63 Head of HR and office manager jobs

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. 

This is a varied and rewarding role supporting both the Director of Collections and Research and the Secretary to the Board and Head of Governance. The successful candidate will play a key role in supporting governance processes, executive activity, strategic priorities and day-to-day operations, while working closely with senior stakeholders across the Gallery and external partners.

You'll provide high-quality coordination, administration and organisational support across a wide range of governance, research, collections, stakeholder engagement and project-related activities, helping to ensure the effective delivery of key priorities across the organisation.
If you're highly organised, proactive and enjoy working in a fast-paced environment with a broad range of responsibilities, we'd love to hear from you.

Providence Row is recruiting a Trusts and Foundations Coordinator. Founded in 1860, we are an established charity that delivers support for individuals who are homeless and rough sleepers.

Job located at The Dellow Centre, London E1 7SA.

Auto enrolment from day one into the People’s Pension.

The role will help secure a fundraising target to enable the wider work of Providence Row in support of people experiencing homelessness. Also to research new supporters and carefully managing, developing and stewarding these, and existing, partnerships.

Closing date is Monday 12 October 2026.

To apply, please upload your CV with a covering letter detailing how you meet the person specification.

• £78.131 - £87,344 FTE per annum (dependent on experience)
• Full time, 35 hours per week
• Permanent contract
• This role is available as a job share, subject to appointing two suitable candidates

About the role

London-based roles: London-based contract with the option of hybrid working between the office and home.

An exciting opportunity to join the leadership group of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP), helping shape how we use our resources to maximise our impact for members and the patients and communities they serve. 

As Assistant Director, Head of Finance and Operations, you will provide strategic and operational leadership across finance, facilities, operations and procurement, ensuring the CSP has the insight, capability and infrastructure to deliver its strategy and remain financially and operationally sustainable. 

This is much more than a traditional finance leadership role. You will be a key strategic partner to the Director of Corporate Services and Infrastructure and the wider Leadership Team, providing constructive challenge, clear financial and operational insight, and practical recommendations to support confident decision-making. You will lead business partnering across the organisation, ensuring resources are aligned to priorities, opportunities and risks. 

You will lead financial and operational planning, including budgets, forecasts and management accounts, while maintaining strong controls, compliance and risk management. You will also lead significant organisation-wide projects and programmes of change, including procurement, business continuity, operational resilience and improvements to systems, processes and ways of working. 

You will lead a team of around 10 colleagues, creating a culture of trust, empowerment, accountability and continuous improvement, while working across the organisation through matrix leadership. 

We are looking for a qualified accountant with significant senior-level experience across finance and operations, a track record of transformation and systems improvement, and the ability to communicate complex issues clearly. 

Above all, you will be an inclusive, collaborative leader, motivated by the opportunity to work in a values-led organisation and help the CSP make the greatest possible difference. 

Working arrangements

Hybrid working

The CSP operates a hybrid working model, allowing employees to work between their home and the office. While we do not stipulate the number of days in the office, employees can decide, through discussions with their line managers, how, when, and where they work best, balancing the needs of the CSP, the team, and themselves. Employees are still expected to attend the office for in-person meetings when required for their role and the organisation. Homeworking is subject to meeting homeworking assessment requirements, which include a minimum broadband speed of 18Mbps and a dedicated space to work from.

Flexible working

We currently have employees working part-time, job share, compressed hours, adjusted start and finish times, and other non-standard working patterns. We are open to considering alternative arrangements and would welcome discussion with successful candidates about any specific flexibility they may require, subject to organisational needs. 

Why work for the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy?

The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) is the professional, educational and trade union body for the UK's 67,000 chartered physiotherapists, physiotherapy students and support workers; and one of the largest representative bodies in healthcare.

At the CSP, our goal is to create a culture characterised by innovation, respect, encouragement, passion and teamwork. We all strive for continuous improvement and to deliver the best possible outcomes for our members. We aspire to work in a way that embodies our values of learning, courage, inclusive and integrity. Our shared values are part of our organisational DNA, reflecting the expectations we have of ourselves and others. They guide what we do and how we do it, to have the greatest impact for our members. Please click here for further information. 

We offer an excellent benefits package, including:

• 27 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays (pro rata)
• Office closure between 25 December and 01 January
• A generous pension scheme with 12% employer contribution

How to apply

Please click on the ‘Apply online’ tab below and complete the online application form. CVs will not be accepted.

As part of the application process, candidates will be asked to provide written responses to six criteria, which can be found in the Candidate Information Pack. Please note, whilst the application form has space for 6 criteria, this role has specified five - please N/A the final box.  

Closing date: 10am, 1 October 2026.
Shortlisting outcome: w/c 5 October 2026.
First-round interview date: w/c 12 October 2026.

Equality, Diversity and Belonging

Accessibility and adjustments

To support an equitable and accessible recruitment experience, we actively encourage candidates to let us know if they require any reasonable adjustments during the application or interview stages. Please contact HR, and we will work with you to meet your needs.

Disability Confident Scheme

As part of the Disability Confident Scheme, candidates who declare a disability and meet the six essential criteria we have selected will normally be shortlisted for interview. There may be occasions, such as having a high-volume of applications, where it is not possible to interview all Disability Confident candidates who meet the six selected essential criteria for the role. We may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both candidates with and without disabilities. In these circumstances, we will ensure that a proportionate number of disabled candidates are shortlisted for interview.

Our commitment to equity, diversity and belonging

The CSP is committed to equity of opportunity, aiming to provide a working and learning environment free from discrimination. We are taking appropriate steps to create a workforce that reflects the diverse society in which we work and live in. Therefore, we particularly encourage applications from candidates under-represented in the CSP’s workforce, including those from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, those with disabilities and LGBTQIA+ people. Please note, all candidates will be expected to actively demonstrate their commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Belonging throughout the application and interview stages. To view our equity, diversity and belonging strategy, please visit the website. 

NO AGENCIES

University College, Oxford (Univ), is seeking an ambitious and experienced fundraising professional to lead and develop our established regular and individual giving programme. 

It is an exciting time to join the College and become part of our high-performing, supportive fundraising and alumni relations team.

The well-established regular giving programme has a strong track record from telephone fundraising appeals to direct mail, online campaigns, Giving Days and face-to-face asks. Regular giving makes an important contribution to the College providing crucial support for core activities enabling us to continue to deliver world-class teaching, research and student support.

The post-holder will take strategic ownership of regular and individual giving, developing targeted campaigns to increase participation, grow philanthropic income and strengthen long-term relationships with alumni and friends.  You will also lead the development and stewardship of the 1249 Society, using data and donor insight to increase membership and retention.

The post-holder will need to be a self-starter who is highly organised, innovative and able to work on their own initiative.  You will have a keen eye for detail, strong data skills, excellent communication skills and the ability to communicate with a wide range of people with tact and sensitivity.

This post is offered on a full-time or part-time basis.  We offer a generous annual leave allowance, free lunch, an employee assistance programme and a range of other benefits.

If you're looking for a busy role where every day is varied and challenging, this could be the perfect role for you.

For more information about how to apply, please read the Further Particulars below or click the “Redirect to recruiter” button above.

Location: Somerset Heritage Centre, Brunel Way, Norton Fitzwarren, Taunton, TA2 6SF
Salary: £39,909
Hours: 37 hours per week, Monday to Friday (occasional evening and weekend work)
Contract: Permanent

To apply please complete the South West Heritage Trust application form which can be found together with the recruitment pack in the links at the bottom of this advert. Please note that CVs are not accepted as applications

About the role

South West Heritage Trust is seeking an experienced and motivated Fundraising Manager to help strengthen our long-term financial sustainability and grow our charity fundraising activity. This is an exciting opportunity to join the Trust at a key point in its development and to shape our approach to fundraising as our first dedicated fundraising professional.

Working closely with colleagues across the organisation, the Fundraising Manager will identify and secure funding from trusts and foundations, develop opportunities for individual giving and legacy support, and establish effective systems and processes to support successful charity fundraising. The role will build a strong pipeline of funding opportunities to support exhibitions, learning programmes, collections work and the Trust’s wider strategic priorities.

This post sits within the Central Services team and reports to the Head of Development and Partnerships.
The South West Heritage Trust is a charity which delivers a broad range of heritage services across Somerset and Devon. We are a growing organisation, founded on services that were previously delivered by Somerset and Devon County Councils. With a turnover exceeding £5 million, we manage and run three museums (including the Museum of Somerset), two Archives and Local Studies services and look after the historic environment in Somerset.

We are committed to building an organisation as diverse as the communities we serve. Your application for this role will be welcomed whatever your background and regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, and marriage or civil partnership.

If you would like to have an informal discussion or experience any difficulties with the recruitment process, please contact Ann Bradford (HR and Governance Manager)

Interim Head of People 

Specialist charity supporting vulnerable people across London 

Salary: £55,000 FTE (pro rata for six months) 
Contract: Fixed-term, six months 
Location: London | Hybrid working (1 day per week in the London office) 

We are partnering with a specialist charity delivering vital frontline services to vulnerable people. As the organisation continues to evolve and strengthen its services, we are seeking an experienced Interim Head of People to lead and develop its people function during a critical period of organisational growth and transformation. 

Reporting to the Director of Finance & Governance and working closely with the CEO and Senior Leadership Team, you will provide both strategic and operational leadership across all areas of people management, organisational development, employee relations, workforce planning and culture. 

This is a hands-on role, ideal for an experienced HR professional who can balance day-to-day operational delivery with longer-term organisational development priorities. 

You must be available to start immediately. 

About you

We are looking for a collaborative and credible senior HR leader with: 

 Significant experience leading a people function at senior management or Head of People level. 

A strong track record of developing and implementing people strategies that support organisational objectives. 

Experience advising senior leaders, Boards and executive teams on complex people matters. 

Extensive experience managing employee relations, organisational change and workforce transformation programmes. 

Strong workforce planning, organisational development and culture change experience. 

Excellent leadership, stakeholder management and influencing skills. 

Sound knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice. 

Experience using workforce data and people analytics to drive improvement. 

The ability to operate strategically while remaining hands-on and delivery focused. 

A commitment to fostering an inclusive, positive, and high-performing workplace culture.  

To apply 

Please send your CV to Alex Williams, Director of Not for Profit at Giving Back Recruitment. 

Closing date: Tuesday 22 September 2026 

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and early applications are strongly encouraged. 

Location: Hybrid: Turn2us London Hub (Farringdon) & homeworking Turn2us is a national charity tackling financial insecurity and its structural causes. We work with co-producers and partners to provide people in financial crisis with the means and agency to get back on their feet, build resilience, move forward with their lives and thrive.

As an equal opportunities employer, we are committed to equity, inclusion and diversity and the value people from different backgrounds bring to a team. If, like us, you believe everyone has the right to have enough to live on, and you are ambitious about eradicating financial insecurity, join us and build your career with a charity dedicated to ensuring dignity and equity for all.

About this role

The Head of People & Culture plays a pivotal role in shaping and delivering Turn2us’s people strategy. Working closely with the Director of People, Culture and Governance, the postholder leads a compassionate, forward-thinking team that champions inclusion, wellbeing and belonging across the organisation. They will drive initiatives that attract, develop and retain talented people, fostering an environment where everyone feels valued, supported and connected to Turn2us’s mission of achieving financial security for all. Through strategic leadership, innovative people practices and a strong commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, the Head of People & Culture ensures that organisational culture, learning, and policies enable every individual to thrive and contribute meaningfully to the charity’s goals.

About you

The Head of People & Culture must demonstrate strong leadership and people management skills, with the ability to inspire collaboration, compassion and accountability across multiple projects and teams. Excellent communication and influencing skills are vital, along with the capacity to balance strategic priorities with hands-on delivery in a fast-paced, evolving environment. The successful candidate will bring proven experience in managing employee relations, driving cultural and organisational change, and embedding equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging across all people practices. They should be skilled in using HR systems and data to inform decisions and deliver measurable outcomes. Experience of leading complex, cross-organisational initiatives and a commitment to Turn2us’s mission of financial security for all are essential We offer flexible working patterns, both in terms of hours and remote working. Please note that all employees are required to work from the office a minimum of 1 day a week.

Some roles may be required to be in the office more often than others and this will be agreed with the hiring manager upon starting at Turn2us.

Please note that all job offers are subject to 2 – 3 satisfactory references and a disclosure satisfactory to Turn2us from the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS).

Closing date: 22/09/26 11:59PM

1st Interview date: 08/10/26 (in person)

Role Purpose

The Fundraising Manager will drive fundraising growth for YMCA Lincolnshire, a well-established charity working to improve the lives of children and young people, families, local communities and those at risk of homelessness.

Reporting to the Head of Income Generation, you will lead the delivery of YMCA Lincolnshire's Fundraising Strategy and be responsible for achieving agreed income targets across a diverse range of income streams. You will grow income through individual giving, corporate partnerships, trusts and foundations, community fundraising, events and campaigns, while strengthening donor stewardship, supporter journeys and the effective use of our Beacon CRM.

Working collaboratively with colleagues across the organisation, you will translate service delivery outcomes into compelling cases for support and build meaningful relationships with supporters, funders, businesses and community groups. You will ensure all fundraising activity is compliant, insight-led and aligned with YMCA Lincolnshire's mission, values and strategic objectives.

The closing date is Friday 25th September 2026 at 5pm.

Applications will be shortlisted as they are submitted, so this position may close early should the right candidate be found.

Head of Operations 

Bath | c.£47,000 – £49,000 | Full-time | Permanent

Are you an experienced operational leader who enjoys bringing people, processes and systems together to make an organisation work better?

We’re working with a fantastic Bath-based education charity to recruit a new Head of Operations at an exciting point in its development.

This is a broad and influential role, overseeing the organisation’s central operations across finance, facilities, data and insight, and administration. You’ll manage a team of experienced functional leads and create the effective ‘engine room’ that allows the wider organisation to focus on delivering for its beneficiaries.

The role

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive, you’ll take responsibility for the smooth and effective running of central operations, with a particular focus on finance and financial planning, alongside organisational resilience, risk, compliance and continuous improvement.

Your responsibilities will include:

· Leading and developing a multi-disciplinary operations team

· Overseeing the finance function, including financial management, reporting and compliance

· Leading the annual budgeting, financial planning and resource allocation process

· Overseeing facilities, infrastructure, data and central administration

· Leading on operational risk, business continuity and regulatory compliance

· Improving systems, processes and ways of working across the organisation

· Supporting annual planning, organisational development and strategic delivery

· Working closely with the Chief Executive, senior leadership team and Trustees

· Managing relationships with external consultants, suppliers and other key partners

· Helping build a collaborative, effective and continuously improving organisational culture

The role has significant breadth, but you don’t need to be a technical specialist in every area. We’re looking for someone with the judgement to know when to lead directly, when to draw on the expertise within their team and when external support is required.

About you 

This could suit someone from an operations, finance or facilities background who has progressed into broader organisational leadership.

You’ll need significant experience of managing across multiple functions, alongside a track record of leading teams and improving systems and processes.

You should also be comfortable overseeing budgets and financial processes, managing risk and compliance, and working with external suppliers or professional advisers. Experience within a charity, education, membership or other mission-driven environment would be particularly valuable.

Most importantly, we’re looking for a practical and solutions-focused leader who enjoys bringing different functions together. Someone who can see the bigger picture but is equally comfortable getting involved when needed, building strong relationships and maintaining momentum through change.

This is a new role within an organisation already midway through an ambitious development programme, so there is a genuine opportunity to influence how the organisation operates in the future.

Salary: c.£47,000 – £49,000
Location: Bath – predominantly campus-based with some flexibility for remote working
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full-time

Closing date: 21st September 2026

If you’re looking for a broad leadership role where you can make a tangible difference to how a values-led organisation works, we’d love to hear from you.

We’re looking for an inspiring Head of Community Delivery to join our London-based team. This is a senior leadership role within our Delivery Team, where you’ll play a key part in shaping and delivering AllChild’s place-based programmes, ensuring they create meaningful and lasting impact across your region.

Across the UK, millions of children and young people are facing complex social and emotional challenges. AllChild works within local communities and wider support systems to identify and support children and young people most at risk of poor social, emotional and academic outcomes. Through our two-year Impact Programme, we help build a joined-up network of support around each child and family, working in partnership with schools, local services and community organisations.

For further information, please view the Job Pack.

To apply, please visit our website via the Apply button.

Closing date: 25 September 2026.

We recognise that candidates may use AI tools to support research and check grammar. However, we ask that all supporting statements and application responses reflect your own thoughts and experiences. Over-reliance on AI may limit our ability to assess your individual skills, critical thinking, and personal approach, which are important parts of our selection process.

As Innovation Strategy Manager you will lead in helping Battersea learn, experiment and develop new solutions to drive forward our strategic priorities, keeping us relevant, future-focused and generating ever greater impact.

All work is delivered through creativity, collaboration within and outside of Battersea and a deep understanding of our target audiences, balancing ambition and pragmatism.

Why the role exists:

This is a rare opportunity to lead in helping Battersea learn, experiment and develop new solutions to positively impact the lives of cats, dogs, and their owners for years to come. You’ll bring strong strategic thinking, innovation expertise, service design, and leadership skills to an environment focused on meaningful social impact, working alongside a team of smart, compassionate, and experienced colleagues.

This role focuses on broad, organisation-wide innovation - spanning our services, operations, supporter offering, and income generation - with a clear focus on delivering outcomes for animals and the people who care for them. It is not a specialist digital or fundraising role; instead, it centres on identifying the right problems and shaping effective responses. While some initiatives will involve digital elements (and an understanding of this is useful), delivery is carried out by specialist teams both in-house and externally.

Success in this role means identifying high-impact opportunities, aligning stakeholders around them, and ensuring they are taken forward effectively - supporting pilots and implementation where appropriate.

What we can offer you:

In return for your commitment to our cause and to recognise the value of our employees, Battersea offers a range of benefits to support the wellbeing of our employees. These include:

• 28 days of annual leave (plus 8 days paid public holidays) per year.
• Discounted gym memberships and cycle to work schemes.
• Employee Assistance Programme and access to Wellbeing Resources.
• Generous pension contributions - up to 10% employer contribution.
• Free healthcare cash plan, where you can claim for a range of treatment including dental, optical, physiotherapy, chiropody and acupuncture every year.
• Annual interest-free season ticket loans.

We are also committed to providing learning and development to our employees. During your time with us, we provide support for your professional and career development, including access to digital and in-person training programmes, leadership and management training, mentoring and much more.

Our hybrid working model:

We operate a 50% onsite hybrid working model, with our office-based staff splitting their time between site based and home working. This enables our office-based staff to balance the benefits of home working with onsite collaboration and maintaining a connection to our cause.

Diversity and inclusion:

We are committed to providing a welcoming and inclusive experience for all staff, volunteers and trustees and those hoping to join us. We operate an anonymised shortlisting process and actively seek to ensure our process is fair and equitable for all.

We understand the value of diverse voices, perspectives, and experiences to help us deliver even more for our dogs and cats, and we welcome applicants from all sections of the community.

As a Disability Confident Committed Employer we will ask about any adjustments you may need at application and/or interview stage, and if you are offered a role with us, we’ll talk to you about any workplace adjustments you may need to help you perform at your best. Greyscale copies of the recruitment pack are also available on request.

More about us:

At Battersea, we aim to never turn away a dog or cat in need of help. We give each one lots of love, expert care and get to know their characters and quirks so we can find them a new home that’s just right for them. Join us and help us be here for every dog and cat, wherever they are, for as long as they need us.

Acceptable use of AI:

At Battersea, we value expertise. We recognise each candidate that applies to us will have a range of expertise they can offer us, so we want to hear about this in your own words. We understand the support that generative artificial intelligence (AI) software can offer but it can also lead to numerous applications presenting as generic and impersonal. This makes it difficult to gain understanding of your unique experience.

To best showcase yourself, we encourage you to write your responses without the assistance of AI. If you require the use of AI software to aid in completing your application, we ask you use the generative responses as a prompt for writing your answers and avoid copying and pasting. You must also ensure the information presented in your application accurately reflects your experience. 

Closing date: 22nd September 2026

All applications must be submitted before the closing date advertised. We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of applications is received.

Interview date(s):
First Round (online): 30th September & 1st October 2026
Second Round (in-person): To be confirmed

For more information about the role, please download our Recruitment pack.

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

Are you looking for a rewarding role within an intersectional feminist organisation? We have an incredible opportunity for a People & Culture Coordinator to join Solace Women’s Aid.

Solace exists to end the harm done through gender-based violence. We work to prevent violence and abuse and provide services to meet the individual needs of survivors, particularly women and children.

Our core values reflect our history and were developed in consultation with staff and service users. Feminism and intersectionality are key to our work, and we are committed to the principles of being survivor-led, trauma-informed, empowering, diverse, anti-racist and anti-discriminatory.

About the Service

We are on an ambitious journey to strengthen and modernise our People & Culture function, moving beyond traditional HR support to build a proactive, inclusive and high-performing culture across the organisation.

Alongside supporting the day-to-day realities of a complex frontline charity, we are leading a broad programme of improvement and transformation across people systems, workforce planning, leadership capability, employee experience, organisational development and service delivery.

About the Role

The People & Culture Coordinator provides high-quality administrative and coordination support across core People & Culture processes, ensuring that employee lifecycle activities, documentation and systems are delivered accurately and efficiently.

The role focuses on the operational delivery of people processes and supports compliance through accurate record-keeping, timely processing, and effective use of P&C systems.

About You

You'll bring solid experience of providing excellent HR support within a busy People and Culture team, and you'll know first hand what it takes to keep things running smoothly under pressure. You're flexible and responsive by nature, comfortable using your own initiative and exercising good judgement. You can manage a busy and varied workload without losing sight of deadlines, and you understand that getting the basics right consistently and accurately.

Additional Information

This is a hybrid role, with a minimum requirement to work two days per week at our Head Office in Camden and the remainder working remotely.

This is a 12 month fixed term contract to cover maternity leave.

What we can offer you

We provide a comprehensive benefits package to all our employees, including:

• Flexible working
• Focus on learning and development (internal career progression and training)
• Generous holiday entitlement
• Employer pension contribution
• Family-friendly leave and enhanced maternity pay
• Access to Inclusion Networks
• Daily clinical debriefing
• Two paid wellbeing days
• Employee Assistance Programme providing free 24/7 support and advice
• Employee Benefits Platform offering staff discounts, benefits, and savings
• Flow & Restore yoga classes
• Meditation sessions
• Cycle to Work Scheme

How to apply

Please submit your CV and Supporting Statement through the recruitment portal. When applying for this role, kindly highlight in your Supporting Statement how your values, knowledge, transferable skills, and experience align with each point within the following sections of the Job Profile Document:

• Values, Behaviours & Competencies
• Knowledge, Experience and Skills

Solace Women's Aid values diversity, promotes equity, and challenges discrimination. We encourage and welcome applications from candidates of diverse cultures, abilities, perspectives, and lived experiences.

We have policies and processes in place to ensure that all employees are offered an equal opportunity in recruitment and selection, promotion, training, pay, and benefits. Our Inclusion Networks support staff with protected characteristics and offer inclusive spaces to connect.

We anticipate and provide reasonable adjustments as needed and support employees who acquire a disability or long-term health condition, enabling them to stay in work.

This service is run by women for women and is therefore restricted to female applicants under the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, Part 1. Section 7(2)(e) of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 applies. The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.

As part of safer recruitment practices, we carry out pre-employment checks including references, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and right to work in the UK checks.

No agencies