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This role
We are seeking a commercially minded senior leader to establish and lead a new Life Sciences Partnership Function for the South West Secure Data Environment (SWSDE). Serving more than five million people across six Integrated Care Board areas, the SWSDE enables approved researchers to securely access and analyse health and care data to support research and innovation that benefits patients and populations.
This is an opportunity to shape how the South West works with the life sciences sector to develop research, innovation and commercial partnerships. Working across the NHS, academia and industry, you will build and lead a pipeline of partnership opportunities, taking them from initial engagement through to agreed programmes that deliver clear value for partners and the health and care system.
You will play a key role in developing the frameworks, commercial models and ways of working needed to support effective collaboration between the NHS, academia and industry, while maintaining high standards of privacy, security, ethics and public trust.
As Secure Data Environments continue to evolve across the UK, you will help define how organisations work with life sciences partners to use health data safely and responsibly to support research and innovation.
The role forms part of the SWSDE leadership and delivery model and is hosted by Health Innovation South West on behalf of the SWSDE, working closely with Health Innovation West of England and regional NHS and academic partners.
Role profile:
Key success factors
· The Senior Life Sciences Partnership Lead will lead the development and delivery of the Life Sciences Partnership Function for the SWSDE. The postholder will originate, develop and convert high impact partnerships between the SWSDE, NHS organisations and the life science sector that utilise the functionality and capability of the SWSDE safely, ethically and efficiently to deliver benefit for partners and the population of the South West region.
· The role will act as a key interface between the SWSDE and external partners, ensuring opportunities for partnership working between the SWSDE and the life science sector are translated into deliverable, governance-ready programmes that create measurable research, innovation and economic benefits. This will include providing NHS organisations involved in the SWSDE to develop effective partnership working with the life science sector, including pricing approaches, contract development and commercial operating models that enable sustainable collaboration with industry partners.
· This role reflects emerging functions being developed across other SDEs, Trusted Research Environments (TREs) and regional data innovation ecosystems, where specialist life science sector leadership expertise is required to complement technical, governance and academic routes.
· The postholder will develop commercially and operationally viable proposals for consideration through SWSDE governance. The role will not determine access to data. All projects will remain subject to feasibility assessment, information-governance requirements, demonstration of public benefit and independent Data Access Committee approval.
Responsibilities
1. Leading strategic partnership development
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Lead the development and delivery of the Life Sciences Partnership Strategy for the SWSDE, building the South West’s distinctive position as a preferred regional partner for data-enabled life science sector research and innovation partnerships.
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Build senior relationships with major life science sector organisations and develop strategic anchor partnerships capable of generating sustained partnership activity and long term income.
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Build trusted relationships with SWSDE partner organisations, including Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) and NHS providers, supporting partners to develop effective partnership working with the life science sector and the SWSDE.
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Build strategic relationships with relevant national programmes including NHS England, Health Data Research UK and wider research networks.
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Identify collaborative opportunities for Life Science Partnership Function with other SDEs and TREs.
2. Leading partnership pipeline generation
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Lead the development of a strategically aligned, high quality pipeline of revenue generating partnerships with the life science sector.
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Work with Health Innovation Networks and NHS partners to originate opportunities in collaboration with NHS partner organisations.
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Lead the management, and delivery of the partnership pipeline, ensuring effective planning and oversight to deliver agreed partnership pipeline, revenue targets and KPIs.
3. Leading partnership opportunity development and conversion
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Translate external opportunities with the life science sector into scoped programmes, studies or service offers, working with technical, IG, governance and delivery teams to assess feasibility of proposals and progress opportunities from concept to approval.
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Work with the wider SWDE team to identify and resolve barriers to partnership conversion and maintain momentum across the partnership lifecycle: Find / Receive / Develop / Secure / Deliver.
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Develop and deploy pricing models, cost recovery approaches, commercial negotiations and contracting arrangements in line with SWSDE strategy and governance frameworks.
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Support NHS organisations and SWSDE partners to develop and adopt effective and sustainable models of partnership working with the life science sector and the SWSDE, including providing expert advice on contracting mechanisms, commercial frameworks and partnership agreements.
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Work with SWSDE finance, legal, information governance and operational colleagues to develop robust partnership agreements, contractual documentation and commercial propositions that support scalable and repeatable approaches to partnership delivery.
5. Leading effective governance and assurance
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Ensure all partnership activity aligns with SafeGUARDs, information governance, ethics and NHS standards, working closely with SWSDE governance and operational leads to maintain public trust and transparency.
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Ensure commercial agreements and partnership arrangements align with SWSDE governance, NHS regulatory requirements and agreed organisational responsibilities across host organisations.
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Ensure effective communication and contribution into SWSDE governance and reporting processes.
6. Leading people and partners in a matrix management structure
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Lead the development of the Life Science Partnership Function and the associated resources and people required to ensure effective delivery of the Life Sciences Partnership Strategy.
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Work collaboratively across multiple SWSDE host organisations and stakeholders, operating effectively without direct line management where delivery is through influence and matrix leadership.
Person specification
Experience we’re looking for
· Experience leading partnership working between the NHS and life science sector.
· Track record leading commercial growth and business development.
· Experience leading commercial negotiation and contract development, contract development and partnership agreement design across complex multi-organisational environments.
· Experience operating in environments with complex and rigorous information governance and data sharing requirements.
· Understanding of the UK health, innovation and research landscape.
Desirable experience required:
· Experience leading partnership working with universities and research partners.
· Experience working with health and care data or in trusted research data environments, including NHS data policy, SafeGUARDs or data governance frameworks.
· Experience working with NHS governance structures and decision making.
Abilities and attributes
· Strategic Vision – opportunity-focused, creates new customer markets and develops new revenue streams that balance strategic ambition with attention to risk.
· Customer Orientation – builds trust, anticipates partner needs, works with agility, delivers value to partners.
· Commercial Acumen – skilled in complex negotiations, high levels of financially literacy, focused on sustainable commercial growth.
· Execution excellence – translate partnership opportunities into actionable plans that deliver measurable results, with a strong attention to detail.
· Leadership & Influence – motivates, provides clear direction and build effective working relationships in a matrix managed, partnership structured operating model.
· Communication – translates complexity into clear narrative, compelling storyteller, adapts style to target audiences.
Reporting to:
Executive Director of Innovation & Commercial Partnerships, Health Innovation South West
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Independent Age is the national charity working towards ending financial hardship in later life.
Our Helpline and expert advisers offer free information and advice to older people without enough money to live on, while our external training equips professionals with the information they need to support older people on low incomes. Through our grants programme, we fund and support hundreds of local charities working with older people across the UK. We use the knowledge and insight gained from our support services and partnerships to highlight the issues experienced by older people in poverty and campaign for change.
We believe no one should face financial hardship in later life. We would love to find individuals from all walks of life and diverse backgrounds to join us on this journey.
Responsibilities and Person Specification:
As Head of Services Development, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of Independent Age’s services and maximising our impact for older people facing financial hardship. Reporting to the Director of Services, you will lead service development, innovation, quality, evaluation and strategic change across our service provision (information, advice and external training) ensuring they remain effective, evidence-led and responsive to changing needs. Working closely with colleagues across the charity and external partners, you will translate strategy into practical improvements, develop new opportunities for impact and collaboration, and embed a culture of continuous learning, improvement and innovation.
We use the knowledge and insight gained from our support services and partnerships to highlight the issues experienced by older people in poverty and campaign for change.
We're looking for a strategic and collaborative leader with experience of leading complex projects, organisational change and service improvement programmes.
You will be skilled at turning strategy into delivery, bringing together people from different teams and disciplines to develop practical solutions that improve outcomes. You will be comfortable using data, insight and evidence to drive decision-making and have a track record of stakeholder engagement and identifying opportunities for innovation and growth.
You will also bring experience of impact measurement, evaluation, quality assurance or performance frameworks, with the ability to use evidence to demonstrate value and improve services. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills are essential, alongside the confidence to influence senior stakeholders and work across organisational boundaries. An understanding of the needs of older people, the wider ageing sector and the role that data, learning and collaboration play in delivering social impact would be advantageous.
For full details on the role and requirements, please review the job description and person specification. If your experience doesn’t align perfectly with all of the criteria in the person specification but you do meet most of them and are excited about the role, we encourage you to apply anyway.
This is a full-time role, 35 hours per week, which you can choose to work over five days or a 9 day fortnight.
What it’s like to work at Independent Age:
We celebrate diversity at Independent Age and champion the differences that make each of us unique. We actively support and encourage people from a variety of backgrounds, experiences and skill sets to join us and help shape what we do. We aim to attract and retain a wide range of talent and create an environment where everyone can feel safe, protected, welcome and included.
We offer great benefits including 28 days annual leave plus public holidays, a generous pension scheme with life assurance, and fantastic learning and development opportunities. We also offer a number of enhanced leave provisions and benefits.
We know that a good work life balance helps us perform at our best and supports wellbeing. Flexible working hours and hybrid working is standard for all (those contracted to work in the office usually attend 1 day per week). But if you need a different form of flexibility, we are always happy to talk flexible working.
With an employee engagement score of 98%, colleagues say Independent Age is a great place to work. You can find out more about what it’s like to work at Independent Age on the careers page of our website.
Application Process:
To apply, please submit a CV and a Supporting Statement, detailing how your skills and experience meet the criteria within the Job Description and Person Specification, by visiting our jobs website.
We are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible to all. If you require any specific arrangements or adjustments to enable you to fully participate in the recruitment process, such as having the job description in a larger text format or to apply in an alternative format, please get in touch with us via the email address on the ‘Contact Us’ page on our jobs site.
To support our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion our hiring managers use anonymous shortlisting. Please don’t include your name, photo, or any information that could indicate your gender or age in your CV and supporting statement, and don’t include your name in the title of any documents that you upload. However, please do include all dates of employment.
Independent Age is committed to safeguarding and follows Safer Recruitment practices to ensure we are safeguarding those we work with. We therefore ask that you supply your full work history with explanations for any gaps in the application documents you submit and, if offered the post, we will require a minimum of two employment references including your current or most recent employer. A BASIC DBS check will be carried out for the successful candidate.
Closing Date: Friday 25 September at 11:59pm
Interview Dates: Monday 12 October at our London office, 18 Avonmore Road W14 8RR
Independent Age is the national charity focused on improving the lives of people facing financial hardship in later life.


The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
About Us
We are a world-class visitor attraction and leading science research centre. We use the Museum's unique collections and our unrivalled expertise to tackle the biggest challenges facing the world today. We care for more than 80 million objects spanning billions of years and welcome more than five million visitors annually and 16 million visits to our website.
Today the Museum is more relevant and influential than ever. By attracting people from a range of backgrounds to work for us, we can continue to look at the world with fresh eyes and find new ways of doing things.
We employ 1100 staff in a variety of roles, all united by our vision of a future where people and planet thrive. We need everyone to have the passion and drive to help us with our mission to create advocates for our planet and inspire millions to care about the natural world.
Diversity and inclusion matter to us.
Our vision is of a future where both people and the planet thrive. Diversity is one of our core values and we strive to build a workplace where everyone feels a sense of belonging. All new staff who join us learn about the importance of diversity and inclusion to the Museum and how to contribute to creating an inclusive environment.
We know we have more to do, but we are committed to ensuring that everyone who works at the Museum feels they can thrive and feel valued and respected.
About the role
This is an opportunity to lead a new national centre, as part of the DiSSCo UK programme, using AI, robotics, data and digital technologies to transform access to the UK’s natural science collections.
As Head of the DiSSCo UK Technical Innovation unit, (known internally as the Catalysis centre) you will establish and lead a specialist team developing new ways to digitise collections faster and turn collections data into useful tools and services for research, policy and industry.
You will set the Centre’s direction, build and lead a multidisciplinary technical team, and take promising ideas from early testing through to practical use. Initially, the focus will be on technologies such as AI-assisted transcription, computer vision, automated imaging and robotics to improve the speed and quality of digitisation.
Reporting to the DiSSCo UK Programme Director, and working closely with the Head of Digitisation and Head of Engineering, within the Natural History Museum's Department of Digital Data and Informatics, you will ensure new approaches can be adopted across the national programme. You will also develop partnerships with universities, government and industry, and identify opportunities for further investment and commercial development.
This is a fixed term role until 31 March 2029.
About you
You will be an experienced technology, innovation or digital leader who has successfully turned new technologies into practical products, services or ways of working.
Your background might be in AI, data, research infrastructure, digital transformation or a technology business. You will have strong technical understanding in one or more areas such as AI and machine learning, robotics, automation, data engineering or digital platforms, together with experience of leading multidisciplinary teams and delivering complex programmes.
You will be a collaborative leader who can work across organisational boundaries, build strong partnerships and explain complex technical ideas clearly. You should also be comfortable getting close to the technical work when needed.
Experience of developing partnerships, attracting investment or turning technology and research into sustainable services would be an advantage. Above all, you will be motivated by using technology to accelerate scientific discovery and increase the value and use of the UK’s natural science collections.
Thriving at the Museum: the way we work
We are proud to work at the Museum and have identified the qualities we all need to embody to reach our shared ambition. This sits alongside the Museum’s values and forms the framework for the way we work.
Find out more on our website.
What we offer
- 27.5 days holiday plus 8 bank holidays (full time equivalent)
- Generous defined contribution Natural History Museum Pension Scheme (employer contribution 4 - 10%)
- Season ticket, bicycle and rental loan
- Life insurance
- Free admission to our exhibitions and many other paid exhibitions at museums, galleries and institutions across London and the UK.
- Staff discount at our Museum shops and cafes
- We offer a wide variety of training initiatives and opportunities to build skills. Investing in staff development is important to us, and we are ambitious about helping staff to grow and fulfil their potential.
- Affordable membership to the Civil Service Sports Council which offers a range of benefits including an extensive list of special offers and reduced entry fees at a selection of cinema chains, theme parks, theatres, retailers and supermarkets. It also provides entry to up to 300 English Heritage sites and other national treasures.
- Membership to our Sports and Social Association (for a small fee), which includes access to our in-house gym and clubs such as football, softball, table tennis and tennis and classes in Middle Eastern dance, yoga and Tai Chi
Hybrid working
We are working towards a vision where both people and planet thrive, and nothing gives a greater connection with this, than seeing first-hand, the visitors, scientific research and collections that all of our work is inspired by and working side by side with the teams delivering the visitor experience and events. We also recognise the benefits and flexibility that hybrid working brings. We operate a hybrid working model that requires regular, weekly attendance for this role, with the precise pattern of days on site and worked from home to be agreed with your manager.
How to apply
If this sounds like you, please apply on our website.
Please note that as part of our commitment to anonymised shortlisting, panels do not view CVs during the recruitment process. If you choose to upload your CV, our system will automatically pull information from your CV into our application form. We advise you to double-check your application form data before submitting as the tool may interpret CVs differently.
Closing date: 23:59 on 14 October
Interviews expected: w/c 26 October
Please note that this role does not qualify for Museum sponsorship so the successful postholder will need to have a valid right to work in the UK at the point of offer.
Using the power of science and 80 million specimens to create a future where people and planet thrive.

The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice Service is looking for an inspirational and experienced Director of Care to provide strategic, clinical and operational leadership across our medical, clinical and holistic care services.
This is a pivotal role within our organisation. Reporting to the CEO and working closely with the Board of Trustees and Senior Leadership Team, you will be responsible for ensuring that children, young people and their families receive the highest quality, safe and compassionate care.
You will have the opportunity to shape the future direction of our care services at an exciting time in the development of Alexander Devine.
The role
As Director of Care, you will have overall responsibility for the leadership, management, quality and performance of our care services.
You will:
- Provide strong, visible and inspirational clinical leadership across all care services.
- Lead the strategic development of our medical, clinical and holistic care provision.
- Ensure services are safe, effective, evidence-based, family-centred and responsive to the needs of the children and families we support.
- Act as Joint Registered Manager with the Care Quality Commission.
- Provide strategic oversight of clinical governance, quality assurance, risk management, safeguarding and compliance.
- Ensure we are prepared for CQC and other regulatory requirements and that learning from incidents, complaints, audits and research drives continuous improvement.
- Lead and support a highly skilled multidisciplinary Care Team, encouraging a culture of reflection, development, innovation and excellence.
- Work with the CEO and wider Senior Leadership Team to deliver the charity's strategic plan and manage resources effectively.
- Develop strong relationships with Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) and support the development and management of commissioned services.
- Represent Alexander Devine locally and nationally, contributing to the wider development of children's palliative care.
- Champion the voice of children, young people and their families, ensuring their experience informs the ongoing development of our services.
About you
We are looking for an exceptional clinical leader who combines strategic vision with strong operational management and a genuine passion for children's palliative care.
You will be a registered nurse with significant experience in paediatric palliative care and senior-level leadership experience. You will have a strong understanding of clinical governance, CQC requirements, PSIRF and safeguarding, together with experience of leading service development and change.
You will bring:
- NMC registration as a Children's or Adult Nurse.
- Significant experience of palliative paediatric nursing.
- Senior-level experience of management, strategic thinking and service development.
- Experience of CQC compliance, clinical governance, PSIRF and safeguarding.
- Strong financial and budgetary understanding.
- Excellent communication skills and the confidence to communicate complex and sensitive information to a wide range of audiences.
- The ability to interpret data and use evidence to inform strategic and operational decisions.
- Excellent networking and partnership-building skills.
- A Master's-level qualification in a relevant health or leadership subject is desirable.
Most importantly, you will be an inspirational, resilient and motivational leader who can engage people, build confidence and create a culture where staff are empowered to deliver their very best.
Why Alexander Devine?
This is a rare opportunity to join a growing children's hospice charity and play a leading role in shaping the future of our services.
At Alexander Devine, our values are at the heart of everything we do: determined, empowering, valuing others, integrity, nurture and empathy. We are looking for a leader who genuinely shares these values and can translate them into meaningful action for children, families, staff and volunteers.
You will have the opportunity to work alongside a committed Senior Leadership Team, an experienced clinical team and a passionate wider charity, while building strong relationships with partners across health, social care and the children's palliative care sector.
If you are an ambitious and compassionate clinical leader who wants to make a lasting difference to children and families, we would love to hear from you.
Please note: The successful candidate will be required to undertake an Enhanced DBS check.
We provide specialist care and support to children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions, and their families, across Berkshire


The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
The National Biodiversity Network Trust is the UK charity dedicated to making biodiversity data accessible and useful. We co-ordinate the National Biodiversity Network, develop the NBN Atlas, support iNaturalistUK and are developing the NBN Record Manager. Our work connects biological recording, digital infrastructure and better decisions for nature across the UK.
Our vision is Nature thriving everywhere, in all its diversity.
Our mission is Making data work for nature.
We are looking for an experienced leader to undertake a newly-created Head of Data & Digital role reporting to the Chief Executive Officer on a full-time fixed-term contract of 24 months.
Purpose of Job
- Lead the NBN Trust’s data and digital function, providing strategic and functional leadership across the NBN Atlas, related digital products and services, and the Trust’s wider data and digital portfolio.
- Line manages the Trust’s data and technical team managers, ensuring clear priorities, strong performance, proportionate governance, and effective delivery across business as usual, funded projects, and strategic development.
- Ensure the Trust’s data and digital work is led in a way that is inclusive, accessible, and supportive of a diverse range of staff, partners, and users.
- Deliver the Trust’s 2-year National Lottery Heritage Fund’s organisational sustainability project, “Building a Sustainable Future for the UK’s Biodiversity Data Heritage”, including the development and testing of value-added data and digital services, hosted products, and support offers that strengthen financial resilience without compromising the Trust’s public good role.
- Support the strategic direction, stewardship, and future sustainability of the NBN Atlas, related digital products and services, and the Trust’s wider technical delivery, ensuring that risks, opportunities, and investment choices are well managed.
- Play an active role in the NBN Trust’s Executive Team, contributing to organisational planning, funding development, cross Trust collaboration, and external engagement where this supports delivery and the Trust’s wider strategic objectives.
- The role provides strategic and functional leadership across the Trust’s data and digital work, working closely with the Principal Software Engineer as the Trust’s senior software engineering lead.
Main Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership and Function Management
· Lead the Trust’s data and digital function, aligning work with organisational priorities, the NBN Atlas strategy, and the wider Operating Plan.
· Provide strategic advice to the CEO and senior colleagues on delivery priorities, service development, digital risk, technical resilience, and future investment needs.
· Translate complex technical, delivery, and service development issues into clear options, trade-offs, and recommendations for the CEO, Executive Team, Board, and relevant committees.
· Lead, line manage, and develop the Trust’s data and technical managers, and relevant technical project staff, ensuring clear objectives, strong management practice, accountability, wellbeing support, and effective performance management.
· Build leadership capacity within the function, supporting managers to develop their teams, handle performance issues well, and contribute positively to the Trust’s culture and ways of working.
· Assess capacity, sequencing, and resource pressures across the data and digital portfolio, working with team managers to identify priorities, trade-offs, and resourcing needs and advise the CEO accordingly.
· Work across the Trust to improve prioritisation, sequencing, decision making, and resource allocation across data and digital activity.
· Champion inclusive leadership and equality, diversity and inclusion in team management, service design, recruitment, and ways of working, helping ensure the Trust’s data and digital function is accessible, supportive, and well-led.
Data Infrastructure, Services, and Innovation
· Provide strategic leadership for the stewardship, prioritisation, development, and continuous improvement of the NBN Atlas and related data and digital products and services, working with the relevant data, technical, and programme leads.
· Ensure data and digital activity support the long-term accessibility, usability, quality, and public value of biodiversity records and related digital services.
· Lead diagnostic work, market testing, and service development to identify viable value-added data and digital offers, working with relevant data, technical, programme, and commercial colleagues to shape propositions.
· Oversee the selection, development, and testing of pilot services, hosted products, training, or support offers, working with the relevant delivery leads and refining propositions in light of evidence, demand, legal advice, licensing constraints, and delivery capacity.
Governance, Risk and Project Delivery
· Lead delivery of the organisational resilience project within agreed scope, time, and budget, with support from colleagues and external consultants as required.
· Ensure major data and digital programmes have proportionate project governance, reporting, stakeholder, and advisory arrangements in place, working with relevant programme and project leads and identifying additional project support where required.
· Commission and manage consultants and contractors, ensuring briefs are clear, outputs are practical, and learning is embedded in delivery, working with relevant technical or data leads where specialist assessment or oversight is required.
· Act as the senior staff lead for the Data and Technology Committee, working in partnership with its Trustee Chair and relevant data and technical leads to support effective oversight of the Trust’s data and digital infrastructure, strategic development, risk, and associated governance.
· Oversee function-level risks relating to data and digital resilience, data governance, licensing, delivery capacity, and service sustainability, working with the relevant technical and data leads to ensure specialist risks are identified, managed, and escalated appropriately.
· Balance governance, assurance, and innovation so that data and digital systems support delivery, resilience, and public value without creating unnecessary burden.
· Work with finance and programme colleagues to ensure accurate budgeting, reporting, monitoring, and evidence of impact.
Partnerships, Income Development and External Engagement
· Build and manage relationships with key partners, data providers, heritage and conservation organisations, public bodies, consultancies, funders, and prospective service users.
· Help shape and test future income opportunities, including service offers, hosted portals, training, funded programmes, and strategic partnerships.
· Develop and support fundable and deliverable future propositions arising from the work, ensuring the Trust is better positioned for long term resilience.
· Act as the Trust’s UK Node Manager for GBIF, leading relationships, coordination, and representation linked to the UK Node function, and ensuring this role supports the Trust’s wider strategic, technical, and partnership objectives.
· Represent the Trust externally on biodiversity data infrastructure, digital leadership, service development, standards, and innovation, working alongside relevant technical and data leads where specialist expertise is required
Trust Wide Contribution
· Play an active role in the Executive Team, contributing to organisational planning, business improvement, and wider strategic discussions.
· Keep the wider NBN Trust team up to date with, and involved in, relevant data and digital activity as appropriate.
· Contribute to Trust wide initiatives, events, business planning, and other activities as needed.
· Share ideas, lessons learned, and opportunities openly to improve organisational performance.
General Responsibilities
- Attend any required learning and development opportunities.
- Collaborate effectively with other departments.
- Contribute to a respectful and inclusive working environment.
- Ensure commitment to continuous professional development.
- Follow organisational policies including Health & Safety, Cybersecurity, IT, Finance, and EDI.
The ability to travel occasionally is required, including international travel. Candidates must also be based in and have the right to work in the UK, and be able to work effectively from home.
These are the criteria we will be looking for in your application. If you don't meet all of them in full, but can offer something else that would help you excel in the role, we'd still encourage you to apply.
Essential Experience and Qualities
· Strong leadership experience in data, digital, technical, product, or programme roles, ideally with responsibility for teams, delivery, and strategic planning.
· Ability to operate at both strategic and practical levels, moving between organisational leadership, service design, risk management, and delivery oversight.
· Experience of commissioning and managing consultants, contractors, or specialist external support to deliver clear and practical outputs.
· Experience of developing partnerships, shaping propositions, or securing income through funded programmes, service offers, or strategic collaboration.
· Good judgement, with the ability to assess trade-offs, challenge assumptions, and make proportionate decisions in a resource-constrained environment.
· Strong communication and relationship management skills, including confidence with senior stakeholders, funders, partners, and technical specialists.
· Knowledge of biodiversity data infrastructure, environmental data, heritage data, or closely related fields would be beneficial, but is not essential if the candidate can learn quickly and lead credibly.
· Experience of working with Boards, committees, or governance groups, including presenting complex issues clearly and supporting effective decision-making.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
This is a rare and rewarding opportunity to lead a well-established and highly respected charity, dedicated to improving the lives of adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse, sexual violence and rape.
S.H.E. UK is seeking an exceptional, community-focused leader with a strong track record in fundraising, relationship building and organisational development. At an exciting point in our journey, we are looking for a CEO who can strengthen and sustain our foundations, inspire support across our communities, diversify income streams, and translate our ambitious new strategy into meaningful action.
You will bring proven experience of securing sustainable funding from a range of sources, including grants, donors, community supporters and strategic partnerships. Equally important is your ability to lead with compassion, champion survivor-centred services, and build trust with a wide range of stakeholders.
As Chief Executive Officer, you will provide strategic, operational and financial leadership, ensuring the charity remains resilient, impactful and well governed. Working closely with the Board of Trustees, you will maintain the highest standards of safeguarding, governance and service delivery, while creating the conditions for long-term sustainability.
This is an exciting opportunity for an inspiring and compassionate leader to build on our achievements, bring our strategy to life, and help shape the next chapter of S.H.E. UK's development. This is a hybrid role, with a minimum of three days per week working in person from our Mansfield base.
If you are passionate about creating lasting change, have a proven track record of leadership, and are committed to improving the lives of survivors, we would love to hear from you.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Business Development Manager
Hours: 37.5 hours per week (full time)
Contract: Fixed Term 12 months
Salary: £40k per annum
Reporting to: Executive Director of Strategic Partnerships
Youth Business International is a global network supporting young entrepreneurs to start, grow and sustain successful businesses. We bring together organisations around the world to deliver practical support, share expertise and create opportunities for young people to thrive.
We are looking for an ambitious Business Development Manager to help us grow and diversify our income and build new, long-term funding partnerships.
Working closely with the Executive Director of Strategic Partnerships, you will play a central role in identifying new opportunities across trusts and foundations, corporate partners and major donors.
We are looking for someone with a strong track record in fundraising, business development or partnership development, particularly in generating new opportunities and managing a pipeline through to successful outcomes.
If this sounds like you, you can find the full information in the job pack and we look forward to receiving your application.
To apply
PLEASE ENSURE YOU ARE APPLYING FOR THE CORRECT ROLE YOU ARE INTERESTED IN AS WE HAVE TWO ROLES CURRENTLY LIVE.
- Please submit your CV (maximum 2 x A4) and a cover letter (max 2 pages). Your cover letter must address how you meet the person specification.
- You must ensure that these documents clearly demonstrate the expertise, skills, experience and competencies required for this role as they will be used to shortlist you.
- Closing date: Midnight 20th September 2026.
- Please note you must have an existing right to work in the UK as YBI is not able to sponsor visas.
Please make sure you are applying for the correct role you are interested in as we have two roles currently live.
Please ensure your cover letter addresses the person specification as that will be used alongside your CV to make shortlisting decisions.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
You will use a wide range of commercial and interpersonal skills to develop the way our services support children, young people and families.
The core area of your work will be working with teams of Barnardo's colleagues to produce compelling proposals to commissioners and partners in Scotland and Northern Ireland. As such, you'll be able to demonstrate:
- Strong organisational skills
- Meticulous attention to detail
- The ability to elicit and articulate great ideas
- Strong written and spoken communication
You will need to be a good writer, communicating ideas effectively on paper with an ability to analyse large volumes of information to develop clear and compelling responses to tenders. It is critical that you can build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to support the development of proposals and service design.
You will manage all aspects of proposals and tenders, leading the development and delivery of bids, working to deadlines, ensuring that we present strong business cases and bids that underpin successful outcomes. In addition, there will be the opportunity to help us develop new services and innovations in priority growth areas, monitor market intelligence, assess commercial and contract risks and work alongside operational colleagues in Children's Services.
Your project management skills may have been developed in any sector, and may need further development, but your commitment to the work we do will be demonstrated by your enthusiasm and ability to learn. In Business Development we are a supportive team, with stimulating and challenging work and extensive opportunities to learn and to help Barnardo's transform the lives of the UK's most vulnerable children.
These roles will operate on a 'Work from Anywhere' basis, meaning that you can work both from home and/or from an office 'hub' that's nearest to where you live. Some travel across Scotland and Northern Ireland may be required.
Barnardo's believe in creating equality of opportunity in the workplace and supporting people to manage their work-life balance; we are therefore open to offering flexible working arrangements.
Please note due to the high volume of applications for some posts, this advert might close before the displayed closing date. We recommend that you apply for this role as soon as possible
We're here to help children and young people feel safer, happier, healthier and more hopeful – and have somewhere they feel they belong.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
About Florence Nightingale Foundation
At the Florence Nightingale Foundation (FNF), we develop nurse and midwife leaders who can influence, improve and transform health and care. Our work has purpose, reach and impact – supporting professionals at every career stage to grow in confidence, lead with integrity and create lasting change for the people and communities they serve.
This is a unique and exciting opportunity to lead the next phase of the FNF Academy's development and growth. As the Director of Academy, you will shape a bold, credible and high-quality Academy offer, ensuring our Scholarships, Leadership Programmes and professional development opportunities continue to meet the needs of nursing and midwifery leaders in the UK and globally.
You will work closely with the senior leadership team and key external partners to strengthen the Academy’s influence, grow sustainable opportunities and demonstrate the value and impact of our work. This is an Executive role with real scope to bring clarity, ambition and momentum to a charity with a strong reputation and an important mission.
About you
You will bring executive or senior nursing or midwifery leadership experience, current NMC registration and the credibility to influence at executive level. You will be confident working with complex stakeholders, leading through change and translating strategy into practical, high-quality delivery.
You will be a strong relationship-builder and a clear communicator, able to inspire confidence, develop high-performing teams and make decisions informed by evidence, insight and professional judgement. Most importantly, you will share our commitment to developing nurse and midwife leaders who can make a tangible difference across health and care.
Why join us?
You will join a small, friendly and ambitious charity where your work will have purpose and visible impact. We offer a supportive team culture, hybrid and flexible working, generous annual leave, strong pension contributions and dedicated time for personal and professional development. Further information about the role, including key responsibilities and the person specification, can be found in the candidate pack.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Northern Ballet is looking for an organised, proactive and detail-focused Development Executive to join our friendly and ambitious fundraising team.
This is an exciting opportunity for someone who is a confident communicator, with experience in administration, fundraising or customer service who is looking to develop their career in arts fundraising. You’ll play an important role in growing support for Northern Ballet, nurturing relationships with our supporters and helping the Development team run smoothly.
What you’ll do
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Support the growth and administration of our Patron and individual giving programmes
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Help deliver engaging supporter stewardship
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Support donor and corporate events in Leeds and across the UK.
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Maintain accurate supporter and donor information within our Spektrix CRM database
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Support fundraising campaigns, appeals, trust and foundation applications, research and reporting
- Coordinate meetings, donor visits, backstage experiences, rehearsals and other supporter activities
- Provide high-quality administrative support and contribute to improving systems and supporter experience
- Work collaboratively across the organisation and support performances and events, including some evening and weekend work.
Why join Northern Ballet?
You’ll be part of a small, collaborative and purpose-driven team where your contribution really matters. This is a fantastic opportunity to learn, grow and make a meaningful impact through the work of one of the UK’s leading ballet companies.
Northern Ballet is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcomes applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences. We are a Disability Confident employer and guarantee an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria.
Northern Ballet is the UK's foremost narrative ballet company.



Strategic Community Development Lead
Based in Oldham
Full-time (40 hours per week, 1 FTE)
Contract: Permanent
Salary: £40,444 per annum
Opportunity
Oasis is looking for a Strategic Community Development Lead who can combine an entrepreneurial flair and excellent leadership skills to lead Oasis Hub Oldham through the next phase of its growth.
We are seeking an experienced Strategic Community Development Lead who will bring fresh vision, take the community on the next stage of its journey together as a movement and bring innovation as well as stability to the charity.
About us
Oasis Hub Oldham is a local charity that is embedded in two communities in Oldham – Hollinwood and Leesbrook, where there are also four Oasis Academies. Our vision is for communities where everyone is included and no one is left out.
Key responsibilities
This is a key role as you will be responsible for strategic oversight of the local charity, ensuring the youth and community work is aligned to the the work of the academy, working alongside other local Oasis leaders such as the Academy Principal, volunteers and members of the local community to develop a joined up local vision for the community.
Some of the specific duties of this role include:
· Establishment and coordination of a range of provision such as family support, youth work, holiday clubs, volunteering and community empowerment projects.
· Maintaining and building supportive working partnerships across the community and various groups.
· Leading policy and process oversight.
· Planning, resourcing and coordinating the community plan, measuring impact.
· Strengthening the local Oasis Movement.
About you
This is very much a relational and project management role. As such, the successful applicant will need to demonstrate:
· A strategic mindset, and experience of leading community delivery and growing projects.
· Innovative use of resources and budget management to maximise funding, with a track record of securing income.
· A thorough knowledge and understanding community work.
· An education to degree level or equivalent and /or relevant professional qualification.
This is a unique opportunity for a self-reliant and results-focused individual, who is looking to make a difference in this complex and high-profile field of work.
What we offer
· Flexible working practices which encourage innovation and fresh ideas.
· A supportive network and friendly team in a motivating working environment.
· A non-contributory defined benefit pension scheme with 7% employer contributions.
· 25 days holiday per year (plus Bank Holidays), rising to 30 days after 2 years of service.
· Employee wellbeing schemes such as Cycle to Work and an employee funded health cash plan.
Application process
For full details please go the Oasis UK charity website.
Closing date for completed applications is 12 noon Monday 5th October 2026. Interviews will take place shortly after, with the date to be confirmed. (Shorter more informal calls may be arranged the previous week to assist with shortlisting).
Please send your CV and a covering letter (ensuring you refer to the job description and person spec).
To arrange a visit or an informal conversation about the role, please contact us via the Oasis charity website.
We actively encourage applications from people of all ethnic backgrounds and minority and underrepresented groups. Oasis is committed to making a difference to the lives of the communities it works in, and as such you must show a willingness to demonstrate commitment to the values and behaviours which flow from the Oasis ethos.
The successful candidates must have the right to work in the UK. Oasis cannot assist with sponsorship or visas. If you require assistance or adjustments to overcome potential barriers during the recruitment process, please let us know.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We expect all staff to share this commitment and to undergo appropriate checks, including enhanced DBS checks.
Oasis supports Equal Opportunities. Registered Charity No. 1163889
Please send your CV and a covering letter (ensuring you refer to the job description and person spec).
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
£33,964 per annum
Fixed term (12 months)
Part home/Part office (London) based
UNICEF ensures more of the world’s children are vaccinated, educated and protected than any other organisation. We have done more to influence laws and policies to help protect children than anyone else. We get things done. And we’re not going to stop until the world is a safe place for all our children.
This is a great opportunity to join the UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK) for someone looking to develop their career in high-value fundraising within one of UNICEF UK's most ambitious growth areas. Working alongside experienced relationship managers, you will help steward major philanthropic partnerships and contribute to securing transformational seven-figure gifts that create lasting impact for children worldwide.
The ideal candidate will be supporter-driven and mission-aligned, with the ability to build positive relationships that balance supporter needs with the best interests of children. They will be an effective communicator who can manage competing priorities, convey complex information clearly, and collaborate confidently across teams and with high-value supporters.
They will also be results-focused and resilient, using insight and learning to improve performance, adapting to challenges, and taking a proactive, solution-oriented approach. Experience in donor communications, relationship management, event delivery, and the confident use of systems such as Salesforce and Microsoft Office will be important to success in the role.
Act now and visit the website via the apply button to apply online.
Closing date: 9am, Friday 25 September 2026.
Interview date: Week commencing Monday 12 October 2026.
In return, we offer:
- excellent pay and benefits (including flexible working, generous annual leave and pension, big brand discounts and wellbeing tools)
- outstanding training and learning opportunities and the support to flourish in your role
- impressive open plan office space and facilities on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
- an open culture and workplace with colleagues who share our values, enjoy their work and are motivated to do their utmost for children.
- the opportunity to work in a leading children’s organisation making a difference to children around the world
Our application process: We use a system called "Applied" that anonymises your responses and focuses on your actual skills that are relevant to this role. This benefits you by giving you a greater chance of expressing your skills in this objective selection process.
We anticipate most colleagues will work one or two days a week in the office on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford, East London and the rest of the time from home. We will happily discuss other flexible options to suit your circumstances.
We particularly welcome applications from black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates, LGBTQ+ candidates, disabled candidates, and from men, because we would like to increase the representation of these groups at this level at UNICEF UK. We want to do this because we know greater diversity will lead to even greater results for children.
UNICEF UK promotes equality, diversity and inclusion in our workplace. We make employment decisions by matching business needs with skills and experience of candidates, irrespective of age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation.
We welcome a conversation about your flexible working requirements, personal growth, and promoting a workplace where you can be yourself and achieve success based only on your merit.
The successful candidate will be required to apply for a criminal records check. A criminal record will not necessarily bar you from working with us. This will depend on the nature of the role and the circumstances of your offences.
We only accept online applications as this saves us money, making more funds available for us to help ensure children’s rights.
If you require support in completing the online form or an application form in an alternative format, please contact the Supporter Care line during office hours.
If you do not hear from us within 14 days of the closing date, please assume your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion. Please note that we only provide feedback to shortlisted candidates.
Registered Charity Nos. 1072612 (England and Wales) SC043677 (Scotland).
The UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK), a charity funded by supporters, raising funds for UNICEF’s work for children.

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
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Partnerships & Development Manager
Hours: 37.5 hours per week (full time)
Salary: £40k per annum
Contract: Maternity Cover Fixed Term Contract (currently until July 2027)
Reporting to: Executive Director of Strategic Partnerships
Youth Business International (YBI) is looking for a Partnerships & Development Manager who combines programme management expertise with partnership development and income generation.
This is an exciting opportunity for someone who enjoys working across effectively managing an established portfolio of global programmes, donor partnerships and identifying, developing new funding opportunities.
Working closely with the Executive Director of Strategic Partnerships, YBI’s global network, internal teams and external partners, you will help connect impact with investment – using insight from an effectively managed programme portfolio and stakeholder intelligence to help shape innovative partnership models.
You will need to be self-motivated, adaptable, very organised and comfortable working with high levels of autonomy and pace.
If this sounds like you, you can find the full information in the job pack and we look forward to receiving your application.
Please note you must have an existing right to work in the UK as YBI is not able to sponsor visas.
To apply
PLEASE ENSURE YOU ARE APPLYING FOR THE CORRECT ROLE YOU ARE INTERESTED IN AS WE HAVE TWO ROLES CURRENTLY LIVE.
- Please submit your CV (maximum 2 x A4) and a cover letter (max 2 pages).Your cover letter must address how you meet the person specification.
- You must ensure that these documents clearly demonstrate the expertise, skills, experience and competencies required for this role as they will be used to shortlist you.
- Closing date: Midnight 20th September 2026.
Please make sure you are applying for the correct role you are interested in as we have two roles currently live.
Please ensure your CV and cover letter adequately demonstrate how you meet the requirements of the role as they are used to make shortlisting decisions.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
An exciting opportunity!
This is a rare and genuinely exciting opportunity to lead the UK's only dedicated charity supporting children, adults and families affected by MPS, Fabry disease and related lysosomal storage disorders. Following the current Chief Executive's planned move to become Managing Director of Rare Disease Research Partners (RDRP) in January 2027, the incoming CEO will take the helm of an organisation with over forty years of history, a trusted national reputation and a growing role on the international rare disease stage. The successful candidate will shape the strategic vision for more than 1,800 families, oversee the close partnership between the Society and its research subsidiary RDRP, and champion the patient and family ethos that sits at the heart of the organisation's work. It is an opportunity to combine ambitious strategic leadership with deeply meaningful, human impact, working alongside a committed Board, Senior Leadership Team and wider community of clinicians, researchers and pharmaceutical partners.
As our next Chief Executive, you will
- Define and deliver the MPS Society’s strategic vision.
- Provide confident oversight of governance, finance, compliance and reporting.
- Effectively manage the operational alignment between the MPS Society and RDRP.
- Always keep the members and family voice at the heart of strategy, service design and decision-making.
- Build and maintain senior-level relationships with statutory bodies, government agencies, pharmaceutical partners, clinical expert centres and other key stakeholders to support the Society’s objectives, influence policy and practice, and protect its professional reputation.
- Act as a visible and credible public voice to raise awareness, improve visibility, support, treatment access and outcomes for people affected by MPS, Fabry disease and related conditions.
- Collaborate with other rare disease bodies, patient organisations and other key audiences.
- Lead and empower the senior leadership team through effective delegation, early involvement in strategic discussions, clear accountability and support for individuals to flourish.
- Encourage an open, supportive work environment allowing creativity and building staff confidence.
- Help shape the future of the MPS Society.
About you
- Self-motivated, with the drive to lead the organisation through a period of change and transition.
- Unquestionable probity and personal integrity, given the trust placed in the CEO by families, trustees and partners.
- Exemplary written and verbal communication skills, able to convey complex scientific and clinical information to audiences ranging from clinicians to families with no prior knowledge of MPS disorders.
- Strong self-awareness, with insight into their own leadership style and impact on others.
- Emotional resilience, able to sustain performance while supporting a community facing life limiting conditions.
- A collaborative and empowering leadership style, able to build trust, delegate effectively and help individuals across the organisation flourish.
- Genuine passion for the Society's mission, with a family and member-first ethos.
- Confidence to build relationships across a wide range of stakeholders, from beneficiaries and Trustees to politicians, media and pharmaceutical partners.
- A proactive, positive approach, comfortable reacting to change and organising their own work to meet deadlines.
- Confidence speaking publicly on behalf of the organisation and the people it represents.
Why join us?
A close-knit, values-led culture. With just over thirty staff across the Society and RDRP combined, this is a place where the CEO can know the team personally, work closely with families day-to-day, and see the direct results of decisions rather than managing at a distance through layers of bureaucracy.
- Genuine autonomy to shape direction. The Board is explicitly looking to the new CEO to bring fresh thinking on technology, AI, and digital tools, and to give real freedom to modernise fundraising, services, and engagement rather than simply maintaining what already exists.
- A stable foundation to build from over forty years of track record, trusted relationships and a strong national reputation mean the incoming CEO can focus energy on vision and growth rather than firefighting or rebuilding credibility from scratch.
- Proximity to cutting-edge science: the Society's close relationship with RDRP gives the CEO regular exposure to advances in rare disease research and treatment access, while day-to-day research leadership sits with the RDRP Managing Director, allowing the CEO to focus on strategy, people and sustainability.
- A high-visibility, high-influence platform. Regular contact with government, pharmaceutical companies, clinicians and international rare disease bodies offers strong opportunities to build a public profile and personal network well beyond the charity sector.
- A team that already shares the mission. Staff are described as passionate about the Society's aims, and as having a family-first ethos, so the new CEO inherits a culture to lead and empower rather than one that needs to be built from the ground up.
- Work with a different kind of return. Beyond salary and career progression, this role offers the less tangible reward of knowing that strategic and financial decisions translate, into better support for families facing some of the rarest conditions in the country.
Benefits
Join us and you will be working for a caring charity offering:
- A competitive salary
- Generous annual leave
- Extra leave between Christmas and the New Year
- Contributory pension
- Life assurance (subject to the conditions of the scheme)
- Employee assistance programme offering support 24/7
Further information
The successful candidate must be eligible to work in the UK.
The main duties, responsibilities and requirements of this role can be viewed in the job description on our website.
Salary to be agreed depending on experience and will be pro-rata for part time hours.
This is an essential car user post. The applicant must hold a current UK driver’s licence, with no more than 6 points, have access to a car and be able and willing to drive UK wide as required.
This senior role requires flexibility in working hours and location. It is primarily offered on a hybrid basis with a minimum of 2 days in our Amersham, Buckinghamshire, office each week. As part of the role, UK and overseas travel is necessary, which may on occasion include early morning and/or evening working and sometimes overnight stays. We have policies in place to ensure that any unsociable hours worked over the weekend are fairly compensated through TOIL.
This role will require an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring check (DBS) details of which can be found in the job description.
For an informal discussion about the role or the work of the MPS Society, please contact Dr Fiona Stewart. Contact details can be found on the full job description. Kindly note, meetings with other relevant people will be available to shortlisted candidates at interview stage.
Please include your CV with a supporting statement of no more than 800 words. Your supporting statement should include an answer to the question below:
The MPS Society supports individuals and families affected by mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS) and related disorders. What interests you about coming to work in this area, and what motivates you to contribute to supporting individuals and families affected by these conditions?
To transform lives through specialist knowledge, support and advocacy, and research.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.

