158 Head of education practice jobs

Lead transformation that changes lives. 

Are you a strategic thinker who can bring people together to turn complex challenges into practical change? 

Do you have the experience and influence to turn ambitious ideas into practical, sustainable transformation?  

If so, this could be the opportunity for you. 

At Together Trust, everything we do is about creating opportunities for the people we support to thrive. As we deliver our ambitiousfive-year strategy, we are looking for a talented Service Transformation & Innovation Lead to help turn our vision into reality. 

This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys strategic thinking, collaborative change and working across an organisation to connect services, people and ideas in ways that make a real difference. 

You will work closely with senior leaders and colleagues across the Together Trust to translate strategy into action, align priorities and support transformation, innovation and partnership work. 

Salary: £49,943 | Full Time | Permanent  

Hybrid Working – Cheadle / home-based with travel across the Northwest (predominantly Manchester and Stockport area) 

Interview Date: 23rd October 2026

About the role 

As our Service Transformation & Innovation Lead, reporting directly to the Service Director, you will act as a key connector across services, strategic programmes and organisational priorities helping teams build momentum and embed meaningful, lasting change. 

What you will be doing 

• Shaping and leading improvement activity that helps deliver Together Trust’s five-year strategy and strengthens the way services work for the people we support 
• Turning strategic ambitions into practical delivery plans that help colleagues move forward with clarity, confidence and shared purpose. 
• Identifying opportunities to align projects, initiatives and change activity across services 
• Supporting senior leaders to manage priorities, dependencies and organisational capacity 
• Championing innovation, continuous improvement and the sharing of best practice 
• Moving new ideas, sustainability priorities and emerging partnerships from early thinking into practical change that services can adopt and sustain 
• Facilitating cross-service collaboration to strengthen outcomes and reduce duplication 
• Providing insightful reporting, governance support and delivery assurance. 
• Working in line with Trust safeguarding policy and practice

 About you 

You are someone who builds positive working relationships and enjoys bringing people together to solve complex challenges. You balance strategic ambition with operational realities and turn ideas into practical, sustainable solutions. 

We would particularly welcome applications from candidates who can show experience, understanding or transferable skills in the following areas: 

• Strategic delivery, transformation or service improvement across multiple teams or services 
• Stakeholder engagement, influencing and building alignment without direct authority 
• Turning organisational priorities into actionable plans and measurable outcomes 
• Identifying connections, dependencies, risks and opportunities across complex programmes of work 
• Facilitation and collaboration that help teams achieve shared objectives 
• Using evidence and data to support planning, decision-making and evaluation 
• Planning, organisation and communication 
• Relevant professional experience, learning or qualifications that support you to succeed in the role (including degree-level education or equivalent relevant experience)  

It would be great if you also have: 

• Project Management qualifications such as PRINCE2, APM or AgilePM 
• Change Management qualifications such as Prosci or APMG 
• Experience within social care, education, health, charity or other regulated service environments 
• Knowledge of programme management, portfolio delivery and benefits realisation approaches 
• Experience supporting innovation, sustainability or partnership development  

Why join Together Trust? 

At Together Trust, you’ll be part of a charity with a clear purpose: helping people feel supported, included and able to thrive. 

Benefits  

• Annual Leave – 27 days plus 8 bank holidays, rising to 30 after 5 years and 33 after 10 years. 
• Generous pension scheme and death in service benefit – up to 7% employer pension contributions and up to 6× basic salary. 
• Occupational sick pay and enhanced maternity, paternity and adoptive leave. 
• Reward and Discount platform plus eligibility for Blue Light Card. 
• Real Living Wage employer. 
• Refer a Friend scheme. 
• Training and development opportunities, including apprenticeships. 
• Long service awards with cash gifts and extra holiday. 
• Promotion of Wellbeing, including Mental Health First Aiders and free weekly yoga (in person/online). 
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme. 
• Inclusive networks: Disability & Neurodiversity, Race Equality, Proud Together (LGBTQ+), Together for Men, Women Together. 

You'll have the opportunity to: 

• Shape the future direction of services across the Together Trust 
• Lead meaningful transformation that positively impacts people's lives 
• Work alongside compassionate, courageous, and collaborative colleagues 
• Influence strategic decision-making at a senior level 
• Be part of an organisation committed to innovation, learning and continuous improvement 
• Enjoy a flexible hybrid working environment 

Our commitment to inclusion 

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, respected and able to thrive. 

We positively encourage applications from people with lived experience.  If you need any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process and employment journey we will work with you to understand what support would help. 

Enhanced DBS check required (undertaken by Together Trust). 

Ready to make an Impact? 

If you are passionate about driving innovation, building partnerships and delivering meaningful change that improves outcomes for people and communities, we'd love to hear from you. 

Apply today and help shape the future of Together Trust services 

We reserve the right to close this advert early if a suitable candidate is identified. 

Applications are very welcome from all regardless of age, disability, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, religion or belief, race, sex, sexual orientation, trans status or socio-economic background. We are committed to making reasonable adjustments for disabled people. We positively encourage applications from those with lived experience. 

If there is any part of your lived experience you want to keep confidential in some way please talk to the Recruitment or HR shared service teams and we will do what we can to support you

The Together Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the people we support and expects all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. 

Safeguarding checks will be undertaken for the successful candidate in line with our safer recruitment policy.

About the Royal School for the Blind Charity

The Royal School for the Blind Charity Liverpool is a charity that runs both a School for young people aged 2-19 years old and an adult day service for young adults over the age of 19 with vision impairment, sensory, or additional needs. Although our funding comes from a variety of sources, we are starting to fundraise to support our income and make our work more sustainable for the future. Income generated will support the development of our pupils and young adults, prepare them for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life and encourage their independence, communication and mobility. 

Why this role matters

We have ambitious plans for the future including building a new Centre to provide opportunities for therapies and independent growth for young people, and we know that developing sustainable voluntary income will be critical to achieving them. That's why we're investing in fundraising and creating this new role. As our first Development Manager, you'll have the opportunity to build our fundraising approach from the ground up, developing new relationships with individuals, businesses, communities and charitable funders and helping us tell the story of our work to new audiences.

Role Overview and Application Process

Job Title: Charity Development Manager

Hours: Full Time (37 hours per week)

Location: This role can be either office-based at the Royal School for the Blind Charity, or hybrid. 

Responsible to: Charity Leadership Group and managed by Head of Central Services

Pay Scale: £35k - £40k, depending on experience (NJC 26-30)

Term: Two-year fixed term in the first instance, with the ambition to establish fundraising as a sustainable long-term function within the charity.

This is a rare opportunity to build and shape a new fundraising operation from the ground up, playing a pivotal role in the long-term growth and sustainability of the Royal School for the Blind Charity. As the function develops, there will be scope to expand its reach and impact, offering excellent potential for career progression.

The Charity Development Manager will lead efforts to secure vital income that underpins the charity’s vision and purpose, driving support through donor engagement, targeted campaigns, and strategic fundraising initiatives. Our long-term ambition is to build a diversified fundraising programme capable of generating approximately £400,000 annually. This role will be instrumental in developing and delivering a growing, high-performing fundraising portfolio.

We are looking for an experienced fundraising professional who can design and deliver a robust, evidence-based fundraising strategy. This will involve gaining a deep understanding of the charity’s mission, stakeholders, and audiences, as well as the broader funding landscape, creating a diversified and effective approach that maximizes income and long-term sustainability. This is an exciting time for the Charity as we become much more outward-looking. Alongside our existing work, we have begun a capital building project to enhance our resources. When completed, the new Rushton Centre will house facilities which are open to the public, including a hydrotherapy pool and a café. At the heart of this is a wish to make the Royal School for the Blind Charity part of the fabric of the City.

In this new post we are looking for someone who can help open up our work to the wider public: the role is well suited to an experienced fundraiser looking for autonomy and the opportunity to help shape the next chapter in the charity’s history.

Although this is a new standalone fundraising role, you won't be building the function in isolation. The post sits within a well-established and supportive team and will be strategically led by the Charity Leadership group and Board of Trustees. In addition, you will have access to colleagues across our services to help bring our impact to life, and support to develop campaigns and engage new audiences. Alongside this, the Charity is currently fundraising for a capital project for a significant new building to resource our activities and reach out into the wider community. Whilst this is a separate project, in the future there will be exciting opportunities to link the new building into the core fundraising strategy.

For full roles and responsibilities please see the application pack.

Applications close: 9am on Wednesday 21st October

Shortlisting: Thursday 22nd October

Interviews: Wednesday 4th November

Preferred start date: January 2027 (or as soon as possible)

Safeguarding

The Charity considers safeguarding as its highest priority and fosters an active safeguarding culture. The post will be subject to a range of pre-employment checks, including collection of 3 references, online checks and an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check. 

At One YMCA, we work alongside young people to help them develop confidence, skills, resilience, and positive futures. We are looking for an inspiring, experienced and motivated Youth Work Manager to lead and develop our local youth work provision, ensuring that high-quality, impactful services reach young people across our communities.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in delivering our Youth Work Strategy, managing a dedicated team, driving quality and developing services that make a real difference in the lives of young people.

About the role:

Reporting to the Head of Youth Work, you will take operational responsibility for the delivery, development, monitoring, and quality assurance of our youth work services. You will lead and support Youth Work Coordinators and wider youth work staff, ensuring services are safe, effective, youth-centred, and aligned with One YMCA's strategic priorities.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading the development and delivery of youth work programmes, specialist support services, mentoring initiatives, life skills courses, and large-scale youth events.
• Managing and supporting staff through recruitment, induction, supervision, training, and performance development.
• Monitoring contract performance, outcomes, impact data, and key performance indicators to demonstrate the difference our services make.
• Building strong relationships with schools, local authorities, partner agencies, and community stakeholders.
• Leading quality assurance, compliance, safeguarding, and continuous improvement across the service.
• Acting as Designated Safeguarding Lead and participating in the safeguarding on-call rota.
• Working with young people and teams to ensure youth voice is at the heart of everything we do.

We're looking for someone who combines strong operational leadership, experience in managing contractual compliance, with a genuine commitment to young people.

You will bring:

• Significant experience delivering and managing youth work programmes, projects, or contracts.
• A strong understanding of issues affecting young people's lives and a passion for helping them achieve positive outcomes.
• Experience leading, motivating, and developing staff teams.
• Excellent communication, relationship-building, and partnership-working skills.
• The ability to analyse data, monitor impact, and use insight to improve services.
• A youth work or related community-focused qualification at degree level, or significant equivalent experience.
• A full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle for work purposes.

Location: Home-based role but with regular travel to YMCA youth work delivery sites across Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire, as well as to support the broader youth work within One YMCA. 

Driving licence and access to a car is essential for this role.

If you are an experienced youth work leader ready for your next challenge, we would love to hear from you! 

Important: Please include a supporting statement with your application/CV.

We do not provide visa sponsorship; you must be eligible to work in the UK. You must reside in the UK for the duration of your employment and provide Right to Work evidence.

As some of our roles involve working with vulnerable members of society, this position may require a Basic or Enhanced Criminal Disclosure, which will be conducted once a conditional offer is made

Previous Applications: We welcome applications from all qualified candidates. However, if you have applied for a similar role within the last 6 months and were not successful, please consider whether your experience has developed further before reapplying

Accessibility & Adjustments: We are committed to making reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process and will strive to be as accommodating as possible. Please inform us in advance of any arrangements you may need to fully participate in the process.

At One YMCA we are an inclusive organisation and actively promote equality of opportunity for all with the right mix of talent, skills, and potential. We do not discriminate on the basis of Age, Disability, Gender Reassignment, Marriage/Civil Partnership, Pregnancy/Maternity, Race, Religion/Belief, Sex and/or Sexual Orientation. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, communities, and industries, and are committed to having a team that is made up of diverse skills, experiences, and abilities.

Working hours: 37.5 hours per week, generally Monday to Friday but with flexibility of working pattern to support both the ideal candidate and business need. Some evening work expected, and occasional weekend, overnight stays or residential work.

The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) is the world’s largest alliance of national societies of obstetrics and gynecology, bringing together professionals from more than 139 countries and territories. For over 70 years, FIGO has collaborated with the world’s top health, rights, and donor bodies. We are in official relations with the World Health Organization and consultative status with the United Nations.

FIGO is dedicated to the improvement of the health and rights of women and girls and to the reduction of disparities in health care, as well as to advancing the science and practice of obstetrics and gynecology. We pursue our mission through education, research implementation, advocacy, and capacity building with our member societies.

Financial control responsibility for accurate, complete, Charity SORP compliant balances in the balance sheet. Review of all monthly balance sheet reconciliations, completeness and of income and expenditure lines and controls accounts. This includes ownership of fixed assets register, KPIs for debtor and creditors aged balances, correct processing of taxes (PAYE/NI and VAT) and banking administration.

Responsible for administering the Procurement Policy and Delegation of Authority. Manage and delegate the financial systems. This includes all aspects of systems management, continuous development and full utilisation of the enterprise resource planning (ERP) cloud-based software. Lead and support system-led financial and procedural controls to elevate current practices to meet best practices in accounting and reporting as per IFRS102 and Charity SORP regulatory standards. The role includes change management and process embedding, upskilling end-users and improving user experience.

Business partner across internal and external stakeholders to ensure reporting requirements are met. Achieve high level of assurance and integrity in reports including interrogation and correction as required. Support variance analysis and commentaries on all levels of reporting.

Support finance colleagues in delivery of overall Finance objectives when required i.e. absence cover and deputise for the Head of Finance. 

People Partner & Service Lead

Closing date: 23th September 2026
Interview date:6th October 2026
Department: People

Location  - Across both Sites – Erdington and Selly Park
Hours: 37.5 
Duration: Perm

Salary: Corporate Band B up to £50,000 per annum

DBS:  Basic

Lead with purpose. Support with compassion. Make a difference every day.

We are recruiting a People Partner & Service Lead to provide leadership for our People Team and help deliver an exceptional colleague and volunteer experience across Birmingham Hospice.

At Birmingham Hospice, our people and volunteers are at the heart of everything we do. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced and proactive People professional to lead a dedicated team while partnering with managers and leaders across the organisation to deliver high-quality, people-centred services that support the attraction, recruitment, engagement, retention and reward of our people.

Working closely with the Head of People, you'll lead the day-to-day delivery of our People services, providing expert advice, coaching and support across a wide range of people matters, including employee relations, performance and organisational change. You'll combine operational leadership with strategic influence, helping to shape our people practices, develop our workforce and support the delivery of our People Strategy.

We're looking for someone with strong employee relations expertise, a passion for helping people thrive, and the ability to build trusted relationships across the organisation. In return, you'll play a key role in ensuring Birmingham Hospice remains a great place to work and volunteer, while contributing to a culture where colleagues and volunteers can deliver their very best.

What you'll bring

· CIPD level 5 qualification or equivalent supported by extensive practical experience

· Significant experience working within a People function, with strong employee relations expertise

· Knowledge across key People disciplines, including recruitment, learning and development, employee engagement, organisational development and policy development

· Experience leading, coaching and developing high-performing People teams

· Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build credibility and influence at all levels

· Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and work effectively at pace

· A proactive, pragmatic and solutions-focused approach

· Experience supporting organisational change, workforce planning and service improvement

· Confidence using people data and insights to inform decision-making and drive improvement

· A commitment to delivering high-quality, customer-focused People services

What we offer

· The opportunity to make a meaningful impact in a values-led organisation where people and volunteers are at the heart of everything we do

· A varied and rewarding role that combines operational leadership with strategic influence across the people agenda.

· The opportunity to shape and enhance the colleague and volunteer experience across Birmingham Hospice

· A supportive, collaborative and inclusive culture that encourages innovation, development and wellbeing

• Recognition of prior NHS or hospice service (including pension and annual leave entitlements)
• Generous annual leave, wellbeing programmes and access to employee benefit platforms such as Stream and Engage

Who we are
We are OUTpatients, the UK’s LGBTIQ+ cancer charity. Proudly led by and for our community, we are here to shake up the system, advocate for equity, and stand up for every LGBTIQ+ person affected by cancer. Our passion to support others is born out of personal experience; we understand what it’s like to not see yourself reflected in the services you use, and feel like you are left in the margins at a time when you most need personalised support. That is why we host peer support, educate healthcare professionals and help to shape national policy so that nobody has to go through cancer alone.

The position

The Chief Operating Officer is one of three new senior leadership roles we're creating alongside our CEO, the first time OUTpatients has built a leadership team of this kind. It's a genuine opportunity to shape how a fast-growing charity operates, not simply maintain what already exists.

You'll be the CEO's key partner in turning our five-year strategy into a well-run, sustainable organisation: leading a team of six, taking ownership of our finances, risk and governance, and building the systems and structures that let our small, passionate team deliver more, safely and well.

Working closely with our incoming Head of Fundraising & Business Development and Chief Medical Officer, and deputising for the CEO when needed, your work will directly shape how many more LGBTIQ+ people affected by cancer we're able to reach.

To learn more about the role, please read the attached Job Description.

Who we are
We are OUTpatients, the UK’s LGBTIQ+ cancer charity. Proudly led by and for our community, we are here to shake up the system, advocate for equity, and stand up for every LGBTIQ+ person affected by cancer. Our passion to support others is born out of personal experience; we understand what it’s like to not see yourself reflected in the services you use, and feel like you are left in the margins at a time when you most need personalised support. That is why we host peer support, educate healthcare professionals and help to shape national policy so that nobody has to go through cancer alone.

The position

The Chief Medical Officer is one of three new senior leadership roles we're creating alongside our CEO, the first time OUTpatients has built a leadership team of this kind. Although the role is part-time, just one day a week, its influence is not: you'll be the clinical conscience of everything we produce, and a trusted voice for LGBTIQ+ people affected by cancer within the NHS and medical sector.

Working at the intersection of oncology and LGBTIQ+ health equity, you'll ensure our resources, training and peer support are always backed by rigorous clinical evidence and safe, reliable quality standards, giving our small team the confidence to support people safely. Beyond quality assurance, you'll act as a trusted spokesperson and policy voice, opening doors within the NHS and cancer sector that a patient-led charity alone cannot.

Working closely with our incoming Chief Operating Officer and Head of Fundraising & Business Development, and reporting directly to our CEO, your clinical judgement will directly shape how safely and credibly we're able to grow.

To learn more about the role, please read the attached Job Description.

Workforce Development Coordinator

WorldSkills UK is looking for an organised and proactive Workforce Development Coordinator to join our Workforce Development Team.

At WorldSkills UK, we have big ambitions to help young people, the education system and the economy. We work across the UK to raise standards in technical education and apprenticeships, champion future skills and help more young people from all backgrounds succeed in work and life.

As Workforce Development Coordinator, you will play an important role in supporting the successful delivery of our workforce development programmes. Working with colleagues, participants, delivery partners and other stakeholders, you will help ensure our programmes are well organised, our systems and information are accurate, and participants receive a professional and positive experience.

The role is varied and will include:

• coordinating programme activity, meetings, events and workshops;
• maintaining programme documentation, schedules, records and systems;
• coordinating communications with participants and internal and external stakeholders;
• collecting, validating and collating data and supporting programme reporting;
• coordinating participant registration, onboarding and ongoing support;
• working with suppliers, venues, contractors and delivery partners; and
• helping to improve systems, processes and ways of working.

We are looking for someone who is highly organised, has excellent attention to detail and can confidently coordinate multiple activities, priorities and deadlines. You will need strong administrative and communication skills, the ability to build effective working relationships with a range of people, and the confidence to use your initiative while working collaboratively as part of a team.

Salary: £28,000
Contract: Permanent, full time (35 hours per week)
Location: London, with flexible hybrid working. The postholder is expected to attend the office at least once or twice a week.

How to apply

Please download and read the application pack attached before applying.

WorldSkills UK uses a blind recruitment approach. To apply, please submit the following:

1. an anonymised CV in Word format;
2. a supporting statement in Word format outlining your suitability for the role and addressing the role description and person specification; and
3. a separate document containing your name, email address, telephone number and confirmation of your right to work in the UK.

Closing date: 23:59 on Sunday 4 October 2026.

Late or incomplete applications, or applications that do not follow the application requirements, may not be considered.

The Switch Charity is looking for a dynamic, organised person with experience and a passion for supporting young people. Our Project Coordinator role is key to the success of our mission, helping prepare for, deliver, and evaluate our employability activities that help raise young people’s career aspirations.

You will be pivotal in the successful preparation, delivery and evaluation of our career development activities and  programmes. You will coordinate projects with our schools and sixth form colleges, communicating with a range of stakeholders including school staff, students and business volunteers. You will help ensure the smooth running of our programme delivery work and demonstrate the positive impact our charity has on thousands of young people in Tower Hamlets every year.

You will see our young people grow before your eyes and be contributing to their better future.

MAIN PURPOSE OF JOB

 1. To support the successful delivery of projects, activities and events, through the successful management of event logistics, communications, and resource preparation. Projects, activities and events include: Primary School Financial Literacy workshops, Core Programmes for Key Stages 3 to 5, Industry Insight Days, Bespoke Workplace visits, Mentoring and Future Skills.

2. Liaise with volunteers, external facilitators, school administrative and teaching staff on school projects as needed, in the pre- and post-event stage.

3. Attend in-person events in the borough (in both schools and workplaces) to assist with delivery, volunteer management and event logistics.

4. Compile data and reports on business and volunteer activity as directed by the Senior Project Manager on the Secondary Team. Work with the wider team to produce annual impact reports and volunteer data reports on specific projects, highlighting key achievements and areas for improvement.

5. The post has specific responsibility for the areas outlined in this document. These areas may change as the nature of projects or funding changes over time.

 Please refer to the full Job Description for a detailed description of the job.

What is it like to work for us?

As a small charity we are able to provide a great work-life balance with early finishes on Fridays, Christmas shut down, training opportunities, a friendly office near Spitalfields, and a cash-back health plan.

This role is predominantly office based. You would work in the office or at an event location in East London usually 4 days per week. You would usually be able to WFH one day per week, typically Fridays.

To support our colleagues we ensure that we always pay the London Living Wage, and we also offer a £500 travel bursary with this role on top of the salary, to support high London working costs.

The Barbican is a multidisciplinary international arts centre in the City of London.

Across its theatres, concert halls, cinemas, galleries, business venues, public and community spaces, the Barbican showcases the most exciting artists and performers from around the world, pushing traditional artistic boundaries and helping us understand our lives in new and unexpected ways. Each year, the Centre presents hundreds of different performances, events and exhibitions that entertain and inspire millions of people, create connections, provoke debate, and reflect the world we live in.

Firmly rooted in its neighbourhood, the Barbican collaborates on projects with local communities, and supports young people and emerging talent to develop their artistic practice and access jobs in the creative industry.

Creative Collaboration

The Creative Collaboration department is at the heart of the Barbican’s engagement with its communities, breaking down traditional arts boundaries and contributing to a diverse and dynamic artistic programme.

Creative Collaboration aims to be a catalyst for the Barbican’s artistic vision, working across the centre with a multi-artform approach using all venues and spaces. The department champions interdisciplinary work that connects new audiences to the Barbican, engaging with creatives, participants and users that reflect the rich diversity of London. 

The department supports the Barbican in being an arts centre rooted in its community, globally minded, connected, and that delivers on its civic purpose, which is integral to our long-term programme, approach, and impact. Our aim is to co-create joyful experiences that inspire, connect and provoke debate.

The role

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Senior Producer, Learning and Participation to join the Creative Collaboration team at the Barbican Centre.

The role of Senior Producer is instrumental in the development and delivery of dynamic programmes which engage young people and communities underrepresented in arts and culture as participants, audience, makers, workforce, and artists. 

With a primary focus on the City of London and surrounding boroughs of Camden, Islington, Tower Hamlets, and Hackney the Senior Producer will manage the learning and community team, while collaborating across Barbican artform departments to deliver participatory focused events and programmes.

Are you able to spark creative possibilities and transformations for young people, communities, audiences, and emerging artists? 
Then we want to hear from you.

Successful candidates will demonstrate:
•    Significant experience of community arts, youth participatory or arts education work. 
•    Strong track record of delivering large-scale, public participatory or educational arts events across art forms. 
•    Awareness of, and commitment to the issues of equity and cultural diversity, with a track record of working with diverse artists and audiences
•    Significant experience of managing complex budgets.
•    Experience of preparing, presenting, and implementing business plans and strategies.
•    Significant experience in team leadership, managing and inspiring teams to deliver high-impact, high-quality programmes and events.
•    Excellent interpersonal skills, with a strong ability to broker effective and mutually beneficial relationships, and the ability to consult, negotiate, and persuade internal and external stakeholders.
•    Significant experience in presenting to senior staff and externally at both national and international level.
•    Excellent written communication skills and a high degree of computer proficiency (including Word, Excel & Access). 
•    A skilled problem solver who can anticipate and mitigate issues, ensuring the successful implementation and completion of participation and learning projects.
•    An innovative and collaborative producer with the ability to deliver the Creative Collaboration strategic vision alongside the wider Barbican Arts Programme.

What We Offer
•    Barbican Membership
•    Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
•    28 days annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing with service
•    Access to Barbican Centre discounts including offers at the Barbican Shop and hospitality outlets
•    City Corporation staff benefits and discounts throughout the City of London, including at Tower Bridge, Guildhall Art Gallery and others
•    Reciprocal entry to a number of galleries and museums across London
•    Employee volunteering scheme (up to 2 days per year)
•    A vibrant, creative, inclusive workplace at one of the world’s leading arts centres

About School of Hard Knocks

School of Hard Knocks (SOHK) is one of the UK’s leading education charities, working in 29 secondary schools across England, Scotland, and Wales. Using rugby as a key delivery tool, we support young people who are struggling to engage in early secondary education - often because of anxiety, low confidence, disrupted home lives, or behavioural challenges rooted in trauma. For many of the children we support, life has already brought more hardship than most adults experience in a lifetime. Our purpose is clear: to help young people facing complex challenges break the cycle and move towards a safer, stronger, more hopeful future.

The SOHK Schools Programme is a two-year intervention working with cohorts of around 20 pupils from Year 7 through to Year 9. Pupils are selected by the school and are typically among the hardest to reach young people. Each week, we deliver half a day of rugby training and classroom sessions built around our 3Cs framework, covering topics such as growth mindset, goal setting, and decision-making, alongside monthly one-to-one sessions with every pupil. The programme’s impact is evaluated by SOHK staff, teachers, parents, and the pupils themselves.

90% of our participants report feeling more confident and more engaged with school after taking part, with long-term effects on attendance, attainment, and life outcomes. Find out more about our Schools Programme.

Since 2023, SOHK has been proud to partner with Impetus, a charity that invests in and supports organisations helping young people from disadvantaged backgrounds succeed. This partnership combines investment with strategic and organisational development support, helping to strengthen our impact and set SOHK up for sustainable growth.

We are proud to be delivering long-term programmes that meaningfully reach hundreds of young people each year - but the societal need is vast. Our ambitious four-year strategic plan targets growth, aiming to bring our impactful programme to hundreds more young people each year.

“Despite the usual challenges that every education or sport for development charity faces, School of Hard Knocks really is unique. It is not so much what we deliver at a programme level (which is of course brilliant) but who we are as a team. If you are a values-led leader and love the idea of ‘team’, then School of Hard Knocks is the place for you.”

- Ken Cowen, Founder and outgoing CEO

The Role

The CEO is the public face and leader of SOHK, responsible for the overall strategic direction, vision, and management of the charity - ensuring SOHK meets its mission and strategic objectives while maintaining strong relationships with Trustees, staff, supporters, and the wider SOHK community. We’re looking for a mission-driven charity leader and effective fundraiser, capable of building a sustainable growth model.

Strategy and Direction

● Be the face and voice of the charity - its principal ambassador

● Lead the development and periodic review of SOHK’s strategy with the Trustees and Senior Management Team

● Translate the 2026-30 strategy into organisational priorities, plans, and goals

● Ensure safeguarding, wellbeing, and the lived experience of young people remain central to every decision and growth plan

Programme Delivery, Quality and Impact

● Hold a high bar for programme quality and outcomes for young people

● Line-manage and support the Director of Programmes, working with delivery teams and partners to build a world-class, evidence-based intervention

● Ensure SOHK can evidence the impact of its programmes, with insights feeding back into constant improvement

Income Generation, Fundraising and External Relations

● Lead income generation across trusts and foundations, corporate partnerships, individual giving, and challenges and events

● Line-manage and support the Head of Fundraising in executing a comprehensive fundraising strategy

● Hold senior relationships with funders and partners, building SOHK’s brand, reputation, and profile

Leading People, Culture and Operations

● Build and lead a high-performing Senior Management Team

● Foster a positive, inclusive, high-performing culture aligned with SOHK’s values

● Line-manage and support the Director of Finance & Operations, ensuring operational excellence

Governance and the Board

● Act as the primary link between the organisation and the Trustees

● Attend all Trustee meetings (held quarterly) and provide timely, accurate reporting

● Ensure compliance with all legal, regulatory, and Charity Commission requirements

About You

Essential

● Proven senior leadership experience in the charity, education, youth, or social impact sector - whether as CEO or as part of an executive team - including working directly with a Board of Trustees

● Demonstrated success in building or significantly growing an organisation, programme, or initiative

● A collaborative and values-led leadership style, with the ability to inspire trust, hold people to account, and build high-performing teams

● Strong track record of income generation, including securing significant funding from trusts, foundations, corporates, or major donors

● Experience of financial oversight, budgeting, and organisational planning at a senior level

● Strategic thinker, able to translate vision into clear plans and delivery

● Strong relationship-builder and communicator, confident with a wide range of stakeholders

Desirable

● Previous charity CEO experience - a bonus, but not essential; we know brilliant candidates come from a wide range of backgrounds

● Direct classroom, youth work, or education leadership experience

● Knowledge of the UK education system and youth policy landscape

● Experience of scaling a multi-site delivery organisation and working with local authorities

Personal Attributes

● Deep commitment to improving outcomes for young people, especially those facing disadvantage

● Resilient and persistent, able to work under pressure and navigate setbacks

● Collaborative, open, and reflective leader who seeks feedback and learns from it

Terms of Appointment

Contract type

Full-time, permanent

Location

Greater London, with offices in Edinburgh & Cardiff

Salary

£85,000 – £90,000 per year + £5,000 PRP

Reports to

Chair of the Board of Trustees

Direct reports

Director of Programmes; Head of Fundraising; Director of Finance & Operations

Travel

Regular UK travel, primarily to Edinburgh and Cardiff. Occasional evenings for stakeholder engagement and fundraising events

Trustee meetings

Quarterly, in London, in the evening, plus ad hoc subcommittees

Reporting to: Principal
Line managing: Site Manager, Professional Services team (Student Recruitment and Communications Manager and Office staff), IT Manager
Key Relationships: Senior Management Team, Head of Access to Learning, the Chair and Trustees of the City & Guilds of London Art School, Chair and Trustees of the City and Guilds Art School Property Trust
 

Main purpose of role:
The Director of Operations is an important, senior role at the Art School, responsible for supporting the Principal in the delivery of the Strategic Vision and to monitor the progress of its objectives. They are responsible for the efficient and effective management of internal resources and stakeholders, and will act as the deputy to the Principal in all matters excluding academic. They will also contribute to the oversight of recruitment of students and staff.
The Director of Operations provides vision and professional leadership of registry, professional services, IT, admissions, as well as the management of compliance, HR, and the Art School’s technical tutors. They have some oversight of marketing inasfar as it relates to recruitment. The Director of Operations is the key liaison with the Property Trust, which is the official landlord for the Art School and the governing body that oversees the main buildings at our site in Kennington. They are the lead person, responsible for the OfS return and so it is anticipated that the successful candidate would have a level of quality assurance experience and familiarity with policy oversight.

The Art School is an independent educational charity with approximately 300 students and 100 members of staff. The Art School is entering a new strategic planning cycle that will see us growing our profile and portfolio; expanding our international links and external partnerships; and, deepening our civic impact on our neighborhood in Kennington and further afield.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The main duties and responsibilities of the post are:
Leadership and Strategy

• Supporting the Principal in the delivery of the Strategic Vision for the Art School
• Working closely with the Head of Finance to allocate resources in line with the Art School improvement plan
• Oversee the management of and communication with, internal stakeholders of the School

Compliance and Governance

• Ensure that the systems and processes employed by the Art School comply with legal, audit and regulatory requirements,
• Oversee Risk Management, including Health & Safety compliance;
• Champion and oversee EDI across the Art School;
• Monitor the Art School’s performance against strategic objectives;
• Attend meetings of the Board of Trustees and relevant Committees, providing effective and timely reporting, proactive advice and support;
• Have overall responsibility for operational strategy including and policy management;
• To be the Art School ‘point of contact’ to the Property Trust;
• Manage legal and related matters as and when they arise.

Registry

• Oversee the team that handles student registry, academic administration and affairs, compliance and all non-academic matters of student experience;
• Ensure the accurate and timely submission of statutory and regulatory returns (e.g. to the Office for Students, Higher Education Statistics Agency, Office of the Independent Adjudicator for HE, Student Loans Company, UKVI etc);
• Act as the primary liaison for the Art School’s validating partners (Arts University Bournemouth, University of the Arts London Awarding Body);
• Act as Secretary to the Academic Board and oversee the arrangements for Art School Examination Boards;

Operations

• Implementation of HR processes and systems, seeking external advice as appropriate;
• Recruitment and line management of operational staff;
• Lead the process for the Art School’s annual staff appraisal scheme (Individual Performance Review) recommending associated staff development and training activities as agreed with the Principal;
• Day-to-day oversight of the professional teams managing the Estate, Technical Resources and IT infrastructure, and lead strategic planning relevant to these areas;
• Chair the Art School’s Site and Environment Committee;
• Manage the relationship with the Property Trust on a day-to-day basis.

External Profile and Recruitment

• Supporting the Principal to ensure successful student recruitment, working collaboratively with other academics;
• Development of the Art School’s activities (including commercial activities), short courses and profile;
• Oversee the Health & Safety and other logistical aspects of public events such as Degree Show

Additional Duties and Responsibilities

• Deputise where appropriate for the Principal;
• Lead and undertake Health and Safety duties and responsibilities appropriate to the role;
• Undertake other duties of a reasonable nature, as may be determined by the post holder’s line manager from time to time, in consultation with the post holder.

It is the duty of the post holder not to act in a prejudicial or discriminatory manner towards members of staff, students, visitors or members of the public. The post holder should also counteract such practice or behaviour in others by challenging and reporting it.
This is a description of the job as it is presently constituted. It is the Art School’s practice to periodically review job descriptions to ensure that they accurately reflect the job that is required to be performed, or to incorporate proposed reasonable changes following negotiation with the postholder.

We have an opportunity for a highly motivated HR professional leading a strong HR advice and support team. The team is focused on advising and supporting our managers and staff across the organisation to maximise the performance and positive impact of our people. You will ensure that the HR service is highly responsive to current and future corporate and regional business needs and priorities. You will be based in our highly regarded, Investors in People Platinum, HR team in Creative Support’s friendly and accessible Head Office located in Stockport town centre.

You will promote the highest levels of internal and external customer care, positive person-centred values and a respectful, confidential approach. This job will offer great job satisfaction to people who enjoy hard work and achieving great outcomes for our business and our people. A commitment to continuous improvement is essential.

With the support of the Head of People and Performance, you will lead a small team of staff to deliver high quality, holistic HR advice and support aligned to our core values, business needs and priorities in the areas of:

- Employee engagement

- Employee communications

- Competence, capability and performance management

- Conduct and discipline at work

- Attendance and sickness management

- Welfare support and stress prevention/management

- Employee health and wellbeing

- People motivation, satisfaction and retention

- Employee career development and upskilling

- Workplace inclusion and diversity

- Relationships with workplace representatives/trade unions

- Promoting a positive and productive working culture

You will need to demonstrate significant HR experience and demonstrable expertise in the areas listed above. You will be able to lead and motivate a team and to empower each team member to flourish and develop in skills and confidence. Applicants should be personable, solution and outcome-focused and able to engage positively with staff and managers at all levels. You will need to be able to communicate clearly and professionally and you will demonstrate your people focused values in your practice.  

You will have excellent organisational skills with the ability to prioritise and manage a busy personal caseload. You will have a good eye for detail, be able to manage data and produce professional reports derived from spreadsheets and databases. A good standard of written English is required. A degree or comparable level of education is desirable. You must have gained, or be working towards a recognised accredited HR qualification. We can offer opportunities to develop your professional career in HR by offering support for further professional training as well as investment in soft skills.

The willingness to travel to any of our sites and offices across the country is essential, but it is not necessary to be a car driver. Your duties may be carried out mainly in office hours from Monday to Friday but some flexibility in working hours is required. Full Time and Part Time hours will be considered.

Vacancy Reference Number: 84519

Applications for this role must be submitted via the Creative Support website using the above vacancy reference number

We are a passionate, inclusive, and anti-racist organization - Stonewall Diversity Champion, Disability Confident Employer who have recently received Investors in People Gold awarded.

Applications are reviewed as they are received, we do not provide feedback for unsuccessful applications. We can only accept applications from candidates who are located in and eligible to work within the UK.

Rural Media is a Herefordshire-based charity and production company that empowers rural young people and underserved communities to find their voice, develop their creative talent and use digital creativity to drive social change. Through our proven creative participation model, developed and refined over three decades, we support early-career creative talent, young rural people and underserved groups to gain the skills, confidence, and platforms for personal growth and societal change.

Over the next three years, Rural Media Charity will focus on two interconnected strategic priorities:

• Youth Voice & Social Change – Supporting young rural people to drive social change through digital creativity, challenging stereotypes, influencing policy, and becoming leaders and changemakers in their communities
• Early-Career Artists/Creatives & Digital Platforms – Supporting early-career creatives from rural, regional and underserved communities to develop their practice, thrive on digital platforms, and build professional creative careers

Rural Media is looking for an ambitious Strategic Partnerships Manager to build a brand-new corporate partnerships function from the ground up. This is a rare opportunity to shape a role from scratch, backed by our CEO/Creative Director and a Strategic Partnerships Consultant, generating a six-figure income stream that will directly fuel our work with rural young people and underserved communities.

Working closely with our Development Director, Head of Youth Programmes and Head of Production, you'll identify, secure and grow partnerships with businesses who share our commitment to rural equality and youth opportunity — turning first conversations into lasting, mutually valuable relationships with a particular focus on supporting young people not in education, employment or training into real opportunities in the creative sector.

This is a varied role combining prospecting, pitching, negotiation, stewardship and ambassadorial work – whether that's crafting a partnership proposition, presenting to a board, or reporting back to a corporate supporter on the impact of their support.

We're looking for someone who is:

• A proven relationship-builder with a track record of generating income, sponsorship or partnership value.

• Confident engaging and influencing senior stakeholders, including at director and board level.

• Skilled at developing compelling proposals, pitches and cases for support.

• Comfortable managing a varied pipeline from first contact through to signed agreement.

• Excited about widening opportunity for young people and underrepresented communities through corporate partnership.

At Rural Media, you'll join a friendly, ambitious team committed to using creativity to change lives and widen access to careers in the screen industries. If you'd like to help build a new income stream that transforms young lives, we'd love to hear from you.

To apply:

• Visit our website

• Deadline for applications: 9am 10th October

• Start date: Mid-late November

We are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion, and welcome applications from all backgrounds regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion, or socioeconomic background. We particularly encourage applications from underrepresented groups. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the application or interview process — such as accessible formats, extra time, or alternative ways to communicate — please contact Mel and she will be happy to accommodate you.