Head of operations jobs

The Net Zero Carbon (NZC) Fundraising Administrator will play a vital role in supporting the effective running of the NZC Fundraising team and excellent delivery of the varied portfolio of grants to parishes and dioceses that the NZC Fundraising team offers - principally supporting the Give to Go Green matched funding grant for parishes, and also providing administration for the Regional Fundraising Officer, Accelerator Fund and Community Energy Pilot grants.
The postholder will be the first point of contact for applicants and grantees, provide excellent administrative support for grant making, and personalised customer service for successful Give to Go Green parishes for their matched fundraising campaigns.

They will also support the wider NZC Fundraising team across events, training and resources. The role will report to the Head of Net Zero Carbon Fundraising and maintain strong lines of communication with the Give to Go Green Project Manager and other Net Zero Carbon Fundraising team members in order to develop, support, and maintain robust administrative and operations processes across all the team's work streams.

This is a fixed-term role until 31 December 2028 and is anticipated to continue beyond this date, subject to funding being secured. Internal interviews will be held on 7th September; the external interview date is TBC.

Lead a pioneering national mental-health service for young people, rooted in nature and underpinned by strong clinical practice.

We are seeking an experienced Clinical or Counselling Psychologist to lead its development, accreditation and quality across the UK.

Salary: £57,528–£64,750 full-time equivalent (£34,517–£38,850 0.6 FTE) depending on experience 
Hours: 22.5 hours per week / three days per week
Contract: 18-month fixed term, with intention to extend subject to service growth and funding
Location: Hybrid, with travel to Dose of Nature locations and member organisations across the UK

Dose of Nature is a mental-health charity improving mental health and wellbeing through structured, evidence-informed engagement with nature.

We are developing a Young Person Memberships service for young people and young adults under 25. We will train and support trusted organisations to deliver the Dose of Nature model in their communities, providing the clinical framework, accreditation, supervision, quality assurance and evaluation needed for safe, effective and consistent delivery.

About the role

As Young People’s Clinical Service Lead, you will establish, deliver and grow this new service. Working with our Head of Clinical and Memberships Operations Lead, you will turn our clinical model into a scalable national service while protecting its quality, safety and integrity.

You will lead the clinical assessment and accreditation of member organisations; develop training and competency frameworks; provide supervision and consultation; establish governance, safeguarding and risk arrangements; monitor outcomes and quality; and build trusted relationships with NHS, voluntary-sector, youth-service and community partners.

About you

You will be a current HCPC-registered Clinical or Counselling Psychologist, with a doctoral-level qualification and experience broadly consistent with an NHS Band 8a role.

You will bring:

• Substantial post-qualification experience supporting young people or young adults experiencing mental-health difficulties;

• Strong skills in psychological assessment, formulation, intervention, clinical decision-making, safeguarding and risk management;

• Experience providing clinical supervision, consultation or reflective practice to other practitioners;

• Experience designing or delivering clinical training and assessing practitioner competence;

• Experience of developing, implementing or improving a clinical service; and

• The confidence to work across organisational boundaries, maintain clear clinical standards and help build a new national service.

• Experience in CAMHS, young-adult mental health, voluntary-sector provision, clinical governance, quality assurance, accreditation or partnership-led services would be valuable.

We offer hybrid and flexible working, employer pension contribution, pro-rata annual leave, professional supervision, CPD support and approved travel expenses.

Dose of Nature is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. This post is subject to enhanced DBS clearance, references, verification of qualifications and HCPC registration, and eligibility to work in the UK.

Please download the full Job Description and Person Specification before applying.

12-month fixed-term contract | Full-time 

Salary: £58,560 – £71,480 per annum

Hours: 35 per week

Location: Home-based with regular national travel 

Job reference number: 1766

Help shape the future of Cranstoun’s services 

Cranstoun is a social justice and harm reduction charity supporting and empowering people to live healthier and safer lives. Each year, we support more than 45,000 people through services including substance use, criminal justice, domestic abuse, housing and services for children and young people. 

Following a successful five-year strategy and significant growth, we remain ambitious about the difference we can make. As we enter our next phase, we are investing in the leadership and operational capability needed to support our continued development. We are now recruiting an Assistant Directors of Services to join our senior management team. 

This is a significant senior leadership role offering the opportunity to lead substantial service portfolios while helping shape how Cranstoun’s services are led and delivered across the organisation. 

The role 

Reporting to the Director of Operations, you will lead a substantial portfolio of complex commissioned services and senior operational managers. 

You will lead nine services with nine direct reports, spanning criminal justice and housing/homelessness provision. You will have clear accountability for ensuring services are safe, effective and well-led, with strong contractual performance, financial sustainability and positive outcomes for the people and communities we support. 

You will provide operational grip and evidence-based assurance, strengthen safeguarding and management accountability, build effective relationships with commissioners and partners, and ensure risks and underperformance are identified, escalated and addressed early. 

You will also work collectively with fellow senior operational leaders to embed a One Cranstoun approach, strengthening common standards, sharing learning, developing leadership capability and improving quality and resilience across our services. 

What you will be accountable for 

As an Assistant Director, you will take senior operational accountability for: 

• Safe, effective and well-led services – ensuring strong safeguarding, quality, operational risk management and service user outcomes.  
• Contractual performance – ensuring services deliver against contractual requirements and KPIs, with strong commissioner relationships and timely action to address underperformance.  
• Financial sustainability – maintaining strong financial oversight, effective workforce management and oversight of the sustainability of individual contracts.  
• Evidence-based assurance – using reliable performance, quality, workforce and financial information to identify risks and drive improvement.  
• Collective organisational leadership – working beyond individual portfolio boundaries to build consistent standards, stronger leadership and shared ways of working across Cranstoun.  

You will lead and develop senior operational managers, set clear expectations and create a culture in which support and accountability operate together. 

You will also lead and contribute to service mobilisation, transformation, workforce planning and continuous improvement. 

Who we are looking for 

We are looking for established senior operational leaders with substantial experience leading complex commissioned services and geographically dispersed teams. 

You will bring a strong track record of: 

• leading safe, high-quality services for people with complex needs;  
• safeguarding, quality and operational risk management;  
• contract and performance management;  
• managing significant service budgets and improving financial performance;  
• building effective relationships with commissioners, regulators and strategic partners;  
• leading service improvement, mobilisation and organisational change;  
• developing senior operational managers and addressing underperformance; and  
• using performance, quality, workforce and financial information to provide assurance and drive improvement.  

You will need to combine strategic leadership with operational pragmatism, understanding the detail when necessary while maintaining oversight of performance, risk, quality and sustainability across a complex portfolio. 

Above all, we are looking for collaborative, credible and values-led leaders who can support and challenge in equal measure, build leadership capability and bring people together around common standards and organisational priorities. 

Specialist experience 

For this role, you will need significant leadership experience across both Criminal Justice and Housing/Homelessness services, including housing or accommodation-based provision. 

You will understand the complexity of working across criminal justice, housing, local government and other statutory systems and be experienced in building effective relationships with commissioners and partners while maintaining strong operational and contractual oversight. 

This is a 12-month fixed-term appointment at an important stage in Cranstoun’s transformation, offering the opportunity to lead a significant portfolio, strengthen operational performance and help shape the future development of our operating model. 

Be part of Cranstoun’s next chapter 

Our successful five-year strategy has seen Cranstoun grow considerably, extending our reach and the range of services we provide. We remain ambitious and innovative, committed to developing services that respond to the changing needs of people and communities. 

As we look to the future, we are investing in the leadership, operational capability and organisational infrastructure needed to support our continued development, strengthening operational governance, consistency and assurance across our services. 

This role offers the opportunity to do more than manage established portfolios. You will help shape the future of our services and build an Operations Directorate characterised by high standards, clear accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement. 

Find out more 

Please refer to the accompanying recruitment pack for the full Job Description, Person Specification and details of the application process.

Please note: All posts are subject to an Enhanced DBS check.

How to Apply:

For more details and to apply, please visit our website via the apply button. Please quote the appropriate Job Ref in all correspondence.

Applicants must be able to provide satisfactory evidence of their right to work in the UK at the application stage.

Sponsorship is not available for this post. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK that does not require employer sponsorship for the duration of the appointment.

Closing date: Sunday 20 September 2026.

We are an inclusive employer, committed to promoting equality and diversity in all areas of our work. 

Registered Charity No: 1061582

We are currently seeking a Head of Finance Business Partnering to join our developing and newly repositioned Finance team on a permanent basis.

We are committed to improving diversity and inclusion across our organisation. Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and the Global Majority are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single specification. If you’re excited about the role but your experience or qualifications don’t perfectly align, we encourage you to apply anyway. We particularly encourage applications from underrepresented groups such as the global majority, LGBTQA+, those from a working-class background, those with a disability and neurodiverse conditions.

The role:
This role is specifically responsible for delivery of appropriate budget reporting that have been the result of future-focussed, strategic and inclusive business partnering relationships across Shakespeare’s Globe between budget holders and the Finance Business Partner team.

This team needs to be led by someone who understands where the budget holders are, understand their fears and concerns, understand the reasons behind their previous decisions, and hold them to account whilst inspiring them to work differently to achieve the financial budgeting. This role will be working specifically within and joining up the interdependencies of how the work impacts other work, other teams and other expenditure. You will need to be able to identify where budget decisions have been made driven by emotions rather than by the business and strategy. The ability to get buy-in is important whilst ensuring objectivity is essential. We do not need an enabler, we need a gentle and collaborative disruptor.

Shakespeare’s Globe:
We celebrate Shakespeare’s transformative impact on the world by conducting a radical theatrical experiment. Inspired and informed by the unique historic playing conditions of two beautiful iconic theatres, our diverse programme of work harnesses the power of performance, cultivates intellectual curiosity and excites learning to make Shakespeare accessible for all.

Benefits:

• Discount in the Globe shop and onsite restaurants/cafes
• Staff discounts via My Globe perks and better Bankside Buzzcard
• Free entry to selected shows, events and activities
• Access to our free employee assistance programme and 24/7 virtual GP service
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption, and shared parental leave and pay
• Life assurance scheme
• Rental deposit scheme and season ticket loans
• Flu vaccination scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Enhanced employer pension contributions after 12 months service.

To apply:

For more information, please download the job description from this page. To apply, please complete the online application form on our website by 12:00pm (midday) on 10 September 2026.

First round interviews will take place week commencing 5 October 2026.

This is a growth-focused role for someone who enjoys creating systems, solving problems and using data to drive results. You'll own the fundraising CRM (Access ThankQ), leading the development of supporter journeys, marketing automation, data insight and digital processes that help us attract, retain and engage supporters more effectively.

Working across Fundraising and MarComms, you'll help create a culture where data, technology and supporter insight underpin everything we do.

Key Responsibilities

Build and Scale Our CRM & Supporter Experience

• Own and develop the fundraising CRM strategy and roadmap.
• Design and implement automated supporter journeys and segmented communications.
• Use data and insight to improve supporter acquisition, engagement and retention.
• Identify opportunities to streamline processes and improve the supporter experience.

Drive Digital Growth

• Deliver targeted CRM and email marketing activity.
• Develop reports and dashboards that provide actionable insight.
• Ensure fundraising data is accurate, accessible and used effectively across the team.
• Optimise digital giving platforms and supporter touchpoints.

Enable the Department

• Train and support colleagues to make better use of CRM, automation and data.
• Champion self-service, digital adoption and continuous improvement.
• Lead relationships with key suppliers including Access, Dotdigital and Woods Valldata.

Governance and Operations

• Act as the fundraising team's lead for GDPR and data protection.
• Ensure compliant management of supporter data and fundraising operations.
• Oversee efficient processes for donations, Gift Aid and supporter fulfilment.

Person Specification

Essential

• Strong experience of CRM strategy, marketing automation and supporter/customer journeys.
• Excellent understanding of data, segmentation and performance reporting.
• Experience managing CRM systems and digital platforms.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills.
• Commercially minded, proactive and comfortable working in a fast-paced environment.
• Understanding of GDPR and data governance.

Desirable

• Experience of Access ThankQ.
• Experience in fundraising, membership or supporter-led organisations.
• Experience optimising online donation and payment platforms.

• More efficient fundraising operations and supporter processes.

This role is ideal for someone who wants to take ownership, build capability, and use technology, data and creativity to help grow one of the UK's most iconic charities.

This is a fixed term contract for 18 months

Candidates may use AI-assisted tools when preparing their application. However, applications should accurately represent the candidate's own experience, qualifications, and abilities. We encourage applicants to ensure their responses are authentic and written in their own words.

Centre & Volunteer Supervisor (Driving Licence Required) 

Important Note: Only CVs accompanied with a covering letter will be considered. 

Job Description

Report to: Head of Food Distribution and Volunteering

Responsible for: Leading the food distribution service and quality assurance at Hackney Foodbank’s allocated Food Distribution Centres located across the borough of Hackney. This includes ensuring all our visitors have a positive experience when collecting their food parcels and are signposted to other provisions appropriately; being responsible for directing the volunteers; Overseeing Health and Safety, and promoting best practice at each centre. This role will also involve administrative tasks, organising and carrying out home deliveries for visitors, inputting data on visitors’ journeys accurately into a database, driving the Hackney Giving Van or a Luton van to the various Distribution Centres.

Part-time: 25 hours per week, some evening work is required

Salary: £32,000 per year (pro-rata for 25 hours per week)

Compulsory: Must have a UK manual driving licence

Specific responsibilities:

· Attend Hackney Foodbank’s Food Distribution Centres to ensure each Centre is run in accordance with HFB’s best practice procedures.

· Treat visitors to the Food Distribution Centres with the utmost respect

· Work with volunteers to ensure a safe and efficient setup, including H&S responsibilities

· Manage all volunteers on site delivering services

· Ensure effective data capture and input onto the system

· Work with internal and external stakeholders to ensure relevant and up-to-date signposting partnerships and referral systems are working efficiently

· Confident in responding to telephone and email inquiries from referral agencies and visitors

· Manage system for home deliveries for visitors who have access issues

Person Specification

Essential:

· Knowledge or experience working or volunteering with adults in crisis, understanding the importance of treating people with dignity and compassion

· Knowledge or experience working or volunteering with support services

· Knowledge or experience of coordinating volunteers

· Ability to work in a team

· Ability to keep a calm head in stressful situations

· Organised and able to manage own workload

· Good administrative skills and attention to detail

· Excellent communication skills, in person, on the telephone and in writing

· Ability to absorb information and relay it to a diverse range of individuals

· Competency in Microsoft Office packages (Excel, Outlook, Word)

· Ability to work with people from disadvantaged, marginalised, or socially excluded backgrounds

· Full UK manual driving licence and good driving experience

· Ability to be flexible in terms of working times and duties

Desirable:

· Safeguarding experience

· H&S Certified

· 1stAid Trained

· Fire Marshall Trained

· Experience of driving a Luton van

· Experience of driving an electric vehicle

Please note: We will be continuously interviewing, so please apply quickly as this opportunity may close early if a suitable hire is found.

Head of Health Information and Support

Permanent

Salary: £55,000 - £60,000 per annum, plus benefits

London N1

Full time – 37.5 hours a week 

We're a hybrid working employer, meaning you're required to come into the office on average 2-3 days per week, currently Tuesday and Wednesday or Thursday

Closing date: 11.59pm, Mon 31 August 2026

First Interviews: 9/10/11 September 2026

Second interviews: 22/23 September 2026

An exciting opportunity for a Head of Health Information and Support has arisen at World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF).

World Cancer Research Fund champions the latest and most authoritative scientific research from around the world on cancer prevention and survival through diet, weight and physical activity, so that we can empower people to make informed lifestyle choices to reduce their cancer risk.

We are seeking an inspiring, strategic and collaborative leader to shape and deliver WCRF’s Health Information and Support strategy across three core audiences: the general public, health professionals and cancer survivors. The team turns WCRF’s scientific evidence on cancer prevention and survival into practical, accessible information, training and support based on our Cancer Prevention Recommendations. The postholder will lead and develop the team, ensuring its work is innovative, evidence-based, high quality and demonstrably effective.

Working across Science, Policy, Fundraising, Communications and Engagement, you will create new ways to share our health information, improve existing resources and services, and build impactful partnerships. You will ensure that public and patient insight shapes our work from cancer prevention to survivorship, strengthen programmes for health professionals and make effective use of digital channels. Responsibilities include contributing to our Medical Education programme, participating in working and steering groups and speaking at national conferences, networking at events, engaging corporate audiences and acting as a spokesperson in broadcast and print media. Ultimately, you will help establish WCRF as the go-to source of information and support on the links between cancer, nutrition and lifestyle.

The successful candidate will have a strong track record of implementing strategy, developing business and operational plans, and leading high-performing teams. 

You will bring substantial experience in areas such as health information or education, working with healthcare professionals, UK health policy, health science or research, or marketing health information and services. You will be confident in measuring impact, managing budgets and using data to improve performance, with strong knowledge of non-communicable diseases and issues including nutrition, obesity, diet and physical activity. An excellent communicator and relationship-builder, you will be proactive, creative and results-focused, able to operate at senior management level and open to using digital, AI and other emerging tools to improve effectiveness and efficiency.

Application Details:

If you are interested in this role and feel you possess the necessary requirements, please submit a current CV and covering letter (maximum 2 pages) by the closing date. You must have current right to work in the UK.

Please note: Your cover letter should highlight how your skills and experience will benefit WCRF and equip you for the role.
Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we are only able to provide feedback to shortlisted candidates. If you do not hear from us within 14 days of the closing date, please assume your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion. 

As our Head of Belonging (Equity, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion), you will lead the development and implementation of BUCS' Belonging Strategy and Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP), ensuring EEDI is embedded throughout our organisation, programmes and culture.

Working closely with colleagues across BUCS and a wide range of external stakeholders, you will provide strategic leadership and expert guidance to influence positive change. From reviewing competitions and events through an EEDI lens to supporting governance, people practices and organisational policy, you'll play a key role in helping us deliver our mission of placing sport and active wellbeing at the heart of the student experience.

Reporting to the Director of Business Operations, you will be a member of the Management Team and will lead organisation-wide initiatives that create lasting impact.

Contract:  Permanent, full time

Salary:  £55,420 - £63,762 per annum depending on your skills, experience and professional qualifications relevant to the role. Candidates applying with Veterinary Surgeon qualifications and registration may be eligible for a higher salary, reflecting the additional professional responsibilities associated with the role.

Location:Grimsby animal hospital

Closing date:  Sunday 13 September 2026

Blue Cross is seeking an experienced and inspiring leader to oversee the operational performance, service delivery and future development of our Grimsby Animal Hospital. This is a unique opportunity to lead a multidisciplinary team dedicated to delivering outstanding care and support for pets and the people who love them.

We are looking for an experienced leader who can inspire teams, drive continuous improvement and ensure the hospital operates effectively, efficiently and sustainably.

This opportunity may suit:

• Experienced Veterinary Practice Managers
• Senior/head Veterinary Nurse Managers with significant leadership experience
• Senior/head Veterinary Surgeons with significant leadership experience
• Senior leaders from comparable clinical, healthcare or service delivery environments

Regardless of professional background, you will be responsible for the overall leadership, performance and development of the hospital, ensuring high standards of patient care, service delivery, team engagement and operational excellence.

More about the role

As Hospital Lead, you will provide strategic, operational and people leadership for one of our hospitals, ensuring safe, effective and sustainable delivery of services for pets and the people who care for them. You will lead multidisciplinary teams, drive service performance, oversee financial and operational management, and create a positive, inclusive culture where colleagues can thrive. The role also plays an important part in delivering our Veterinary Strategy and supporting wider organisational priorities.

Additional professional responsibilities

The core leadership responsibilities of this role remain the same regardless of professional background.

Additional responsibilities will apply depending on the successful candidate's qualifications and registration status.

• Veterinary Surgeons will fulfil the statutory and professional responsibilities associated with their registration and act as the accountable veterinary surgeon on site.  Veterinary Surgeons will participate on the clinical rota one day per week.
• Registered Veterinary Nurses (RVNs) will bring their clinical knowledge and experience to support the effective operation of the hospital and work in partnership with nursing leadership colleagues. RVNs will participate in rota activity for approximately 0.5 to 1 day per week, or as operationally required.
• Practice Managers and other non-clinical operational leaders will focus on the operational, financial, and people leadership of the hospital, working in partnership with clinical leaders. These roles will participate in operational rota or duty management activities for approximately 0.5 to 1 day per week, or as operationally required.

This is a varied role that combines strategic leadership with day-to-day operational oversight. Participation in rota activity will be 0.5 to 1 day per week, or as operationally required, and will depend on your professional background.

About you:

You will be an experienced leader with a track record of managing people, services and operational performance within a veterinary, healthcare or comparable service delivery environment. You will be confident balancing strategic priorities with day-to-day operational demands, leading change and developing high-performing teams.

Whether your background is in practice management, veterinary nursing leadership, veterinary medicine or another relevant service environment, you will be a collaborative leader who can build strong relationships, develop others and deliver excellent outcomes through effective operational management.

Most importantly, you will be passionate about creating an environment where colleagues can thrive and where pets and their owners receive the highest standards of care and service.

Essential qualifications, skills and experience

• Proven experience of leading teams within a veterinary, healthcare or service delivery environment at a senior operational level
• Experience of leading services or sites through continuous improvement, change management and cultural development
• Proven track record of delivering operational and strategic objectives within a complex service delivery environment
• Significant experience of people leadership, including recruitment, performance management, coaching and development of managers and teams
• Strong experience of budget management, including financial planning, forecasting, monitoring and reporting
• Experience of working in a fast-paced operational environment, balancing competing priorities and making effective decisions under pressure
• Experience of developing strong internal and external stakeholder relationships to support service delivery and organisational impact
• Ability to demonstrate, understand and apply our Blue Cross values

Desirable qualifications, skills and experience

• Experience working in a not for profit, charity or social enterprise environment
• Experience of multisite, regional or networked service delivery models
• Experience of service redesign, transformation or implementation of new operating models
• Experience of working within a regulated clinical environment
• Experience of contributing to external engagement, partnerships or reputation building activity

Please refer to the attached job description for full details of the role, including the additional responsibilities and requirements that apply to Veterinary Surgeons and Registered Veterinary Nurses.

The Head of Policy & Influencing is responsible for shaping and delivering the Foundation’s policy and influencing strategy within the Impact on Urban Health (IoUH) directorate. The role leads the development of parliamentary and government engagement strategies, ensuring a coordinated and impactful approach across multiple programme areas.

The Head of Policy & Influencing provides strategic oversight of all influencing work, guiding Policy & Influencing Managers and the Policy & Convening Manager, and advising colleagues on how to maximise policy impact. The role drives a unified urban health influencing strategy that aligns with the Foundation’s priorities and contributes to meaningful changes in policy.

The Head of Policy & Influencing builds and maintains strong relationships with stakeholders across government, the policy sector, and partner organisations, acting as a spokesperson and creating opportunities for collaboration. The role supports senior leadership with stakeholder engagement, oversees budgets and manages a team, while ensuring diversity, equity and inclusion are embedded in all influencing activity.

Key Responsibilities 

• Develop and deliver our parliamentary and government engagement strategies across all our issue areas.
• Provide strategic oversight of programmatic influencing strategies developed by the Policy & Influencing Managers and Policy & Convening Manager, ensuring a coherent and complementary approach across all programmes. 
• Lead on our cross-programme urban health influencing strategy.
• Provide high-level strategic advice to Heads of Programme and Portfolio Managers on programmatic influencing strategies and the development of influencing partnerships. 
• Develop and maintain a broad range of stakeholder relationships, with a view to creating opportunities for us to partner on our influencing work and acting as a spokesperson for our work at external events.
• Support senior leadership with stakeholder engagement.
• Oversee budgets for our programmatic policy and influencing work.
• Deputise for the Director of Policy, Influencing & Communications as required.
• Line manage the Policy & Influencing Managers and Policy & Convening Manager.
• Bring a diversity, equity and inclusion lens to all our policy and influencing activity, and support cross-organisational work on diversity, equity and inclusion. 

Role responsibilities are not exhaustive, and you would be reasonably expected to take on wider tasks that are commensurate with the level of your role. 

Skills, abilities, and attributes

• Excellent interpersonal and networking skills at all levels.
• Enjoys working in places with a clear and ambitious mission, a matrix structure and ways of working that challenge the norm.

Knowledge, experience, and qualifications

• Significant experience working in public affairs and policy in a UK setting, with demonstrable impact on policy making in Westminster Parliament and/or the devolved administrations. 
• Experience leading teams to deliver against impactful influencing strategies.
• Experience working across a broad policy brief, and the ability to develop expertise and familiarity with different policy areas quickly.
• Experience developing and managing budgets.
• In-depth understanding of the UK political environment and operation of Government.
• Expertise in public policy, ideally in issues relating to health equity or social justice. 

Benefits 

• Contributory pension
• Annual health and wellbeing personal allowance
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, and parental leave pay accessible without length of service requirements.
• Health and wellbeing programme that offers optional free yearly health check-ups.
• Support for healthy eating via fruit bowls and onsite lunch facilities. 
• Agile working, flexible hours, and supportive IT kit. 
• Shower facilities and bike lock area. 
• Generous annual leave (27 days + bank holidays)
• Subsidies for glasses
• Employee Assistance Programme

The Head of Vocations and Discernment will offer national leadership of the ongoing renewal of lay and ordained ministerial vocations in the Church of England. This will include a broad span from encouraging initial enquires through to the smooth operation of national discernment processes.

Leadership

• Lead the renewal of ministerial vocations across the Church of England at a national level to ensure the church has the lay and ordained leaders we need to fulfil our vocation to proclaim afresh the Gospel in every generation including this one.

• Lead the development and operational excellence of the Shared Discernment and Candidates Panel processes, ensuring that the processes meet the evolving needs of the whole church. This will include personally leading panels on occasion and ensuring that high-quality training for people involved in discernment continues to develop and evolve over time.

• Ensure that strong foundations of Christian prayer and discipleship are developed and maintained as key foundations for the renewal and discernment of ministerial vocations in the church.

• Build trust and confidence with key stakeholders, especially Bishops and diocesan officers working in vocations and discernment.

• Lead the national Vocations & Discernment team, developing and shaping the team as necessary, with a clear focus on delivering the renewal of ministerial vocations that the church needs.

• Ensure good safeguarding practice is embedded into the work of renewing ministerial vocations and discernment across the Church of England.

• Play an active role in the wider work of the Ministry Development Team, especially as a member of the Ministry Leadership Team.

• Represent the Church at a national level on matters of vocations and discernment within the Church of England, with ecumenical colleagues and with wider society.

Management

• Line manage the national Vocations and Discernment Team directly or indirectly as appropriate.
• Manage the Vocations and Discernment budgets with a clear focus on supporting the key objective of renewing ministerial vocations across the church.

Governance

• Synthesise complex information into clear reports, proposals and recommendations for senior governance bodies
• Work in collaboration with the Lead Bishops for Vocations and Discernment and the relevant advisory group(s)
• Ensure that the advisory group(s) actively support the renewal of ministerial vocations, including by ensuring it has the membership it needs and by facilitating regular productive meetings of the group(s).
• Support the work of the Ministry Development Board (who oversee the work of the Ministry Development Team) plus the Archbishops' Council and College/House of Bishops as necessary.

Essential

Skills & Abilities:

• A passionate and convincing advocate of Christian ministerial vocation and prayerful discernment with a capacity to personally prayerfully discern.
• An accomplished inherently collaborative leader who can offer strategic, creative and entrepreneurial leadership which draws on data analysis and is rooted in Christian prayer.
• A proven ability to work fluently across the breadth of Church of England traditions.
• A strong networker who can inspire confidence from a wide range of stakeholders across the church.
• A track record of successfully initiating and implementing change.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with an ability to adapt to a wide range of audiences including formal reports for senior leaders.
• Strong administrative skills, including good familiarity with Microsoft 365/Office and CoPilot.
• An ability to hold a portfolio of high profile work and to progress it at pace, prioritising and delegating well, and adapting and adjusting in response to feedback and experience.

Knowledge/Experience

• A strong fruitful track record of creative nurturing and discerning of ministerial vocations in the Church of England.
• A working knowledge of the Shared Discernment Process
• A proven commitment to serving the breadth of the church and enabling a diverse range of people to pursue their vocations.
• Substantial experience of ministry in the Church of England (lay or ordained).
• An established manager with line management and budget management experience.
• A strong understanding of safeguarding within the Church of England (further training will be provided).

Personal Attributes

• High levels of emotional maturity and self-awareness. Sophisticated handling of conflict and difference.
• Resilience in complex relational environments.
• This post is subject to a genuine occupational requirement (GoR) that the post holder be a committed, communicant member of the Church of England under Part 1, Schedule 9 of The Equality Act (2010), as the post holder will lead on renewing ministerial vocations in the Church of England, including personal engagement in discernment processes, through prayer and appeals to theological and spiritual understandings of the Church and God's way of calling people to lay and ordained ministry.
• Further the post-holder will be engaged in consulting and giving advice to dioceses on vocations based on those same understandings and in the context of prayer, preaching and spiritual/theological advice.
• In light of the GoR above, the post holder will need to have a disciplined pattern of prayer and personal discipleship to sustain them in their ministry and to enable that ministry to be fruitful in the life of the church.
• This role will involve regular travel (including some which require the post holder to be away from home overnight) in England and occasional weekend work.

Applications close 07 September 2026 23:55, please ignore the Charity Jobs closing date.

ABOUT CHEFS IN SCHOOLS

Chefs in Schools exists to improve children’s health and futures through better school food and meaningful food education.

We work alongside schools and catering teams to transform what children eat every day, particularly in communities facing the greatest barriers to good health. We combine practical support, training, operational expertise and sector influence to help schools serve fresh, nutritious food that children want to eat.

We’re backed by some of the biggest names in food and are ambitious about both impact and scale. We want every child to have access to excellent school food and a real food education, regardless of background.

We are a values-led organisation - bold, honest, collaborative, innovative and focused on solutions.

WHY THIS ROLE MATTERS

You will lead the delivery of Chefs in Schools External Affairs function, ultimately ensuring there is widespread recognition that poor quality school food is unacceptable. Through integrated media, digital and advocacy work, you’ll ensure quality school food is viewed as a vital tool for healthy development and food literacy. 

You will turn strategic direction into coordinated delivery, leading a multidisciplinary team that increases our influence, strengthens our reputation and helps achieve meaningful improvements in school food.

Working closely with External Affairs colleagues and Chief Executive, you will ensure our public profile, policy influence and media work reinforce one another, while creating the management capacity required for a growing organisation. This builds on the new functional structure where media and content, policy and campaigns, and the School Food Review programme all sit within External Affairs.

We want Chefs in Schools to become the most trusted and recognisable voice in the conversation around school food and food literacy. This role will play a central part in building that influence and recognition.

We are looking for somebody who understands that influence is built through consistency, credibility, creativity and cultural relevance as much as through formal communications activity alone. 

WHAT YOU’LL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR

Leadership

• Lead the day-to-day operation of the External Affairs team.

• Translate organisational strategy into clear plans and objectives.

• Ensure media, content creation, campaigns, policy and coalition activity reinforce one another.

• Set priorities and allocate resources across competing work.

• Develop team capability through coaching, support and performance management.

• Contribute to organisational strategy and annual planning.

• Advise on reputational opportunities and risks.

• Ensure innovation is embedded at the heart of our work and approach.

• Deputise at SLT level where appropriate.

• Represent the organisation externally.

• Build a collaborative, ambitious, solutions-focused culture.

Operational planning

• Develop and oversee the annual External Affairs plan in line with strategy.

• Coordinate campaign calendars, policy priorities, publications and media moments.

• Ensure external activity supports fundraising, programmes and partnerships.

• Monitor delivery against KPIs and adjust plans where required.

Campaigns and public engagement

• Provide strategic oversight of policy development and campaigning.

• Challenge and refine policy recommendations before publication.

• Ensure campaigns are evidence-led and aligned with organisational strategy.

• Support relationships with government, sector leaders and coalition partners.

• Build strong relationships with media, MPs, councillors and key stakeholders.

Media & communications

• Oversee media strategy and organisational messaging.

• Ensure consistency across press, social media, website, publications and events.

• Identify media moments and hard hitting stories that will hit the headlines. 

• Sign off major messaging and communications.

• Lead communications planning around major announcements or crises.

School Food Review 

• Provide strategic oversight of the School Food Review programme.

• Ensure coalition work complements Chefs in Schools wider influencing strategy.

• Support senior relationships with coalition partners and funders.

• Remove barriers to delivery for the Programme Manager.

Budget & governance

• Manage the External Affairs budget.

• Ensure safeguarding, risk management and governance requirements are met.

• Oversee procurement of agencies and consultants.

ABOUT YOU

Essential experience and skills

• Significant senior leadership experience across media relations, campaigns, policy or public affairs.

• Experience managing multidisciplinary teams.

• Strong operational planning skills.

• Excellent political judgement.

• Experience influencing senior stakeholders.

• Outstanding written and verbal communication.

• Strong project and budget management.

• Comfortable balancing long-term strategy with fast-paced reactive work.

• Strong understanding of the UK media landscape and digital channels. 

• Excellent communication skills – written, verbal and visual. 

• Experience of working with MPs and other key stakeholders.

• Strong alignment with the mission and values of Chefs in Schools.

Desirable

• Education, food systems or public health experience.

• Coalition leadership.

• Charity senior management.

• Experience working with ministers, journalists and on national campaigns.

OUR COMMITMENT TO INCLUSION

We know that strong candidates may not meet every single requirement listed in this job description.

If this role excites you and you believe you could make a strong contribution to our mission, we would encourage you to apply.

We are committed to building a diverse, equitable and inclusive organisation where people from different backgrounds, experiences and communities can thrive.

Play a pivotal role in shaping how we support, develop and empower our people, at an exciting time of growth for Betknowmore UK.

Betknowmore UK has grown rapidly into a delivery organisation of real scale and ambition, running multiple funded services with staff and volunteers across the country, and a workforce that proudly and intentionally includes people with lived experience of gambling harm. As we continue to grow, we're looking for an experienced Interim HR Manager to help us build on strong foundations and take our people function to the next level, over a defined eight-month period (with the possiblility of extension through mutual agreement).

Reporting to the Director of Finance and Operations and line managing our HR Officer, you'll lead three connected priorities: building the capability and confidence of our managers; shaping our workforce development strategy, including career pathways for colleagues with lived experience; and making sure we're fully prepared for the employment law changes arriving under the Employment Rights Act 2025. This is a genuine change role with a lasting legacy, you'll help leave the organisation stronger, more capable and better equipped for the future.

What you'll be doing

• Providing expert, pragmatic advice on employee relations matters, and leading complex or contentious casework where genuinely necessary, coaching managers to build their own confidence in handling cases
• Keeping the organisation ahead of the phased implementation of the Employment Rights Act 2025, and advising the policy team on the changes required
• Managing the relationship with our external employment law advisers, briefing tightly and translating advice into workable decisions
• Building the capability and confidence of line managers through practical, scenario-based training and coaching through live situations
• Developing a manager toolkit — templates, letters, scripts, decision trees and a clear escalation route
• Owning and developing our workforce development strategy, including a capability framework and career pathways for colleagues with lived experience, from volunteering through to management roles
• Establishing our learning and development framework, including induction, professional accreditation and qualification routes
• Improving consistency and fairness in recruitment and selection, and line managing, supervising and developing the HR Officer
• Providing HR risk reporting to the senior management team and, as requested, to the Board

What we're looking for

• We're interested in hearing from candidates who have:
• Substantial generalist HR experience at HR Manager or senior HR Business Partner level, including sustained periods as the most senior HR person in an organisation or business unit
• Experience of working in a lived experience-led organisation, or one with a significant peer or lived experience workforce
• A proven track record of building line manager capability, coaching managers through live situations rather than doing the work for them
• Experience developing and implementing a workforce development or HR strategy, including competency frameworks and career pathways
• Demonstrable experience of handling complex and contentious employee relations casework end to end, including matters carrying genuine tribunal risk
• Current, working knowledge of UK employment law, including the Employment Rights Act 2025 and its practical implications for employers
• Experience of working in a lean or fast-growing organisation, operating without a large in-house HR or legal team
• Strong influencing skills with senior colleagues, and excellent judgement on confidentiality, conflicts of interest and escalation
• CIPD Level 5 or above, or equivalent demonstrable experience
• Knowledge of the gambling harms, addiction, health or social welfare sectors, experience of a comparable commissioning transition, and experience of interim or fractional assignments would all be advantageous, as would CIPD Level 7 or Chartered MCIPD status.

Why join us?

You'll be joining a growing, ambitious charity making a real difference to people's lives. This is a unique opportunity to shape our people strategy from the ground up, build lasting management capability, and leave a genuine legacy alongside a passionate, lived experience-informed team who are proud of what they do.

Help us achieve our vision that fewer people die by suicide.

We're looking for an experienced and commercially minded finance leader to join Samaritans as our Head of Financial Planning & Analysis. This is a unique opportunity to play a key role in supporting strategic decision-making across the organisation, leading financial planning, forecasting and reporting, while helping ensure we can continue delivering our life-saving work.

Reporting to the Executive Director of Corporate Services and working closely with senior leaders across the charity, you'll provide expert financial insight, lead a high-performing team, and drive innovation and continuous improvement across our finance function.

Contract terms:

• £75,000 (FTE) per annum, plus benefits
• Fixed Term Contract (12 months)
• 35 hours per week (full time)
• We are passionate about flexible working, talk to us about your preferences
• Hybrid, linked to our Ewell (Surrey) office
• We value meeting in person and working collaboratively. Finance team members are encouraged work from the office one day per week.
• 28 days annual leave, plus bank holidays (pro-rata)

What you'll be doing:

As Head of Financial Planning & Analysis, you'll lead our FP&A team and oversee the organisation's financial planning cycle, management reporting, forecasting and financial modelling activities. You'll be a trusted adviser to senior stakeholders, providing commercial insight and helping leaders make informed decisions that support our strategic objectives.

You'll also be a member of the Senior Leadership Group, contributing to organisational planning and helping shape the future direction of the finance function. Alongside your strategic responsibilities, you'll oversee both the Management Accounts and Accounts Payable & Receivable functions, ensuring robust financial reporting, controls and processes are in place.

Key responsibilities

• Leading the organisation's budgeting, forecasting and financial planning processes.
• Providing strategic financial insight and partnering with senior leaders to support decision-making.
• Delivering financial modelling, scenario analysis and business case support for key projects and initiatives.
• Overseeing management reporting and ensuring accurate, timely financial information across the organisation.
• Leading and developing a high-performing finance team, fostering collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Driving financial capability, commercial awareness and strong financial management across the business.
• Supporting Board, Finance Committee and senior leadership reporting through clear, insightful analysis.
• Ensuring robust financial controls, processes and systems that support organisational effectiveness.

What you’ll bring:

Essential

• A professional accounting qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA or equivalent) with significant post-qualification experience.
• Extensive experience across financial planning and analysis, including budgeting, forecasting, management reporting and financial modelling.
• Proven experience leading organisation-wide budget-setting and financial planning processes.
• Strong leadership skills with experience developing and motivating high-performing teams.
• The ability to engage, influence and challenge senior stakeholders through clear, evidence-based financial insight.
• Excellent analytical and commercial awareness, with confidence interpreting complex financial data and translating it into meaningful recommendations.
• Advanced Excel skills and experience using financial planning and reporting systems.
• Outstanding communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to work effectively across a diverse range of stakeholders.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Desirable

• Experience within the charity or not-for-profit sector
• Knowledge of VAT, Corporation Tax, procurement or project management

For full details, please see the Job Description and Person Specification

Why Samaritans?

At Samaritans, you’ll join a values-led organisation with a powerful mission. You’ll be part of a collaborative and supportive team where your voice matters, your expertise makes a difference, and your work helps save lives.

We offer flexible hybrid working, great benefits, and the chance to make a tangible difference in suicide prevention across the UK and Ireland. To find out more about Samaritans, please read our recruitment brochure.

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that reflects the people we support and who support us. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and walks of life. We are committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone feels seen, heard and supported, at all levels of the organisation.

Apply now

If this sounds like the opportunity for you, we’d love for you to apply. You will be asked to answer some short application questions and to upload your CV and cover letter addressing key points in the job description. 

If you require adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process, please let us know.

Applications close: midnight on 1st September 2026

1st stage interviews (online): w/c 14th September

2nd stage interviews (in person): tbc

At Samaritans, human connection is at the heart of everything we do. 

We do not use AI at any stage during the selection process. Your application will always be carefully reviewed by the recruiting manager or a member of the Talent Attraction Team. 

We kindly ask that you avoid using AI tools to generate your application or interview answers. We want to hear your own ideas, insights, and writing style so your unique strengths can shine through. We recognise that some candidates may use assistive technology or tools to help with accessibility, structure or grammar.