Head of service design and participation jobs

Details

Position:Head of Community Support and Operations

Location:Barnsley, South Yorkshire

Hours:30 hours to be taken flexibly over Monday – Friday; 1 day wfh allowance

Salary:                                £50,562 FTE (£40,996 pro rata)

Contract type:Permanent

Reportable to: CEO

Direct reports: Volunteer Development Co-ordinator, Charity Advisor and Partnership Coordinator and any relevant roles that develop

Job Purpose

The Head of Community Support and Operations is a pivotal new role being introduced to the executive team at Barnsley CVS.  This person will be a key role in the growth and development of the executive team.  You will play an exciting part in the delivery and development of the recently developed 4-year strategy and theory of change. Your role will drive intention and focus on developing our support to the sector in a meaningful way to high standards, whilst ensuring our own internal operations reflect best practice.  You will need a strong knowledge of charity set up, management and governance along with a passion for what the VCSE sector does.  You will be confident in people management and development; have the ability to work inclusively with a wide range of people and backgrounds and the skill to see gaps and opportunities for service development.

You will work closely with the Head of Strategic Partnerships to identify gaps and opportunities to develop our offer of support to the sector whether through direct services, training, brokerage agreements or membership offers.  As you identify these opportunities, you will work collaboratively with the Head of Business Development to explore commercial income options that are also in line with our mission and vision.

Using your excellent people skills, you will act as the first point of contact for HR matters within the charity, overseeing the general management of our online HR system, policies and procedures.  You will work in collaboration with the CEO in any areas that need significant development or management.

You will keep up to date with new initiatives and ideas in the wider infrastructure sector, relevant legislation and modern thinking in relation to charity management best practice.

Benefits:

- 33 days annual leave increasing with years of service + annual leave given between Christmas and New Year that doesn't count against your annual leave

- Sick leave entitlement increases with years of service

- 5% pension contribution

- Paid leave to complete voluntary activity for up to 5 days pro rata

- Discount on local gym membership

- Flexible working with TOIL given for any additional hours worked

Are you an exceptional Head of Youth looking for a senior leadership role in a ground-breaking charity? Come lead our work with, by and for young people aged 11–25 at the Winch.

You will oversee the design and delivery of effective and innovative programmes, secure funding to advance young peoples opportunties and build strong partnerships that support our strategic goals. As part of the senior management team, you will play a key role in driving our mission to create communities where all children and young people can thrive. You will model our core values of Joy, Care and Courage.

We have recently secured funding from Propel for the Inspiring Inclusion initiative—a seven-year, multi-agency partnership focused on transforming the school system for Black and racially minoritised students at risk of exclusion, particularly those affected by adverse childhood experiences. As Head of Youth, you will act as programme lead and external ambassador for the partnership.

At TLG, we’re passionate about building an exceptional staff team that’s committed to making a real difference in the lives of struggling children across the UK. We’re always on the lookout for great people to journey with us towards our vision, and we’re excited to offer a unique opportunity for a motivated and mission-driven individual to join us as Therapeutic Hub Head of Service in Greenwich.

We’re looking for a skilled and innovative individual to lead one of our pioneering Therapeutic Hubs, developed in partnership with a local church. This role sits at the front line of responding to the growing mental and emotional health needs of children, young people and families, offering high-quality therapeutic support to intervene early and prevent crisis.

As Head of Service for the Hub, you will provide strong clinical leadership, delivering targeted therapeutic support for complex cases while overseeing referrals and therapeutic pathways within the Hub. You will lead and support a multidisciplinary team of volunteer counsellors, trainees and therapeutic coaches, modelling trauma‑informed, relational practice shaped by PACE values and reflective supervision.

Alongside direct delivery, you will play a key role in developing the Hub’s reach and effectiveness, working collaboratively with TLG, the partner church and local referrers. Safeguarding, quality and professional excellence are central to the role, with responsibility for ensuring the hub is a safe, welcoming and effective space for children and families from diverse backgrounds to find healing and hope.

If you are a skilled clinician with a heart for children, families and the local church, and you’re excited to help shape an innovative model of care, we would love to hear from you.

TLG is a Christian charity and, as a team, we want to bring our faith to the work we do; as such, we are recruiting an individual with a strong and vibrant Christian faith. We would welcome applications from candidates from diverse backgrounds to enable us to better reflect the needs of the communities we serve.

Hours: Part-time, 2.5 days (18.75 hrs) per week (0.5 FTE)

Closing Date: Sunday 17th May

Initial Interviews: Monday 1st June – Online

Final Interviews: Mon 8th / Tuesday 9th June – at Emmanuel Church London

As Policy & Participation Lead, you’ll be at the heart of Inspiring Inclusion, a seven-year multi-agency programme funded by Propel, which is tackling the disproportionate school exclusion of Black and racially minoritised young people with adverse childhood experiences. Your mission is to make sure young people aren’t just consulted or 'given a voice', but are driving the change.

Yor day job is to design, lead and facilitate the systems, structures, culture and activities that power youth leadership and make change happen. You will be an organiser, working to catalyse and sustain youth engagement across a network of partners, ensuring young people’s experiences impact where it matters most. You will be committed to building something meaningful, rather than signalling through social media moments. You will co-design and co-deliver high-quality, in-person and community based youth services, activities and opportunities that reflect young people’s realities. You will want to make a difference, and will develop powerful, authentic materials—stories, insights and policy ideas—that drive change locally in Camden and beyond

You will bring experience of working with young people using a wide-range of strengths-based, participatory approaches grounded in justice, equity and inclusion. You will be excited by the opportunity to design and create a citizens assembly for young people to create a manifesto for change in schools. You know how to create spaces where young people facing challenges can grow, be affirmed and thrive. You’re confident navigating complex systems and partnerships, and will be a persuasive communicator across a range of media, and skilled at platforming young people to influence. Finally, you will be a team player, because it will take all of us to build the worlds young people deserve.

HEAD OF RETENTION & DEVELOPMENT

Senior supporter retention and donor development role with individuals, churches and charitable trusts at Christian charity Embrace the Middle East.

Why work for Embrace the Middle East?

• Hybrid role: High Wycombe (minimum onsite twice a month)
• 10% employer pension contribution
• 24 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays, increasing to 25 days after 5 years and 26 days after 10 years. Plus 3 days between Christmas and New Year.
• Life Assurance: 3× salary
• Flexi-time and home-working options
• Employee Assistance Programme (confidential counselling, legal and financial advice, available 24/7)
• Access to retail discount portal
• Training and development programme
• A values-led team committed to mission, integrity, and compassion

About the Role

Working with the Director of Fundraising and Communications, you will lead the development and delivery of Embrace’s supporter retention and donor development strategy, building deep and lasting relationships with individuals, churches, and communities. You’ll be responsible for shaping the full supporter lifecycle, from onboarding and ongoing relationship building to reactivation, cross-engagement, and long-term value growth. This is a role that blends strategy, creativity, and data insight, requiring someone who can hold the big picture while empowering a diverse team of fundraising and subject matter experts.

You’ll have:

• Proven experience in supporter engagement, donor retention, and income growth strategies.
• Strong analytical skills, experience using data for segmentation, trend analysis,
• and performance optimisation.
• Strategic thinking, with the ability to innovate and diversify income streams.
• Excellent leadership and team management skills, with an ability to lead and develop high‑performing teams in hybrid/remote settings.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects from planning to delivery.
• Knowledge of UK fundraising regulations, GDPR, and ethical practice.

Role Requirements

• Commitment to Embrace’s Christian mission and values (as a practising Christian or someone supportive of our ethos).
• Willingness to travel occasionally to the Middle East (every 2–3 years).
• Right to work in the UK.

About Embrace the Middle East

At Embrace the Middle East, we believe in hope, dignity, and partnership. For over 170 years, we’ve worked with local Christian partners to bring healthcare, education, and opportunity to vulnerable and marginalised communities.

We are strengthening our marketing to deepen engagement and expand our supporter base. We are now seeking an experienced, visionary Head of Marketing & Acquisition to lead multi‑channel supporter and donor growth, build a digital‑first marketing strategy, and drive sustainable organisational impact.

Embrace the Middle East is committed to equal opportunities and to creating an inclusive working environment. We welcome applications from all individuals regardless of age, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion or belief. If you require adjustments during the application or interview process, please let us know in your online response.

The successful candidate will be required to complete a medical questionnaire and undertake a disclosure check as part of our safer recruitment policy.

For an informal chat to ask any questions, please contact Nick Thomas, Senior Consultant, Charisma Charity Recruitment. Please apply through the Charisma Charity Recruitment website with your CV and supporting statement.

Key dates:

Closing date: Tuesday 28th April 2026

Charisma vetting interviews must be completed by: Tuesday 5th May 2026

Interviews with Embrace the Middle East: w/c 11th May 2026

Please refer to the candidate pack for more comprehensive information.

This is a key role within our team dedicated to delivering outstanding customer service. You will be the first point of contact for all of Stewardship’s customers, especially those using our giving platform. In this role, your customer service expertise will shine as you understand client needs, assist with a diverse range of enquiries, and resolve issues promptly to deliver an exceptional and joyful experience for every customer that brings our mission and values to life.

We’re looking for a warm, customer-focused individual who is passionate about delivering great service, creating meaningful connection with Stewardship’s customers and prospective customers, and helping those we serve be the best stewards of the resources God gives them.

Occupational Requirement (OR)

As a result of our Christian ethos, this post is covered by an Occupational Requirement (OR) under Part 1 of Schedule 9 to the Equality Act 2010. The successful applicant will be expected to be a practising Christian and to clearly demonstrate a personal commitment to the mission, principles, values and practices contained in our Ethos Statement, by:

· Active membership of local church congregation.

An understanding of the faith aspects of the work of Christian charities, including the preparedness to pray with colleagues, where appropriate.

About Action for Pulmonary Fibrosis

Action for Pulmonary Fibrosis (APF) is the UK’s leading patient charity dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by pulmonary fibrosis. Our mission is underpinned by values of compassionate, bold, expert and collaborative. We believe in creating a supportive environment in which both our employees and beneficiaries can thrive.

Founded in 2013 by people affected by PF and clinicians, APF has grown into a respected national charity rooted in community and evidence. We provide trusted information and support, help a growing network of support groups, campaign to improve access to care and invest in research to bring hope of new treatments. APF strives to be an organisation of equity and inclusion, welcoming people from all backgrounds – our team and volunteers aim to reflect the diverse communities we serve.

We have just launched an ambitious five-year strategy (2025–2030), co-created with the PF community, which focuses on expanding support, transforming care, and accelerating research. This strategy marks a step change with a clearer focus, stronger delivery model and greater ambition to ensure no one faces pulmonary fibrosis alone.

Role purpose

The Senior Challenge Fundraising Officer will lead the delivery and growth of APF’s third-party and mass participation challenge events portfolio.

This role exists to significantly grow income and participation by managing end-to-end third-party challenge events, developing community-facing charity-owned fundraising products and delivering excellent supporter stewardship

Working closely with the Head of Fundraising and colleagues across Communications, Services and the Operations Team, you will increase recruitment, empower supporters to raise ambitious funds, and create journeys that encourage long-term engagement with APF.

Success in this role means more people fundraising for APF, raising more income and feeling valued, supported and inspired to stay connected to our mission.

Key Responsibilities

1. Grow participation in third party

• Manage the full lifecycle of third-party and mass participation challenge events, from planning and recruitment through to stewardship and re engagement.
• Develop and execute creative marketing strategies to boost participation and attract new event participants.
• Draft engaging promotional content that inspires and engages our supporters in collaboration with the Communications team.
• Promote third-party events proactively across relevant channels and networks.
• Work with the wider Fundraising team to improve and refine the stewardship journey for challenge participants to maximise the participant experience.
• Identify and pursue opportunities to grow participation in new and existing events.
• Attend key events as required, managing on-the day logistics and volunteer coordination.

2.  Community Product Development

• Work with Head of Fundraising to shape and improve APF’s fundraising offer and remote products.
• Test and refine new fundraising concepts that increase accessibility and broaden participation.
• Work collaboratively across teams to ensure our community fundraising products align with wider campaigns and strategic priorities.

3.  Income growth and fundraiser mpowerment

• Inspire participants to achieve ambitious fundraising targets through engaging, creative communications.
• Develop and enhance fundraising materials, including participant packs and digital resources to support our fundraisers.
• Use insight and sector trends to identify opportunities to boost event visibility and maximise fundraising efforts.
• Monitor fundraising performance to ensure we’re meeting targets and delivering strong ROI on our challenge activities.

4. Stewardship and re-engagement

• Foster personal connections with supporters through thoughtful, tailored stewardship that keeps them engaged and feeling valued.
• Create clear re-engagement plans to encourage repeat participation and long-term loyalty.
• Collaborate with wider Fundraising and Services teams to support acquisition and ensure our supporters have a smooth, high-quality supporter journey.
• Represent APF publicly when required, acting as a confident ambassador for the charity at events and in public settings.

5. Data, insight and compliance

• Support on the management of CRM data to enable accurate segmentation, performance tracking and reporting.
• Monitor recruitment, participation, income and ROI to help inform future planning and improvements.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge with GDPR regulations and compliance and ensure personal data is handled responsibly and securely.
• Work closely with the Governance and Operations Manager to ensure our fundraising activities are fully compliant with GDPR and the Code of Fundraising Practice.

How to apply

Please submit a CV and a covering letter (maximum of two pages) highlighting your skills and suitability to the role, reflecting the key responsibilities in the job description.

First stage interviews to be held virtually on 1st May 2026, second stage interviews to be held at the Peterborough office on 8th May 2026.

This is a genuinely exciting time to join our growing team and make a real difference to people affected by gyanecological cancers.

As our Senior Digital Marketing Officer you will be responsible for boosting our income through online engagement, marketing and stewardship. The role includes responsibility for delivering paid advertising across various platforms (currently META, PPC, Reddit and TikTok) driving income through direct gifts, challenge event participation and other income generation activities.

Writing, designing and delivering our supporter emails, and overall supporter journeys, is also a key component of the role, boosting digital engagement with a view to driving additional income over time.

When it comes to this work, you'll be our lead for this area internally but you'll also have the support of our digital agency, who we maintain a close working relationship with, the wider fundraising team and the organisation as a whole. You will also benefit from several years of testing, insight gathering and proven results to build upon.

No formal qualifications are needed and charity sector experience is not a requirement. We encourage everyone with the appropriate skills, experience and potential to apply.

Lead with purpose. Shape services that change lives.

Unpaid carers are at the heart of everything we do. Every day across Hertfordshire, carers balance extraordinary responsibilities — often without recognition, rest or support. At Carers in Hertfordshire, we exist to change that.

We are values‑led, carer‑led and deeply committed to ensuring carers feel recognised, listened to and supported. As we evolve our organisational structure to maximise our impact, we are seeking an inspirational Operational Manager to help lead our services into the next chapter.

The Opportunity

This is a senior leadership role with real breadth, influence and meaning. As Operational Manager, you will ensure our core services are delivered with compassion, quality and consistency — while never losing sight of the lived experience of carers themselves.

You will lead and support our Service Managers and Team Leaders, create clarity through strong operational planning, and foster a culture where empathy, learning and accountability go hand in hand. You’ll use insight and data to drive improvement, while ensuring that carers’ voices remain central to how services are designed, delivered and evaluated.

This is a role for someone who can balance heart and head — leading people with kindness and emotional intelligence, while confidently overseeing performance, safeguarding, resources and contracts.

What You’ll Be Responsible For

• Providing visible, values‑led leadership across all operational services
• Supporting and developing managers and team leaders through reflective, people‑centred practice
• Ensuring services are safe, accessible, inclusive and consistently high quality
• Leading the creation and delivery of the annual Operational Plan
• Embedding meaningful monitoring and evaluation that reflects carers’ experiences and outcomes
• Championing safeguarding that is robust, compassionate and proportionate
• Ensuring excellent contract performance, accountability and reporting
• Managing resources and budgets in ways that protect our caring ethos
• Embedding EDI, participation and co‑production across services
• Holding operational risk with integrity, transparency and care

About You

You will bring senior operational leadership experience from a charity, health, social care or community setting, alongside a deep commitment to values‑led, people‑focused practice.

You’ll be someone who:

• Leads with empathy, credibility and clarity
• Is experienced in managing managers across complex services
• Has strong safeguarding expertise with both children and adults
• Understands how to use data, insight and evaluation to improve services — without losing humanity
• Is confident balancing compassion with accountability
• Believes deeply in co‑production, inclusion and listening to lived experience

Experience with carers’ services, young people’s services, condition‑specific projects or contact management systems (such as Salesforce) would be an advantage — but above all, we’re looking for someone whose values align with ours.

Why Join Us?

This is a chance to play a pivotal role in a respected, carer‑led organisation at a moment of positive change. You’ll help shape how we work, support staff wellbeing, and ensure carers across Hertfordshire receive the understanding, respect and support they deserve.

If you’re driven by purpose, grounded in compassion, and ready to lead with impact — we’d love to hear from you.

Interviews will be held on 30th April.  Those invited for interview will be notified by close of play on 27th April.

BVSC is looking for a Health & Wellbeing Volunteer Lead to drive the growth and impact of our volunteerled programmes — Bexley Buddies and Digital Champions. 

This role is perfect for someone who enjoys working collaboratively across sectors, developing highquality volunteer programmes, and strengthening relationships with GP surgeries, NHS partners, charities and community organisations. You will play a key role in delivering better outcomes for residents by ensuring volunteers are supported, trained, and empowered to make a meaningful difference across the borough. 

You will lead programme delivery, champion best practice in volunteering, support two staff members, and maintain strong relationships with partners and commissioners. With over 80 volunteers involved, this is a unique opportunity to contribute to boroughwide health and wellbeing priorities while shaping and expanding volunteerled community support. 

Key Areas of Work: 

• Programme Leadership & Delivery: Lead the expansion and quality assurance of volunteerled health and wellbeing programmes across GP surgeries and community settings. 

• Partnerships & Stakeholder Engagement: Build and maintain effective relationships with NHS, VCS and community partners, representing BVSC at borough‑wide health and wellbeing forums. 

• Volunteer Leadership & Workforce Development: Support, coach and manage staff and volunteers to ensure an inclusive, rewarding and high‑quality volunteer experience. 

• Continuous Improvement & Insight: Use feedback, monitoring and evaluation frameworks to strengthen programme effectiveness and drive ongoing improvement. 

We’re looking for an experienced leader with a strong background in community health or wellbeing programmes, partnership working and volunteer management. You will bring excellent communication, problem‑solving and strategic planning skills, along with the ability to support teams and build effective relationships across NHS, voluntary sector and community partners.

If you are proactive, organised and passionate about improving outcomes for local residents, we’d love to hear from you. 

About the role:

Do you enjoy being the welcoming face of a service, keeping things running smoothly and creating a safe, organised environment for young people? We’re looking for Day Concierges to join our Young People’s Accommodation Pathway in Lewisham and Greenwich, supporting young people aged 16 to 25 to settle, grow in independence and move towards their next home.

This is a key front of house role where no two days are the same. You’ll be the first point of contact for clients, visitors and partners, helping to create a calm, professional and supportive atmosphere across the service. Working closely with duty staff, you’ll play a central role in the day to day running of the building, from managing access and handling enquiries to keeping things safe, organised and welcoming for everyone who walks through the door.

In our Greenwich services, you’ll work across multiple sites within the pathway, moving between services as needed and building strong relationships with different teams and clients. You’ll also take the lead on health and safety, voids and maintenance processes, helping to ensure our spaces are safe, well maintained and ready for young people to move into.

You don’t need previous experience in the sector to apply. This role is a great way to start or grow your career, with plenty of support, training and learning from experienced colleagues around you. What matters most is your approach, your reliability and your ability to connect with people.

The Greenwich role follows a rolling rota of 9am to 19:30pm, across 3 to 4 days per week, including weekends every other week.

The Lewisham role follows a rota of 8am to 15:30pm, Monday-Friday.

About you:

• You enjoy being front of house and take pride in creating a welcoming, well run environment
• You’re organised, reliable and able to keep on top of a busy, varied workload
• You communicate clearly and confidently with a wide range of people
• You stay calm under pressure and can respond to situations in a practical, solution focused way
• You’re interested in supporting young people to feel safe, settled and able to move forward

About us:

We’re London’s leading homelessness charity – and we get things done.

In a city where hundreds are forced into homelessness every day, our work has never been more needed or more challenging. And we’re not shying away. We’re rolling up our sleeves to make change and helping over 10,000 Londoners every year. We prevent homelessness, provide safe places to live and give people the opportunity to rebuild their lives and transform their futures. And we never give up. 

We’re here for Londoners wherever they are on their journey. We start with trust, building relationships that help people feel safe, supported, and ready to move forward. Every day, we put people first in everything we do, challenging injustice and barriers that keep people from the safety, stability and opportunity they deserve. We stand alongside people as they rebuild and shape a future that feels their own. 

Joining Single Homeless Project means joining a team that’s bold, compassionate and determined to do better for the people we support and for each other. You’ll work alongside colleagues with lived experience, in a space that’s trans-inclusive, disability-friendly, and actively striving to be anti-oppressive and equitable. 

We’re not perfect, but we’re real. We listen. We learn. And we push forward, together. Because this isn’t just a job. It’s a chance to lead with empathy, spark change, and help build a London where no one is left behind.

Important info:

Closing date: Sunday 19th April at midnight

Interview date: Tuesday 28th and Thursday 30th April at our Head Office in Kings Cross

Please note shortlisted candidates will be required to complete a short psychometric test before being confirmed for interview. 

This post will require an Enhanced DBS check to be processed (by SHP) for the successful applicant.

Please note applications are reviewed for AI use in application questions. Applications with insufficient right to work or requiring sponsorship will not be accepted for this role. 

The Charity for Civil Servants sits at the heart of the UK Civil Service. While we can’t always prevent the tricky, stressful, sad stuff from happening, when it does happen, we help current, former and retired civil servants get the best support.

We’re 140 years old in 2026 and we’ve got big ambitions to ensure we are there for those who need us for generations to come.

We are looking for a Digital Communications Manager to join Communications Team as we embark on the next phase of our strategy to accelerate awareness, participation and income growth. This role drives the strategic digital communications which play a pivotal role in raising awareness of the Charity’s work.

Working collaboratively with internal teams, this role will oversee our digital marketing strategies, manage our website and create video content to promote our services, campaigns, and fundraising initiatives.

If you have digital communication and/or marketing experience within the charity or public sector, and at a manager level, then we would like to hear from you!

The ideal candidate will also be highly experienced in website and content management systems, content creation and SEO/SEM. Highly skilled in social media, email marketing systems, scheduling tools, analytics dashboards and tools, CRM, CMS and design suites, they will be an expert in Adobe Creative suite, Canva and other video editing tools. Strong project management and strategic planning skills as well as line manager experience are essential.

In return, we can offer you a supportive, inspiring and friendly team culture and excellent benefits including a health cash plan, Headspace, life assurance, excellent pension, generous annual leave, birthday leave and a cycle to work scheme.

To apply, please submit your CV and a covering letter that states why you would be suitable for this role. The closing date for applications is 19 April 2026. 

First interviews will take place on 27 April 2026. Please let us know in your covering letter if this date would be difficult for you. If you need any adjustments to enable you to perform to your best at interview, please let us know in your application (you don’t have to explain why).

The Charity for Civil Servants are committed to building and developing a workforce which reflects the diversity of the civil service community that we support. We seek to ensure all job applications are treated fairly, with respect and without bias and we encourage applications from suitably experienced candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion or belief, or any other factor.

St Pauls Advice Centre is a trusted, community-based charity providing free, specialist legal advice to people facing poverty, insecurity and injustice. We work across welfare benefits, debt, and immigration, supporting people to understand and exercise their rights.

We are looking for a thoughtful and committed Community Engagement Officer to join us on a maternity cover basis. This role is central to ensuring that the voices, experiences and insights of the communities we serve inform how our services are designed, delivered and improved.

About the role

Working closely with the Executive Director and wider team, you will coordinate our community engagement activity and help strengthen relationships with local communities and partners.

You will play a key role in maintaining and developing our engagement work, ensuring continuity while contributing to how we listen, learn and respond as an organisation.

Your work will include:

• Building and maintaining relationships with community groups, residents and partner organisations
• Coordinating engagement activities such as community events, conversations and feedback processes
• Supporting and facilitating advisory or user groups to shape services
• Gathering and organising insight from engagement activity to inform service delivery and development
• Working with staff and volunteers to ensure community voice is reflected across the organisation
• Contributing to accessible, community-facing materials and communications
• Supporting collaboration and partnership working across the local area

About you

We are looking for someone who:

• Has experience of community engagement, outreach or participation work (paid or voluntary)
• Builds trust easily and works well with people from a wide range of backgrounds
• Communicates clearly and sensitively, both verbally and in writing
• Is organised, reliable and able to manage their own workload
• Is interested in how community insight can shape services and improve outcomes
• Shares our commitment to equity, dignity and social justice

Experience in the advice or charity sector is helpful but not essential.

Why join us

This is an opportunity to contribute to an organisation working at the intersection of advice, health and justice. You will help ensure that services are shaped by the people who use them, and that community voice is central to how we work.

We offer:

• Salary: £27,254 FTE (Actual £10,901.60)
• 14 hours per week (flexible working)
• Fixed-term 9-month maternity cover contract
• 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays (pro rata)
• Additional 3 days leave between Christmas and New Year
• 5% employer pension contribution
• A supportive and reflective team culture

Apply

We welcome applications from people with lived experience of the issues our clients face, and from communities underrepresented in the advice sector.

To apply, please complete the personal application form, the competency application form and the equal opportunities monitoring form and email them to us.

Closing date: Monday 27th April, 10:00 am
Interview date: Tuesday 5th May

Please note: we do not accept CVs. No agencies.

We are looking for a new CEO to lead Surrey Community Action into a bright and exciting future, where the voluntary sector and communities of Surrey are helped to survice and thrive.

Surrey Community Action

Chief Executive Officer

35 hours per week, mostly office based but with some scope for working remotely.

Based in Burpham, Guildford, Surrey

The role is subject to a satisfactory DBS check.

£62,000 for a 35-hour week

5% employers pension contribution

25 days annual leave plus three days over Christmas

Employee Assistance Programme

About Surrey Community Action

Surrey Community Action supports Surrey’s voluntary sector, the diverse communities of Surrey, and other organisations who seek to work with either. We ensure that non-voluntary sector stakeholders understand the value of our sector and how to work together to achieve shared objectives. We provide services to Surrey’s voluntary sector that increase their effectiveness or fill gaps in their capability, capacity, and resilience. Services to the Surrey’s Communities and we provide services directly to Surrey’s communities that support community action and address unsupported needs.

About The Role

We are seeking a new Chief Executive to join us at an ideal time to complete and implement our emerging new strategy and direct Surrey Community Action into a bright future.

As Chief Executive Officer, you will have the scope and authority to shape strategy, influence policy, empower Surrey’s voluntary sector, and champion rural communities, working closely with a committed Board, and experienced staff team.

You will be the organisation’s lead ambassador, building trusted relationships with partners, funders and decision‑makers, and ensuring the organisation’s voice is heard at local, regional and national level.

You will also play a critical role in leading change and transformation within the charity - strengthening systems, diversifying income and evolving how the organisation works so it remains resilient, relevant and impactful in a fast‑changing environment.

This is a role for someone who enjoys balancing big‑picture thinking with practical delivery, and who can bring people with them through periods of transition.

If you are motivated to improve the capability, capacity and resilience of the Surrey’s voluntary sector, communities and residents; if you thrive in complex and changing stakeholder environments; and if you are excited by the challenge of leading an organisation through its next phase of growth and influence, this role is for you.

No two days will be the same, but there are some core parts of this role.

• Strategic Leadership & Organisational Direction
• You will lead the delivery of a clear, compelling organisational strategy, adapting it in response to an evolving operating environment and ensuring the organisation remains agile, future‑focused and well positioned within the voluntary and community sectors.
• Board Partnership & Governance
• You will work collaboratively with the Board of Trustees, providing high‑quality insight, advice and assurance on strategy, finance, risk, governance and compliance, and then supporting effective Board decision‑making through clear reporting, analysis and professional guidance.
• Leadership of People & Culture
• You will lead, inspire and support the staff team through a transparent, inclusive and empowering management style, creating a high‑performance culture rooted in trust, accountability, equality, diversity and wellbeing.
• Change Management & Organisational Development
• You will be a skilled change manager, leading transformation in response to evolving funding landscapes, policy shifts, technology and community needs, designing and implementing systems, structures and processes that strengthen organisational effectiveness and resilience.
• Ambassadorial Role, Advocacy & External Relations
• You will be the public face of the organisation, representing it with credibility, passion and authority, and building strong, influential relationships with funders, partners, policymakers, communities and stakeholders.

About You

The purpose of the Chief Executive Officer’s role is to guide and plan the strategic development and overall direction of the organisation, providing strong leadership and co-ordination to ensure the aims, strategic objectives and priorities of the organisation are achieved.

To do this, we need someone who embodies the following attributes, skills and experience.

You will have:

• Senior leadership experience within a voluntary, community, public or values‑led organisation, with accountability for strategy, performance and resources.
• Proven experience of working effectively with a Board or trustees
• Demonstrable success in leading and managing organisational change, including restructuring, service development or cultural transformation.
• Experience in fundraising, income generation and business development
• Experience of financial leadership, including budgeting, financial planning, income generation and managing funding agreements or contracts.
• A strong track record of external engagement, partnership working and representation at senior level.
• People management experience, supporting a compact team delivering diverse projects.
• Excellent communication skills (including social media) and governance literacy.
• It will be a distinct advantage to have familiarity with Local Government Reorganisation and devolution, ideally in a county like Surrey.

You will be:

• Motivated, motivating and dynamic
• An effective communicator (including social media) with good network contacts, especially in the VCSE sector and across local government
• A strong team builder, able to develop, encourage and support colleagues in making the most of their experience and skillsets and to feel confident in their abilities
• A visionary leader who is able to embrace and manage change through strategic creativity and innovation, while also able to pay attention to detail when necessary.
• Ideally, you will also be able to demonstrate understanding of charity governance, compliance and safeguarding.
• Calm and confident under pressure with an evidence-based approach to prioritising finite resources.

These attributes, skills and experience will make you stand out, but even if you do not match all the criteria below, we still want to hear about you and what you can offer.

The Nuts and Bolts

The role is a permanent contract for 35 hours per week, mostly office based but with some scope for working remotely.

Our offices are in Guildford, Surrey

We are committed to continued professional development and will support you to develop your skills even further.

The role is subject to a satisfactory DBS check.

The salary for this post is £62,000 for a 35-hour week.

We also offer:

• 5% employers pension contribution
• Employee Assistance Programme
• 25 days holiday with an additional three days between Christmas and New Year, as well as all English Bank Holidays

We can only accept applications from candidates with the right to work in the UK.