ticket loan
• Employee assistance programme
• Access to shopping discounts
• Learning & development opportunities

To apply

Please upload your CV with a covering letter, detailing how you meet the job specification by Friday 21 Aug 2026 at 23:30.

Interviews
Please note that we may interview on a rolling basis and therefore encourage early applications.

Providence Row is a charitable company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales; company number 07452798 registered charity number 1140192.

Programme Director

Calling all Programme Directors!

Anna Freud is seeking a permanent, part-time Programme Director – Child Wellbeing Practitioner (CWP) to join our world-leading mental health charity for children, young people and their families. Our mission is to close the gap in wellbeing and mental health by advancing, translating, delivering, and sharing the best science and practice with everyone who impacts the lives of children, young people and their families. More information about Anna Freud is available on our website.

Our EDI commitment

We are dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace and being an equal opportunities employer, whereby equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are core to our recruitment practices. All candidates who meet the job criteria will be considered for employment, regardless of ethnic origin, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, socioeconomic background, caring responsibilities and care experience.

We ask candidates to share their diversity dimensions with us to help us identify, tackle and prevent bias across the employee lifecycle. We believe a diverse workforce enhances our ability to support mental health and wellbeing, allowing us to better meet the needs of the children, young people and families we serve.

As a Disability Confident employer, disabled candidates meeting our criteria are guaranteed an interview. Applications are submitted anonymously and assessed using a fair evaluation process based on the criteria set out in our job profiles.

What we offer

We offer a range of staff benefits, including an all-in-one rewards and recognition platform called Perkbox and wellbeing offers such as finishing early on Fridays and free counselling through our Employee Assistance Programme. We are proud to have staff-led Diversity Networks offering unique opportunities for learning, connection and impact.

What you’ll do

As Programme Director, you will lead the delivery and continued development of the Child Wellbeing Practitioner programme, ensuring it provides an inclusive, high-quality student experience and meets UCL, BPS and national curriculum standards

• Lead, review and develop the programme curriculum, teaching and learning content
• Manage and support the programme team to ensure the course is delivered smoothly and effectively
• Oversee assessment, marking, quality assurance and compliance with UCL and BPS requirements
• Monitor trainee progress and experience, ensuring students receive appropriate academic and pastoral support
• Manage key programme operations, including stakeholder relationships, student recruitment, staffing and the programme budget

What you’ll bring

The ideal candidate will be an experienced child mental health and higher education professional with the leadership skills to manage an accredited postgraduate programme, support a multidisciplinary team and deliver an inclusive, high-quality learning experience

• A PhD or professional doctorate in clinical psychology or child mental health, alongside a relevant professional qualification or substantial experience in children’s mental health
• Experience of curriculum design, teaching, assessment and programme management within a higher education setting
• Strong knowledge of children and young people’s psychological training programmes, CBT interventions and mental health practice in CAMHS or educational settings
• Proven experience of leading, managing and supporting staff while balancing competing priorities and programme demands
• Excellent communication, collaboration and organisational skills, including the ability to manage budgets and maintain the programme’s quality and financial viability

Key details

Hours: Part-time: 14 hours over 2 days - the postholder will need to work on Fridays and either Tuesday or Thursday.  Fridays are in person at Anna Freud, London, during termtime.  Usual working hours are Monday to Friday, 09:00-17:00. Flexible working is possible.

Salary: £64,100 FTE per annum, plus 6% contributory pension scheme

Location: Hybrid (a mixture of home/onsite working): staff are working onsite for at least 20% of their working hours at Anna Freud, 4-8 Rodney Street, London N1 9JH.  The postholder will also need to attend in person for any in-person teaching, team meetings as necessary.

Contract type: Permanent

Next steps

Closing date for applications: midday (12pm), Wednesday, 12 August 2026. Please note that due to high application volumes, we may close this advert early. We encourage you to apply promptly and to keep an eye on our future vacancies for more opportunities.

Notification of interview: shortlisted applicants will be notified no later than Friday, 14 August 2026. During shortlisting, applicants are anonymously assessed using the criteria visible in the Job Profile. Please note: due to the high volume of applications received, we will not be able to provide feedback to unsuccessful applicants.

Interviews: will be held week commencing 17 August 2026

How to apply: click on the 'apply now’ button to apply online. We are unable to accept CVs and kindly request no contact from agencies.

Questions?

Please email us with any job enquiries, or if you require assistance or experience difficulties when applying. Please note that successful candidate(s) will be asked to evidence their Right to Work in the UK post-job offer – we do not hold a sponsor license therefore we are unable to provide Visa sponsorship.

Title: Head of Operations

Responsible to: CEO

Hours: 35 hours per week

Salary: £45,000 - £48,000 FT (depending on experience and qualifications)

Based: Willesden, NW10 2JR; Haringey borough (including Hornsey, N8 9LP and Tottenham Hale, N17 9FU) + other locations if required

Contract: Permanent (subject to continuation of funding)

Please Note: Enhanced DBS check will be required

JOB OVERVIEW

Do you want to work for an organisation that makes a real difference, every day, to people from all walks of life? Do you want to use your operational management experience to have a tangible impact in the community? This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced team leader looking to take on a meaningful new career challenge to join the Brent Irish Advisory Service (BIAS) as Head of Operations.

The Head of Operations oversees all of BIAS’s projects, managing a small, high-performing team of project coordinators and frontline advice and community-support staff to ensure that we provide the highest-quality service to our clients. You will need to have demonstrable team-management experience, strong people and communication skills, and a willingness to take a hands-on approach to project delivery, along with excellent organisational and strategic abilities to ensure that projects are delivered sustainably, effectively and efficiently.

In 2025, BIAS expanded its successful Brent-based advice service and active ageing clubs into Haringey borough. The Head of Operations will take the lead on further building and developing the new services in Haringey, ensuring that we replicate our excellent quality of service, strong record of positive outcomes and loyal service-user base.

This is a key role within the BIAS senior leadership team, which will give you the opportunity to have a direct impact on shaping the organisation’s future strategy and direction.

KEY WORK AREAS AND MAIN DUTIES

Staff management

• Manage a team of five project coordinators and five front-line staff to ensure effective delivery and monitoring of BIAS’s core welfare and housing advice, active ageing, volunteering and befriending projects, which support over 900 people per year.
• Manage HR procedures, including employment contracts, probation assessment, leave administration, staff supervision, performance management and exit procedures.
• Conduct recruitment procedures where needed, and supervise the onboarding process for new joiners.
• Oversee training and development needs and budgets.
• Ensure good teamwork and lines of communication between staff, including by chairing regular staff meetings.
• Create a positive working environment in which equity and diversity are promoted and staff can do their best.

Project management

• Project-manage the further development of new advice and active ageing services in Haringey borough.
• Take the lead on promotion and marketing of BIAS’s services, including by representing the charity to partner organisations and at external events.
• Contribute to the organisation and running of regular community and fundraising events.
• Deputise for the Advice Services Manager where needed, supporting the welfare and housing advisers with complex casework, forward planning and client management.
• Support the Active Ageing Coordinators and volunteer teams wherever needed with the day-to-day running of the active ageing clubs.

Quality and service delivery

• Oversee quality-assurance procedures in line with the Advice Quality Standard (AQS), and spearhead biannual renewal of BIAS’s AQS accreditation.
• Oversee running of BIAS’s volunteer project in line with the Investing in Volunteers quality accreditation standards.
• Serve as internal data protection officer, monitoring GDPR compliance, managing risk and responding to any potential data breaches.
• Serve as BIAS safeguarding lead, ensuring that safeguarding policies and training are kept up to date, and that all safeguarding concerns are appropriately addressed.
• Work with the Fundraising and Communications Manager to administer the BIAS website and implement BIAS’s social media strategy.
• Administer BIAS’s IT and client management systems (Microsoft 365, SharePoint, BrightHR, Lamplight CRM), coordinating training, updates and troubleshooting.

Operational leadership

• Advise the CEO on all staffing and service-delivery issues.
• Monitor and report on service delivery, including through monthly advice and volunteer-project reports, quarterly Board reports and regular funder reports.
• Carry out regular reviews of BIAS’s annual business plan, risk register, five-year strategy and internal policies and procedures, providing recommendations to the CEO and Board of Trustees on strategic direction.
• Research and secure funding from grant-making organisations, ensuring BIAS’s future financial sustainability.
• Work closely with the Finance Manager and CEO on budgeting, grant monitoring, cashflow and financial authorisation.

These are the basic duties required of the Head of Operations. However, it is necessary for all staff to be flexible and you may be required from time to time to perform other reasonable duties which are required for the efficient running of the organisation. We will also offer training opportunities to support your career development.

Candidates must be eligible to work in the UK. This role will be based in our advice offices and club venues in Willesden and Haringey but there may be some options for flexible working (e.g. one day per week from home). Occasional evening or weekend work may be required.

ABOUT BIAS

BIAS is a local charity which has supported England’s largest Irish community in Brent for almost fifty years. We deliver our support through our welfare and housing advice service, our active ageing clubs, our volunteer project and our befriending scheme. We raise over £2 million in extra income for the most vulnerable and disadvantaged every year and have over 7000 attendances at our club services. BIAS has recently expanded into Haringey borough and has exciting plans to further develop its project scope and geographical reach, supported by sustainable and diversified grant funding, including from Ireland’s Emigrant Support Programme.

HOW TO APPLY

To apply, please submit a CV and cover letter. The deadline for applications is 29th August 2026 but we encourage candidates to apply as soon as possible as interviews may be carried out on a rolling basis.

The Senior Programme Manager will be responsible for  managing  FFRP, a London wide programme that supports families on low income to access good quality, free and independent advice, in order to prevent or alleviate financial hardship. The ideal candidate will be an experienced project manager, confident in relationship management and in evaluation and monitoring, with a strong understanding of the free legal advice sector in London. 

Assistant Head of Fundraising (Public Fundraising)

Salary £57,574.79 per annum

LocationLondon/Hybrid

Weekly Hours35

The Vacancy

Job Title: Assistant Head of Fundraising (Public Fundraising)

Location: London/Hybrid

Salary: £57,574.79 per annum

Weekly Hours: 35

Reference: YMC1212513

An exciting moment to join us

YMCA England & Wales is entering one of the most exciting chapters in its fundraising history, launching our ambition to create 10,000 new homes for young people. Working alongside local YMCAs, we will support the development of new accommodation across the federation, helping young people move towards independence.

This role sits at the heart of that ambition.

You will lead the fundraising behind two critical components of the 10,000 Homes programme:
• Securing income from the public to build and sustain a central Centre of Expertise (mobilisation team), supporting local YMCAs to develop and deliver housing projects.
• Raising capital from individual supporters, mid-level donors and major donors to grow a replenishing national fund that provides upfront investment to unlock housing developments across the federation.

At the centre of this is the 10,000 Homes Fund: a bold, housing-focused proposition that offers the public a clear and tangible way to support young people into safe, stable accommodation. You will be responsible for growing this proposition, ensuring it resonates strongly with supporters and inspires giving at all levels.

You will lead an integrated public fundraising approach, bringing together individual giving, mid-level and major donors into one compelling, housing-led narrative. A key part of the role will be translating a complex, federated model into a simple, emotional and compelling case for support that connects with people’s motivations to give.

We’ve established strong early foundations and are now ready to scale. This role offers the opportunity to take a high-potential public fundraising proposition to the next level -expanding its reach, deepening supporter engagement, and unlocking significant new income.

We are looking for someone who is creative, data-driven and passionate about engaging the public to drive meaningful change for young people. We’re looking for someone comfortable working in a federated environment, with the ability to simplify complex ideas into compelling messages for the public.

The role

As Assistant Head of Fundraising (Public Fundraising), you will lead and inspire a team of talented fundraisers, deputising for the Head of Fundraising and taking ownership of our most ambitious programmes:

The 10,000 Homes Fund driving forward our flagship proposition across individual giving, cash appeals and mid-level audiences.

Major Donors shaping the strategy for high-net-worth relationships, new giving circles and development boards.

RoomSponsor, YMCA’s flagship regular giving product, now in its third year of an ambitious growth strategy. You will oversee a unique partnership model across 45 local YMCAs, support the income distribution process, and see first-hand the impact of your work through a programme that directly supports young people with safe accommodation.

Legacies working with the Senior Fundraising Manager and Head of Fundraising to define and grow what is set to become a landmark legacy programme.

This is a hands-on leadership role: you will set direction, manage budgets, develop your team, while also being prepared to step into delivery when it matters most. You will balance strategic oversight with practical execution, ensuring programmes are both ambitious and deliverable.

About you

You are an experienced public fundraising professional with a strong track record in individual giving or direct marketing, alongside a well-developed understanding of major donor fundraising. You know how to bring different disciplines together behind a single proposition and deliver results.

You are an effective and confident leader, able to build, motivate and develop high-performing teams. You create clarity, set high standards, and support others to do their best work, stepping in when needed and leading from the front.

You are at your best when driving a clear proposition forward. You are excited by the opportunity to take a compelling idea and translate it into something that engages the public, inspires generosity and delivers sustainable income.

You are energised by a challenge, comfortable with complexity and working in a federated environment, where success depends on strong relationships and shared ownership. You are skilled at working with partners, whether agencies, internal stakeholders or local YMCAs, and know how to align people around a common goal.

You combine strategic thinking with operational delivery. You are data-driven, using insight and performance to shape your decisions, and confident working with (and occasionally building) financial models to plan, test and scale activity. You bring both creativity and discipline, generating new ideas while ensuring they are grounded, deliverable and effective.

Above all, you are a strong communicator and influencer. You can simplify complex ideas into clear, compelling messages, build confidence with colleagues and stakeholders, and position fundraising as a critical enabler of impact.

Why join us now

YMCA is the oldest and largest youth charity in the world, serving communities across England and Wales every day. The fundraising team is geared up for success, the strategy is set, the proposition is proven, and the results are already coming in. What we need now is a leader ready to take this momentum to the next level.

YMCA England & Wales is committed to equality and valuing diversity. We welcome applications from all backgrounds.

Our recruitment process is anonymised and candidates' names are hidden. Safer recruitment is important to us and the successful applicant will be asked to provide two references. They will also be required to complete a safeguarding self-declaration, safeguarding training and undertake a DBS check.

About Woman's Trust

The charity was established in 1996 to meet the gap in specialist mental health services. Woman’s Trust is led by and for women and aims to ensure that women affected by domestic abuse can live a life free from further harm and abuse. Our approach is trauma-informed and person-centred, empowering survivors on their journey to recovery from the trauma. We are committed to a positive, inclusive and equitable environment for our staff, service users and volunteers.

Alongside delivering our existing 1-1 counselling, self-development workshops and therapeutic support groups for women who have experienced domestic abuse, we are focused on developing our innovative mental health services for young women and girls, delivering new peer-led support groups and providing therapeutic groups to children and their mothers. We are also committed to developing further awarenessraising workshops and training for professionals, building on our research and policy to improve systems nationally.

About the role

The Head of Fundraising and Development role offers an exceptional opportunity to shape Woman’s Trust’s income strategy, develop new partnerships and play a central role in the organisation’s next phase of growth.

We are seeking an established income-generation leader who combines strategic and commercial judgement with a willingness to remain hands-on. The successful candidate will have a strong record of securing significant income, identifying new opportunities and building effective relationships with funders, commissioners and partners. They will also be a constructive and positive senior colleague: someone who works collaboratively, communicates clearly, takes ownership and contributes actively to the success of the wider organisation.

The role will oversee the development and implementation of the fundraising strategy and funding pipeline. Additionally, it will ensure the maintenance and growth of excellent relationships with both existing and prospective funders, including the stewardship of grants and timely reporting. Responsibilities will also include reviewing, updating, and developing service budgets, as well as overseeing or coordinating the submission of high-quality bids, funding approaches, and events.

As a member of the senior leadership team, this post will work cross-departmentally and will contribute to the overall strategy of Woman’s Trust, working closely with the CEO and the Board of Trustees. You will lead and line manage the Trust and Statutory Fundraising Manager, Fundraising Manager and Data Impact and Insights Manager. You will deliver a direct income target for each year, with a focus on the development and tendering of statutory commissioning.

Hours: Full-time, 35 hours per week.

Location: Woman’s Trust premises including co-location with statutory partners and community partnership  locations.Woman’s Trust operates a hybrid working model with a minimum of 50% to be on-site.

In return, we can offer:

• 25 days' holiday + 3 days at Christmas + Public holidays
• Hybrid & flexible working - office based with minimum of 50% of working hours in Woman’s Trust London office, we also support mutually agreed flexible working arrangements
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Mandatory job-related training
• Individual staff professional development budget
• A caring, committed and highly collaborative environment
• Several social events/lunches per year
• Friendly, all women team

To find out more and apply with your CV, please visit our website via the apply button.  

Please note, CVs and cover letters should be sent in Word format.

Closing date: 31st August 2026.

First stage interviews (online): 22nd September 2026.

Second stage interviews: 28th September 2026.

Please note, this post is open to female applicants only – Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, Part 1 applies.