Academic development manager jobs

Caritas Social Action Network

Policy and Public Affairs Officer (maternity leave)

Location: office in London, with mostly working from home, regular travel in England and Wales, and rare travel overseas.

Contract: full-time, to cover a team member’s maternity leave

Salary: £30,00

Closing date: Monday 13 July at 12 noon

Interview date: Thursday 16 July in person, in London

CSAN is the official agency of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference tackling the root causes of poverty and injustice affecting people who live in England and Wales. We’re facing a steep rise in poverty and significant pressures on social, economic and church resources. Currently, the Church is called to raise a prophetic voice against poverty and the rhetoric of division and work for the building of a more just society.

Over the last 20 years, CSAN has built up a network of 50 diocesan and direct service charities with a combined annual spend on social mission estimated at £400m, excluding the work of schools and religious congregations. Our members build up local community life in diverse ways, and many of them support individuals in difficulty, including with housing, prison and detention, social isolation, ill-health, violence, disability, employment, care, therapeutic and welfare support.

The key responsibilities of the post are:

1. To scan the social policy environment to capture developments in legislation, consultation papers and Bills relevant to the Caritas network for the purpose of comprehensive tracking and briefing.

2. To deliver an effective programme of Catholic advocacy and political campaigns that contributes to the common good, with particular attention to the priorities of the dignity of workers, child poverty, social care and end of life; supporting and connecting well with the team’s other activities, and where possible with the CSAN membership’s priorities,

3. To draft campaign and advocacy materials for the range of media channels used by CSAN and support the CEO in engaging with the press and approaches from campaigning organisations including contributing to CSAN’s social media networks.

4. To provide admin support and contribute to CSAN’s Alliances as required, especially the Advocacy Alliance and the Criminal Justice Alliance with information and education on policy and legislation.

5. To ensure that our advocacy is consistent with the Bishops’ understanding of the Church’s role in society and supports the priorities of the Bishops’ Conference, especially the Department for Social Justice.

6. To act as a conduit of information and communication between the Bishops’ Conference and the CSAN members, under the guidance of the CEO, assisting CBCEW where possible in gathering information and the lived experience of poverty.

7. To develop and contribute to practice materials for the network, especially in the areas of campaigning, advocacy, social policy and formation for mission.

8. To oversee monitoring of the Catholic press and relevant wider networks for relevant articles, developments and campaigns.

9. To support the general work of CSAN as required by the CEO, including leading in the development and organisation of the charity in specific areas subject to skills and experience.

The work of the small national team requires a high level of integrity and teamwork, respect for and capacity to navigate complex civil and church contexts at pace, and a stable commitment to personal formation and training. Our Policy and Public Affairs Officer (maternity leave) will bring a professional track record of relevant research and analysis, production of compelling communications, and diligent administration. A satisfactory basic DBS check and references are required.

CSAN is a member of Caritas Internationalis, one of the largest humanitarian networks in the world, with national agencies in over 160 countries, and among the most successful examples of organised Catholic social action in modern times.

Salary: £35,159 to £36,935 (starting salary range)

Working pattern: Full-time, Permanent (35 hours per week)

Pension: USS

Annual leave: 25 days plus 8 bank holidays, 3 well-being days, and a Christmas office closure

Location: Hybrid, flexible working model with an office located in central London. Occasional UK-wide travel for GHE and relevant events.

Reports to: Policy Manager (Skills, Innovation, International)

Purpose

GuildHE is seeking an ambitious Policy Officer to play a pivotal role in the next phase of our organisation’s growth. Working directly with the Head of Research Policy and the Policy Manager (Skills, Innovation, International), you will help monitor, analyse, and respond to policy initiatives within the research and innovation space.  You will support a range of member-focused events and activities to ensure staff in our member institutions are well-informed and supported. This includes supporting the management of the GuildHE Research Consortium and leading on the organising and delivery of our flagship annual PGR Doctoral Festival, helping our members develop, share best practices, and maximise their research impact.

Key Responsibilities 

Policy Analysis & Communication

1. Horizon Scanning: Monitor government departments (e.g., DSIT, DfE), funding and regulatory bodies (UKRI, Research England, OfS, Innovate UK), and other stakeholders for policy updates, funding calls, and consultation launches in relation to Research and Innovation policy.

2. Briefings: Produce concise policy briefings, data summaries, and position papers for GuildHE members and leadership on key Research and Innovation issues (e.g., REF, knowledge exchange, KEF, commercialisation, research culture, open research). Develop high-quality external reports, consultations, blogs and other materials articulating member challenges and opportunities.

3. Consultation Drafts: Assist senior policy colleagues in gathering evidence, analysing member feedback, collaborating with sector stakeholders, and drafting compelling arguments that articulate the unique perspectives of GuildHE institutions.

4. Share Best Practice: Identify case studies across the GHE membership to share best practice internally and externally and drive national conversations about new ways of working and operating in the sector.

5. Policy issues: Maintain up-to-date knowledge of national and institutional research and innovation policies indicated by the Head of Research Policy or Policy Manager (Research, Innovation, International).

Member Support & Consortium Coordination

1. Member Engagement: Maintain regular, positive communication with research and innovation leads across member institutions, fostering a collaborative network.  Support relevant GuildHE member networks, including the Knowledge Exchange, Innovation and Place network, promoting communication, collaboration, and best practice exchange to inform evidence-based policy development.

2. Member development: Provide support for timely implementation of good practice guidelines and associated resources, within agreed budgets. This includes assisting with members' business development initiatives, such as Research Degree Awarding Powers.

3. Event Delivery: Develop and deliver content for events including the GuildHE Research Consortium meetings, the Research and Knowledge Exchange Symposium, PGR Doctoral Festival, the PGR Network for global majority students and sandpits/match events, workshops and roundtables. 

4. Shared Services: Collaborate with other GHE teammates to maintain and deliver our shared services (i.e. research outputs repository, shared postgraduate online training, research impact tracking and researcher development tools) and explore new services in response to members’ needs

5. PGR Students: Develop and deliver initiatives for postgraduate students and early career researchers (e.g., our PGR Support Programme and associated student networks), working closely with the Policy Manager (Student Experience) to ensure postgraduate students are reflected in broader student support policies.

The postholder will also be expected to:

1. Actively support the delivery of the GuildHE strategy.

2. To contribute positively to a small, professional team focused on delivering excellence in their members’ interests.

3. Support GuildHE events and communication activities as appropriate - including campaigns, writing articles, blogs and press releases.

4. Build strong relationships with key stakeholders at HE institutions and sector agencies, including senior leaders, academics, and policy staff.

5. Gather feedback from HE institutions and use this to inform the continuous improvement of our services.

6. Demonstrate a proactive approach to embedding EDI principles within all policy development and advocacy efforts.

7. Represent GuildHE externally on a range of HE sector groups and projects and deputise for the Head of Research Policy or the Policy Manager (Skills, Innovation and International) as appropriate.

8. Undertake any other reasonable duties as may be required.

Person Specification

Core Skills

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build and maintain strong relationships

• Clear, concise writing skills for drafting policy responses, reports, and emails to senior stakeholders with excellent attention to detail.

• Problem-solving, Influencing and advocacy skills 

• Ability to digest complex, lengthy policy documents and extract key themes relevant to GuildHE members.

• Confident digital skills and highly proficient user of computer packages including MS Office and G Suite

• Ability to manage multiple tasks effectively, adhere deadlines, and maintain project momentum. This includes the capacity to monitor progress, identify and mitigate potential risks, and proactively address challenges.

• Experience in using data and evidence to enhance and impact assess activities. 

• Facilitation and convening skills would be advantageous 

Core Attributes

• Ability to build professional relationships quickly and sustainably with members and a wide range of stakeholders

• Able to meet deadlines, to prioritise work and to anticipate issues and problems with strong attention to detail

• A collaborative, communicative and flexible team player who is also comfortable working independently.

• An individual who shares our values of equity and inclusion and can translate these values into day to day work and impactful outcomes.

• An understanding of, or a keen interest in, the UK higher education sector, research funding landscape, or public policy.

• To be willing to travel across the UK for meetings with members, stakeholders and events and to work flexibly, when and where necessary.

Ideal Experience

• Knowledge and understanding of higher education policy, working in research and innovation and/or supporting a research environment. 

• Experience of developing policy positions and responses

• Experience in synthesising complex data and/or ideas

• Experience in supporting training and development

Job Advert

GuildHE is a formal representative body, representing diversity in the higher education sector and the widest variety of institution types across the UK.  We are undergoing an exciting period of transformation, evolving our policy approach and member-focused services to significantly increase our impact within the sector and ensure we’re providing timely, proactive support to our members as they address emerging 21st century challenges.  

GuildHE is seeking an ambitious Policy Officer to play a pivotal role in the next phase of our organisation’s growth. Working directly with the Head of Research Policy and the Policy Manager (Skills, Innovation, International), you will help monitor, analyse, and respond to policy initiatives within the research and innovation space.  You will support a range of member-focused events and activities to ensure staff in our member institutions are well-informed and supported. This includes supporting the management of the GuildHE Research Consortium and leading on the organising and delivery of our flagship annual PGR Doctoral Festival, helping our members develop, share best practices, and maximise their research impact.

If you think you can bring bold, creative and proactive energy to our small-and-mighty team to help take us to the next level, we want to hear from you!

Application closing date: Monday 12th July

Interviews: Tuesday 21st July 

Please submit your cv and a cover letter via the jobs portal

Curious about the role? Please contact Dana Gamble, Policy Manager for more information

This is an exciting time to join us. As we grow our international efforts and sharpen our strategic focus, we are creating a new Head of Research & Grants role to lead our combined research and grant-making function. Reporting to the Director of Impact, you will be our senior operational and strategic leader for how we identify, fund and learn from the work that gives babies the best start in life.

The grants and research effort of the Foundation is focussed on the ‘So What?’. You will make sure every piece of ground breaking research and every charity grant adds to our global advocacy for babies, informing and educating policy makers across the world about the 1001 Critical Days and how they can help parents and carers give their babies the best start in life.

To apply, please click the redirect to recruiter button. 

For over 60 years the National Children’s Bureau (NCB) has been building a better childhood for all.

Senior Researcher
Contract: Fixed term for 24 months
Work Pattern: Full Time, 35 hours per week (We are open to flexible hours and working patterns, including accommodating part-time and compressed hours where possible).
Salary: £40,855 per annum, Nationwide – £44,167 per annum for London
Location: NCB has offices in London, Sheffield, Newton Abbot and Belfast that staff can work from should they choose, or this role can be homebased. NCB promotes a hybrid, flexible way of working with 2 days working in the office if based in London.

The Vacancy

We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Senior Researcher to make a significant contribution on a 2-year fixed term contract to the design, delivery and management of research and evidence projects at NCB. Research projects at NCB involve a range of methods, often using a mixed-methods approach, that include evidence synthesis and systematic reviews, literature reviews, primary research using qualitative and quantitative methods and secondary data analysis.

A key focus of this role will be leading and delivering high-quality evidence synthesis, as a core component of our research portfolio.

NCB’s research focuses on a broad range of topic areas on behalf of a range of trusts and foundations, statutory, academic, voluntary and community sector funders, including social care and the transition to adulthood; education; mental health & wellbeing; youth violence and early years.

The postholder will work across a range of projects including the topics above and using a range of methods as appropriate, ensuring their work is delivered to NCB’s quality standards.

About NCB

For more than 60 years, the National Children’s Bureau has championed the rights and amplified the voice of children and young people in the UK. We interrogate policy and uncover evidence, blending in lived and learnt experience to shape future legislation and develop more effective ways of supporting children and families.

Bringing people and organisations together is fundamental to how we improve the systems that babies, children, young people and their families rely on to thrive. We push boundaries, even looking beyond childhood itself to consider transitions into adulthood and the impact of childhood issues on an entire lifespan. We are united for better childhoods and brighter futures.

The Benefits

• 30 Days Annual Leave
• Winter Holiday Closure & Break
• Generous Pension Scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Flexible Working
• Employee Assistance Programme

Closing date: 8am, Tuesday 7th July 2026
Please note that we reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive a high volume of applications. We encourage interested candidates to submit their applications as soon as possible.

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

We are actively seeking to broaden the diversity of our staff group and warmly welcome applications from candidates underrepresented in the charity sector, including those from Black and Global Majority communities, disabled people, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people with lived experience of the issues NCB works on.

No agencies please.

Digital Designer 

Are you a Digital Designer with a passion for brand systems that empower others? We're looking for someone to bring our brand to life across digital channels, creating assets, tools and resources that make great design accessible to everyone at the Guild. 

Our digital presence is how students find us, connect with us and understand what we stand for. From social media to digital screens, from video content to self-serve templates, the Digital Brand Designer will be the engine behind a consistent, on-brand digital experience and the person who makes it easier for the whole organization to show up brilliantly. 

We think this role could be a great fit for someone who loves the craft of digital design as much as the systems behind it, whether you're building your portfolio across a varied and meaningful remit, or bringing existing experience into a role with real ownership and creative scope. You will have the flexibility to work from home for part of the week, as well as the opportunity to work with our diverse teams on the beautiful Exeter University campuses.

The Role 

Role: Digital Designer 

Hours: 35-hours per week (to be worked flexibly) 

Salary: £26,586 

Contract: Permanent

Closing date: Wednesday 1 July 10:00 

Who are we? 

Exeter Students’ Guild is the University of Exeter’s students’ union, led by students for students. We’re an independent charity, offering a wide range of opportunities, services and support to help students get the most out of their unique journeys at university. This includes everything from social activities to making sure things are going well on their academic course. We have over 300 student groups and all of our work is led by, and in the best interest of, our members.

The Guild is a truly rewarding place to work. Our talented and passionate staff make a real difference to the lives of students every single day, working together to achieve the Guild’s purpose: to shape an excellent student experience for all students at Exeter by empowering them to take their place in the world and make a positive difference. We are looking for people who recognise that the Guild is student-led and share a genuine passion for student engagement and empowerment. If you share a commitment to our values and want to be part of a radically inclusive organisation with a seriously exciting future ahead, we can’t wait to hear from you.

We offer lots of great benefits including enhanced family pay, a huge 27 days’ annual leave plus public holidays, sustainable travel incentives, access to exclusive discounts and perks and a free confidential advice service. We’re committed to helping you achieve a healthy balance between your work and home life through a real commitment to flexible and hybrid working. We also provide access to great development opportunities, including a personal development budget for you to spend on sharpening your skills in whatever wat you choose. We’ll also help you to gain valuable experience, ensuring that you have opportunities to grow your career both here at the Guild and beyond.

Inclusion is central to the Guild. We approach our work collaboratively, empower our people and celebrate our uniqueness. If you’re driven to empower others and achieve great things, you’ll fit right in. Our people are proud of who they are and value each other’s differences, and we are committed to creating a diverse community that is radically inclusive of race, gender, age, religion, identity and experience.

What will you bring? 

You'll have some experience producing high-quality digital assets. From digital graphics and motion content to templates and web visuals that are on-brand, accessible and built for diverse audiences. 

You'll be comfortable working collaboratively within a brand system, using established guidelines to deliver consistent and creative digital design across multiple channels. 

You know how to use digital design to connect with an audience whether that's through scroll-stopping social content, clear digital signage, or self-serve tools that make others feel confident using the brand. 

How to apply

Please submit your application via our recruitment portal.You will need to provide an up-to-date copy of your CV, your portfolio with links to your recent work, and answer the following questions related to the person specification for the role:  

1. Please can you share why you want to apply for this role? How do your values align with the Guild’s?  

2. Tell us about your team working skills - how do make sure you contribute your skills and collaborate with creative project teams? 

Please note: 

• We will contact you to let you know the outcome of your application. This can sometimes take a few days.

• Applications received after the above closing date will not be considered.

Meet Your New Manager

Xanthippi Nanou, Design Manager

If you'd like an informal chat with Xanthippi to find out more about the role, the team and what they’re looking for in our new Digital Designer, you can get in touch via the details on our website.

Dates for your Diary 

• Closing Date: Wednesday 01 July 10:00 

• Shortlisting: Thursday 02 July 

• Interviews: Thursday 09 July

We are currently looking for a Campaigner to join our Campaigns and Movement Building team. The initial focus of this role will be on the Stop Rosebank campaign, then shifting to an exciting new climate change campaign in 2027. 

You’ll be working with a small internal team, and with partners from across the expansive Stop Rosebank network. You will help to deliver campaign actions utilising a variety of tactics, and will support allied groups to deliver their own actions across the UK.

We anticipate using the latter half of this year to develop a new climate campaign which this role would be a part of.

Core responsibilities will include:

• Campaign delivery: Supporting the development and execution of campaign activities, using a variety of tactics in collaboration with key partners and Uplift’s Campaigns team, both online and offline.

• Event and action planning and delivery: Organising and facilitating meetings, events, and actions with groups of diverse partners and stakeholders, in collaboration with the Uplift team.

• Coalition care and support: Maintaining relationships and being a central point of contact for individuals and groups active in our campaigns.

• Public representation: Supporting the public representation of the campaign including  for the campaign to the media and in public events

Please see the job description for the full core responsibilities.

About You

Our ideal candidate will have: 

• Experience in a similar or related role

• Excellent experience of campaigning tactics and approaches to shifting political and public opinion 

• Understanding of the political context within which our campaigns sit - primarily oil and gas phase out, a just transition to renewable energy and issues that intersect with climate. 

• Proactive approach to engaging stakeholders and partners 

• Strong communication skills across different groups and people

• Excellent civil society contacts 

• Familiarity with digital campaigning techniques 

• Experience of movement building and/or community organising 

• Experience of working with coalitions desirable

• A strong commitment to Uplift’s mission and core values of equity and climate justice.

Global Programs Events and Project Coordinator

Job Overall goal: Support the delivery of global events and the creation of a range of content, ensuring both align with the charity’s objectives, including activities designed for a global audience.

Job Location: Remote working, with the ability to attend on-site meetings in Milton Keynes (MK19) ideally once a month.

Hours: This is a full-time position (37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday) offered on a 12-month fixed-term contract.

Overview
The Maclellan Giving Together Foundation (MGTF) is a UK Christian charity connected to the longstanding international Maclellan Foundation, who describe their focus as: “establishing and strengthening the local church, promoting discipleship and leadership development, sparking community transformation, promoting the power of prayer, advocating for generosity, and increasing access to Scripture”. Based in the UK, MGTF rolls out key global initiatives that focus on equipping local Christian ministries and releasing local resources to foster sustainable Kingdom growth. These include Learning Communities, retreats, collaborative giving evenings and other resources.
This is an exciting opportunity for someone highly organised, eager to learn event production management, with a specialist interest in content creation for web, print, design, or moving image. They should be detail-oriented, quality-focused, and passionate about seeing the Kingdom flourish globally.

Job summary
We are seeking a highly organised and proactive individual to join our team. This role focuses on supporting the administration and delivery of events, ensuring smooth coordination, logistics, and a high-quality participant experience. It also includes stakeholder management, maintaining clear communication and strong relationships with attendees, partners, and internal teams. In addition, the role contributes to content development (both print and digital), and supports the contextualisation and translation of resources for global audiences.

Key Responsibilities:
Event Planning and Support

• Assist in the planning, coordination, and delivery of event logistics.
• Liaise with stakeholders, including vendors, venues, and service providers, to ensure high-quality event delivery.
• Manage delegate booking systems, taking ownership for providing prompt and professional support to attendees and stakeholders via phone, messaging and email, and delivering excellent delegate care throughout events.
• Maintain and regularly update registration systems and databases, ensuring high levels of accuracy and data integrity.
• Provide on-site event support, including set-up and liaising with AV and logistics teams to ensure smooth execution.
• Support campaign and project planning, including tracking content-related budgets for approval.
• Maintain and update event timelines and the global content calendar, ensuring progress is accurately reflected.
• Assist in the planning and delivery of special event elements (e.g. consultancy clinics).
• Monitor and track project costs, ensuring value for money.
• Process and input event-related receipts and expenses, supporting accurate and timely monthly accounting.
• Use initiative to flag any risks to project delivery, supporting timely resolution.
• Support wider projects across programmes and charity operations as required.

Communication & Content Delivery

• Assist in the creation of event materials, including digital resources, workbooks, email campaigns, websites, and related content.
• Provide administrative and practical support to event personnel in global locations as they deliver our programs.
• Assist in repurposing content into multiple formats to support wider reach and usability.
• Support the preparation and distribution of monthly comms emails.
• Assist with proofreading and formatting event content.
• Support the development and maintenance of an online training portal for specific programs.
• Follow established brand guidelines to maintain consistency in tone, messaging, and visual identity across all content.

Cultural Adaptation & Coordination

• Assist with the localisation of content to ensure materials are culturally appropriate, assisting communication with translators and stakeholders to help adapt resources for different cultural contexts.

Evaluation & Reporting

• Assist in tracking the performance of content and programs through data collection, feedback, and engagement analytics to support evaluation of effectiveness.
• Support the preparation of content and project reports, including metrics and evidence required for various audiences.
•  

General & Organisational

• Actively contribute to team meetings, planning sessions, and creative brainstorming.
• Occasional evening and weekend work and travel may be required for event support.
• Any other duties as required.

Occupational Requirement
The candidate must have an active Christian faith. By virtue of the job’s involvement in faith-sensitive work under Schedule 9 of the Equality Act 2010, the post-holder must be an active Christian with a genuine personal faith in Jesus, grounded in Scripture and reflected in their everyday life.

Experience (Essential):

• Have experience in a church/charity or professional environment.
• Strong understanding of and commitment to the Foundation’s mission, with an understanding of the Church scene.
• A genuine passion for advancing the gospel through the global Church, with a commitment to supporting both Christian givers and churches and charities.
• The ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines simultaneously.
• High attention to detail and accurate.
• Highly administrative and customer service focused.
• Demonstrated creativity and the ability to translate ideas visually, demonstrated via portfolios, academic work, or volunteer projects.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment, with strong interpersonal skills.
• Professional in appearance and a desire to constantly improve and grow.
• Willingness to be flexible in working hours with occasional travel and overnight stays.

Experience (Desirable but not required):

• Some experience supporting events.
• Administrative and customer service experience.
• Some experience producing content creation across print and digital formats.
• Additional language.
• Experience using design software e.g. Adobe and Canva.

Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor's degree preferred or equivalent experience (Essential). We welcome applications from graduates who are eager to learn and develop in the role.
• Technical Skills: Familiarity with content creation software, CRM systems, and email marketing software (Desirable).

Benefits

• This is a full-time position (Monday-Friday)
• Start as soon as possible.
• This role is offered on a 12-month fixed-term contract, with the potential to become permanent subject to performance and business needs.
• Salary £27K-£30k depending on previous experience.
• Holiday entitlement is 20 days pro rata, per annum (plus bank and statutory holidays and 3 days Christmas closing).
• Pension contributions via auto-enrolment to NEST.
• Faith-based culture: Supportive Christian workplace with prayer, devotions, and spiritual development.