Lead Software Engineer - FTC
As the UK’s leading dementia research charity, we’re determined to stop this from becoming a reality. We’re working to revolutionise the way we treat, diagnose and prevent dementia. But we will not stop there. With your support, we will keep going until every person is free from the heartbreak of dementia. We exist for a cure. In order to make this happen, we need to operate with best in class Digital and Technology tools and platforms.
So, join us as we embark on a major journey of transformation across our digital, data, and technology offering! The Lead Software Engineer will play a critical, hands-on role in shaping this future.
We are investing in a new website platform that will provide an improved user experience, be built and operated using modern Tech (e.g. React, headless CMS, CI/CD) and be a foundation for continued future optimisation. The website will unlock the ability to attract more users (via increased visibility on search engines and repeat visits) and increase the number of people donating online for a cure.
This role will be the senior technology team member on the new website project team, ensuring that the solution designed and delivered primarily by our website development partner is using modern approaches and tools. In addition, this person will actively take part in the development and test of the website platform and ultimately be the internal technical owner of the platform for ARUK.
The post holder will report into the CIO but work day to day with the Digital Engagement team to deliver the new website platform.
This is a 24-month fixed term contract.
Key Responsibilities:
· Act as the internal technical owner of the new website platform, providing strong technical leadership, governance, and assurance across its design, build, and operation.
· Provide technical oversight and direction to the appointed Digital / website development partner, ensuring best practice engineering approaches, tooling, and standards are applied throughout delivery.
· Own and make key technical design decisions, ensuring the website platform:
o Uses modern web and cloud‑native technologies (e.g. React, headless architecture).
o Uses modern technical approaches for code management, build and deployment pipelines (CI/CD).
o Aligns with Alzheimer’s Research UK’s broader enterprise architecture, security standards, and technology roadmap.
o Integrates effectively with existing and future Alzheimer’s Research UK’s systems (e.g. CRM, fundraising, analytics, marketing platforms).
· Actively contribute as a hands‑on software engineering individual contributor during the build and test phases, including:
o Reviewing and contributing to code where appropriate.
o Supporting technical problem‑solving and performance optimisation.
o Participating in testing, release, and deployment activities.
· Work closely day‑to‑day with the Digital Engagement team, ensuring technical delivery supports user experience, content, fundraising, and optimisation objectives.
· Establish and embed good engineering practices for the platform, including documentation, environment management, deployment, monitoring, and support handover.
· Take technical ownership of the platform post‑launch, supporting continuous improvement, optimisation, and future enhancements.
Knowledge, skills and experience needed:
· Strong professional experience as a senior software engineer / lead software engineer working on modern website or digital platforms.
· Ideally a full stack engineer with strong front-end skills (our main languages/ frameworks are React and Python/Django).
· Proven experience with modern front‑end and web architectures, including:
o React (or comparable modern JavaScript frameworks).
o Headless CMS and API‑driven architectures.
o CI/CD pipelines and automated testing practices.
· Experience acting as a technical owner or lead for an app or website.
· Experience working with modern code management tools e.g. github, bitbucket) and of version control/code branching approaches.
· Experience using AI tools to improve engineering efficiency e.g. Cursor, Claude code, github copilot.
· Knowledge of code build and deployment processes
· Solid understanding of cloud‑hosted, scalable, and secure web platforms, including performance, resilience, and security considerations.
· Experience integrating websites with wider digital ecosystems (e.g. CRM, analytics, marketing automation, donation/payment platforms).
· Ability to operate effectively as both a hands‑on contributor and a senior technical advisor, balancing strategic oversight with practical delivery.
· Experience working in an agile environment using development workflow tools such as JIRA.
· Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts clearly to non‑technical stakeholders
Additional Information:
Ways of working: As part of our Agile ways of working you will be required to work approximately 2 days a week from the office, which is subject to the requirements of the role and the business needs. Flexibility on where you work can be split between working from home and our office.
Roles that are classed as part of the Agile ways of working are not able to claim any costs for Mileage/Travel on Public Transport, Accommodation and/or Meals. This includes when attending the office for various meetings/events.
Our Office: Our office is at 3 Riverside, Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge, CB21 6AD.
Salary: Circa £63,000 per annum, plus benefits
Please download the Vacancy Pack on our website for more information.
The closing date for applications is the 21st June 2026, with interviews being arrange once shortlisting has been completed. Please indicate in your covering letter if you are unable to attend an interview on a certain date. We would encourage you to submit your application at the earliest opportunity, as on occasion we may have to bring forward the interview date and/or the closing date based on the needs of the business. Although a possibility, this will only happen in exceptional circumstances. Please indicate in your covering letter if you are unable to attend an interview on a certain date.
We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures, particularly from those in the global majority, those with disabilities, men and those from the LGBTQIA+ community. Any offer of employment is however subject to you having the right to work in the UK.
As part of our commitment to being an inclusive employer and ensuring fairness and consistency in our selection process, we will handle your CV and application with the utmost confidentiality. Should you require any adjustments at either the application or interview stage, please contact us via our website.
How to apply: Please create an online account using our Online Recruitment Platform which can be accessed through our Job Vacancies page. You will be able to attach your CV to your application and track the status of your application.
About Alzheimer’s Research UK: Alzheimer's Research UK is the UK's leading dementia research charity. Our mission is to accelerate progress towards a cure. Today 1 in 2 people will be impacted by dementia, either through caring for a loved one, developing it themselves or tragically both. But there is hope.
Registered Charity 
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Thank you!
The National Youth Agency is looking for a Programme Governance Lead.
Programme Governance Lead
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full-time - 37 hours per week
Salary: £55,000 - £65,000 per annum (dependent on experience and qualifications)
Location: Home-based in England with occasional travel for meetings, workshops, and team activities. Head Office is in Leicester.
What we do
As the national body for youth work, the NYA has a dual function. We are the professional statutory and regulatory body (PSRB) responsible for qualifications, quality standards, and safeguarding for youth work and services in England. In line with our charity mission and aims, we also champion youth work through research, advocacy, campaigns, and programmes.
We work in partnership and believe in collaborative leadership, listening to youth workers and the youth work sector so that we can understand their needs and respond to the challenges they face. We are ambitious for youth work and for young people and integrate youth voice and influence across our work
About the Role
We are looking for Programme Governance Lead to manage and oversee the successful delivery of all programmes/projects within the Programmes Directorate by establishing and leading consistent governance and assurance. The postholder will strengthen programme governance, reporting and risk management ensuring programmes are delivered by agreed methodologies and in a consistent manner.
Key Responsibilities
As our Programme Governance Lead, you will:
- Define, implement and maintain an agreed methodology for programme/project lifecycle governance.
- Chair programme/project boards and ensuring decisions, and actions are documented and actioned.
- Identify risks, issues and dependencies which are not captured by Programme Portfolio Leads. Ensure consistent risk management across projects and programmes. Proactively identify cross-programme/project risks and issues (including those not visible to project/programme leads), implement mitigations, and escalate risks/issues to the Director of Programmes and COO as required. Assess programme/project risks against the NYA risk register and update the register accordingly.
- Produce and present monthly programme governance reports at the Directorate Programme Board, providing clear portfolio-level insight (milestones, deliverables, RAG status, KPIs, benefits, and financial/resource assumptions) to enable effective senior decision-making and assurance.
- Design and run governance routines (e.g., project start-up, weekly/monthly reviews, decision logs, change control) and support high-quality papers and actions for directorate governance forums; ensure timely escalation of material risks, issues and decisions to the COO.
- Support teams to evidence compliance with funder/contractual requirements; ensure appropriate documentation, approvals and version control are in place and accessible.
- Implement and maintain a robust lessons-learned process (during and post-delivery) and ensure findings are integrated into future programmes/projects through updated standards, templates, training and assurance checkpoints.
Why Work for NYA?
- NYA operates as a people-focused organisation, prioritising the well-being and needs of its employees.
- NYA offers an exceptional flexible working approach which encourages our team to balance professional responsibilities with their personal life.
- A remote based team, spread across England, fostering inclusivity and diverse talent. Despite geographical distances between team members, NYA maintains a highly motivated and connected team through the optimisation of digital tools.
- NYA is committed to supporting the continual personal and professional development of our team and helping them achieve their ambitions.
- We provide 25 days leave plus 8 days, life assurance scheme, 5% employer pension contribution and a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme via Spectrum.life with unlimited specialist support available to all NYA employees.
Closing date: 23:59 Friday 3rd July 2026.
N.B. We would encourage you to apply as soon as possible as we may close the vacancy early if we receive a sufficient number of suitable applications.
Interviews: W/C 13th July OR W/C 20th July
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.
The National Youth Agency is an equal opportunities employer.
At NYA our inclusive culture means that we embrace individual differences and understand that we need a diverse team to achieve our organisations mission.
We wish to recruit candidates from all backgrounds to ensure our team reflects the rich diversity of the communities we serve. We encourage applications from anyone regardless of disability, ethnicity, heritage, gender, sexuality, religion, socio-economic background and political beliefs but we particularly welcome applications from global majority candidates and those from other minoritised ethnic groups in the UK as they are currently underrepresented in our team.
Please note: We use AI detector software, so applications or CV’s with high levels of AI generated content may be disregarded. We understand that AI tools can offer support to candidates who have learning differences, which is why we will accept applications with some AI assistance.
No agencies please.
