1,201 Lead jobs
Lead a respected counselling charity and help shape the future of mental health support in our community.
If you're an inspiring leader who combines strategic thinking with a hands-on approach, this is an opportunity to make a lasting difference. As our new Head of Centre, you'll lead an established, BACP-accredited charity with an excellent reputation for delivering affordable, high-quality counselling and professional training across West Kent and East Sussex.
For almost 40 years, The Counselling Centre has been committed to ensuring that everyone can access professional counselling, regardless of their financial circumstances. We are now looking for an exceptional leader to build on this legacy, strengthening our financial sustainability, developing new partnerships and expanding our impact to meet the growing demand for mental health support.
Reporting to the Chair of the Board of Trustees, you will provide both strategic and operational leadership across the organisation. You'll work closely with our dedicated staff, volunteers and trustees to ensure we continue to deliver outstanding counselling, training and community services while identifying opportunities for growth, innovation and long-term sustainability.
This is a varied and rewarding leadership role. You'll oversee the day-to-day running of the charity, lead financial planning and income generation, develop relationships with funders, commissioners, businesses and community partners, and act as an ambassador for The Counselling Centre across the local area. You'll also champion our values, nurture a positive organisational culture and ensure we continue to meet the highest standards of governance and professional practice.
We're looking for someone who brings senior leadership experience, commercial awareness and a genuine commitment to improving mental health. You'll be an excellent relationship builder with experience of developing partnerships, generating income and leading organisational change. Most importantly, you'll be motivated by our mission and excited by the opportunity to help shape the next chapter of our organisation.
Why join us?
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Lead a respected charity with an outstanding reputation built over almost 40 years.
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Make a genuine difference to the lives of people in your local community.
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Work alongside a committed Board of Trustees, experienced staff and dedicated volunteers.
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Help shape the future direction and growth of an ambitious organisation.
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Enjoy a flexible part-time role (21 hours per week) with hybrid working.
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Competitive salary of circa £50,000–£55,000 per annum pro rata, contributory pension, 25 days' annual leave (pro rata) plus bank holidays, and Christmas closure.
If you're looking for a leadership role where your strategic vision, commercial skills and passion for community impact can make a real difference, we'd love to hear from you.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
In July 2026, following almost two and a half years of work and nearly two decades as a Faculty, we became the College of Intensive Care Medicine: an independent charity with our own Board of Trustees, governance and voice. Reaching this point has been a significant achievement. Now comes the next chapter: building an organisation that is genuinely independent, financially sustainable and equipped to lead the specialty for the future.
This role sits at the heart of that transformation.
Organisationally, we are creating a College from what was previously a faculty function – establishing our own culture, values, policies, systems and operating model while managing a careful and constructive separation from the Royal College of Anaesthetists (RCoA), our long-standing host and continuing close partner.
Financially, we begin with an established income base, derived predominantly from subscriptions and examinations. The Executive Director will lead the development of a more diverse and resilient financial model, strengthening income and ensuring long-term sustainability without compromising our charitable purpose, governance or commitment to members.
For our people, we need to build our own workforce and operating model while supporting colleagues through a genuine change in employer and organisational identity. This will require clarity, empathy and strong leadership – alongside an unwavering focus on maintaining the services that almost 5,000 members rely on.
THE ROLE
We are therefore looking for an Executive Director who has successfully led organisations through significant transformation; who understands how to build financial sustainability and diversify income; and who can bring people with them through complex and meaningful change.
You will bring the strategic and financial credibility to earn the confidence of our Trustees and partners at the RCoA, alongside the emotional intelligence and collaborative leadership needed to unite staff, members and the wider clinical community behind the College’s future.
This is a rare opportunity to shape a new professional College at the moment of its creation: establishing its identity, culture and operating model while building the foundations for long-term independence and impact.
TIMELINE
Closing date: Monday 19th October 2026
Preliminary interviews: w/c Monday 2nd and 9th November 2026
Final Panel interviews: w/c Monday 7th December 2026
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
This is a rare opportunity to lead and grow an established, high-performing fundraising team, shaping the next phase of Teens Unite's growth as we enter the most ambitious chapter in our history.
As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, you will lead the delivery of an ambitious five-year income strategy that broadens and deepens relationships with major donors, philanthropists, corporate partners and leads the charities capital appeal. You will redefine how the charity approaches modern philanthropy, creating innovative partnerships that generate shared value while increasing both impact and income.
Who we are:
Teens Unite is leading the way in youth cancer support.
We’re an energetic, ambitious and dynamic charity improving the lives of 13-24-year-olds living with, and beyond, cancer. We’re not here to cure cancer. We’re here to empower young people to rebuild their lives and thrive beyond a diagnosis.
As we approach our 20th anniversary, we are entering the most exciting and ambitious chapter in our history.
We have bold plans to treble the number of young people we support, grow our income beyond £3 million per year and open the Home of Teens Unite, England's first purpose-built retreat for teenagers and young adults living with and beyond cancer.
To help us achieve this vision, we are looking for an exceptional fundraising leader to join our Senior Leadership Team as Head of Fundraising & Philanthropy.
This is a rare opportunity to join a charity with a proven model, strong foundations and ambitious growth plans. You'll inherit an experienced and successful fundraising team whilst playing a leading role in shaping the next phase of our development.
Most importantly, you'll help ensure thousands more young people affected by cancer can access the support, experiences and opportunities they deserve and build a facility that will support generations to come.
The role:
Reporting directly to the Chief Executive, the Head of Fundraising & Philanthropy will provide strategic leadership across all fundraising activity at Teens Unite.
You will oversee and develop our income generation strategy, ensuring existing income streams continue to grow whilst creating new opportunities for transformational support.
A key focus of the role will be philanthropy, major donors and capital fundraising.
You will build meaningful relationships with major donors, high-net-worth individuals, family foundations, trusts, corporate supporters and strategic partners, creating opportunities for significant investment in the future of
Teens Unite.
You will also play a central role in securing funding for the Home of Teens Unite, a transformational project that will create England's first dedicated retreat and support centre for young people living with and beyond cancer.
As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, you will contribute to wider organisational strategy and help guide the charity through an exciting period of growth and development.
Key Responsibilities:
We're looking for someone who combines strategic thinking with exceptional relationship-building skills. Someone who can inspire supporters, lead a talented team and deliver ambitious growth.
Strategic Leadership
- Lead the development and delivery of Teens Unite's fundraising and philanthropy strategy.
- Develop plans to support the charity's ambition of becoming a £3 million income organisation.
- Identify opportunities for sustainable income growth across all fundraising streams.
- Provide regular fundraising performance updates to the Chief Executive and Board.
Philanthropy & Major Giving
- Build and manage a pipeline of high-net-worth individuals and major supporters.
- Cultivate, solicit and steward significant gifts and long-term philanthropic partnerships.
- Create high-quality donor engagement plans and stewardship programmes.
Capital Appeal Leadership
- Play a leading role in securing funding for the Home of Teens Unite.
- Develop and manage a pipeline of prospects capable of supporting the capital appeal.
- Create compelling cases for support linked to the project.
- Deliver significant philanthropic investment in support of the appeal.
Team Leadership
- Provide strategic oversight, management and support across all income streams.
- Create a positive, high-performing and collaborative culture.
- Ensure individual fundraising strategies align with wider organisational goals.
- Responsible from growing current annual income for £1.4million per annum to £3million per annum over the next 5 years.
Why this role is different:
This isn't a role where you'll inherit a struggling fundraising programme and spend your first year fixing problems. You'll join an organisation with:
- A strong reputation and clear purpose
- A committed and experienced fundraising team
- Existing successful income streams
- Significant growth opportunities An ambitious capital appeal
- Clear board and leadership support
- A vision capable of inspiring major supporters and philanthropists
- You'll have the opportunity to build a major donor programme from the ground up, shape the future fundraising strategy of the organisation and play an integral role in delivering a truly unique national project.
Who you are:
We're looking for an ambitious and relationship-focused fundraising leader who is excited by the opportunity to help shape the future of a growing charity.
You may currently be working as:
- Head of Fundraising
- Senior Philanthropy Manager
- Major Donor ManagerSenior Fundraising Manager
Most importantly, you'll bring:
Essential
- Significant experience in major donor, philanthropy or high-value fundraising.
- A proven track record of identifying and securing five and six-figure gifts.
- Experience managing and developing fundraising teams.
- Strong relationship-building and networking skills.
- Experience building and managing fundraising pipelines with high-net-worth individuals.
- Excellent communication and influencing skills.
- The confidence to engage and build relationships with senior stakeholders and major supporters.
- Experience of capital appeal fundraising.
Desirable
- Experience within youth, health, cancer or social impact organisations.
- Knowledge of trusts and foundations fundraising.
Reporting to: Chief Executive
Direct reports: Trusts & Grants Manager, Events & Challenges Fundraising Team and other fundraising staff as the charity grows
What We Offer:
- Performance-related bonus
- Hybrid and flexible working
- 33 days annual leave inclusive of bank holidays
- Christmas office closure
- Pension contribution
- Professional development and training
- Recently refurbished offices with free on-site parking
- The opportunity to help shape a nationally significant project and positive change the cancer care landscape for young people.
- Direct access to the Chief Executive and Board
Summary of Key Milestones
We will commence the first round of interviews from Wednesday 30th September
Should a suitable candidate be found prior to the closing date, applications will close early.
Teens Unite empowers young people aged 13-24 living with and beyond cancer to rebuild their lives, thrive beyond diagnosis and reach their potential
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Swansea Women’s Aid is seeking an inspiring, courageous and values-led Chief Executive Officer to lead our specialist women-only domestic abuse charity following the retirement of our current Chief Executive Lynne Sanders MBE after more than 40 years of outstanding service.
Working closely with a well-established Board of Trustees, you will provide strategic and operational leadership across the charity. You will:
- Provide clear, strategic and compassionate leadership.
- Work with Trustees to shape and deliver the charity’s future direction.
- Ensure strong governance, safeguarding, financial sustainability and compliance.
- Represent Swansea Women’s Aid as a credible and influential voice for women and children affected by abuse.
- Identify opportunities for service development, partnership working, fundraising and long-term sustainability.
About you
You will bring significant senior leadership experience together with:
- Strong financial and organisational management skills.
- Understanding of income generation, commissioning and accountability
- Experience of leading people and supporting positive organisational culture.
- The ability to build trusted relationships and effective partnerships.
- A genuine commitment to ending violence against women and children.
Knowledge and experience of the VAWDASV sector, charity governance, commissioning, fundraising and service development would be highly desirable.
You may not have followed a traditional route into senior charity leadership. We are interested in the skills, experience, values and perspective you can bring to Swansea Women’s Aid and its future.
Equality and inclusion
Swansea Women’s Aid welcomes applications from women with the skills, values and lived or professional understanding needed to lead a specialist service.
This post is open to women only. Swansea Women’s Aid considers that being a woman is an occupational requirement for this post under Schedule 9, Part 1 of the Equality Act 2010.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
As Fearless Youth Lead for Scotland, you will lead a national programme that empowers young people to understand crime-related issues and overcome barriers to reporting crime safely and anonymously. Working with schools, communities, government partners and key stakeholders, you will drive engagement campaigns, develop meaningful partnerships and lead a small team to deliver positive outcomes for young people across Scotland.
Please read the full job pack , before submitting your CV and covering letter.
FTC until March 2029 | Full time | Based in Scotland (Glasgow/Edinburgh) with regular travel | £36,000 - £38,000 DOE | PVG required
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
BeSpace is seeking an innovative and faith-filled leader to pioneer a new national initiative that reimagines Christian pilgrimage for children and young people in schools.
As our Pilgrimage Development Lead, you will design, test and grow creative pilgrimage models that help children explore faith, encounter God and develop spiritually through contemplative Christian practice. Working with churches, schools, dioceses and Christian organisations, you will develop resources, create training, build partnerships and identify opportunities to scale successful models across the UK.
This is a unique opportunity to shape an emerging area of ministry from the ground up. We are looking for someone with experience in children's spirituality, Christian faith development and project leadership who is excited by innovation and motivated by impact. You will be comfortable developing new ideas, building strong relationships and creating practical tools that equip others to deliver high-quality experiences.
BeSpace is a growing Christian charity with a vision to see every child joyful, resilient and growing spiritually for life. Having supported over 69,000 children through prayer and reflection spaces in schools, we are now expanding our work nationally and developing new ways for churches to engage children through contemplative Christian practices.
If you're passionate about helping children encounter God, equipping churches and developing innovative approaches to spiritual formation, we'd love to hear from you.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
As a Lead Gardener at Southern Hospice Group, you will play a vital role in shaping and maintaining welcoming, peaceful outdoor environments that offer comfort, reflection, and calm for patients, families, and staff. Our hospice grounds provide a highly varied and rewarding setting, from propagation in the polytunnel to kitchen gardens, wildflower meadows, woodland walks, wildlife ponds, private contemporary patient gardens, and expansive green spaces.
In this role, you will take both a hands-on and supervisory position, leading garden staff and volunteers while maintaining the highest horticultural standards across all areas. Your work will directly contribute to wellbeing, offering a strong sense of purpose, pride, and job satisfaction.
You will be responsible for planning and coordinating workloads, ensuring compliance with health, safety, and environmental standards, and working collaboratively with the Grounds Manager to deliver high-quality outcomes. Alongside practical gardening duties, you will guide and support volunteers and corporate groups, creating a positive and well-organised experience for everyone involved.
If you are an experienced gardener with strong leadership skills, a passion for horticulture, and a desire to make a meaningful difference, this is a rewarding opportunity to combine responsibility, creativity, and purpose.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Your role
We are seeking a Finance & Operations Leader to lead Design for Good’s finance, operations and organisational effectiveness, combining strategic thinking with hands-on delivery.
Reporting directly to the Managing Director (MD), you will lead the organisation’s core finance, operational and enabling functions, ensuring we have the financial and operational infrastructure, people systems and governance frameworks needed to deliver our mission.
This is a hands-on senior leadership role, suited to someone who is both strategically minded and operationally confident — a collaborative leader who can lead suppliers, strengthen systems and financial processes, and take ownership of day-to-day operational delivery in a growing global charity.
Key Responsibilities
Financial leadership, planning and sustainability
● Support the MD in developing the annual organisational budget and take overall responsibility for financial performance, controls and processes.
● Work closely with the external accountants to ensure timely and accurate management accounts, annual accounts, financial reports, forecasts reporting for the MD, Board and Finance Committee.
● Take ownership of cash-flow forecasting, reserves management, financial planning and financial controls to support the organisation’s long-term financial sustainability.
● Ensure compliance with Charity Commission requirements, Companies House requirements (for any trading subsidiary) and charity SORP accounting standards.
● Lead the annual independent examination process and manage relationships with external auditors/examiners and other financial advisers.
● Oversee payroll, pensions, VAT returns and day-to-day financial administration, working closely with the external accounts team.
● Oversee restricted fund accounting, ensuring accurate tracking of grant expenditure, compliance with funder requirements and timely financial reporting.
Operations, systems and organisational effectiveness
● Lead and strengthen the organisation’s operational infrastructure, ensuring systems, processes and ways of working are effective, efficient and fit for purpose.
● Maintain an overall organisational plan, coordinating priorities, timelines and dependencies across the organisation.
● Identify and implement opportunities to improve organisational systems, operational processes and internal coordination to strengthen effectiveness and support sustainable growth.
● Oversee the day-to-day running of the organisation, including office management, IT systems, supplier contracts and operational compliance.
● Ensure the organisation’s IT and digital systems effectively support current and future organisational needs, including identifying and implementing opportunities for AI to improve efficiency and support organisational goals.
● Lead procurement and contract management, ensuring value for money, appropriate controls and effective supplier relationships.
● Lead financial and operational planning for key organisational activities, including the logistics and delivery of major events.
● Oversee joiner and leaver processes, ensuring a consistent, compliant and effective experience and that all required processes are correctly followed.
Governance, risk & compliance
● Lead the management, monitoring and reporting of the organisational risk register, ensuring key risks are actively managed and appropriately reported to the Board and relevant sub-committees.
● Ensure compliance with relevant legislation and regulatory requirements, including employment law, GDPR, health and safety and charity law.
● Act as the organisational lead for data protection, ensuring effective and compliant data protection practices across the organisation.
● Provide the Company Secretary function, including preparing Board papers and minutes, supporting the administration of the Finance and Risk Committees, and maintaining statutory registers and records.
● Work closely with the Chairs of the Finance and Risk Committees to support effective Board oversight of financial, operational and organisational risks.
● Ensure organisational policies are kept up to date, appropriately reviewed and approved by the Trustees.
Key Requirements
● Demonstrable experience in a senior finance and operations leadership role within a charity, not-for-profit, public or values-led organisation.
● Strong experience leading organisational operations and enabling functions, including finance, governance, compliance, IT and organisational infrastructure.
● Strong financial management experience, including budgeting, forecasting, management accounting, financial controls, audit processes and financial planning.
● Experience contributing to organisational strategy, operational planning and decision-making as part of a senior leadership team.
● Good understanding of governance, organisational risk management and regulatory compliance within a charity or not-for-profit environment.
● Experience working in a fast-paced environment, managing competing priorities, complexity and operational risk while maintaining a high standard of delivery.
Preferred Skills and qualifications
● At least 5 years’ experience in a managerial finance and/or operations role.
● Ability to operate confidently at both strategic and operational levels, balancing long-term organisational planning with hands-on delivery and problem-solving.
● Strong financial and analytical skills, with the ability to interpret, present and communicate financial information clearly to non-finance audiences, including Boards and senior leadership teams.
● Ability to influence, advise and support decision-making at senior leadership and Board level.
● Strong organisational and problem-solving skills, with the ability to strengthen systems, improve operational processes and enhance organisational effectiveness.
● Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with the ability to build trust and collaborate effectively across teams and with external stakeholders.
● Strong IT and digital systems skills, including experience with finance systems, CRM platforms and organisational technology tools.
● Ability to navigate complexity, manage organisational risk, exercise sound judgement and make sound decisions in a values-led environment.
● Excellent time-management and prioritisation skills, with the ability to manage multiple competing demands and deliver to deadlines.
Knowledge & Understanding
● Good understanding of charity finance, governance and regulatory compliance, including charity SORP and restricted and unrestricted fund management.
● Good understanding of people administration, employment legislation, organisational risk and operational compliance, including safeguarding responsibilities.
● Understanding of how financial management, operational infrastructure and people practices contribute to organisational effectiveness and the delivery of mission and impact.
Design for Good mobilises a global alliance to create lasting impact through design.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
The Executive Director will provide strategic, operational and financial leadership for East London Dance, working in close partnership with the Creative Director & CEO to deliver the organisation’s vision and business plan, strengthening its position as an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation. The role leads people, culture, finance, governance, risk, operations, fundraising and stakeholder engagement, ensuring the organisation remains financially sustainable, well-governed and equipped to deliver high-quality artistic and community programmes.
As a senior ambassador, the Executive Director builds strong relationships with funders, partners, trustees and stakeholders, while fostering an inclusive, collaborative and values-led culture. The role creates the conditions for a thriving team, turning creative ambition into organisational reality and supporting East London Dance’s long-term success.
We’re looking for someone who can help turn our ambition into a sustainable, thriving future – building the relationships and the funding that will carry us forward, and doing it alongside a team that already cares deeply about the organisation.
If you’re someone who loves building things, who knows how to bring people and money together, and who wants to help shape what east London’s cultural life looks like for years to come – we’d love to hear from you.
Job requirements:
Must bring substantial senior leadership experience, ideally Director, Deputy CEO or equivalent level, with evidence of strategic planning, organisational growth and performance management. Must have a proven track record in fundraising, business development and income generation, including securing funding, managing funder relationships and identifying new commercial or partnership opportunities; experience leading high-performing teams, managing change and strengthening organisational culture; strong financial acumen, including understanding budgets, balance sheets and financial decision-making; knowledge of charity governance, safeguarding, health and safety, data protection and risk management frameworks; experience working with Boards of Trustees. Must demonstrate commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, possess excellent written and verbal communication skills, be confident using Microsoft Suite, and have knowledge of ACE funding and reporting requirements.
Job Responsibilities:
Provides strategic, operational and financial leadership with Creative Director & CEO. The role translates the Business Plan into action, leads staff, freelancers and consultants, and develops an inclusive, high-performing culture. Key responsibilities include workforce planning, recruitment, HR compliance, performance management and staff wellbeing. The role oversees organisational systems, administration, IT and the operation of Talent House, including health and safety, compliance, venue hire and stakeholder relationships. They co-lead budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, cash flow monitoring and audit processes, while driving fundraising and income generation across grants, trusts, partnerships, sponsorship and earned income. The role also leads governance, risk management and business continuity planning, supports the Board of Trustees, develops strategic partnerships, represents the organisation externally and strengthens its profile, impact and long-term sustainability.
Apply via the East London Dance Website by Thursday 8 October, 12 Noon
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Submit your application as normal and our system will anonymise it for you. Your personal information will be hidden until the recruiter contacts you.
About us
The Alliance for Youth Justice is an alliance of more than 70 non-profit organisations advocating with and for children to drive positive change in youth justice across England and Wales. We mobilise our members’ frontline expertise, children’s lived experience, and evidence from research to champion a child-centred, rights-based and trauma-informed system that treats contact with the justice system as a sign of unmet need and systemic failure, prioritises support over criminalisation and gives every child the opportunity to thrive.
We're widely recognised as the most influential group campaigning for improvements to the system, with trusted access to decision makers, working towards three goals: keeping children safe from the youth justice system through prevention and diversion; racial justice across the system; and custody as a last resort for children.
About the role
Following the launch of our new strategic approach, our Operations and Membership Lead will provide the operational, financial and administrative backbone of the organisation — keeping our finances and governance on track, and coordinating our network of over 70 member organisations.
Finance, operations and governance (70%) — manage bookkeeping in QuickBooks, coordinate banking, prepare management accounts, support grant financial reporting, maintain internal systems (SharePoint, IT), lead on policy compliance (safeguarding, GDPR, health and safety), and support Board governance and statutory filings.
Membership coordination (30%) — manage the end-to-end membership process from enquiries to renewals, coordinate member surveys and data, and organise our events — quarterly member meetings, roundtables and webinars.
Anti-racist, anti-oppressive practice runs through how we work with our Board, staff, members and stakeholders.
About you
You have experience in an operations, finance or administrative coordination role within a non-profit or membership organisation, including managing the full financial cycle within a charity and a working knowledge of charity fund accounting. You're practically experienced with QuickBooks (or equivalent), highly proficient in Microsoft 365, SharePoint and Excel-based tracking systems or CRMs, and bring exceptional organisational skills, discretion and a proactive, self-motivated approach. You have a personal commitment to anti-racism, social justice and child rights.
Why join us
We're a small team of three punching well above our weight, with real scope to shape how we work and few layers of hierarchy. We offer flexible, trust-based home working (within core hours), plus 25 days' leave (pro rata), Christmas office closure, and a 5% employer pension contribution.
We encourage applications from historically marginalised groups even if you don't meet every requirement, and we do not use criminal records to exclude candidates.
Please download the reruitment pack to find out more and read the full job description and person specification.
Please download the recruitment pack and submit a CV and covering letter outlining how your skills and experience match the person specification.
We’re hiring: Communications and Marketing Lead
We’re looking for a creative and enthusiastic Communications and Marketing Lead to join the Youth Focus North West team.
This is a great opportunity for someone who loves creating engaging content, telling stories and finding different ways to connect with people.
You’ll help us share the impact of our work with young people and the youth sector across the North West, developing campaigns, creating content for social media, websites and publications, producing graphics and video, ensuring our communications are clear and engaging.
You’ll also help us understand what’s working by using insight and analytics to improve our communications and reach more of the people we want to connect with.
We’re looking for someone with experience in communications, marketing, media or PR who can write well, think creatively and manage a range of projects and priorities. If you are not familiar with the youth sector, dont worry, what matters is that you’re interested in our work, keen to learn and excited about using communications to help us make a difference.
You’ll be joining a small, friendly team, with the tools and support you need to do the job.
Some regional travel and occasional evening/weekend working will be required.
What we offer
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25 days annual leave plus an additional day off for your birthday
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Contributory pension scheme
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Training and development opportunities
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Employee Assistance Programme and wellbeing package
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Free parking at our St Helens office
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Flexible working
To benefit the lives of young people in the North West of England by providing opportunities for them to engage and become active citizens.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Student Communities Manager - Reading Students’ Union
Location: University of Reading, Whiteknights Campus, Reading, Berkshire
Salary: £36,961.59 per annum
Contract: Permanent
Hours: 35 hours per week Monday-Friday
Location: Office based
Closing Date: 14 October 2026
About Reading Students’ Union
We are a dynamic, student-focused organisation dedicated to empowering students and enhancing their university experience. Our vision is to be a place for everyone, we inspire and empower students to change the world.
Student Communities Manager
Do you believe that strong student communities have the power to transform the university experience?
We're looking for a strategic, innovative and people-focused leader to lead our Student Communities team, ensuring students can create, lead and participate in safe, inclusive and sustainable communities that foster belonging, connection and personal development.
This role sits at the heart of Reading Students' Union's mission to create opportunities for students to find their people, develop new skills and make the most of their time at university.
You'll lead our approach to sports clubs, societies, volunteering, student media and emerging community opportunities, ensuring students have meaningful ways to connect, contribute and thrive.
What You'll Do
You'll provide strategic and operational leadership for Student Communities, overseeing everything from community development and student leadership to governance, major projects and partnerships.
Working closely with students, staff and University stakeholders, you'll ensure our student community offer remains inclusive, sustainable and responsive to changing student needs.
This is an exciting opportunity to shape how students connect, participate and belong, bringing our ambitious strategy to life.
Lead the Future of Student Communities
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Lead the development and delivery of the Students' Union's Student Communities strategy.
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Create opportunities for students to connect, organise and participate through communities that reflect their interests, identities and aspirations.
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Develop innovative approaches to engagement beyond traditional clubs, societies and volunteering models.
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Drive continuous improvement using student insight, sector trends and emerging best practice.
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Build sustainable and scalable opportunities that support belonging, personal development and student success.
Create Opportunities for Belonging and Participation
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Ensure students can easily join, create, lead and develop student communities.
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Remove barriers to participation and improve access for underrepresented and underserved groups.
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Champion inclusion and belonging across all Student Communities activity.
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Create meaningful opportunities for students to develop skills, confidence and leadership experience.
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Ensure students play a meaningful role in shaping the future of our communities offer.
Support Student Leaders to Succeed
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Lead the development of a high-quality student leader journey, from recruitment through to succession planning.
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Oversee training, development and support frameworks for student leaders and volunteers.
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Equip students with the skills and knowledge needed to govern their groups effectively.
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Ensure student-led communities operate safely, inclusively and sustainably.
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Celebrate and champion student leadership across the organisation.
Build Partnerships and Community Impact
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Develop strong relationships with University departments, SportsPark, community organisations and external partners.
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Create volunteering and community engagement opportunities that benefit both students and the wider Reading community.
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Identify funding opportunities, partnerships and sustainable models that increase the reach and impact of student-led communities.
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Represent the Students' Union on relevant University and external groups.
Lead Governance, Quality and Operational Excellence
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Oversee governance frameworks for student groups, including constitutions, elections, financial controls and accountability arrangements.
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Provide expert guidance on governance, conduct, disciplinary and operational matters.
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Lead safeguarding, health and safety, welfare and risk management arrangements across student-led activity.
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Ensure consistent, high-quality support and service standards across Student Communities.
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Use feedback, complaints and insight to improve services and student outcomes.
Deliver Major Projects and Events
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Hold overall accountability for Varsity, providing strategic leadership and oversight.
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Lead Student Communities contributions to major Students' Union projects and events, including Welcome and the SU Awards.
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Ensure key projects and events are effectively planned, governed, resourced and evaluated.
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Drive continuous improvement across major programmes and activities.
Lead People, Performance and Resources
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Provide strategic and operational leadership for the Student Communities department.
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Lead, develop and support a high-performing team of Coordinators and student staff.
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Manage departmental budgets, resources and workforce planning.
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Establish clear objectives, service standards and performance expectations.
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Monitor and report on performance, impact and student outcomes.
Use Insight to Shape the Future
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Analyse participation, demographic, financial and feedback data to identify trends and opportunities.
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Use evidence and student insight to shape decision-making and future investment.
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Benchmark our performance against the wider sector and identify opportunities for innovation.
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Demonstrate impact through evaluation, reporting and continuous improvement.
About You
Essential
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Significant experience leading and developing student communities, membership services or comparable provision.
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Experience managing teams, performance, budgets and operational delivery.
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Experience leading large-scale projects involving multiple stakeholders.
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Strong understanding of governance and accountability within student-led, volunteer-led or membership organisations.
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Experience managing complex governance, conduct, complaints or high-risk operational matters.
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Strong stakeholder management, communication and partnership-building skills.
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Experience using insight, evidence and performance data to drive service development and improvement.
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Excellent organisational, project management and decision-making skills.
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A resilient and confident leader who thrives in a dynamic environment.
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A passion for building communities, empowering student leaders and enhancing the student experience.
Desirable
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Experience working within a Students' Union, charity or membership organisation.
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Understanding of Higher Education structures and the student experience.
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Experience of sports clubs, societies, volunteering, community engagement or student media.
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Knowledge of BUCS, National Governing Bodies or student media governance.
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A leadership, management or relevant professional qualification.
Please click the link below for the full job description:
Student Communities Manager -
Why Join Us?
· Inclusive and supportive team culture
· Flexible working options
· 35 days’ annual leave including Christmas and Easter closure days
· Professional development opportunities
· Unique working environment in the heart of a vibrant Student’s Union, set on a stunning, green campus.
Ready to make our data-led strategy a reality? Apply today!
Committed to equality, celebrating diversity, and embedding sustainability—building an inclusive workplace and a brighter future for all.
To be a place for everyone, we inspire & empower students to change the world
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
This is a unique and exciting opportunity for an experienced safeguarding professional to join GARAS, a leading immigration charity in Gloucestershire, and help shape the future of safeguarding practice across the organisation.
The successful candidate will hold both strategic and operational responsibility for safeguarding, leading on the management of safeguarding concerns and cases while developing GARAS's safeguarding framework, policies, procedures, training and quality assurance.
You will work closely with other members of the Senior Team, reporting regularly to trustees, and will act as the lead point of contact for staff and volunteer safety, mental health and trauma-related crisis management, while building key partnerships across the county to reduce risk.
This is an immensely rewarding role, working in a dynamic charity built on an ethos of care and inclusivity. We are looking for an exceptional individual, committed to going the extra mile and bringing expertise, confidence and compassion to safeguarding leadership within our organisation.
Due to the nature of the work, the role will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check.
Providing support to asylum seekers, refugees and certain other migrants
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Assistant Headteacher – Inclusion, Safeguarding and DSL
- Location: TreeHouse School, Woodside Ave, London, N10 3JA
- Hours: Permanent, full time (37.3 hours per week)
- Salary: £62,541 to £66,744 per annum
- Start date: January 2027
About TreeHouse School:
TreeHouse School, part of Ambitious about Autism, is an Ofsted outstanding specialist school supporting children and young people aged 4–19 with autism and complex learning needs. We are committed to providing an exceptional learning environment where every pupil can thrive and achieve their full potential.
About the role:
We are looking for a resilient and values led Assistant Headteacher of Inclusion, Safeguarding and DSL to join our Senior Leadership Team.
This is a pivotal role with responsibility for safeguarding, inclusion and pupil welfare for autistic children and young people with complex needs.
You will lead on child protection and safeguarding, working closely with our team of deputy and assistant DSLs and with external partners including Social Care, Health, Police, LADO and Prevent.
You will also provide strategic oversight of inclusion, behaviour, wellbeing, healthcare, therapeutic support, Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) and least restrictive practice, working collaboratively with education, nursing and wider multidisciplinary teams.
This is not an office based role. You will need to have a strong presence across the school, supporting pupils, families and staff, providing visible leadership and responding calmly and effectively when complex situations arise.
What we are looking for:
- Has strong safeguarding experience and ideally experience as a DSL or Deputy DSL.
- Has a good understanding of autism, SEND and complex needs, with experience in an education or specialist setting preferred.
- Could be an experienced education professional, SEN specialist or social worker with substantial relevant experience and a strong understanding of education.
- Is confident making difficult safeguarding decisions, managing referrals and escalating concerns when necessary.
- Is resilient, persistent and able to manage complex cases involving vulnerable children.
- Can build strong relationships with pupils, families, staff and external agencies.
- Can lead and develop staff, ensuring safeguarding training, recording and procedures are consistently followed.
What we offer:
You will be well supported by an experienced safeguarding team, Senior Leadership Team and receive regular supervision and mentoring. There will also be opportunities to develop your expertise through DSL, trauma informed, autism and CALM training.
This is an opportunity to make a significant difference to the lives of autistic children and young people, while leading a team and helping shape excellent safeguarding and inclusive practice across the school.
If you are a confident safeguarding professional who combines expertise with compassion, resilience and determination, we would love to hear from you.
Shortlisting date: Friday 2nd of October
Outcome of application: Friday 2nd/Monday 5th of October
Interview date: Friday 9th and Tuesday 13th of October
Ambitious About Autism is committed to fostering equity, diversity, and inclusion at every level of our organisation. We warmly welcome applications from all qualified candidates, valuing the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives they bring. We encourage applications from individuals regardless of race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or parental status, disability, or age.
Our recruitment process promotes equal opportunities, and we are committed to providing reasonable adjustments for candidates with disabilities or additional needs throughout the recruitment process. Please contact our Recruitment Team for accommodations. We recognise disability as a physical or mental impairment that significantly and long-term affects a person's ability to perform day-to-day activities, as defined by the UK Equality Act 2010. All applications will be considered solely on merit, aligned with our mission to support autistic children and young people.
Ambitious About Autism is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and successful candidates will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check. As part of our Safer Recruitment checks, an online search may be carried out in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education.
The safeguarding responsibilities of the post are as per the job description and person specification.
Whether the post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2021. This means that when applying for certain jobs and activities, certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected', so they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. Further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS Filter Guidance
We stand with autistic children and young people, champion their rights and create opportunities.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
The Role
Policy Development Lead
We are looking for a Policy Development Lead to provide strategic leadership, coordination and expertise in proactive policy development across NDCS. This exciting new role will help us think beyond immediate policy activity, identify where system change is needed, and develop longer-term policy positions that are informed by evidence, specialist insight, lived experience and external practice.
The role will initially focus on Education, while retaining the flexibility to support wider policy development across areas such as early years, social care, health, benefits, sign language and other emerging priorities. Working closely with Platform Leads, Policy and Nation Leads, and colleagues across the organisation, you will help ensure NDCS develops strong, evidence-based policy positions that create meaningful change for deaf children and their families.
What you'll do
- Lead and coordinate proactive policy development activity across NDCS, identifying opportunities for deeper policy thinking and systems change.
- Apply systems thinking to identify complex challenges, explore interdependencies and develop practical solutions
- Identify emerging trends, risks and opportunities, using systems thinking and horizon-scanning approaches to inform future organisational priorities.
- Translate complex evidence, research and lived experience into clear recommendations that support organisational decision-making and influence.
- Influence senior leaders and key stakeholders by providing strategic policy advice, insight and recommendations.
- Lead and coordinate policy development activity across multiple teams, ensuring expertise, insight and activity are aligned.
- Build productive relationships with external researchers, policy networks and sector experts to bring innovative thinking into NDCS.
- Identify cross-cutting themes and opportunities for change by bringing together insight from local, regional and national sources.
- Facilitate strategic conversations that help colleagues explore complex issues, understand system interdependencies and develop long-term solutions.
- Champion a proactive, evidence-informed approach to policy development across the organisation.
What you'll need
- Significant experience in policy analysis, development or strategy within a complex organisation, sector or policy environment.
- Proven ability to translate complex evidence, research and lived experience into recommendations that drive organisational action and influence.
- Experience influencing senior decision-makers and shaping organisational, sector-wide or public policy direction.
- A track record of leading and coordinating complex work across multiple teams, functions or stakeholders.
- Excellent communication skills, including the ability to produce high-quality briefings, policy positions and strategic recommendations.
- Experience bringing together evidence and insight from multiple sources to identify emerging issues, trends and opportunities for change.
- Strong systems-thinking skills and experience developing long-term solutions to complex challenges.
- The ability to lead through collaboration, credibility and specialist expertise, building alignment across diverse teams and stakeholders.
- Strong understanding of the policy, practice and systemic issues affecting deaf children and families, and the ability to apply this knowledge to strategic policy development.
- Strong digital skills and a sound understanding of agile values & principles.
- Acriminal record check / DBS disclosure (if offered the position).
What you'll get
- Home-based working with flexible hours.
- 25 days holiday - plus an additional 3 days at Christmas (& bank holidays).
- Pension (5.5% employer contribution).
- Healthcare Cashplan.
- Annual performance-based salary increase.
- Employee Assistance & Wellbeing Programmes.
What we do
The National Deaf Children's Society are the leading charity for deaf children. We give expert support on childhood deafness, raise awareness and campaign for deaf children's rights, so they have the same opportunities as everyone else.
Pre-employment checks
As part of our commitment to creating a safe and trusted environment for the children, young people and families we support, all offers of employment are subject to background checks. These include Right to Work verification, Criminal Record Disclosure, and ID and address verification.
To complete an online Right to Work check, you will need a valid UK or Irish passport, or a government share code if you are not a British citizen. If an online check is not possible, we’ll need to verify your documents in person at our London office. Please be aware that travel time and expenses for this appointment cannot be reimbursed.
Disability Confidence
We are a Disability Confident Employer and committed to offering interviews to candidates who request to be considered under the disability confident scheme and meet the minimum requirements for the role.
The National Deaf Children’s Society is a registered charity in England and Wales no. 1016532 and in Scotland no. SC040779.