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Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Location: London, UK (Hybrid – 50% office attendance)
Summary Purpose - what you will be achieving:
The Policy Directorate brings together the Academy’s policy, analysis and external affairs functions to address major science and health policy issues in the UK and internationally. The Directorate works as a single, coordinated team, focusing resources on priority areas, applying strategic approaches, generating high-quality evidence and insights, and engaging effectively with government, stakeholders and partners to inform decision-making and influence policy.
You will lead and integrate the Academy’s external affairs function—spanning policy influence, parliamentary and government engagement, and sector engagement through FORUM—to strengthen our reach, visibility and impact.
By drawing on the Academy’s Fellowship, networks and reputation, you will ensure coherence across all external-facing policy activities and play a senior leadership role in delivering the Academy’s transformation priorities. You will position the Academy as an authoritative voice on medical science and health, and ensure that our external engagement is strategic, aligns with the wider organisation’s approach to stakeholder management, and strengthens our influence.
About the Role
Strategic leadership across external affairs
- Lead and integrate policy engagement and relationships to deliver a coherent external affairs strategy.
- Ensure alignment between external affairs activities related to policy and wider Academy strategic priorities (through COO).
- Provide strategic advice on public affairs opportunities, political risk, reputational management and external positioning.
Team leadership, governance and performance
- Lead a unified external affairs team, embedding KPI-driven planning, performance management and evaluation.
- Build capability, progression pathways and consistent project management approaches within the team.
- Manage political risk on behalf of the Academy, ensuring effective governance, narrative discipline and coherent external messaging.
- Ensure cross-Academy planning and alignment between external affairs, policy development, policy analysis, communications and engagement functions.
Strategic programme and portfolio leadership
- Oversee priority influencing programmes, ensuring coherence, sequencing and impactful delivery.
- Provide external-facing leadership for high-profile programmes.
- Support cross-sector initiatives and commissions by providing strategic political insight and external influence.
Political, parliamentary and institutional influence
- Lead the Academy’s UK parliamentary and government engagement strategy, including select committee interactions, parliamentary briefings and relationship building with MPs, Peers and parliamentary staff.
- Position the Academy as an authoritative voice on medical science, policy priorities and the wider health system.
- Build and sustain high-level influencing relationships across parliament and political parties, national bodies, arm’s-length agencies, health systems and sector leaders.
FORUM and commercial
- Oversee and evolve the Academy’s FORUM to align with policy priorities and maximise its impact as a neutral, cross-sector convening space exploring scientific innovation, technological trends and strategic priorities shaping UK healthcare.
- Lead the transformation of FORUM into a leading UK convenor, including membership growth, securing contributions from organisations, and delivering at least six high-quality convenings per year.
- Contribute to income-generating initiatives within approved budgets and ensure external-facing activities support organisational sustainability.
Leadership within the organisation
- As a member of the Academy Leadership Team (Heads and Directors), contribute to organisational strategy, cultural development and the transformation programme.
- Provide senior leadership on organisational measurement, impact reporting and securing external funding.
Financial and governance responsibilities
- Oversee budgets associated with external affairs and related programmes.
- Ensure compliance with governance processes, financial controls and risk management.
Requirements
- Strong track record in public affairs, political strategy or policy influencing, with demonstrable success securing policy adoption and measurable outcomes.
- Experience leading communications, media or public-facing activity in a complex environment.
- Understanding of the UK science, research and public health landscape, including inequalities, national strategies and institutional dynamics.
- Proven experience managing teams, building capability and integrating multidisciplinary functions.
Benefits
We provide our staff with a comprehensive benefits package outlined as follows:
Competitive rewards
- Generous pension scheme with flexible contributions – we contribute between 8% - 13% of your gross salary (with employee contributions of 3% - 8%).
- Life assurance at three times your salary.
Work-life Balance
- Hybrid and agile working. 50% office attendance.
- 26 days annual leave, plus Christmas closure days and bank holidays.
- Buying and selling leave.
- Family-friendly policies including enhanced maternity and paternity leave (subject to a qualifying period).
Wellbeing and Development
- Complimentary subscriptions to Headspace and Classpass to support your physical and mental wellbeing.
- Support through tailored learning and development.
Additional Benefits
- A range of enhanced benefits become available once you’ve completed your probation period.
For more information and to apply, please visit our careers portal.
Closing date: 9:00am on Monday 22 June 2026.
Interviews will likely be held w/c 6 July 2026.
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 The Clink Charity
The Clink Charity, founded in 2009, aims to prevent and reduce reoffending through training, reintegration, and support. We deliver hospitality and horticulture training behind the prison walls and in the community by creating an environment where our students are supported to gain the skills, confidence and qualifications they need to rebuild their lives.
Since that time, we have trained approximately 5,000 people in prison and delivered 2,600 City & Guilds qualifications in a variety of hospitality and food courses.
What makes The Clink so unique is our post-release support and mentoring programme that reintegrates an offender back into society through assistance with health and mental health issues, housing, employment, family connections and friendships.
The charity operates an award-winning fine-dining restaurant open to the public inside HMP Brixton, training kitchens in the prison estate, horticulture projects at HMP Send and HMP Erlestoke, a commercial bakery in Brixton, and a bespoke delivery service, Catered by Clink.
Additionally, Clink Events is our social enterprise catering business with food produced by the women in HMP Downview and also in an additional kitchen at Herne Hill and then served by alumni on front of house at some of the best venues in London including: the Guildhall, the Science Museum, Cutty Sark, Kew Gardens and the Camden Roundhouse. In 2025, across 239 events, The Clink fed 43,000 people.
More information can be found on our website and social media channels.
About The Role
Working pattern: Full time, 9am-5pm Monday-Friday, 3-4 days in the office, or on site at projects in prison or in the community.
Location: Our Head Office is in Herne Hill, SE24 London (7 min walk from Herne Hill station)
Our Head of Fundraising & Brand is a vital leadership role within The Clink Charity, responsible for securing the income, profile and partnerships needed to sustain and grow our life-changing work.
This is a broad and influential role, providing strategic leadership across fundraising, communications, marketing and brand. Working within our portfolio of prison and community-based projects, the postholder will help ensure that The Clink's impact is communicated in a compelling and consistent way to funders, supporters, partners and the wider public, while developing sustainable income streams to support our long-term ambitions.
Building on The Clink's strong reputation and proven impact, the Head of Fundraising & Brand will lead the development and delivery of a fundraising and communications strategy that extends beyond grants to encompass major donors, corporate partnerships, individual giving, events and other income opportunities. Through powerful storytelling, audience growth and brand development, they will increase awareness of our work, strengthen engagement with key stakeholders and create new opportunities for fundraising, partnerships and commercial income generation.
Working closely with the Chief Executive, Director of Finance & Resources and senior leadership team, the postholder will lead and develop a talented fundraising and marketing team, cultivate strategic relationships and identify new opportunities for growth and collaboration.
As The Clink continues to expand its reintegration, training and employment programmes, this role will play a central part in securing the resources needed to support that growth, strengthen our brand and increase engagement with our mission to reduce reoffending.
If you are a strategic and ambitious fundraising leader with a track record of generating income, building partnerships and inspiring teams, and are passionate about creating meaningful social change, we would love to hear from you.
A Little About You
You could be a great fit for our Head of Fundraising & Brand role if you are an ambitious and strategic leader with experience of developing fundraising strategies, growing income and building organisational profile. Perhaps you've led fundraising within a charity, developed successful partnerships, secured major grants, or overseen marketing and communications activity that has strengthened a brand, increased audience engagement and generated growth in income through fundraising, commercial activity or the sale of products and services.
You may have built your career in fundraising, communications, marketing or business development, but you'll have a strong understanding of how these disciplines work together to generate support, attract funding, grow audiences and drive sustainable income. You'll be comfortable developing strategy, building relationships and translating organisational impact into compelling stories that inspire funders, partners, customers and supporters.
We welcome applications from experienced professionals who are ready to lead a talented team, shape the future direction of fundraising and brand development at The Clink Charity, and play a key role in our continued growth. Most importantly, you'll be passionate about our mission and motivated by the opportunity to transform lives, reduce reoffending and create second chances
Key Responsibilities
Fundraising and Income Generation
· Develop and deliver a multi-stream fundraising strategy that supports The Clink Charity's growth and long-term sustainability.
· Use brand identity to drive sales.
· Lead income generation activity across trusts and foundations, corporate partnerships, individual giving, events and other fundraising streams.
· Use communications to create income from marketing of our commercial products and services e.g. bakery, restaurant, café, events.
· Build and manage a strong fundraising pipeline, identifying and securing new funding opportunities and strategic partnerships
· Monitor fundraising performance, ensuring targets are achieved and opportunities and risks are proactively managed.
Brand, Marketing and Communications
· Lead the development and delivery of a compelling brand and communications strategy.
· Ensure The Clink's impact, mission and outcomes are communicated effectively to supporters, funders, partners and the wider public.
· Oversee marketing campaigns, digital engagement and communications activity that strengthen the charity's profile and support income generation.
· Champion a consistent and impactful organisational brand across all channels.
Leadership and Team Development
· Lead, motivate and develop a high-performing fundraising, marketing and communications team.
· Create a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.
· Support the development of fundraising and marketing capability across the wider organisation.
Strategic Leadership
· Contribute to the strategic direction and future development of The Clink Charity.
· Work closely with colleagues across operational and support functions to align fundraising and brand activity with organisational priorities.
· Represent the charity externally with funders, partners, supporters and other key stakeholders.
· Ensure compliance with fundraising regulations, best practice and organisational policies.
Person Specification
Essential
· Significant experience in fundraising, income generation and fundraising strategy development.
· A proven track record of delivering sustainable income growth across multiple fundraising streams.
· Experience of developing and implementing successful fundraising plans, campaigns and income-generation initiatives.
· Experience of leading or overseeing brand, marketing and communications activity, including the development of organisational messaging and audience engagement strategies
· Strong understanding of how fundraising, brand, marketing and communications can work together to increase income, profile and supporter engagement.
· Experience of leading, motivating and developing high-performing teams.
· Excellent stakeholder engagement and relationship-building skills, with the ability to influence and inspire a wide range of audiences.
· Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to develop compelling cases for support and communicate organisational impact effectively.
· Strong planning, organisational and project management skills.
· Experience of using data, insight and performance metrics to inform decision-making and drive improvement.
· A commitment to the mission, values and objectives of The Clink Charity.
Desirable
· Experience within the charity, social enterprise or not-for-profit sector
· Experience of working with senior leadership teams, trustees or boards.
· Experience of corporate partnership development, major donor fundraising or philanthropy.
· Experience of managing digital marketing, audience development or supporter engagement activity.
· Understanding of rehabilitation, employability, education or the criminal justice sector.
· Membership of a relevant professional body such as the Chartered Institute of Fundraising or the Chartered Institute of Marketing.
Personal Attributes
· Demonstrable belief in The Clink’s mission and passion for our work.
· High levels of self-awareness, humility and flexibility, as well as an open and collaborative leadership style.
· Personal integrity, kindness, warmth and sound judgement.
· Good communicator: orally and in writing.
· Proactive, adaptable and can use initiative and find solutions to problems.
· Positive, entrepreneurial, energising and adopts a “can do” mentality.
· Values driven and promotes inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility (IDEA).
Reporting Lines & Management Expectations
You will report to our Director of Finance and Resources and will initially have two team members reporting to you.
General clink charity information
All staff are expected to:
· Comply with all current legislation
· Comply with all prison operational policies
· Comply with The Clink Staff Handbook
· Undertake such other duties within the scope of the post as may be requested by your Manager
Benefits:
28 days holiday plus bank holiday
Company pension scheme
Free meal on duty at Head Office or in the Restaurant
HOW TO APPLY
If you would like to apply for this post, please send your CV and a supporting statement (maximum 2 sides of A4) to Lizann Barnwell (HR Consultant) via this job site.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so early applications are encouraged. The closing date is Monday 22nd June, 9am.
In your supporting statement you should ensure that you try to address the desirable criteria set out in the person specification for the role. Make sure you give evidence which shows how you meet the criteria, not just telling us that you did it.
Interviews will be arranged on a rolling basis for this role, so early applications are encouraged. The deadline for applications is Monday 22nd June 2026, 9am.
We do not send individual acknowledgment of applications due to the high volume we receive, and we will only contact candidates who are shortlisted for an interview. If you do not hear from us within two weeks of the closing date, your application has not been successful on this occasion.
If you would like an informal chat about this role, we can offer a call with a member of The Clink Team. Even if you feel you do not meet some of the criteria listed above, we would still welcome applications from passionate candidates who are keen to make a difference.
Appointment Process
Applicants who have demonstrated that they meet the desirable criteria set out in the person specification will be contacted and interviews arranged on a rolling basis.
Interview
If you are shortlisted for interview, you will be invited to a selection process. A panel of two or more, including the recruiting manager conducts all interviews. If there are any special arrangements associated with the selection process e.g. tests or presentations, you will be informed accordingly.
Interview Outcome
If you are invited to attend an interview, you will be informed either verbally or in writing of the outcome. The successful candidate will have the decision confirmed in writing as an offer of employment. Unsuccessful candidates will be offered the opportunity for feedback.
Our client is a world-renowned, independent policy institute based in London, dedicated to building a sustainably secure, prosperous, and just world through the advancement of international relations. Following a period of rapid growth, the organisation is currently undergoing an exciting phase of transformation—consolidating and simplifying their internal structures, modernising their financial systems, and refining their strategic business model.
Goodman Masson are exclusively partnered with this prestigious institute to recruit for a high-calibre Finance Business Partner to join their dynamic central finance team.
This role would suit an ACA qualified auditor looking to make their first move into industry or someone who has already established themselves as a qualified Finance Business Partner within the not for profit sector.
The Opportunity
Reporting directly to the Finance Director, you will act as a vital strategic partner to the institutes core international research programmes (covering Africa, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East). This is not a traditional back-office accounting role; you will actively bridge the gap between central finance and research directors, driving a culture of financial accountability and empowering non-financial stakeholders to make data-driven strategic decisions.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Business Partnering: Build trusted relationships with budget holders and research colleagues, providing commercial acumen, financial insights, and expert analysis to improve financial performance.
Financial Planning & Analysis: Lead the annual budgeting, quarterly forecasting, and management reporting for dedicated programmes.
Project & Grant Oversight: Oversee the financial health of complex research projects, ensuring accurate income recognition, monitoring variances, and ensuring strict compliance with complex funding/grant requirements.
Commercial & Contract Management: Collaborate with the Contract Manager and Research Partnerships team to support project costing, ensure legal/financial terms are optimised, and manage audit processes for centre funding.
Continuous Improvement: Play a key role in change projects to modernise procedures, enhance internal financial controls, and improve the efficiency and value-add of the finance function.
Statutory Support: Assist with the preparation of annual statutory accounts, including necessary disclosures and detailed analysis.
Essential Criteria:
- Fully qualified accountant (ACA, CIMA, ACCA or equivalent)
- Background within either external audit or a Business Partnering role within a similar organisation.
- Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to translate complex financial metrics into clear, concise, and accessible insights for diverse, non-financial audiences.
Salary is £60,000 per annum + Excellent Benefits.
Hybrid working with 2 days per week in the London office.
Applications are being reviewed on a rolling basis therefore please apply ASAP to ensure your details are considered.