Blind jobs
Key information
Location: Manchester, Bristol, Newcastle, Nottingham, or London
Hours: 37.5 hours per week (full time)
Start date: ASAP (we are happy to work with notice periods)
Duration: Permanent
Salary: £36,340 - £41,065 per annum if based in London. £33,690 - £38,410 per annum if based in Bristol, Manchester, Newcastle or Nottingham, plus a £312 yearly tax-free work from home allowance.
Application deadline: Wednesday 18th March, 12pm
This application process will consist of 3 stages: Application, 1st interview and Assessment Centre (presentation task & interview).
About upReach
Do you think that your socio-economic background should determine your career prospects?
upReach’s vision is of a society in which everybody has an equal opportunity to realise their full career potential. Our work is important because right now a student from disadvantaged background who gains a first-class degree from a top university is less likely to secure an elite job than a more privileged student with a 2.2.
We are an award-winning charity employer working to address this issue in partnership with employers and universities. We help undergraduates from lower socioeconomic backgrounds achieve their career potential by providing an intensive programme of support that addresses socio-economic barriers to graduate employment.
To find out more about how we support our students, visit our website and read our Annual Report, and Impact Report.
Role Summary
As a University Partnership Manager at upReach, you will play a vital role in securing and growing high-impact partnerships with universities committed to social mobility.
Reporting to the Head of Partnerships within the Income Generation and External Engagement team, you will be responsible for developing new strategic relationships, championing our partners' voices across upReach, and working closely with our Programmes Team to oversee a portfolio of university partners. You’ll lead stakeholder engagement, take ownership of partnership outcomes and work collaboratively across upReach with our marketing, impact and programme teams.
Core Responsibilities
You will play a critical role in advancing upReach’s mission by generating income and leading upReach’s University Partnerships strategy. Creating life-changing opportunities for our Associates through high-impact university partnerships. You will be directly supporting the organisation's strategic priorities: driving sustainable income growth, enhancing programme impact and expanding our reach as a national charity.
Given the expansive and dynamic nature of this role, the list of responsibilities is not exhaustive, but provides a clear overview of your primary areas of responsibility, ownership and impact.
The core responsibilities include:
Develop and Secure New Strategic University Partnerships
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Proactively identify, cultivate, and convert a pipeline of four and five-figure prospective university partners aligned with upReach’s mission and strategic goals.
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Lead high-quality prospecting and relationship-building activity, targeting income-generating partnerships that also deliver high-impact opportunities for Associates.
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Build strong relationships with key contacts at potential partners, including senior stakeholders within widening participation, employability, and careers teams, through regular in-person and virtual meetings.
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Deliver compelling, insight-driven proposals and presentations tailored to organisational priorities and demonstrating mutual value.
Stakeholder Representation and Engagement
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Act as a visible representative of upReach at key partner events, conferences, and roundtables, building relationships, showcasing our impact, and raising our external profile.
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Leverage social media strategically to spotlight partnership activity, amplify success stories and demonstrate the value of our partnerships in real time.
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Respond swiftly and professionally to partner and prospective partner requests, ensuring timely, accurate information and follow-up.
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Capture, report and disseminate key themes and insights from partner feedback, helping to inform decision-making and continuously improve the partnership experience.
Monitor and Grow Existing University Partnerships
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Responsibility for a portfolio of upReach’s existing university partners, ensuring effective stewardship of the day-to-day relationship with high satisfaction, sustainable renewal and growth.
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Set and monitor partnership goals and OKRs, leading regular reviews and performance reporting.
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Identify opportunities to deepen and broaden engagement with existing partners, including expanding partnership activities.
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Collaborate with the Student Attraction and Programme teams to engage the university in identifying & promoting the programme.
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Working closely with upReach’s Programme teams to ensure partnerships and programmes are delivered to a high standard.
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Lead on university partnership health reviews and mid-year partner reviews to ensure any issues are dealt with effectively, promptly and collaboratively.
Partnership Visibility and Impact
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Collaborate closely with Marketing & Communications to co-create high-quality content and campaigns that showcase our strategic partnerships through university guides, case studies, thought leadership, social media, and joint events.
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Lead on impact reporting for your partnership portfolio, using both data and compelling stories to evidence the outcomes of the partnership and drive continued engagement.
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Proactively identify and deliver opportunities for partners to amplify the voice of upReach; through our external events, fundraising opportunities and sharing social-media collateral that promotes our work.
Cross-Functional Collaboration and Innovation
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Collaborate with the Finance team to ensure timely and accurate invoicing and contracting for all University partnerships, supporting effective financial management.
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Maintain up-to-date and accurate records of partnership activity using upReach’s internal CRM and systems, enabling effective reporting, forecasting and stewardship.
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Uphold the organisation’s legal and ethical obligations, including data protection, charity law, and compliance with all relevant regulatory requirements.
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Manage and support a rotation of the Future Charity Leaders Programme, providing guidance, feedback, and development opportunities.
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Meet monthly with University Leads (the Programme Coordinator responsible for day-to-day university activities) to set partnership priorities, monitor stakeholder KPIs (onboarding, engagement), and deliver updates to universities.
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Contribute to the achievement of income targets aligned with upReach’s strategic goals, identifying and progressing opportunities to drive revenue growth.
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Engage fully in the annual appraisal process, setting ambitious, SMART objectives that align with organisational priorities and your personal development.
Skills and Experience
The ideal candidate for the University Partnerships Manager should display these behavioural skills:
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Strong track record of relationship-building, influencing, and delivering high-quality engagement with a range of stakeholders, ideally including senior university professionals.
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Excellent organisational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines autonomously.
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Confident and pragmatic decision maker in a fast-paced environment, with an understanding of when to escalate situations and seek input appropriately.
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Proven ability to develop and implement partnership or engagement strategies that strengthen collaboration and deliver shared goals.
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Collaborative team player with experience supporting and working across diverse teams to deliver shared objectives.
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Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including confidence in preparing and delivering presentations and reports.
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Proficient in using CRM or data management systems to track engagement, manage pipelines, and generate actionable insights.
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Experience measuring and reporting on partnership impact, engagement, or value creation.
Desirable:
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Experience in university partnerships, fundraising, account management, or stakeholder engagement.
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Understanding of widening participation, employability, or student success strategies within a higher education setting.
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Experience collaborating with marketing or communications teams to create joint campaigns, content, or case studies that drive engagement.
Team Culture & Benefits:
We offer:
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Flexible and hybrid working.
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Statutory Holiday Entitlement of 25 days and bank holidays. This increases to 2 additional days after 2.5 years and then to 3 additional days after 5 years of working with us.
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Birthday leave and Volunteering leave
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Enhanced Parental Leave beyond statutory requirements for all team members.
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3% Pension Contribution, which increased to 5% after 5 years of working with us.
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Cycle-to-work scheme.
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Monthly socials and annual wellbeing days
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Dedication to Staff Wellbeing through our Employee Assistance Programme and Mental Health First Aid Training.
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Personal Development Budget, activated after 6 months in the role.
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The opportunity to participate in our fantastic staff networks:
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Disability and Inclusion Network
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Diverse Roots Network
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Green Network
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LGBTQ+ Network
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Mindfulness Network
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Parents and Carers Network
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(Im)Migrants Network
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Ready to apply?
We are committed to making our recruitment process inclusive. All applications will be blind screened, and our job packs are available in Braille, large text or another format upon request. We can provide reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment application process and on the job, and we'll always endeavour to be as accommodating as possible.
Applications close on Wednesday 18th March at 12pm..
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
At upReach, we are committed to being an equal opportunities employer and do not discriminate in employment matters on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, age, disability, social background or any other protected class. We celebrate and value the diverse perspectives that people from all backgrounds bring to our team. We are passionate about creating a workplace that is inclusive and reflects the diversity of communities across the UK. Diversity in the workplace creates dynamic and effective organisations and we are actively working to build a more inclusive workforce by continuously improving our recruitment, retention, and development practices. We encourage applications from individuals from underrepresented groups, including Black, Asian and other ethnic minority backgrounds, those with disabilities , those who are care-experienced, those from low socio-economic backgrounds, and those who are LGBTQIA+.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Key Information:
LOCATION: Bristol, Newcastle, Nottingham, London and Manchester (hybrid working pattern). We are prioritising applications for the Nottingham and Newcastle locations in line with our regional development strategy.
HOURS: 37.5 hours per week (flexible working around core hours of 10am-4pm)
START DATE: 10th August 2026
DURATION: 18-month graduate programme with optional apprenticeship opportunity upon completion. Permanent contract from August 2026.
SALARY: £27,375 per annum (Bristol, Manchester, Nottingham and Newcastle), £30,025 (London).
DEADLINE: Thursday 2nd April at 12pm (noon).
The application process: written application > video interview > assessment centre.
Assessment Centres will take place between 20th April and 8th May 2026. They will be conducted on Zoom and consist of 3 tasks: An interview, a written exercise and a group task (with up to 3 other candidates)
In keeping with upReach's mission and values we would particularly encourage applications from individuals from underrepresented groups and those with lived experience of barriers to social mobility.
We encourage all applicants to review our Application Pack before submitting your application.
About upReach
Do you think that your socio-economic background should determine your career prospects?
upReach’s vision is of a society in which everybody has an equal opportunity to realise their full career potential. Our work is important because right now a student from a disadvantaged background who gains a first-class degree from a top university is less likely to secure an elite job than a more privileged student with a 2.2.
We are an award-winning charity employer working to address this issue in partnership with employers and universities. We help undergraduates from lower socio-economic backgrounds achieve their career potential by providing an intensive programme of support that addresses socio-economic barriers to graduate employment.
To find out more about how we support our students, visit our website and read our Annual Report, and Impact Report.
About the FCLP
upReach is recruiting for our unique Future Charity Leaders Programme (FCLP). This is a great opportunity for anyone who is passionate about social mobility, and looking to gain exposure to various aspects of charity management whilst working with university students who are exploring their career options. We welcome applications from those in the corporate world who are looking for a career change as well as recent graduates wanting to kick-start their career in the third sector.
upReach’s Future Charity Leaders Programme (FCLP) combines delivery work (supporting our Associates) with exposure to a range of aspects of charity management.
As a Programme Coordinator on the FCLP, you will deliver personalised, employment-focused support to a cohort of approximately 80 Associates, helping to transform their lives by equipping them with the necessary skills to secure a top graduate job. During a typical week, you should expect to be working across a range of projects including:
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1:1 undergraduate coaching
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Events organisation
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Application support
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Partnership management (with university partners or employer partners)
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and more!
In addition to this, the programme offers the opportunity to develop skills in key areas of charity management by participating in 3 rounds of six-month 'rotations' across different functions. After your initial 18 months and the completion of 3, six-month rotations, you will have the opportunity to undertake an apprenticeship in Leadership and Management to further develop your skills and gain a level 3 qualification.
Throughout the programme, you will receive dedicated internal training developing your leadership skills and building your confidence in the role.Through our partnership with The Circle Line, you will be part of a supportive peer group, offered regular personal development training workshops online and in-person on their '12 Tools for Life'. You will also be able to choose your own practitioner to support you in 1:1 sessions throughout the programme to help you unlock more of your unique potential.
What will I be doing?
The FCLP is a fast-paced but rewarding role. Programme Coordinators spend 80% of their time (4 days per week) working directly with Associates to enhance their career knowledge and skills and 20% (1 day per week) on a charity management rotation (or an apprenticeship after 18 months). No two days are the same, but your responsibilities may include:
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Building and maintaining strong relationships with Associates, helping them to achieve their career goals
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Developing and delivering professional development-focused support
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Individual and small group work with Associates
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Assisting Associates with their applications to undergraduate positions and graduate jobs
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Developing sector and/or employability skill knowledge while building resources to aid all Associates
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Developing and maintaining strong relationships with university and/or employer partners
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Delivering informative workshops to enhance sector knowledge and employability skills
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Planning, delivering and reporting on events and workshops with partners
When applying for this role we ask that applicants are able to commit to the full 18-month training programme, and we encourage participation in the apprenticeship scheme beyond this. As you will be working directly with our beneficiaries throughout their degree, this consistency will allow you to build bonds with your Associates and ensure continuity, thus allowing us to have the most impact for the young people we work with.
What Skills and Experience do I need?
This programme would be suited to individuals who are committed to upReach’s mission, motivated to work with undergraduates and interested in learning about, and gaining experience in, charity management. We are looking for people who are passionate about social mobility and believe that background should not be a barrier to graduate employment.
Essential Skills/Experiences:
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Working in a fast-paced environment and working independently to find solutions to problems
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Strong organisational and time management skills with a keen eye for detail and the ability to manage a varied workload
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A University degree in any discipline, or equivalent experience
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Self-motivation and an ability to work in a small team as well as solo
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Excellent communication skills and strong written English
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The ability to engage and communicate confidently with undergraduates, corporate volunteers (mentors) and employers via phone, email, and in person
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Confidence with public speaking or facilitating workshops
Desirable Skills/Experiences:
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Knowledge of the graduate labour market in the UK and experience supporting individuals through an application process
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Working in one or more of the career sectors that upReach support Associates in applying to.
Team Culture & Benefits:
By joining the upReach team, you will be joining a team who are dedicated to encouraging you in your career journey and fostering an inclusive culture.
We offer:
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Flexible working, hybrid working and reduced Summer Hours (June-August)
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Statutory Holiday Entitlement of 25 days, plus bank holidays. (This increases to 27 days entitlement after 2.5 years and then to 30 days after 5 years of working with us)
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Enhanced Parental Leave beyond statutory requirements for all team members
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1 day of Birthday leave, 1 day of Volunteering leave and discretionary annual wellbeing days
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Optional extended unpaid leave
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3% Pension Contribution, this increases to 5% after 5 years of working with us
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Cycle-to-work scheme, Tech scheme
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Monthly socials, Annual in-person Team Day
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Dedication to Staff Wellbeing through our Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aid Training
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A range of discounts through the Charity Workers Discount and Tickets for Good websites
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The opportunity to participate in our fantastic staff networks:
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Disability and Inclusion Network
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Diverse Roots Network
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Green Network
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LGBTQ+ Network
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Mindfulness Network
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Parents and Carers Network
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Socio-Economic Background Network
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(Im)Migrants Network
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Ready to apply?
We are dedicated to making our recruitment process inclusive. All applications will be blind screened, and our job packs are available in Braille, large text or another format upon request. We can provide reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment application process and on the job, and we'll always endeavour to be as accommodating as possible.
Unfortunately, upReach is unable to offer Visa Sponsorship.
Applications close at 12pm on Thursday 2nd April
Equal Opportunities
At upReach, we are committed to being an equal opportunities employer and do not discriminate in employment matters on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, age, disability, social background or any other protected class. We celebrate and value the diverse perspectives that people from all backgrounds bring to our team. We are passionate about creating a workplace that is inclusive and reflects the diversity of communities across the UK. Thus, we encourage applications from individuals from underrepresented groups, including Black, Asian and other ethnic minority backgrounds, those with disabilities, those who are care-experienced, those from low socio-economic backgrounds, and those who are LGBTQIA+.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Contract Type: Full-time / 6 Month Fixed-Term Contract
Salary Band:£29,900, plus £2,200 London weighting if applicable
Location: Birmingham, Glasgow, London, Liverpool, Manchester or Newcastle
Hours: 5 days per week; 9AM-5.30PM (flexible working hours available).
Start date: 6th April 2026 or ASAP, as agreed with candidate
The Opportunity
As a key team member within our Partnerships and Income Development team, you will play a vital role in creating, developing and delivering the Social Mobility Foundation’s Employer Programme and Social Mobility Employer Index - how we inform, influence and positively impact employer-led social mobility, and a source of income generation.
1. Delivery of the Social Mobility Employer Index
- Deliver the SMEI 2026, including but not limited to: marking entries, creating individual feedback reports for each entrant, creating sector reports for key industries, and gathering feedback to review and update the survey for 2027
- Maintain accurate and up to date information and process documentation, including the mark scheme used to mark entries, and the process followed to create feedback reports
- Support with the ongoing development of the digital platform, employer resources and online content, ensuring it is updated in line with the survey and delivers a smooth user journey
- Support with the annual monitoring and evaluation of the SMEI and its impact on employer-led social mobility
2. Stakeholder management and customer service
- Provide excellent customer service and stewardship to organisations entering the SMEI throughout the whole customer journey, e.g. preparing and sending regular communications and updates to prospective and live entrants, answering questions received into the SMEI inbox and troubleshooting independently
- Prepare and deliver feedback calls and presentations for organisations, including Lunch & Learns on social mobility, introductory calls on the SMEI, presentations and webinars about the SMEI, and providing detailed feedback calls on entrants’ performance in the SMEI
- Support with creating and developing assets and activities to market the SMEI and other products and services including webinars and social media assets
- Engage with external stakeholders, such as employers, policy experts and social mobility practitioners, to understand key issues and trends relevant to workplace social mobility
3. Quality standards
- Stay up to date with the latest research, evidence and on workplace and employer-led social mobility, communicating changes or updates with colleagues, as well as maintaining and updating the evidence base for the SMEI
- Support the annual evaluation of the SMEI and its impact on employer-led social mobility
4. Systems and processes
- Maintain accurate and up to date records, using SharePoint and our Salesforce CRM to support pipeline management, income tracking and partner records, namely for the SMEI
- Comply with internal policies such as data protection and our ethical fundraising policy, as well as external fundraising regulations and legal requirements
5. Team support and collaboration
- Collaborate across the team to ensure opportunities are aligned across all income streams
- Champion a collaborative and creative fundraising culture, building internal understanding, support and excitement in fundraising and partnership activities
Please see full job description attached for more details.
Benefits
- 36/37 days (England & Wales and Scotland respectively - includes bank holidays) calculated on a pro rata basis with 3 of these days reserved for the annual end of year office closure.
- Cycle to Work Scheme
- 5% Salary sacrifice pension scheme with enhanced matching employer contributions
- 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
If you are interested in applying for this role, please head over to our website and answer the following questions:
1) Why would you like to work at the Social Mobility Foundation? (250 words max.)
2) What makes you a suitable candidate for this role? Please include specific examples of your experience and skills, with reference to the key responsibilities and person specification for this role. (500 words max.)
3) The Social Mobility Employer Index involves marking detailed employer submissions and producing high-quality feedback reports. Describe a time when you had to assess complex written information against a set of criteria and produce clear, constructive feedback for an external audience. What was your approach, how did you ensure accuracy and fairness, and what was the outcome? (400 words max.)
We unlock potential, broaden horizons and create opportunities for young people


The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Citizens UK
Citizens UK is the UK’s biggest, most diverse and most effective people-powered alliance. We bring communities and local organisations together to work on issues that matter; from campaigning for zebra crossings on dangerous roads, to reforming the immigration system, to the Living Wage campaign. We have a track record of winning change through hundreds of local and national campaigns. We know everyday people have the ability to shape the world around them. We believe that through developing local leaders, we can drive nationwide change and create community-led solutions to big and small problems.
Project Information
Butetown and Grangetown Neighbourhood Fund project, funded by the Youth Endowment Fund. More details here: Neighbourhood Fund | Youth Endowment Fund
Citizens Cymru Wales has developed an innovative approach to reducing youth violence with community organising at its heart, working across four unique assumptions:
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‘It takes a village to raise a child’
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‘Anger without power leads to rage’
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‘Recognising the need to address Adverse Community Experiences’
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‘If you are not at the table, you’re on the menu’
In 2021 it developed a community led action plan to address youth violence in the neighbourhoods of Butetown and Grangetown. This work then secured £1m funding from the Youth Endowment Fund (YEF) to demonstrate how community organising can improve the lives of children and young people. Across Grangetown and Butetown, almost 2500 people were listened to, and issues workshops took place from which seven interventions were identified including Mental health, Additional Learning Needs and Literacy, an Employment partnership, Sports and diversionary activities and local microgrants. Each intervention is led by a local community-based organisation. At the heart of the work is building a hyperlocal community organising alliance. Underpinning the work is the development of a Youth Action Zone, a youth-led multi-agency partnership to support young people in the neighbourhood for the long term. The project is in its final year of delivery and needs a locally based project manager to support the current organisations to fulfil the action plan and build a long-term legacy.
Main Responsibilities
This is a unique role, focused on project management but embedding community organising. As project organiser for Butetown and Grangetown Neighbourhood Fund you will support the project aims, enabling core partners and intervention leads to fulfil the action plan and build a legacy for the long term. Alongside this, you will develop a craft of community organising, working closely with civic organisations based in the neighbourhoods, understanding local power and building partnerships with wider stakeholders, and developing local institutions and youth leaders. All of this should ladder up to building the power of the broader Cardiff Citizens alliance.
You will embed the ethos of community organising across the project and its legacy by:
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developing the leadership of people within local organisations - our 'leaders' who lead the campaigns we work on
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helping them to collectively identify the changes they want to see and create strategies to win those changes
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strengthen institutions’ own abilities to achieve their missions.
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Support leaders in connecting the hyperlocal work to the Cardiff Citizens alliance – developing their capacity to work with other leaders and civic institutions across the city to develop collective ambitions and actions (leading up to the 2027 Local Authority elections).
We envisage the role to be roughly 2 days project management and 1 day Community Organising, but given the nature of the project, these will naturally bleed into one another.
Working as the Project Organiser for Citizens UK, your main responsibilities will include:
Career Pathways Headings
Build and manage projects and achieve work targets effectively
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Project manage the YEF/Citizens UK Neighbourhood Fund project in the neighbourhoods of Butetown and Grangetown
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Support the delivery of four interventions (Mental health, ALN & Literacy/Sports and Police action team) including due diligence, accountability, measurement and impact monitoring.
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Ensure good governance; setting up stakeholder meetings and working with community leaders to develop the agenda and actions
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Develop an understanding of place-based systems change and support system behaviours across the project, including feedback, collaborative leadership and shared power
Develop and manage external relationships
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Maintain and extend local relationships and partnerships with community and civic organisations and wider statutory power
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Map and develop an ecosystem of strategic relationships at the local level
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Ensure the YEF work is embedded within the local ecosystem of support for young people.
Communications
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Support the interventions with communicating the impact of their work individually and collectively
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Create comms outputs that communicate the work of the YEF project for internal and external stakeholders
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Represent the organisation effectively to external audiences in meetings and at events
Generate income and resources
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Support the interventions to seek additional funding to continue their work beyond 2027
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Support local organisations to increase their capacity
Identify and develop relational leaders prepared to act with others for the common good and support them through a cycle of action and training in our curriculum
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Conduct 5 relational one-to-ones per week
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Identify and discern actual and potential leaders with the passion and ability to drive change
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Achieve significant development of primary and secondary leaders; nominate new leaders for training on the Citizens UK core taster curriculum and for National Training
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Attend Citizens UK 6-day training to further understanding the method of Community Organising used by CUK
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Teach sessions of the core taster Community Organising curriculum at a local level (supported by a senior Organiser)
Strengthen institutions and develop a broad-based neighbourhood alliance
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Ensure good understanding of the basic interests and traditions of typical member institutions
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Support the development of the Cardiff Citizens alliance
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Support with running institutional development campaigns in a range of organisations in the local area
Personal Specification
(D) Desirable, (E) Essential
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in any subject (D)
Qualification in a subject of relevance to community work or community organising (D)
Experience
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Evidence of having acted in a leadership role with peers or in local community activities (e.g., organising clubs or societies) (E)
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Experience of project management; evidence of having set up and/or delivered projects on time and to standard (E)
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Able to demonstrate previous experience of ‘learning by doing’ in a work or project environment; evidence of being open to feedback and comfortably coachable (E)
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Experience of building consensus between diverse stakeholders to drive progressive change (D)
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Previous campaign experience (D)
Key skills and knowledge
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Excellent interpersonal awareness – ability to listen well and appreciate a viewpoint or opinion that is different from one’s own (E)
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Excellent concern for impact – ability to adapt own behaviour to address the needs or concerns of someone else (E)
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Good communication skills – able to speak with conviction and passion; and to make a logical argument (E)
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Excellent time management skills with the ability to juggle a wide range of competing demands (E)
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Strong IT skills to include MS Office (E)
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Understanding of policy and campaign landscape in the UK, particularly around young people, community empowerment and neighbourhoods (D)
Personal qualities & values
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A self-starter with ability to take initiative and work independently (E)
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A passion for justice (E)
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A positive enthusiasm for working with faith congregations, trade unions, schools, and other community organisations (E)
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An interest in and experience of politics and public life (E)
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Able to work in a team (E)
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Willingness to work within accountable relationships (E)
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Self-motivated and adaptable (E)
Our Organisers and some project teams work closely with our member institutions and will be expected to attend member events that take place in the evenings and occasional weekends. We operate a Time Off in Lieu approach and have very flexible working arrangements to ensure a good work-life balance.
The successful applicant will be required to undertake a satisfactory Enhanced DBS check. DBS checks are renewed on a 3-year cycle.
About the application process
We work within diverse communities bringing people together. In line with our Inclusion value, we would love to see applications from LGBTQIA+ people, people from racialised communities, people living with disabilities and people of faith, all to better represent the communities we work in. We want our employees to have the working conditions that allows them to fully participate, be able to be their best authentic selves and thrive doing so, and we have employee networks to support staff. Even if you don’t quite meet all the required criteria still consider applying, as we invest in our employees and support them to develop the skills and knowledge required to deliver their role.
For questions and reasonable adjustments regarding your application including information in a different format, or our recruitment process, please email us.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Citizens UK
Citizens UK is the UK’s biggest, most diverse and most effective people-powered alliance. We bring communities and local organisations together to work on issues that matter; from campaigning for zebra crossings on dangerous roads, to reforming the immigration system, to the Living Wage campaign. We have a track record of winning change through hundreds of local and national campaigns. We know everyday people have the ability to shape the world around them. We believe that through developing local leaders, we can drive nationwide change and create community-led solutions to big and small problems.
Living Wage Foundation
The Living Wage movement began in 2001, after Citizens UK brought together communities in East London to discuss poverty and low pay. The campaign grew in momentum and soon required a mechanism to recognise employers who wanted to join the movement, which saw the establishment of the Living Wage Foundation in 2011.
Still part of Citizens UK today, the Living Wage Foundation continues to work with community organisations to make sure the voices of both workers and businesses are part of the Living Wage movement. We now work with over 16,000 employers, benefitting half a million people and winning over £3bn of better wages for people who need it most.
Citizens UK works with a broad base of institutions across the political spectrum. At the Living Wage Foundation, we take the same deliberately broad-based approach and accredit all organisations who pay the real Living Wage to their directly and indirectly employed staff and are committed to tackling in work poverty. As a team we work across a range of industries and sectors to achieve this mission. We seek pragmatic coalitions to progress specific campaigns, and partnership around a particular issue such as Living Wage, does not imply an endorsement of broader purpose and policies.
Purpose
The Living Wage Foundation has an exciting opportunity to join our dynamic team as a Communications Officer. We are looking for an exceptionally motivated and organised individual who enjoys working in a fast-paced, high-profile communications environment.
The role will support the objectives of the Living Wage Foundation and Citizens UK by communicating our work to a wide range of audiences, including senior business leaders and politicians, through a mix of communications methods: social media, newsletters, media outlets, website and internal communications channels. The role will be predominantly focused on work and wages activity through the Living Wage Foundation, but there will be opportunities to support cross-Citizens UK communications activity including for example: campaigns on housing, refugees and more.
This post will be joining a Communications team that spans media, digital communications, research and events, with colleagues based across the UK with monthly in-person team meetings.
The post holder will support the delivery of our media and press office activity, including monitoring media coverage, supporting with journalist enquiries, and helping to develop proactive press campaigns to build awareness of the Living Wage Foundation’s work. They will also support the creation of written and visual content across our channels and help monitor and manage our social media presence on a day-to-day basis. The role will work closely to support the Communications team’s work and help communicate the work of the wider-team and our employer network.
The role is also responsible for key communications with our network of over 16,000 accredited Living Wage Employers, including our monthly newsletters, blogs, videos and case studies to celebrate our network of accredited employers
The position would suit an applicant with strong written and communication skills, with some experience of working within a communications team and a passion for press work, social media and content creation.
We don’t expect you to have experience of all areas of this job. Training will be provided to help you develop into this role.
Main Responsibilities
Working as a Communications Officer for the Living Wage Foundation, reporting to the Media Manager, your main responsibilities will include:
Media
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Contribute to media strategies and plans that help to win public, business and political support for the Living Wage Foundation and its work
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Write compelling press releases, blogs and opinion editorials to promote the Living Wage Foundation’s work
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Support story gathering and storytelling development with workers, employers and others affected by low pay and insecure work, ensuring lived experience and employer voices are reflected effectively across media work and wider communications platforms
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Build effective relationships with the media, colleagues and other stakeholders to find new ways to raise our profile
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Monitor and evaluate media campaigns and reports
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Maintain and regularly update communications resources, including press contact lists, internal databases and other media materials
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Participate in the out of hours duty press (being on hand to very occasionally answer emails and phone calls in the evenings or weekends)
Social and digital media
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Oversee our digital communications channels to raise awareness of the Living Wage and our wider accreditation schemes, champion responsible employers and grow our movement.
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Help the team keep up to date with social media trends and opportunities.
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Create, manage and schedule posts for our social media channels including, LinkedIn, Instagram, Bluesky, Facebook and YouTube, tailoring the content to different channels and audiences.
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Monitor our social media channels, replying to enquiries from the public and our networks of supporters and employers and flagging any potential issues to the wider team
Content creation
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Working with the communication team, design and implement engaging digital engagement campaigns for Living Wage Employers and supporters, and to support Living Wage Foundation campaigns.
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Design communications collateral to increase engagement on social media, including creation and editing of short-form videos for our online channels and creation of social media graphics.
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Improve our digital offering for our network of accredited Living Wage, Living Hours and Living Pension Employers, by creating resources and improving our communications support.
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Liaise with the Living Wage and Citizens UK team to keep up-to-date with news to share with key stakeholders
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Collate and summarise content to schedule newsletters and updates for our varied audiences.
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Support in adoption of updated brand across our communications content and materials, supporting others to use brand and tone of voice guidelines.
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Sourcing and creating original content for both the Living Wage Foundation and external websites, including creating blog posts, news, guidance and general pages.
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Auditing and reviewing existing website content to ensure it is effective and up-to-date. Support on improvements and developments where necessary.
Network communications
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Drafting email communications to support the experience of our network of accredited employers, including regular newsletters as well as automated email content for new accreditations.
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Work closely with the Operations and Insight team to put in place the communications infrastructure to help our network of employers engage with us online, e.g. utilising our online dashboard for accredited members and creating new resources.
General
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Administrate and facilitate communications team meetings.
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Communications support for key events and campaign moments including the annual Champion Awards and Living Wage Week
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Monitor communications outputs, analyse performance data and evaluate impact to support learning and improvement across our communications work
Person Specification
(D) Desirable, (E) Essential
Experience
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Experience working within a Communications team or function (E)
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Experience using graphic design software (e.g., Canva, Adobe Creative Suite). (D)
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Experience filming and editing video content (D)
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Experience using website content management systems (CMS) such as Drupal, WordPress or similar (D)
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Experience of using social media scheduling tools (D)
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Experience of supporting press office or media relations work (D)
Key skills and knowledge
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Excellent knowledge of a wide range of social media channels and good awareness of current social media trends and developments (E)
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Strong written and verbal communication skills including the ability to produce clear original content for different audiences and use digital tools (including AI) appropriately and responsibly (E)
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Excellent attention to detail (E)
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Ability to create high-quality and engaging content for social media (whether for a personal or business account) and a good understanding of what makes compelling content (E)
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Strong analytical skills and ability to evaluate the success of a campaign(E)
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Ability to build strong relationships with colleagues and external stakeholders(E)
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Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with a wide variety of stakeholders (E)
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Ability to plan and prioritise workload effectively, manage competing demands, and flag capacity issues early to support effective team planning(E)
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Good IT skills, including experience using Microsoft Office(E)
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Creative thinker and problem solver (E)
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Excellent planning, organisation, and prioritisation skills (E)
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Creative with an eye for design and ability to come up with new ideas for content(E)
Personal qualities & values
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Interest in media and the news landscape (E)
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An interest and enthusiasm for communications and marketing, and the mission of the Living Wage Foundation (E)
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Highly self-motivated with ability to work well independently as well as part of a team (E)
About the application process
We work within diverse communities bringing people together. In line with our Inclusion value, we would love to see applications from LGBTQIA+ people, people from racialised communities, people living with disabilities and people of faith, all to better represent the communities we work in. We want our employees to have the working conditions that allows them to fully participate, be able to be their best authentic selves and thrive doing so, and we have employee networks to support staff. Even if you don’t quite meet all the required criteria still consider applying, as we invest in our employees and support them to develop the skills and knowledge required to deliver their role.
For questions and reasonable adjustments regarding your application including information in a different format, or our recruitment process, please email us
Got any more questions? If you would like further information on the role, the organisation, or our commitment to addressing under-representation and the development and progression of all colleagues, we would be happy to answer any questions.
We will be holding a webinar on Tuesday 10 March 2026 at 12pm which anyone can attend to find out more about the role. In the past, candidates have found this a helpful space for understanding whether the role is right for them. Attendance at this session is optional and will not be taken into account at any stage of the recruitment process. To sign up, please use this link.
If you’d like to know more but cannot attend the webinar, please email us.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
This is an exciting role in our committed policy team leading the fight to end child poverty in the UK. The government has just published a UK wide cross-government child poverty strategy, and made some historic commitments to reduce child poverty including scrapping the two-child limit and expanding free school meals in England. However, there is more to do, and this is a great time to join CPAG as we look to monitor the impact of these changes and influence policy makers and parliamentarians to ensure child poverty is high up the agenda.
We are looking for someone with a track record of communicating complex policy areas in an accessible manner to a range of non-specialist audiences. You will have knowledge of parliamentary processes and the different advocacy levers that can be used to influence change. You will enjoy working collaboratively to identify policy issues and develop solutions, working closely with colleagues across the organisation as well as externally.
In addition, in a senior policy officer we are looking for someone to take a lead role in developing CPAG’s policy and research programme, including leading the delivery of research projects, helping to shape our press and campaigns work, and contributing to the development of future projects including fundraising.
You will have a track record of producing high quality research and analysis, including policy briefings, on social policy issues.
The postholder will be working in a fast moving, high profile and complex policy environment and will need to balance short term priorities with long term objectives. Current priorities include influencing the implementation of the forthcoming child poverty strategy, sharing analysis and expertise as part of the DWP’s review of universal credit, and monitoring the development of the green paper on the changes to disability benefits.
We welcome applications from individuals with the skills and experience outlined and we can be flexible about working arrangements, including considering part time hours. We operate a hybrid working system and would be happy to discuss any flexibilities required. CPAG is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion which you can read more about in the job pack.
Please note we are recruiting for one person with the right fit at either the policy officer or senior policy officer level.
For more information about this post and to apply download the (Senior) Policy Officer job pack.
If you have questions or need specific arrangements or reasonable adjustments to take part in the selection process please contact us.
Closing date for applications: Monday 16 March (midnight)
Interviews will be held in London w/c 23 March.
Child Poverty Action Group works to prevent and end child poverty – for good.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.