Chair of trustee board volunteer jobs

Job Purpose

Sequence ME & Long Covid is one of the most ambitious whole-genome sequencing studies ever undertaken into ME and Long Covid, co-led by Action for ME. Building on the success of DecodeME, this proposed £20 million study will use large-scale, long-read whole-genome sequencing to analyse the entire genetic code of 9,000 people with ME and 9,000 people with Long Covid - making it the world's largest 'long-read' whole-genome sequencing study of any disease.

Current funding supports project mobilisation, partnership development, and the development of the Long Covid arm of the study, including agreeing case definitions and gathering expressions of interest from people with Long Covid. Phase 2 has recently been confirmed, backed by £4.75m from the UK government and a further £174,414 from the WE&ME Foundation, and will focus on sequencing 6,000 ME/CFS samples previously collected through DecodeME using Oxford Nanopore's long-read sequencing technology, running alongside Phase 1.

You will play a pivotal role supporting the Sequence ME & Long Covid project in several different ways. Working closely with the project's management team and other team members, you will help ensure the smooth day-to-day running of this landmark study, providing administrative support to the various people and partners involved in delivering it.

As a self-starter, you will manage a range of tasks including meeting scheduling, taking meeting minutes, preparing governance documents, event administration, and broader project support - no two days will be the same.

You will need to maintain a high level of confidentiality at all times, particularly when supporting governance meetings and handling sensitive project documentation.

As a team player, you will provide comprehensive, confidential and organised administrative support, developing a deep understanding of the project and building strong, effective working relationships with colleagues, researchers and external partners.

Remote working at home can be challenging for some and works incredibly well for others. You will need to be able to work independently, use your own initiative, and remain proactive in maintaining good levels of communication with colleagues.

Key Duties

• Help monitor inboxes and respond to routine project enquiries in a timely and sensitive manner, escalating more complex matters as appropriate
• Assist the project's management team and other team members with meeting scheduling and diary coordination
• Take accurate minutes at project, management and other project-related meetings, and follow up and track resulting actions to completion
• Prepare, format and proof-read governance documents and papers
• Maintain and update project databases including the Teams channel, ensuring documents are saved correctly, other management information/recording systems to ensure accurate and timely record-keeping. Help with the tracking of expressions of interest from potential study participants.
• Provide administrative support for project events - from planning and logistics through to on-the-day support
• Help prepare presentations, slide decks and briefing materials for internal meetings, funders, partners and participant-facing communications
• Support the drafting, formatting and coordination of project communications, such as updates for partners, funders or the wider ME and Long Covid community
• Support coordination between internal teams and external partners, including research and funding partners
• Maintain project files and documentation in line with agreed communication operating procedures with internal and external partners ensuring information is well organised, up to date and easy for the team to access
• Maintain confidentiality at all times and in line with relevant policies and procedures, ensuring compliance with GDPR and that all data consent processes have been followed in relation to data protection
• Positively promote the work of the Sequence ME & Long Covid project and Action for ME at all times
• Undertake any other reasonable activity in line with the responsibilities of the post, as requested by the CEO, Business Development & Partnerships Manager, Senior Research Manager or the project's Management Team

Person Specification

Essential skills and experience

• Organisational skills - Highly organised with the ability to manage multiple tasks across a fast-moving research project, with attention to detail and accuracy maintained under pressure
• Communication - Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to interact effectively with diverse audiences including researchers, funders and people affected by ME and Long Covid
• IT literacy - Proficient with common office software, including Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, PowerPoint), and able to quickly learn relevant project management, database or communications systems as needed
• Problem-solving - A creative and solution-focused mindset to address challenges and find innovative ways to improve processes
• Adaptability - Capable of managing changing priorities, working flexibly, and adapting to the needs of a fast-paced, ambitious research programme
• Initiative - A proactive approach, with the ability to work independently and take initiative, while also following clear instructions when given
• Teamwork - A collaborative team player with a proven ability to work effectively as part of a team, including a remote-working team spanning multiple partners and stakeholders
• Interest in the sector - A genuine interest in health research, the Third Sector, and a desire to take action to improve the lives of people with ME and Long Covid
• Experience - Demonstrable ability to be an effective administrator, ideally within a charity, research, or project environment. Experience supporting governance processes, events, or communications would be an advantage but is not essential

Desirable skills and experience

• Experience providing administrative support for scientific or research-related projects
• Experience writing and communicating with non-specialist or general audiences

We are looking for a confident, organised and relationship-focused fundraiser. You will have strong hands-on experience of managing and growing Patrons, Friends, membership or similar supporter programmes, alongside the energy and creativity needed to shape the next phase of Individual Giving at the Foundling Museum.

The role will suit someone already taking significant responsibility for recruitment, renewals, stewardship and income growth, who is ready to broaden their skills in Individual Giving and wider fundraising. You will strengthen donor pipelines, identifying supporters with the potential to deepen their engagement.

KEY CRITERIA FOR SUCCESS

After 6 months, the successful candidate will have:

• Established themselves as a trusted and valued colleague within the Museum team, working confidently with colleagues and contributing positively to the developing Development and Communications culture
• Taken confident responsibility for the day-to-day delivery of the Patrons programme and Friends scheme, with clear renewal, stewardship and supporter communications processes in place
• Identified early opportunities to increase recruitment, improve retention and grow income from Patrons, Friends and other Individual Giving activities, as well as supporting other fundraising activities
• ·Strengthened the Museum’s Individual Giving foundations by improving Beacon records, donation processes, supporter journeys, communications and day-to-day ways of working.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

a) Patrons and Friends

• Take responsibility for the day-to-day delivery of the Museum’s Patrons programme and Friends scheme, including renewals, administration, communications and coordination
•  Build warm, credible relationships with Patrons, Friends and prospective supporters, acting as a key point of contact and ambassador for these schemes
• Drive recruitment, retention and ambitious income growth across Patrons and Friends, with a clear focus on expanding reach, increasing income and strengthening engagement
• Ensure Patron and Friend benefits are delivered consistently and warmly
• Keep both schemes fresh, relevant and connected to the Museum’s wider case for support

b) Wider Individual Giving

• Support and develop wider Individual Giving activity, including donations, lower-level appeals and top-up or repeat giving
• Use ideas, data and insight to grow unrestricted income and improve recruitment, retention, supporter journeys and giving opportunities
• Draft clear, engaging supporter communications, acknowledgement letters and fundraising messages that build affinity, loyalty and giving

c) Stewardship, events and supporter experience

• Support and lead cultivation, stewardship and fundraising events for Patrons, Friends and wider donors, drawing on the Museum’s public programme and tailored opportunities
• Help ensure every supporter interaction is well prepared, reflects the Museum’s values and leaves donors feeling valued, informed and connected to the Museum’s work

d) CRM (Beacon), administration and reporting

• Ensure Beacon supports effective fundraising by maintaining accurate, reliable and useful data
• Oversee the effective processing of donations, memberships, renewals and acknowledgements, ensuring a consistently high-quality supporter experience
• Use reports, lists and updates on income, renewals, activity and supporter engagement to strengthen planning, tracking and decision-making.

e) Wider Development contribution

•  Contribute to wider fundraising activity where this supports team priorities, including trusts and foundations, events, corporate partnerships and other Development priorities as needed, offering useful personal development opportunities
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across Finance, Programming, Communications and other teams to support joined-up fundraising and supporter engagement
•  Carry out other reasonable duties appropriate to the role and the needs of a small museum team

PERSON SPECIFICATION

a) Experience and knowledge

Essential

• Experience of working in fundraising, membership, development or a closely related supporter-facing role
• Experience of managing Patrons, Friends, membership or similar supporter programmes, including recruitment, renewals, stewardship and income growth
• Experience of supporter stewardship, renewals, donor communications and relationship management
• Experience of using a database or CRM system to manage supporter records, donations, memberships, renewals and acknowledgements accurately
• Experience of supporting or delivering events, mailings or supporter communications
• Experience of working collaboratively across teams and contributing beyond a core programme area where this supports shared priorities.

Desirable

• Experience of working in a museum, gallery, arts, heritage or charitable organisation
• Experience of helping to increase unrestricted income through Friends, Patrons, annual giving, general donations, lower-level appeals or membership schemes
• Experience of other income streams and a willingness to learn, develop and grow
• Experience of writing supporter-focused fundraising copy, appeals or stewardship communications
• Knowledge of Gift Aid, data protection and good fundraising practice

b) Skills, abilities and attitudes

• Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills, with the ability to build warm, credible relationships with supporters, colleagues and stakeholders, and produce clear, persuasive supporter communications
• Creative and entrepreneurial, with the ability to spot opportunities for programmes to feel fresh, distinctive and attractive to supporters
• Excellent administrative and organisational skills, with strong attention to detail and the ability to manage several priorities at once
• A proactive, hands-on approach, with the confidence to take responsibility, work independently and support colleagues positively in a small team
• Confident working with data, reports and routine financial information, with care and accuracy
• A genuine interest in the cultural and heritage sector generally, the Museum’s story, mission and values, and in the role fundraising plays in advancing them
• A clear interest in developing and widening your fundraising skills, with enthusiasm for working in a small museum where you can help shape change and make a visible difference

BENEFITS

• 25 days’ annual leave per year (pro rata) + bank holidays (pro rata) + birthday leave + volunteering leave
• You will be eligible to join a group contributory pension scheme (3 months after your start date)
• Discount from the Foundling Museum Shop and local partner businesses
• Access to season ticket, rental deposit and cycle to work scheme loans (3 months from your start date)
• Free access to partner museums
• Free access to our fully funded Employee Assistance Programme for wellbeing (WISDOM)
• Training support from our online learning platform

Closing date: Monday 10 August, midday

First interview date: wc 17 August

INTRODUCTION TO THE ROLE

iniva is seeking an experienced, thoughtful and collaborative Website & Communications Manager to join our team at a pivotal moment for the organisation. The role sits at the heart of Living Legacies: Collaboration, Community and Radicality, a four-year National Lottery Heritage Fund project that activates iniva’s archive and connects it with communities through exhibitions, events, podcasts, oral histories and digital resources. Working at iniva is dynamic, creative and purpose driven. As a small organisation, we value people who can work confidently on their own initiative while collaborating closely with colleagues, freelancers and partners. This part-time role (3 days per week) is offered as a fixed-term contract over four years, with responsibilities evolving across the project lifecycle — from strategy and planning in the early stages to website redevelopment, major public programmes and legacy outputs in later phases. The Website & Communications Manager will work closely with the Project Manager and wider team to support clear communication, shared understanding and joined-up audience engagement. The role plays a key part in shaping how audiences encounter Living Legacies and iniva more broadly, ensuring communications are inclusive, accessible and grounded in the organisation’s values. We’re looking for someone who cares about creating more equitable cultural spaces and enjoys sharing stories that connect artists, archives, and communities.

IDEAL CANDIDATE

This role would suit a practical and organised communications professional with strong writing and digital skills. You will be a confident and clear communicator, able to produce engaging, accessible content for a range of audiences across web, email and social media. You will have experience working with websites, including contributing to or supporting a WordPress (or similar CMS) website redevelopment, and be comfortable collaborating with website developers to deliver user-friendly, accessible digital experiences. You will bring the ability to plan and coordinate work across multiple projects, managing timelines, contributors and priorities effectively. Experience supporting or overseeing freelancers such as PR consultants, graphic designers, photographers, videographers etc or external partners is helpful, alongside a collaborative approach and good organisational skills. We are particularly interested in candidates who bring transferable skills from other sectors, along with curiosity, initiative and a willingness to learn. You should be motivated by working in a small, purpose-driven team and be committed to inclusive, accessible communication. This role supports a multi-year heritage project focused on the histories and practices of Black and Global Majority artists. We particularly welcome applicants with lived experience and/or a strong interest in these areas, and a commitment to inclusive, anti-racist and accessible communication practices. We know that no one will meet every requirement. If you meet most of the criteria and feel excited by the role, we encourage you to apply

Role Purpose

The Website & Communications Manager will lead iniva’s communications for a four-year fixed-term
project (3 days per week), with responsibilities evolving across the project — from setting up systems
and plans in Year 1 to delivering public activity, website redevelopment and legacy outputs in later
phases.

Focusing on Living Legacies, the postholder will lead communications activity to grow and diversify
audiences while maintaining strong engagement with existing audiences. They will manage a small
communications team, including the Communications Coordinator, and coordinate different
freelancers over the life of the project, such as a PR Consultant, Website Developer and Podcast
Producer to deliver clear, consistent and values-led communication across the organisation.
Working closely with a freelance Website Developer and internal teams, the postholder will oversee
the redevelopment of iniva’s website, ensuring it is accessible, user-friendly and supports the
project’s digital content and long-term needs. They will also work collaboratively with the Senior
Fundraising Manager, Project Manager and Project Curator to ensure joined-up, timely storytelling that
reflects the aims of the project and supports audience engagement.

Project Specific Duties

The duties below reflect the role across its four-year term. Activity in Years 1–2 will focus on
communications planning, audience development, team coordination and early digital work. Website
redevelopment (Years 2–3) and press activity for exhibitions (Years 3–4) will increase in later phases.
Not all responsibilities will be active at the same time.

Communications Strategy, Planning and Audience Development

• To review, refine and deliver the Living Legacies Communications Plan in collaboration with the wider project team, ensuring alignment with audience development goals, legacy planning and funder expectations.
• To lead audience development activity for Living Legacies, balancing growth and diversification with the retention of iniva’s existing audiences.
• To ensure consistent application of iniva and Living Legacies brand, tone of voice and values across all communications outputs.
• To establish and maintain communications systems, workflows and standards to support effective delivery across the team and with external contributors.
• To manage marketing, communications and documentation budgets ensuring activity is delivered within agreed resources for the organisation.

Website Redevelopment & Digital Experience

• To provide oversight of the redevelopment of iniva’s website (2027-2028), working closely with the Website Developer and internal stakeholders to ensure the site meets accessibility standards, audience engagement objectives and digital preservation needs.
• To manage the Website Developer and relevant budget lines to deliver a user-friendly, accessible website that supports archival access, digital outputs and the wider public programme.
• To ensure the website reflects the interpretive aims of Living Legacies and supports long-term access to project outputs, including oral histories, exhibitions and archival content.
• To gather and commission content from project partners and programme leads to ensure inclusive, participant-led storytelling is reflected across digital platforms.

Content, Campaigns & Creative Management

•  To oversee the creation, scheduling and publication of engaging digital content for Living Legacies, working with the Communications Coordinator across social media, email newsletters and website updates to raise awareness of the project, grow and engage existing and new audiences, and share stories, opportunities and project milestones.
• To commission and manage promotional materials, including digital and print assets, working with graphic designers, photographers, videographers and other freelance creatives to create compelling content that reflects the project's values and reaches diverse audiences.
•  To provide clear briefs, quality control and sign-off for commissioned content, ensuring outputs are on brand, accessible, high quality and delivered on schedule, and support meaningful engagement with participants, partners and audiences.
• To coordinate the promotion of project events and exhibitions, including digital and print listings, invitations, ticketing and on-site communications logistics, helping to maximise attendance, participation and the visibility of Living Legacies across communities and partner networks.

Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting

• To oversee monitoring and evaluation of communications activity for Living Legacies, drawing on digital engagement data across web, email and social media platforms to understand audience reach, engagement and impact.
• To lead on communications-related reporting for senior management, the Board and funders, working with the Communications Coordinator to collate insights, data and evidence that demonstrate impact, learning and audience development.
• To use evaluation findings to inform ongoing communications strategy, audience development activity and project learning.

Collaboration & Internal Coordination

• To work collaboratively with the Project Manager, Project Curator, Senior Fundraising Manager and wider iniva team to ensure consistent messaging, joined-up communications and coordinated project delivery across all strands.
• To support shared understanding of communications priorities across exhibitions, podcasts, oral histories and community engagement activity, ensuring coherence of messaging and audience experience.
• To contribute to a culture of knowledge sharing, collective responsibility and values-led working across the organisation.

Press & Public Relations

•  To provide oversight and be the main point of contact for press and media activity for LivingLegacies, setting priorities, approving messaging and coordinating delivery with the Freelance PR Consultant, annually for three major project exhibitions and public programme (2027-2030).
• Liaise with external PR consultants to support programme promotion, ensuring assets and information are shared accurately and on time.
• To support the development and approval of press materials, including press releases and image assets, ensuring clarity, consistency and alignment with project messaging and organisational values.
• To oversee media listings, press scheduling and coverage tracking, using insights to inform future communications planning in consultation with the PR Consultant.
• To ensure compliance with funder branding and visibility requirements, including National Lottery Heritage Fund acknowledgement guidelines.

General Duties (In common with all iniva staff)

• To support the philosophy, aims and objectives of iniva and to champion its work.
• To promote and support equality, diversity and inclusion for all staff, contractors, volunteers and stakeholders.
•  To uphold collective responsibility, knowledge sharing and team working across the organisation.
• To contribute to, and follow iniva’s organisational policies and procedures, particularly policies relevant to your defined responsibilities and area of work.
• To ensure proper record keeping, filing and archiving of all communications and documentation related to your area of work.
• To engage in continuing professional development, seeking to stay up to date with developments and best practice in your area of work.

Note: This is a description of the job as it is at present constituted. It is iniva’s practice to examine job
descriptions regularly and to update them to ensure that they accurately reflect the job required to be
performed, or to incorporate proposed changes.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

The postholder for this role should demonstrate the following qualifications, experience, skills and
knowledge:

Essential

• Proven experience developing and delivering a communications strategy, ideally for cultural or heritage projects.
•  Experience in website development or managing website redevelopment projects, including working with web developers on design, UX, accessibility and audience engagement.
•  Strong copywriting and editorial skills, with the ability to produce clear, engaging and accessible content across platforms.
•  Experience creating and scheduling content for digital channels, including social media, email newsletters and websites.
•  Understanding of accessibility standards for digital content (e.g. WCAG 2.2) and inclusive communication practices.
• Experience in line management of staff and commissioning or supervising freelance creatives — including PR professionals, website developers, graphic designers, videographers, photographers and content producers — to deliver high-quality, on-brand and accessible content.
• Experience coordinating press and media engagement, including drafting press releases and managing listings.
• Ability to collect and interpret digital engagement data (e.g. social media insights, email performance, web analytics) for evaluation and reporting.
• Strong organisational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple deadlines and priorities.
• Collaborative approach and experience working across teams to ensure consistent, values-led messaging.

Applicants do not need agency-level PR experience; experience of coordinating or overseeing
press activity within a wider communications role is sufficient. We are not expecting candidates
to demonstrate equal depth across all areas; instead, we are looking for a strong overall match
against the Essential criteria.

Desirable

• Familiarity with iniva’s mission, and an understanding of visual arts, archives or Black and
• diaspora cultural heritage in the UK. Experience promoting exhibitions, podcasts, or public programmes within an arts or heritage
• context.
• Knowledge of web content management systems (e.g. WordPress), email marketing tools
• (e.g. Mailchimp) and marketing management tools (e.g. SocialBee and Hootsuite).
•  Experience producing or editing visual content using graphic design tools (e.g. Adobe Creative
• Suite, Canva and Figma), with an eye for layout, accessibility and brand consistency.
•  Experience developing or applying audience development strategies.
•  Understanding of digital preservation principles for online content.
• Experience creating inclusive, participant-led storytelling in partnership with community
• groups.
• Confidence in briefing designers and overseeing the production of promotional materials
• across print and digital.
• Awareness of brand compliance and funder visibility guidelines (e.g. The National Lottery Heritage Fund).

Note: Applicants cannot be expected to be equally strong on all the above criteria, but to provide
evidence across the range, in varying strengths and combinations. iniva are committed to supporting
staff in training and support to achieve the standards required to undertake the role.