Head of research and project information jobs

Create is seeking a dynamic, ambitious, driven, fundraiser (grants/major gifts) with strong strategic skills, an exemplary income generation track record, and a passion for the power of the creative arts. This Senior Leadership Team position reports directly to the Chief Executive and manages a small team.

Do you believe in the power of the creative arts to connect, empower and upskill isolated and vulnerable children and adults? Are you passionate about relationship building, storytelling, meeting targets and changing lives? Are you excited to use your extensive senior-level fundraising experience, knowledge and contacts to lead Create’s income generation from Trusts & Foundations (T&F), public sector and High Net Worth Individuals (HNWI)? 

The National Gallery is looking for a Technical Project Lead to drive the delivery of two transformative, multi‑million‑pound projects: a state of the art Research Centre and a landmark new wing.

You will lead the technical oversight of complex MEP building services for a new Research Centre and a major new public wing, ensuring high-quality, sustainable, and compliant design delivery within a historic, publicly accessible environment.

For more details and to apply please go directly to The National Gallery website.

JOB PURPOSE

To coordinate Dudley Lodge's impact reporting, fundraising support and business development activities across the organisation.

The postholder will support income generation by identifying funding opportunities, maintaining funding pipelines, coordinating fundraising activity, supporting funding applications and helping Dudley Lodge evidence and communicate the impact of its work to commissioners, funders, donors and stakeholders.

Working closely with the Head of Support Services, Head of Operations and Service Leads, the postholder will collect, collate and report impact and outcomes information, support fundraising and business development activities and contribute to the organisation's sustainability and growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Impact Reporting and Communications
• Fundraising and Income Generation
• Systems and Administration

Impact Reporting and Communications

• Coordinate systems for collecting, recording and reporting impact, outcomes and stakeholder feedback data across Dudley Lodge services.
• Work with Heads of Service and Service Leads to gather feedback, case studies, testimonials and other evidence of service delivery, outcomes and organisational impact.
• Coordinate feedback collection from service users, parents, family members, professionals, commissioners and stakeholders.
• Produce impact summaries, dashboards and data reports for internal and external audiences.
• Coordinate the development of Dudley Lodge's assessment and Support Services' annual impact reports.
• Support the development of systems to collect and report information relating to longer-term outcomes for families.
• Ensure impact information is accurate, accessible and available to support reporting, funding applications and service development activities.
• Support the preparation of commissioner updates, funder reports, stakeholder briefings and annual impact publications.
• Gather, collate and present information, data, case studies and outcomes to support organisational reporting and stakeholder communications.
• Prepare draft reports, updates and communications for review by Heads of Service and Service Leads.
• Coordinate the production and distribution of approved reports, updates and communications.
• Support the dissemination of impact reports, funding updates and organisational achievements.
• Maintain records of stakeholder communications, reporting requirements and submission deadlines.

Fundraising and Income Generation

• Support the organisation to achieve fundraising and income generation targets.
• Research and monitor trusts, foundations, corporate, statutory and tender opportunities, maintaining accurate records of prospective funders, deadlines and reporting requirements.
• Maintain an up-to-date funding pipeline and funding calendar.
• Gather and coordinate evidence, data and supporting information required for grant applications, tenders, expressions of interest and funding reports.
• Assist with the preparation and submission of funding applications and tender responses.
• Coordinate fundraising appeals and donor engagement activities.
• Draft and distribute appeal letters, donor updates and stewardship communications.
• Support funder reporting and grant monitoring requirements.
• Monitor emerging funding opportunities and sector developments and share opportunities with relevant managers.

Systems and Administration

• Maintain accurate fundraising, impact and stakeholder engagement records.
• Support the development and maintenance of databases and reporting systems.
• Coordinate surveys, consultations and feedback exercises.
• Produce regular reports to support management, governance and business development activities.
• Ensure information is recorded, stored and managed in accordance with GDPR and organisational policies.
• Identify opportunities to improve systems, processes and efficiency across impact data collection and reporting, fundraising and stakeholder reporting activities.
• Undertake any other duties appropriate to the grade and purpose of the role, as reasonably required by the Line Manager or to meet the needs of the organisation.

Title of post to which this job reports:

Head of Support Services

Special Conditions:

All staff are expected to work in a flexible way to cope with the needs, demands and requirements of the Centres. This may mean attending or working from either centres, Coventry, Birmingham.

Dudley Lodge operates a non-smoking policy for staff.

Observance of the Centre’s Equal Opportunities Policy will be required, and to work at all times in accordance with all the Centre’s policies and procedures.

Failure by a member of staff to report actual or suspected physical or sexual abuse of a child by another member of a staff or other person having contact with the child may constitute a disciplinary offence.

Location: The role is national, managing teams in Northern Ireland, Wales and across England. You will need to be able to work at one of our BookTrust offices in London, Leeds, Belfast or Cardiff for an average of 8 days per month whilst some of these collaboration days may be worked in partner locations, at events or stakeholder meetings in any part of the country. The position will require regular travel to BookTrust office bases and to visit and engage as needed.

BookTrust is the UK’s largest children’s reading charity. We know that children who read are happier, healthier, more empathetic, and more creative. They also do better at school.

Working with every local authority and across every region in the country, and supported by Arts Council funding, we reach over 3 million families a year via partners in schools, children’s centres, health visitors and libraries. This incredible network helps us to get children reading across the country.

This is a new role within the organisation and the postholder will be responsible for defining aspects of the role, building relationships and processes that will enhance our ways of working as part of wider organisational processes. 

You will be an excellent communicator who manages up effectively and who is comfortable working across a matrixed managed team. You will work closely with the Director of Partnerships in building relationships, systems and processes that support our delivery across regions and countries as well as working closely with key role holders such as but not confined to the Head of Partnerships Development, and Head of Programme for Vulnerable Children.

The Head of Partnerships Delivery will lead and coordinate our early years scaled programme delivery as well as ensuring activities to support delivery and development of our vulnerable children’s work are catered or within team processes and relationship building with strategic and local stakeholders.

This work spans the organisation – and will have a close working relationships with key stakeholders in operations on aspects of the work as well as to research and impact, design and innovation, growth planning, communications, profile-raising and income generation – and requires strong collaborative working to draw on skills and capacity in all these areas. 

To apply, please complete the application along with a copy of your CV.

Want to join us? To find out more about who we are please go to our website. 

We actively encourage applications from underrepresented groups and welcome candidates from all backgrounds and communities. 

Please note that this advert may close early should we receive a high volume of suitable applications. 

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusivity

We aim to provide an inclusive recruitment process and actively welcome applications from diverse talent pools: minority ethnic candidates, candidates with disabilities and long-term conditions and candidates from underrepresented communities.

We are committed to equality of opportunity and want to ensure we have an accessible application process for all candidates. If you need any reasonable adjustments or would like us to do anything differently during the application process, please contact our HR team (contact details can be found on our website). 

BookTrust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. The recruitment and selection process reflect our commitment to safeguarding therefore, the suitability of all prospective employees will be assessed during the recruitment process in line with this commitment, and pre-employment checks.

The Data, Evaluation and Learning team enables Impact on Urban Health to embed learning at the heart of its work, ensuring evidence is used to drive impact in Lambeth and Southwark and to advance understanding of urban health.
The Head of Data & Evaluation leads Impact on Urban Health’s approach to data, research, and evaluation, ensuring high-quality, equitable evidence informs what we fund, how we work, and how we understand impact. The role leads a specialist team, sets standards, and oversees the organisation’s core evidence base, helping ensure Impact on Urban Health is a credible and trusted source of insight on urban health.
The postholder will also provide expert input to other parts of the Foundation where relevant.

Key responsibilities:

• Lead on ensuring data and evaluation are embedded across our work, developing and overseeing the cycle from data and evidence inputs through to analysis and evaluation insights that inform decisions.
• Set the strategic direction for a programme of mixed-methods research, data analysis, and evaluation – that builds on existing evidence, helps us understand needs and impact, and that is equitable and proportionate.
• Design and oversee data and evaluation plans that generate insight for internal decision-making and external influencing, working with senior leaders across Impact on Urban Health.
• Lead Impact on Urban Health’s approach to evaluation, embedding evaluation and learning into delivery alongside programme and partner teams, and shaping how the organisation understands impact across complex and place-based work.
• Oversee the development of priority quantitative and qualitative research and data outputs, articulating Impact on Urban Health’s perspective on the state of urban health locally and beyond.
• Set and uphold standards for data and evaluation, defining expectations for how funded work is evaluated, reported, and used, and ensuring intellectual honesty about the strength and limits of evidence.
• Work closely with the Head of Learning and internal stakeholders to ensure evidence informs organisational priorities and investment decisions.
• Oversee the commissioning and delivery of priority research and evaluation, ensuring projects are tightly scoped, proportionate, and aligned with strategic decisions.
• Lead strategic partnerships, health outcomes analysis, and evidence triangulation, ensuring data, research, evaluation, and lived experience are brought together to understand progress on health equity.
• Implement the Data, Evidence & Learning strategy alongside other Heads in the team.
• Maintain and develop personal expertise in urban health evidence.
• Line management and development support of Evaluation & Learning Manager post(s) and the Data & Research Manager.
• Develop and oversee plans to deliver data, research and evaluation objectives.
• Provide thought leadership in urban health evidence, including (e.g.) blogs and speaking at events.
• Champion a culture of learning, reflection and evidence-informed decision-making.
• Provide expert support to other parts of the Foundation where appropriate.
• Deputise for the Director of Data, Evaluation and Learning where required.
• Undertake other responsibilities appropriate to the role.

Role responsibilities are not exhaustive, and you would be reasonably expected to take on wider 
tasks that are commensurate with the level of your role.

Skills, abilities, and attributes:

• Strong expertise in both quantitative and qualitative methods, including adapting approaches to different contexts.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, including working with senior internal leaders and external partners.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex findings clearly and persuasively to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
• Ability to balance strategic thinking with operational delivery
• Confidence in constructive challenge, including questioning assumptions and the status quo.
• Collaborative team-player and leader, able to work effectively across disciplines and functions.
• Strong commitment to responsible, ethical, and equitable data and evaluation practice.

Knowledge, experience, and qualifications:

• Extensive experience leading social research and evaluation in a social sector context (essential)
• Experience of turning complex evidence into clear, influential insights and recommendations (essential)
• Experience of accessing, assessing, and synthesising secondary research and evidence sources to inform strategy and decision-making (essential)
• Experience of leading processes using evidence to inform changes to strategy, funding, or intervention delivery (essential)
• Experience of influencing policy and practice through evidence, and evaluation of influencing work (essential)
• Experience of leading and managing complex projects, including planning, prioritisation, and delivery (essential)
• Experience of commissioning and managing external research, evaluation, or analysis partners (essential)
• Experience of line management, supporting performance, development, and delivery (essential)
• Knowledge of urban health, health inequalities, or the social determinants of health (desirable)
• High levels of quantitative data literacy, including experience of quantitative analysis, knowledge and use of public health datasets, and working knowledge of complex data visualisation using tools such as Tableau or similar (desirable)
• Understanding of systems change and/or place-based approaches to intervention and evaluation, e.g. collective impact approaches (desirable)
• Experience of community-based or participatory research approaches (desirable)
• Evidence of thought leadership in data or evidence, such as publications, presentations, or sector engagement (desirable)

Benefits: 

• Contributory pension
• Annual personal development budget
• Annual health and wellbeing personal allowance
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, and parental leave pay accessible without length of service requirements.
• Health and wellbeing programme that offers optional free yearly health check-ups.
• Support for healthy eating via fruit bowls and onsite lunch facilities. 
• Agile working, flexible hours, and supportive IT kit. 
• Shower facilities and bike lock area. 
• Generous annual leave (27 days + bank holidays)
• Subsidies for glasses
• Employee Assistance Programme

We’re looking for an enthusiastic and passionate Head of Fundraising  to play a significant role in the growth of Bags of Taste. 

This is an exciting opportunity for a motivated and proactive individual who is keen to make a tangible difference. The issues of health and well-being across the population and food insecurity are urgent and our work directly addresses these critical issues. 

You’ll be responsible for fundraising and delivering a plan to raise funds from a variety of sources - including trusts and foundations, digital fundraising and individual giving. You’ll work with our corporate and community fundraiser to raise income through corporate partnerships and community fundraising. We expect that trusts and foundations funding will form a large part of this role and this includes securing larger and multi year grants. 

Bags of Taste is a small and ambitious charity and you’ll be an integral part of our growth and be able to make this your own role. Working closely with our CEO and being part of the management team, you’ll be involved in organisation wide decision making and strategy. 

We’re looking for someone with a track record in fundraising and income generation within the charity sector, who shares our commitment to empowering local people and creating happier and healthier communities for life.

Key responsibilities

Whilst we appreciate that many fundraising skills can be transferable, we’re looking specifically for someone with charity fundraising experience for this role. 

Income generation

• Develop and implement a fundraising strategy to raise funds from a variety of sources(trusts and foundations,companies, individuals, digital fundraising, the community and events).
• Research funding opportunities and develop and approach a pipeline of prospects
• Implement systems across Bags of Taste to ensure all funding is maximised
• Achieve agreed income targets
• Prepare budgets and track income and forecasts
• Develop persuasive funding proposals,cases for support and reports
• Develop new funding or partnership opportunities through presentations, applications, pitches and proposals
• Create awareness of fundraising at Bags of Taste 
• Attend networking events  

Relationship Development and Stewardship 

• Build and maintain relationships with funders, partners, donors, trustees and key stakeholders
• Ensure excellent stewardship for all funders and donors in order to build strong, long term relationships. 

Management 

• Manage the Corporate and Community Fundraiser
• Manage any other fundraising team members if the team grows
• Manage and support any volunteers and work with external agencies/partners.

General 

• Maintain accurate records across all fundraising income streams including contact and relationship and financial data
• Ensure all activity complies with all fundraising regulations, GDPR and all relevant legal requirements 
• Prepare reports and data for the Board of Trustees/management team
• Support finance staff with preparation of the annual accounts and financial recording
• Monitor and manage fundraising risks
• Attend and support networking events or other events or fundraising activity as required to represent Bags of Taste, including occasional working outside of normal office hours, including some evenings or weekend

Person specification

Essential 

• A minimum of 3 years’ experience managing a number of fundraising streams in a charity
• Experience of successfully securing large/multi-year grants from trusts and foundations
• Track record of reaching income targets.
• Experience of developing fundraising strategies and plans 
• Experience of managing staff
• Exceptional interpersonal and presentation skills 
• Excellent written skills - you’ll need to be able to write compelling presentations, proposals, applications and reports
• Excellent relationship builder and ability to network, build, and nurture relationships with a wide variety of people
• Strong negotiation skills
• Excellent organisation and project management skills and ability to work to tight deadlines
• Proactive, self motivated and tenacious 
• Self starter with the ability to set your own workload
• Strong attention to detail 
• Strong IT skills including all word packages 
• Good knowledge of all social media channels including relationship building on Linked in 
• Good understanding of the relevant fundraising codes of practice and GDPR/data protection
• Passion for the work of Bags of Taste 
• Flexible and able to attend networking events/events occasionally out of work hours as part of the role.

Desirable

• A relevant professional qualification eg Institute of Fundraising Certificate or Diploma in Fundraising 
• Experience of charity communications
• Good understanding of CANVA and WordPress
• Good understanding and knowledge of food insecurity and health issues

We recommend you read the full job pack before applying. 

Why join Bags of Taste?

● You’ll be part of a small, ambitious organisation with a big vision and a strong sense of purpose. The issues around health inequalities and poor diets and the need for solutions are critical. There are lots of opportunites to raise funds. 

● This is a hugely flexible role in a supportive organisation.

About Bags of Taste

The work of Bags of Taste and the issues that we tackle are highly topical and relevant so there's lots of opportunities and scope to raise funds. Our vision that everyone should be able to access and cook good food has never been more important. 

We address dietary related health inequalities and food insecurity - both these issues have been exacerbated by the current cost of living crisis and public health challenges. There is recognition now that food banks are not a sustainable solution and Bags of Taste works across a number of high need communities enabling people to be happier, healthier and more resilient.

This is an exciting time to join us. As we grow our international efforts and sharpen our strategic focus, we are creating a new Head of Research & Grants role to lead our combined research and grant-making function. Reporting to the Director of Impact, you will be our senior operational and strategic leader for how we identify, fund and learn from the work that gives babies the best start in life.

The grants and research effort of the Foundation is focussed on the ‘So What?’. You will make sure every piece of ground breaking research and every charity grant adds to our global advocacy for babies, informing and educating policy makers across the world about the 1001 Critical Days and how they can help parents and carers give their babies the best start in life.

To apply, please click the redirect to recruiter button. 

Location: The role is national, managing teams in Northern Ireland, Wales and across England. You will need to be able to work at one of our BookTrust offices in London, Leeds, Belfast or Cardiff for an average of 8 days per month whilst some of these collaboration days may be worked in partner locations, at events or stakeholder meetings in any part of the country. The position will require regular travel to BookTrust office bases and to visit and engage as needed.

BookTrust is the UK’s largest children’s reading charity. We know that children who read are happier, healthier, more empathetic, and more creative. They also do better at school.

Working with every local authority and across every region in the country, and supported by Arts Council funding, we reach over 3 million families a year via partners in schools, children’s centres, health visitors and libraries. This incredible network helps us to get children reading across the country.

This is a new role within the organisation and the new role holder will have a chance to shape and build the role over time.  You will be a strong leader with great people skills -experience of working with and leading teams working in geographically dispersed locations is advantageous. 

You will have a clear experience the public sector landscape with a track record of relationships building, and an understanding of the local government policy landscape. With a collaborative approach to working across interconnecting complex work areas, you will be comfortable working within a matrix style of management for your won direct reports and those of other teams. 

You may have charity or statutory setting experience, and will have the ability to set out a strategic direction for partnerships team members as well as being hands on in developing new relationships to support our work as well as being able to produce high quality written materials, analyse complex data and respond dynamically to a changing external landscape.

You will be an excellent communicator who manages up effectively and who is comfortable working across a matrixed managed team. You will have the ability to work closely with the Director of Partnerships in building relationships, and developing and delivering on strategies that support impact in our early years programmes by guiding the work of our partnerships team.  You will be working closely with key role holders such as but not confined to the Head of Partnerships Delivery, and Head of Programme for Vulnerable Children.

The Head of Partnerships Development will ensure increasingly effective pathways to families by setting out ways of working that ensure delivery teams can access these routes, influence decision makers and develop and build the right relationships for greatest impact. Along with the Director of partnerships the role holder will aim to both influence and respond to central, local and regional policy initiatives in the sector to support BookTrust’s mission to get all children reading, especially those from low income and vulnerable family backgrounds.
The role holder will ensure internal stakeholders are briefed on the local government landscape and that risks and opportunities are clearly articulated.

This work spans the organisation – from within our partnerships team to our research and impact, communications and external affairs, design and innovation, growth planning, communications, profile-raising and income generation – and requires strong collaborative working to draw on skills and capacity in all these areas. 

The role will work internally and externally to ensure the right inputs to ensure success for our scaled programmes, supporting everything from design to upskilling our team and relationship building across the local government and regional and country landscape.

To apply, please complete the application along with a copy of your CV.

Want to join us? To find out more about who we are please go to our website. 

We actively encourage applications from underrepresented groups and welcome candidates from all backgrounds and communities,

Please note that this advert may close early should we receive a high volume of suitable applications. 

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusivity

We aim to provide an inclusive recruitment process and actively welcome applications from diverse talent pools: minority ethnic candidates, candidates with disabilities and long-term conditions and candidates from underrepresented communities.

We are committed to equality of opportunity and want to ensure we have an accessible application process for all candidates. If you need any reasonable adjustments or would like us to do anything differently during the application process, please contact our HR team (contact details are available on our website).

BookTrust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. The recruitment and selection process reflect our commitment to safeguarding therefore, the suitability of all prospective employees will be assessed during the recruitment process in line with this commitment, and pre-employment checks.

Endometriosis UK is looking for a Head of Finance to help shape the next stage of our development as a charity with growing ambition, increasing complexity and a powerful mission. This is an exciting new role for the charity, and is core to ensuring our ongoing success.

As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, you will work closely with the Chief Executive, senior colleagues and Trustees to shape organisational direction, strengthen financial planning and ensure resources are aligned with impact. You will provide strategic financial insight, constructive challenge and practical support across the organisation.

You will lead budgeting, forecasting, management accounts, statutory reporting, audit, financial governance, risk, reserves and controls. You will also support business cases, financial models, capital project oversight, trading activity and commercial decision-making.

We are looking for a qualified accountant with senior finance leadership experience, ideally gained in a charity or similarly complex organisation. You will bring strong technical finance skills, sound judgement, commercial awareness and the ability to communicate clearly with non-finance colleagues. Just as importantly, you will be collaborative, values-led and motivated by the opportunity to use finance as an enabler of delivering impact.

This role will suit someone who combines strategic leadership with a practical, hands-on approach, and who enjoys helping colleagues build financial confidence, accountability and discipline.

Across the UK, millions of children and young people are facing complex social and emotional challenges. AllChild works within local communities and wider support systems to identify and support children and young people most at risk of poor social, emotional and academic outcomes. Through our two-year Impact Programme, we help build a joined-up network of support around each child and family, working in partnership with schools, local services and community organisations.

We’re looking for an inspiring Head of Community Delivery to join our London-based team. This is a senior leadership role within our Delivery Team, where you’ll play a key part in shaping and delivering AllChild’s place-based programmes, ensuring they create meaningful and lasting impact across your region.

For further information, please view the Job Pack.

To apply, please visit our website via the Apply button.

Closing date: 9 July 2026.

We recognise that candidates may use AI tools to support research and check grammar. However, we ask that all supporting statements and application responses reflect your own thoughts and experiences. Over-reliance on AI may limit our ability to assess your individual skills, critical thinking, and personal approach, which are important parts of our selection process. 

In the four years since Martingale launched, we have now supported over 200 Scholars to undertake postgraduate degrees across our thirteen partner universities.

As Martingale grows, we are building our policy and advocacy function to shape the future of postgraduate access, affordability and outcomes. We are seeking a rigorous, proactive and collaborative Policy Manager to drive the monitoring, insight and evaluation that underpin our influence, and to support the development and implementation of our policy positions and stakeholder engagement.

Reporting to the Head of Communications and External Engagement, you will lead Martingale’s policy tracking, political intelligence, evidence generation, and evaluation and learning. You will turn a fast-moving external landscape into clear, actionable insight, and produce the evidence, analysis and draft materials that enable the Head and CEO to position Martingale credibly with funders, universities, the sector and government.

This is a hands-on, delivery-focused role with significant autonomy. You will own workstreams end-to-end, build systems and processes where they do not yet exist, and influence more senior colleagues and stakeholders. You will sit at the centre of a landmark research and policy programme and help deliver a campaign to implement the recommendations from Martingale’s major HESA-based research partnership, making the case that talent, not background, should determine who progresses to and thrives in postgraduate study.

We welcome applicants from a range of career paths who are excited to be part of a growing, fast-paced charity delivering meaningful impact.

The Head of Fundraising and Communications plays a pivotal role in shaping and driving Bowel Research UK's fundraising strategies and audience engagement initiatives.

This position is responsible for embedding and executing comprehensive fundraising strategies, growing the charity’s supporter base and income, building up new and under-developed income streams and communicating effectively with their audiences to expand their reach, and encourage financial and non-financial support to deliver the organisations mission.

You will have the autonomy and scope to drive elements of your work and take ownership of your own objectives. You will be required to collaborate on decisions to shape and deliver initiatives, programmes and processes as required for each area of income delivery. 

Key to the success of this role is a strong understanding of individual giving fundraising – an area that is underdeveloped at Bowel Research UK. This role blends the strategic oversight and leadership of a Head of Fundraising role, with the hands-on expertise of an IG fundraiser. Experience across other income streams would be a huge benefit as the role leads all fundraising income streams, but experience in individual giving is essential.

The successful candidate for this role will be someone who has already operated at a senior level within a charity such as at Senior Manager level, or Head of in a specific income stream.

Application notes 

Please download the Candidate Info Pack provided for further information about the role, timelines and next steps.

To progress your application, please contact THINK Recruitment to organise an informal screening call. Please note, we cannot shortlist candidates who have not had a screening call so please allow enough time to have a call before the closing date.

If you need assistance with downloading the pack or any reasonable adjustments to ensure you can engage with the selection process, please send an email to THINK Recruitment and our team will support you.

Closing date for applications: Midnight Tuesday 14th July 

There will be a two stage interview process: 

Stage 1 interviews: 22nd or 23rd July 

Stage 2 interviews: 29th or 30th July 

Are you passionate about helping people feel confident and connected, as well as building relationships across community, voluntary sector and research environments?

If so, you may be the Community Research & Engagement Associate we’re looking for.

We’re seeking a warm, organised, community-minded individual to support a growing programme of research, involvement, engagement and participation across Somerset’s voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) sector.

The role will support activity linked to Somerset’s Research Engagement Network (REN), Somerset Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC) and wider research, partnership and engagement activity across Spark Somerset.

The postholder will play an important role in helping strengthen connections between communities, VCFSE organisations and research partners, ensuring community voices and experiences help shape future research and engagement activity.

You don’t need to come from a traditional academic research background – if you have an interest in research, participation and community engagement, and understand how community insights and lived experience can help shape better services, we’d love to hear from you.

This is a fixed-term role, working approximately two days per week for six to seven months. The budget is £10,000 inclusive of VAT and costs such as travel and connectivity.

For further information about the position and who we’re looking for, please visit our website.

Who We Are

The Race Equality Foundation is a national charity working to tackle systemic racism and create the conditions for everyone to live healthy, secure and fulfilling lives and we are looking to appoint a Head of Operations. 

We combine evidence, co-production and practical action to address the root causes of racial inequality. Our work focuses not only on identifying inequality, but on challenging the structural racism, discrimination and unequal distribution of power that drive them. We work alongside communities, practitioners, policymakers and institutions to develop evidence-informed solutions that improve services, strengthen communities and promote racial justice.

Today, our work spans health and care, employment, housing and community wellbeing. Through partnerships, research, training and policy influence, we continue to demonstrate what meaningful anti-racist systems change can look like in practice. 

We are based in London but have a national remit.

Job description

We are entering a period of organisational growth and staff restructure, and the Head of Operations will be a new post at REF. The postholder will be ready to get stuck in, helping us to identify and address operational challenges before they become problems and reduce unnecessary demands on managers and senior leaders. We are looking for an effective communicator to ensure that people, systems, and resources support the Foundation's mission and enable staff to do their best work. We are not looking for someone who believes every challenge requires a new process. We are looking for someone who can exercise sound judgement, introduce structure where it adds value and help create the conditions in which staff and managers can focus on delivering impact. 

The postholder will be expected to bring a strong commitment to anti-racism, equity and inclusion in the way they approach organisational development and operational leadership. 

See Job Description document for full details of the role and responsibilties.

Person Specification 

Essential 

• Several years' experience in a senior operational, organisational development or business management role in a charity or voluntary sector organisation. 

• Proven track record of driving operational improvements, such as overseeing or changing workflow systems, maintaining good governance and compliance policies, or implementing strong CRM systems. 

• Proven track record of managing HR procedures, demonstrating strong interpersonal and communication skills, and effective people management including maintaining working relationships with colleagues at all levels. 

• Strong ability to balance strategic thinking with operational delivery. 

• Strong understanding of equality, diversity and inclusion and the ability to apply these principles in practice. 

• Experience of working in an environment that requires flexibility, sound judgement and the ability to manage competing priorities. 

• Experience of managing external suppliers, advisers or contractors. 

Desirable 

• Experience of working in a time and resource limited small or start up organisation. 

• Experience of working with boards, trustees or governance structures. 

• Experience of working in an organisation committed to equality, anti-racism or social justice.

• Knowledge of organisational development or change management approaches. 

Pay and Conditions of Service

This post is permanent and full-time.

The annual full-time salary for this role is between £47,911 and £53,890, inclusive of London Weighting. 

There is a probationary period of six months for this post. 

Full-time staff are entitled to 25 days holiday leave per annum with additional days for long service. The timing of holidays must fit in with the needs of the Foundation and must be agreed in advance. In addition to annual holidays there is paid time off for national holidays. 

The post will be based in the London office at Unit 17 Deane House Studios, 27 Greenwood Place, London NW5 1LB. Staff currently work two to three days a week in the office. 

The normal working week is 35 hours for full-time posts, seven hours per day, Monday to Friday. Standard office hours are 9.00 a.m.-5.00 p.m.

Application Process

Applications will only be accepted via the portal on our website. We will require the submission of an application form and a supporting statement. The supporting statement should be 2-3 pages max, 12 point font. We will not accept applications via CV. Candidates invited to interview will be asked to prepare a presentation, details will be shared in advance.

Please note that we are only able to appoint people who are eligible to work in the UK.