Executive assistant to chief executive officer jobs

Job title: Programme Assistant, Enquiries 

Line manager: Team Leader, Enquiries (Senior Officer, Enquiries in Team Leader’s absence) 

Salary: £30,000 

Type of contract: Permanent 

Start date: 16th February 2026 or shortly thereafter 

Benefits: 

• Challenging and rewarding work, always life-changing, sometimes lifesaving 

• Competitive salary 

• Team and individual training opportunities 

• Commitment to performance and personal development 

• Hybrid working, home and office (minimum 2 days each week in the office) 

• Eight hours each day Monday – Friday, with flexible working by arrangement around core hours of 10am – 4pm 

• 25 days plus Bank Holidays annual leave entitlement 

• 8% employer pension contribution 

• Convenient office location at Elephant and Castle, close to Tube (Bakerloo and Northern lines) and bus routes 

Role purpose statement: The Programme Assistant, Enquiries plays a vital role in the Fellowship Programme working directly with academics facing immediate risk in their home countries to carry out due diligence or signposting. This includes managing an individual caseload, dealing with prospective applications and general enquiries, providing administrative support to the Enquiries team as well as support across the Fellowship Programme when needed. 

Organisational Background 

The Council for At-Risk Academics is a UK-registered charity founded in 1933 under the leadership of William Beveridge, to rescue academics suffering persecution under the rise of Nazism and facilitate their continued work in safety. Sixteen Cara Fellows from the 1930s and 1940s became Nobel Laureates, and many more innovators in their fields, including, Nikolaus Pevsner, Lise Meitner and Karl Popper. A number of Cara’s founders and Council members also personally provided places and/or funds to help individual academics; and Cara, known in the 1930s as the AAC, later the SPSL, was closely involved in the successful effort in 1933 to bring to London the Warburg Institute art library, which had been prohibited by the Nazis, and six of its staff. The Fellowship Programme is the continuation of the rescue mission operation started in 1933. 

Cara has been a lifeline to academics at risk for over 90 years, as and when world events have placed them in the line of fire: Hungarian Uprising, Cold War, Apartheid South Africa, Iran, Latin American Juntas, Vietnam, Kosovo, DRC, Rwanda, Sudan, Zimbabwe etc. and, more recently Iraq, Turkey, Yemen, Palestine, Syria, Afghanistan and Ukraine. Cara support is typically framed as temporary sanctuary offered at times of heightened risk. 

Cara Objectives ‘To assist academics who have been, or are, or are at risk of being, subject to discrimination, persecution, suffering or violence on account of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion, to relieve needs among them and their dependants and ensure that their specialist knowledge and abilities can continue to be used for the benefit of the public.’ 

‘To advance education by supporting academics and their educational institutions in countries where their continuing work is at risk or compromised, to ensure that such academics and institutions can continue to fulfil their critical role as educators for the public benefit.’ 

This is a critical time to join our dedicated and friendly Fellowship Programme team as we expand our capacity to support at-risk academics from the Middle East, Sudan, Myanmar, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Russia and many other countries. 

Role & Responsibilities  

Casework  

• Signposting prospective applicants to the application form. 

• Manage own caseload, preparing cases for eligibility review, including arranging calls to speak with applicants, booking English language tests, and gathering all relevant documentation.

• Escalating complex cases to the Team Leader as required. 

• Maintain accurate and GDPR-Compliant records of casework activity. 

• Researching international affairs to develop understanding about risks applicants face. 

• Researching potential hosts for academic placements and liaising with external stakeholders in relation to applicants. 

• Attend weekly case review meetings with the team. 

Administration   

• Provide general administrative and logistical support, including answering phone enquiries. 

• Manage the general enquiries inbox, alongside another colleague, answering emails about the enquiries’ process, the Fellowship Programme and Cara. 

• Signpost enquiries to relevant colleagues internally and to other organisations where applicable. 

• Contribute to report writing. 

• Present and collect data on general enquiries and applications to the Programme. 

• Ensure safekeeping of confidential information. 

• Maintain excellent detailed records of correspondence, documents, and activities. 

• Provide administrative support to colleagues on projects as required.

Managerial Support  

• Contributing to Fellowship Programme policy changes and decision-making. 

• Provide advice and guidance to colleagues. 

Ad Hoc Responsibilities  

• Show adaptability and willingness to take on additional work when necessary. 

• Support the Fellowship Programme and Cara as a whole with ad hoc responsibilities.

Responsibilities also include related activities that might arise in relation to the Fellowship Programme as required by the Chief Executive and Deputy Chief Executive & Fellowship Programme Manager, and other senior colleagues. 

Person Specification 

Essential:  

• Bachelor’s degree 

• Fluent English (spoken and written) 

• Proactive with a willingness to learn 

• Confident and empathetic with strong interpersonal and communication skills 

• Ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment 

• Keen team player who is ready to support and help colleagues 

• Excellent record keeping and attention to detail 

• Ability to work independently and in a team 

• Good time management with ability to prioritise and independently work to deadlines 

• Understanding of issues of confidentiality

• Interest in and commitment to the work of Cara 

• Confident use of Microsoft package 

• Awareness of current global issues

• Ability to handle difficult conversations with sensitivity and resilience 

Desirable 

• Master’s or equivalent experience 

• Casework experience 

• Arabic language skills are desirable. Other foreign languages (such as Farsi/Dari, Pashto, Ukrainian and Russian) will also be considered 

• Salesforce/CRM software experience 

• Experience in a supporting role with people with lived experience of forced migration or other forms of severe adversity 

For more than 30 years, War Child has been driven by a single goal: to ensure a safe future for every child affected by war. We work in some of the world’s most challenging contexts, reaching children as quickly as possible when conflict breaks out and remaining long after the cameras have gone. Through protection, education, community support and advocacy, we help children heal, learn and rebuild their lives. One child caught up in conflict is one too many, and we exist to make sure they are never forgotten.

We are now seeking an Interim Director of Finance & IT (maternity cover) to join our Leadership Group at a pivotal moment for the organisation. Reporting directly to our CEO, this role is about continuity, momentum and leadership. You will take responsibility for two critical functions and play a central role in shaping how War Child UK is funded, governed and enabled to deliver impact, both independently and as part of the wider War Child Alliance.

This is a role for someone who wants their expertise to matter. You will lead our finance and IT functions, ensuring our systems, processes and data provide the clarity and confidence needed to make bold, informed decisions. Your insight into income, cost and performance will directly influence how we invest, grow and maximise our fundraising potential.

Alongside this, you will play a key role in long-term financial planning and cross-Alliance collaboration, helping to build robust frameworks that support sustainable growth and accountability. Working with fellow directors, you will help steward the organisation as a whole, ensuring War Child UK remains resilient, ambitious and ready to meet the scale of the need we exist to address.

You will be a qualified accountant with significant strategic and operational experience. While prior international development experience is not essential, you will need to demonstrate the ability to build trusted relationships across cultures and geographies. Experience in a complex, fundraising-led organisation will be highly advantageous.

We are keen to hear from both experienced directors and senior leaders who are ready to step into their first executive role. If you are motivated by purpose, thrive in complex environments and want your leadership to create real change, we would love to hear from you.

Tall Roots is acting as an employment agency partner to War Child UK. For an informal conversation about the role, please contact Mark Crowley at Tall Roots.

This is an exciting role in a unique organisation.  Our vision is to provide an outstanding experience for all UCL students and to be one of the best students’ unions in the UK and the world.  We aim to build a vibrant and empowered student community with real influence in UCL and beyond, that enables students to enjoy their time at university; pursue their interests and passions; see the world in new ways; and develop the skills and experience to change the world for the better.

We are a registered charity employing over 150 career staff and 300 student staff, delivering a wide range of services and representative functions for UCL students. We have the widest portfolio of services of any student organisation in the country, managing UCL’s extracurricular programmes for sport, music, drama, dance, media, volunteering, academic societies and intercultural engagement; providing a wide range of fantastic social spaces; leading on student democracy and representation across UCL; and offering excellent student support services.

It's an exciting time to join our growing organisation as we lead the delivery of UCL’s groundbreaking new Student Life Strategy. This is enabling us to build more programmes to improve students’ mental and physical wellbeing, promote genuine equity for all, build students’ skills and confidence, develop their international connections and intercultural skills, and make a real contribution to our local community.

We support hybrid working. Excellent benefits including defined benefit pension scheme and generous holiday entitlement. We are proud of high levels of staff engagement and pride ourselves on being a great place to work. We will consider applications to work on a flexible and job share basis wherever possible. 

The role is full-time and permanent. This role is based at our Bloomsbury campus with flexibility to work from home on a 40/60 basis (40% working from the office).

We are looking for an Accounts Assistant to join our vibrant and friendly finance department. You will be responsible for supporting the Activities Finance Coordinator with the smooth running of the Accounts Payable and Receivable function and other duties within the activities finance team. In light of the Union’s recent management of the Bloomsbury Theatre, the postholder will also assist the Finance Department with a variety of tasks, providing flexible support to meet the department’s evolving needs.

Do you have relevant experience in an Accounts Payable role with a strong understanding of financial ledgers and control accounts? Have you dealt with checking and processing a high volume of transactions? If the answer is yes, then we would like you to join our finance team.

Our ideal candidate will have the ability to work independently and prioritise tasks in a high-pressure environment with rapid turnaround times and strict deadlines. The ability to demonstrate flexibility in response to changing environments and team priorities. Strong interpersonal and communication skills, along with well-developed IT skills, particularly in Excel and Microsoft Office.

Are you ready to shape the future of young people at a national scale?

Join Young Enterprise at a pivotal moment of change. As our Assistant Director of Partnerships and Delivery, you’ll play a leading role in strengthening how we work, how we partner, and how we deliver life-changing opportunities for young people across the UK, working across regions to maximise impact.

This is a senior, strategic role with real influence, combining vision, collaboration, and operational excellence to ensure Young Enterprise is set up for long-term impact.

Who We Are

We’re Young Enterprise, a national charity with a bold mission: to give every young person the skills, confidence, and mindset to thrive in a changing world of work.

For over 60 years, we’ve reached more than 7 million young people through hands-on enterprise and financial education programmes. From launching student businesses to building financial confidence, our work helps young people develop essential life skills like teamwork, leadership, problem-solving, and resilience.

We’re a passionate, people-centred organisation made up of 90+ colleagues and 2,000+ volunteers, united by a belief that every young person, whatever their background, deserves a fair start in life.

Why Join Us?
We think Young Enterprise is a great place to work and we’re proud of our people-first culture. Here’s what you can expect:

• A friendly and supportive team where your voice is heard
• A strong commitment to diversity and inclusion—we want everyone to feel they belong
• Generous holiday allowance and flexible working
• Cycle-to-work scheme, life assurance, and NHS top-up plan
• Ongoing learning and mentoring opportunities
• A chance to directly impact the lives of young people every single day

About the Role

This is a senior, strategic role for a collaborative leader who enjoys turning insight into action. As Assistant Director of Partnerships and Delivery, you will:

• Work with the senior leadership team to design and embed a future-ready Target Operating Model (TOM) that supports high quality, impactful delivery across the UK.
• Lead Young Enterprise’s partnership and delivery activity during a key period of organisational change and renewal, helping to shape our future impact.
• Build strong, purposeful partnerships and delivery models that bring our Transforming Futures Strategy to life.
• Foster a strong “one team” culture across programmes, delivery, and volunteering.
• Champion safeguarding, inclusivity, and evidence-based practice across all areas of work.

You’ll Love This Role If You Are…

• a strategic systems-thinker who enjoys improving how organisations work and delivering impact at scale
• a collaborative and credible leader who brings people with them through change, building trust and momentum
• passionate about impact and using evidence to drive better outcomes for young people
• confident working with partners and stakeholders across sectors to create shared value
• values-led, with a strong commitment to safeguarding, inclusion, and high-quality delivery
• motivated by mission, and excited by the opportunity to shape the future of a national charity at a pivotal moment

Key Responsibilities

• Lead partnership and delivery activity aligned to the Transforming Futures Strategy.
• Co-design and implement a future-focused Target Operating Model (TOM) that supports effective, high quality delivery.
• Build, grow and manage strategic relationships with schools, funders, and partners to maximise impact and reach.
• Represent Young Enterprise externally and support partnership growth across sectors.
• Ensure programmes are delivered to a consistently high standard, with safeguarding, inclusion and quality at the core.
• Use data, evidence and insight to drive performance, learning and continuous improvement.
• Connect national strategy with regional delivery, ensuring local insight informs planning and decision making.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive culture and support the development of high performing teams.
• Contribute actively to organisational leadership as a member of the senior leadership team.

 A few practical things

• This role will require regular travel across the UK and monthly travel to London for leadership meetings and events.

Keeping Young People Safe 

We are committed to keeping young people safe. All successful applicants will undergo an enhanced DBS check and receive ongoing safeguarding training.

At Young Enterprise, safeguarding is at the core of everything we do. We are committed to promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults. All successful applicants will receive ongoing safeguarding training throughout their employment and be expected to uphold excellent safeguarding practice at all times.

How to Apply
If you’re ready to help shape the futures of young people, we want to hear from you!

Please send your CV and instead of a traditional cover letter, please send us a separate document answering the three questions below, up to 250 words per answer. Please note, applications without answers to the three questions will not be considered. Applications must be received by 23:30 on 4 February 2026.  

Interviews will be held in person at our London Office and shortlisted candidates will be invited to be interviewed either on 10 or 11 February 2026.

1. What are the top three strengths, skills, or experiences you bring to the Assistant Director of Partnerships and Delivery role?  

 2. If appointed, what would you most want to achieve within your first 12 months in the role, and why are these priorities important to you and to Young Enterprise? 

 3. Why does leading the delivery and partnerships at Young Enterprise matter to you personally? How does your motivation and approach align with our transforming Futures Strategy and our values of unlocking potential, one team, enterprising and resilient, and creating great impact? 

We understand that candidates may use AI tools to assist with their applications. While these can be a helpful resource, we want to hear about your personal skills, experiences and insights that highlight your unique strengths and perspective in your own words.

Full details can be found in the Job Description.

At YE we are passionate and committed to keeping your data safe and secure.  Full details can be found in the YE People’s Privacy Notice.

Join us – and help us give every young person the chance to thrive. Apply today!

This is an exciting opportunity to get experience with a large and growing charity with an engaged and fun team. You will be a key part of our mission to ​find a cure for all types of brain tumours.​

​Our Systems Manager is being seconded to an internal project for the next 6-9 months and so we are seeking an experienced IT professional to join our team for an interim basis for six months with the possibility of a three month extension.​​​​

In this role you will you lead a team of three people in supporting our staff team of 70 by providing reliable, effective and efficient IT systems and equipment. This include ​the monitoring and maintenance of our IT software and, with external support, our IT hardware. ​​

You will line manage the Database Assistant ​and Data Processing Assistant.

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​If you are excited to learn more about this position, please take a read through our recruitment pack provided in the advert.

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If you have the skills and ambition that we are looking for we welcome your application. ​ We are really looking forward to welcoming a new member to our team!​​​

We are asking for a CV as the first step but applicants may be asked to provide a targeted covering letter as part of the selection process. ​

Interviews will be conducted during the application window as appropriate, and will consist of a first interview via MS Teams, progressing, if successful to a face to face second interview, held at our offices in Milton Keynes.​

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We reserve the right to close the application window early and advise candidates to apply in good time to avoid disappointment.​

We are looking for people who share our passion for finding a cure for brain tumours and who have the skills and experience to make a difference. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, cultures, genders, sexual orientations, abilities, and ages. We believe that diversity enriches our organisation and helps us achieve our mission. We are committed to providing an inclusive and supportive environment where everyone can be themselves and contribute to our vision.

Full time, 35 hours per week

Fixed Term Contract - 7 months

Grade FL, Salary £35,500 per annum

Location: London with hybrid working (minimum 2 days per week in the office)

Closing date: 5.00pm on Monday 02 February 2026

Interview date: Week commencing 09 February 2026

The Royal College of General Practitioners is the largest membership organisation solely for GPs in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1952, it has over 55,000 members who are committed to improving patient care, developing their own skills and promoting general practice as a discipline. General practice is the largest branch of the medical profession. It provides some 1 million consultations for patients in the UK every working day and deals with 86% of the health problems experienced by the UK population.

As part of the Training and Registration team in the Education Directorate, this role will be responsible for monitoring and assessing applications for Certificates of Completion of Training (CCT) and providing specialist advice and guidance while contributing to ongoing improvement in GP training and registration.

• Do you have experience of working in a regulatory or statutory environment handling complex issues?
• Can you evaluate written evidence and write clear, logical, accurate and persuasive responses and reports?
• Have you worked in a customer facing environment with senior professionals?

You will manage and prioritise a constant caseload of applications and related queries, exercising sound judgement and decision-making while working to deadlines in a high-risk environment. In addition, you will play an active role in improvement initiatives including data analysis and stakeholder engagement.

Educated to GCSE / A level standard or equivalent (including English and Maths), you will have excellent prioritisation and organisational skills and be able to communicate clearly and diplomatically. You must be able to work efficiently and accurately under pressure and demonstrate confidence in making informed decisions. Knowledge and understanding of GP training and registration processes are desirable.

The successful candidate will share our corporate values. In return, the College offers excellent terms and conditions and a great working environment.

A full job description for the role is included in the Candidate Pack.

To apply, please click 'Quick Apply' and complete the application form.

The Royal College of General Practitioners is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.

                             ~ Building a sustainable future for general practice ~

ODI is seeking an exceptional Head of Global IT—a high‑calibre technology leader with high emotional intelligence, servant‑hearted authenticity, and a deep passion for strengthening the most persecuted Christians and praying for their connection with the global Church.

This individual will embody ODI’s ministry‑driven purpose, continually improving our operational effectiveness and safeguarding our security as we serve the persecuted Church. If you’re a mission‑aligned IT leader who thrives on building resilient systems that empower global ministry, this could be your next calling.

The primary responsibilities of the Head of Global IT are:

• Global IT team leadership and management (approximately 25 staff & contractors)
This includes business analysis, project and program management, solution design and selection, technical architecture, software development and maintenance, customer support, infrastructure, and cybersecurity.

• Alignment through influence
Build strong, trust‑based relationships with executives and functional leaders across fundraising and field operations, using influence, communication, and demonstrable value to drive voluntary alignment.

• AI and innovation
Champion the adoption of AI and automation (e.g., business analysis, software development, analytics, workflows, decision support) to improve program effectiveness, supporter engagement, and internal efficiency.
Promote the Enterprise Architecture, AI, and innovation processes to identify emerging technologies to help drive solutions that increase the value of IT support and services.

• Cybersecurity
Ensure effective cybersecurity posture globally, including policies, awareness, identity and access management, monitoring, incident response, and alignment with relevant standards and regulations.

• Global IT governance
This includes standards and policies that balance consistency with local flexibility, in close partnership with international leadership, fundraising bases, and field operational entities.
Lead and facilitate the creation of governing principles and a board to guide EA and AI decision‑making (e.g., foci, prioritization, value realization, allocation of roles and responsibilities) to enable the long‑term Ministry strategy.

• IT portfolio and program management
This relates to major technology initiatives, ensuring alignment with strategy, clear business cases, disciplined prioritization, and on‑time, on‑budget delivery.

• Infrastructure
Oversee Azure and Microsoft‑centric infrastructure, collaboration platforms (e.g., M365/Teams/SharePoint), and core business applications, ensuring reliability, scalability, and security for a 60+ country footprint.

• Networking
Provide oversight of vendors, partners, and outsourcing relationships to maximize quality, cost‑effectiveness, and mission fit.

Your Key Qualities

Open Doors believes that spiritual maturity, character, and behaviour are as important as competence. Therefore, the Head of Global IT is:

• A devoted follower of Jesus with a heart to strengthen persecuted Christians.
• Prayerful and able to take IT decisions founded on faith in God.
• Able to build strong relationships across national cultures.
• Able to empower others and intentionally develop future IT leaders.
• Prepared to make difficult decisions and have honest conversations with grace.
• Active in a local church that supports their vocation and provides spiritual support.
• Emotionally intelligent and aware of the impact of their leadership on people.
• Able to communicate complex topics in simple, compelling language for non‑technical leaders.
• Strong in integrity, stewardship, and accountability, recognizing the responsibility of managing donor‑funded resources.
• Experienced in negotiating and influencing at a senior level, combined with strong interpersonal and collaboration skills.
• Proven IT skills and experience in the areas of:
o Technology and architecture.
o Delivery and methods: proficiency in business analysis, requirements elicitation, and solution evaluation.
o Data, AI, and process improvement, including process mapping, optimization, and automation.

Legacies form a key source of income for the British Heart Foundation (BHF), raising approximately £100m a year for our life‑saving research.

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As a Legacy Manager, you will manage, protect, and optimise this income. You'll work alongside three other Legacy Managers, supporting the Head of Legacy Management to build on the team’s successes and to optimise the BHF’s income from gifts in Wills. 

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Joining a thriving team, you’ll undertake a variety of work, including managing casework in accordance with the law, best practice, and BHF’s processes and procedures, collaborating with internal and external stakeholders, providing technical guidance to colleagues and potential legacy givers, and line managing two Assistant Legacy Officers and our Legacy Administrator. 

 This role may also require deputising for the Head of Legacy Management. 

About you 

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You'll either have extensive experience in legacy management within the charities legacy sector; or be a Qualified Private Client Solicitor; or be a Qualified member of the Society of Trust and Estates Practitioners; or be a Qualified Chartered Legal Executive with experience of Wills and Probate. 

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With high levels of empathy and belief in the BHF’s work, you'll be able to develop strong relationships with colleagues and contacts. With previous line management experience, you'll demonstrate first‑class leadership skills, supported by a compelling vision and the ability to inspire others, motivate, and develop a team of staff. 

 A self‑starter with excellent communication and strong interpersonal skills, you'll bring proven experience of working within private client / legacy management. 

 With high levels of financial numeracy, previous experience in a fast‑paced environment, and excellent IT skills, you’ll also have exceptional attention to detail, strong time‑management abilities, and the capability to prioritise workload and deliver to deadlines. 

 Working arrangements  

This is a 12-month fixed term contract covering family leave. We are looking for someone to work 32 hours per week, flexibility around this working pattern or the 32 hours can be discussed. 

 This is a hybrid role, where your work will be split between your home and at least one day per week, on average, in our London Office. This may vary from time to time, so you will need to work in a flexible way to unlock your best work for our cause. 

 About us 

Our people are at the heart of everything we do. By funding research across six decades, we’ve helped keep millions of hearts beating and millions of families together. We’re investing in ground-breaking research that will get us closer than ever to a world where everyone has a healthier heart for longer. 

Belonging at BHF 

We are committed to fostering a workplace where everyone feels valued and supported. Embracing different perspectives and backgrounds strengthens our organisation and empowers us to make a real difference together.  

The Difference is an education charity, founded to change the story on lost learning. Our vision is to see lost learning falling nationally by 2030 and for schools to be better equipped to support all children, particularly those most vulnerable.

Leading national policy strategy

As Head of Policy you will work closely with the CEO to develop and execute a four-year influencing plan.  Together we’ll aim to shift local and national incentives on inclusion by 2030, which see the national trend of rising suspension and absence begin to fall. 

You will hold relationships with the Department for Education and Ofsted and advise on policy priorities ahead, such as:

• Widening the definition of inclusion beyond special needs, recognising the needs of those young people historically or currently interacting with social services

• Reducing perverse incentives for schools to alter their school roll through admissions and pupil exits

• Expectations for multi-academy trusts in capturing and analysing data on lost learning, including how it disproportionately affects different groups

• Improving local alternative provision eco-systems, to improve outcomes for young people

• National standards for inclusive school practice, at a universal and targeted level

• Professional development standards for school inclusion

Developing implementation expertise in the middle tier

In your first six months, you will advise on the internal development of a new programme for middle tier policy actors: multi-academy trust and local authority leaders.  You will support the Programme team in its design, to plan strategically for the recruitment of trusts and local authorities, and you will plan the research and influencing work which will seek to share their success nationally.

Building the evidence base

In your second six months, you will work with the CEO to build out our research function. Your influencing plan will include how The Difference can learn from the work across our multi-academy trust, local authority and internal AP pioneer partners over the next four years, to develop influential publications. Research work ahead will include publishing sector-facing publications of The Difference’s own research, carried out by our research lead and associates; alongside managing external contractors and internal colleagues to bid for and deliver aligned research disseminating our ideas.

Raising your voice

This is an exciting opportunity for someone committed to inclusive policy change. The Difference has always punched above our weight in national and sector press reach. In post,  you will publish blogs and comment pieces, disseminating our shared ideas.  You will be a prominent voice on inclusion.

The Difference is still a small and growing charity. This means that our work is fast-paced, our roles are broad, and there is a culture of being highly autonomous, reactive and flexible, as the needs of the organisation evolve. If this sounds exciting rather than daunting, then this could be the role and team for you!

The Role
This is an exciting time to join The Difference as we increase our impact, reach more schools, and develop our influencing strategy. As Head of Policy and Public Affairs you will: 
 

Design and execute an impactful influencing plan 

• Design an influencing plan - Identify via horizon scanning opportunities to influence national policy using open policy windows, or by nudging/creating new ones. 

• Execute an influencing plan - Utilise own assets and assets across the organisation, including the Director team, to deliver against the influencing plan.

• Relationship building - Build highly credible and impactful relationships with a variety of stakeholders who hold power. This will include policy makers in national governments, local government officials, politicians, other third sector organisations and think tanks. 

• Leadership - Play a significant role internally and externally in communicating the organisation’s policy position, raising organisational and own brand.

Build policy capacity and credibility across the organisation

• Policy positions and solutions- Use the concepts, work and experience of The Difference’s programmes to develop new, and refine existing, national policy positions to shift incentives. 

• Thought leadership - Be the organisation’s education policy and political expert. 

• Generating income - Use own and team’s expertise and credibility to generate income via speaking engagements and consultancy to support the organisation’s financial sustainability. 

Person Specification

Essential – We are looking for someone with the following knowledge, experience and skills, though you may be stronger in some areas than others:
 

• Deep expertise in education policy, particularly on the topic of lost learning and the various policy and political debates, including areas of controversy, surrounding this policy topic. 

• Strategic thinker with a proven track record in identifying policy windows and designing activities that lead to meaningful national policy change. 

• Excellent relationship builder, who brings with them their own network of influential stakeholders and has a plan for building new relationships. Adept at navigating tricky situations and explaining complex, sometimes difficult, messages.

• Expert convener with a strong knowledge of the education sector, including which schools, trusts and local authorities are influential and experience in bringing a variety of perspectives together to generate consensus. 

• Persuasive and clear writing style for publication, including reports, press, blogs and ghost writing for members of the senior leadership team, often based on consensus positions, and designed to communicate key messages for impact. 

• Confidence and credibility in communicating nuanced messages in a contentious landscape, in writing, verbally and in public (e.g. on panels), to raise the profile of The Difference. 

• Strong project manager who can design systems and processes to keep self, team and other stakeholders on task and on time. Experience of designing programmes of work and monitoring their effectiveness. Flexible project management style that can adapt to a changing environment. Confidence in managing a variety of stakeholders and supporting them to deliver on time. 

Desired – You are more likely to be successful in your application if you have one or more of the following: 

• Familiarity with The Difference’s programmatic work, theory and practice. 

• Lived experience or insight into the school experiences of marginalised young people (e.g. those with experience of the care system, mental ill health, special educational needs, exclusion, and racism).

We know that some people, especially those from marginalised backgrounds, may hesitate to apply unless they meet every listed requirement. If this role excites you and you believe you could make a strong contribution, we warmly encourage you to apply. 

We actively welcome applications from people whose backgrounds are under-represented in the charity sector, including but not limited to: people from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, LGBTQ+ people, people with disabilities, people with experience in the case system, non-graduates and first-in-family graduates.

We are looking for a conscientious and skilled coordinator who understands how vital administrative tasks are to a well-functioning, smooth-running organisation. You are a big picture thinker with an eye for detail, someone who can support us in grounding our big ideas in reality, helping to ensure our work is clearly documented, replicable, compliant with relevant legislation, and that it contributes to making a big impact for the social sector. 

You love to collaborate cross-functionally and have a knack for understanding and maintaining the ecosystem of a cohesive and impactful organisation. You’re looking to join a small, friendly, and respectful team with an outsized impact, where your ideas and contributions are valued and where you are trusted to work in a way that suits you.

About DataKind UK

DataKind UK is a small infrastructure charity with a vision of a strong, thriving third sector that embraces data science to become more impactful. Effective data use has the potential to transform an organisation's impact by improving decision-making, maximising operational efficiency, and ensuring service delivery is evidence-based. A lack of access to responsible data science skills and techniques in the third sector means it isn’t having the impact it could.

We provide a variety of free and contracted support services to help third sector organisations achieve their missions, encourage innovation, and improve decision making, problem solving, and practices.

Since 2013, more than 2,200 DataKind UK volunteers have supported over 300 charities—from large organisations like St John Ambulance and Action for Children to local food banks and campaigning charities—helping them better understand their users, evaluate what's working, streamline routine tasks, and ultimately better tackle society's biggest challenges.

You'll be part of a kind and collaborative five-person staff team that works closely with a talented community of volunteer data scientists. This is an exciting and unusual opportunity to shape how the third sector uses data. Join us!

Essential qualities

• Proactive, can-do attitude - if in doubt, we’ll figure it out!
• A highly organised, process-driven problem solver.
• You are aligned with DataKind UK’s core values: curious, responsible, collaborative.
• You are self-directed and goal-oriented, and like working independently or managing without direct authority.
• You thrive in an environment where every day is a bit different, and are happy working flexibly and adaptably. You can switch between big-picture and detail-oriented thinking.
• You are committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion.
• You are a collaborative team player, and happy to jump in and help out when and where needed. You care more that good things happen than who gets the credit.

Essential skills

• Personable and skilled at relationship building and communicating with a variety of people - we work in a small, hybrid team, and with a wide variety of volunteers, charity partners, and other stakeholders.
• Skilled at collaborating with/managing people who are not your direct reports (e.g. colleagues, volunteers, trustees).
• Comfortable juggling multiple projects and priorities and making decisions about what to prioritise accordingly.
• Familiarity with digital software - currently we use Google suite for email, diary management and documents; Beacon CRM; Monday for project management; and Slack for team and volunteer communications. You may not have used those exact tools but you are comfortable with learning new tools and processes, to the point where you can clearly document processes and train others.

Desirable

• Experience of working and/or volunteering in the UK charity sector.
• Knowledge of charity governance / legislation.
• An interest in the use of data to support decision making in the third sector.
• Experience of working or collaborating with volunteers.

What we offer

• Working in a small, flexible, hybrid team where you are trusted to manage your time and your projects. If you need to switch your hours one week, or take time out of your working day to go to a dentist appointment, sit an exam, or for your child’s school play, go ahead! We are focused on outputs over time spent at your desk. 
• 5% employer pension contribution.
• 11 days holiday (27 days pro rata).
• Employee Support plan including medical and dental assistance.
• We will provide you with a comprehensive onboarding plan, where we will identify any additional training needs to support you in your role and arrange for training at a time/place/pace that suits you.

Working hours and location 

This is a part-time role (14 hours per week). You can do this across two or more days, depending on your preferred work pattern. Working hours are flexible, but we ask that at least 75% of your working time is within the hours of 10am and 6pm UK time, in order to facilitate team working and real-time collaboration.

This role will ideally be hybrid / London-based. We can currently provide London office space on Mondays (Victoria), Thursdays (Shoreditch) and Fridays (Victoria). (Please note we don’t currently have any other staff members in the office on a Friday.) We will occasionally hold team days in London - you will be given advance notice of these dates. We may be able to offer remote working for an exceptional candidate, but our preference would be for a hybrid schedule with at least one day in the office (Monday or Thursday) per week - please note this could be a shorter day, e.g. 9-3 to accommodate other commitments.

You must have the right to work in the UK.

How to apply

The deadline for receipt of your application is 9am, Monday 23 February. Applications received after this time will not be considered.

Please send us your CV and a cover letter of no more than two single-spaced pages to explain why this role appeals to you and how you meet the experience, skills, and qualities listed above using the STAR (Situation Task Action Result) approach. We would also like to know:

1. What made you decide to apply for this role?
2. How do you stay organised? Again, this can be an example from your work, study or personal life.
3. Can you tell us about a time when you have had to step outside of your comfort zone or usual role, either in a job or an example from your life outside of work? What motivated you to get involved and what was the outcome?

All applications will be anonymised before shortlisting.

A note on use of generative AI

We know a lot of people use generative AI tools like Chat GPT to help them with job applications. We don’t encourage this, but if you do want to use it, we recommend asking it for suggestions on relevant things to include, get it to give you them in bullet points, then write the application yourself. We really want to hear from YOU, the human, in your authentic voice. It helps you to stand out, and helps us figure out if you're really and truly a good fit for the role. We do not use AI to assist us with reviewing and shortlisting applicants.

Equity & Diversity Monitoring

Please consider filling in the Equity & Diversity Monitoring Form linked in the Job Description attachment. This is entirely voluntary and anonymous and will not affect your application in any way.

We are committed to providing equal opportunities for everyone regardless of their background, and welcome applications regardless of age, sex, gender, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, religion/belief, race, nationality, ethnicity, marital status, pregnancy, or disability.

The data you provide will be used to monitor whether we are receiving applications from quality candidates across the whole of society. If there are differences in application rates it will enable action to be taken to ensure that no group is treated unfairly.

We particularly encourage applications from groups which are underrepresented in data science, tech, and/or the third sector, including people of colour and people with disabilities. We can make reasonable adjustments throughout the application process (both with the application and interview) and on the job. If you have particular accessibility needs, please get in touch and let us know any requirements you may have at contact at datakind dot org dot uk.

We will treat the data you provide in your application in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

Neighbourhood Housing Project Lead (Sheffield and Scunthorpe)

Fixed term (18-months), full-time post, 40 hours per week (1 FTE), inclusive of breaks 

Salary: £42,752 (National)

Regular travel to Sheffield and Scunthorpe will be required. Occasional travel to London will be required.

Building Tomorrow – Neighbourhood Housing Project Lead

Oasis exists to build stronger communities where there is no one left out. Building Tomorrow is an innovative new neighbourhood housing programme that Oasis is developing in Sheffield and Scunthorpe.

We are pioneering a new community-led solution to housing challenges in two communities where Oasis already works, running five schools and two community Hubs. We are working to develop quality housing that offers opportunity for families to find a stable and supportive place of belonging in community.

The programme will combine quality housing, excellent education (provided through Oasis academies), and community wrap-around support (delivered through our existing youth and community teams). This programme is designed to offer a preventative approach to housing challenges, acting as a proof of concept that can be replicated in other communities around the country. 

This role will act as the central point of coordination which will ensure Building Tomorrow moves successfully from initiation to full activation over the initial 18-month period. In the activation period, we will purchase and refurbish the 20 properties, and this role will work in close coordination with our property consultants. As properties are purchased, we will begin to move into the delivery phase, where we start to house families.

This role requires a person who:

· Loves organisation and turning complex plans into simple, actionable steps.

· Is a fantastic communicator – someone who can talk to a contractor, a community leader, and a new resident with  equal ease and effectiveness.

· Thrives on problem-solving and is comfortable making quick, informed decisions to keep the project on track.

Why might you consider Oasis?

We work in 52 local neighbourhoods in the UK, building stronger communities. Our place-based, holistic neighbourhood work brings together local people to create belonging, opportunity, and change.

Where you live and grow up in the UK determines a lot about your opportunities and life chances – your access to public services, education, employment, housing, life expectancy and much more. We work in many communities where poverty and inequality are deep rooted. We know too many families and individuals feel excluded and ignored, lacking hope that anything will change for themselves or their children. We are not content with this disparity. Together we deliver joined-up education, youth work and family support, housing, church and community work, so that everyone can thrive.

Over the past four decades we’ve set up different parts of our organisation to develop expertise and deliver our mission to build stronger communities.

- A network of 56 Oasis Academies (Oasis Community Learning).

- Youth and community work (Oasis Community Partnerships)

- Homelessness and housing (Oasis Community Housing)

- Secure education for young people (Oasis Restore)

- Anti-human trafficking work (STOP THE TRAFFIK)

What will you do?

The key areas of responsibility for the role are as follows:

· To act as the main link between all stakeholders: the Oasis teams including academies; contractors; and any community partners. To make sure everyone is communicating effectively and working toward the same goal.

· To work in close collaboration with Oasis Community Leaders in Sheffield and Scunthorpe. To support the Community Leaders and wider community teams to welcome families by acting as a key part of the community support offer through the 18-month activation phase.

· To own the 18-month master plan. This will involve tracking progress, analysing potential delays, and proactively solving problems so the activation stays on time and on budget.

· To focus on transitioning the housing element from a period of acquisition and refurbishment into functioning homes. This includes everything from smooth resident move-ins to ensuring the community support is fully accessible.

· To work alongside colleagues in the Operations Group to design operational processes including the community support offer, housing management systems, and tenancy arrangements. 

· To help the team set clear, achievable goals for the activation period and then track whether those goals are being met, providing regular, honest updates to all stakeholders.

· To support the Group CEO in liaising with our social investor.

What will you get in return?

· A network of peers and partners all sharing the same vision and an environment set up to ensure everyone is supported and included.

· A package of reward that includes a 7% employer contribution pension scheme, annual leave allowance starting at 25 days (plus Bank Holidays) increasing over time, eligibility to join the Green Commute cycle to work scheme and cash benefit health plan.

· Be part of an international network of Oasis charities offering opportunities to develop your career in new directions and locations.

· A competitive salary and workplace flexibility.

To apply, please send your CV and a Supporting Statement via Charity Jobs or view our website for further information.

Please expand on your CV to tell us about relevant skills, experience and qualifications you have that relate to the job description and person specification.

Completed applications should be returned by 12 noon on Friday 30th January 2026.

Interviews will be held the week commencing Monday 2nd February 2026.

We actively encourage applications from people of all ethnic backgrounds and underrepresented groups. If you require any assistance to overcome potential barriers during the recruitment process, please let us know. 

Oasis is committed to making a difference to the lives of the communities it works in, and as such you must show a willingness to demonstrate commitment to the values and behaviours which flow from the Oasis ethos.  We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We expect all staff to share this commitment and to undergo appropriate checks, including enhanced DBS checks. 

The successful candidates must have the right to work in the UK.  Oasis cannot assist with sponsorship or visas.

Oasis supports Equal Opportunities.  Registered Charity No. 1026487

Location: MSSC, National Support Centre, 200B Lambeth Road, London, SE1 7JY (Hybrid)

Contract: Full time, Permanent

Salary: £60,000 - £63,000 gross per annum, depending on experience

Closing Date: Sunday 8 February 2026

Interviews:Tuesday 17 February 2026 (Interviews to be held in London)

Application: CV & Supporting Statement

Are you a Head of Safety, Health & Environment looking for a new opportunity?

The Marine Society & Sea Cadets (MSSC) is the leading maritime charity for youth development and lifelong learning. We are a vibrant and growing charity inspiring young people to achieve their potential through challenge and nautical adventure and also enabling seafarers and maritime professionals to realise their potential through learning and career development. Working with our employees, cadets, and volunteers, we have built a strong vision and five-year Future Ready strategy to meet the growing demand for what we provide, both for young people, seafarers and maritime professionals – and the thousands who aspire to be the sea cadets and marine professionals of the future. It is also about equipping them to achieve their potential and thrive in a rapidly changing world, while growing our charity to benefit even more people – including those from under-represented or marginalised groups.

We are currently looking for a Head of Safety, Health & Environment to join our team.

About the role

If you have significant experience of delivering and guiding health and safety in a large organisation as well as providing advice and guidance on health and safety issues on both a strategic and operational level this could be the role for you. 

You will have first class leadership skills, with the ability to manage a disbursed staff team as well as the excellent interpersonal skills to support and influence colleagues, senior managers, volunteers and others.

The successful candidate will be able to build effective relationships, manage a diverse workload as well as being able to analyse and deal with complex or difficult situations, with skill and discretion.

Responsibilities

• Manage all safety, health and environmental issues within the MSSC, working closely with the Director of Young People, Volunteer & Business Support and other members of the senior management team, the area, offshore, training and other teams as appropriate.
• Manage a disbursed team of Safety Assurance Officers with the support of a Deputy Head of Safety, Health & Environment.
• Monitor changes to legislation and advise CEO and Trustees of their impact on the MSSC and any required actions and/or policy changes.
• Report and analyse safety data and identifying trends or issues.

Requirements

• Hold a formal qualification in Health & Safety (NEBOSH Certificate or higher).
• Up to date knowledge of H&S legislation, developments, practice and management.
•  Experience of risk management and compliance systems.
•  Significant experience of providing advice and guidance on H&S issues at a senior professional level; both operational and strategic.
•  Experience of managing and supporting a staff team.

For further information, please download the Recruitment Pack. If you are interested in this role, please apply now!

Benefits

• 25 days annual leave per annum, pro rata for part time employees, increasing with length of service
• Hybrid working for many roles
• Volunteering Leave
• Life assurance (4x salary)
• Private medical insurance
• Generous pension (employer contribution up to 10%)
• Cycle to work scheme
• Access to the Marine Society Digital Library
• Wellbeing portal and EAP with 121 counselling
• Employee development: We are investing in our employees' development and have an annual calendar of learning and development opportunities, designed to support employees to develop into their roles and stretch them to achieve their full potential. 

Additional Information

MSSC positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates from all backgrounds. Equity, diversity, and inclusion really matters to us, so we can best serve our beneficiaries from every community. We work to ensure a fair and consistent recruitment process and aim to be a charity where diversity of experience, identity and skills are valued and welcomed. MSSC is an equal opportunities employer.

We recognise our responsibilities to safeguard and protect the young people and vulnerable adults with whom we work. We do all we can to promote their health, safety and wellbeing, and we expect our staff to share this commitment and work in line with safeguarding policy, the MSSC’s values and ethos of inclusivity. We adhere to safer recruitment practices and therefore employment is subject to detailed pre-employment checks for successful candidates, including references and criminal disclosure checks and the completion of a disclosure questionnaire. 

All successful applicants are required to attend safeguarding training and undergo pre-employment checks including a criminal record check.

Your outstanding management of the Woodland Heritage Skills project will ensure that the project meets its objectives and in doing so help the charity in achieving its mission.

You will be a core part of how Woodland Heritage is achieving its mission and it will be an incredibly rewarding and varied experience!

Your work with the charity will be as part of a small, dedicated team of staff and a wider group of passionate trustees. Everyone will want you to succeed and will support you along the way.

Woodland Heritage is creating a thriving UK wood culture that benefits our environment, all people and our economy. We do this by championing the good use of home-grown timber from sustainable, productive woodlands for the benefit of present and future generations. Through a combination of demonstration sites, research, education, membership and outreach, we build on the wisdom and skills of the past to weather the challenges of tomorrow. 

About the role

• The role is full time 37.5 hours per week for a fixed term of two years, with planned evening and weekend working as required. 
• We can offer flexible working and hybrid working. You may wish to work at Whitney Sawmills, Herefordshire, for example for a day per week, though this is not required.
• 25 days plus Bank/Public holidays as paid leave
• Salary £35,000 PA FTE
• Your line manager will be the Chief Executive
• Employer contribution from nest pension

 All other terms and conditions will be as per your contract. More details are available via our staff handbook which can be provided to shortlisted candidates. 

This role is part of a £238,442 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to create ‘Woodland Heritage Skills’; two years of educational workshops, digital educational assets and collaboration with its members and partners to deliver the charity’s new Open Woods & Workshops initiative.

A tremendous £13,547 of this grant is matched funding from the outdoor furniture B-Corp Gaze Burvill, a corporate member of Woodland Heritage, alongside fellow personal and corporate members of the charity. 

About you

You will have a committment to the vision and values of Woodland Heritage and a desire to bring about positive change in the relationship between people and woodlands. You will have demonstrable experience of managing projects, delivering educational impact and a willingness to learn and to be flexible.

Visit our website to download the job specification and learn how to apply. We'd love to hear from you!