173 Head of operations and development jobs

If you’re passionate about safer communities and want a role where your work has a direct and lasting impact, this could be the perfect opportunity. As Crimestoppers’ Regional Manager for our Eastern Region (Kent, Essex, Norfolk & Suffolk), you’ll play a pivotal part in helping protect the public, empowering local people, and supporting the agencies working to prevent and solve crime.

We’re looking for an enthusiastic and motivated Regional Manager to represent Crimestoppers across the area. You’ll work closely with law enforcement and community partners to design and deliver meaningful crime‑prevention campaigns, while also coordinating cross‑border and national initiatives with organisations such as ROCUs and the NCA. You’ll empower local volunteer committees to thrive, act as a spokespeople for Crimestoppers in local and regional media, and drive funding opportunities that help expand our impact.

This role variety, and the chance to genuinely make a difference. We’re seeking someone with strong project and budget management skills, confidence under pressure, and the ability to build strategic relationships. Experience in or significant knowledge of the voluntary sector, media campaigning, or policing practice would be an advantage. If you’re committed to community safety and excited by the challenge of influencing real change, we’d love to hear from you.

Please read the full job pack before before submitting your CV and a covering letter.

FTC until March 2029 | Full time | Home based - travel required | £39,993 + £8,400 car allowance | DBS required

Role/Job Title: Development and Opportunities Lead
Location:
Office Base to be either 19 High Street, Battle, TN33 0AE or Cornford Lane, Pembury, TN2 4QU
Hybrid role but regular travel required (Battle, Hastings and Pembury)
Mileage expenses will be paid for travel to locations away from your main workplace, in accordance with the organisation's mileage policy. 

Hours:  37 hours per week (Monday – Friday)
Salary: £40,000 to £45,000 per annum

Closing date for applications: Wednesday 30th September 2026
We encourage early applications, as we reserve the right to close this vacancy before the advertised closing date should we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

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

Aspens is entering an exciting new chapter. Following a recent organisational restructure, we've strengthened the way we deliver care, creating an even more effective, responsive and sustainable model of support for the people we support.

As part of this transformation, we've created new opportunities to join our leadership team - roles that didn't previously exist. We're looking for passionate, values-driven leaders who are committed to delivering outstanding, person-centred support, driving continuous improvement, and embedding high-quality, consistent standards across our services.

This is an opportunity to make a real impact: empowering teams, sharing best practice, strengthening governance, and ensuring every person we support receives exceptional care, regardless of where they live or who is supporting them.

If you're ready to shape the future of social care, inspire others, and be part of an ambitious organisation dedicated to improving lives, we'd love to hear from you. Join us and help lead the next stage of the Aspens journey.

Lead Innovation. Drive Growth. Create Opportunities.
Aspens is seeking an exceptional Development & Opportunities Lead to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our services and creating meaningful opportunities for the people we support.

This is a high-impact leadership role for an ambitious, strategic thinker who is passionate about innovation, service development, and delivering outstanding outcomes for autistic people and people with learning disabilities. Working closely with the Head of Service Development and PBS and the wider leadership team, you will identify opportunities for growth, develop new services, lead transformational projects, and ensure our services continue to evolve and thrive.

About the Role:
As Development & Opportunities Lead, you will lead service innovation and growth across our day and community-based services. You will oversee the strategic development of our day opportunities provision while identifying new ways to diversify services, generate income, and respond to emerging community needs.

This role combines strategic leadership, operational oversight, project management and quality improvement, making it an exciting opportunity for someone who enjoys turning ideas into reality and influencing positive change at organisational level.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development, expansion and scaling of high-quality services across the organisation.
• Embed co-production throughout the organisation so the voices of the people we support are heard at all levels
• Identify opportunities for innovation, growth and service diversification. 
• Develop business cases and support funding applications for new initiatives.
• Drive continuous improvement and embed best practice across services.
• Lead the strategic development and operational oversight of day services.
• Build strong relationships with commissioners, funders, families, regulators and key partners.
• Use data, evidence and insight to shape decision-making and measure impact.
• Lead, coach and support managers while developing talent across the organisation.
• Horizon-scan for emerging opportunities, research and sector developments.
• Support organisational strategy and contribute to long-term sustainable growth.
   

About You:
We're looking for a forward-thinking leader who combines commercial awareness with a genuine passion for inclusion and person-centred support.

Essential Experience & Skills

• Significant senior leadership experience within health and social care.
• Proven experience leading service development, growth and transformation initiatives.
• Experience overseeing day services or community-based support models.
• Experience managing multi-site services.
• Strong strategic thinking and programme management skills.
• Excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder engagement abilities.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to turn evidence into action.
• Financial, commercial and operational awareness.
• Values-driven leadership with high emotional intelligence.
  
  

Qualifications

• Degree-level qualification in Health & Social Care, Education, Psychology or a related field. 
• Commitment to ongoing professional development.

What We Offer:

· Comprehensive paid training and excellent career progression opportunities, including recognised qualifications in health and social care

· Paid DBS check

· Flexible work arrangements, with the option to take on additional bank shifts

· Nest Pension and Death in Service benefit

· Access to a dedicated Employee Assistance Programme and Mental Health First Aiders

· Blue Light Card discounts

· 20% discount at Aspens High Street Stores for all staff

· Discounted staff menu available at the Bluebell Café (Pembury)

· Refer a Friend scheme - earn up to £250 for every successful referral

· Employee recognition programmes, including ‘Employee of the Month’

Apply now and one of our team members will reach out to discuss the role further.

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

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

Cure Parkinson’s is looking for an experienced events professional to join our Research Team and take charge of our programme of research workshops and conferences, both for the scientific community and for lay/patient supporters of the charity. This is an exciting time to join the team as we restructure our event offering and grow our programme of activity.

As our Scientific Programmes Manager you will have a degree in life sciences, with experience in neuroscience an advantage. You will have significant experience in planning, co-ordinating and delivering scientific programmes events, meetings and conferences (in-person, hybrid and virtual). You will be adept at liaising with and growing a research community and be skilled at speaking to and writing for both lay and scientific audiences.

About the team

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

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

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

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

About this role

The Development Director (Philanthropy) provides strategic leadership across Impetus’ philanthropy and stewardship portfolio, with responsibility for relationship management, renewal, growth and selected new business activity. The postholder will work with high-value funders, including corporate partners, trusts and foundations, and high-net-worth individuals.

In 25/26, the Philanthropy and Partnerships team generated £11m in philanthropic income, alongside £2.8m in pro bono contributions. The Development Director will play a key role in delivering Impetus’ growth ambitions, supporting the increase in philanthropic income to £14m by 2029. 

Working closely with the Directors of Philanthropy and Partnerships, the role will translate the fundraising strategy into clear stewardship, renewal, relationship-growth and selected new business plans, ensuring strong donor retention, high-quality engagement and sustainable growth in high-value income.

Working closely with the Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships, the postholder will oversee the donor lifecycle across the philanthropy portfolio, with particular focus on strategic stewardship, renewal, relationship growth and the effective transition of selected prospects into long-term donor relationships. They will personally lead and support significant six and seven-figure donor relationships and selected funding opportunities, while working with colleagues to ensure the philanthropy pipeline, stewardship plans and account management disciplines are strong.

Working collaboratively across the Philanthropy and Partnerships team and with colleagues across the organisation, the Development Director will ensure a joined-up approach to donor stewardship, renewal, relationship growth and selected donor acquisition, maximising income, partnership value and long-term impact within the agreed fundraising strategy.

Key responsibilities

Strategic Relationship Management & Growth

• Own and oversee strategically significant donor and partner relationships at six and seven-figure levels, ensuring high levels of retention, satisfaction, trust, income growth and long-term value.
• Set and embed best practice stewardship standards, ensuring donors receive timely, consistent, high-quality and relevant engagement and communications throughout their relationship with Impetus.
• Work closely with the wider team to ensure a smooth transition between new business, and long-term stewardship.
• Ensure account plans for priority donors and partners include clear renewal and growth pathways; engagement and risk-management plans.
• Act as senior relationship owner where required, modelling strong stewardship and coaching the Head of Philanthropy and other colleagues to navigate complex or sensitive relationships.

New Business: Pipeline & Conversion 

• Personally lead on select six and seven-figure level priority prospects and strategic funding opportunities, managing the full fundraising cycle from qualification to close.
• Work with trustees, senior volunteers and networks to support warm introductions, relationship development and follow-up, in line with agreed new business and stewardship priorities.
• Work with colleagues to translate Impetus’ impact, evidence base and venture philanthropy model into compelling propositions for donors, prospects and priority audiences.

Performance and KPI Reporting

• Accountable for ensuring effective implementation, monitoring and continuous improvement of fundraising performance frameworks, KPIs and reporting disciplines.
• Use performance data and insight to improve team effectiveness, inform portfolio planning and resource recommendations, and identify opportunities for retention, renewal and growth.
• Oversee philanthropy portfolio data quality, reporting and forecasting, ensuring robust systems and processes.
• Ensure robust systems, processes and performance disciplines are in place to support delivery of agreed philanthropy portfolio objectives and wider fundraising goals.
• Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement and evidence-led decision-making across the philanthropy portfolio and direct team.

Donor Communications

• Provide strategic oversight of donor communications for the philanthropy portfolio, ensuring messaging is clear, compelling, timely and aligned to Impetus’ voice, values and evidence base.
• Work with Communications and Philanthropy colleagues to design and continuously improve philanthropic communications, including cases for support, proposals, pitches, stewardship materials and donor updates.

Leadership and Team Performance

• Line manage and develop the Head of Philanthropy, providing direction, coaching and performance oversight within agreed strategy and priorities.
• Develop the Head of Philanthropy as the operational lead for stewardship, ensuring capability, succession and high performance across their team.
• Set clear objectives and success measures for stewardship, renewal, relationship growth and portfolio delivery, aligned to Impetus’ wider income strategy.
• Build and sustain an inclusive, evidence-led and high-performing culture across the philanthropy portfolio, balancing pace and ambition with quality, learning and collaboration.
• Build fundraising and stewardship capability across the team through coaching and consistent, fair and high-quality performance management, including objective-setting, feedback and development planning.

Pro Bono, Events, Volunteering & Partnership Value

• Ensure engagement opportunities, including volunteering, pro bono and events, strengthen donor relationships, partnership value and long-term income growth through strong collaboration with colleagues.

Operational Excellence, Governance & Risk

• Ensure philanthropy and selected new business activity complies with due diligence, gift acceptance and risk management requirements.
• Oversee accurate philanthropy pipeline reporting, forecasting and performance tracking, using Salesforce and other systems to ensure insight informs portfolio planning and decision-making.
• Work with Finance and Operations to ensure income is contracted, invoiced, and reported accurately and on time in line with financial controls.
• Identify and escalate strategic, financial or reputational risks associated with donors, prospects and partnerships.

Cross-Organisational Leadership & Representation

• Act as a senior ambassador for Impetus, representing the organisation credibly with new donors, partners, and external stakeholders.
• Contribute to organisational strategy, income planning, and senior leadership discussions.
• Lead philanthropic work on Impetus funds including identifying funding opportunities and risks; shaping prospect pipelines; contributing to cases for support and donor presentations; and develop fund stewardship.
• Champion collaboration across the Philanthropy team, ensuring opportunities are shared, relationships are well managed and expertise is used to maximise income and impact.
• Model Impetus’ values, evidence-led approach and commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion across the philanthropy portfolio.

Strategic Leadership

• Work in partnership with the Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships to contribute to the fundraising strategy.
• Translate strategic priorities into clear operational plans, objectives and delivery, ensuring stewardship, renewal and relationship growth contribute to organisational priorities, income targets and long-term growth ambitions.
• Provide strategic oversight of philanthropy portfolio forecasting, budgeting input, pipeline performance and resource recommendations, ensuring risks and opportunities are identified and escalated proactively.
• Maximise the contribution of trustees, committees, senior volunteers and wider networks to support donor stewardship, relationship growth and selected new business development.
• Act as a trusted senior adviser to the Directors of Philanthropy and Partnerships, providing insight, challenge and solutions to strengthen philanthropy portfolio performance and wider fundraising capability.
• Deputise for the Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships where appropriate, within agreed delegations and priorities.
• Build a positive, collaborative and high-performing culture across the philanthropy portfolio, modelling Impetus’ values and supporting continuous improvement.

Person specification

Essential:

Fundraising & new business leadership

• Significant experience in major donor and/or corporate fundraising at six and seven-figure gift level, with a strong track record of securing new income and managing complex partnerships.
• Ability to lead and personally deliver the full fundraising cycle, from prospecting and cultivation through to solicitation, negotiation, and close.
• Proven experience of building, managing, and converting a new business pipeline, balancing ambition with delivery.
• Strong ability to leverage internal and external networks, including trustees, senior volunteers, and professional contacts.

Senior stakeholder engagement

• Experience of operating at a senior level and leading high value or complex stakeholder relationships (trustees, board members, senior external partners).
• Ability to influence and build credibility with senior audiences through clear, confident and evidence led communication.
• Excellent negotiation skills, with the ability to secure mutually beneficial outcomes while protecting organisational values and reputation.

Leadership & people management

• Proven experience leading and developing high-performing teams, including developing senior colleagues and building leadership capability.
• A strong track record as a collaborative senior team member, contributing beyond own area of responsibility and supporting wider organisational success
• Ability to build a high-trust, high-challenge culture that supports excellence, inclusion, and learning.
• Strong performance management capability and ability to handle complex people issues, giving strategic feedback, and addressing underperformance constructively.
• Ability to deputise for the Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships when appropriate.

Strategic & intellectual capability

• Strong strategic thinker with the ability to translate agreed strategy and insight into clear plans and execute them effectively.
• Ability to grasp, interpret apply and communicate complex information and ideas, including Impetus’ venture philanthropy and impact-led funding models.
• Evidence of an innovative and creative approach, with the ability to adapt in changing contexts.

Financial, operational & delivery capability

• Solid financial management, with experience contributing to budget-setting, managing agreed budgets, supporting forecasting and identifying efficiencies.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to delivery, with the ability to manage multiple priorities to a high standard
• Able to use insight and data (including CRM systems such as Salesforce) to inform decisions and strengthen performance.
• Sound judgement in identifying, managing, and escalating risk, particularly in relation to donor relationships and reputation.

Communication, values & ways of working

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, able to communicate clearly, persuasively, and with impact.
• Excellent relationship-building skills, with the ability to establish, maintain, and leverage relationships with key internal and external stakeholders.
• A strong commitment to Impetus’ mission and to improving outcomes for young people.
• A clear commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion, demonstrated through inclusive leadership and professional practice.

Desirable 

• Experience working within venture philanthropy, impact investing, or systems-change funding models.
• Familiarity with private equity, professional services.
• Experience contributing to income growth, donor strategy or portfolio development within an agreed organisational fundraising strategy.
• Knowledge of the UK charity or social impact sector, particularly education, employment, or youth-focused work.
• Experience using CRM systems (e.g. Salesforce) to manage pipelines, performance, and forecasting.

About Impetus

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Our Values

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

We are brave and curious

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

We bring high trust, high challenge

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

We are evidence led and results driven for young people

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

We thrive through diversity

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

We always seek collaboration

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

Our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion

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

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

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

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

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

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

Our employee benefits

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

How to apply

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

You will need to:

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

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

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

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

The deadline for applications is Sunday 20th September 2026, 11:59pm.

Interviews:

1st Interviews will take place on w/c 5th October 2026.

2nd Interviews will take place on w/c 12th October 2026.

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

Personal Data

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

Are you an insight and analytics leader who wants to turn data into decisions that make a real difference?

Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity is looking for a Senior Insight and Performance Manager to lead our Data Engineering, Analysis and Selections teams and help us become a more insight-led organisation.

Working closely with our Head of Fundraising Data & Operations, you'll have the opportunity to shape how we use data to understand our supporters, identify opportunities for growth and make smarter decisions about where we invest our time and money.
 

There's a lot to get involved with. From forecasting and audience insight to developing our data platform, improving self-service reporting and helping teams test and learn, you'll connect people, data and ideas to create meaningful change across the organisation.
 

Salary

The salary for this role is £63,600 per annum and we operate a hybrid working policy of a minimum of 2 days per week in the office.

In line with our EDI strategy and Total Reward policy, we calculate our salaries based on benchmarking data across the charity sector. To ensure fairness for existing staff and new joiners, we do not offer salaries above the advertised rate.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and develop our Data Engineering, Analysis and Selections teams, bringing their expertise together to deliver trusted data, actionable insight and audience-led campaigns.
• Work closely with the Head of Fundraising Data & Operations to shape priorities and develop our approach to insight, performance and data.
• Use forecasting, predictive analytics, segmentation and supporter insight to identify opportunities for growth and influence fundraising and organisational decisions.
• Help evolve our data platform and reporting capability, ensuring colleagues can access the information they need to make confident decisions.
• Develop our audience selection and targeting capability, helping teams use data intelligently to create more relevant and effective supporter experiences.
• Partner with senior stakeholders across Fundraising, Marketing, Finance and Technology, translating business challenges into meaningful analysis and recommendations.
• Build a strong test-and-learn culture, helping teams experiment, understand what works and continually improve performance.
• Champion data literacy across the organisation, making complex insight accessible and helping colleagues feel confident using data in their everyday decisions.
• Ensure our use of data is responsible, secure and underpinned by strong governance and data protection practices.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• Experience leading an insight, analytics or data function and developing high-performing specialist teams.
• Strong experience using analysis and insight to influence business decisions, investment choices, income growth or performance.
• Experience applying analytical techniques such as forecasting, predictive analytics, segmentation, lifetime value or audience modelling.
• Experience working with cloud-based data platforms, integrated data sources and business intelligence tools.
• Strong understanding of modern analytics, reporting and data visualisation, with good SQL skills.
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the ability to turn complex analysis into clear recommendations for technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strong commercial thinking, with the ability to connect data and insight to organisational priorities and opportunities for growth.
• A curious and collaborative approach—you enjoy asking questions, challenging assumptions and helping others use evidence to make better decisions.

This is an exciting opportunity to lead talented specialist teams while working closely with our Head of Fundraising Data & Operations to shape what comes next. You'll have the scope to improve how we use data across the charity and see your insight translate into decisions, better supporter experiences and greater fundraising impact.

DBS - note a Basic DBS check is required for this role.

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

As an Organisational Change & Development Consultant, you'll play a key role in delivering people, culture, talent, organisational design and development projects that support the British Heart Foundation's People Power. Working within the Talent &

Organisational Development team, you'll partner with change specialists, learning technologists and learning and development professionals to drive meaningful organisational change.

Reporting to the Head of Organisational Change, you'll provide project and consultancy support across the Organisational Change and Talent & Leadership teams. You'll work collaboratively with stakeholders to identify challenges, develop evidence-based solutions and deliver initiatives that support organisational priorities.

You'll lead projects and workstreams, develop change, communication and training plans, support organisational design activity and use research, insight and stakeholder feedback to drive successful outcomes. You'll also contribute to business reporting, project evaluations and wider Talent & Organisational Development programmes and events.

About You

As our ideal candidate, you'll have:

• Knowledge of consulting skills, project management and organisational change principles.
• Experience managing multiple projects and supporting organisational change, development or design initiatives.
• Experience working within a Learning, Talent or Organisational Development environment.
• Strong stakeholder engagement, facilitation and influencing skills, with the ability to build effective relationships at all levels.
• Excellent written communication, presentation and organisational skills, with strong attention to detail.
• Strong analytical, research and problem-solving skills, with the ability to use insight and data to inform decision-making.
• A proactive, solutions-focused approach, with the confidence to take initiative and embrace new ways of working.
• The ability to apply behavioural insight to support people development and organisational change.
• Strong IT skills, including Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

A qualification in HR, Learning, Organisational Development or Organisational Change would be advantageous, as would knowledge of organisational design principles and processes.

If you're passionate about helping organisations navigate change and delivering initiatives that create positive people and organisational outcomes, we'd love to hear from you.

Working arrangements

This is a project-specific fixed-term contract for 9-12 months, created to deliver the change and communications for our strategic programme to transform BHF into a skills-powered organisation.

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

Belonging at BHF

By embracing diversity and fostering an inclusive environment, we strengthen our ability to achieve our mission of saving and improving lives, ensuring our work reflects and serves the needs of every community across the UK.

To hear from our people, check out Belonging at BHF. 

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

Benefits and development

At BHF, we offer a comprehensive range of benefits designed to support our colleagues’ wellbeing and professional growth.

To find out more about our benefits you can download the Benefits document at the bottom of this page or check out our Benefits and Development pages. 

Need more help balancing your work and home life? Talk to us about what flexibility is available at the application or interview stage. 

Interview process

The interview process may take place in-person or virtually via MS Teams.

How to apply

It’s quick and easy to apply for a role at the BHF. Just click on the apply button below. All you’ll need is an up-to-date CV and a supporting statement, outlining your interest in the role and how you meet the role’s criteria.

Our recruitment processes are fair, accessible, and inclusive. BHF use anonymous CV software as part of the application journey. 
 
We support responsible use of AI to help shape your application. By applying for a role at BHF, you confirm that your application is authentic and reflects your own skills and experience, to ensure everyone is assessed fairly.

Should you need any adjustments to the recruitment process, at either application or interview, please contact a member of the Recruitment team. 

The Senior Retail General Manager leads the Southbank Centre’s retail business across three on-site shops, pop-ups and the retail e-commerce platform, ensuring a commercially successful, customer-focused and culturally distinctive retail operation.

The role is responsible for developing and delivering the retail strategy, translating the organisation's wider commercial objectives into an ambitious and sustainable retail plan. The post-holder will have significant autonomy in shaping the retail offer, identifying opportunities for growth and driving continuous improvement, while working in partnership with the Head of Department to agree strategic priorities and investment decisions.

Please download the attached Job Description for a full overview of this role's responsibilities.

The annual salary stated is based on the Full-Time Equivalent (40 hours per week). If the job is part-time, the weekly hours will be stated within the advert.

The deadline for applications is 23:59 on the closing date for the job posting.

We endeavour to keep job adverts open for at least two weeks for prospective applicants to apply. However, if we receive a high volume of applications for a role, we reserve the right to close the vacancy early. Therefore, we encourage you to submit your application as early as possible to ensure consideration for shortlisting.

Please note, applications sent via Email or 3rd party agencies will not be considered.

Need reasonable adjustments? Please contact us so we can help make the application process accessible to you. Be sure to include the job you are applying for and your full name.

Job Title: Senior Volunteer Manager

Reporting To: Head of Volunteering

Salary Range: £40,00 - £45,000

Contract Type: Permanent

Direct Reports: 7 situated across England.

Location: London, Hybrid with frequent travel to sites across England.

Hours/Days per week: 35 hours per week, 9am – 5pm, Monday – Friday.

Requirements: Felix only employs applicants who currently have the

right to work in the UK. We will carry out a DBS check for the successful candidate.  

We are Felix

We bring people together to rescue, repurpose, and share surplus food that would otherwise go to waste, turning an environmental problem into a social opportunity.

Together with 16 other independent charities, 18,000 volunteers, and thousands of partners, we are the UK’s food rescue network, supporting 1.5 million people across the country.

We‘re about fuller plates, fuller communities, and fuller lives.

Purpose of the Job 

We are looking for the Senior Volunteer Managerto play a key role in working as part of a team to grow and improve our volunteer programme. Thousands of individuals volunteer regularly across Felix’s four depots, three food production sites and Felix’s UK’s three regional centres and, with a smaller number in Fundraising and other teams. We aim to improve our volunteer programme, as well as develop new opportunities, and make Felix a great place to volunteer.

The post holder will have five primary focus areas:

• Manage the development of individual volunteering at Felix, initiating and overseeing improvement projects and new opportunities and considering both volunteer experience and operational practicality.

• Line manage and continue to build, develop and support a team of seven. Lead on agreeing team and individual goals and priorities and oversee the team’s work.

• Support the team to develop site strategies to grow and improve our volunteer program and manage issues and opportunities at a local and tactical level.

• Collaborate with members of the operations team and other Felix colleagues to continue to integrate the volunteering team within Felix’s work, champion a ‘one-team’ approach.

• Collaborate with the Head of Volunteering, Volunteer Development Manager (Network) and Group Volunteering Manager on strategy and improvement projects

Duties and Responsibilities

• Manage seven Volunteer Managers, providing leadership and development opportunities and leveraging their expertise.

• Lead and manage team collaboration, development, communication, and resource distribution.

• Ensure that change management principles are utilised successfully to bring the team together post merger.

• Assist Volunteer Managers in integrating into site teams and fostering productive relationships, championing and facilitating a collaborative "one team" approach.

• Support Volunteer Managers in implementing strategies which promote volunteer recruitment, retention, and engagement.

• Oversee the involvement and experience of individuals who volunteer with Felix regularly, aligning their needs, skills and motivations with those of volunteer-involving teams.

• Work with colleagues to plan, set goals, make data-driven decisions, monitor progress, and report on volunteer recruitment and retention.

• Initiate, manage and collaborate on improvement projects and new processes, particularly in Felix’s depots and kitchen.

• Support Volunteer Managers in resolving volunteer issues, escalating to the Head of Volunteering when necessary.

• Lead the implementation of volunteer-related policies and continuous improvement initiatives locally.

• Assist Volunteer Managers in organising local volunteer events.

• Network with external stakeholders to promote the Felix Volunteer Program and integrate best practices.

• Perform additional duties as needed during the absence of volunteer management team members.

• Your normal duties and responsibilities will be set out in your job description. However, the charity may require you to perform other duties from time to time

Person Specification 

You will want to spend time with our volunteers and get to know their experience and perspective. You will be a strong people manager, love working with a wide variety of people and be able to quickly build strong and positive relationships in a volunteer-centric organisation. You have extensive leadership, management and team building experience, like to see the impact of your work, and can implement and lead on new ways of working. You have a passion to be in a charity that is expanding rapidly and thrive in a busy environment. You will have a desire to help reduce food waste and/or fight food poverty.

Essential Criteria 

• Strong individual and team management skills within a fast-paced environment

• Strong change management skills- especially those within a post merger environment.

• Excellent verbal and written communicator at all levels

• Great organisation and Planning skills with the capability to manage multiple tasks and projects.

• Good computer skills including the ability to use Office365

• Ability to effectively collaborate with diverse teams and stakeholders

• Capacity to foster a collaborative and inclusive team environment

• Practice in volunteer recruitment, engagement, and retention.

• Capability in organising and facilitating events and activities for volunteers.

• Prior experience in a managerial role, preferably within the nonprofit or volunteer sector

• Experience in networking with external partners and stakeholders

• In-depth knowledge of best practices in volunteer recruitment, engagement, and retention

• Understanding GDPR and good data management practices

Equity Diversity Inclusion & Belonging

At Felix, we are committed to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion in everything we do. We value the unique contributions of every individual and strive to create a respectful, inclusive environment free from discrimination or prejudice. Our commitment extends to all employees, and volunteers, ensuring equal opportunities for everyone, regardless of background or characteristics.

Application procedure 

Once you apply you will be directed to our recruitment portal. Please upload your CV and a covering letter outlining your suitability for the role and make sure that they are both uploaded before submitting your application. After you have submitted your application, you have 24 hours in which you can access you application and make edits. We will only consider applications with both CV and cover letter submitted.

Recruitment timeline 

We reserve the right to close advertisements early and we might assess candidates and arranging interview as applications come in, so please apply as soon as possible, to avoid missing out on this opportunity.  

Due to the anticipated large number of applicants, if you do not hear from us within four weeks of your application, we regret to inform you that your application has been unsuccessful. Consequently, will not be able to provide feedback.

Head of Stewardship and Supporter-led Fundraising
Salary: £52,890.00 per annum
Location: Hybrid working – Norwich or Cambridge
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Contract: Permanent 

About East Anglian Air Ambulance 

We are East Anglian Air Ambulance. A charity providing lifesaving critical care every day of the year across Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. Whether by air or road, we bring hospital-level care to the most seriously ill and injured, probably on the worst day of their lives.

From blood transfusions and pain relief to anaesthesia and emergency surgery, our doctors and paramedics give patients the best chance of survival and recovery. And it doesn’t stop there. We also offer vital aftercare, train people in lifesaving skills, and carry out clinical research to keep improving care.

We’re fuelled entirely by donations, without any regular government funding, so our supporters and their fundraising powers every single mission. 

About the role 

You will be playing a pivotal role in the senior leadership of the fundraising directorate, working alongside the Head of Relationship Fundraising and Partnerships. You will help to shape the ambitious future for fundraising at East Anglian Air Ambulance, delivering the Future Proofed Giving strategy, growing income, and developing a brilliant team of fundraisers, stewardship specialists and engagement experts.

Key responsibilities include: 

Building a brand-new engagement, stewardship, retention and development function for the fundraising directorate including; building the team, embedding the function across the fundraising and wider teams; This function will be the beating heart of the fundraising team and ensure we can deliver our ambitious strategy.

You will specifically lead on the strategic direction of key income streams including; community fundraising, events, individual giving, prize led fundraising (lottery), in memory fundraising, gift aid and gifts in wills. 

You will lead and develop, a great team who are delivering exceptional stewardship activity to retain supporters for longer and targeted marketing activity, uplift and conversion campaigns and giving the supporter a great experience.

You and the team will be planning and implementing new product, activity, events testing – from development through to implementation. Stewardship journey mapping, development, implementation and monitoring for all income streams in your remit and providing stewardship support to other fundraising functions.

You’ll bring: 

Significant experience of developing successful fundraising strategies and leading and developing fundraising departments, and teams.

You will have an excellent understanding of the different fundraising disciplines you will be responsible for and one or two you might even be an expert in.

You will have been using data and insights to inform plans and activity and recent experience of using marketing techniques and channels, ideally in a fundraising setting, to engage with specific audiences. 

Giving supporters a great experience will drive you and being a fan of yellow and helicopters will probably be essential. 

Closing Date: 23rd September 2026 (9am)  
Interview Date: 30th September 2026 (to be held in person at Helimed House, Norwich) 

This role will be worked a minimum of 3 days a week from our Norwich or Cambridge office and up to 2 days a week from home. The exact days worked in the office will be agreed with the successful candidate, but you must live within a commutable distance of Norwich or Cambridge.

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

No agencies please.

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

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

About the role:

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

Key responsibilities include:

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

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

You will bring:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Assistant Services Director

We are seeking an experienced senior services leader to oversee high-quality homelessness and housing services across London and the South East.

Position: Assistant Services Director
Salary: £49,237 per annum
Location: London and South East
Hours: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week
Contract: 12-month fixed-term contract
Closing date: 21 September 2026

About the role

Depaul UK is looking for an experienced Assistant Services Director to provide senior operational leadership across a portfolio of homelessness and housing support services.

You will lead and develop Service and Pathway Managers, ensuring services are safe, effective, compliant and delivering excellent outcomes for young people and adults experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

Key responsibilities include:

· Leading high-performing services and management teams across London and the South East

· Ensuring excellent safeguarding practice and regulatory compliance

· Monitoring service quality, contracts, KPIs and performance

· Overseeing housing management, voids, arrears and rental income

· Ensuring accommodation meets health and safety requirements

· Managing relationships with commissioners, local authorities, landlords and other key stakeholders

· Supporting budget setting, monitoring and remedial action

· Leading mobilisation plans for new and changing services

· Coaching and developing managers and supporting workforce development

· Championing client involvement and co-production

· Deputising for the Area Director when required

About you

You will be an experienced operational leader with a strong track record of managing services, managers and performance.

You will have experience of contract management and compliance monitoring, alongside a good working knowledge of housing and homelessness issues. Experience of working with vulnerable people is essential.

You will be confident setting clear standards, developing high-performing teams and leading through change. You will also bring excellent communication, influencing and problem-solving skills, with the ability to build strong relationships with commissioners, partners and colleagues.

You will be self-motivated, resilient and comfortable balancing strategic priorities with the day-to-day demands of delivering high-quality services.

About Depaul UK

Depaul UK has been tackling homelessness since 1989. From its beginnings as a single housing project in North London, the charity has grown to provide accommodation, prevention and support services to thousands of marginalised young people across the UK.

Inspired by the values of St Vincent de Paul, Depaul UK believes in the intrinsic worth of every person and takes practical action to help people build brighter, more independent futures.

Benefits include 26 days' annual leave, increasing with service, pension contributions of up to 7%, tailored training and development, flexible working options where suitable, a cash health plan, Employee Assistance Programme with 24/7 GP access and a range of retail, travel and wellbeing discounts.

Other roles you may have experience of could include: Assistant Director of Services, Head of Services, Regional Head of Services, Regional Operations Manager, Head of Operations, Housing Services Manager, Homelessness Services Manager, Service Delivery Manager or Assistant Area Director.

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

The role

At Cruse, our strategy, sets out our charity’s plans to grow our income and build on our expertise and unique position in the sector. We provide expert bereavement and grief information and support, and our charity has been supporting people for over 65 years. We support adults, children and young people across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, through our national services, over 80 local branches and online information about grief and bereavement.

To lead and grow Cruse’s community fundraising and events programme, maximising income from existing activities/events while developing new fundraising opportunities. The postholder will take ownership of event planning and delivery, supporter engagement and volunteer and Branch fundraising coordination, helping to increase unrestricted income. This role is responsible for the planning and delivery of major events such as Cruse walks, whilst also creating new fundraising events for supporters to engage with us. Based in either the South of England or Wales

How to apply

Your application must consist of a CV and covering letter, which outlines your suitability for the role with reference to the Job Description and Person Specification and should be no longer than two pages. Please note that if you application does not include both a CV and covering letter, your application may not be considered. 

The closing date for applications is 25 September 2026 with interviews taking place week commencing 5 October 2026. We reserve the right to close the advert early, as interviews will be held as suitable candidates apply.

Please be advised that if you do not hear from us by 5 October 2026, unfortunately on this occasion you have not been shortlisted.

Cruse welcomes and encourages applications from all protected groups as defined by the Equality Act 2010. Appointment will be made on merit.

Criminal Record Checks

All staff are required to complete a Criminal Record check. Staff working directly with clients will be required to complete an enhanced check. We comply with the relevant codes of practice and they can be viewed online:

• Applicants in England and Wales: DBS Code of Practice
• Applicants in Northern Ireland: AccessNI Code of Practice

Previous convictions will not prevent full consideration of your application to work with Cruse. Our Recruitment of Ex-offenders’ Policy & Handling Criminal Record Check Data Policy are available on request by email.

We comply with all relevant data protection legislation and process your data fairly.