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The Head of Operations will provide strategic leadership and oversight of HEY Smile Foundation’s governance arrangements, organisational systems and infrastructure, human resources and culture, and buildings and facilities. The role will ensure Smile has the people, processes, controls and resources to deliver its purpose reliably and respond confidently to future opportunities. Working closely with the CEO and senior leadership team, the postholder will translate organisational strategy into a clear operational plan, strengthen accountability and lead improvements across the charity. They will provide the CEO and trustees with timely information, assurance and practical recommendations on operational performance, capacity and risk.
This is a senior leadership role combining strategic oversight with the ability to secure delivery through colleagues, managers and specialist providers. The postholder will establish clear responsibilities, standards and reporting, intervening directly where necessary and building capacity so that routine delivery does not depend on the CEO.
Closing date : Saturday 30th October
Application sift : Monday 2nd November
In person Interviews: Tuesday 10th November
Please submit your up to date CV and a cover letter outlining why your suited for the role and how you meet the essential criteria.
Application without a CV & cover letter will automatically be rejected.
Smile Foundation is a Yorkshire-based infrastructure charity working to strengthen charities and communities.



The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
We are seeking an experienced, inspirational and forward-thinking Head of Dog Training & Client Services to lead one of the charity's most important service areas.
Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer and forming part of the Senior Leadership Team, this role provides strategic and operational leadership across our Training Department, including Puppy Development, Dog Supply, Instructor Services and Client Services functions.
This is an exciting opportunity for a motivated individual to shape the future of our training and client services, lead a dedicated team of professionals, and ensure the highest standards of support for both our beneficiaries and assistance dogs.
As Head of Dog Training & Client Services, you will be responsible for the overall leadership, performance and development of the Training Department.
You will work closely with senior staff to ensure the successful delivery of our assistance dog programmes, while driving continuous improvement, innovation and organisational growth.
The role combines strategic leadership with operational oversight and is ideal for someone who is passionate about achieving excellent outcomes for both people and dogs.
To provide assistance dogs to support those with disabilities and long-term medical conditions leading to safer and more independent lives.
Using Anonymous Recruitment
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Citizens Advice Bury & Bolton (CABB) is a leading provider of legal advice and information, supporting thousands of clients every year. We are a busy, client focused and dynamic service with a track record of delivering high-quality advice face to face, over the phone and digitally.
There’s no ‘average’ case – our advice is tailored, but our standard of excellence is identical for every client. You will play a key role in ensuring that our services are community focused, impactful and sustainable.
As a newly created position, this role offers a unique opportunity to shape its direction, innovate, and directly define its success. You will operate with high levels of autonomy, while being fully backed and championed by Trustees and the wider Senior Leadership Team (SLT), consisting of:
- Chief Executive Officer
- Head of People, Culture & Resources
- Head of Advice Standards & Delivery
- Head of Partnerships, Data & Impact.
The Head of Partnerships, Data & Impact will provide strategic leadership for CABB’s generalist and community-based advice services, while driving organisational growth through strategic partnerships, data analytics and social impact storytelling. This role bridges operational delivery with external system integration, using hyper-local data to ensure our services directly meet the evolving needs of residents in the specific communities where help is needed most. By leveraging client insights to drive Research & Campaigns activity and inform strategic funding bids, you will articulate our organisational impact using partner-aligned terminology – translating advice outcomes into language that directly resonates with health, statutory and VCSE stakeholders (such as health inequalities, demand management, Marmot principles, and prevention) – to build strong, collaborative pathways.
Key elements and tasks within this role include:
- Data insight & impact strategy development with organisational data analysis, trend forecasting, research & campaigns and evidencing social return on investment. Leverage client data to produce high-impact insight reports, drive local, regional and national campaign work.
- Shape the future of service delivery by embedding sustainable ways of working, processes and performance frameworks, leading evidence-based recommendations that support CABB’s long-term operating model and growth ambitions, to meet client demand.
- Collaborate and build relationships across VCSE/statutory, health and wider systems, including colleagues across CABB and wider stakeholders, build positive and professional relationships with partners and contract/ funder relationships within the scope of this role. Foster positive relationships with Head of Advice Standards & Delivery, and wider SLT, deputising as required.
- Support community & generalist services through senior oversight of generalist advice teams and managers, but frame responsibilities around high-level service performance, governance and client outcomes, aligned to advice standards.
- Drive service improvement & innovation using data and technology to support continuous improvement, contribution to organisational strategic pillars and values.
Equality, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging (EDI&B):
We believe inclusion is a social justice issue - a principle that underpins our EDI&B work. To that end, we particularly welcome applications from local individuals who are representative of the local communities we serve - this is not just a matter of diversity but of strategic importance to ensure our services are grounded in the realities of our communities.
Benefits
We value the people who work here. The following are included within the employee remuneration packages as standard;
A flexible 35 hour working week (for full time employees)
Generous holiday entitlement – starting at 25 days per year, increasing to 30 (in addition to bank holidays), pro-rata for part time
Additional day off for your birthday
5% employer contribution pension scheme
Access to 24/7 confidential telephone counselling and structured counselling support
Access to online GP and telephone counselling services
Enhanced family friendly leave and occupational sick leave
Access to ‘Blue Light Card’ and other charity discount schemes
Citizens Advice Bury & Bolton (CABB) is a leading provider of legal advice and information, supporting thousands of clients every year.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
About us
New Local has a mission to transform public services and unlock community power. We publish research, lead peer learning, influence government and work with public sector organisations on some of today’s most pressing issues, informed by our network of 50-plus local authority members.
All of our work is guided by a belief in community power - the principle that communities themselves have the best insight into their own circumstances and should be able to participate in shaping their places and services. We believe that active, empowered communities should be at the heart of a wider shift towards place-based public services and a system focused on prevention, which can lead to better outcomes and a more sustainable system for all.
Purpose
Our Head of Practice role sits within our Practice and Programmes team. You will lead the development and delivery of a portfolio of practice work whilst also contributing to New Local's policy and thought leadership work. We are committed to strengthening the feedback loops between practice and policy locally, regionally and nationally and this role is key to this.
In our practice work you will solve challenges alongside councils, other public sector partners and communities, supporting them to deepen the impact of innovative place-based approaches and to understand the conditions needed for them to grow. You will be leading projects, working alongside delivery partners where needed, managing other New Local team members, to deliver high-quality work and impact for our partners.
Our thought leadership and policy approach is deeply rooted in our practice and peer-learning networks.You will draw on the pioneering work we see in places, and with our members, to support New Local's work to inform the national policy conversation about the conditions and enablers needed for places to accelerate and grow innovation in place-based, preventative and relational working.
Key tasks and responsibilities
- Manage a portfolio of practice projects, ensuring effective project management so that practice work is delivered within budget and to agreed timelines.
- Lead the delivery of projects within our practice portfolio, using a range of innovation and practice approaches including design, facilitation, strategy development, user-centred design, adaptive and collaborative learning, and approaches that enable partners to test, learn and adapt.
- Build and maintain excellent relationships with partners and clients for our practice work, across local government, the wider public sector and communities, placing an emphasis on collaborative working, co-design and building the relationships needed to support meaningful change.
- Develop and grow our practice work and generate revenues through deepening client relationships, creatively developing and responding to new partnership and business opportunities, including writing proposals and devising project budgets, aligned to our organisational purpose and vision.
- Lead effective project management of our activities, working with colleagues and partners to deliver high-quality work and impact within agreed budgets and timelines.
- Work with clients and the wider New Local team to connect practice, strategy and policy, drawing out learning from innovation and working with partners to translate this into changes in policy, strategy, systems and services, while contributing to wider thinking about the conditions needed to enable and scale change.
- Model and promote the integration of practice and policy, through testing and iterating New Local's integrated policy and practice model and proactively contributing to our thought leadership and policy work.
- Model and promote collaborative working across New Local, including with our network and communications teams, using your practice expertise and learning from projects to strengthen the wider impact of our work on community power and public service reform.
How to apply
For the full job description, person specification and details on how to apply, please visit New Local's website.
An independent think tank and network, with a mission to transform public services and unlock community power.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Work where it matters most, achieve what matters more
Be part of a team where passion meets purpose, as we work together where the challenge is greatest to change the lives and build the futures of children and young people.
We are excited to share an opportunity to join our central Transformation team as our Head of Marketing. In this role you will lead strategic marketing and brand development across the Trust, raising the profile and appeal of our schools to drive pupil numbers and attract brilliant candidates to work at Ormiston. You will lead the marketing team to support schools to develop and deliver marketing campaigns, manage their websites, and engage different audiences on social media.
You will also act as a strategic advisor to senior leaders across the Trust, and lead marketing for special projects such as new schools joining the trust and key trust-wide initiatives.
This is a home based, national role with regular travel to the Birmingham office, OAT academies and other locations as required.
About Ormiston Academies Trust
Our vision is to create a school system where every child thrives, regardless of background. Our people are at the heart of our approach – they are our greatest asset.
We exist to provide the best learning opportunities every day, in every school for every child. It is the people and teams in our Trust who make this a reality and ensure we have the greatest impact. If you join us at Ormiston, whatever your role, you can be sure of a role with purpose and meaning.
Ormiston, where every member of staff enjoys…
- The opportunity to build on the legacy of those who came before – being part of one of the longest standing Trusts, created with the sole purpose of enabling children and young people to thrive
- Working for a Trust nationally recognised for its impact on disadvantaged children – a rewarding, stimulating career where staff are challenged to be the best they can be, for the pupils we are proud to serve
- Being part of a team and community where you belong – receiving bespoke and holistic support from a well-resourced and ambitious network of experts and professionals that work at the heart of communities
- A supportive environment to grow your career – an extensive professional development programme, alongside flexible working arrangements and generous benefits
About you
You'll bring strong experience leading and managing a marketing team, with a proven track record of developing and delivering multi-channel marketing strategies and campaigns across digital, print and out-of-home. You'll be confident acting as a trusted adviser to senior leaders, including the CEO, Executive Office and Principals, translating organisational goals into effective marketing plans.
The ability to manage priorities in a busy, complex environment, working across multiple stakeholders, is critical to this role.
If you are passionate about making a difference and are ready to work in a challenging yet rewarding environment, we would love to hear from you.
Benefits that care for you
We value your hard work and dedication, and we're committed to ensuring you feel supported, both professionally and personally so that you are in the best position to make the most impact for the children and young people in our schools.
When you join us at Ormiston, you can be certain that your work will have purpose and meaning. You can also expect robust and holistic support from us to enable you to excel in your role.
You will have access to an attractive benefits package including:
- 30 days annual leave (rising to 32 days after 5 years' service)
- Generous pension and life cover
- Access to health and well-being programmes, including counselling service.
- Discounts on retail, travel, and leisure through our benefits platform.
- Free and confidential legal, tax and health 24/7 helpline.
- Cycle to work scheme.
- Automatic pay progression.
- Flexible working arrangements.
And much more as part of a leading multi-academy trust.
If you have any questions about the role please contact our recruitment team.
The closing date for applications is 25 September with interviews due to take place the week commencing 5 October 2026.
Early applications are encouraged as we reserve the right to close the vacancy early should a suitable candidate be found.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Work where it matters most, achieve what matters more
Be part of a team where passion meets purpose, as we work together where the challenge is greatest to change the lives and build the futures of children and young people.
Ormiston Academies Trust is looking for an exceptional Head of Executive Office and Communications to sit at the heart of our organisation — running our Executive Office and shaping how we communicate with 45 schools, our staff, and the wider world.
In this dual role, you'll act as trusted adviser to our CEO and Deputy CEO, managing correspondence, priorities and special projects across the Trust. You'll lead our entire communications agenda including internal, external, press and public affairs, building a strategy that helps every one of our schools feel connected to our mission, and that raises Ormiston's voice and influence across the education sector.
You'll work closely with our National Leadership Group, Principals and senior leaders, and you'll have real scope to shape how a large, multi-layered organisation talks to itself and to the outside world.
About you
You'll bring senior leadership experience, ideally gained managing a press office or public affairs function, and you'll be confident operating as a trusted adviser to CEO-level and Principal-level stakeholders. You'll have a track record managing communications across multiple channels in a large, complex organisation, and be a confident user of technology and AI, with a clear view of how AI will change communications and administration. Experience in education, the public sector, or working with ministers, regulators or national media would be an advantage, but isn't essential.
Strong writing and interpersonal skills are essential, along with the ability to distil complex information for different audiences and communicate it clearly and simply. You'll bring calm, decisive leadership under pressure, including experience managing high-profile issues or reputational risk. This role requires you to combine excellent project management with the ability to build and sustain relationships across an organisation and beyond it.
Above all, you'll bring a genuine commitment to Ormiston's mission and values, and the creativity and critical thinking to solve problems in a fast-paced, changing environment.
About Ormiston Academies Trust
Our vision is to create a school system where every child thrives, regardless of background. Our people are at the heart of our approach – they are our greatest asset.
We exist to provide the best learning opportunities every day, in every school for every child. It is the people and teams in our Trust who make this a reality and ensure we have the greatest impact. If you join us at Ormiston, whatever your role, you can be sure of a role with purpose and meaning.
Ormiston, where every member of staff enjoys…
- The opportunity to build on the legacy of those who came before – being part of one of the longest standing Trusts, created with the sole purpose of enabling children and young people to thrive
- Working for a Trust nationally recognised for its impact on disadvantaged children – a rewarding, stimulating career where staff are challenged to be the best they can be, for the pupils we are proud to serve
- Being part of a team and community where you belong – receiving bespoke and holistic support from a well-resourced and ambitious network of experts and professionals that work at the heart of communities
- A supportive environment to grow your career – an extensive professional development programme, alongside flexible working arrangements and generous benefits
Benefits that care for you
We value your hard work and dedication, and we're committed to ensuring you feel supported, both professionally and personally so that you are in the best position to make the most impact for the children and young people in our schools.
When you join us at Ormiston, you can be certain that your work will have purpose and meaning. You can also expect robust and holistic support from us to enable you to excel in your role.
You will have access to an attractive benefits package including:
- 30 days annual leave (rising to 32 days after 5 years' service)
- Generous pension and life cover
- Access to health and well-being programmes, including a counselling service.
- Discounts on retail, travel, and leisure through our benefits platform.
- Free and confidential legal, tax and health 24/7 helpline.
- Cycle to work scheme.
- Automatic pay progression.
- Flexible working arrangements.
And much more as part of a leading multi-academy trust.
If you have any questions about the role please contact our recruitment team.
The closing date for applications is 25 September 2026 with interviews due to take place the week commencing 5 October 2026.
Early applications are encouraged as we reserve the right to close the vacancy early should a suitable candidate be found.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
High Trees Community Development Trust is seeking an ambitious Head of Community Research & Impact to join our senior management team and lead one of our core service areas.
Community-led research sits at the heart of how High Trees works. Our approach aims to rebalance the role and power that communities have in deciding how research is informed, delivered and used to improve lives for Lambeth residents. Over recent years we have built a strong foundation for this work and developed two flagship community research partnerships — the Lambeth Peer Action Collective and the Lambeth Community Research Network. We are now looking for someone to significantly expand this work: building local evidence of community need, working with communities to identify solutions and appropriate responses to local challenges, and advocating for change to policy and practice where needed.
This is a broad and varied leadership role. Alongside our direct research programmes, you will lead the development of infrastructure around community-led research in Lambeth, so that voluntary and community sector (VCS) organisations can access the training, resources and networks they need to design and deliver their own research. You will also lead our Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning and Communications functions, ensuring the impact of everything we do is understood, evidenced and communicated well.
As part of High Trees’ senior management team, the Head of Community Research & Impact will not only oversee delivery in their service area, but also help shape organisational strategy, grow partnerships and income, and ensure we work as one High Trees — keeping our practice responsive, collaborative and always led by community need.
About High Trees
Based in Tulse Hill, High Trees has been rooted in the local community for nearly 30 years. We deliver community action, employment, education, youth services and community research, working in partnership with local people and local organisations to build stronger communities and create meaningful change. We are recognised for our collaborative, long-term approach and our ability to adapt and respond to the issues that matter most to local people.
About the role
As Head of Community Research & Impact, you will:
- Lead and inspire our Research & Impact team to deliver high-quality, community-led research that drives change.
- Shape and deliver High Trees’ strategic vision for community-led research, championing collaborative research practice across Lambeth.
- Take the lead on designing new research programmes, support with sourcing the funding to run them, and ensuring projects are completed to a high standard with high-quality outputs.
- Grow the infrastructure for community-led research locally, including through the Lambeth Community Research Network and the Lambeth Peer Action Collective.
- Support VCS organisations with community research training, resources and capacity building support.
- Lead and embed Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) and Communications across High Trees and our partnership work.
- Contribute as a member of High Trees’ senior management team, ensuring a joined-up approach across all our services.
About you
We are looking for someone who brings:
- Significant professional experience in research and/or community settings, with a track record of leading research projects.
- Experience of qualitative and mixed methods research and a working knowledge of participatory research approaches.
- A proven track record of leading teams and managing multiple projects and programmes at once.
- The ability to build trust and long-lasting relationships across community, academic, public sector and voluntary sector organisations.
- A strategic mindset, balancing day-to-day delivery with long-term vision.
- A solid understanding of the context in which High Trees delivers its work
Why join us?
This is a rare opportunity to take a senior leadership role in a values-led organisation at a time of growth and ambition. You will help set the standard for community-led research and system change, creating tools, resources and practices that benefit the wider sector — and be part of a collaborative team dedicated to creating lasting change.
Connecting with people and communities to strengthen skills and build stronger voices.



The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
About the team
The Philanthropy Team raises income for Impetus and for Impetus partner charities. The team consists of 15 staff. Impetus has an annual income of c.£11 million which we are looking to grow significantly within the next few years. The team is led by two Directors of Philanthropy and Partnerships.
The Philanthropy Team works with major donors, corporates and grant making trusts, as well as collaboratively with colleagues across the organisation to ensure we make a compelling case to generate new financial commitments and wider support for our work. The team also deliver a high-quality engagement programme of volunteering and pro bono for Impetus’s corporate supporters.
Impetus is driven by a shared belief in tackling the barriers that hold back young people from disadvantaged backgrounds in education and employment. Alongside investing extensive financial and non-financial support in our charity partners through our Investment Team we also seek to influence decision makers to design and implement evidence led policy and direct new resources to get young people the support they need through our Public Affairs team. We are resolutely focused on outcomes, driven by quality evidence.
You would be joining a team that is passionate, ambitious, determined and warm. We care deeply for our colleagues, our charity partners and the young people we serve.
About this role
The Head of Engagement is a strategically significant and high-impact role within the Philanthropy team, responsible for leading and developing Impetus’ engagement programme across both volunteering and pro bono support.
At Impetus, volunteering refers to opportunities for employees of our donor firms to engage directly with the young people supported by our portfolio partners, helping to inspire, motivate and broaden horizons through meaningful interactions.
Pro bono support is a core element of our capacity-building approach and a key way in which we strengthen the organisations we back. It involves skilled volunteers and partners contributing professional expertise to address strategic challenges and opportunities within our charity portfolio, helping to build capability, resilience and long-term impact.
The Head of Engagement will shape the strategic direction and lead the delivery of a high-quality programme of volunteering and skilled pro bono support, creating meaningful outcomes for portfolio partners while delivering engaging and rewarding experiences for supporters. The postholder will ensure that engagement opportunities align with Impetus’ investment priorities and organisational objectives, respond to donor interests, and maximise impact for the young people and charities we serve.
The role combines strategic leadership, relationship management, programme innovation and operational oversight. Working closely with colleagues across Philanthropy and Investment, and engaging regularly with Public Affairs and senior leaders, the Head of Engagement will build, steward and deepen relationships with a wide network of corporate partners, major donors, and highly skilled volunteers.
The postholder will also lead and develop the Engagement team, comprising the Engagement Manager and Engagement Officer, fostering a collaborative, inclusive and high-performing culture that enables exceptional delivery, continuous improvement and professional growth.
As a key member of the Philanthropy leadership team, the Head of Engagement will play a central role in expanding and strengthening Impetus' supporter network, developing innovative opportunities for supporters to contribute their time and expertise, and ensuring our volunteering and pro bono programmes continue to evolve in response to the changing needs of young people, charities and partners.
This is an exciting opportunity to shape and grow a critical area of Impetus’ work, harnessing the expertise, networks and commitment of supporters to help more young people from disadvantaged backgrounds succeed in school, work and life.
Key responsibilities
Strategy and Leadership
- Develop and deliver the engagement strategy and operational plan for the pro bono and volunteering functions
- Set and monitor KPIs, targets and budgets for engagement activity in line with organisational frameworks, securing approval from senior leadership where appropriate
- Lead the continued growth and development of volunteering and pro bono activity in alignment with organisational strategy and portfolio partner needs
- Work collaboratively with senior colleagues across Philanthropy and Investment to align engagement opportunities with organisational priorities
- Lead prospecting for the pro bono function, understanding the needs of our Investment Team and portfolio partners, identifying gaps in supporter skills and expertise and onboarding new organisations and specialisms
- As the organisational lead for volunteering and pro bono engagement, advise senior leadership on engagement trends, sharing insights, learning and volunteering best practice internally and externally
- Lead, develop and coach the Engagement Team, creating a collaborative, inclusive and high-performing culture and ensuring clear objectives, development opportunities and succession planning
- Provide guidance, support and oversight of delivery to the Engagement Team, line managing the Engagement Manager and supporting the development of the Engagement Officer
Volunteering programme
- Lead the strategic development and continuous improvement of a high-quality volunteering programme, ensuring it delivers value for portfolio partners, corporate and donor partners and young people.
- Oversee programme quality and effectiveness across all volunteering activities.
- Build capability and strong relationships with portfolio organisations to support the design and delivery of high-quality volunteering opportunities
- Monitor participation, impact and quality across the volunteering programme, using data and feedback to drive improvements.
- Work closely with account managers in the Philanthropy and Partnerships team to drive and steward donor engagement.
- Develop new models of volunteering in collaboration with the Engagement Team, including governance and trustee pathways, skills-based workshops and intensive challenge clinics.
Pro Bono programme
- Lead the development of the organisation’s pro bono programme and oversee the delivery of activities, ensuring high-quality support for portfolio partners.
- Set annual pro bono targets (including project value, number of projects, and supporter engagement) and lead the team to deliver on these
- Oversee the maintenance of a strong pipeline of projects from portfolio partners and supporters that meet the needs of portfolio partners.
- Source and cultivate new pro bono supporters, including companies and highly skilled individual professionals.
- Oversee and contribute to business development activity including prospect research, outreach, relationship building and partnership development.
- Steward existing strategic supporter relationships and create compelling supporter journeys that communicate impact and strengthen long-term engagement.
- Work closely with the Investment Team to identify, scope and prioritise pro bono projects, and work with the team to improve quality and impact in project delivery.
- Ensure an effective team approach to project identification, prioritisation and matching across the programme.
- For select high-priority projects, directly match portfolio partner needs with appropriate supporters, ensuring an effective and high-quality project experience, with support from the Engagement Manager.
- Support select high-priority project kick-off meetings and maintain oversight of project delivery, stakeholder management and follow-up processes.
- Ensure appropriate evaluation processes are in place to capture project impact, supporter feedback and learning.
- Own quality assurance, review programme outcomes and impact data to drive continuous improvement
- Collaborate with the Events team to design and run relevant supporter engagement events.
Relationship Management and Donor Engagement
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with both new and existing corporate partners, major donors, volunteers, pro bono supporters and charity / sector stakeholders.
- Lead strategic account management of donors and supporters.
- Act as a key Account Manager for strategic engagement partnerships, notably the most high-value Pro Bono relationships.
- Work closely with account managers and senior stakeholders to maximise supporter engagement and long-term partnership opportunities.
- Contribute to the creation of compelling communications and marketing materials that demonstrate the value and impact of engagement activity.
- Represent Impetus externally at meetings, events and networking opportunities building effective and inclusive partnerships.
Operations, Systems and Reporting
- Oversee the effective administration and operational delivery of the engagement function.
- Ensure accurate data management and reporting through Salesforce and related systems by the Engagement team.
- Maintain oversight of engagement pipelines, financial tracking and programme reporting.
- Lead quarterly reviews and reporting processes through the analysis and presentation of engagement data.
- Develop and improve systems, processes and operational efficiency across the engagement function.
- Ensure all activities comply with organisational policies, procedures and best practice.
Cross-Organisational Working
- Form part of the Philanthropy and Partnerships Leads group to lead and drive performance against fundraising targets and strategy.
- Collaborate closely with the Investment Team to identify opportunities for volunteering and pro bono support, especially driving innovation for both programmes.
- Build strong internal relationships to ensure engagement activity is coordinated and effectively communicated across teams.
- Attend and support Impetus events where required.
- Represent the Philanthropy team on internal projects, working groups and committees.
- Support wider team priorities and contribute to a collaborative and inclusive working culture.
Person specification
Essential
- Excellent relationship management skills with experience across a range of sectors, and track record working productively with senior stakeholders in corporate and charity organisations, including internally.
- Strong business development skills, with experience identifying and developing new relationships, partnerships, and engagement opportunities.
- Experience translating strategic priorities into operational plans, objectives and delivery.
- Strong project and programme management skills, including managing multiple priorities, budgets, timelines and stakeholders.
- Experience and understanding of how to design and implement inclusive, accessible and engaging experiences for a range of audiences, including young people and corporate supporters.
- Experience managing line reports or leading teams including coaching, supporting and enabling others to deliver high-quality outcomes.
- Strong analytical and organisational skills.
- Ability to identify opportunities, solve complex problems and contribute innovative and creative ideas.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to influence and build credibility with senior audiences internally and externally through clear, confident and evidence led communication.
- A collaborative and flexible working style with the ability to work cross-functionally.
- Commitment to the mission and values of Impetus.
- A strong commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
- Experience working in, or closely with, the charity, youth, education or employment sectors.
Desirable
- In depth understanding of the corporate donor and philanthropy landscape.
- Experience in corporate fundraising or donor engagement, in particular with the financial services and investment sectors.
- Significant experience overseeing either a large corporate volunteering programme or a pro bono programme (e.g. 50+ projects).
- Experience working with Salesforce.
- Expertise in evaluation or impact measurement.
- In-depth understanding of the education and/or youth employment sectors in the UK.
About Impetus
At Impetus, our focus is on helping young people achieve positive education and employment outcomes to increase their chance of leading fulfilling and successful lives, irrespective of their background.
We tackle the three most difficult challenges that affect a young person’s ability to succeed in life in Britain today:
- Lost learning through absence, suspensions, exclusions from school
- Stagnation in education attainment outcomes, which means many are missing out on key qualifications like GCSE English and maths
- The large numbers of young people out of education, training and employment
We use our deep expertise and high calibre networks to give the best non-profits working in these sectors the essential ingredients to have a real and lasting impact on the young people they serve.
Through a powerful combination of long-term funding, direct capacity building support from our experienced team and our pro bono partners, alongside research and policy influencing to drive lasting systems change, we work towards a society where all young people can thrive in school, pass their exams and unlock the doors to sustained employment, for a fulfilling life.
We are resolutely focused on outcomes and impact, driven by quality evidence.
You would be joining a team that is passionate, rigorous, determined, creative and warm. We care deeply for our colleagues, our portfolio partners and the young people we serve.
Impetus is a registered charity and our charity number is 1152262.
Our Values
In 2022 the Impetus staff agreed the following set of Values to act as our guiding principles as an organisation and help us to remain focused on achieving our mission to support young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
We are brave and curious
We are bold and brave in our pursuit of better outcomes for young people. We lead with curiosity and stay open to new perspectives. We support one another to take considered risks and learn together.
We bring high trust, high challenge
We build strong, long-term relationships through honesty, kindness, integrity, and respect. We create the space for open, constructive challenge, where colleagues, partners and supporters feel safe to speak up, hold each other to account, and bring their best in pursuit of our mission.
We are evidence led and results driven for young people
We pursue excellence for the young people we work with, are wholly committed to better outcomes, unapologetically results driven, and accountable for our actions.
We thrive through diversity
We seek to embed diversity of thought, background and experience in every aspect of our work. We are open, thoughtful and proactive in better understanding and challenging our assumptions to better deliver the change we seek.
We always seek collaboration
We will not succeed alone. We seek meaningful, productive partnerships with others to achieve our mission and drive systems change for young people.
Our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion
We believe that a diverse workforce leads to an organisation that is more open, creative and gets better results.
We want our team at Impetus to represent the diversity of the people and communities we serve. We also want our team to be one where different experiences, expertise and perspectives are valued, and where everyone is encouraged to grow and develop.
We want to reach a diverse pool of candidates. We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that potential employees may need to in order to be successful.
We recognise the importance of a good work/life balance. We do everything we can to accommodate flexible working, including working from home, working part-time job shares and other arrangements.
Please just let us know in your application or at any stage throughout the process (and beyond) if these are options you’d like to explore.
Impetus is an equal opportunity employer and is determined to ensure that no applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. We value diversity and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds.
Our employee benefits
Impetus appreciates the invaluable contribution made by all employees and wishes to encourage and reward loyalty, motivation and experience. We therefore offer a range of benefits and policies which aim to assist employees during various stages of their lives and careers. For more information on these, please download the job information pack from our website.
How to apply
Please click on the "Apply for this job" button.
You will need to:
- Complete the online form (including the equal opportunities monitoring form).
- Upload a comprehensive CV and supporting statement.
The supporting statement should be no more than two sides of A4 and should address the criteria in the person specification.
You should also include the contact details of two referees, one of whom must be your current or most recent employer. Referees will only be approached with your express permission.
As part of our commitment to flexible working we will consider a range of options for the successful applicant. All options can be discussed at interview stage.
The deadline for applications is Sunday 20th September 2026, 11:59pm.
Interviews:
1st Interviews will take place on w/c 28th September 2026.
2nd Interviews will take place on w/c 5th October 2026.
You will also be required to provide proof of your eligibility to work in the UK.
Personal Data
Your personal data will be shared for the purposes of the recruitment exercise. This includes our HR team, interviewers (who may include other partners in the project and independent advisors), relevant team managers and our IT service provider if access to the data is necessary for performance of their roles. We do not share your data with other third parties, unless your application for employment is successful and we make you an offer of employment. We will then share your data with former employers to obtain references for you. We do not transfer your data outside the European Economic Area.
Impetus transforms the lives of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds by ensuring they get support to succeed in school, in work and in life.

The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Safeguarding sits at the heart of life at The Perse School. We are seeking an exceptional leader to join our senior team as Assistant Head (Safeguarding), taking strategic responsibility for safeguarding and child protection across our 3 Cambridge schools and serving as Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) for the Upper School.
This is a significant leadership opportunity for an experienced safeguarding professional who can combine expertise, sound judgement and compassion to ensure every pupil feels safe, supported and able to flourish. The successful candidate will lead safeguarding strategy and practice, oversee complex child protection matters, provide guidance and training to colleagues, and work closely with pupils, families, staff, governors and external agencies.
We welcome applications from experienced teachers, educational leaders and safeguarding professionals from related sectors. While experience in education is highly desirable, we are equally interested in candidates who have developed substantial safeguarding expertise through social care, local authority safeguarding services, the LADO function or other child protection settings.
The Perse enjoys a prestigious reputation and values a mixed approach to teaching and learning. We aim to respect tradition and innovation, industry and fun, and academic and personal growth. All teachers and pupils are required to demonstrate all-round excellence and contribute to the academic, pastoral and extra-curricular life of the school.
At The Perse School, we value the well-being of all staff and offer a supportive environment that balances professional ambitions with personal growth, opportunity and work-life balance.
Further details including how to apply can be obtained from our website: Work with us - The Perse School Cambridge
Closing date: Friday 18th September at 9.00am. Interviews will be a two stage process; preliminary online on Wednesday 23rd September followed by in person for successful candidates in the week commencing 28th September.
The School actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.
Safer Recruitment
The Perse School recognises that an important element in safeguarding our pupils is a robust recruitment process that incorporates measures to deter, reject or identify people who might abuse children, or who are otherwise unsuited to work with them. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post including: references from previous employers, a Disclosure and Barring Service check at the enhanced level, as well as eligibility to work in the UK (in compliance with UK immigration regulations).All work carried out at the School on a regular basis amounts to regulated activity. This role is also exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone's responsibility. The School is committed to acting in the best interests of the child so as to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people. The School requires everyone who comes into contact with children and their families to share this commitment. Interviews will be conducted in person, and they will explore candidates’ suitability to work with children.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
About us
Greyhound Rescue Wales (GRW) is Wales’ leading charity dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming greyhounds and lurchers. Founded in 1993, we have spent more than three decades championing the welfare of sighthounds and working towards our vision: a Wales without greyhound racing, where every greyhound and lurcher has a home and receives the best possible care.
In April 2026, after 25 years of determined campaigning to improve welfare and regulation within the racing industry, legislation to ban greyhound racing in Wales was finally passed. This landmark achievement marks the beginning of a new chapter for GRW as we expand our reach and capacity across the UK to ensure every greyhound leaving the racing industry has a rescue space, medical support and rehabilitation on the journey towards their forever home.
To help us grow sustainably and strengthen our long‑term impact, we are now seeking to develop our fundraising team with the creation of a Head of Fundraising role. You will lead and work closely with the Trusts & Foundations Officer, Sponsorship & Individual Giving Officer and Community & Events Fundraiser to deliver an annual income target of £400K+.
Role
The Head of Fundraising is a senior leadership role with overall accountability for the strategic development, operational effectiveness and performance of all fundraising activity at Greyhound Rescue Wales (GRW).
The role will drive, lead and grow our fundraising strategy and has responsibility for developing diverse, sustainable income streams and building strong relationships with supporters, partners, and funders.
The role holds end‑to‑end accountability for income delivery across trusts and foundations, community and event fundraising, and sponsorship and individual giving.
The Head of Fundraising provides clear leadership to the fundraising team and has line management responsibility for:
- Trusts and Foundations Officer
- Community and Events Fundraising Officer
- Sponsorship & Individual Giving Officer
Please see attached the full job description and person specification
We work for a Wales without greyhound racing, where every greyhound and lurcher has a home and receives the best possible care.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Build Up aims to build the power of young people to shape where they live and to change who can make decisions about London. We are recruiting a Head of Income Generation to shape and lead an ambitious fundraising vision to grow our impact across London.
The Role
This is an exciting new position in our team, created to help build our case for investment, tell our story and harness the support of new audiences. You will develop and deliver a 3-year fundraising strategy that unlocks new opportunities, diversifies income and builds lasting funder relationships. With consultancy support on communications and evaluation, you’ll have the tools to make a powerful case for our work.
Candidates are welcome to discuss the role with our Director before applying - contact details are in the job description.
Who You Are
You’ll have a proven track record in leading fundraising strategy, securing charitable investment and writing successful grants. Alongside trusts and foundations, you’ll bring experience across other income streams (like corporates or major donors). You’ll balance strategy with delivery, thrive under pressure, and be excited by funding young people’s ideas. Our approach is innovative and we are looking for someone that can create clear, inspiring narratives that unlock new opportunities.
About Build Up
Build Up works to build the power of young people to shape where they live, and to change who can make decisions about London. Regeneration leaves young people behind. We support young people to take action by advocating for, designing and building local spaces to meet their needs.
Our approach is unique – and it works. Young people gain skills, leadership and power over decisions that affect them, while local communities benefit from genuinely inclusive spaces designed by and for local residents.
Why Join Us
At Build Up your work has a visible, lasting and personal impact - your ideas will genuinely shape our development. We’re a small, collaborative and passionate team with a flexible approach to work - we welcome proposals for non standard work patterns.
Key Details
This role is available on a 4 OR 5 day a week contract, subject to candidate preference.
Salary: £50,000 - 54,000 (pro rata) + 8% employer pension contribution
Full / part-time: 4 days (30 hrs) or 5 days (37.5 hrs) per week
Holiday: 32 days plus public holidays (pro rata)
Work pattern: Flexible
Location: Hybrid – at least 1 day per week in our Elephant & Castle office
Contract: Permanent
To Apply
For more information and to apply, please see the job description.
Applications close Sunday 20th September 2026. We will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis from Monday 14th September, so we encourage applicants to apply as early as possible.
#Fundraising #FundraisingManager #HeadOfFundraising #FundraisingLead #FundraisingDirector #DirectorOfFundraising #Fundraiser #YouthFundraising #GrantFundraising #UnrestrictedFundraising #FundraisingStrategy
Build Up runs practical construction projects across London, supporting young people aged 10-23 years old to shape their local area.



The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
UK Youth has launched an ambitious new strategy to widen the reach and deepen the impact of youth work and outdoor learning. At the heart of that strategy is a clear commitment: We Back Youth Work Leaders.
As our new Head of Network Development, you will turn that commitment into action.
You will lead the development and delivery of a powerful national offer that equips youth work leaders with the investment, support, relationships and connections they need to thrive. This includes leading our Grants+ approach—combining significant, multi-year grant funding with tailored organisational-development support—and developing partnerships that strengthen youth sector infrastructure locally, regionally and across the UK nations.
This role is about much more than managing a network. We are evolving towards a more relational way of working: listening deeply to youth-work leaders, understanding the realities they face, involving them in shaping our work and building relationships founded on trust, respect and shared purpose. You will ensure organisations can access the right support, expertise and opportunities—and that their insight continually shapes UK Youth’s work.
You will have the opportunity to lead the delivery of the £13 million UK Youth Fund, strengthen the resilience and effectiveness of grassroots youth organisations, and help create a more connected and equitable system of support for the wider sector.
We are looking for someone with deep knowledge and experience of youth work and the youth sector—someone who can talk the talk and walk the walk with youth organisation leaders. You will bring substantial experience of the youth work sector and infrastructure, organisational development and capacity building, alongside the strategic and operational leadership needed to deliver significant grant-making activity and complex partnerships.
You will be an inclusive and credible leader who can turn ambitious strategy into excellent delivery, bring people and organisations together, and remain focused on what youth work leaders need to succeed.
Across the country, youth workers are changing—and often saving—young lives. This is your opportunity to ensure the people and organisations doing that vital work have the investment, infrastructure and support they deserve.
Purpose of the job
The Head of Network Development will lead the operationalisation of UK Youth’s new We Back Youth Work Leaders strategic pillar. The role will turn our ambition to equip youth-work leaders with the skills, networks and confidence to deliver exceptional support into a coherent network development offer—leading our Grants+ approach of multi-year funding alongside tailored organisational development, and strengthening youth-sector infrastructure locally, regionally and across the UK nations.
Central to the role will be embedding UK Youth’s increasingly relational approach to its network: building trusted, mutually beneficial relationships with youth-work leaders; listening to and understanding their needs; involving them in shaping our support and connecting organisations to the right opportunities, expertise and infrastructure. Reporting to the Director of Network Delivery, the postholder will be responsible for translating this strategic ambition into high-quality, well-governed delivery, while ensuring that learning and insight from the network continually improve our work and contribute to securing sustainable investment in youth work and outdoor learning.
Why work at UK Youth?
Every young person deserves a youth worker. UK Youth exists to make that a reality. Our vision is a society that backs every young person - through each spark, struggle and success.
As the UK’s national infrastructure body for youth work, we strengthen and champion a diverse network of youth organisations, unlock investment, shape policy and build the evidence base for what works. At a time of growing need and inequality of access, our work has never been more important.
We are entering an exciting new phase of our strategy - focused on long-term resilience, income diversification and a transformational Capital Appeal to develop Avon Tyrrell as a national centre of excellence for outdoor learning. Joining UK Youth means being part of an ambitious, impact-driven organisation committed to strengthening youth work for generations to come.
Key responsibilities
Portfolio leadership and delivery
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Lead the strategic and operational delivery of UK Youth’s network development portfolio, translating organisational strategy and funded commitments into clear plans, outcomes, budgets, milestones and accountabilities.
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Ensure programmes and services are delivered to a high standard, on time and within budget, with effective governance, performance management, risk control and escalation to the Director of Network Delivery.
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Mobilise new initiatives and partnerships, establishing proportionate delivery models, systems, teams and governance arrangements.
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Lead continuous improvement across the portfolio, responding effectively to evidence, partner feedback, changing needs and the external environment.
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Be a champion of UK Youth’s network across all of UK Youth’s work.
Grant making and organisational development
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Lead the delivery of UK Youth’s significant, multi-year grant-making portfolio, including the £13 million UK Youth Fund, ensuring responsible stewardship of charitable and restricted funds.
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Ensure effective management of the full grant lifecycle, including programme design, application and assessment, due diligence, decision-making, contracting, payments, monitoring, reporting, complaints and closure.
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Maintain robust and proportionate grant governance, financial controls, safeguarding assurance, risk management, data quality and compliance with funder and regulatory requirements.
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Lead an integrated organisational development offer alongside grant funding, enabling smaller youth and outdoor learning organisations to strengthen their financial sustainability, leadership, governance, workforce and resilience.
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Embed open, trusting, accessible and equitable grant-making practice, reducing unnecessary barriers while maintaining appropriate accountability.
Network and sector infrastructure support
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Develop and deliver UK Youth’s approach to engaging, connecting and supporting our national network, informed by the needs and experiences of youth work leaders and organisations.
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Create opportunities for peer learning, collaboration, knowledge exchange and access to relevant support across the network.
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Lead major initiatives that strengthen youth sector infrastructure locally, regionally and nationally, working with partners to improve the consistency, coordination and accessibility of support.
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Support regional and national partners to understand need, develop shared plans and approaches, and deliver locally relevant infrastructure and organisational support.
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Work with the Communications Team and relevant colleagues to ensure network communications are timely, accessible, coordinated and purposeful.
Experience we're after
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Substantial leadership experience within the youth sector, grounded in an in-depth understanding of youth work practice, youth work leadership and the realities facing youth organisations and their leaders.
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Experience of leading a complex, multi-year network development or comparable portfolio, translating strategy and funded commitments into successful delivery and managing significant budgets and risks.
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Experience of leading substantial grant making or onward funding activity, including governance, due diligence, financial oversight, risk and accountability.
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Substantial organisational development and capacity building experience, including diagnosing organisational needs and designing practical support that strengthens leadership, governance, financial sustainability, workforce and resilience.
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Experience of developing networks, partnerships or infrastructure across multiple organisations, regions or systems, with demonstrable credibility among youth organisation leaders.
What we can offer you
We offer a competitive range of benefits, good work/life balance, excellent learning and development opportunities and vibrant organisational culture:
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Flexible/Agile Working
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27 days annual leave (24 days + 3 days winter closure) plus bank holidays (pro rata for part time employees)
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Funded training provided in; Safeguarding, GDPR, Information and Cyber Security & Equality & Diversity
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Other training available in support of your personal and professional development
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Pension scheme (currently UK Youth match employee contributions up to 5%)
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Membership of our life insurance scheme which would pay-out up to 4 times your salary
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Employee Assistance Programme to support employees both professionally and personally
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20% discount off bookings at Avon Tyrrell, our New Forest Outdoor Centre, including camping, lodges and outdoor activities.
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IT equipment provided for the duration of contract
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CycleScheme and TechScheme
How to apply
If you would like to be considered for this fantastic opportunity, please complete an application via our completely anonymised recruitment system provided by Applied which looks to create a fair and unbiased application process for all. Scroll to the top of the page and start your application.
Closing date: 29th September 2026 at 09:00
Provisional First Stage Interview Dates: 5th & 6th October 2026
Provisional Final Stage Interview Dates (in person): 9th October 2026
As this role involves working in a regulated environment with young people, any offer will be conditional to satisfactory background checks, which include criminal record check and employment reference.
Please note CVs will be reviewed as the first stage of the recruitment process. Candidates who are shortlisted following the CV review will then have their sift questions assessed. Only candidates who meet the requirements at both stages will progress further in the recruitment process.
UK Youth is a leading charity with a vision that all young people are equipped to thrive and empowered to contribute at every stage of their lives.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Head of Campaigns & Communication
Contract: Permanent
Hours: 35
Location: Hybrid - 2 days per week from Finsbury Park centre
Starting salary:£58,965
Closing date: 30th September 2026
Expected date of interviews: Week Commencing 5th October 2026
Job ref: VA803
Freedom from Torture is the Winner of the Overall Award for Excellence and the top prize for Campaigns and Advocacy at the 2023 Charity Awards.
We have an exciting opportunity to lead our campaigns and communications team, delivering innovative and impactful campaigns in support of Freedom from Torture’s influencing goals to ensure the international ban on torture is upheld and survivors of torture are treated fairly within the UK asylum system.
The Head of Campaigns and Communications is responsible for our brand, marketing, digital, campaigning and media function, delivering impactful messages to influence, harness engagement and support income generation at Freedom from Torture.
About the role
This pivotal role supports Freedom from Torture to reach more people, to highlight the impact of our specialist services for survivors of torture and to engage the public and politicians to support our vision for a world free from torture.
The impactful campaigns and strategic communications that this role oversees will support income growth, media profile and influencing.It will shape how Freedom from Torture communicates, reaching new audiences and lead the development of a multi-year campaign to uphold the torture ban.
Managing a team of digital, media and brand experts, the successful candidate will build a strong network of stakeholder relationships to support success in fundraising and influencing.
About you
You will be an expert communicator and campaign strategist with a deep understanding of developing and delivering audience led campaigns to drive change.You will have a track record of delivering campaign wins and senior experience in strategic communications.You will be an expert in digital led communications and engagement.
You will have a deep interest in human rights and an understanding of the political environment and effective tools to influence.You will thrive in a fast paced environment whilst retaining the ability to remain focused on strategic goals.An excellent people leader, you will have experience in leading multi disciplinary communications and campaigns teams with a focus on creating a supportive culture to enable high performance.
In return, we offer a competitive package, with a generous 30-day annual leave entitlement, and 6% employer pension contribution (minimum 1% employee contribution).
Freedom from Torture is committed to showing the salary for all advertised roles and not negotiating salaries for roles, in light of evidence that this contributes to structural inequality.
Our policy is that all appointments will be at the start of the salary range but successful candidates will have the opportunity to move up the scale over time. The progression up the salary range is reviewed on an annual basis and subject to affordability. For this role, the salary range is £58,965 - £68,399.
To view the Job Description and Person Specification, please click here.
To apply, please provide a CV and fill in the downloadable application form.
Freedom from Torture is dedicated to healing and protecting people who have survived torture. We provide therapies to improve physical and mental health, we medically document torture, and we provide legal and welfare help. We expose torture globally, we fight to hold torturing states to account and we campaign for fairer treatment of torture survivors in the UK.
We campaign for national and global change, using evidence from our services and survivor voices to protect and promote survivors' rights and hold torturing states to account. We are proud to play a significant role in the global anti-torture movement. Survivors, active and empowered, are at the centre of all of our work.
Freedom from Torture is committed to its responsibilities under safeguarding, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is subject to a satisfactorystandard DBS disclosure, as well as a need for full employment history and up to date employment references.
Freedom from Torture is an equal opportunity employer. People with lived experience of torture or asylum, from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, LGBTQIA+ individuals and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.
We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications.
No agencies please.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Lead our volunteer team and make a tangible difference by supporting volunteers in their vital work to help create life-changing assistance dogs for disabled people.
About Canine Partners
At Canine Partners, we breed, train, and support expert assistance dogs to create loving, life-changing partnerships with disabled people. Across the UK, we support people with a variety of physical disabilities and their families, carefully matching them with a dog that suits their needs, personality, and lifestyle.
Our dogs bring confidence and independence, love and companionship, reducing reliance on carers and giving people the freedom to live life their own way.
The Role
Position: Head of Volunteering
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Location: Homebased
Travel: Travel throughout the UK will be required (approx. once a month on average) for events, leadership meetings, staff engagement days and to collaborate with the team. More travel may be required during the induction period.
Our volunteers are key to the success of Canine Partners by supporting us in all areas of the organisation. You will develop and lead our volunteer strategy, focusing on how we recruit, train and retain our amazing team of 1000 volunteers. Canine Partners is progressing through a significant growth period, and we need to have more volunteers on board to help us achieve this. Through strong leadership, effective volunteer management practices and a positive volunteer experience, you will help build a resilient volunteer community that strengthens service delivery, enhances organisational culture and supports the charity's long-term growth and sustainability with the goal of helping more people.
What You'll Be Doing
- Lead the development of innovative approaches to volunteer recruitment, engagement, retention and recognition.
- Lead the volunteer team who support the journey and experience of volunteers
- Collaborate with our communications team to develop and implement a volunteer recruitment strategy to increase volunteer numbers
- Support staff across the organisation to effectively recruit, manage and develop volunteers.
- Ensure volunteer related policies, products and procedures are aligned with the needs of the organisation and sector best-practice, ensuring we are an accessible and inclusive organisation for volunteers
- Regular board level reporting on measurable objectives and performance indicators
About You
- Significant strategic leadership experience in volunteering within a charity, public sector or community organisation.
- Strong knowledge of volunteer management best practice, governance and relevant legislation.
- Excellent communication, presentation and interpersonal skills.
- Experience of developing and delivering volunteering strategies that support growth, organisational change and strategic objectives.
- Experience of implementing or optimising volunteer management systems, CRM platforms or digital tools to improve the volunteer journey.
- Experience of managing risk, safeguarding, conflict, disputes and complex volunteer-related issues with confidence and compassion
Most importantly, you will be passionate about the transformative impact that our assistance dogs provide to our beneficiaries.
Ready to Make a Difference?
If you are excited about this role, don't hesitate to apply! We welcome applicants who bring unique perspectives, and would be delighted to hear from you. Please apply online with a comprehensive CV and supporting statement explaining how you believe you match the requirements of the role.
Please note we may interview candidates prior to the closing date. If we find a suitable candidate or receive a high volume of applications, we may close this advertisement prior to the closing date so apply now to ensure you don't miss out! Please be assured that we contact all candidates regarding the outcome of their application, this may take longer if we receive high volumes of applications.
Closing date: 4th October 2026
We recognise the benefit of diverse experience and welcome and encourage applications from all sections of the community. We are a disability confident committed employer.
Applications are initially reviewed using our applicant tracking system, which may use automated screening criteria to help identify candidates whose skills and experience match the requirements of the role. All hiring decisions include human review.
REF-230777
We will change the lives of disabled people using expertly trained dogs to improve physical, emotional and social wellbeing.



About the team
The Philanthropy Team raises income for Impetus and for Impetus partner charities. The team consists of 15 staff. Impetus has an annual income of c.£11 million which we are looking to grow significantly within the next few years. The team is led by two Directors of Philanthropy and Partnerships.
The Philanthropy Team works with major donors, corporates and grant making trusts, as well as collaboratively with colleagues across the organisation to ensure we make a compelling case to generate new financial commitments and wider support for our work. The team also deliver a high-quality engagement programme of volunteering and pro bono for Impetus’s corporate supporters.
Impetus is driven by a shared belief in tackling the barriers that hold back young people from disadvantaged backgrounds in education and employment. Alongside investing extensive financial and non-financial support in our charity partners through our Investment Team we also seek to influence decision makers to design and implement evidence led policy and direct new resources to get young people the support they need through our Public Affairs team. We are resolutely focused on outcomes, driven by quality evidence.
You would be joining a team that is passionate, ambitious, determined and warm. We care deeply for our colleagues, our charity partners and the young people we serve.
About this role
The Development Director (New Business) provides strategic leadership for Impetus’ new business development, prospect pipeline and high-value funding opportunities. The postholder will have responsibility for identifying, cultivating and converting new corporate, trust and foundation, and high-net-worth donor relationships, as well as continued relationship management for key, established relationships.
In 25/26, the Philanthropy and Partnerships team generated £11m in philanthropic income, alongside £2.8m in probono contributions. The Development Director will play a key role in delivering Impetus' growth ambitions, helping to increase philanthropic income to £14m by 2029.
Working closely with the Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships, the role will translate the fundraising strategy into clear new business priorities, pipeline plans and prospect engagement approaches, ensuring a strong flow of qualified opportunities and sustainable growth in high-value income.
Working closely with colleagues across Philanthropy and Partnerships, the postholder will personally lead and support significant six and seven-figure prospects and strategic funding opportunities, while overseeing the stewardship and retention of current partners.
Working collaboratively across the Philanthropy and Partnerships team and with colleagues across the organisation, the Development Director will ensure a joined-up approach to donor acquisition, pipeline development, prospect conversion and stewardship, maximising income, partnership value and long-term impact within the agreed fundraising strategy.
Key responsibilities
New Business, Pipeline & Conversion
- Personally lead on six and seven-figure level priority prospects and strategic funding opportunities, managing the full fundraising cycle from qualification to close.
- Work with trustees, senior volunteers, and networks to unlock introductions and new opportunities, providing clear support and follow-up to maximise success.
- Evolve Impetus’ new business strategy, driving the identification, cultivation, and conversion of new high-value donor and partner relationships.
- Translate Impetus’ impact, evidence base, and venture philanthropy model into compelling propositions for new audiences and sectors.
Strategic Relationship Management & Growth
- Own and oversee select donor relationships at six and seven-figure levels within the philanthropy portfolio, ensuring high levels of retention, satisfaction, trust, income growth and long-term value.
- Ensure your donors receive timely, consistent, high-quality and relevant engagement and communications throughout their relationship with Impetus.
- Work closely with the wider team to ensure a smooth transition between new business, and long-term stewardship.
- Ensure account plans for priority donors and partners include clear renewal and growth pathways; engagement and risk-management plans.
- Act as senior relationship owner where required, modelling strong stewardship and coaching the Head of Development and other colleagues to navigate complex or sensitive relationships.
Research, Insight & Pipeline Development
- Provide strategic leadership for the Research & Insights function, ensuring prospect research, donor intelligence and market insight inform fundraising strategy, pipeline development and organisational planning.
- Lead the strategic development of fundraising pipelines, ensuring focus on opportunities with the greatest potential for long-term income growth, impact and strategic fit.
- Ensure donor intelligence and prospect research are used effectively to identify, qualify and prioritise new funding opportunities.
- Maintain oversight of gift acceptance, due diligence and fundraising compliance in relation to fundraising opportunities, ensuring adherence to relevant regulatory requirements and organisational policies.
- Identify and escalate strategic, reputational or compliance risks associated with donors and partners.
Leadership and Team Performance
- Line manage and develop the Head of Development, providing strategic direction, coaching and performance oversight.
- Establish the Head of Development as the operational lead on new business, ensuring capability, succession and high performance across the wider team.
- Set clear objectives and success measures for new business growth, aligned to Impetus’ wider income strategy.
- Build and sustain an inclusive, evidence-led and high-performing team culture that balances pace and ambition with quality, learning and collaboration.
- Build fundraising capability across your team through leadership, coaching and consistent, fair, and high-quality performance management, including objective-setting, feedback and development planning.
Pro Bono, Events, Volunteering & Partnership Value
- Ensure engagement opportunities, including volunteering, pro bono and events, strengthen strategic partnerships and support long-term income growth through strong collaboration with colleagues.
Operational Excellence, Governance & Risk
- Ensure new business activity complies with due diligence, gift acceptance and risk management requirements.
- Oversee accurate pipeline reporting, forecasting, and performance tracking, using Salesforce and other systems to ensure insights inform decision making.
- Work with Finance and Operations to ensure income is contracted, invoiced, and reported accurately and on time in line with financial controls.
- Identify and escalate strategic or reputational risks associated with prospective partnerships.
Cross-Organisational Leadership & Representation
- Act as a senior ambassador for Impetus, representing the organisation credibly with new donors, partners, and external stakeholders.
- Contribute to organisational strategy, income planning, and senior leadership discussions.
- Lead philanthropic work on Impetus funds including identifying funding opportunities and risks; shaping prospect pipelines; contributing to cases for support and donor presentations; and develop fund stewardship.
- Champion collaboration across the Philanthropy team, ensuring opportunities are shared, relationships are leveraged and expertise is used to maximise income and impact.
- Back Impetus’ values, evidence-led approach, and commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion across the Philanthropy team.
Strategic leadership
- Work in partnership with the Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships to contribute to the fundraising strategy.
- Translate strategic priorities into clear operational plans, objectives and delivery, ensuring new business delivers against organisational priorities, income targets and long-term growth ambitions.
- Provide strategic oversight of annual forecasting, budgeting, pipeline performance and resource planning, ensuring risks and opportunities are identified and addressed proactively.
- Maximise the contribution of trustees, committees, senior volunteers and wider networks to support strategic relationship building and new business development.
- Act as a trusted senior adviser to the Directors of Philanthropy and Partnerships, providing insight, challenge and solutions to strengthen organisational fundraising performance and capability.
- Deputise for the Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships where appropriate, within agreed delegations and priorities.
- Build a positive, collaborative and high-performing culture across the Philanthropy team, modelling Impetus' values and supporting continuous improvement.
Person specification
Essential:
Fundraising & new business leadership
- Significant experience in major donor and/or corporate fundraising at six and seven-figure gift level, with a strong track record of securing new income and managing complex partnerships.
- Ability to lead and personally deliver the full fundraising cycle, from prospecting and cultivation through to solicitation, negotiation, and close.
- Proven experience of building, managing, and converting a new business pipeline, balancing ambition with delivery.
- Strong ability to leverage internal and external networks, including trustees, senior volunteers, and professional contacts.
Senior stakeholder engagement
- Experience of operating at a senior level and leading high value or complex stakeholder relationships (trustees, board members, senior external partners).
- Ability to influence and build credibility with senior audiences through clear, confident and evidence led communication.
- Excellent negotiation skills, with the ability to secure mutually beneficial outcomes while protecting organisational values and reputation.
Leadership & people management
- Proven experience leading and developing high-performing teams, including developing senior colleagues and building leadership capability.
- A strong track record as a collaborative senior team member, contributing beyond own area of responsibility and supporting wider organisational success
- Ability to build a high-trust, high-challenge culture that supports excellence, inclusion, and learning.
- Strong performance management capability and ability to handle complex people issues, giving strategic feedback, and addressing underperformance constructively.
- Ability to deputise for the Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships when appropriate.
Strategic & intellectual capability
- Strong strategic thinker with the ability to translate agreed strategy and insight into clear plans and execute them effectively.
- Ability to grasp, interpret apply and communicate complex information and ideas, including Impetus’ venture philanthropy and impact-led funding models.
- Evidence of an innovative and creative approach, with the ability to adapt in changing contexts.
Financial, operational & delivery capability
- Solid financial management, with experience contributing to budget-setting, managing agreed budgets, supporting forecasting and identifying efficiencies.
- Strong organisational skills and attention to delivery, with the ability to manage multiple priorities to a high standard
- Able to use insight and data (including CRM systems such as Salesforce) to inform decisions and strengthen performance.
- Sound judgement in identifying, managing, and escalating risk, particularly in relation to donor relationships and reputation.
Communication, values & ways of working
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, able to communicate clearly, persuasively, and with impact.
- Excellent relationship-building skills, with the ability to establish, maintain, and leverage relationships with key internal and external stakeholders.
- A strong commitment to Impetus’ mission and to improving outcomes for young people.
- A clear commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion, demonstrated through inclusive leadership and professional practice.
Desirable
- Experience working within venture philanthropy, impact investing, or systems-change funding models.
- Familiarity with private equity, professional services.
- Experience contributing to income growth, donor strategy or portfolio development within an agreed organisational fundraising strategy.
- Knowledge of the UK charity or social impact sector, particularly education, employment, or youth-focused work.
- Experience using CRM systems (e.g. Salesforce) to manage pipelines, performance, and forecasting.
About Impetus
At Impetus, our focus is on helping young people achieve positive education and employment outcomes to increase their chance of leading fulfilling and successful lives, irrespective of their background.
We tackle the three most difficult challenges that affect a young person’s ability to succeed in life in Britain today:
- Lost learning through absence, suspensions, exclusions from school
- Stagnation in education attainment outcomes, which means many are missing out on key qualifications like GCSE English and maths
- The large numbers of young people out of education, training and employment
We use our deep expertise and high calibre networks to give the best non-profits working in these sectors the essential ingredients to have a real and lasting impact on the young people they serve.
Through a powerful combination of long-term funding, direct capacity building support from our experienced team and our pro bono partners, alongside research and policy influencing to drive lasting systems change, we work towards a society where all young people can thrive in school, pass their exams and unlock the doors to sustained employment, for a fulfilling life.
We are resolutely focused on outcomes and impact, driven by quality evidence.
You would be joining a team that is passionate, rigorous, determined, creative and warm. We care deeply for our colleagues, our portfolio partners and the young people we serve.
Impetus is a registered charity and our charity number is 1152262.
Our Values
In 2022 the Impetus staff agreed the following set of Values to act as our guiding principles as an organisation and help us to remain focused on achieving our mission to support young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
We are brave and curious
We are bold and brave in our pursuit of better outcomes for young people. We lead with curiosity and stay open to new perspectives. We support one another to take considered risks and learn together.
We bring high trust, high challenge
We build strong, long-term relationships through honesty, kindness, integrity, and respect. We create the space for open, constructive challenge, where colleagues, partners and supporters feel safe to speak up, hold each other to account, and bring their best in pursuit of our mission.
We are evidence led and results driven for young people
We pursue excellence for the young people we work with, are wholly committed to better outcomes, unapologetically results driven, and accountable for our actions.
We thrive through diversity
We seek to embed diversity of thought, background and experience in every aspect of our work. We are open, thoughtful and proactive in better understanding and challenging our assumptions to better deliver the change we seek.
We always seek collaboration
We will not succeed alone. We seek meaningful, productive partnerships with others to achieve our mission and drive systems change for young people.
Our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion
We believe that a diverse workforce leads to an organisation that is more open, creative and gets better results.
We want our team at Impetus to represent the diversity of the people and communities we serve. We also want our team to be one where different experiences, expertise and perspectives are valued, and where everyone is encouraged to grow and develop.
We want to reach a diverse pool of candidates. We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that potential employees may need to in order to be successful.
We recognise the importance of a good work/life balance. We do everything we can to accommodate flexible working, including working from home, working part-time job shares and other arrangements.
Please just let us know in your application or at any stage throughout the process (and beyond) if these are options you’d like to explore.
Impetus is an equal opportunity employer and is determined to ensure that no applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. We value diversity and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds.
Our employee benefits
Impetus appreciates the invaluable contribution made by all employees and wishes to encourage and reward loyalty, motivation and experience. We therefore offer a range of benefits and policies which aim to assist employees during various stages of their lives and careers. For more information on these, please download the job information pack from our website.
How to apply
Please click on the "Apply for this job" button.
You will need to:
- Complete the online form (including the equal opportunities monitoring form).
- Upload a comprehensive CV and supporting statement.
The supporting statement should be no more than two sides of A4 and should address the criteria in the person specification.
You should also include the contact details of two referees, one of whom must be your current or most recent employer. Referees will only be approached with your express permission.
As part of our commitment to flexible working we will consider a range of options for the successful applicant. All options can be discussed at interview stage.
The deadline for applications is Sunday 20th September 2026, 11:59pm.
Interviews:
1st Interviews will take place on w/c 5th October 2026.
2nd Interviews will take place on w/c 12th October 2026.
You will also be required to provide proof of your eligibility to work in the UK.
Personal Data
Your personal data will be shared for the purposes of the recruitment exercise. This includes our HR team, interviewers (who may include other partners in the project and independent advisors), relevant team managers and our IT service provider if access to the data is necessary for performance of their roles. We do not share your data with other third parties, unless your application for employment is successful and we make you an offer of employment. We will then share your data with former employers to obtain references for you. We do not transfer your data outside the European Economic Area.
Impetus transforms the lives of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds by ensuring they get support to succeed in school, in work and in life.

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