We're looking for a confident and compassionate Co-Director to lead our mental health charity using gardens, creativity & community for recovery.
**We offer mentoring support for applicants who might benefit from additional guidance - please see the full Job Description for further details**
About Sydenham Garden
Based in Lewisham in South-East London, Sydenham Garden is a unique wellbeing centre utilising its gardens, nature reserve and activity rooms to help people living with and recovering from mental and physical ill-health. We provide nature and arts based creative, social and therapeutic activities for co-workers (the name we give to our primary beneficiaries).
About the role
Our Director has been in post since November 2021 and on returning from maternity leave in January 2026 she will be working 3 days a week. We are seeking a Co-Director to jointly lead the organisation going forwards as we have made a positive decision to move towards a co-director model. This is an exciting opportunity which can have benefits of increasing capacity, efficiency, and transparency and allow for a broader range of identities both to better reflect the diverse populations they serve and as a way to include more diverse leaders. It is a model that can also reduce burnout, build equity, and support flexible working.
As Co-Director you will be jointly responsible for leading and manage the day-to-day running of Sydenham Garden for the benefit of our co-workers. This will involve overseeing implementation and regular review of Sydenham Garden’s strategic plan and to ensure all governance arrangements are in place to monitor the work of the organisation and to report to the Board of Trustees and to funders.
You will ensure fundraising and financial plans and processes are in place to deliver the agreed services, including fundraising from Trusts & Foundations, community fundraising and developing contracted services as necessary.
The Co-Directors will be jointly accountable to the Trustee Board for all aspects of the job description. You may take lead responsibility on particular areas which will be discussed and agreed with the existing Co-Director and Trustee Board.
About You
You are a confident and compassionate leader with a commitment to the mental health and wellbeing sector. You bring a thoughtful, strategic and inclusive approach to leadership.
Your communication skills are excellent, and you’re able to build strong, trusting relationships with colleagues at all levels, as well as with external partners, funders, and stakeholders. You are deeply committed to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, with a clear track record of putting these values into practice.
You have a proven experience in securing income for charitable work and are confident in financial management and planning.
You also understand the value of co-production and have experience working collaboratively with volunteers and co-workers (service users), ensuring their voices are central to service design and delivery.
We’re looking for someone who is dedicated to the mission of Sydenham Garden and has relevant experience at management level in a mental health charity of similar organisation.
How to apply
Candidates will be shortlisted based on:
· Experience of working at a management level in a mental health charity or comparable organisation.
· An excellent strategic thinker with experience of input into strategic development and implementation.
· Good communication skills and the ability to build relationships with colleagues at all levels in an organisation and with external contacts and partners.
· A proven commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.
· Experience of line managing and developing staff, including through appraisal systems.
· Proven ability to secure income, manage fundraising processes and to manage and produce fundraising applications.
· Experience of financial management and planning, including managing budgets.
· Experience of working with volunteers and co-workers (service users).
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Sydenham Garden is committed to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). We want to build a diverse and inclusive staff, volunteer and trustee team where everyone feels that they belong and that reflects the profile of the communities we serve. Therefore, we will welcome and consider applications from candidates of all backgrounds and protected characteristics, and we particularly encourage applications from people of African or Caribbean heritage to ensure our staff team represents the communities we serve.
To apply, please send us a CV together with a supporting statement (maximum 2 pages, minimum font size of 11) that addresses how you meet the Person Specification listed above.
Registered Charity 
0
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Overview
This role offers the opportunity to plan, create & deliver a variety of communications, leading on design and digital deliverables across internal & external channels for Glass Door Homeless Charity.
The Digital Communication Officer works in the Communications team, reporting to the Head of Communications & Fundraising and manage Glass Door design, web & socials.
Through this role, we will deliver a robust plan of impactful and on-brand content, raising the profile of our work and ensuring we are known amongst existing and new audiences in London
Job Spec
Editorial & Design
-
Ability to produce fresh, emotive and informative content across print & digital platforms - including profiles of guests, news stories, blogs and speeches
-
Lead on design and delivery across the organisation – digital & print: including posters, informative leaflets, presentations, graphics and images for social media, newsletters and website as needed
-
Work collaboratively across the organisation to solicit content from other members of staff, including caseworkers, operations and fundraising colleagues to support Communications’ strategic aims
-
Support the design of campaigns, appeals & events - working alongside the Head of Comms & Fundraising, and key members of the fundraising team to bring alive the vision of the campaign.
-
Co-lead on our work with content producers (photographers, videographers, designers, etc), ensuring content meets Glass Door’s standards and is signed off by appropriate staff members
-
Maintain Sharepoint for digital content – including photos, social images, video and written content
-
Provide quality-control support (eg proof-reading and editing) on all materials outside of the Comms team and externally, ensuring all content, imagery and branding are consistent with house style and on brand
-
Create & deliver video content to support the digital strategy and on an ad-hoc basis
Digital
-
Manage and maintain all social media accounts in-line with Glass Door's social media guidelines, focusing on building awareness, driving traffic and increasing engagement
-
Manage and update Glass Door's website in-line with the digital strategy and content planner
-
Co-develop & oversee a digital content calendar
-
Co-manage delivery of multiple/congruent campaigns, appeals and events to engage existing and attract new supporters, often working alongside key members of other teams including fundraising, operations and advocacy teams.
-
Support with digital marketing, working closely and collaboratively with the Marketing Officer, Head of Comms & Fundraising Team to plan, track and successfully deliver paid and organic digital journeys.
-
Monitor social media and advise key staff on any issues arising that could jeopardise the reputation of the charity, ensuring all Crisis Comms is managed in line with Crisis Comms Policy
-
Support the development and delivery of bi-monthly internal e-newsletters.
Monitor impact
-
Work closely and collaboratively with the Marketing Officer to ensure all conversions of paid promotion are tracked effectively and efficiently
-
Support the monitoring and tracking of website usage
-
Support the evaluation of social media and online reach, create monthly reports, and assist with evaluating the effectiveness of campaigns and appeals
-
Support the monitoring and tracking Google ads and analytics
-
Support the vision and production of a new website, ensuring it is on brand and meets our content and communication needs
-
Monitor, assess and report to relevant teams of our content performance to ensure our channels are hives of activity and relevant to our audiences.
-
Monitor and follow trends within digital and innovation to improve the organisation’s digital presence and activities
Strategy
-
Co-lead on the planning and delivery of the Glass Door Communications Strategy – specifically on the digital and content plans
-
Support the delivery of Fundraising key deliverables – specifically on the digital content, stories and campaign key deliverables
-
Co-manage the Comms Team’s and cross org deliverables via project management platform monday(dot)com
Events
-
Support co-ordination of events, by designing and delivering print and digital materials, online support to fundraisers, and representing the charity as needed in-person and online.
Other
-
Attend and participate in relevant team meetings, and other ad hoc meetings when necessary.
-
Undertake other ad hoc tasks as directed, such as assistance on Glass Door events and occasional administrative support to the CEO.
-
Carry out the functions of the post with proper regard to Glass Door’s Equal Opportunities Policy.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.