Schools jobs

About the team

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

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

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

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

Why work with us?

Working at Impetus means joining an organisation that is serious about impact and serious about people. Our values actively guide how we make decisions, how we work together and how we deliver change.

In the Philanthropy & Partnerships Team, you will:

• Be part of a high-performing and respected fundraising team
• Build meaningful, long-term relationships with thoughtful, impact-driven donors
• Develop your skills across the full fundraising cycle, supported by strong leadership
• Work on some of the charity sector’s most exciting and long-term partnerships
• See a clear connection between your work and improved outcomes for young people

If you are motivated by purpose, enjoy working to a high standard, and want to be part of a team that is ambitious about both impact and excellence, we would be delighted to hear from you.​

Harbi Jama,

Director of Philanthropy & Partnerships

About this role

This role is a 12‑month maternity cover, supporting an important phase of delivery and development within the Philanthropy team. The postholder will work closely with colleagues to maintain momentum in new business activity while contributing to strategic account management and stewardship. 

The Head of Development is a senior role within the Philanthropy Team, with a primary focus on new business development. This includes identifying, cultivating and securing new funding relationships across trusts, foundations, corporates, co‑investment partners and high‑net‑worth individuals. 

Alongside new business delivery, the role also provides strategic account management for a small portfolio of high-value partners, ensuring smooth transitions from acquisition into long term stewardship. 

This role works alongside the Head of Philanthropy, with both roles contributing to the success of the Philanthropy Team. The Head of Philanthropy leads on deep stewardship and retention, while the Head of Development focusses on new income generation and building relationships with new funders and partners. 

The postholder will work closely with the Director of Philanthropy & Partnerships, Philanthropy Directors as well as Senior Research and Insights Manager, contributing specialist expertise, strong delivery and sound judgement, while operating within agreed strategy and governance frameworks.

​Key responsibilities:

New business development

• Support the Director of Philanthropy & Partnerships and Development Director on the development and delivery of the new business plan in line with the fundraising strategy
• Works with the Senior Research and Insights Manager to identify emerging funding trends, opportunities, market opportunities and best practice
• In collaboration with the Development Director and Growth and Insights Director, lead the delivery of agreed cultivation strategies for priority prospects, proactively progressing relationships from qualification through to solicitation and conversion, leveraging senior stakeholders, board members, donor advocates and wider networks
• Develop and deliver compelling cultivation strategies and tailored pitch plans for priority prospects, including designing and building new donor acquisition vehicles (e.g. committees, cultivation events and targeted communications), working collaboratively with colleagues across Impetus
• Lead and support high-level meetings, pitches and negotiations with prospective donors, positioning Impetus as a credible and strategic partner
• Work with trustees, senior leaders and pro bono supporters to leverage networks and secure introductions to new prospects
• Ensure high-quality written and verbal communications with prospective donors

Account management and stewardship 

• Build and maintain professional, long-term relationships within the portfolio, escalating strategic issues or risks promptly.
• Manage a targeted portfolio of high-value donors of six figures and supports on seven figure partnerships, ensuring excellent stewardship, timelyreporting and meaningful engagement
• Act as a relationship lead for selected donors, building trust and ensuring a smooth transition from new business to long-term stewardship
• Own and deliver tailored account plans for assigned donors, with a focus on renewal, upgrade and long-term relationship value
• Oversee the delivery of high-quality donor communications for assigned donors, including reports, impact updates, and engagement opportunities
• Ensure robust portfolio management, including accurate forecasting, pipeline management, and use of CRM systems
• Identify opportunities to deepen relationships through increased giving, multi-year commitments or broader engagement with Impetus’ work
• Works closely with Development Director on supporting Funds i.e. Connect, Skills, Attainment or Engage as needed 
• Supports or leads on committees such as Futures or Real estate 
• Represent Impetus externally with professionalism and credibility

Cross-team working and organisation contribution

• Build and maintain professional, long-term relationships within the portfolio, escalating strategic issues or risks promptly.
• Ensure consistent standards and best practice across account management and donor stewardship
• Collaborate closely with the Head of Philanthropy to ensure seamless handover from acquisition to stewardship and a coherent donor experience.
• Contribute insight from prospecting and market scanning to inform proposition development and strategic planning
• Ensure all activity aligns with Impetus’ gift acceptance, due diligence and ethical fundraising policies
• Champion best practice in prospecting, pipeline management and new business development across the team
• Build a collaborative, inclusive, high quality team culture aligned with Impetus’ values

​Person specification

​Essential​:

• A strong track record of raising six-figure+ philanthropic income from grant-making trusts and foundations, corporate foundations and/or individual donors, including experience with high-net-worth individuals
• Proven ability to lead and deliver the full fundraising cycle, from prospecting and cultivation through to solicitation, stewardship and renewal
• Demonstrated strategic thinking, planning and delivery skills, with the ability to generate ideas, translate them into practical account plans, and execute them effectively
• Excellent research, prospecting and qualification skills, with the judgement to prioritise high-value opportunities
• A proactive, creative and innovative approach to fundraising, with the ability to adapt and develop creative donor centred approaches 
• Experience operating with senior stakeholders, including trustees, board members and other high-level external partners
• Outstanding relationship management skills, with the ability to establish, manage and deepen trusted relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Highly collaborative, contributing positively to team objectives and cross-organisational priorities
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate impact and value clearly and persuasively
• Strong financial and portfolio management skills, including the ability to plan, forecast and deliver against income targets and budgets
• Ability to work well under pressure, managing multiple priorities and deadlines effectively
• A clear commitment to Impetus’ mission and values
• A strong commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion

Desirable

• Experience managing and stewarding multi-year, five- to seven-figure partnerships.
• Experience line managing and developing fundraisers or relationship managers.
• Experience working within a charity, foundation, venture philanthropy or intermediary organisation.
• Familiarity with CRM systems (e.g. Salesforce), income forecasting and portfolio reporting.
• Experience supporting or contributing to new business development strategies at a senior level.

​​​About Impetus

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Our Values​

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

We are brave and curious

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

We bring high trust, high challenge

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

We are evidence led and results driven for young people

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

We thrive through diversity

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

We always seek collaboration

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

Our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion

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

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

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

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

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

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

​​Our employee benefits ​

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

How to apply

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

You will need to:​

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

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

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

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

The deadline for applications is Sunday 17th May 2026, 11:59pm.​

Interviews:​

1st Interviews will take place on w/c 25th May 2026.​

2nd Interviews will take place on w/c 1st June 2026.​

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

​Personal Data

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

The Institute of Imagination (iOi) is looking for an Impact and Participation Lead to help shape how we understand, learn from and grow our work with children, families and communities across the UK.

This is a strategic and hands-on role for someone who enjoys turning insight into action — working with teams and partners to embed meaningful participation, capture learning, and strengthen the impact of creative programmes.

About the Role

The Impact and Participation Lead is part of the Experience and Learning team, leading the development of how we measure, understand and use impact across our programmes.

You’ll work closely with delivery teams, partners and communities to embed reflective practice and ensure that learning is built into everything we do. This includes designing approaches to capture both data and lived experience — turning these into clear, useful insight that informs decisions and strengthens our work.

A core part of the role is ensuring that children and community voices are genuinely heard and shape programmes in meaningful ways. You’ll support teams to move beyond consultation, building confident, inclusive approaches to co-design and participation.

This is a role that balances big-picture thinking with practical implementation — creating frameworks, tools and ways of working that are simple, useful and embedded across a growing, multi-site programme.

Welcome to the iOi, where we believe imagination is the superpower of the 21st Century. We collaborate with children, parents, teachers, academics, and community leaders on research and designing and delivering creative learning experiences across STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics).

Our mission focuses on supporting children from underserved communities by breaking down barriers, empowering their voices, and giving them access to transformative opportunities and essential skills for whatever their future holds. We believe every child can imagine and achieve their fullest potential.

Key Responsibilities

Impact & Insight (50% Focus)

Impact Frameworks: Lead the design and delivery of iOi’s approach to impact, evaluation and learning across programmes.
Insight & Learning: Collect, analyse and translate qualitative and quantitative data into clear, practical insight.
Embedding Practice: Work with teams and partners to integrate impact thinking into day-to-day delivery.
Tools & Systems: Develop and implement simple, effective tools for data collection, reflection and reporting.

Participation & Co-Design (30% Focus)

Child Voice: Develop approaches that ensure children’s voices are meaningfully embedded in programme design and delivery.
Co-Design Support: Support teams and partners to work collaboratively with children, families and communities.
Inclusive Practice: Champion participation that is accessible, thoughtful and not tokenistic.

Learning, Partnerships & Influence (20% Focus)

Capacity Building: Support teams and partners to build confidence and capability in impact and participation.
Partnership Working: Build strong relationships with schools, community organisations and programme partners.
Sharing Learning: Contribute to reports, briefings and conversations that share learning and influence wider practice.

Person Specification

Essential Skills & Experience

Experience: Strong experience in impact, evaluation or Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL), ideally across programmes or multiple sites.
Participation: Experience of co-design or participatory work with children, families or communities.
Insight: Ability to analyse and synthesise qualitative and quantitative data into clear, useful outputs.
Facilitation: Confident working with both children and professionals, supporting reflective conversations and learning.
People Skills: Strong relationship-building skills across teams, partners and communities.
Organisation: Able to manage multiple strands of work, balancing strategy and delivery.
Mindset: Curious, reflective and collaborative, with a commitment to equity, inclusion and iOi’s values.
Availability: Willingness to travel and work occasional evenings and weekends.

Desirable Attributes

Understanding of learning through play, STEAM or creative learning approaches.
Experience working across partnerships or multi-location programmes.
Experience contributing to reports, advocacy or sector conversations.
Knowledge of, or connection to, our focus regions (e.g., Tower Hamlets, Doncaster, Belfast).

How To Apply

Please review the attached job description for full details of the role, responsibilities and person specification.

To apply, complete the application form outlining your relevant experience and why you’re interested in joining iOi. We encourage you to include specific examples of projects you’ve supported or delivered, particularly your experience working with diverse communities.

If you require reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know.

Are you looking for a rewarding role working for an intersectional feminist organisation? If so, we have an incredible opportunity for you to join our team as an Independent Domestic Violence Advocate (Youth Crisis) at Solace Women's Aid.  

You will be joining a team of committed and inspiring individuals whose dedication has saved the lives of thousands of women, men and children in the capital. We are looking for friendly and diligent individuals to join our services and help us make a difference.

Our core values reflect our history and were developed in consultation with staff and service users. Feminism and intersectionality are key to our work, and we are committed to the principles of being survivor-led, trauma-informed, empowering, diverse, anti-racist and anti-discriminatory.

About the Service

Major Trauma Centre (MTC) project is funded by Violence Reduction Unit and is delivered under Solace CYP portfolio of diverse service provisions.

The MTC project supports young people of all genders and aged 11-25 who present at St Marys Hospital, Kings College Hospital, Royal London, and St Georges Hospital who have experienced, or are at risk of, domestic abuse, sexual violence, sexual exploitation, honour-based violence, and any other form of gender-based violence.

This role provides intensive crisis support and advocacy to young people impacted by gender-based violence who present at emergency or any other MTC departments. The MTC project is run in close partnership with MTC safeguarding teams, where individual Youth IDVA sits, and together we deliver excellent holistic support for survivors, as well as delivering training and advice to hospital stakeholders.

About the Role

The Youth Crisis IDVA delivers high‑quality, person‑centred, strength‑based and trauma‑informed advocacy and casework to survivors of abuse. Through careful identification of risk and need, the role involves developing robust safety plans and working in close partnership with statutory and local agencies to minimise the risk of further harm.

You will actively promote the service within the co‑located hospital by building strong, collaborative relationships with hospital staff, particularly safeguarding teams, nurses and clinicians, to ensure a consistent flow of appropriate referrals. You will regularly design and deliver training to hospital staff to raise awareness of domestic abuse and other forms of gender‑based violence. You will also respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns and represent cases at MARAC where required.

About You

We are looking for a passionate, values‑driven individual who is committed to Solace’s mission and to delivering inclusive, anti‑discriminatory practice. You will be flexible, open to new challenges, and motivated to support innovation and continuous improvement.

You will have strong experience supporting young people who are survivors of domestic abuse, sexual abuse or other forms of gender‑based violence, with the ability to quickly build trust, assess risk and need, and develop effective safety plans. You will bring excellent communication skills, a solid understanding of safeguarding for young people and vulnerable adults, and good knowledge of VAWG legislation and interventions to help survivors make informed choices and create meaningful change.

What we can offer you

We provide a comprehensive benefits package to all our employees, including:

• Flexible working
• Focus on learning and development (internal career progression and training)
• Generous holiday entitlement
• Employer pension contribution
• Family-friendly leave and enhanced maternity pay
• Access to Inclusion Networks
• Daily clinical debriefing
• Employee Assistance Programme providing free 24/7 support and advice
• Employee Benefits Platform offering staff discounts, benefits and savings
• Flow & Restore yoga classes
• Meditation sessions
• Cycle to Work Scheme

How to apply

When applying for this role, kindly highlight in your Supporting Statement how your values, knowledge, transferrable skills, and experience align with each point within the following sections of the Job Profile Document:

• Values, Behaviours & Competencies
• Knowledge, Experience and Skills

Solace Women's Aid values diversity, promotes equity, and challenges discrimination. We encourage and welcome applications from candidates of diverse cultures, abilities, perspectives, and lived experiences. We have policies and processes in place to ensure that all employees are offered an equal opportunity in recruitment and selection, promotion, training, pay, and benefits. Our Inclusion Networks support staff with protected characteristics and offer inclusive spaces to connect.

We are a Disability Confident Employer and committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. We anticipate and provide reasonable adjustments as needed and support employees who acquire a disability or long-term health condition, enabling them to stay in work.

This service is run by women for women and is therefore restricted to female applicants under the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, and Part 1. Section 7(2) e of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 apply. The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.

As part of safer recruitment practices, we carry out pre-employment checks including references, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and right to work in the UK checks.

No agencies.

We are seeking a dedicated and experienced Cathedral Safeguarding Officer (CSO) to lead our commitment to creating a safe and welcoming environment for all. This is a pivotal role within our community, ensuring that safeguarding remains at the very heart of the Cathedral’s life and mission.

As the CSO, you will be the strategic and operational lead for safeguarding. You will work closely with the Dean, Chapter, and the Diocesan Safeguarding Team to implement robust policies, manage casework, and foster a culture of vigilance and care. You will be responsible for ensuring that the Cathedral meets all statutory safeguarding obligations and complies fully with the Church of England’s national safeguarding policies, diocesan frameworks, and relevant legislation.

Job Title - Senior Trusts and Statutory Executive

Contract - Permanent

Hours -  35 hours per week

Salary - £36,000 FTE per annum

Location - London / hybrid

About Coram

Coram is committed to improving the lives of the UK’s most vulnerable children and young people.

We support children and young people from birth to independence, creating a change that lasts a lifetime.

Coram is the UK’s oldest children’s charity founded by Thomas Coram in London helping vulnerable children and young people since 1739. Today, the Coram group helps more than one million children, young people, families and professionals every year by providing access to the skills and opportunities they need to thrive.

Coram is a complex organisation and the role one where you will be working across multiple charities at once and balancing daily statutory responsibilities with a broad trust portfolio. So the role would appeal to someone who thrives on managing competing priorities and a varied workload.

About the role

This role sits in the very experienced Trusts and Statutory team, composed of six people. We raise over £2M per annum of trusts income and £4M in statutory tenders. We're part of the wider Fundraising team which raises a further £2M plus from corporates, major donors, individuals and events.

We're looking for someone with persuasive writing and communications skills, good numeracy and systematic attention to detail, who wants to develop their career in this area. While we very much welcome applications from those with experience of trust and statutory fundraising, we are open to excellent applications from those with transferable skills and equivalent experience who want to flourish and learn quickly. This could be from other fundraising disciplines, other charity sector professional roles, business & management, marketing and communications, teaching, research, and so on.

To apply for this role, please click on the 'apply now' button below to complete the application.

Closing Date: 6 May 2026

Interview Date: 12 May 2026

Coram is an equal opportunities employer and we believe a diverse workforce enables us to improve the services to the children and families we help. We are genuinely committed to encouraging candidates from all sections of the community we seek to support. This includes those from global majority ethnic backgrounds, those that identify as LGBQT+, those with disabilities, those with lived experience of care, those with neuro-diversity, and those from other groups who are underrepresented at Coram.

If applicants feel comfortable, we would encourage them to draw on lived experience as well as professional experience in their personal statement as part of their application.

We are committed to the safeguarding of children and where appropriate will require the successful applicant to undertake a check from the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Registered Charity No. 312278.

YMCA Derbyshire - Chief Executive - £105k pa | Derby (travel across our operating areas is expected)

Founded in 1847, YMCA Derbyshire is a charity that supports children, young people and communities across Derby and Derbyshire through a wide range of integrated services. We provide housing and supported accommodation for around 270 people each night, alongside pathways that help individuals move toward independent living.

Our work spans lifelong learning provision including our vocational college, employability programmes, school based childcare, early years provision, youth and community programmes, health and wellbeing activities, and vital services through our poverty relief programmes.

Together, these services create the essential building blocks for a safe home, improved wellbeing, skills development and real opportunities for children, young people and adults to thrive. We are a strong, stable and well-led organisation with a clear sense of purpose, and an equally clear belief that we can do so much more for the young people and communities we serve. We’re now looking for a Chief Executive who can help us continue to unlock that potential.

This is a role for a leader with real drive. You’ll join an ambitious team that is ready for fresh thinking, new ideas and creativity as we think about how to best to serve our communities and deliver our services to an even greater number. We expect that you will bring senior experience in one of the core areas of our services - housing, education, or the charity sector. You may not have experience in every facet of our delivery, and we don’t expect you to, but you will need an appetite to learn quickly, ask the right questions, and embrace the breadth of this role, as well as a strategic mindset and the confidence to explore different opportunities and shape a future where YMCA Derbyshire can grow and deepen our impact.

YMCA Derbyshire is a Christian-founded charity, and while we are very clear that we welcome, serve and work with people of all religious faiths, and of none, the CE role includes a Genuine Occupational Requirement (GOR) to be held by a practicing Christian, under Part 1 of Schedule 9 to the Equality Act 2010.

This is a significant opportunity to lead an organisation with strong foundations, committed colleagues, an excellent reputation and excellent networks in Derby and Derbyshire. If you’re energised by possibility, motivated by purpose, and ready to help us take bold steps forward, we’d love to hear from you. Join us - and help lead the next chapter of YMCA Derbyshire’s story. 

Social Impact & Evaluation Officer 

Our team is growing and we're looking for a curious, insight-driven evaluator to join us in making a real difference for young carers across the UK.

We are recruiting a Social Impact and Evaluation Officer to lead the way in understanding and evidencing the difference our work makes, turning what we learn into meaningful change for young carers and the systems that surround them. 

This is more than an evaluation role. You'll work directly with young carers through interviews, workshops, and creative sessions, helping us hear their experiences in their own words and making sure that taking part feels safe, positive, and even enjoyable. 

You'll play a key role in shaping how we measure what matters, leading on our programme evaluation plans, annual impact report, and our flagship Equity for Young Carers Project, which looks beyond MYTIME to how young carers are treated across education, health, and social care. 

We're looking for creative, trauma-informed communicators with a genuine interest in evidencing impact. People who can collect meaningful information, spot the patterns that matter, and turn findings into compelling outputs that influence funders, trustees, and decision-makers. 

If you're ready to bring your curiosity and care to a cause that truly matters and help us tell the real story of young carers' lives, we'd love to hear from you. 

Please visit the website for more information 

��️ Applications close 7th May 2026 

Communications Manager 

About the role

We are looking for an experienced Communications Manager to help bring our mission and impact to life.

Reporting to the Head of Communications & Transformation, you’ll lead on high-quality, engaging communications that support our programmes, partnerships and organisational goals.

Key responsibilities include:

• Developing and delivering social media content and managing day-to-day channels
• Producing compelling written, visual and video content, including impact case studies
• Copywriting for our website, email campaigns and publications
• Delivering internal communications to support colleague engagement
• Supporting stakeholder communications and marketing campaigns
• Developing and implementing brand assets 

About you

You’ll be an experienced communications professional, comfortable working in a fast-paced environment and managing multiple priorities. You’ll bring creativity, strong organisational skills and a passion for social impact.

Essential experience includes:

• Experince of working in an internal communications-based role
• Excellent planning and project management skills
• Strong writing, editing and visual content skills
• Experience managing social media channels
• Video editing skills (Adobe Premiere Pro)
• Experience using Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop)
• Experience with email platforms such as Campaign Monitor (or similar)

For full details of the role and our rewards and benefits package, please view the candidate pack.

How to apply

Please apply via CharityJob with your CV and a cover letter.

Closing date for applications: Tuesday 5 May at 9am
Interviews: Interviews are intended to take place week commencing 18 May

Help communities recycle better and waste less – and be part of real, lasting environmental change.

Waste and Recycling Engagement Officer
Salary: £26,606 - £28,951 per annum
Hours: Full time, 37 hours per week
Contract: Fixed Term, 2 years - with scope for extension
Location: Waste and Recycling Visitor & Education Centre (WRVEC), Wrekenton, Gateshead NE9 – covering South Tyneside, Sunderland and Gateshead.

About us

Groundwork NE & Cumbria is a long‑established environmental and community charity with over 30 years of experience creating greener, healthier and more resilient places across the region. Our mission centres on Creating Better Places, Improving People’s Prospects, and Promoting Greener Living, helping communities thrive no matter the challenges they face.

We deliver hundreds of locally‑led projects each year, including initiatives that support young people into education, training and employment, helping them overcome barriers, build life skills, and reach their full potential.

About the role

As Waste and Recycling Officer, you’ll inspire communities across South Tyneside, Sunderland and Gateshead to waste less and recycle more. Based at the Waste and Recycling Visitor and Education Centre, you’ll design and deliver engaging education programmes, community outreach and digital learning that drive positive behaviour change. Working closely with local authorities and partners, this is a hands‑on role where your work will make a visible difference to places and people every day.

Working as part of Groundwork’s Local Projects Team, you’ll be based at the unique Waste and Recycling Visitor & Education Centre (WRVEC), run by SUEZ on behalf of local authorities and coordinated by Groundwork. From here, you’ll design and deliver engaging education activities for schools, community groups, residents and businesses, both at the centre and out in the community.

You’ll work closely with Gateshead, Sunderland and South Tyneside Councils and a wide range of partners to raise awareness of waste and recycling issues, encourage positive behaviour change, and expand the reach of the education centre through creative marketing, outreach and digital learning.

This is a varied, hands‑on role combining education delivery, community engagement, partnership working and project development. This role ideal for someone who enjoys working with people and wants to make a real environmental impact.

Key responsibilities

• Delivering waste and recycling education sessions in person and online
• Community outreach and partnership working
• Creating promotional content (social media, newsletters, events)
• Monitoring, evaluating and reporting on impact
• Supporting project delivery, budgets and action plans

What we’re looking for

• Educated to A‑level / NVQ Level 3 (or equivalent)
• Experience delivering presentations or community education
• Strong communication and organisational skills
• Confidence using IT and social media
• Passion for environmental awareness and community engagement
• Full driving licence and access to a vehicle
• Willingness to work flexibly, including occasional evenings/weekends

Closing date: Tuesday 12th May 2026
Please note, should we receive a high volume of applications, we may look to close the role early, therefore we recommend an early application.

Interested?

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

This role is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure endorsed by the Disclosure and Barring Service.

We want you to be yourself at Groundwork and we value everything that makes you unique. We recognise and celebrate your difference and together we make Groundwork a special and great place to work. As a Disability Confident employer we offer a guaranteed interview to applicants with a disability who meet the essential criteria for the role.

At Groundwork we ensure that we provide a safe environment for adults, children and young people to take part in any activity or service that we organise. We are committed to creating a culture that promotes safeguarding and the welfare of all children, young people and adults at risk. Our safer recruitment practices support this by ensuring that there is a consistent and comprehensive process of obtaining, collating, analysing and evaluating information from and about candidates to ensure that all the people we appoint are suitable to work with our children, young people and adults

This role is not eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship - the successful applicant will need to have a pre-existing Right to Work in the UK in order to be offered an employment contract.

No agencies please.

Internal Job Title: Sanctuary Support Coordinator

Hours: 35 hours per week (full time). 

Location: Home-based focussed around Cardiff and Newport, with regular travel across Wales and occasional travel to England. 

Contract: Currently funded until December 2028. 

Salary: £36,191. 

About us 

Housing Justice unites diverse communities to build personal connections, help people out of homelessness, and create justice in the housing system. Our vision is of a community where everyone has a safe and stable home, and a feeling they belong. 

Our Seeking Sanctuary project is a Wales-based initiative delivering innovative housing solutions and community-led support for people seeking sanctuary. We combine community hosting, tenancy-based housing, and advocacy to help build a Nation of Sanctuary. 

About the role 

Reporting directly to the Sanctuary Manager, you will be responsible for the day-to-day delivery of our accommodation pathways, ensuring the best possible outcomes for destitute migrants and newly granted refugees. 

This is a dynamic, frontline casework role that spans three core areas of our housing provision: 

• The Hosting Project: Supporting people seeking sanctuary who have no recourse to public funds by giving them a welcoming, safe place to stay in the home of one of our volunteer hosts. 

• Refugee Lodgings: Helping to provide a safe and supported housing option for newly granted refugees at risk of homelessness by matching them with people who have a spare room. 

• Transitional Housing: Providing vital tenancy sustainment support for newly granted refugees transitioning into our shared accommodation properties. 

About you 

We are seeking a dedicated, highly organised, and empathetic professional with proven experience working directly with people experiencing homelessness, particularly asylum seekers and forced migrants. 

You will have a strong working knowledge of the housing system, the UK welfare system (including Universal Credit and Housing Benefit), and how to support people to access their entitlements. Because this role requires managing complex casework and navigating cultural nuances, you must possess strong interpersonal skills, particularly when working with vulnerable people or those with English as a second language. 

If you are a creative problem-solver who is passionate about empowering refugees and building sustainable housing pathways, we want to hear from you. 

Benefits 

• 29 days annual leave, 3 of which are fixed between Christmas and New Year. 

• This is in addition to bank holidays and pro-rata if part time. 

• After 3 years of service, you are entitled to one additional day of holiday for each additional year of service, up to a maximum of 5 additional days, pro-rata if part time. 

• We offer flexible working. Not all posts can be made flexible, but where possible we operate core hours of 10am - 3pm, with employees able to flex their working day around these. 

• Any flexibility is at the discretion of the line manager and relevant senior manager. 

• As this role is offered as Home Working, we will provide some financial support to get you set up with appropriate equipment. 

• We offer an employee assistance programme through Spectrum Life, which can be used by you and your family for a range of advice and support. 

• We offer a cycle-to-work scheme. 

How to apply 

If this sounds like the opportunity for you, please read the attached job description and fill out the application form, describing your capabilities for each of the numbered points in the person specification. 

Interviews will provisionally be held on Thursday 11 June

The Sutton Trust is the UK’s leading social mobility charity. We believe every young person should have a fair chance in life, regardless of their family’s income, the school they go to or where they grow up. But today in Britain, the opportunity to succeed is heavily shaped by socio-economic background. Our mission is to change this. Our programmes empower young people to access life-changing opportunities, and our research influences national change to deliver a fairer future.

Each year, together with our university and employer partners, we support over 14,000 young people to reach their potential through our university, apprenticeship and career access programmes. And our support doesn’t stop there. We engage our thriving alumni community to help them to succeed in their professions and to act as advocates for social mobility.

Our rigorous and extensive research shines a light on barriers to opportunity from the early years to the workplace, and we strive to influence national policy change with evidence-based solutions to tackle educational and workplace inequality. Using insights from our programmes and research, we also test and scale new ideas in education and employment practice.

As an independent charity, our work is entirely reliant on the generous support of our community of donors. The need to support our work to tackle Britain’s low social mobility has never been greater.

Fundraising at the Sutton Trust

We are seeking a dynamic and confident Philanthropy Manager to join our high-performing fundraising team. The Sutton Trust is at an exciting point in our organisational journey, with a new Chairperson and ambitions to significantly grow our impact and fundraising as part of our 2030 strategy.

Over the past five years the impact of the Sutton Trust has increased, especially in our programme numbers, securing a relatively stable income of c.£6m over a number of years. In recent years this has grown to c.£7m, and our organisational strategy to 2030/31 will continue this fundraising trajectory to increase income to £12m. With a growing portfolio of philanthropic income from individuals – currently accounting for c.£1.2m – there is considerable enthusiasm and opportunity to build upon existing relationships and establish new ones in support of the work of The Sutton Trust.

Our fundraising approach will continue to focus on major gifts, harnessing and increasing our networks, and multi-year partnerships to leverage a range of drivers to secure philanthropic support. We anticipate utilising the structured giving schemes designed for our individual supporters to build a robust pipeline for future major gifts. This will include a focus on building out our newly refreshed Fellowship scheme and, importantly, working with the Head of Philanthropy to implement a segmented fundraising campaign with our 40,000 strong alumni community. Additionally, there is significant opportunity to build upon recent successes and further develop our approach to legacy fundraising.

Main duties

New Business

• Managing and growing the Trust’s Fellowship scheme through scoping, developing and securing new four and five-figure gifts from individual supporters, working closely with the Director of Development, Head of Philanthropy, and senior volunteers appropriately to secure and steward.

• Work with the Head of Philanthropy to identify and cultivate a prospect pool of potential donors at all levels, including utilising the CRM, current low-level donors, stakeholder network mapping through the Board and Trustees, as well as prospects research of philanthropists with an active interest in education/ social mobility.

• Undertake prospect research across the spectrum of philanthropic income in collaboration with the Head of Philanthropy – including identification, due diligence, qualification, and creating briefings and outreach plans.

• Work with the Head of Alumni Engagement to proactively identify Sutton Trust alumni with the capacity and inclination to support our work, developing meaningful relationships, identifying relevant opportunities to deepen their connection to the Trust, and influencing alums to start and continue their giving journey.

• Work with the Head of Fundraising Operations and Head of Philanthropy to design, implement, and promote a low-level online giving journey, including automated stewardship activation.

• Supporting the Head of Philanthropy to implement a compelling legacy campaign.

• Work with colleagues across the Development team to identify, qualify, cultivate and secure prospects, using resources effectively where there are links between corporates, individuals, and trusts & foundations.

Account Management and Development

• Manage and grow the Trust’s Fellowship major donor scheme, creating meaningful, mutually beneficial and long-term relationships.

• Create meaningful and personalised donor plans for your portfolio, including reporting, regular written updates and in person meetings where appropriate.

• Working with the Director of Development and Head of Philanthropy to support the stewardship and management of the Board, and other major donors.

• Be accountable for achieving individual agreed income targets, looking for opportunities to grow funding and diversify philanthropic income.

• Support the Head of Philanthropy in developing high-quality Fellowship and philanthropy collateral and communications.

• Take responsibility for all elements of event management for individual donors, including creating, planning and managing events that create meaningful experiences for donors. This may include drinks receptions, small private dinners, panel events, and programme visits.

Fundraising, Line Management, Finance and Reporting

• Effectively line manage and coach the Philanthropy Assistant, supporting their development as a fundraiser.

• Work with colleagues to deliver impactful events to cultivate prospects and steward partners, with a focus on experience for individual supporters and prospects.

• Act as an ambassador for the Trust with external audiences, delivering presentations and providing expertise as required.

• Work with colleagues across Development and Finance to ensure accurate forecasting, income tracking, donor record keeping, and reporting for philanthropic income.

• Working closely with colleagues, provide philanthropy fundraising expertise to increase awareness of viable funding opportunities and develop organisational understanding of best practice when working with individual supporters.

• Ensure you and your line report appropriately follow policies and procedures on due diligence, Salesforce and data management, account management, stewardship, and reporting.

• Stay up to date with philanthropy fundraising best practice, embedding it across the Philanthropy team’s work, and keep abreast of developments and opportunities within the wider fundraising space.

• Other duties as necessary from time to time.

Person Specification

We welcome applications from individuals who have experience in:

• Experience building and managing donor relationships with individuals giving four-figures and above per annum in a philanthropy team or other fundraising capacity, and through structured giving schemes.

• Experience of all elements of the cultivation cycle, including prospect research via multiple sources, to develop a prospect pool of individual supporters.

• Experience of working with key senior colleagues across an organisation to secure major gifts and steward relationships, including making the ask for five-figure gifts.

• Experience of managing meaningful donor events and experiences, from concept to delivery.

• First-class interpersonal skills - a natural ambassador able to represent the Sutton Trust with gravitas and confidence in a range of settings.

• Excellent verbal and written communication, including the ability to write persuasive and engaging funding collateral, and to network with Sutton Trust stakeholders and donors to inspire and encourage giving.

• Experience of building or inputting into donor strategy and planning.

• Experience of managing line reports, including effective supervision, feedback and development.

• Experience with working with membership groups such as alumni, implementing online-giving schemes and supporting legacy campaigns (desirable).

• Strong analytical skills.

• Knowledge and experience of the education and/or not-for-profit sector.

• Knowledge of the UK fundraising environment, including trends in philanthropy and the different giving mechanisms utilised by individual donors (i.e. donor-advised funds, family foundations etc).

• Experienced at using Salesforce or other fundraising CRM software to accurately record funding relationships

We are also looking for an individual who:

• Sympathetic to the aims of the Trust and our mission to increase social mobility.

• High degree of initiative and the ability to take responsibility for a range of philanthropy fundraising activity.

• Strong communicator, skilled at persuading others through writing and conversation.

• Excellent attention to detail.

• Able to multi-task and prioritise multiple funder relationships.

• Able to work independently and as part of a team.

• Is eligible to work in the UK (see here for information about right to work)

Terms of Appointment

• Contract: Full-time, Permanent

• Salary: £42,025-£48,000

• Working location: Minimum of two office days per week. Our home working policy gives staff the option to work from home for up to 60% of the time, with approval from their line manager.

• Office location: The Sutton Trust, 9th Floor, Millbank Tower, 21-24 Millbank, London, SW1P 4QP

• Hours: The standard working hours are 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. This role is likely to also be required to attend events / meetings outside of normal working hours during weekday evenings and occasionally at weekends, in line with organisational policies.

Interviews

Applications should reach us by 10am, Monday 18th May, with first round interviews held with first round interviews held on Wednesday, 27th May, and second round interviews held on Tuesday, 2nd June. Both rounds will be held in our London office.

Safeguarding statement

The Sutton Trust believes that a child, young person or vulnerable adult should never experience abuse of any kind. We all have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and young people and to keep them safe. Therefore all posts undergo a safer recruitment process, including but not limited to, disclosure of criminal records where necessary and eligibility to work in the UK. We have procedures in place to promote safeguarding and a safe culture at the Trust.

Contextual recruitment

The Trust is committed to ensuring equality of opportunity and that all applicants receive equal consideration for employment. We strongly encourage individuals from all backgrounds, including those underrepresented at present at the Trust, to apply for this role. As such we particularly welcome applications from people with disabilities, Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic backgrounds, LGBTQ+ and from different socio-economic and educational backgrounds. We are committed to being an inclusive and welcoming place to work and know that greater diversity will lead to even greater results for the young people we support.

We are committed to providing reasonable adjustments for disabled candidates throughout our recruitment process and during employment.

We also operate contextual recruitment at the Sutton Trust. Our application process gives you the option to include information about your background, such as whether you were eligible for free school meals, whether your parents went to university, or whether you attended a state school. For more examples and information on contextual recruitment, please see our website.

An exciting opportunity to help turn a new national initiative into reality as it moves from planning into delivery. Over the next year, we will launch a new national Foundation Degree while building the foundations of a wider programme of work. In the initial phase, this role will focus on working locally with partners and participants in one or more locations to support recruitment, onboarding and preparation for launch, while also contributing to the wider programme build-out alongside a national team. As delivery begins, the role will transition into ongoing programme management across a cluster of delivery centres, leading high-quality delivery, participant experience and programme quality, and helping to build strong, sustainable centres over time.

The Sutton Trust believe that every young person deserves access to the skills, networks, and opportunities needed to pursue their dream career. We deliver a suite of employability focused programmes which offer young people enriching professional experience in their chosen industry, and the work of our Programmes Officer is essential to this mission.

The Programmes Officer will play an integral part in the Employability team to help deliver on these initiatives and the long-term aims of the organisation. This role will primarily support the delivery of Pathways Online and Access Apprenticeships (delivered both online and in person), currently covering the Law, Banking & Finance and Engineering sectors. The officer will support programmes in 2 of the 3 sectors highlighted.

This role will sit within the Employability team, which is a subdivision of the Programmes team, led by the Head of Employability. The role will be line managed by the Employability Programmes Manager.

Main duties

• Onboarding of new cohorts of students for our Pathways Online and Access Apprenticeships Programmes

• Delivering both online and in-person events for students across the programmes. Duties include presenting activities, organising logistics, providing technical support, and encouraging student engagement

• Be the main point of contact for students on the programme. Including leading on student comms (newsletter and info packs), responding to student enquiries and building relationships with beneficiaries to ensure that we are provide tailored and impactful support.

• Using student data to monitor engagement and develop strategies to enhance engagement and participation

• Maintaining and updating the Trust's CRM system (Salesforce) to ensure accurate beneficiary details and activity records.

• Arranging and booking of student travel for in person events and work experience placements

• Use our online platform (Sutton Trust Online) to drive student engagement through creating and updating content

• Liaising with external stakeholders such as universities and employers to support logistical and administrative elements of programme delivery

• Supporting on the creation of reports for funders and programme partners based on student engagement and feedback data

• Providing administrative support to the Sutton Trust team as required across our suite of employability programmes

• Responding to student facing inboxes and the Sutton Trust Helpdesk and phoneline to support with enquiries across the programmes team

• Actively working to foster a positive safeguarding culture within all aspects of work

• Other duties as necessary from time to time.

• There is also future potential for the role to expand, encompassing additional programmes and industries as the Trust continues to grow

Person Specification

We welcome applications from individuals who have experience in:

• Programme organisation and delivery, including planning, administration and logistics

• Delivering engaging events for young people, ideally including presentation or facilitation skills

• Providing guidance and support to beneficiaries on an ongoing basis

• Writing impactful copy for communications such as newsletters and/or digital content

• Managing data with CRM systems (e.g. Salesforce);

• Analysing engagement data to generate insights and improve programming

• Programme monitoring and evaluation, reporting, and administration;

• Working within or an understanding of the not for profit sector and/or the higher education sectors;

We are also looking for an individual who:

• Is confident in delivering both online and in person activities

• Has strong organisational skills and the ability to prioritise tasks

• Can build and maintain relationships with diverse stakeholder groups

• Has excellent interpersonal skills - a natural ambassador able to represent the Sutton Trust in a range of settings

• Is sympathetic to the aims of the Trust and its mission to address educational disadvantage

• Is eligible to work in the UK (see here for information about right to work)

Terms of Appointment

• Contract: Full-time, Permanent

• Salary: £32,000-£34,000

• Working location: Minimum of 2 office days per week

• Office location: The Sutton Trust, 9th Floor, Millbank Tower, 21-24 Millbank, London, SW1P 4QP. Our home working policy gives staff the option to work from home for up to 60% of the time, with approval from their line manager.

• Hours: The standard working hours are 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday and may also be required to attend events / meetings outside of their normal working hours during weekday evenings and occasionally at weekends

• DBS check may be required

Interviews

Applications should reach us by 23:59, Monday 4th May, with first round interviews held over Zoom on Wednesday, 13th May, and second round interviews held at our London offices on Wednesday, 20th May.

Safeguarding statement

The Sutton Trust believes that a child, young person or vulnerable adult should never experience abuse of any kind. We all have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and young people and to keep them safe. Therefore all posts undergo a safer recruitment process, including but not limited to, disclosure of criminal records where necessary and eligibility to work in the UK. We have procedures in place to promote safeguarding and a safe culture at the Trust.

Contextual recruitment

The Trust is committed to ensuring equality of opportunity and that all applicants receive equal consideration for employment. We strongly encourage individuals from all backgrounds, including those underrepresented at present at the Trust, to apply for this role. As such we particularly welcome applications from people with disabilities, Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic backgrounds, LGBTQ+ and from different socio-economic and educational backgrounds. We are committed to being an inclusive and welcoming place to work and know that greater diversity will lead to even greater results for the young people we support.

We are committed to providing reasonable adjustments for disabled candidates throughout our recruitment process and during employment.

We also operate contextual recruitment at the Sutton Trust. Our application process gives you the option to include information about your background, such as whether you were eligible for free school meals, whether your parents went to university, or whether you attended a state school. For more examples and information on contextual recruitment, please see our website.

The Chief Executive & Creative Director holds the most senior post at Dance City, unites the creative and strategic functions of the organisation, and is accountable to the board of trustees for the good management and impact of the charity. The Chief Executive & Creative Director leads and works collaboratively with the board, senior management team (SMT) and stakeholders and partners to ensure that Dance City creates opportunities for people to create, produce and experience dance at its very best. The Chief Executive & Creative Director drives the business, identifying commercial opportunities, securing financial resilience, and ensuring that Dance City’s programme is at the vanguard of sustainable dance development in the region. The Chief Executive & Creative Director is based in the northeast and plays an active role in the social life and cultural communities of the region. 
 

Role Profile and Person Specification 

Key deliverables 

• Lead on Dance City’s vision, values and organisational objectives and ensure the relevance and sustainability of its creative programme.

• Ensure there is alignment between Dance City’s creative ambitions and its business needs and that all activity is delivered to the highest possible standards to plan and within budget.

• Grow the organisation’s earned income and shape and set targets for initiatives embracing commercial ventures, corporate partnerships, public funding, trusts and foundations and individual philanthropy.

• Be accountable to the board and to funding bodies, and for the responsible stewardship of Dance City.

• Ensure a strong profile and reputation for the organisation and for dance practice locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. 

• Initiate, develop and sustain partnerships with existing and potential funders and key stakeholders. 

• Lead and enable the senior team; motivate, inspire, and support the development of the wider staff team.

Role profile 

Leadership and governance  

• Develop and monitor the strategic plan with the SMT and Board. 

• Work closely with the Chair and Trustees to ensure the good governance of the charity and that organisational performance is structured and monitored using well articulated, achievable KPIs. 

• Support Trustees in being an effective Board, ensuring it comprises the appropriate range of skills and has access to training and development opportunities.

• Deploy Trustees’ skills and networks to identify and activate opportunities for commercial development and business growth.

• Be an inclusive leader, collaborate with and empower the SMT, and motivate, support and develop the wider staff team. 

Advocacy, profile and civic engagement 

• Promote the profile and reputation of Dance City locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.

• Initiate and enable constructive debate about dance and its development by artists, policy-makers and the public, and to promote Dance City’s role in dance leadership.

• Articulate the transformative potential of dance in enabling social cohesion, the centrality of its place in the wider creative industries sector, and its potential, through civic partnerships and collaboration, to make a major contribution to the economy and well being of the city and region. 

• Ensure Dance City is part of local, regional, national  and international arts discussions and networks, is represented at key events and viewed as crucial to decision-making processes in the dance and wider cultural and social sectors.

• Be the face of Dance City in professional and community networks and at events in the northeast; communicate and advocate for its plans and ambitions to the widest range of people including politicians, the media, funders, artists, audiences and the public.

Creative 

• Shape, co-create and communicate the creative vision for Dance City. 

• Oversee the development and delivery of a creative programme which appeals to a wide range of audiences, demonstrates excellence, and sets out to grow appetite and demand for diverse dance experiences. 

• Build and manage sustainable commercial and funding partnerships which will enhance the profile of the programme and enable the commissioning, programming and presentation of dance within and beyond Dance City.

• Oversee the evaluation of the programme, to ensure quality, to engage in reflection and implement learning with colleagues.

• Maintain an overview of the local and national dance ecology in order to inform advocacy and planning.

Brand, commercial performance and income 

• Oversee the design and delivery of effective marketing and communications strategies that are developed and effectively delivered, to retain existing and grow new audiences for dance in the northeast and to promote the Dance City brand.

• Be proactive in the development and delivery of effective fundraising and income generation strategies for Dance City, to ensure that contributed income grows and is diversified, and to develop commercial opportunities enabled by the building and programme. 

• Play an active role in identifying and approaching prospective donors, sponsors and funding partners.

• Develop, maintain, and strengthen relationships with existing and potential supporters and to lead on key public funding and donor relationships.

Finance and operations  

• Be accountable for the financial operation of the organisation, ensuring budgets are set and monitored, appropriate financial policies and procedures are in place, compliance with appropriate legal and fiscal frameworks is followed, and that there is timely reporting to the relevant funders and authorities.

• Oversee and ensure the smooth and efficient management of Dance City’s facilities and infrastructure.

• Ensure Dance City remains a visible champion of environmental responsibility.

• Ensure the organisation is fully compliant with all legal requirements, including health and safety, and that all staff are trained appropriately. 

People and culture 

• Set the tone for and model the organisational culture, be an inclusive and consultative leader, championing employee wellbeing and engagement. 

• Ensure that appropriate policies and procedures are in place for recruitment, induction, appraisals and the professional development of staff.

• Ensure the organisation upholds its principles of equity, diversity and inclusion, valuing the wellbeing of all colleagues.

Person specification  

Essential  

• Has held a senior role in a cultural venue or within an organisation with a substantial arts programme or partnerships; is well networked in and beyond the cultural and creative industries. 

• Understanding of the current landscape and eco-system in the cultural sector and awareness of local/national political initiatives that will impact on - and create opportunities for - Dance City and its partner organisations.

• Understanding of the legal, fiscal, social and political context within which the arts operate, and the contribution they make to health, education, social cohesion and civic pride.

• Understanding of the needs of dance as an art form and a commitment to best practice and to promoting inclusion and equality of opportunity.

• An inclusive leader with experience of overseeing organisational transformation and managing change. 

• A track record in relationship building, working in partnership with a range of funders, agencies and organisations, and of successful fundraising and income generation from a range of sources. 

• A strong advocate and compelling storyteller, able to network, represent the organisation, communicate its vision and inspire confidence among existing and potential peers and stakeholders.

• Strong financial literacy and skills, knowledge of charity governance and relevant financial policies and procedures; experience of senior financial accountability.

• Experience of working effectively with a Board of Directors, understanding of best practice in governance and organisational development.

• A commitment to living in the region, able to travel nationally and internationally, and to work some evenings and weekends where there is reasonable expectation to attend events.

Desirable 

• Experience of running a building with a diverse and impactful arts programme. 

• An extensive network in the cultural sector. 

• Experience of significant national/international cultural partnership projects. 

• Experience of managing significant public investment programmes such as ACE NPO, Creative Scotland RFO or equivalent.

Equity, diversity and inclusion 

At Dance City we believe that voices and perspectives from a range of backgrounds and lived experiences make our understanding of the world and the arts more relevant.

We believe that difference is our strength.

Therefore we actively encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and those that are under-represented in our city and region and in dance leadership.