Operation assistant jobs

Location: Field-based delivery across the Midlands, particularly Coventry, Sutton Coldfield and Birmingham

Reports to: National Programme Manager

Fees: A daily rate of £160-£200 per day depending on experience

Expected Start Date: Jan-Feb 2027

Contract: Freelance contractor

Application deadline: Friday 14th August 2026 at 9AM

Interview information: Interviews will be held on a rolling basis. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications, so early applications are encouraged.

About The Girls’ Network:

The Girls' Network is a national charity with a mission to inspire and empower girls from the least advantaged communities by connecting them with a network of professional women role models and volunteer mentors. We believe no girl should have her future limited by her gender, ethnicity, background, or parental income. Our vision is a future where all girls are supported to realise their ambitions, discover their self-worth, and shape their own futures.

We partner with secondary schools and colleges across multiple regions in England, including London, Merseyside, Portsmouth, Southampton, Sussex, Tees Valley, Tyne & Wear and Midlands. We match girls aged 14–19 with trained volunteer mentors for one-to-one support. In addition to this core mentoring, workshops, and access to an Ambassador Community that provides continued opportunities for development, career support, and connection.

Role Summary:

The Associate Facilitator plays a key role in delivering high-quality, engaging programmes across The Girls’ Network regions. This role focuses on facilitating impactful workshops and mentoring programmes for girls aged 14-19, supporting them to develop confidence, personal and social skills, and aspirations for their futures.

We are looking for an experienced and confident facilitator who can create inclusive, engaging learning environments and adapt delivery to meet the needs of diverse groups. The role requires someone who is comfortable working with volunteers and building positive, professional relationships with schools and other stakeholders.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who is highly organised, reliable and passionate about working with and for young people. Delivery will take place across England, so a willingness to travel is essential (travel expenses will be reimbursed).

We are particularly interested in facilitators based in the Midlands.

Key Duties/Responsibilities:

• Deliver engaging in-person workshops and onboarding sessions to young people aged 14-19 in secondary schools and colleges, empowering them to develop personal and social skills. Prepare thoroughly by reviewing and adapting session plans to meet the diverse needs of different groups.

• Facilitate end-to-end mentor matching with young people (both in-person and virtually) and be present to support positive mentoring relationships.

• Build and maintain positive, working relationships with schools, colleges, volunteers and other stakeholders. This includes retaining key relationships and supporting volunteers to ensure they feel confident and clear on their role.

• Accurately collect and maintain records of programme participation, attendance, and outcomes. This includes logging pre-and post-programme data into Salesforce and gathering qualitative feedback from young people.

• Uphold safeguarding and GDPR policies and procedures at all times, promptly escalating any concerns or disclosures to the National Programmes Manager and/or Designated Safeguarding Officer(s).

• Facilitate the overall success of workshop delivery, volunteering, and mentoring cohorts in your region.

• Coordinate and deliver events and communications to meet regional and national KPIs, ensuring smooth operations.

• Utilise effective, high-quality workshop and training materials to deliver impactful programme activities.

• Engage in regular supervision with the National Programme Manager and attend additional training sessions and briefings as required.

• Manage travel arrangements in line with the Expenses policy, ensuring timely submissions of expenses.

Note: This job description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope of the role. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of responsibilities and duties required.

Person Specification:

Essential

• Applicants must hold a full, clean driving licence and have the ability and willingness to travel regularly across the region.

• Experience of delivering high quality workshops and/or training sessions to groups of young people, aged 14-19.

• Proven ability to build and independently manage multiple relationships with key stakeholders, including young people, volunteers, education providers and local partner organisations.

• Excellent organisational, prioritisation and time-management skills, with a proven ability to meet deadlines in a target-driven environment.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage diverse audiences.

• Project or programme coordination experience, with the ability to manage conflicting priorities effectively.

• Experience of working towards agreed objectives or performance measures and contributing to performance monitoring.

• Practical knowledge and experience of safeguarding and child protection working practices.

• Competence in using digital tools, such as Salesforce or other CRM platforms, with attention to detail and the ability to maintain high-quality records for monitoring and evaluation purposes.

• Understanding of equal opportunities and inclusion in youth work and how they apply in youth work in the charity and/or education sector.

• Understanding of the barriers experienced by girls and young women from disadvantaged backgrounds, with a commitment to helping address these through the organisation’s work.

• Commitment to The Girls’ Network mission and keeping young people at the centre of all work.

• Ability to work flexibly, including occasional evenings and weekends, where required.

Desirable

• Qualified Teacher Status or other relevant teaching qualification

• Experience working in a charity, youth, or education setting.

• Experience of working with young people from diverse backgrounds.

• Experience of safer recruitment in volunteering.

• A mentoring, coaching qualification, or equivalent experience.

• Specific knowledge of mentoring programmes and/or youth/education services.

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. If you believe you have relevant experience and the potential to thrive in this role, we encourage you to apply, even if you do not meet every single criterion listed.

We welcome applications from outreach youth workers and/or teachers/teaching assistants or equivalent roles.

Typical delivery pattern

Programme delivery is scheduled around the needs of partner schools and colleges. As a guide, most programmes consist of a series of three workshops, delivered either:

• Once a week over 3 weeks; or

• Once a fortnight within a school half term.

Delivery schedules may vary depending on the needs of each education setting.

Work will be offered on an ad hoc basis according to programme demand and contractor availability. We cannot guarantee a minimum number of programme delivery assignments.

How to apply

We encourage you to apply as soon as possible. As part of your application, you will be asked to submit your CV and answer a few application questions.

Appointees will be subject to a DBS check. You must have the right to work in the UK to apply for this role.

The deadline to submit your application is 29 July at midday. Please note that we reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications. We therefore encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as possible.

Training and induction

Successful contractors will receive an induction and training programme to support them in the role. This is expected to take approximately 3 days, although the duration may vary depending on your previous experience.

Training and induction time will be paid at the agreed day rate. Any reasonable travel and accommodation costs incurred while attending training or carrying out work for The Girls' Network will be reimbursed in line with our Expenses Policy.

Diversity at our core

The Girls' Network is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating discrimination. In line with the Equality Act 2010, if you require any reasonable adjustments to support you with any stage of this recruitment process, please contact the Recruitment Team.

An exciting opportunity to join the team as a Bar and Catering Supervisor to work in the Engine Shed Café both in the daytime and for events. Main duties of this role will include, serving customers and setting up for and working a range of student and external events.

Who we are

IPSEA (Independent Provider of Special Education Advice) is a national charity working to ensure that children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) receive the educational support they are legally entitled to. Since we were formed in 1983, we have helped to improve the education experience of thousands of children and young people across England. We do this by providing free and independent legal advice and casework support for families, undertaking policy work and delivering training on the SEND legal framework.

What you’ll do

Reports to: Chief Executive

Location: Home-based or Hybrid (with frequent travel for events and meeting with parliamentarians and other stakeholders) 

We are seeking a Policy Manager to lead IPSEA's policy and influencing work to achieve positive change for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their families. Working closely with the Chief Executive, Head of Legal and Training, trustees and colleagues across the organisation, you will set strategic policy priorities and develop evidence-based influencing plans that support IPSEA's mission and long-term objectives.

Drawing on insights from our advice and tribunal services, legal expertise and the experiences of families, you will identify systemic issues within the SEND system and develop policy solutions that improve children and young people's access to the support and education to which they are entitled. You will ensure that IPSEA's policy positions are credible, legally robust and informed by the lived experiences of those we support.

You will lead IPSEA's engagement with government, Parliament and other key decision-makers, identifying opportunities to influence legislation, policy and practice at both national and local level. This includes overseeing responses to consultations, parliamentary inquiries and calls for evidence, as well as preparing briefings and strategic advice to support senior-level engagement and advocacy.

Working collaboratively with colleagues across legal, communications, fundraising and training teams, you will ensure IPSEA's policy, campaigning and public affairs activities are aligned and maximise the organisation's impact. You will also monitor developments across the political, legal and policy landscape, helping IPSEA respond proactively to emerging opportunities and challenges affecting the rights of children and young people with SEND.

This role offers the opportunity to make a real difference as part of a small, friendly, and dedicated team. If you are passionate about helping children and young people with SEND and have the skills and experience needed, we would love to hear from you.

Who are we looking for?

You will have significant experience in a senior policy and campaigning/public affairs role and have good knowledge of local and national government structure including the legislative process.

You the ability to build and maintain relationships with a range of stakeholders including MPs, civil servants, campaigners and parents. You exhibit tact and diplomacy and can be impactful with people of varying levels and experience.

Your research and critical thinking skills enable you to analyse policy and data to produce relevant reports and position papers. You have experience of drafting organisation responses to government consultations and parliamentary calls for evidence.

IPSEA should also reflect the communities we support. We would particularly like to hear from candidates from ethnic minority backgrounds, LGBTQIA+ people, under-served communities and disabled people, as well as those with lived experience of the SEND system, either as a child or as a parent/carer.

What we can offer you

• 5% employer pension contributions
• Healthcare cash plan
• Flexible working arrangements
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays plus an additional day off for your birthday (pro-rata if part-time).

To apply

Visit our website to download a recruitment pack and application form.

Deadline for applications: 9am on 7 September 2026.

First-round interviews: on 15 September 2026 in our offices in Takeley, Essex, with second-round interviews (online) on 18 September 2026.

NO AGENCIES PLEASE.

INTRODUCTION TO THE ROLE

iniva is seeking an experienced, thoughtful and collaborative Website & Communications Manager to join our team at a pivotal moment for the organisation. The role sits at the heart of Living Legacies: Collaboration, Community and Radicality, a four-year National Lottery Heritage Fund project that activates iniva’s archive and connects it with communities through exhibitions, events, podcasts, oral histories and digital resources. Working at iniva is dynamic, creative and purpose driven. As a small organisation, we value people who can work confidently on their own initiative while collaborating closely with colleagues, freelancers and partners. This part-time role (3 days per week) is offered as a fixed-term contract over four years, with responsibilities evolving across the project lifecycle — from strategy and planning in the early stages to website redevelopment, major public programmes and legacy outputs in later phases. The Website & Communications Manager will work closely with the Project Manager and wider team to support clear communication, shared understanding and joined-up audience engagement. The role plays a key part in shaping how audiences encounter Living Legacies and iniva more broadly, ensuring communications are inclusive, accessible and grounded in the organisation’s values. We’re looking for someone who cares about creating more equitable cultural spaces and enjoys sharing stories that connect artists, archives, and communities.

IDEAL CANDIDATE

This role would suit a practical and organised communications professional with strong writing and digital skills. You will be a confident and clear communicator, able to produce engaging, accessible content for a range of audiences across web, email and social media. You will have experience working with websites, including contributing to or supporting a WordPress (or similar CMS) website redevelopment, and be comfortable collaborating with website developers to deliver user-friendly, accessible digital experiences. You will bring the ability to plan and coordinate work across multiple projects, managing timelines, contributors and priorities effectively. Experience supporting or overseeing freelancers such as PR consultants, graphic designers, photographers, videographers etc or external partners is helpful, alongside a collaborative approach and good organisational skills. We are particularly interested in candidates who bring transferable skills from other sectors, along with curiosity, initiative and a willingness to learn. You should be motivated by working in a small, purpose-driven team and be committed to inclusive, accessible communication. This role supports a multi-year heritage project focused on the histories and practices of Black and Global Majority artists. We particularly welcome applicants with lived experience and/or a strong interest in these areas, and a commitment to inclusive, anti-racist and accessible communication practices. We know that no one will meet every requirement. If you meet most of the criteria and feel excited by the role, we encourage you to apply

Role Purpose

The Website & Communications Manager will lead iniva’s communications for a four-year fixed-term
project (3 days per week), with responsibilities evolving across the project — from setting up systems
and plans in Year 1 to delivering public activity, website redevelopment and legacy outputs in later
phases.

Focusing on Living Legacies, the postholder will lead communications activity to grow and diversify
audiences while maintaining strong engagement with existing audiences. They will manage a small
communications team, including the Communications Coordinator, and coordinate different
freelancers over the life of the project, such as a PR Consultant, Website Developer and Podcast
Producer to deliver clear, consistent and values-led communication across the organisation.
Working closely with a freelance Website Developer and internal teams, the postholder will oversee
the redevelopment of iniva’s website, ensuring it is accessible, user-friendly and supports the
project’s digital content and long-term needs. They will also work collaboratively with the Senior
Fundraising Manager, Project Manager and Project Curator to ensure joined-up, timely storytelling that
reflects the aims of the project and supports audience engagement.

Project Specific Duties

The duties below reflect the role across its four-year term. Activity in Years 1–2 will focus on
communications planning, audience development, team coordination and early digital work. Website
redevelopment (Years 2–3) and press activity for exhibitions (Years 3–4) will increase in later phases.
Not all responsibilities will be active at the same time.

Communications Strategy, Planning and Audience Development

• To review, refine and deliver the Living Legacies Communications Plan in collaboration with the wider project team, ensuring alignment with audience development goals, legacy planning and funder expectations.
• To lead audience development activity for Living Legacies, balancing growth and diversification with the retention of iniva’s existing audiences.
• To ensure consistent application of iniva and Living Legacies brand, tone of voice and values across all communications outputs.
• To establish and maintain communications systems, workflows and standards to support effective delivery across the team and with external contributors.
• To manage marketing, communications and documentation budgets ensuring activity is delivered within agreed resources for the organisation.

Website Redevelopment & Digital Experience

• To provide oversight of the redevelopment of iniva’s website (2027-2028), working closely with the Website Developer and internal stakeholders to ensure the site meets accessibility standards, audience engagement objectives and digital preservation needs.
• To manage the Website Developer and relevant budget lines to deliver a user-friendly, accessible website that supports archival access, digital outputs and the wider public programme.
• To ensure the website reflects the interpretive aims of Living Legacies and supports long-term access to project outputs, including oral histories, exhibitions and archival content.
• To gather and commission content from project partners and programme leads to ensure inclusive, participant-led storytelling is reflected across digital platforms.

Content, Campaigns & Creative Management

•  To oversee the creation, scheduling and publication of engaging digital content for Living Legacies, working with the Communications Coordinator across social media, email newsletters and website updates to raise awareness of the project, grow and engage existing and new audiences, and share stories, opportunities and project milestones.
• To commission and manage promotional materials, including digital and print assets, working with graphic designers, photographers, videographers and other freelance creatives to create compelling content that reflects the project's values and reaches diverse audiences.
•  To provide clear briefs, quality control and sign-off for commissioned content, ensuring outputs are on brand, accessible, high quality and delivered on schedule, and support meaningful engagement with participants, partners and audiences.
• To coordinate the promotion of project events and exhibitions, including digital and print listings, invitations, ticketing and on-site communications logistics, helping to maximise attendance, participation and the visibility of Living Legacies across communities and partner networks.

Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting

• To oversee monitoring and evaluation of communications activity for Living Legacies, drawing on digital engagement data across web, email and social media platforms to understand audience reach, engagement and impact.
• To lead on communications-related reporting for senior management, the Board and funders, working with the Communications Coordinator to collate insights, data and evidence that demonstrate impact, learning and audience development.
• To use evaluation findings to inform ongoing communications strategy, audience development activity and project learning.

Collaboration & Internal Coordination

• To work collaboratively with the Project Manager, Project Curator, Senior Fundraising Manager and wider iniva team to ensure consistent messaging, joined-up communications and coordinated project delivery across all strands.
• To support shared understanding of communications priorities across exhibitions, podcasts, oral histories and community engagement activity, ensuring coherence of messaging and audience experience.
• To contribute to a culture of knowledge sharing, collective responsibility and values-led working across the organisation.

Press & Public Relations

•  To provide oversight and be the main point of contact for press and media activity for LivingLegacies, setting priorities, approving messaging and coordinating delivery with the Freelance PR Consultant, annually for three major project exhibitions and public programme (2027-2030).
• Liaise with external PR consultants to support programme promotion, ensuring assets and information are shared accurately and on time.
• To support the development and approval of press materials, including press releases and image assets, ensuring clarity, consistency and alignment with project messaging and organisational values.
• To oversee media listings, press scheduling and coverage tracking, using insights to inform future communications planning in consultation with the PR Consultant.
• To ensure compliance with funder branding and visibility requirements, including National Lottery Heritage Fund acknowledgement guidelines.

General Duties (In common with all iniva staff)

• To support the philosophy, aims and objectives of iniva and to champion its work.
• To promote and support equality, diversity and inclusion for all staff, contractors, volunteers and stakeholders.
•  To uphold collective responsibility, knowledge sharing and team working across the organisation.
• To contribute to, and follow iniva’s organisational policies and procedures, particularly policies relevant to your defined responsibilities and area of work.
• To ensure proper record keeping, filing and archiving of all communications and documentation related to your area of work.
• To engage in continuing professional development, seeking to stay up to date with developments and best practice in your area of work.

Note: This is a description of the job as it is at present constituted. It is iniva’s practice to examine job
descriptions regularly and to update them to ensure that they accurately reflect the job required to be
performed, or to incorporate proposed changes.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

The postholder for this role should demonstrate the following qualifications, experience, skills and
knowledge:

Essential

• Proven experience developing and delivering a communications strategy, ideally for cultural or heritage projects.
•  Experience in website development or managing website redevelopment projects, including working with web developers on design, UX, accessibility and audience engagement.
•  Strong copywriting and editorial skills, with the ability to produce clear, engaging and accessible content across platforms.
•  Experience creating and scheduling content for digital channels, including social media, email newsletters and websites.
•  Understanding of accessibility standards for digital content (e.g. WCAG 2.2) and inclusive communication practices.
• Experience in line management of staff and commissioning or supervising freelance creatives — including PR professionals, website developers, graphic designers, videographers, photographers and content producers — to deliver high-quality, on-brand and accessible content.
• Experience coordinating press and media engagement, including drafting press releases and managing listings.
• Ability to collect and interpret digital engagement data (e.g. social media insights, email performance, web analytics) for evaluation and reporting.
• Strong organisational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple deadlines and priorities.
• Collaborative approach and experience working across teams to ensure consistent, values-led messaging.

Applicants do not need agency-level PR experience; experience of coordinating or overseeing
press activity within a wider communications role is sufficient. We are not expecting candidates
to demonstrate equal depth across all areas; instead, we are looking for a strong overall match
against the Essential criteria.

Desirable

• Familiarity with iniva’s mission, and an understanding of visual arts, archives or Black and
• diaspora cultural heritage in the UK. Experience promoting exhibitions, podcasts, or public programmes within an arts or heritage
• context.
• Knowledge of web content management systems (e.g. WordPress), email marketing tools
• (e.g. Mailchimp) and marketing management tools (e.g. SocialBee and Hootsuite).
•  Experience producing or editing visual content using graphic design tools (e.g. Adobe Creative
• Suite, Canva and Figma), with an eye for layout, accessibility and brand consistency.
•  Experience developing or applying audience development strategies.
•  Understanding of digital preservation principles for online content.
• Experience creating inclusive, participant-led storytelling in partnership with community
• groups.
• Confidence in briefing designers and overseeing the production of promotional materials
• across print and digital.
• Awareness of brand compliance and funder visibility guidelines (e.g. The National Lottery Heritage Fund).

Note: Applicants cannot be expected to be equally strong on all the above criteria, but to provide
evidence across the range, in varying strengths and combinations. iniva are committed to supporting
staff in training and support to achieve the standards required to undertake the role.

The Head of Public Fundraising is a new role at Coeliac UK leading the charity’s public fundraising function. The role focusses on driving sustainable growth across individual giving, community fundraising, events, lottery, raffle, digital fundraising and merchandise. This role is responsible for delivering Coeliac UK’s 5-year fundraising strategy to maximise return-on-investment, grow long term supporter value, and contribute to the charity’s mission. 

The Head of Public Fundraising will embed and deliver comprehensive fundraising strategies, growing Coeliac UK’s supporter base and income, building up new and under-developed income streams and communicating effectively with their audiences to expand their reach, and encourage financial and non-financial support to deliver the organisations mission.

Who are we looking for?

Key to the success of this role is a strong understanding of individual giving fundraising. This role blends the strategic oversight and leadership of a Head of role across multiple income streams, with the hands-on expertise of an IG fundraiser. Experience across other income streams and areas of fundraising delivery would be a huge benefit as the role leads community fundraising and events, will take on digital fundraising - currently led by the Chief Engagement Officer, as well as manage the data and supporter care functions, but experience in individual giving is essential as Coeliac UK has defined that as an area of priority income. To progress to a screening call with THINK Recruitment, your CV must demonstrate evidence of delivering individual giving income in a UK charity environment. 

The successful candidate for this role will be someone who has already operated at a senior level within a charity such as at Senior Manager level, or Head of in a specific income stream.

Hybrid working

The role has a hybrid expectation of a minimum of a day a week in the High Wycombe office (HP11 2QW) to build relationships and provide support to the fundraising team, and there will be flexibility required for other in person meetings and events. However, Coeliac UK are keen to secure the very best candidate, if the hybrid expectation presents challenge for you but you otherwise meet the requirements of the role, please do get in touch with THINK to discuss. 

Application notes 

Please download the Candidate Info Pack provided for further information about the role, timelines and next steps.

To progress your application, please contact THINK Recruitment to organise an informal screening call. Please note, we cannot shortlist candidates who have not had a screening call so please allow enough time to have a call before the closing date.  You will be provided with information on how to complete your full application on the call. 

If you need assistance with downloading the pack or any reasonable adjustments to ensure you can engage with the selection process, please contact THINK Recruitment and our team will support you.

Closing date for expressions of interest: Midday Friday 21st August

Closing date for full applications: Midnight Sunday 23rd August