Hr administrator jobs in solihull, west midlands

About Chapter One

Chapter One is a dynamic, growing charity with a vision of a world in which all children have the literacy skills needed to thrive. Our mission is to close the reading gap by providing children with one-to-one support at the time they need it most. 

Our unique Online Reading Volunteer programme currently supports around 3,000 children a year. It pairs disadvantaged, struggling five to eight-year old (KS1) readers with reading support volunteers who come from over 140 local and national businesses. The volunteer ask is very focused: readers commit 30 minutes a week to read with a child using a bespoke digital platform for an entire academic year. The results are transformative, boosting children's reading confidence and ability. 

For more information about our programmes please visit our website. Please also take some time to visit our social media channels and watch our videos.
 

About the Role

The Human Resources (HR) & Administrative Assistant will provide support to the CEO, Line Managers and the wider team with a range of HR related and administrative tasks. They will work remotely and will need to have access to a reliable internet connection. They will report to the CEO.

This role is ideal for someone who wishes to pursue a career in HR, and Chapter One is willing to support the postholder to gain external qualifications. This role is subject to an Enhanced DBS check, and the post-holder must be permanently based in the UK at the time of applying and for the duration of their employment. 

All Chapter One employees are required to attend quarterly in-person staff meetings held in various locations across the UK (all expenses covered); participation is mandatory.

Main duties will include:

HR Administration and Data Management

• Maintain accurate and up to date HR records on Chapter One systems

• Be the in-house expert on Breathe, Chapter One’s HR system

• Lead on data entry and HR system (Breathe HR) management, including generating relevant reports to support staff management and key decision making

• Monitor and track training and DBS records ensuring timely renewals in line with Chapter One’s policies

• Assist with documenting and maintaining HR process and workflows

• Ensure employee documents are stored correctly and confidentially

Organisational Policies and HR Procedures

• Working with the CEO and the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) to create, update and disseminate relevant Charity policies and/or updates to the staff handbook

• Prepare standard HR letters and documents (contracts, change letters)

• Lead on the liaison with and promotion of the organisations Employee Assistance Programme (Health Assured EAP)

• Create process guides for staff in collaboration with Line Managers and the CEO

• Act as a first point of support for HR-related queries from managers, escalating to the CEO when needed

• Liaise with Chapter One’s external HR advice provider when additional expertise is required

• Proactively identify opportunities to streamline and improve HR administrative processes and procedures

Recruitment, Onboarding and Offboarding

• Support managers through the entirety of the recruitment process for staff and trustees - including, but not limited to, advertising vacancies, organising applications, arranging interviews, monitoring interview tasks, coordinating assessments, collecting candidate documents, requesting references

• Managing the onboarding process for all new staff, including, but not limited to, holding HR induction meetings, coordinating new starter paperwork, setting probation review dates and training

• Work with Line Managers to organise induction plans, schedule introductory meetings, and ensure new starters are fully supported during their initial weeks

• Coordinate the offboarding process for departing staff, including exit interviews, return of equipment, and removal from systems

General HR Support

• Organise and schedule staff meetings and organisation-wide training sessions

• Coordinate wellbeing and employee engagement activities, including, but not limited to annual surveys, staff away days, seasonal events

• Plan and coordinate in-person meeting logistics, including venue booking, accommodation, equipment and refreshments, ensuring all arrangements are inclusive and appropriately tailored to staff needs

• Work with the SLT to be a champion of Chapter One’s values, and a custodian of its supportive work culture

• Communicate instructions and other messages to Line Managers and staff clearly and promptly on behalf of the CEO 

• Support with preparation for audits or compliance checks e.g. Right to Work, DBS

• Provide HR support to staff working groups e.g. Wellbeing or Learning and Development

• Attend external HR webinars (eg with DOHR or Breathe) and disseminate information to the CEO & Line Managers as required

• Stay informed of relevant employment law updates, notifying the CEO of possible changes needed to policies or procedures

• Support general organisational administration as needed, such as scheduling key meetings, maintaining registers or documentation, or assisting with regulatory filings

• Assist the CEO & Line Managers with additional HR and administrative/organisational tasks, assigned at the discretion of the CEO

We are looking for applicants with the following essential qualities:

• Educated to A-level standard or equivalent

• A genuine interest in Chapter One, with a passion for the work we do

• Experience in a similar HR role 

• Proficient in use of Microsoft Excel/Google Sheets and Google Workspace

• Excellent written and oral communication skills

• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships with colleagues at all levels

• Thoughtful, compassionate and inclusive approach to interpersonal relationships

• Self-motivated and proactive, with a problem-solving mindset

• Goal-oriented team-player who also thrives working independently

• Meticulous eye for detail, who takes pride in holding themself to the highest standards in all aspects of their work

• Professional, discreet and able to handle confidential information

• Working knowledge of HR functions

The best applicants will also have the following desirable qualities:

• Experience of working in the charity/non-profit sector

• A desire to develop a career in HR

• A qualification in HR, e.g. CIPD Level 3, or working towards one

Interview Dates:

1st round interviews - Tuesday 22nd and Wednesday 23rd July
2nd round interviews - Monday 28th July

Chapter One is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value and celebrate diversity in backgrounds and experience and are deliberate about the kind of teams we are building. Literacy is a universal concern, and we need people from all backgrounds to maximise our innovation, creativity and impact. We especially welcome applications from individuals who have experienced disadvantage and/or from those who are of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities who are currently underrepresented in the organisation. 

Chapter One is committed to safeguarding children and young people. All postholders are subject to a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service disclosure. Copies of our Safeguarding Policy and Safer Recruitment Policy are available on request

Qualifications/ skills: CIPD qualified or equivalent professional HR qualification (Level 5 or above)

Time: Minimum 12 up to 16 hours per week. Can be worked flexibly but there are some essential meetings on a Monday. 

Where: Remote - UK based. Two team days per year in London / South East or online. 

Salary: £35,000-£38,000 full-time equivalent, depending on experience. This salary is in line with our organisational pay structure.

Deadline to apply: 8th July, 12pm 

Estimated start date: September 2025

Role overview

This HR Lead role will support a unique, employee-owned, self-managed organisation. You'll play a key part in ensuring the smooth running of HR practices, advising on employee relations, and contributing to a positive, self-directed work environment.

As a self-managed organisation HR is distributed between a number of different roles. You will be working alongside our Organisational Development Lead, Training & Development Lead, Compliance Lead, HR Support, Onboarding/Offboarding Lead, Team Companion and the leadership team.

As this is a new developing role, the responsibilities listed in the Job Description are areas where Chiltern has identified HR expertise is needed at this current point in time. This gives the role holder the opportunity to further develop and shape this area of our business.

Key duties include advising on employee relations, supporting self-managed teams, and promoting a culture of continuous improvement and employee ownership, and you'll also work closely with individuals to ensure HR policies are adhered to, individuals feel empowered and engaged and that the organisation's culture aligns with its values in the delivery of HR practices.
 

Accountabilities

Responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

1. HR Strategy & Organisational Development

• Collaborate with the leadership team to drive the organisation’s People Management Strategy

• Devise and deliver HR projects to improve business efficiency and effectiveness

• Lead succession planning initiatives across the organisation

• Horizon scan for emerging HR practices and employment law developments

2. HR Policy, Compliance & Risk Management

• Develop and maintain HR policies, procedures, and the Employee Handbook to ensure legal compliance

• Ensure compliance with UK employment law across all HR functions

• Lead on:

  • Third Party Risk Policy

  • Equality Impact Assessment Policy

  • Stakeholder Engagement Policy (ensuring service user perspectives are integrated)

• Monitor adherence to internal policies, including whistleblowing, grievances, and dignity at work

• Audit EDI data bi-annually and create strategies to promote diversity and inclusion

3. Employee Relations & Case Management

• Providing advice and leading on the process for :

  • Grievances

  • Disciplinaries

  • Bullying, harassment, and capability issues

  • Redeployment and redundancy

• Lead meetings prior to disciplinary sanctions in collaboration with our HR administrator

• Mediate disputes and facilitate conflict resolution within the context of HR discussions

4. Compensation and Benefits

• Developing and maintaining salary structures

• Conducting salary benchmarking and market analysis

• Overseeing annual salary reviews

• Ensuring compliance with pay equity laws

5. Recruitment, Onboarding & Talent Management

• Oversee advertising and attraction strategies

• Support onboarding processes to aid efficiency

• Review terms and conditions, contracts, and engage with external advisors as needed

6. Attendance & Performance Management

• Manage absence cases including statutory and contractual entitlements

• Support the leadership team with performance and attendance-related challenges

7. Systems & Process Improvement

• Maintain and enhance HR systems, ensuring lean processes and the integration of e-systems

• Regularly review and improve the Staff Portal alongside our Training & Development Lead

8. Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI)

• Stay updated on EDI legislation and best practice

• Support the organisation in being legally compliant, culturally relevant, and innovative in its EDI approach

• Lead data audits and present an equal opportunities review every two years

9. Professional Development & Networking

• Engage with local HR support networks, including CIPD and ACAS

• Maintain continuous professional development (CPD)

• Be an active member of Social Enterprise UK HSC HR group and attend relevant meetings

Person specification

We are looking for an efficient, well-organised, friendly person to join the team with the following qualities:

• CIPD qualified or equivalent professional HR qualification (Level 5 or above)

• Experience in a generalist HR role, including employee relations, policy development, and HR project delivery.

• Experience working on or leading Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) initiatives.

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build effective relationships across all levels

• Confident facilitator and leader of sensitive meetings and discussions, with a culture of care

• As this is a hands on role, a high level of organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities and projects simultaneously is needed

• Commitment to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and supportive work environment

• Demonstrate flexibility and adaptability, with the ability to adjust to changing priorities and respond effectively to new or unforeseen challenges.

Job benefits

A key benefit in working for Chiltern is being a part of a forward thinking employee owned team, where our culture celebrates and values the voice of each individual.

Staff members benefit from a flexible working environment, creating a personal schedule based around the requirements of the role.

Ultimately, at the heart of what we do is our value of ‘care’, which is felt strongly across the team.

Additional benefits include:

• Flexible working

• 32 Days (FTE) per annum annual leave allowance (including bank holidays)

• High street discount shopping portal

• EAP package - access to confidential support and wellbeing services

About Chiltern Music Therapy

Chiltern is an award-winning social enterprise that provides music therapy, community music services and training to over 1700 people of all ages and many different needs across England each year. Formed in 2011 from a desire to change how music therapy was offered in the UK, we hold accessibility and financial inclusivity at our heart, working across health, education, social care and community settings.

Proud to be a self-managed and employee-owned organisation, we strive to create a world where music therapy is the transformative thread in the lives of the children and adults we support. At Chiltern we recognise the different strengths within our team. We provide an environment where people can take charge of the work they do and make informed decisions using professional judgement and life experience, alongside peer support. We’re welcoming, inclusive, and have worked hard to create a positive environment that we are proud of. You can find out more about us on our website.

How to apply

To apply, please apply with your CV and a one-page covering letter which should include your reasons for wanting to join Chiltern Music Therapy and suitability for the role. 

We welcome enquiries and applications from people of all identities and backgrounds and value diversity in our workforce.

We encourage candidates to apply as soon as possible as we may close applications early depending on application numbers.

For more information about Chiltern Music Therapy please visit our website. 

Human Resources Manager

Type of Employment: Full-time employee (40 hours/week)

Starting Salary Range: £62,150 – £71,650 (London area)

Exact compensation will vary based on skills, experience, and location.

Location: Shift will consider candidates located in the UK (ideally in the London metropolitan area) with existing permission to work. Shift team members work remotely, with occasional in-person engagement.

Deadline for Application: Friday July 11, 2025, 11:59pm BST

About Shift

Shift is the leading center of expertise on the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Shift’s global team of experts works across all continents and sectors to challenge assumptions, push boundaries and redefine corporate practice in order to build a world where business gets done with respect for people’s dignity.

Shift is a charitable and educational nonprofit organization with a principal place of business in New York, NY. Shift’s mission is to shape the legal standards, market incentives and leadership practices that embed respect for human rights into business. Shift works with businesses, financial institutions, governments and civil society stakeholders to help put their commitments to the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights into practice. 

The Role

Playing an essential role in our small, dynamic team, the HR Manager will be a key driver of a thriving workplace culture, ensuring that Shift’s people strategies align with our organizational goals. In this role, you will lead core HR functions, including compliance, recruitment, employee development, and policy implementation, while serving as a trusted advisor to leadership on all people-related matters.

Working closely with the COO, you will develop and implement systems that enhance retention, engagement, and performance. Beyond strategic HR leadership, this role also involves hands-on operational and administrative responsibilities, contributing to Shift’s overall efficiency and success.

What You Will Do

The HR Manager will carry out the following essential functions of this role:

HR Leadership

• Serve as a trusted HR advisor, aligning people strategies with Shift’s mission and organizational objectives.
• Partner with Shift leadership on strategic workforce planning, organizational development, and talent retention.
• Lead diversity, equity, inclusion, engagement and well-being initiatives, ensuring a culture of respect and belonging.
• Provide coaching to leadership and managers, facilitate change management and high-performance work environments.
• Implement organizational policies.

Performance Management, Development & Workplace Culture

• Implement and oversee regular performance evaluation processes.
• Support leadership in coaching, feedback, and career development programs for all employees.
• Identify training needs and facilitate team learning initiatives.
• In partnership with COO, investigate and ensure resolution of employee concerns, fostering a supportive and inclusive workplace.
• Guide managers on employee relations, performance coaching, and conflict resolution.
• Drive initiatives to enhance team engagement, well-being, and professional growth.

Recruitment & Onboarding

• Manage full-cycle recruitment, from job posting to candidate selection and onboarding.
• Oversee onboarding and orientation to integrate new employees effectively.

Compensation, Benefits & Compliance

• Partner with Shift’s Head of Finance and COO to manage compensation, administer employee benefits, including health insurance, and retirement plans.
• Conduct market analysis to ensure competitive and equitable compensation structures.
• Maintain compliance with employment laws across all relevant jurisdictions, working with external providers where relevant.

Operations & Administrative Support

• Support the implementation of systems for internal communication, knowledge management and team-wide collaboration.
• Oversee HR administrative tasks, including remote work logistics and coworking subscriptions.
• Support the implementation of systems for internal communication, knowledge management and team-wide collaboration.
• Coordinate logistics for team retreats and support logistics for other events.

Supervisory Responsibilities 

• This position does not have direct supervisory responsibilities.

The person in this role will be expected to travel, as needed, for occasional in-person activity.

What You Bring to the Team

• 5+ years of HR management / generalist experience, ideally in a nonprofit or mission-driven organization.
• Strong understanding of HR best practices, employment laws, and compliance across multiple jurisdictions.
• Proven ability to influence and coach leaders at all levels.
• Ability to multi-task, work effectively, and produce high-quality work in a fast-paced, high-volume, deadline-driven environment.
• Experience in recruiting, employee relations, and HR operations.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and HRIS systems.
• Strong project management, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a remote, international environment.
• Proficiency in English.
• Existing permission to work in the US or the UK.
• Ability to travel when needed for in-person events.
• Exceptional communication, confidentiality, discretion, and relationship-building skills.

Other Duties

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

What Shift Can Offer You

Benefits include:

• 39 days of paid leave for full-time employees: includes 4 weeks of vacation leave, a 2-week office closure at the end of each year, and at least 9 public/floating holidays. (Leave is prorated for part-time schedules.)
• Paid sick leave and parental leave.
• Employer pension contribution of 5% p/a.
• Professional development allocation.
• Remote work support package, including support for co-working space.

Shift is committed to maintaining a respectful workplace that is free from all forms of harassment, including in all engagements conducted on behalf of Shift.

How to Apply 

Please submit a 1-page (maximum) letter of interest and CV for consideration. Finalists for the position will be asked to provide three professional references. 

Deadline for Applications: Friday July 11, 2025, 11:59pm BST

Group Senior HR Advisor

Location: Trigate Business Centre, Oldbury B68

Hours: 28-hours per week (4 days) hybrid working

Salary £45,000 per annum (£36,000 per annum pro rata)

Are you interested in a Group Senior HR Advisor position where you have the chance to make your mark with an employer who isn’t afraid to let people try new things, and to innovate? This could be the ideal opportunity to move to a business specialising in housing, care and support for people with visual impairments, and other specialist needs.

As an inclusive, forward-thinking business, we take pride in our approach in investing in our people and are looking for a highly competent and motivated Senior HR Advisor to join us. From our recent staff survey, our staff have told us that they are really engaged and feel proud to work for us and the people we support.

This business is keen to recruit someone who wants to excel in their role and play a key part in our People Strategy. Now is a particularly exciting time to join us as we have an ambitious but realistic plan for further business development and growth.

As the Group Senior HR Advisor, you will:

• Be responsible for a case management of ER cases as well as provide day to day advice to managers.
• Develop excellent working relationships with managers and help empower them to become great people managers.
• Provide risk-based advice, guidance and coaching to managers on following best practice, policies and procedures.
• Play a lead role in managing key HR projects, business change projects such as restructures, through to supporting on the implementation of organisation wide people initiatives, such as wellbeing projects. This will include undertaking relevant research, and making proposals and recommendations that will enable effective and progressive change in our culture and ways of working.
• Need to have a full UK Driving Licence and use of a car for business purposes.
• Need to be able to apply for enhanced DBS clearance.
• Need to provide evidence of your Right to Work in the UK.

New Outlook Housing Association and Vision Homes Association are well-respected organisations and have joined forces in supporting and caring for people with visual impairment and complex needs.

We are proud of the work we do for the people we support, so if you can help us build on our successes, enjoy being part of a small team, and have a positive outlook, then we would like to hear from you.

The role is hybrid and based in Oldbury, with typically two days in the office and two at home. We operate from a modern well-furnished office, and apply a flexible approach to working patterns to ensure a better work-life balance for staff. 

Benefits:

23 days Annual Leave (After your second year of service one additional day, subject to a maximum of five additional days) + 8 Bank Holidays

Employer pension contribution

Staff discount scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Birthday leave

Long service awards

About Us:

Vision Homes has been providing support to vulnerable adults for over 30 years, specialising in providing support to people with complex needs. VHA is a charity, registered with the Charity Commission and its care provision is regulated by Care Quality Commission.

New Outlook has been providing services to visually impaired people for over 170 years. Starting out in 1846 as part of the Birmingham Royal Institution for the Blind (BRIB), becoming a standalone housing association in 1997.  Since then, New Outlook Housing Association (NOHA) has gone through several changes to become the organisation it is today.

How to Apply:

For more information and Job Description please visit our website for contact details.

Please apply by sending your CV and a covering letter to us stating ‘what qualities and experience you can bring to the role’.

Closing Date: 11/07/25. Please note, we are actively reviewing applications and may close this advert early if a successful candidate is found.

Interviews:  Telephone interviews will take place on 17/07/25 & 18/07/25.

If successful, a follow-up in-person interview will be arranged on 23/07/25 or 28/07/25 at our Head Offices in Oldbury. 

Vision Homes Association and New Outlook Housing Association are Equal Opportunity Employers

No agencies.

We’re looking for a proactive and organised Team Administrator to play a key role in keeping our organisation running smoothly, providing vital support across all teams and functions.

About Khulisa: 

Khulisa, meaning 'nurture' in the Zulu language of South Africa, is an award-winning charity dedicated to providing therapeutic support to young people. We focus on reaching those who are most at risk – young people from deprived communities who are often marginalized, vulnerable to exclusion, and at heightened risk of becoming involved in crime.

Our approach centres on safe, exploratory methods that aim to understand behaviour and experiences often rooted in trauma, abuse, and neglect. We deliver intensive therapeutic programs within educational and community settings, empowering young people to confront the underlying causes of their emotional distress and work toward healing. To create lasting, sustainable change, we also work to establish trauma-informed environments around young people by equipping parents, caregivers, educators, and other professionals with the tools they need to offer effective, supportive care. Currently, our services are active in London and Manchester. 

About the role: 

The purpose of this role is to provide high-quality administrative support across the organisation, ensuring the smooth and efficient running Khulisa's day-to-day operations. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Scheduling and organising internal staff meetings and events 
• Providing end-to-end support in Khulisa's recruitment processes
• Managing Khulisa's central mailbox 
• Taking resposibility for Khulisa's invoice management system
• Carrying out monthly payroll administration

For a full list of duties and responsibilities, please see the attached job description below. 

The post holder will be required to work from home permanently but be willing and able to easily travel to various locations across the London and the North West as necessary to fulfill the requirements of the role and to engage with stakeholders and colleagues.

What we're looking for:

Abilities/Experience

• Experience in a similar position working across departments and teams to provide support - or a demonstratable ability to do this 
• Experience of using digital platforms for for scheduled and ad hoc administrative processes, including relating or organisation's operations or other functions 
• Ability to perform financial administrative tasks, such as expenses administration, using relevant software
• Excellent organisational and time management skills 
• Ability to prioritise competing commitments and work accurately and methodolically under pressure and work tight deadlines
• Ability to properly deal with sensitive / confidential information
• Experience working within a small but close-knit team
• Demonstrable ability to plan and prioritise own workload with minimum supervision 
• Ability to buy strongly into strategic objectives and reflect passion for Khulisa's work with and for Young People
• Willingness to work occasional weekends and evenings when required 

Knowledge/Skills

• Strong IT skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Excel spreadsheets
• A commitment to Khulisa's work 
• Some knowledge of Salesforce or other similar CRMs

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: We are actively looking to recruit a diversity of talent. We embrace, respect and value the difference in our employees and believe that we and our work is better for it. We are committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive environment that consists of fairness, dignity, and caring for everyone, and one that enables every employee to flourish and realise their potential.

Location: You can be based near one of the following office locations - Birmingham, Cardiff, Glasgow, Liverpool, London, or Newcastle.

We operate a hybrid model of work i.e. a combination of in-person and remote, with flexible days in the office depending on business need and your preferences. We would typically expect in-office attendance an average of one day per week.

Contract: Full-time, Permanent

Hours: We are looking for the right candidate and while we envisage this being a full-time role (37.5 hours per week) we are very open to flexible working arrangements such as part-time, compressed hours, flexitime and job-shares. 

Occasional/frequent evening or weekend work may be required, for which time off in lieu (TOIL) will be given. 

Ideal start date: ASAP, as agreed with candidate 

We’ll also need:

•  Proof of your right to work in the UK - regretfully we’re currently unable to offer sponsorships at this time.
• References
• To conduct relevant DBS or PVGs checks for Safeguarding purposes if you are offered the role in line with our Safer Recruitment practices.

The Opportunity

The Finance and Operations Officer’s purpose is to work within the Operations Team to provide essential financial and operational support for the whole charity.  
 

Key responsibilities for finance range from providing advice and support for the whole staff team, important day to day and monthly financial processing for key stakeholders and assisting with the budgeting and forecasting process. 

1. Finance

• Support the Finance and Operations Manager (FM) to prepare and deliver accurate and regular management information including monthly management accounts, budgets and forecasts, one-off finance reports, reporting for funders including grants and trusts, including end of project reporting. 
• Monitor the day-to-day financial management and cash flow of the Social Mobility Foundation (SMF) working closely with the FM, Head of Finance & Operations (HFO), Operations and Fundraising teams. 
• Prepare payment runs for invoices and expenses, update weekly payments received reports and work closely with the Fundraising team to ensure expected income has been received. 
• Support the FM, alongside our appointed accountants, to prepare audited Year End Accounts, and work to ensure the Accounts are completed, approved, and filed on time. 
• Support the FM to manage and improve our financial systems and procedures, streamlining internal processes to ensure they are effective and safeguard the finances of the organisation.  
• Support the FM to devise and implement effective and efficient procedures, including the introduction of a purchase order system. From time to time, you may be requested to support the FM to maintain the payroll function of the organisation. 

 
2. Operations and Administration 

• Support the organisation, in ensuring that all staff and volunteers are aware of and trained in the relevant Data Protection policy and procedures and ensure that data protection laws are being adhered to in relation to the storage of data. Run the data deletion process where such requests are received in compliance with GDPR legislation. 
• Support the HFO and FM in overseeing operational matters such as SMF office administration, maintaining the asset register, insurance renewals, and Health & Safety compliance; act as point of contact for suppliers and service providers, including property managers, utility companies, couriers and cleaners; maintaining contracts and leases with office providers; purchasing office supplies & equipment and ensuring adequate stock levels are kept. 
• Support the wider organisation through appropriate administrative tasks, for example the programme delivery team to ensure a good experience for students, particularly during the residential programmes 
• Support the HR team with processes such as ordering laptops for new staff and communicating, updating and maintaining office policies contained in the Office handbook  
• Undertake research activities to support Operations Team projects, for example potential new suppliers, benchmarking exercises and contract renewals 

3. Strategic Responsibilities 

• Support with training staff on finance processes, fraud awareness, data protection, and other areas of operations.  
• Being a point of contact for all staff on finance and operations including office administration 
• Ensure appropriate adherence to our financial and operational policies and procedures supporting the organisation to enact the highest standards, balancing that whilst processes are appropriately followed, they are not followed to the point where they compromise the standards or outcomes desired. 

Need to know

• IT skills:  Experience of using Microsoft Office, particularly Excel functions. Experience of using or awareness of any accounting and/or CRM (Salesforce) software.
• Accounting knowledge: Some understanding of basic bookkeeping would be preferable, including the importance of accurate and timely information for the running of the charity and an ability to maintain confidentiality. 

Please see the full job description attached for a more detailed person specification. 

Benefits

Annual leave
33/34 days (England & Wales and Scotland respectively - includes bank and public holidays).

Other benefits
Cycle to Work Scheme; Employer pension contributions of 5% of qualifying earnings; Employee Assistance Programme available to staff and their family; Flexible work options such as hybrid working, flexitime, part-time; Regular staff team building and business planning “away days”.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should apply by submitting the following information to our application portal Pinpoint by 23:59PM, Sunday 13th July.
 

1.  Why would you like to work at the Social Mobility Foundation? (max. 500 words)
2.  What makes you a suitable candidate for the role? (max. 500 words)

Please note that generic applications and CV’s will not be considered. 
 

Interviews: First round interviews will take place between 14th July and 18th July with multiple slots available at different times throughout the working day.

We are seeking a new Finance and Administration Officer following the upcoming retirement of a long-serving team member. A key member of the SLA central office team, the Finance and Administration Officer plays a vital role in ensuring smooth financial operations and providing essential administrative support for our membership. In addition to administration support, this role is responsible for maintaining accurate financial records, book-keeping and effective day-to-day financial operations, producing financial reports using XERO and our CRM.

You will be experienced in financial and administration operations of a charity or similar , with an AAT qualification or matching worked experience. Familiarity with XERO will be an advantage. You will be able to bring understanding of cashflow and financial analysis of figure, working with accountants as required.

You will also have excellent customer service skills and be able to work effectively with all stakeholders from our members, to funders to suppliers. You will be determined and have an excellent eye for financial and administrative detail. Your duties will include general administration and:

Financial operations and record-keeping

• Manage day-to-day financial transactions and maintain accurate records of all SLA accounts and petty cash; book-keeping
• Process and record all incoming payments, including foreign cheques (into bank account)
• Monitor cashflow and expenditure, keeping track of spending
• Pay invoices upon approval and ensure timely monthly payments (e.g. pensions, HMRC)
• Handle creditor and supplier communications and resolve related issues
• Monitor and follow up on overdue payments with a focus on membership payments

Invoicing and income tracking

• Issue and track membership and subscriber invoices and reminders
• Keep office team informed of payment statuses
• Prepare sales, cost, and profit reports for SLA publications
• Conduct annual publications stock take

Payroll and reporting

• Liaise with the accountant on salary payments; process salary BACS payments
• Support year-end financial reporting by providing necessary documentation to accountants
• Produce regular financial reports and analysis as required
• Supporting preparation of budgets, working with accountants as required

 Event financial administration

• Manage financial aspects of SLA events, particularly the annual conference (e.g., exhibitors, sponsors, and delegates)
• Process and record staff/trustee expense claims
• Support with bookings accommodation and travel for Board meetings

To be successful in this role you should demonstrate:

• Strong experience in financial and office administration
• Knowledge of accounting principles  
• Experience of working with XERO or similar
• Experience of using CRM systems (ideally IMIS)
• Experience of working for a small charity and / or membership association
• Accuracy, numeracy, attention to detail
• Ability to manage own workload, prioritise and meet competing deadlines
• Excellent customer service manner
• Being a team player

The Association is a UK wide organisation, working mostly remotely. Working patterns can be negotiated and we welcome applicants from all over the UK. We strongly encourage candidates of all different backgrounds and identities to apply. Each new role provides us with an opportunity for us to bring in a different perspective, and we are always eager to diversify our team. The SLA is committed to building an inclusive, supportive place, where you can do brilliant and rewarding work.

To apply please send a one page covering letter and CV with the job title in the subject line by 11th July.  Applications without a covering letter will not be considered. No agencies please.

Due to the volume of applications we cannot provide individual feedback. We really appreciate your interest. If you haven’t heard from us within one week of the deadline, it means we’ve moved forward with other candidates on this occasion. We encourage you to apply again in the future. Please note we may close recruitment early should the right candidate be identified.

Job Location:          Home-based, with some travel to our London office.

Responsible to:     Head of Sector Support 

Hours:                35 hours per week 

Grade:                   Point 31-34 £34,696- £37,489 (a London Allowance will be applied to employees who live in London, plus 6% employer’s pension, subject to a minimum 2% contribution by the employee) 

Contract:              Fixed term until 31st March 2026.

Benefits:

• Friendly and collaborative working environment
• Remote working
• 25 to 30 days holidays per annum plus bank holidays (depending on length of service and pro-rata for part-time employees)
• Contributory pension scheme including 6% employer’s contribution (subject to employee’s minimum 2% contribution)
• Enhanced maternity, adoption and paternity pay
• Occupational sick pay depending on length of service and pro-rata for part-time employees.
• Access to Employee Assistance Programme
• Access to staff discounts

Closing date: 17th July 2025, 17:00

Interviews to take place: 28th & 29th July 2025

About the role: 

We are seeking a proactive and detail-oriented Digital Learning Content Specialist to join our Sector Support team. This role is pivotal in designing, developing, and managing engaging digital learning experiences through our Learning Management System (LMS). You will be responsible for creating online learning content and the day-to-day administration of the LMS.

About you: 

• Proven experience working with Learning Management Systems (administration, user management, content upload) 
• Proficiency in e-learning authoring tools (e.g., Articulate Storyline, Adobe Captivate, H5P) and multimedia content creation 
• Experience with SCORM, xAPI (Tin Can API), or other e-learning standards 
• Strong understanding of instructional design principles and adult learning theory, and UX principles for digital learning design 
• Knowledge of accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG 2.1) and inclusive design practices 
• Commitment to meaningful anti-discriminatory practice, and equity, diversity and inclusion 
• Demonstrate a commitment to - and understanding of - the values, aims and objectives of Respect 

*NB. Where there are examples provided, your experience can be transferrable rather than exact. 

About Respect:   

Respect is a pioneering UK membership organisation in the domestic abuse sector.  Founded in 2000, we have built our expertise over the last 25 years in what was then a fledgling sector and recently have seen significant and rapid growth.

How to apply 

You must download an application form from Respect's job page, and submit to the Operations department in word doc. format only, please.

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact our HR Team directly (follow the link to Respect website)   

Closing date: 17th July 2025, 17:00 

CV's not accepted.  Please apply at via our HR portal

JOB PURPOSE:

• To pro-actively engage with local residents and partner organisations to develop a vision for our neighbourhood
• To co-create potential future activities for the Springfield Project and beyond, developing action plans and funding proposals and testing new approaches
• To ensure that the voices of the Sparkhill community are enabled and promoted to key stakeholders, including those whose voices may be marginalised using conventional approaches
• To lead our existing Place of Welcome group, ensuring the programme develops in line with the views of participants and in line with funder requirements

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• To enable the voices of Springfield Project service users and other local residents to be heard and acted upon both within the Springfield Project and in the wider neighbourhood/ community
• To proactively engage with local residents and partners to identify issues affecting the local community, gaps in current provision and to support the co-production of new services/ activities that meet local needs.
• To amplify the voices of Sparkhill residents to ensure representation in local and city-wide systems
• To develop, implement and maintain creative and effective communication methods and tools to promote opportunities for engagement and participation in Springfield Project activities and in the wider neighbourhood, including outreach to those that might be marginalised by traditional approaches
• To coordinate the Sparkhill Child Friendly Neighbourhood Youth Advisory Board, ensuring young people are empowered and enabled to participate, to act on issues that are important to them and ensuring that they have ownership of the group and the activity that develops from the group.
• To lead, develop and sustain a 'Springfield Voices’ panel that enables co-production on a local level of new activities
• To represent the Springfield Project at external stakeholder events
• To ensure effective monitoring and evaluation processes are in place to ensure continuous improvement of services and activities
• To develop and coordinate relevant communications campaigns and engagement projects, including physical and online comms and marketing
• To coordinate Community Events ensuring the involvement of the community in the design of events
• To develop project proposals and provide evidence to support fundraising activities based on the wishes and needs of the community
• To develop and test new activities co-created with the community in response to community need
• To facilitate the Place of Welcome group, ensuring that the Place of Welcome provides a welcoming environment for all participants, in line with written procedures covering registration, recording, food provision, coordination of volunteers

· To support visitors from partner agencies to operate in the space by agreement

• To manage incidents, accidents and complaints in line with Springfield Project policy
• To liaise with the Volunteer Coordinator around recruitment and induction of volunteers

To work flexibly and deliver services across the Project as directed and to undertake any other duties commensurate with the role and responsibilities of the post as agreed with your line manager

We are seeking a compassionate, visionary, and strategic Chief Executive Officer to lead Mermaids through the next stage of its evolution, dedicated to improving the lives of gender-diverse children and young people, and those who are important to them. As CEO, you will be responsible for driving the charity’s mission, shaping its strategic direction, and ensuring the delivery of high-quality, affirming support services. You will act as a visible and credible advocate for trans and 
gender-diverse youth, build strong relationships with stakeholders, and influence public policy and sector practice. Working closely with the Board of Trustees, you will oversee a small committed team, ensure robust financial management with the Chief Operating Officer, and lead fundraising efforts to secure a sustainable future. This is a unique opportunity for a values-driven leader who brings both strategic acumen and a deep commitment to equity, inclusion, and lived 
experience. 
Service Delivery:
• Provide strategic and operational leadership across all service delivery areas, including support line services, group work,  advocacy, external communications, and policy.
• Ensure services are high quality, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of trans and gender-diverse children, young people and the special people in their lives.
• Lead the continuous improvement and development of service delivery models, ensuring impact, effectiveness, and alignment with the charity’s mission.
• Champion a culture of safeguarding, accountability, and young person-centred practice throughout all service delivery. 
• Act as the organisation’s Safeguarding Lead, with oversight of on-call, safeguarding training, and ensuring appropriate escalation mechanisms are in place.
• Oversee the design and implementation of advocacy and policy activities, ensuring the charity’s voice is informed by lived 
experience and is impactful at local and national levels.
• Act as a visible and hands-on leader for frontline teams, providing support, supervision, and inspiration to staff and 
volunteers.
• Monitor performance, outcomes, and feedback to ensure services are meeting objectives and delivering positive change 
for beneficiaries.

Governance:
• In partnership with the board of trustees, set and articulate our vision, mission and strategy, and keep this under continual 
review.
• Lead the development and implementation of Mermaid’s strategic plan, ensuring sustainability and growth.
• Liaise with the board of trustees to ensure the charity’s governance, structure, policies and procedures are appropriate 
and effective, taking remedial measures and implementing change as necessary. This includes supporting board 
development.
• Work closely with the Chair and Board of Trustees to support strong governance and informed decision-making.
• Provide accurate and timely reporting on organisational performance, risks, and impact.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory guidance and legislation, including the Charity Commission and the Fundraising 

Finance & Fundraising:
• Working with the Chief Operating Officer and the Board of Trustees, ensure Mermaids has robust, deliverable fundraising 
and finance strategies in place, and subsequent action plans are embedded throughout the organisation to support their 
delivery.
• In partnership with the Chief Operating Officer, ensure Mermaids has robust finance, HR, IT, data privacy and governance processes and procedures are embedded.

People and Culture:
• Line manage senior staff including the COO and service delivery managers.
• Foster a positive, collaborative, inclusive internal culture that values lived experience and wellbeing.
• Continue work to embed a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion across the organisation, as well as a focus on accessibility.
• Work to define and drive trans-centred leadership across the organisation, including ensuring that the organisation is a trans-positive, supportive employer.

External Engagement and Advocacy:
• Represent Mermaids publicly, including acting as the key spokesperson and strategic policy stakeholder, ensuring 
organisational awareness of the external landscape and the changing needs of trans children, young people and their 
families, and advocating for these needs to be met.
• Lead communications strategy, and lead press engagement by responding to media inquiries, interviews, press conferences and media events.
• Lead on stakeholder engagement, including with funders, supporters, community partners, and policy influencers.
• Advocate for the rights and needs of trans and gender-diverse children, young people and the significant others in their lives at a national level.
 

Job Summary:  This role provides operational and strategic leadership for the Finance function of Feed The Hungry UK. As part of the Management team, this role reports to the CEO and the Trustee Board.

Work Pattern  Full time (37.5 hours per week)

Location:    Based at The Halo Centre, Coventry, with limited flexibility to work from home (by agreement).  

JOB DESCRIPTION  Main responsibilities.

Ensure the accuracy and completeness of all internal and external financial processing and reporting, ensuring full compliance with all laws and regulations, including the Charity Commission, HMRC and Companies House regulations.

1. Lead, motivate, develop and train the finance team, promoting an equal, diverse and inclusive team with a positive culture reflecting the values of Feed The Hungry. 

2. Ensure Feed The Hungry operates sound financial, risk management, internal control systems and maintains up-to-date Financial Regulations to safeguard stakeholders' interests and assets and to ensure the integrity of the organisation’s financial performance and statements. 

3. Provide effective day-to-day oversight of the organisation’s financial controls and financial performance, including keeping financial policies up to date and in line with our processes.

4. As Company Secretary, support governance activities, including administration for board meetings, trustee enquiries and administrative duties for the board. 

5. Be alert to all organisational activities that have a financial impact and speedily assess the impact of such activities. 

6. In partnership with the CEO and Directors, develop and support the delivery of the organisation's strategic plan and the related budgets and forecasts.

7. Ensure the preparation and presentation of accurate and timely financial data, including strategic plans, budgets, management accounts, live forecasts, and financial data and monitoring requested by funders.

8. Provide financial and management support to the CEO, Directors and trustees on the financial position and risks and opportunities of Feed the Hungry. 

9. Financial oversight of contract negotiations (utilities, insurance). 

10. Proactively develop strong working relationships with FTH managers, providing constructive challenge and commercial insight in support of the strategy. Be proactive in challenging the status quo and be prepared to bring new ideas that will enhance the organisation’s activities and returns. 

11. Regular monitoring and tracking of grants made to the organisation. Ensuring external reporting deadlines are met and internal updates on remaining spend is conveyed to project management grant holders. 

12. Administrative responsibility for oversight of the externally appointed auditors and the successful completion of annual audited financial statements and the annual report, and the timely submission to the Trustees.

13. Maintain an ongoing dialogue with the CEO and Directors, and the external auditors. Responsible for the Company's Finance, Tax, Pensions, Audit, and Payroll.

14. Fulfil the role and duties of Company Secretary and attend Trustee meetings with the CEO and Directors 

15. General Duties: 

    • Adhere to all company policies and procedures and recommend changes as appropriate. 

    • Attend all mandatory training required to complete and maintain your role, ensuring you keep up to date with changes to specific laws and legislation that are relevant to your role 

The Youth Endowment Fund  

Programme Manager

Reports to: Programme and Impact Lead 

Salary: £44,200 

Contract: 18-month fixed term (Full-Time)

Location: Central London, Hybrid*  

Closes: Monday 14th July 2025 at 12pm

About the Youth Endowment Fund

We’re here to prevent children and young people becoming involved in violence. We do this by finding out what works and building a movement to put this knowledge into practice. 

Last year, 244 people in England and Wales tragically died after being assaulted with a knife. Of these, 32 were children. Every child captured in these numbers is an important member of our community and society has a duty to protect them. Even when violence doesn’t strike directly, we know that the fear of violence has a terrible effect on children’s lives.

The Youth Endowment Fund exists to try and permanently change things. To succeed, we must build an exceptional body of knowledge about violence affecting young people and how we reduce it. This knowledge has to be both rigorous and highly relevant to those making decisions about how to support vulnerable young people. We need to find out what works and what doesn’t through evidence synthesis, data analysis and qualitative research into children’s lives. We need to convert this into highly accessible content on what works, how delivery organisations need to change their practice and how the systems they operate in need to be reformed. We then need to work with the right people that can make change happen, across systems, policies and practice, to have a real impact on reducing violence affecting children’s lives.

Key Responsibilities

Deciding which projects, we should fund and evaluate is key, as is making sure we deliver our funding and evaluations to the highest standards. Our Programme Managers are responsible for identifying, assessing, funding and supporting programmes designed to prevent youth violence.

Programme Managers at YEF come from all walks of life. We look for individuals who may have experience in the youth sector, children’s social care, policing, criminal justice, education or how to involve local residents in making decisions about their own neighbourhoods.

As a Programme Manager at YEF, you will work very closely with our evaluation team to make sure we learn from what’s being implemented and that the organisations we fund are prepared and excited to work with us to find what works.

To achieve this, you will:

· Make sure we choose the best organisations to work with by assessing funding applications, critically appraising delivery plans and budgets, getting to know potential grantees and conducting site visits. These assessments will help you form recommendations to our senior leadership team about which opportunities to pursue.

· Work closely with grantees, external evaluators and our own evaluation team to ensure that the activity we are funding will be evaluable. This requires you to support and advise grantees on how to work in the context of an evaluation – usually, a randomised trial (you don’t have to have experience working on a randomised trial in the past, but it helps!).

· Build strong relationships with our grantees and provide them with ongoing management and support through the life of their funding. You will also be responsible for monitoring the performance of grantees and ensuring targets are met and any project risks are effectively mitigated.

· Think carefully about how we find the best projects to fund and evaluate, ensuring we can best find what works to keep children safe. To do this you might need to work with colleagues to spot where there has previously been a lack of evidence about what works (we will help you with this!). You would project manage these projects so they are excellently delivered – on time, within budget, and to a high standard. You will help to determine what our commissioning processes aim to achieve and design grant application processes to achieve it.

· You’ll manage our engagement with potential grantees to make sure we are attracting a diverse and promising portfolio of organisations to apply.

· Report to our team and external stakeholders regularly on how well the projects we are funding are going, spotting where grantees need support and coming up with how we can best provide that support.

· Represent the Youth Endowment Fund at external events, including reporting and presenting to our Grants and Evaluation Committee, who approve all our funding decisions.

About You

You are this sort of person:

• You don't want your days to pass without making a difference. You want to play a significant part in a charity that is making a difference.
• You want to work in a job that makes young people safer. This issue matters to you. You don’t need extensive experience in grant making, you just have to be committed to learning it. You should be keen to learn about the sectors we work with, the challenges facing young people and what organisations face when implementing programmes.
• You have experience in one or more of the following areas: policing, education, criminal justice, social care or the youth sector.
• You have a strong understanding of challenges that organisations face in delivering projects. You must also be a really good project manager, great at managing and developing people and external stakeholders, energised by tackling complex problems and really care about the YEF’s mission to build evidence of what works. 
• You have incredible judgement. You are able to reach sound and considered judgements about the viability and suitability of applicants based upon our given criteria, often using detailed written and financial information, and are able to deliver constructive feedback to organisations. You can also identify when things aren’t going to plan and be proactive with sharing observations and recommendations.
• You are an optimiser. You look for solutions and think creatively to overcome challenges. You are curious, hungry to learn and always looking for ways to improve processes and increase efficiency and impact.
• You love well-designed systems. You are committed to designing and maintaining the best systems to make sure we manage our commissioning processes well. You know this is critical to effectively managing multiple, large-scale funding programmes and competing priorities.
• You are an excellent communicator. You have the ability to convey information clearly and effectively—both in writing and verbally. You understand the importance of strong communication in fast-paced decision-making and thrive in a busy, collaborative team environment.
• You win people over. People tend to warm to you and respect you. You have built good relationships with people at every level inside and outside the organisation and have managed large networks of stakeholders with different interests and priorities. You are excellent at customer service and can professionally handle issues that come up within your grant portfolio.
• You work very well in a team. You are not motivated by being the individual winner. You want the team as a whole to succeed. You don’t care who gets the credit as long as things get done.
• You are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. You believe and act in a way that celebrates and encourages a range of experiences, backgrounds and values.
  
  

While it’s not a criteria, we are especially interested to hear from applicants who have lived experience of youth violence.

We’re also keen to hear from applicants with a strong understanding of evaluation methodologies—particularly Randomised Control Trials (RCTs)—and experience either directly supporting or overseeing programme delivery within an evaluation context.

It’s important to us that the people we hire do not discriminate. We believe in being inclusive and giving everyone an equal chance to succeed. Applications are welcome from all regardless of age, sex, gender identity, disability, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, religion or belief, race, sexual orientation, transgender status or social economic background.

All appointments will be made on merit, following a fair and transparent process. In line with the Equality Act 2010, however, the organisation may employ positive action where candidates from underrepresented groups can demonstrate their ability to perform the role equally well.

This position will require a DBS check to be performed, but a record is not a block to performing this role.

Hybrid Working Details 

The office is based in Central London, but you don’t have to be. Those living in and around London are expected to be in the office a minimum of 2 days per week. If you live outside of London and work remotely, you’ll be expected to work from the London office 2 days per month. 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 the interview stage. 

To Apply 

To apply, please send a CV, and a cover letter answering the specific questions below, please also complete the monitoring form by clicking the "Apply for this" button by 12pm, Monday 14th July 2025.

 If you have specific expertise in any of our sectors, we want to hear about it in your cover letter.  Applicants must answer the following questions as part of their application to be considered.

Application Questions

1. The Programme Manager role involves overseeing several projects at once and juggling many different tasks simultaneously. Can you give us an example of where you’ve had several competing priorities, what project management techniques you used to stay on top of your tasks, and what the outcome was?

2. Can you give an example of when you have had to manage multiple partners in a project and resolve conflicting positions? Can you explain how you went about this and what the outcome was?

  Interview Process

This will be a one stage panel interview process. Interviews will take place in the week commencing 21st July 2025.

PLEASE NOTE: We do not sponsor work permits and you will be required to provide proof of your eligibility to work in the UK. 

 Benefits Include

· £1,000 professional development budget annually

· 28 days holiday plus Bank Holidays

· Employee Assistance Programme – 24hr phone line for free confidential support

· Volunteering days - 4 half days per year

· Death in service - 4 times annual salary

· Flexible hours. Core office hours 10am – 4pm

· Financial support including travel and hardship loans

· Employer contributed pension of 5%.

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.

The Youth Endowment Fund 

Research Lead –Local Violence Prevention

Reports to: Head of Guidance and Reporting

Salary: £55,000

Contract: 2 years fixed term 

Location: Central London, Hybrid* 

Closing date: Tuesday 15th July at 12pm

Interviews: Week commencing 28th July 2025

About the Youth Endowment Fund 

We exist to prevent children and young people becoming involved in violence. We do this by finding out what works and building a movement to put this knowledge into practice.

Last year, 244 people in England and Wales tragically died after being assaulted with a knife. Of these, 32 were children. Every child captured in these numbers is an important member of our community and society has a duty to protect them. Even when violence doesn’t strike directly, we know that the fear of violence has a terrible effect on children’s lives.

At the Youth Endowment Fund, we are working to create lasting change. To succeed, we must build a world-leading body of knowledge on the violence that affects young people and how it can be stopped. This means producing rigorous, relevant evidence — through synthesis, data analysis and in-depth research into young people’s lives. But knowledge alone isn’t enough. We must make it accessible and actionable: showing what works, how services need to change, and how the systems around them must adapt. And we must partner with the people who can make change happen — across policy, practice and local systems — to turn evidence into impact.

About the role

The Research Lead will lead the development of YEF’s research, resources and recommendations in our neighbourhood focus sector.

We focus our efforts on seven essential sectors: education, policing, youth justice, youth sector, children’s services, health, and neighbourhood. “Neighbourhood” refers to our work supporting local partnerships – such as Violence Reduction Units (VRUs), community safety partnerships or the new Prevention Partnerships - and hyper-local approaches like our neighbourhood fund. 

Their primary responsibility will be to develop a series of actionable and evidence-informed guidance and resources for use by local violence prevention partnerships. This will include self-assessment tools for partnerships to assess their effectiveness, tools for understanding the nature of local violence problems and how they could be solved, and resources to support partnerships to identify and safeguard vulnerable children. Creating these resources will require the Research Lead to collect insights and evidence from across YEF’s work and develop YEF positions on fundamental questions about violence prevention. If successful, the Research Lead could have an outsized impact on YEF’s strategy and mission.  

These resources will support YEF colleagues to deliver our new ‘Area Leaders Programme’ (ALP). This is a new programme which you will help form. It helps local multi-agency partnerships to find and implement the best ways to prevent violence. YEF is working directly with partnerships, providing high-quality professional development, tailored advice and support, system mapping, and a national community of practice. The ALP focuses on strengthening five key elements of effective violence reduction:

1. Building strong and accountable partnerships
2. Understanding local patterns of violence
3. Identifying and supporting children most at risk
4. Improving safety in high-risk places
5. Sharing best practice across agencies

Following a pilot in four areas in 2024/25, the programme will expand to 20 more areas over the next two years. This will lay the groundwork for wider national initiatives, such as the Young Futures Prevention Partnerships, and support implementation of the Serious Violence Duty. The Research Lead will develop resources and guidance for the ALP. As the programme is delivered iteratively, they will work closely with YEF programme leads and local partnerships to test, refine, and improve materials before wider rollout.

The Research Lead will be part of YEF’s Research team. The Research team is at the heart of our efforts to learn what works and put it into practice. We do this by developing the YEF’s funding strategy and creating free, highly accessible research summaries and actionable recommendations for policy makers, commissioners and practitioners. We’re a high-performing team which values intellectual rigour and getting to the truth, compassion for children, ambition about what we can achieve and humility about what we know. We love to discuss the latest developments in research methods, but we’re not just interested in research for its own sake. We want research to lead to actual changes in outcomes for children.

Key responsibilities

The Research Lead will develop a portfolio of impactful projects.

· You’ll lead the research team’s work in our local neighbourhoods and partnerships priority sector. You’ll become the YEF’s expert in this area. You’ll make sure we understand the key issues, stay on top of the latest research and are connected to the right people.

· You’ll ensure we produce accessible, evidence-based resources and guidance that local partnerships can use to develop more effective strategies. You’ll work with YEF colleagues to test, refine, and improve materials before wider rollout

· You’ll set the YEF’s research agenda for your sector. You’ll make sure we invest in research that fills important gaps in knowledge and leads to important changes. You’ll ensure that our strategy and decision-making are informed by the best available research. This is a great opportunity to influence large amounts of funding and direct it towards the most impactful projects.

· You’ll develop great relationships with experts and represent YEF in external meetings and events. You’ll promote evidence-based policy and practice by speaking at conferences and events.

· You’ll lead the development of evidence-based recommendations in your focus area. You’ll draw on research and expert insight to identify potential changes to policy and practice. You’ll design and develop innovative and impactful resources which support the application of your recommendations.

· You’ll take on other responsibilities appropriate to your role. This could include leading the publication of YEF’s evaluation reports or writing ad hoc briefings and evidence summaries for the Government and other partners.

About You

You are this sort of person:

· You want to play a significant part in reducing the level of violence affecting young people. You care about having an impact. This might mean you’ve worked directly with young people at risk of becoming involved in crime, for organisations that fund or deliver relevant programmes, or have conducted research on this topic.

· You share our belief that an evidence-based approach is our best hope of preventing violence. You’re fascinated by research, but you’re not just interested in research for its own sake. You want to achieve actual changes in outcomes for children.

· You know a lot about violence prevention, especially local partnerships and structures like VRUs or Community Safety Partnerships. You know the key ideas and debates, recent policy developments and key people. You’re comfortable talking about this topic with experts.  There are many ways to acquire this knowledge. You might have worked in a local authority or local violence prevention organisation, conducted research on them or learnt about them during a degree.

· You’re a confident reader of research and have strong critical appraisal skills. You know when research can be trusted and when it can’t and can confidently articulate your views on the strength of research. You might have gained this expertise through your academic studies, research or professional experience.

· You have at least three years’ experience working in a role that required you to think about research. This could include a range of roles in policy, academia, funding or practice.

· You write in a way that people easily understand. You have that rare skill of writing in plain English. You have experience of translating complex research findings into plain writing that everyone can understand.

· You have excellent project and time management skills. You can work independently, quickly and to a high standard. You have experience of managing contractors or budgets.

· You are good with people. You’re comfortable working with a wide range of people, including senior academics and other research experts, children and their families, practitioners and policy makers. You’re able to provide constructive challenges when required.

· You learn fast but remain humble. You like learning. You’re very good at synthesising information. You know how much you don't know and that you can always learn more.

· You work well in a team. You care more that good things happen than who gets the credit. You support your colleagues to produce excellent work.

· You’re committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. You believe and act in a way that celebrates and encourages a range of experiences, views and values.

While it’s not a criterion, we’re especially interested to hear from applicants who have lived experience of youth violence. 

It’s also important to us that the people we hire do not discriminate. We believe in being inclusive and giving everyone an equal chance to succeed. Applications are welcome from all regardless of age, sex, gender identity, disability, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, religion or belief, race, sexual orientation, transgender status or social economic background. 

Hybrid Working Details  

The office is based in Central London. Those living in and around London are expected to be in the office a minimum of 2 days per week. If you live outside of London and work remotely, you’ll be expected to work from the London office 2 days per month.

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.

To Apply 

To apply, please send a CV and cover letter, and complete the monitoring form click on "Apply for this" button by 12:00pm Tuesday 15th July 2025. 

When applying for this role, please ensure that your cover letter, within a maximum of 1000 words, covers the following questions below:

1. A clear example of a situation where you have translated research into actionable resources or recommendations.

2. A clear example of a situation where you’ve supported an external partner or colleague to apply research evidence to an important decision.

Interview Process 

Interviews will take place in the week commencing the 28th July 2025. 

There will be a task to prepare for in advance. 

PLEASE NOTE: We do not sponsor work permits and you will be required to provide proof of your eligibility to work in the UK. 

Benefits Include 

• £1,000 professional development budget annually 

• 28 days holiday plus Bank Holidays

• Four half days for volunteering activities

• Employee Assistance Programme – 24hr phone line for free confidential support • Volunteering days - 4 half days per year

• Death in service - 4 times annual salary

• Flexible hours. Core office hours 10am – 4pm

• Financial support including travel and hardship loans

• Employer contributed pension of 5% 

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.