Head of education delivery jobs

Portsmouth Cathedral is a historic and active place of worship and community, serving the City, Diocese and wider public.

As Head of Finance, you will provide strategic financial leadership as part of the Senior Management Team and supporting Chapter to strengthen financial planning, governance and sustainability. You will lead budgeting, forecasting and reporting, oversee compliance and audit, advise on financial risk, performance and sustainability, lead and develop the finance team and improve systems and processes, including potentially establishing a new trading company.

Essentials:

• ICAEW, ACCA or CIMA qualification or similar
• Demonstrable experience in strategic financial leadership, with a track record of leading financial governance, compliance, and team development
• Knowledge of VAT, tax planning, and advanced accounting practices
• Excellent verbal and written communicator
• Excellent analytical and reporting skills, proficient in financial software and Microsoft Office Suite
• Willingness to undertake some basic tasks as part of a small finance team
• Commitment to the highest standards of safeguarding, equal opportunities, and inclusivity

Empathy with the beliefs and values of the Christian Faith and the aims and objectives of the Cathedral.

Benefits:

• Flexible and annualised working arrangements
• 25 days annual leave (pro rata), plus 2 extra days in December and bank holidays + pension and healthcare plan

This role will suit a qualified accountant with strong technical expertise, strategic insight and the ability to operate effectively in a collaborative, mission-driven environment. For this role a basic safeguarding check will be required.

Please see the candidate pack for full details. For an informal and confidential discussion about the role, please contact: Katherine Anderson-Scott, Executive Director of Charisma Charity Recruitment.

• Closing date: Wednesday 20th May 2026
• Interviews with Portsmouth Cathedral: 10th or 11th June
• Charisma vetting interviews must be completed by EOD on 28th May prior to shortlist submission on 29th May

We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law.

The National Youth Orchestra is the UK’s leading organisation championing orchestral music as a powerful agent for teenage development.

We are a welcoming community where every teenager can play their part in shaping their world through extraordinary music. Every year we welcome over 10,000 teenagers of all backgrounds and different levels of musical ability into a national community to play and share orchestral music.

We are looking for a Head of NYO Schools to lead the development of NYO’s overall programme offer for schools, with an initial focus on Catalyst, our flagship new schools programme. This is a key strategic role within NYO’s Engagement team and will play a major part in shaping a scalable model that supports schools to create vibrant musical communities for teenagers. You will lead the design and delivery of activity including school residencies, teacher CPD, creative resources, alumni training and celebratory events, while helping shape the future direction of NYO’s wider schools offer.

This role will suit someone who combines strong programme development and leadership experience with excellent relationship-building skills, a thorough understanding of the mainstream secondary education sector, and a commitment to inclusion, youth-centred practice and safeguarding. You will be motivated by creating meaningful opportunities for young people, teachers and early career alumni through music, and able to translate strategic vision into high-quality delivery. 

At the National Youth Orchestra, you'll work as part of a supportive, friendly and adventurous staff team. Learning and personal growth are intrinsic to every role. Our offices near Holborn in central London are a hive of activity, a space for collaboration and ideas. Hybrid working is standard for most roles, with a flexible and supportive culture. NYO offers a season ticket loan scheme, cycle-to-work scheme, health cash plan, retail and entertainment discounts, and a 24/7 counselling and support helpline.

Deadline for applications: Monday 11 May 2026 at 10am.

Do you want to change the world for vulnerable children?

The Consortium of Voluntary Adoption Agencies UK (CVAA) aims to improve adoption policy and practice across the UK for the benefit of children, challenging the adoption system to deliver for children and work in their best interests. Alongside advocating for system change, CVAA works to support our member voluntary adoption agencies (VAAs) across the four nations of the UK, stimulating innovation and ensuring they stay at the leading edge of practice. The active engagement of members and the building of collaborative alliances with others who seek positive change for children are essential to the effectiveness of our work.

The Head of Policy is a vital member of the small CVAA team, working closely with the CEO and Board of Trustees to champion the voluntary adoption sector and put children at the heart of everything we do. Due to maternity leave we have an exceptional and unique opportunity for someone who shares our passion to change the world for children, to gain valuable experience working at national level with senior stakeholders to contribute to system change, advocating for the power of adoption to change lives.

You will need strong people skills, experience of developing policy in consultation with stakeholders and using data to transform services and strengthen lobbying work. Most of all you need a cast iron commitment to change the world for vulnerable children.

CVAA works to challenge discrimination and disadvantage and welcomes applications from all communities, particularly those who are underrepresented in our sector, which includes but is not limited to people from Global Majority backgrounds, adoptees, men and those who identify as LGBTQ.

Key information

• Maternity Cover 1 year from July 2026
• Location - remote contract with occasional travel
• £40 – 45K depending on experience
• An enhanced DBS check is required for this role.

Applications

Please send a CV and letter of application, outlining your motivation for applying and the skills you offer, to Satwinder Sandhu (CEO) by 5pm on Friday 8th May 2026.

Both Satwinder (CEO) and Alice (Director of Strategy and Policy) are happy to have an informal chat about the role. Please email to arrange a convenient time to speak.

Initial online interviews via Microsoft Teams will be on Monday 18th and Tuesday 19th May, with final in-person interviews scheduled for Thursday 28th May 2026 in London. Please let us know whether you cannot make any of these dates in your application.

Group Head of Finance
Eltham College Family of Schools | South East London
Salary circa £75,000 + excellent benefits

A rare opportunity to join one of London’s leading independent school groups at a genuinely exciting point of transformation and growth.

The Eltham College Family of Schools — comprising Eltham College Senior School, Eltham College Junior School and Blackheath Prep — is a high-performing, values-led organisation with an outstanding reputation for academic excellence and a rich co-curricular offering. Named London Independent School of the Year 2024 by The Sunday Times, the group continues to thrive despite wider sector challenges.

This is a pivotal appointment.

The newly created Group Head of Finance role offers the chance to step into a business that is not only successful, but evolving — with significant change underway across systems, structure and ways of working. For a commercially minded and hands-on finance leader, this is an opportunity to truly get your teeth stuck into something meaningful.

The opportunity

Reporting to the Bursar and working closely with the Executive Team, you will act as the senior finance professional across the group, providing both strategic leadership and operational oversight.

Crucially, you will join at a time of real momentum:

• A new finance system is being implemented across the group, requiring leadership to embed, optimise and enhance reporting capability
• The finance function is undergoing restructure, offering the opportunity to shape team design, capability and future direction
• There is a clear mandate to modernise processes, strengthen controls and drive efficiencies
• Senior stakeholders are engaged and open to fresh thinking and improvement

This is not a role where you simply maintain — this is a role where you build.

You will lead financial planning, reporting and governance across all three schools, supporting key strategic decisions including investment, estates development and long-term financial sustainability. Alongside this, you will remain close to the detail, ensuring operational excellence across the finance function.

The environment

Set across a stunning 70-acre campus in south-east London, Eltham College combines heritage with ambition. The group benefits from strong financial foundations, high demand, and a clear vision for continued success.

It is a collaborative and values-driven environment, underpinned by a commitment to education, development and community. Staff benefit from excellent facilities, strong leadership, and a culture that genuinely invests in people.

The person

We are looking for a qualified accountant with strong technical grounding and proven experience operating in a senior finance role.

You will bring:

• Experience of leading finance within a complex, multi-entity or multi-site environment
• A track record of improving systems, processes and controls
• The ability to lead through change and bring teams with you
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills, with the credibility to influence at senior level
• A proactive, hands-on approach with the ability to balance strategy and delivery

Experience within education or the independent school sector would be beneficial, but is not essential.

Why join?

This is an opportunity to join a thriving organisation that is not standing still — but actively investing in its future.

You will play a key role in shaping a modern, high-performing finance function, with the autonomy and support to make a real impact. For someone motivated by change, improvement and leadership, this role offers both challenge and reward in equal measure.

If interested do get in touch with Rosemary Pini from Allen Lane who is partnering with Eltham College with this vacancy.

Join Our Team: Head of Culture and Inclusion

Navigate your future and lock in your career as we keep our canals open and alive

Our Head of Culture and Inclusion will join our team with a specific lens on cultural transformation which is key in relation to supporting our Trust vision and strategy. This role reports directly into the People Director and will be a member of the People Leadership team having one direct report (Inclusion & Diversity Manager)

Working Hours & Travel

This role follows 37 hours, 5 days a week, work pattern.This is a home‑based role, with UK wide travel to key sites.

Role Overview

In this pivotal role, you will be responsible for turning strategy into delivered outcomes through evidence-led programmes, strong governance, and clear accountability across leaders and teams. You will measurably strengthen an inclusive, high trust culture that enables performance and wellbeing; to increase colleague voice and engagement; and to ensure your Inclusion & Diversity ambitions translate into sustained behavioural change and business impact.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and delivery of a clear Culture & Inclusion strategy that embeds inclusion, belonging and fairness across the organisation.
• Drive a culture of continuous improvement, ensuring inclusive behaviours, practices and decisions are actively reviewed, measured and evolved
• Build and sustain trusted relationships with senior leaders, Boards and key stakeholders to influence inclusive leadership and organisational change.
• Partner across the organisation to ensure culture and inclusion priorities are integrated into resourcing, talent, learning, performance and reward frameworks.
• Operate credibly across fast paced, complex environments, balancing strategic focus with pragmatic delivery under pressure.
• Champion inclusive, values led behaviours at all levels, adapting communication and influence to engage diverse audiences and workforce groups.
• Use insight, data and qualitative feedback to assess cultural health and inclusion outcomes, translating findings into actionable improvement plans.
• Ensure strong governance, planning and prioritisation of Culture & Inclusion initiatives to deliver impact with pace and consistency.
• Act as a visible advocate for equality, diversity and inclusion, supporting leaders and teams to role‑model inclusive practices and decision-making.

About You

You are an experienced culture transformation lead with demonstrable proven outcomes which have driven cultural change and made significant business impact. Confident influencing at all levels, you combine commercial awareness with a passion for belonging, fairness and continuous improvement.

Experience and Skill

• Demonstrable evidence of building and delivering multi-year culture and inclusion and diversity roadmaps with measurable outcomes in complex organisations.
• Demonstrated mastery of listening and insight methodologies, including survey design, driver analysis, segmentation and workforce lifecycle analytics, translating insight into clear, actionable priorities.
• Deep expertise in inclusive leadership and systemic inclusion levers across policy, process, behaviours and environment, with a strong bias toward practical education, habit change and sustainable impact.
• Proven experience designing governance frameworks, KPIs and benefits realisation measures, with regular reporting and assurance to Executive teams and Boards.
• Confident and compelling communicator, able to craft simple, engaging narratives from complex data and influence effectively across senior stakeholders.
• Strong credibility and lived experience working in partnership with colleague networks and communities, ensuring authentic representation, trust and meaningful engagement.

Contact & Application

If you would like more information or a briefing pack, please get in touch with the recruitment team. We encourage early applications as we may close the vacancy once we receive enough suitable candidates.

What We Offer

This is a middle manager role with a package commensurate. 

Role/Job Title: Head of Kent Services
Location: Pembury, with travel between services as required 
Contracted Hours Full time -37 hours per week (Mon-Fri)
Salary: £55,000 - £65,000 per annum FTE

Application Deadline Date:  Friday 24th May 2026 / Interviews to take place at Cornford Lane site (Pembury) on Wednesday 10th June
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

FULL JOB DESCRIPTION

Equal Opportunity/Accessibility and Accommodations Statement:
As a Disability Confident employer, Aspens Charities is committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for individuals with disabilities. We actively promote the recruitment, retention, and career development of people with disabilities, recognising the invaluable contributions they make to our organisation. We are dedicated to ensuring an accessible recruitment process for all candidates. If you require any accommodations during the application or interview process, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Aspens’ mission is to provide high-quality care and support to individuals on the autism spectrum and with learning disabilities; meeting their needs and aspirations and empowering them to learn and grow through an integrated network of services across the South-East.

We provide support and care to children, families and adults across Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Brighton and Hove, Surrey and the London Borough of Bexley. Our services include registered care homes; supported living; community outreach; day services, including pathways to employment; children and young people’s groups and support; specialist support; and free online support for families and carers across the South-East.
 

About the role:
This is a tremendously exciting time to join Aspens. With our new Chief Operating Officer in place, we are actively shaping how we work to ensure we deliver the very best for the people we support. Her focus and ambition are centred on establishing consistent, high-quality practice across the organisation and ensuring that everything we do enhances, in a meaningful and measurable way, the lives of those we support.
 

The Head of Kent Services is a leadership role responsible for the strategic, operational, and financial oversight of services within Kent, currently residential services for adults with autism and/or learning disabilities, supported living services, and services for children and families across Kent.

The postholder will ensure the delivery of safe, high-quality, person-centred care and support that promotes autonomy, dignity, inclusion, and positive outcomes for individuals and families. The Head of Kent Services will lead and develop a small team of locality managers ensuring regulatory compliance, financial sustainability, and continuous service improvement across the portfolio.

The Head of Kent Services will be a member of the Inclusive Executive Leadership Team, working in collaboration with other leaders to drive the best outcomes for the People we Support and the Charity.

 

Knowledge and Experience:

We’re looking for someone who brings a combination of the following experiences, whether gained through formal roles, lived experience, volunteering or other pathways.  We value diverse routes into leadership and welcome applications from individuals who may not have followed traditional career paths.

Essential Experience:

• Significant senior management experience in health and social care.
• Proven leadership experience managing CQC Registered Managers.
• Strong knowledge of autism and learning disability support models.
• Experience managing budgets and financial performance.
• Demonstrable experience of regulatory compliance and inspection processes.
• Experience working with commissioners and local authorities.
• Experience managing large-scale change programmes.
• Significant experience in building team capability and managing complex employee relations.
   

Essential Skills & Competencies:

• Strategic thinking and operational delivery capability.
• Strong financial acumen.

• Experience overseeing impactful, outcomes-driven services at a strategic level.

• Strong project and programme management skills.
• Excellent leadership and people management skills.
• Excellent analytical and data interpretation skills.
• High-level communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Ability to manage complexity and drive change.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making ability.
• Ability to build and sustain relationships, with trust and integrity
  
  
   

Desirable:

• Relevant professional qualification in health or social care (Level 5 or above).
• Experience overseeing multiple residential and/or supported living services.
• Experience in service mobilisation or turnaround.
• Experience with Positive Behaviour Support at strategic level.
   

Core Values & Leadership Expectations:

• Commitment to person-centred, rights-based and autonomy approaches.
• Passion for inclusion, dignity, and empowerment.
• Dedication to safeguarding and promoting welfare.
• Evidence-informed decision-making.
• High levels of integrity, resilience, and accountability.

• Reflective, open to feedback and committed to continuous learning
• Brings authenticity, empathy and a collaborative spirit
  
   

What we can offer you:

• An exciting and rewarding role that you can really make your own
• An opportunity to learn and grow in a supportive environment, with formal and informal training and development initiatives.
• Member of the Inclusive Executive Leadership Team.
• Hybrid working
• Adjusted Hours or compressed working weeks
• Fantastic paid training and career progression opportunities (including recognised qualifications in health and social care)
• Paid DBS 
• Annual Leave / Pro rata dependent on hours. Annual leave entitlement increases with length of service
• Nest Pension and Death in Service Benefit
• Dedicated Employee Assistance Programme and Access to Mental Health First Aiders
• Aspens High Street Stores -20% discount on all items for Aspens’ staff
• Bluebell cafe- Discounted staff menu available
• Refer a Friend scheme, so you can earn up to £250 for every person you refer to work for Aspens
• Recognition schemes, including ‘Employee of the Month’
• Wellbeing initiatives such as: no email/meeting Fridays, no meetings over lunchtime to ensure people can take a break, encouraged not to read or reply to emails outside of working hours, and access to counselling

If shortlisted, we will contact you directly to schedule an interview. We strive to respond to all applicants; however, if you have not received a response within a reasonable timeframe, please feel free to contact us for a status update or feedback (where available). After the interview, you will be notified of the outcome. If successful, you’ll receive a formal offer in writing. Upon acceptance, we’ll guide you through the onboarding process, providing you with all the details you need.

Please note, any offer of employment will be subject to Disclosure and Barring checks (which we will arrange on your behalf if you don’t already have one) and satisfactory employment references.

ID 1775           Deputy Head of HR (Business Partnering & Advisory), Human Resources
Family Action Head Office, London (N1) with hybrid working
37 hours per week (full time)
£42,562 - £46,703 per annum* (plus £3,827 Inner London Weighting if London based or £480 if home-based)
Permanent contract

We are flexible on hours of work and where this work is done. This role can be based in our London office (N1) with hybrid working but can also be done from home. If home-working is agreed, the ability to travel semi-regularly to London (i.e. around once per month) is desirable but not essential.

Family Action & the Role’s Impact:

At Family Action, we support people through change, challenge or crisis. It’s what we’ve done for over 150 years. We protect children, support young people and adults and offer direct, practical help to families and communities.

We see first-hand the power of family to shape lives, for better or worse, so we speak up for the importance of family in national and local policymaking, amplify family voices and represent the changing needs of families in the UK today.

In this Deputy Head of HR role, you will lead our Business Partnering & Advisory function by developing the HR Business Partnering model, managing a team of HR professionals, and ultimately embedding excellent people management practice across the organisation. You will also have a direct business partnering relationship with Relate at Family Action; providing strategic advice, coaching and operational HR support to senior managers, to support culture change post-merger. 

If you have significant experience managing complex employee relations and organisational change processes (including TUPE and large-scale restructures) and leading a team of HR professionals, we would like to hear from you. The ability to think strategically while also delivering operationally, alongside strong influencing and coaching skills will make you an ideal candidate. 

We are a supportive and inclusive organisation, and we want to break down barriers to people joining us. If you don’t feel confident applying because you don’t meet every single requirement on the Person Specification – please don’t let that stop you; we want to hear from you. We encourage you to use the application to highlight what you can bring to the role – your skills, knowledge, and experience as well as your values. At Family Action our 4 core values are incredibly important to us and underpin all we do. We are a 'people focused', 'can-do' organisation, which strives for 'excellence' in all we do and operates with 'mutual respect'.

Benefits:

• an annual paid leave entitlement of 30 working days plus bank holidays
• up to 6% matched-pension contributions
• flexible working arrangements and new starters have the right to make flexible working requests from day one of employment
• enhanced paid sick leave and paid family leave provisions
• eye care and winter flu jab vouchers
• cycle to work scheme
• investing in your professional development with ongoing quality training and career development opportunities

Closing Date: Wednesday 6th May 2026 at 23:59 pm

All appointments with Family Action are subject to satisfactory Safer Recruitment checks.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion: 
We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that candidates may need during the recruitment process and you will be asked whether you require any adjustments if shortlisted for interview. We also make reasonable adjustments on the job, where required. 

We are committed to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion in all that we do and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Intersectionality is important to us and we particularly welcome applications from ethnically diverse communities, LGBTQIA+ candidates and disabled candidates because we are committed to increasing the representation of these groups at Family Action. We know that greater diversity will lead to even greater results for families and children and strive for our workforce to be truly representative of the diverse communities we support. 

All candidates with a disability are welcome to apply under the Disability Confident Scheme and request priority consideration for an interview, provided they meet the essential criteria for the role. 

To help remove financial barriers to working with us, we will reimburse reasonable travel costs if you are invited to attend an interview in person. 

*Ordinarily Family Action appoints new starters at the starting point of the salary scale (with subsequent annual pay progression), unless you have experience that would justify appointment further up the salary scale or there are any other exceptional reasons. 

Please note that we will be reviewing applications as they come in. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if a suitable candidate is found, so we encourage you to submit your application without delay. We are also ideally looking for a candidate who can join us as soon as possible (i.e. on a short notice period), however if that is not your situation please do not hesitate to apply as applications will not be assessed on this basis. 

Who are Guts UK Charity?

Guts UK Charity is committed to a world where digestive conditions are better understood, better treated and everyone who lives with one gets the support they need. Too many people are suffering or dying in silence or alone. They don’t know where to turn for information or support, diagnosis takes too long for many, and treatment can often come too late.​

We are the only UK charity that covers the entire digestive system. We raise vital awareness of digestive conditions, fund life-saving research, and provide patients and loved ones with expert information and support – we are informed by evidence and expertise, our community, and the patient voice.​ 

Our mission is simple: to improve the lives of millions of people affected by digestive conditions 

The role of Interim Head of Fundraising

This is an exciting interim (9-12 month) opportunity for a strategic and people focused leader to head up our Fundraising team and help drive meaningful change for people affected by digestive conditions.

This role is primarily focused on strengthening and scaling voluntary income and leading our fundraising team and activities.  The postholder will also shape the future fundraising operating model and support a smooth transition to a permanent fundraising lead.

​You’ll be responsible for leading our small and growing fundraising team delivering exceptional supporter care, ensuring high quality service and operational delivery.  With our Chief Executive, you'll develop and implement strategies to support fundraising growth, team performance, and supporter engagement and satisfaction.  You'll work collaboratively across the charity. 

This is a hands-on role suited to a highly experienced fundraising lead who enjoys working with a growing and developing charity.

Hours & Salary range

We are looking for someone to work full-time, or a minimum of 4 days (or 30 hrs) per week. We will consider self-employed candidates for the role but this is subject to appropriate experience. Please stipulate clearly in your covering letter if you are applying on this basis.

Salary range is £65 - £68k (+£2k London weighting) to be calculated pro-rata for anyone looking to work reduced hours. Salary offers will be based on experience. 

Location

We have offices in London and Huddersfield, both of which are easily accessible by public transport or road. We support hybrid working but attendance in the chosen office is required for a minimum of 1 day per week.

Please see the attached detail job pack for further information and how to apply. 

PLEASE NOTE: Applications will be reviewed, and candidates invited to interview, on a rolling basis. We will close the advert once a suitable candidate has been identified. 

You don’t have to look very far in the UK’s opera world to find someone who started their career with BYO. Onstage, backstage, in the rehearsal room, the dressing room and in front of the orchestra – for more than 35 years we’ve been helping young people find their feet in the professional world.

BYO is the UK’s national training opera company, a place for young people who are in that awkward stage between education and proper working life where they can kick-start their careers. That’s what the ‘youth’ in our name refers to – not age, but the fact that our participants are all at the beginning of their lives in opera.

We’re looking for an experienced fundraiser to manage and grow BYO’s base of supporters. As head of individual giving you’ll be responsible for finding, cultivating, and upgrading donors through campaigns, events, stewardship and personal engagement. This is a permanent role, and while the post is envisaged as full time, we are open to part-time or flexible arrangements for the right candidate.

Job title: head of individual giving
Job type: permanent, full time (40 hours a week), including occasional evenings and weekends, although we’re open to part-time and flexible working
Location: hybrid – mostly remote but with regular meetings and attendance at sessions in London
Reports to: chief executive
Start date: as soon as possible
Salary: £38,000 / year
Probation: 6 months
Closing date: midday, Wednesday 6 May 2026 

This is the job for you if you have: 

• Experience in the individual giving side of fundraising (or a comparable relationship-based income role)
• The ability to build and maintain relationships with donors, including making asks and securing income
• Experience working with senior stakeholders, trustees, or volunteers in a fundraising context
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities 
• Experience of a CRM-centric way of working and familiarity using and managing a CRM system to process supporter data and track engagement
• Excellent and adaptable written and verbal communication skills
• A enthusiastic and collaborative approach, with a willingness to contribute across the organisation
• A proactive, self-motivated approach, with the ability to spot opportunities and follow them through
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to high standards
• Knowledge of major donor fundraising and cultivation techniques
• Understanding of data protection and fundraising best practice

About the team

The Philanthropy Team raises income for Impetus and for Impetus partner charities. The team consists of 15 staff. Impetus has an annual income of c.£11 million which we are looking to grow significantly within the next few years. The team is led by the Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships. 

The Philanthropy Team works with major donors, corporates and grant making trusts, as well as collaboratively with colleagues across the organisation to ensure we make a compelling case to generate new financial commitments and wider support for our work. The team also deliver a high-quality engagement programme of volunteering and pro bono for Impetus’s corporate supporters.   

Impetus is driven by a shared belief in tackling the barriers that hold back young people from disadvantaged backgrounds in education and employment. Alongside investing extensive financial and non-financial support in our charity partners through our Investment Team we also seek to influence decision makers to design and implement evidence led policy and direct new resources to get young people the support they need through our Public Affairs team. We are resolutely focused on outcomes, driven by quality evidence.

You would be joining a team that is passionate, ambitious, determined and warm. We care deeply for our colleagues, our charity partners and the young people we serve. 

Why work with us?

Working at Impetus means joining an organisation that is serious about impact and serious about people. Our values actively guide how we make decisions, how we work together and how we deliver change.

In the Philanthropy & Partnerships Team, you will:

• Be part of a high-performing and respected fundraising team
• Build meaningful, long-term relationships with thoughtful, impact-driven donors
• Develop your skills across the full fundraising cycle, supported by strong leadership
• Work on some of the charity sector’s most exciting and long-term partnerships
• See a clear connection between your work and improved outcomes for young people

If you are motivated by purpose, enjoy working to a high standard, and want to be part of a team that is ambitious about both impact and excellence, we would be delighted to hear from you.​

Harbi Jama,

Director of Philanthropy & Partnerships

About this role

This role is a 12‑month maternity cover, supporting an important phase of delivery and development within the Philanthropy team. The postholder will work closely with colleagues to maintain momentum in new business activity while contributing to strategic account management and stewardship. 

The Head of Development is a senior role within the Philanthropy Team, with a primary focus on new business development. This includes identifying, cultivating and securing new funding relationships across trusts, foundations, corporates, co‑investment partners and high‑net‑worth individuals. 

Alongside new business delivery, the role also provides strategic account management for a small portfolio of high-value partners, ensuring smooth transitions from acquisition into long term stewardship. 

This role works alongside the Head of Philanthropy, with both roles contributing to the success of the Philanthropy Team. The Head of Philanthropy leads on deep stewardship and retention, while the Head of Development focusses on new income generation and building relationships with new funders and partners. 

The postholder will work closely with the Director of Philanthropy & Partnerships, Philanthropy Directors as well as Senior Research and Insights Manager, contributing specialist expertise, strong delivery and sound judgement, while operating within agreed strategy and governance frameworks.

​Key responsibilities:

New business development

• Support the Director of Philanthropy & Partnerships and Development Director on the development and delivery of the new business plan in line with the fundraising strategy
• Works with the Senior Research and Insights Manager to identify emerging funding trends, opportunities, market opportunities and best practice
• In collaboration with the Development Director and Growth and Insights Director, lead the delivery of agreed cultivation strategies for priority prospects, proactively progressing relationships from qualification through to solicitation and conversion, leveraging senior stakeholders, board members, donor advocates and wider networks
• Develop and deliver compelling cultivation strategies and tailored pitch plans for priority prospects, including designing and building new donor acquisition vehicles (e.g. committees, cultivation events and targeted communications), working collaboratively with colleagues across Impetus
• Lead and support high-level meetings, pitches and negotiations with prospective donors, positioning Impetus as a credible and strategic partner
• Work with trustees, senior leaders and pro bono supporters to leverage networks and secure introductions to new prospects
• Ensure high-quality written and verbal communications with prospective donors

Account management and stewardship 

• Build and maintain professional, long-term relationships within the portfolio, escalating strategic issues or risks promptly.
• Manage a targeted portfolio of high-value donors of six figures and supports on seven figure partnerships, ensuring excellent stewardship, timelyreporting and meaningful engagement
• Act as a relationship lead for selected donors, building trust and ensuring a smooth transition from new business to long-term stewardship
• Own and deliver tailored account plans for assigned donors, with a focus on renewal, upgrade and long-term relationship value
• Oversee the delivery of high-quality donor communications for assigned donors, including reports, impact updates, and engagement opportunities
• Ensure robust portfolio management, including accurate forecasting, pipeline management, and use of CRM systems
• Identify opportunities to deepen relationships through increased giving, multi-year commitments or broader engagement with Impetus’ work
• Works closely with Development Director on supporting Funds i.e. Connect, Skills, Attainment or Engage as needed 
• Supports or leads on committees such as Futures or Real estate 
• Represent Impetus externally with professionalism and credibility

Cross-team working and organisation contribution

• Build and maintain professional, long-term relationships within the portfolio, escalating strategic issues or risks promptly.
• Ensure consistent standards and best practice across account management and donor stewardship
• Collaborate closely with the Head of Philanthropy to ensure seamless handover from acquisition to stewardship and a coherent donor experience.
• Contribute insight from prospecting and market scanning to inform proposition development and strategic planning
• Ensure all activity aligns with Impetus’ gift acceptance, due diligence and ethical fundraising policies
• Champion best practice in prospecting, pipeline management and new business development across the team
• Build a collaborative, inclusive, high quality team culture aligned with Impetus’ values

​Person specification

​Essential​:

• A strong track record of raising six-figure+ philanthropic income from grant-making trusts and foundations, corporate foundations and/or individual donors, including experience with high-net-worth individuals
• Proven ability to lead and deliver the full fundraising cycle, from prospecting and cultivation through to solicitation, stewardship and renewal
• Demonstrated strategic thinking, planning and delivery skills, with the ability to generate ideas, translate them into practical account plans, and execute them effectively
• Excellent research, prospecting and qualification skills, with the judgement to prioritise high-value opportunities
• A proactive, creative and innovative approach to fundraising, with the ability to adapt and develop creative donor centred approaches 
• Experience operating with senior stakeholders, including trustees, board members and other high-level external partners
• Outstanding relationship management skills, with the ability to establish, manage and deepen trusted relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Highly collaborative, contributing positively to team objectives and cross-organisational priorities
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate impact and value clearly and persuasively
• Strong financial and portfolio management skills, including the ability to plan, forecast and deliver against income targets and budgets
• Ability to work well under pressure, managing multiple priorities and deadlines effectively
• A clear commitment to Impetus’ mission and values
• A strong commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion

Desirable

• Experience managing and stewarding multi-year, five- to seven-figure partnerships.
• Experience line managing and developing fundraisers or relationship managers.
• Experience working within a charity, foundation, venture philanthropy or intermediary organisation.
• Familiarity with CRM systems (e.g. Salesforce), income forecasting and portfolio reporting.
• Experience supporting or contributing to new business development strategies at a senior level.

​​​About Impetus

At Impetus, our focus is on helping young people achieve positive education and employment outcomes to increase their chance of leading fulfilling and successful lives, irrespective of their background.

We tackle the three most difficult challenges that affect a young person’s ability to succeed in life in Britain today: ​​

• Lost learning through absence, suspensions, exclusions from school
• Stagnation in education attainment outcomes, which means many are missing out on key qualifications like GCSE English and maths
• The large numbers of young people out of education, training and employment ​

We use our deep expertise and high calibre networks to give the best non-profits working in these sectors the essential ingredients to have a real and lasting impact on the young people they serve.

Through a powerful combination of long-term funding, direct capacity building support from our experienced team and our pro bono partners, alongside research and policy influencing to drive lasting systems change, we work towards a society where all young people can thrive in school, pass their exams and unlock the doors to sustained employment, for a fulfilling life. ​​

We are resolutely focused on outcomes and impact, driven by quality evidence.​

You would be joining a team that is passionate, rigorous, determined, creative and warm. We care deeply for our colleagues, our portfolio partners and the young people we serve.​

Impetus is a registered charity and our charity number is 1152262.

Our Values​

In 2022 the Impetus staff agreed the following set of Values to act as our guiding principles as an organisation and help us to remain focused on achieving our mission to support young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

We are brave and curious

We are bold and brave in our pursuit of better outcomes for young people. We lead with curiosity and stay open to new perspectives. We support one another to take considered risks and learn together.

We bring high trust, high challenge

We build strong, long-term relationships through honesty, kindness, integrity, and respect. We create the space for open, constructive challenge, where colleagues, partners and supporters feel safe to speak up, hold each other to account, and bring their best in pursuit of our mission.

We are evidence led and results driven for young people

We pursue excellence for the young people we work with, are wholly committed to better outcomes, unapologetically results driven, and accountable for our actions.

We thrive through diversity

We seek to embed diversity of thought, background and experience in every aspect of our work. We are open, thoughtful and proactive in better understanding and challenging our assumptions to better deliver the change we seek.

We always seek collaboration

We will not succeed alone. We seek meaningful, productive partnerships with others to achieve our mission and drive systems change for young people.

Our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion

We believe that a diverse workforce leads to an organisation that is more open, creative and gets better results.​

We want our team at Impetus to represent the diversity of the people and communities we serve. We also want our team to be one where different experiences, expertise and perspectives are valued, and where everyone is encouraged to grow and develop.

We want to reach a diverse pool of candidates. We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that potential employees may need to in order to be successful.​

We recognise the importance of a good work/life balance. We do everything we can to accommodate flexible working, including working from home, working part-time job shares and other arrangements.​

Please just let us know in your application or at any stage throughout the process (and beyond) if these are options you’d like to explore.​

Impetus is an equal opportunity employer and is determined to ensure that no applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. We value diversity and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds.

​​Our employee benefits ​

Impetus appreciates the invaluable contribution made by all employees and wishes to encourage and reward loyalty, motivation and experience. We therefore offer a range of benefits and policies which aim to assist employees during various stages of their lives and careers. For more information on these, please download the job information pack from our website.

How to apply

Please click on the "Apply for this job" button.​

You will need to:​

• Complete the online form (including the equal opportunities monitoring form).
• Upload a comprehensive CV and supporting statement.​

The supporting statement should be no more than two sides of A4 and should address the criteria in the person specification.​

You should also include the contact details of two referees, one of whom must be your current or most recent employer. Referees will only be approached with your express permission.​

As part of our commitment to flexible working we will consider a range of options for the successful applicant. All options can be discussed at interview stage.​

The deadline for applications is Sunday 17th May 2026, 11:59pm.​

Interviews:​

1st Interviews will take place on w/c 25th May 2026.​

2nd Interviews will take place on w/c 1st June 2026.​

You will also be required to provide proof of your eligibility to work in the UK.

​Personal Data

Your personal data will be shared for the purposes of the recruitment exercise. This includes our HR team, interviewers (who may include other partners in the project and independent advisors), relevant team managers and our IT service provider if access to the data is necessary for performance of their roles. We do not share your data with other third parties, unless your application for employment is successful and we make you an offer of employment. We will then share your data with former employers to obtain references for you. We do not transfer your data outside the European Economic Area.

​SUMMARY​

​Position Title: Head of Programmes (CMDP) Mat-Cover

Level: Level 6

Salary: £40, 000 - 46, 000 (FTE yearly) 

Reports to: Director of Programmes and Partnerships

Location: The Liberation centre Brixton, London (New office in Brixton)/ Remote working within the UK with at least 2 days’ work from our office (Pro rata for part time)

Contract: Fulltime (40hrs/weekly), fixed-term maternity cover contract for 1 year with potential for Part time (e.g., 32hrs/weekly) extension subject to funding.

Hours: TAA has flexible working hours, with some expected evenings (e.g. one 9pm finish once every two weeks) and weekends due to the nature of the role. All extra hours are reimbursed as Time off in Lieu (TOIL).

Start date: As soon as possible(potentially June with consideration for notice period)

Benefits:  TAA laptop (employee assistance and health cash package including staff supervision, counselling, dental, optical care and more.).​

The Advocacy Academy is an activist youth movement. We serve as the political home for grassroots youth organising and the catalyst for collective action. The lives of the young people we work alongside have been directly shaped by living in an unjust world, and we exist to turn their anger into action.

Young people are often the catalysts for major social change, from the Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee at the heart of the Civil Rights Movement, to the Soweto Uprising mobilising young people to resist the apartheid regime's education policies, to the Sunrise Movement redrawing the electoral map across America, and more recently encampments and protests across the world protesting the genocide in Palestine. How successfully they achieve real and lasting change depends on whether they are organised and whether they have the right strategy and tactics to be effective.​

We want youth organising to be enshrined in the UK for generations to come, and for young people to have tangible political power to influence national policy. That’s why we have launched two national coalitions, one around climate, and the other around gender. Each will train organisations across the country to become youth organisers and work together to bring 100 young people together to identify the strategy and tactics needed to achieve change. These young leaders will organise others and work collectively to build a campaign which shakes the status quo.​

We want youth organising to be enshrined in the UK for generations to come, and for young people to have tangible political power to influence national policy. That’s why we have launched two national coalitions, one around climate, and the other around gender. Each will train organisations across the country to become youth organisers, and work together to bring 100 young people together to identify the strategy and tactics needed to achieve change. These young leaders will organise others and work collectively to build a campaign which shakes the status quo.​

We are looking for a Head of Programmes who believes in this vision and is capable of building the leadership of young people that enables them to turn the resources they have into the power they need to make the change they want. It will be your job to help grow the Changemaker Development programme, train and organise Changemakers, create magic and spark the hope for something more! If this excites you, then please apply.

Before you skim the job description, please remember you don’t have to tick all the boxes for each role to apply. Charity experience is not a requirement! We all experience a bit of imposter syndrome, including the staff here at The Advocacy Academy. Let’s name it for what it is - a manifestation of the oppression many of us face on a day to day.​If this role pulls you and you believe you could make a difference, then apply anyway or reach out to us to discuss more!​​

​AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY​​​

​1.You will be responsible for the Changemaker Development Programme (CMDP) including but limited to:

• Working with the Associate Director of Programmes and Associate Director of Partnerships to coordinate programmes planning and delivery timelines for CMDP.
• Managing cross programmatic projects to standardise processes and practices in the Programmes Department
• Designing and developing the recruitment process for Alumni to join the CMDP and create a targeted recruitment strategy to grow the Alumni Changemaker pool
• Managing the monitoring and evaluation of the programme including quantitative and qualitative data, and facilitate the process of ongoing learning being integrated into the programme
• Working with Programmes Leadership Team to coordinate and deliver a holistic safeguarding, wellbeing and pastoral care strategy across TAA’s work with young people
• Responsible for holding the CMDP budget and ensuring that it is managed and spent in accordance with TAA expenses procedure e.g. signing off expenses up to £1,000 expenditure and escalating to Director of Programmes and Partnerships for amounts exceeding this.

2.​You will be accountable for the learning design and delivery to include but not limited:

• Leading the design of the CMDP curriculum to agreed TAA standards engaging key stakeholders, e.g. alumni, programmes team, external partners 
• Supporting Alumni Changemakers to design, deliver and facilitate social justice workshops in line with established pedagogical approaches at TAA.
• Leading the development of learning journeys for Alumni Changemakers.
• Working during school holidays for camps, and in the evenings to accommodate school hours, which may include regular evening work and unsocial hours during programme delivery.​

3.You will be the port of call for the Changemakers and Community Organisers who will help run the programme, and a regular and trusted individual whom the young people know and can connect with. To include but not limited to:

• You will support the Changemakers in co-creating this space with young people in the community and helping them identify ways to bring participants along into the membership.
• You will be managing the Changemakers who are delivering the programme - and updating both the Community Director and Director of Programmes and Partnerships on their progress and development. 
• You will hold the budget for the programme - keeping track of expenses and thinking through ways to keep costs down. 
• You will ensure that you provide accurate and timely financial information to the budget lead for your work and to the Finance, HR & Operations team
• You will be responsible for holding relationships with Alumni Changemakers and holding the relational culture of the CMDP to ensure we have a brilliant atmosphere for learning, nurturing and growth for Alumni Changemakers, including but not limited to:
• Taking responsibility for the pastoral care of Alumni Changemakers on placement including building the pastoral care approach with the Programmes Leadership Team.
• Taking responsibility for building and nurturing key relationships with fellow social justice activists, organisers and educators in the sector who can support, challenge and inspire our Alumni Changemakers.
• Representing TAA at any applicable events, in the press and in activist circles 
• ​Building and nurturing relationships with alumni/members.​

4.You will be accountable for the learning design and development of the Leadership Development Framework. To include but not limited to:

• Designing and developing a cohesive, high-quality curriculum aligned to TAA’s strategic goals and organisational values
• Establishing and embedding a clear pedagogical approach that underpins all delivery and supports effective facilitation
• Creating structured learning journeys that support the progression and development of young people as leaders
• Developing and maintaining facilitator guides, resources and tools to ensure consistency and quality across delivery
• Working with staff and members to ensure curriculum and pedagogy are effectively understood and implemented
• Reviewing delivery, gathering feedback and insights from members, and iterating on the curriculum and approach to continuously improve quality and impact​

5.You will ensure that your programmatic activities are managed as well-oiled machines through pulling in the right people at the right time and ensuring that key milestones are met:

• Responsible for ensuring effective departmental administration including delegating key administrative tasks to relevant staff
• You will be working with the Director of Programme and Partnerships, Director of Community, the Safeguarding and Wellbeing Team and others to think about the safety, safeguarding, and wellbeing needs of the young people participating in the programme and beyond. 
  • You will ensure safeguarding and Health and Safety standards are met across the programmes team and other critical policies and practices within the organisation, working proactively with relevant leads to understand requirements and operationalise effectively
  • You will contribute towards risk management standards and ensure Health and Safety standards are met across programmatic and community team
  • You will be responsible for managing and overseeing a suite of behind-the-scenes systems, databases and resources which comply with UKGDPR, safeguarding and other legal requirements.
• You will be responsible for overseeing the logistics of the CMDP including the organisation and coordination of venues, food, travel, staff and risk assessments, individual care plans etc.
• Work closely with the development team to align work with fundraising targets and support them in identifying and securing appropriate fundraising opportunities
• You will be committed to learning, monitoring outcomes, and holding us accountable to ourselves, our communities, funders, allies and donors. This includes shaping thoughtful MEAL practices and developing systems that go beyond compliance, enabling genuine learning and innovation while respecting the integrity and privacy of the young people in the programme.​

6.Culture, values and wider strategy and mission. Provide senior accountability within your remit for ensuring the delivery of our strategic objectives by embedding our vision, mission, strategy, ideology and cultural values across your area and the wider organisation. Play a central role in shaping organisational direction and leading cross-departmental priorities and initiatives. To include but not limited to:

• Embodying and championing our commitment to social and economic justice, ensuring this is consistently reflected in organisational strategy, decision-making, delivery and partnerships
• Acting as a champion of organisational culture and values, setting the standard across teams and holding others to account in upholding these in practice
• Leading on identifying and driving opportunities that strengthen organisational impact, working closely with your senior leadership, including the Director of Finance, HR and Ops, and contributing to high-level strategic direction
• Holding ultimate responsibility for identifying, assessing and addressing risks to our integrity, authenticity and alignment with our ideology and culture, taking decisive and timely action within your area of responsibility
• Enabling and leading effective cross-departmental collaboration within your remit, ensuring teams are aligned, appropriately resourced and working cohesively towards shared goals
• Shaping and modelling a culture of openness, care and accountability, contributing to organisational wellbeing approaches and supporting leaders across the organisation to do the same
• Taking ownership of your continued leadership development, while also actively supporting the development of others and building leadership capacity within your area
• Taking responsibility for communicating your own wellbeing and needs and providing feedback on TAA wellbeing initiatives to your line manager, and contribute to living the TAA transformative culture​

7.Governance and Compliance

• Provide strategic leadership on governance and risk management within your portfolio, working in close partnership with the Finance, HR and Operations team.
• Lead and hold accountability for risk identification, analysis and mitigation, ensuring risks to strategic objectives are anticipated, escalated and managed effectively
• Maintain oversight of risk across your area, ensuring robust systems, controls and practices are in place and consistently applied
• Ensure strong organisational compliance with TAA policies and practices, taking responsibility for their effective implementation, continuous improvement and alignment with wider organisational standards
• You will support Campaigns and Community Departments by ensuring that the operations, structures, processes, and practices within CMDP and Open Access align with and support TAA's campaigning and organising goals, activating new allies' goals, and community goals​

A BIT ABOUT YOU​

• You are passionate about, and committed to, creating a more fair, just and equal world.
• You believe in the potential of young people to challenge the status quo and are dedicated to helping them become more powerful citizens.
• You’ve got a deep understanding of, and a personal relationship with, issues of social justice. From racism to the housing crisis to climate justice, you’ll be aware of how systemic injustice operates in our society, clued-up and well-informed on the big issues of our time and committed to changing them.
• You’ll be comfortable managing a “to-do” list of competing priorities and balancing your workload to meet competing deadlines.
• You’re a sensitive and thoughtful relationship-builder who is interested in building a network of relationships to support the Advocacy Academy’s work. You’re a great listener, and remember people’s names, faces, and stories.
• You’re a confident written and verbal communicator, who is comfortable with tailoring communication to reach a diverse range of audiences and stakeholders.
• You’re proactive, organised, and eager to learn, whether that’s chatting with potential funders, researching new opportunities or collaborating with teammates.​

​IDEAL SKILLS & EXPERIENCE​

• At least 5 years of experience in programmes delivery on issues of social justice working with young people and/or 
• At least 5 years of experience in supporting others to grow in confidence and capability to develop and deliver organising or campaign efforts, including leading and managing groups such as mentors, interns and young people
• Detail oriented
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Experience in identifying challenges within programmes and using insight, feedback and data to iterate and continuously improve delivery
• Detail oriented
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Experience working with different audiences or types of stakeholders 
• Strong project management and experience working collaboratively across teams both in person and online
• Excellent organisational skills with confidence managing multiple tasks at the same time/ balancing multiple priorities to meet deadlines
• Experience with our existing systems e.g., Gmail/ Google Doc/ Google Sheets/ Canva/ Slack
• Confidence working in a fast-paced environment

This is an outline of the responsibilities and duties of the Head of Programmes role; it is not intended as an exhaustive list and may change from time to time to meet the changing needs of the Liberation Centre and our young people. Any changes will be made in consultation with the post holder.

HOW TO APPLY​

Candidates will be asked to provide a CV and a Cover Letter OR a supporting video application addressing the following questions (no more than 1000 words or 10 minutes for all questions).​

• ​Tell us about a social justice issue that makes you angry and why it matters to you?
• ​Our Head of Programmes will train Changemakers (young people) to become confident leaders and organisers. Tell us about a training programme you were part of, what it achieved, what it didn’t, your role in that effort and any reflections you have about being part of it?
• ​Our Head of Programmes will support people to act on their developing political interests. Tell us about a time when you helped someone learn and develop their capacity to make change in the world?
• ​Include anything else you would like us to know as we consider your candidacy for the Head of Programmes role.

In addition, please also provide information on your notice period and your availability for interview. You may also attach any other content that would be relevant for us to have in order to showcase interest and experience. The content can come in any form of media, including but not limited to - a mind map of ideas, a timeline or portfolio of your work, life or experiences; a recording; a Powerpoint or other form of presentation; a song, article, poem or other writing samples.​

DATES​

• Closing Date: The deadline for applications 25th May 2026 by 10am.
• Task: If shortlisted you may be required to complete a brief facilitation activity with young people around organising or campaigns.
• First Round of Interviews: will be scheduled for 29th May 2026 (Dates are subject to change).
• Second Round of Interviews: will be scheduled for w/c 08 June 2026 (Dates are subject to change).​

Please be aware that we will be interviewing as we receive applications. The application date might be brought forward if we find the right person.​

ONLINE OPEN HOUSE​

We will not be hosting an online open house for this role.  However, if you have any questions about the role or are interested in hearing more about what The Advocacy Academy is about we are happy to do 15-20mins exploratory phone call. Contact us on the email indicated on the JD to indicate your interest for this.​

A NOTE ON USING AI TOOLS IN YOUR APPLICATION​

We understand that AI tools like ChatGPT can be helpful when preparing an application, and you’re welcome to use them as a support. However, we’re most interested in hearing directly from you. Please ensure your application reflects your own voice, experiences, and perspective.

We value the unique insights, lived experiences, and ways of thinking that each candidate brings. These are what help us understand who you are and what you would bring to the role, and they are an important part of how we assess applications.

If you require any adjustments or support during the application process, please don’t hesitate to let us know. we’re committed to making our recruitment process as accessible and inclusive as possible.​​

NOTHING ABOUT US WITHOUT US​

​We aim to be representative of the community we are working with. We encourage applications from people of colour, those who identify as LGBTQIA, working class as well as disabled people, those living with mental health conditions, refugees and migrants. We welcome people from all identities who are made to feel marginalised.​

We’re not just committed to being an equal opportunity employer, we actively celebrate diversity in all its forms. Let us know if we can do anything to make the application or interview process more accessible. If you are invited to interview, we will at that point ask you for any accessibility requirements or preferences.

As an employer we make all reasonable adjustments to support employees in their work if they are disabled or have a health condition. We support the Access to Work scheme which could provide you with financial support to get the help you need to do all tasks successfully. We are happy to facilitate Access to Work assessments and reclaims and would actively welcome applicants who would need this in order to do the job.​​

All staff who work on our programme must have, prior to starting work, a returned satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) dated no earlier than 1st January 2021. The Advocacy Academy will assist the application for, and pay for the processing of, a new DBS for staff members where required.​

We welcome applications from people with convictions. Please disclose in your applications if you have any convictions, cautions, reprimand or final warnings that are not "protected" (as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013). We consider each person on their own merits, taking into account all the circumstances.

​

Head of Communications

Salary: £60,000–£65,000 (depending on experience)
Location: Hybrid: role can be based out of Leeds/London with regular travel (8 days in per month), please state your home location on your CV
Contract: Full time

BookTrust is the UK’s largest children’s reading charity, supporting 1.4 million children and families each year. Working with partners across education, health, libraries and social care, the organisation focuses on reaching those who need support most, helping to tackle inequality and improve life chances through reading.

The role

BookTrust is seeking a Head of Communications to lead its strategic communications function at a pivotal moment, following the launch of its five-year strategy, Reading for a Brighter Future.

Reporting to the Director of Communications, the role leads an integrated approach across media, content, campaigns, internal communications and stakeholder engagement. The postholder will ensure a clear, consistent and audience-led voice, strengthening reputation, extending reach and increasing influence.

As a senior leader, the Head of Communications will advise the Executive Leadership Team on reputation, risk and organisational positioning, while leading a high-performing team and delivering impactful communications.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the development and delivery of the communications strategy
• Advise senior leadership on reputation and positioning
• Ensure a consistent, audience-led approach across all communications
• Oversee brand, messaging and storytelling
• Lead media relations, including high-profile coverage and crisis communications
• Set content priorities and ensure effective, insight-led delivery across channels
• Position BookTrust as a leading voice in children’s reading and social impact
• Support campaigns, advocacy and fundraising through compelling communications
• Lead and develop the communications team and manage resources effectively

Person specification

Essential:

• Significant senior communications leadership experience
• Proven track record of delivering integrated strategies
• Strong media relations and reputation management expertise
• Excellent writing and storytelling skills
• Experience advising senior stakeholders
• Team leadership and budget management experience
• Commitment to inclusive, audience-focused communication
• Passion for improving outcomes for children

Desirable:

• Experience in policy, advocacy or fundraising communications
• Professional membership (e.g. CIPR)
  
  How to Apply 
  To apply, please submit your CV demonstrating your suitability for this role by clicking the 'apply now' button.
  
  Please Note: All speculative/ direct CVs sent will be forwarded to The Talent Set for review. 
  
  Commitment to Diversity 
  The Talent Set are committed to diverse and inclusive recruitment practices, ensuring equal opportunities for all applicants regardless of race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, disability, or age. We actively encourage applications from a wide range of backgrounds and are always happy to make reasonable adjustments to ensure a fair recruitment process. 

The Role

The Programmes Manager (Education) leads DTL’s schools work, owning the relationships, logistics, and outcomes that sit at the heart of our education offer. This is a delivery role with real breadth: you will manage a national programme of training events, lead on school recruitment and retention, and ensure the programme generates the evidence base that sustains its long-term funding.

You will be the main point of contact for subscribing schools, working closely with the CEO and Head of Partnerships. You will represent DTL’s schools work to funders and external partners, and contribute to the strategic development of the programme over time.

While the Digital Ambassador Programme is currently grant funded for three years, DTL’s intention is for the programme to become financially self-sustaining through school subscriptions, and this role is central to achieving that. As the programme grows, so will the scope of this post and the team to support it

The Digital Ambassador Programme

The Digital Ambassador Programme is DTL’s flagship schools initiative. It trains staff and student Digital Ambassadors in schools across the UK, equipping them to lead on digital safety from within - and to escalate harmful content directly via DTL’s trusted flagger network.

This model creates both a faculty lead to manage complex reports from young people and also a student lead who will be able to provide peer-to-peer support to their fellow students, ensuring that students who may not wish to report directly to the faculty will still have a reporting mechanism. 

Key Responsibilities

Programme delivery

• Manage all delivery phases from set up through to annual review, in line with the agreed delivery plan.

• Coordinate the logistics of 6 regional hub training events per year, including venue sourcing, school invitations, materials production, and on-the-day facilitation.

• Oversee the production of printed resources and ensure all school-facing materials meet DTL brand standards.

• Manage the year-round ambassador network: quarterly online meetings, monthly email digests, and peer-to-peer community activity.

School recruitment and retention

• Lead school recruitment and retention

• Manage all school relationships as point of contact from initial contact through to annual renewal.

Monitoring, evaluation and reporting

• Implement the M&E framework in partnership with DTL’s external consultant

Internal coordination

• Manage the project timeline and risk register, keeping the team informed and escalating risks promptly.

• Coordinate with the Youth Engagement Coordinator, who leads youth-facing content and ambassador engagement.

Person Specification

Essential

• Demonstrable experience in project or programme management, ideally in the charity or education sector.

• Strong project management skills, particularly working to a timeline

• Experience working with schools, local authorities, or youth-facing organisations.

• Confident communicator - written and verbal - able to build and sustain relationships with school staff, funders, and partners.

• Comfortable working in a small, fast-paced charity environment where flexibility and initiative are essential.

Reporting to: The Head of Operations.

Working closely with The Head of Partnerships and the CEO.

​SUMMARY​

​Position Title: ​Head of Spacemaking and Operations

Level: Level 6

Pay: £40, 000 -46, 000 (FTE yearly)

Reports to: Director of Finance, HR and Operations

Location: Liberation centre Brixton, London (New office in Brixton)/ Remote working within the UK with at least 3 days’ work from our office (Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays)

Contract: Full time (40hrs/weekly), 2-year Fixed Term contract.

Start date: As soon as possible

Benefits: TAA laptop and phone, (employee assistance and health cash package including staff supervision, counselling, dental, optical care and more.)

The Advocacy Academy is an activist youth movement. We serve as the political home for grassroots youth organising and the catalyst for collective action. The lives of the young people we work alongside have been directly shaped by living in an unjust world, and we exist to turn their anger into action.​​

Young people are often the catalysts for major social change, from the Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee at the heart of the Civil Rights Movement, to the Soweto Uprising mobilising young people to resist the apartheid regime's education policies, to the Sunrise Movement redrawing the electoral map across America, and more recently encampments and protests across the world protesting the genocide in Palestine. How successfully they achieve real and lasting change depends on whether they are organised and whether they have the right strategy and tactics to be effective.​

We want youth organising to be enshrined in the UK for generations to come, and for young people to have tangible political power to influence national policy. That’s why we have launched two national coalitions, one around climate, and the other around gender. Each will train organisations across the country to become youth organisers and work together to bring 100 young people together to identify the strategy and tactics needed to achieve change. These young leaders will organise others and work collectively to build a campaign which shakes the status quo.​

We are now looking for a Head of Spacemaking & Operations who believes in this vision and can ensure that TAA’s Liberation Centre is safe, fully operational, and intentionally designed as a welcoming, accessible, and inclusive environment. This role bridges operational delivery and spatial experience, ensuring that the Centre not only functions effectively behind the scenes, but also reflects TAA’s values in how people experience, move through, and use the space. You will combine operational oversight, facilities management, and space experience design, working across teams to ensure the Centre is safe, compliant, efficient, accessible and welcoming for staff, young people, and the wider community. 

Before you skim the job description, please remember you don’t have to tick all the boxes to apply. We all experience a bit of imposter syndrome, including staff here at The Advocacy Academy. If this role pulls you in and you believe you could make a meaningful difference, we encourage you to apply or reach out to us to discuss further. We are especially interested in people who bring lived experiences, perspectives, and ways of working.​​

​AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY​​​

​1.You will become a key member of the Finance, HR & Operations Team, including but not limited to:

• Supporting the Director of Finance, HR and Operations in maintaining and improving operational systems and processes
•  Supporting the delivery of the Liberation Centre strategy, working across teams to ensure the Centre provides a functional, welcoming, inclusive, and safe environment for staff, young people, and the wider community
• Building relationships across departments, understanding their needs, and communicating operational updates to the Director
• Ensure escalations to the Director of Finance, HR and Operations are timely, well-prepared, clearly articulated, and supported by relevant information to enable effective decision-making. ​

2.​You will ensure that your responsibilities run like well-oiled machines by supporting TAA’s facilities, ensuring the Liberation Centre operates safely, efficiently, and in full compliance with relevant regulations by:

• Acting as the main operational liaison for the Liberation Centre, including council, building management, and external contractors
• Managing relationships with facilities providers, maintenance contractors, cleaners, and IT vendors
• Overseeing health & safety compliance, including staff training, evacuation procedures, drills, and statutory checks
• Supporting the development and implementation of risk assessments (fire, general, wellbeing, incidents, remote work, etc.)
• Ensuring procurement, supplies, and stock levels are managed effectively and responsibly
• Coordinating first aiders and fire marshals as required
• Ensuring operational cost-efficiency across facilities and space-related services​

3.You will help shape the Liberation Centre as a purposeful, accessible, and welcoming environment by:

• Supporting the ongoing development of the Liberation Centre as a safe, inclusive, and values-aligned space
• Leading on accessibility improvements across the physical environment, ensuring equitable access for disabled community members
• Shaping improvements to layout, usability, and overall experience of the space
• Ensuring the space reflects TAA’s values of care, inclusion, and liberation in its physical design and use
• Working with internal teams to understand spatial needs and translating them into practical and experience-led improvements
• Supporting a positive, caring, and community-centred environment across all users of the space​

4.You will support reliable and secure operational infrastructure by:

• Acting as liaison for IT and facilities providers
• Supporting setup, maintenance, and improvement of workplace systems and equipment
• Ensuring infrastructure supports accessibility, inclusion, and ease of use
• Identifying improvements to systems that enhance operational efficiency and user experience
• Supporting secure onboarding and offboarding of staff from a systems and access perspective

​5.You will act as a key connector between operations and delivery teams by:

• Work with the Working closely with programmes, Organising & Campaigns, community, and communications teams to ensure smooth operational delivery
• Supporting logistics for events, residentials, camps, and programmes, including venue sourcing, bookings, and on-site coordination
• Providing operational and administrative support for space usage, scheduling, and bookings
• Supporting onboarding and offboarding processes from a space, systems, and logistics perspective
• Supporting new staff inductions and ensuring new starters are equipped to use the space effectively
• Supporting internal communication of operational updates across teams​

6.You will support the Director in embedding safety, wellbeing, and care into how the space is used and experienced by:

• ​Ensuring health & safety processes are embedded and consistently followed
• Coordinating safety training and maintaining up-to-date knowledge of regulations
• Supporting a culture of shared responsibility for safety within the Liberation Centre
• Working with the community team to ensure safety practices are values-aligned 
• Supporting emergency preparedness and incident response processes
• FMaintaining a safe and functional environment by ensuring the space is kept clear, organised, and free from unnecessary clutter or hazards.​

7.Culture, values and wider strategy and mission. Provide senior functional leadership for Spacemaking and Operations, ensuring delivery of organisational strategy through effective planning, coordination, and implementation across your area. Contribute to shaping organisational priorities through insight, delivery experience, and cross-departmental collaboration. To include but not limited to:

• Embodying and championing our commitment to social and economic justice, ensuring this is consistently reflected in organisational strategy, decision-making, delivery and partnerships
• Champion the organisation’s commitment to social and economic justice, ensuring this is embedded in the design and delivery of spacemaking and operational activity, and reflected in partnerships and ways of working within your remit.
• Act as a role model for organisational culture and values, setting expectations within your teams and supporting colleagues to apply these consistently in day-to-day practice.
• Work closely with leaders across the organisation to identify opportunities to improve organisational impact and efficiency, contributing operational insight to strategic planning and decision-making.
• Identify, assess and escalate risks related to operational delivery, organisational culture, and alignment with stated values and principles, ensuring timely mitigation within your area of responsibility.
• Lead and enable effective cross-departmental collaboration within your remit, ensuring teams are aligned, appropriately resourced, and working effectively towards shared organisational goals.
• Foster a culture of openness, care, accountability and continuous improvement within your area, contributing to wider organisational wellbeing practices.
• Take responsibility for your own ongoing leadership development, and actively support the development of others, building capability and leadership within the Spacemaking and Operations function.
• IEngage in organisational wellbeing practices by communicating needs appropriately, participating in feedback processes, and contributing constructively to living the TAA transformative culture​

8.Governance and Compliance

• Provide strategic leadership on governance and risk management within your portfolio, working in close partnership with the Finance, HR and Operations team.
• Lead and hold accountability for risk identification, analysis and mitigation, ensuring risks to strategic objectives are anticipated, escalated and managed effectively
• Maintain oversight of risk across your area, ensuring robust systems, controls and practices are in place and consistently applied
• Ensure strong organisational compliance with TAA policies and practices, taking responsibility for their effective implementation, continuous improvement and alignment with wider organisational standards
• ​You will support Programmes, Campaigns and Community Departments by ensuring that the operations, structures, processes, and practices align with and support TAA's campaigning and organising goals, activating new allies' goals, and community goals​

WHAT SUCCESS WILL LOOK ​

• The Liberation Centre runs smoothly, safely, and reliably day-to-day
• Staff and community members experience the space as welcoming, accessible, and well cared for
• Operational systems are efficient, compliant, and low-friction
• Space improvements are intentional, values-led, and responsive to user needs
• Teams can focus on delivery, supported by strong operational and spatial infrastructure​

A BIT ABOUT YOU​

• You are passionate about, and committed to, creating a more fair, just and equal world.
• You believe in the potential of young people to challenge the status quo and are dedicated to helping them become more powerful citizens.
• You’ve got a deep understanding of, and a personal relationship with, issues of social justice. From racism to the housing crisis to climate justice, you’ll be aware of how systemic injustice operates in our society, clued-up and well-informed on the big issues of our time, and committed to changing them.
• You’ll be comfortable managing a “to-do” list of competing priorities and balancing your workload to meet competing deadlines.
• You’re a sensitive and thoughtful relationship-builder who is interested in building a network of relationships to support the Advocacy Academy’s work. You’re a great listener, and remember people’s names, faces, and stories.
• You’re a confident written and verbal communicator, who is comfortable with tailoring communication to reach a diverse range of audiences and stakeholders.
• You’re proactive, organised, and eager to learn, whether that’s chatting with potential funders, researching new opportunities or collaborating with teammates.​

​IDEAL SKILLS & EXPERIENCE​

• 3-5+ years’ experience in operations management, ideally including leadership responsibility for teams, workflows, or service delivery.
• Comfortable operating as the senior operational lead on site when required, maintaining full delivery responsibility and ensuring clear communication and escalation pathways.
• Demonstrated experience in facilities management and/or IT systems coordination, with an understanding of how operational infrastructure supports organisational effectiveness.
• Working knowledge of operational tools and systems (e.g. Microsoft Excel / Google Sheets, Canva, and similar platforms), with willingness to learn and adapt to new systems as needed.
• Experience supporting or developing operational processes, with an interest in improving efficiency, clarity, and user experience across systems and teams. 
• Proven ability Experience working with diverse audiences and stakeholders, with an understanding of access needs and inclusive practice to manage multiple workstreams simultaneously, prioritise effectively, and maintain delivery in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience designing and delivering spaces, services, or operations with a strong understanding of access needs, ensuring inclusive and equitable participation.

This is an outline of the responsibilities and duties of the Head of Spacemaking & Operations role, it is not intended as an exhaustive list and may change from time to time to meet the changing needs of the Liberation Centre and our young people. Any changes will be made in consultation with the post holder.​

HOW TO APPLY​

​Candidates will be asked to provide a CV and a Cover Letter OR a supporting video application addressing the following questions (no more than 1000 words or 10 minutes for all questions).

• Tell us about a social justice issue that makes you angry and why it matters to you?
• Our Head of Spacemaking & Operations role entails working and building relationships with different stakeholders. Tell us about a time when you successfully cultivated a relationship with someone when working towards a shared goal - What did you do and what did you learn?
• Include anything else you would like us to know as we consider your candidacy for the​ Head of Spacemaking & Operations role.

In addition, please also provide information on your notice period and your availability for interview. You may also attach any other content that would be relevant for us to have in order to showcase interest and experience. The content can come in any form of media, including but not limited to - a mind map of ideas, a timeline or portfolio of your work, life or experiences; a recording; a Powerpoint or other form of presentation; a song, article, poem or other writing samples.​

DATES​

• Closing Date: The deadline for applications 8th June 2026 by 10am.
• First Round of Interviews: will be scheduled for w/c 15th June 2026 (Dates are subject to change).
• Second Round of Interviews: will be scheduled for w/c 29th June 2026 (Dates are subject to change).

Please be aware that we will be interviewing as we receive applications. The application date might be brought forward if we find the right person.​

A NOTE ON USING AI TOOLS IN YOUR APPLICATION​

We understand that AI tools like ChatGPT can be helpful when preparing an application, and you’re welcome to use them as a support. However, we’re most interested in hearing directly from you. Please ensure your application reflects your own voice, experiences, and perspective.

We value the unique insights, lived experiences, and ways of thinking that each candidate brings. These are what help us understand who you are and what you would bring to the role, and they are an important part of how we assess applications.

If you require any adjustments or support during the application process, please don’t hesitate to let us know. we’re committed to making our recruitment process as accessible and inclusive as possible.​​

NOTHING ABOUT US WITHOUT US​

​We aim to be representative of the community we are working with. We encourage applications from people of colour, those who identify as LGBTQIA, working class as well as disabled people, those living with mental health conditions, refugees and migrants. We welcome people from all identities who are made to feel marginalised.​

We’re not just committed to being an equal opportunity employer, we actively celebrate diversity in all its forms. Let us know if we can do anything to make the application or interview process more accessible. If you are invited to interview, we will at that point ask you for any accessibility requirements or preferences.​

As an employer we make all reasonable adjustments to support employees in their work if they are disabled or have a health condition. We support the Access to Work scheme which could provide you with financial support to get the help you need to do all tasks successfully. We are happy to facilitate Access to Work assessments and reclaims and would actively welcome applicants who would need this in order to do the job.​

All staff who work on our programme must have, prior to starting work, a returned satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) dated no earlier than 1st January 2021. The Advocacy Academy will assist the application for, and pay for the processing of, a new DBS for staff members where required.​

We welcome applications from people with convictions. Please disclose in your applications if you have any convictions, cautions, reprimand or final warnings that are not "protected" (as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013). We consider each person on their own merits, taking into account all the circumstances.

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