Senior management jobs

Job Purpose:

Women in Prison’s Project Workers deliver high-quality, trauma-informed, independent advocacy for women in communities and in prisons, which focuses on early intervention, and holistic provision as part of a ‘whole system’ multi-agency response that looks to address the root causes of women’s offending. The primary purpose of this role is to provide in-depth, ongoing support to a caseload of women in the community of Greater Manchester. 

Key Responsibility Areas:

1. Provide high-quality, trauma-responsive support to women in contact with, or at risk of contact with the criminal justice system. 
2. Monitor case management systems to ensure accurate and timely data recording, aligning with contract KPIs and WIP policies. 
3. Develop and maintain effective partnerships with statutory and voluntary sector services to ensure coordinated, multi-agency support for women. 
4. Contribute to organisational development and personal growth through innovation, self-care, and professional learning.

For the full job description, please download the recruitment pack.

Terms & Conditions:

Start date: TBC

Salary: £26,650 per annum

Location: Manchester & Trafford, based at the WomenMATTA women’s centre.

Working hours: 35 hours – Full time

Contract: Permanent

Shape the Future of a World-Renowned Institution.

Director of Development
Employer: King’s College, Cambridge
Salary: Starting salary in the region of £90,000 – £100,000 with scope to go beyond for a leading professional with outstanding experience and track record.
Location: Cambridge, UK

King’s College, Cambridge is embarking on the next chapter of its long and influential history and is seeking a Director of Development who can imagine, articulate and drive a bold philanthropic vision for the College.

For more than five centuries, King’s has been a place where ideas, discovery and creativity flourish. Its Chapel stands as one of Europe’s great architectural achievements; its Choir is recognised globally; its students and scholars have shaped culture, science and society. The College is now looking for a development leader who can help secure the resources that will enable it to thrive for generations to come.

Joining King’s at a moment of real momentum, you will build on the achievements of the recent £100 million campaign and design the next strategic phase of fundraising. This will include championing initiatives that broaden access, strengthen support for students, enhance academic excellence, and protect the unique historic fabric of the College.

You will have substantial experience in securing major gifts, a confident and motivating leadership style, and experience of cultivating deep, lasting relationships. A key member of the leadership team, you will work closely with a vibrant global community of alumni and build new partnerships with individuals and organisations who share King’s commitment to excellence, inclusivity, innovation and positive societal impact.

King’s is a place that encourages independent thought, creativity and meaningful contribution to society. Among our alumni are Nobel laureates, world-changing scholars, and trailblazers. Central to our mission is ensuring that exceptional students, whatever their background, can flourish.

As Director of Development, you will be elected to a Fellowship of the College, joining a vibrant, diverse and dynamic community. This position offers more than professional advancement - it represents a rare opportunity to make a lasting contribution to an institution whose commitment to education and innovation has shaped the world for over five centuries.

Closing date: Midnight on Sunday 1 February.

First round interviews are expected to be held the week of 23 February with second round interviews the week of 2 March 2026.

Interested?

Please familiarise yourself with the attached Candidate Pack.
To apply, please submit a CV and covering letter.

King’s College, Cambridge is partnering with Constellate Global Talent on this search. No agencies please.

Are you an experienced Public Affairs professional with a passion for dogs?

We’re looking for a Public Affairs Officer to support the important work we do to ensure policy makers consider dog welfare in their decision making.

What does this role do?

As Public Affairs Officer, you’ll:

• contribute to the delivery of our ambitious public affairs programme across Westminster and Whitehall, the devolved administrations and in the EU,
• support and occasionally lead on the organisation and coordination of political events, meetings, and project visits, as part of our programme of engagement with policy makers,
• support the management of the Pet Advertising Advisory Group (PAAG) and the EU Dog & Cat Alliance,
• establish and maintain positive relationships with key external stakeholders, including parliamentarians and civil servants.

Please note, this role is available as a fixed term contract until January 2027. Interviews for this role are provisionally scheduled for week commencing 9th February 2026, and will take place on Teams.

Could this be you?

To be successful in this role, you’ll need experience in parliamentary or public affairs, with a good understanding of the political landscape in the UK. You’ll also need excellent communication skills, with the ability to listen actively, negotiate and influence decision makers and strong written English, to draft clear and concise professional correspondence and communications. Above all, an interest in the aims and values of Dogs Trust is essential.

To apply for this position please click the APPLY NOW button. Our application process requires you submit a personal statement explaining your interest and suitability for the role.
 
Dogs are incredibly diverse, much like the humans that love them! At Dogs Trust we value diversity, and we're committed to fostering an inclusive culture. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, abilities, and cultures and believe that a diverse workforce helps us to achieve our mission. Our colleague networks give our people a voice, acting as vehicles for real and meaningful change within Dogs Trust. We truly want to see every candidate shine throughout the entire job application process, interview stages, and during their time with us. If there's anything on your mind or any adjustments you may need, don't hesitate to reach out to us. We're here to support you every step of the way.

Please note, Dogs Trust is a wholly independent organisation, free of association with any political party. Our independence is critical, as it allows us to pursue our mission to campaign on dog welfare issues, on behalf of the UK’s dogs and their owners. For our public affairs roles, the ability to display political neutrality in the public eye or when working with MPs is essential.

About the Role

The Law Society is seeking an experienced and visionary Head of Information and Cyber Security to lead their enterprise-wide security strategy. You will define and deliver the security roadmap, manage information and IT risk, and embed a strong security culture across the organisation. Reporting to the Executive Director of Technology & Change, you will act as a trusted adviser, translating complex risks into clear business terms and ensuring they remain secure, resilient, and agile.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for information and cyber security across the organisation.
• Define and implement the security roadmap, ensuring compliance with regulatory frameworks.
• Manage enterprise-wide security and IT risk, including risk registers, control testing, and executive reporting.
• Develop and embed a cross-organisation security awareness culture.
• Oversee security operations and incident response at a leadership level.
• Ensure robust business continuity, disaster recovery, and operational resilience frameworks.
• Design and manage security assurance and audit programmes.

About You

We’re looking for a proven security leader with:

• A track record in leading enterprise-level information security functions or programmes (Head of, Deputy CISO, or equivalent).
• Deep knowledge of governance, risk management, compliance, and frameworks such as ISO 27001, GDPR, Cyber Essentials, and NIST.
• Ability to balance security risk with business agility using a pragmatic, risk-based approach.
• Experience developing and embedding security awareness across an organisation.
• Strong expertise in cloud security (Azure, M365), data protection, identity & access management, and modern security tooling.
• Understanding of AI, automation, and emerging technology risk management.
• Leadership experience in security operations and incident response.
• Knowledge of business continuity, disaster recovery, and operational resilience frameworks.
• Experience designing and managing security assurance and audit programmes.

Why Join Us?

This is a unique and exciting opportunity to shape the security posture of a leading professional body, ensuring resilience and trust in their systems and services. You’ll work at the heart of the Technology & Change function, influencing strategy and enabling innovation.

Closing date – 1st February 2026

Interviews – w/c 2nd February 2025

We are Recruiting for Development Officers in Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Lancashire. 

Join Inclusive North to deliver The Phoenix Way programme and help drive meaningful, community-led change. As a Development Officer, you’ll play a vital role in growing partnerships, strengthening funding opportunities, and amplifying the voices of marginalised communities.

This is an exciting opportunity to work within a collaborative organisation where innovation and impact sit at the heart of everything we do. You’ll support partnership development, coordinate projects, and contribute to capacity-building activities that ensure the long-term sustainability and growth of TPW’s mission. Working closely with a passionate team and diverse stakeholders, you’ll help shape initiatives that create lasting social impact and strengthen local funding ecosystems.

If you’re motivated by purpose, thrive in collaborative environments, and want your work to make a real difference, this role offers the chance to grow, lead, and contribute to meaningful change.

We are recruiting for: 

X1 FTE Development Officer in Lancashire (Inclusive North)

X2 FTE Development Officers in Greater Manchester. (GMECN)

X1 FTE Development Officer for Merseyside & Cheshire (One Knowsley) 

The aplication window is open unti 2nd February, but we hold the option to close the window earlier depending on the number of applicants.

What We Offer: 

Salary of £32,115 

Pension: 5% Contribution 

How to Apply?

Please send your CV, along with a covering letter, no more than 2 sides of A4 (Font Size: 12) OR:​​

A CV or a short video (no longer than 5 minutes long) answering the following question:

​ What excites you most about this role, and how is it directly connected to your skills and experience? (Consider the requirements of the specification, as found below.

About the role

At The Brilliant Club, we mobilise the PhD community to support students from less advantaged backgrounds to access the most competitive universities and succeed when they get there. We work with students who, because of their family income, parental history or the postcode they live in, are at risk of missing out on the life-changing opportunities linked to higher education.

We are delighted to be hiring a Research and Evaluation Consultancy Lead to join The Brilliant Club. This pivotal role will drive the charity’s research and evaluation consultancy work through Brilliant Consulting. Through our consultancy work, we have partnered with a range of universities and education organisations, such as the Centre for Transforming Access and Student Outcomes in Higher Education (TASO) and The Sutton Trust.

The Consultancy Lead will provide research and evaluation services to universities and other education organisations working in the university access, student success and wider education space. This role will work alongside a Senior Research and Evaluation Officer to deliver high-quality consultancy projects and will report to the charity’s Director of Research and Impact. The role will involve collaborating with different teams from across the organisation and will include coordinating and managing colleagues on consultancy activities.  The role will also contribute significantly to business development work to support the charity’s income generation.

The consultancy team is part of the charity’s wider research and impact team, who collectively have two areas of responsibility: evaluating and reporting the impact of the charity’s programmes and providing research and evaluation consultancy and strategy support to education organisations.

The successful candidate will have strong quantitative and qualitative research skills and have a proven track record of delivering evaluation projects in education or a related field. They will be highly experienced with managing stakeholder relationships and delivering concurrent projects and, ideally, will have also contributed to bid writing and/or other income-generation activities. While this role can be based at any of our offices throughout the UK, some travel will be required (mainly to London) to attend in-person meetings.

The Head of HR at the Donmar Warehouse will partner with stakeholders across the organisation to support an excellent standard of staff management, welfare and engagement. Using proven skills and experience in HR generalism, recruitment and organisation design, the role will support the overarching strategy of the Donmar with a fit for purpose HR business plan and manage the full employee lifecycle.

The role will deliver on all aspects of HR operations, using a blended approach of staff welfare and culture with compliance and due diligence to keep our people and our organisation safe and thriving. The standalone role encompasses the full lifecycle of HR activity which includes business partner and business planning, through to administration and support of relevant workflows. The post works closely with the Head of Inclusion and Skills to ensure our training programmes are relevant, effective and embedded.

Terms: 30 hours worked across 4 out of 5 weekdays per week

Salary: £55,000 37.5 FTE (this would be pro rata for 30 hours a week)

Applications Currently Scheduled to Close at 10am on Monday 9 February

Round One Interviews: Monday 16 February and Tuesday 17 February

Round Two Interviews: Tuesday 24 February

Ideal start date: end of March/early April (please contact us if you have any questions about this)

We would ideally like a candidate who can start in post at the end of March/early April. We will consider applicants who are available for a staggered start or significant handover if not available at this exact time.

We reserve the right to close the advert early if we receive enough suitable candidates to shortlist and may recruit on a rolling basis.

As an interim Supervising Solicitor in Public Law, you will supervise and carry out CPAG’s public law legal aid cases, to benefit families and children in poverty. You will play an active role in managing CPAG’s legal practice and conduct high-profile public law litigation. 

We are looking for someone who is passionate about using the law to advocate for the rights of, and directly improve the lives of, families in poverty. The ideal candidate will be a solicitor (E&W qualified) with experience of conducting public law litigation and legal aid (publicly funded) work. You will be able to supervise the casework of colleagues, such as CPAG’s junior or trainee solicitor(s) and welfare benefit advisers. You may have experience of working with clients in vulnerable situations or with additional needs, for example, survivors of domestic abuse, refugees, disabled people or children and young people.

We welcome applications from individuals with the skills and experience outlined and we can be flexible about working arrangements. We operate a hybrid working system and would be happy to discuss any flexibilities required. CPAG is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion which you can read more about in the job pack. 

We welcome applications on a secondment basis.

For more information about this post and to apply download the Supervising Solicitor - Public Law (Interim)

At Ambitious about Autism, we're currently looking for a Site Assistant to join our team at TreeHouse School.

You'll support the Estates Manager in maintaining a safe, secure and well-presented school environment. The role includes carrying out caretaking, cleaning and minor maintenance tasks, assisting with site security and supporting the smooth running of school activities and events.

You'll ensure the school grounds are clean, safe and well-maintained including litter-picking and daily visual checks of the playground and their equipment, recording this on SafetyCulture with evidence. You'll undertake minor repairs as needed and carry out day-to-day caretaking and cleaning duties as directed by the Estates Manager.

You will have:

• Practical skills in cleaning, basic maintenance and repair work
• Knowledge of IT and the ability to access databases to record information accurately
• Awareness of health and safety procedures and ability to apply regulations such as Manual Handling, COSHH, Water Hygiene etc
• Ability to organise workload and complete tasks to a high standard

In return, we offer great benefits including a generous holiday allowance and commitment to continued professional development (CPD) and more!

This is a fantastic opportunity for an ambitious individual who would like to work for a forward-thinking, open and honest organisation and make a real impact to the young people we work with. Please find our full recruitment pack on the link below.

If you have any questions about the role or would like to have a confidential chat, please contact.

Ambitious about Autism is committed to fostering equity, diversity, and inclusion at every level of our organisation. We warmly welcome applications from all qualified candidates, valuing the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives they bring. We encourage applications from individuals regardless of race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or parental status, disability, or age.

Our recruitment process promotes equal opportunities, and we are committed to providing reasonable adjustments for candidates with disabilities or additional needs throughout the recruitment process. Please contact our Recruitment Team for accommodations. We recognise disability as a physical or mental impairment that significantly and long-term affects a person's ability to perform day-to-day activities, as defined by the UK Equality Act 2010. All applications will be considered solely on merit, aligned with our mission to support autistic children and young people.

Ambitious about Autism is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and successful candidates will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check. As part of our Safer Recruitment checks, an online search maybe carried out in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education.

The Safeguarding responsibilities of the post as per the job description and personal specification.
Whether the post is exempt from the rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendment to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2021. This means that when applying for certain jobs and activities certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected', so they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. Further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS Filter Guidance.

Trusts and Foundations Coordinator

Manchester or Remote from the UK

Starting salary for this position is £34,572 per annum (plus contributory pension)

About MAG:

MAG (Mines Advisory Group) is an international humanitarian organisation based in Manchester, UK, and working in 32 countries. We remove landmines and unexploded ordnance to release safe and productive land for communities, and work to reduce the threat of armed violence by supporting governments to safely manage weapons and ammunition. In 1997, MAG was a co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize for our work campaigning for the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention.

About the role:

MAG stands at an extraordinary moment of global recognition having just been awarded the 2025 Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize. With growing visibility and access to new philanthropic networks and opportunities, you will have the opportunity to build on our success and support the organisation in seeking and securing large, multi-year gifts. As Trusts and Foundations Coordinator, you will provide exceptional relationship management and support of our active grants and donors and identify and secure new funding opportunities in an increasingly challenging landscape. You will do this by composing timely and high-quality cases of support and written proposals for key projects, developing impact reports and ensuring stellar stewardship and relationship management to maximise opportunities, uplift gifts, and secure income for MAG. This is a key fundraising position with line management responsibility where you can meaningfully enable our lifesaving work around the world.

About you:

You will have a passion for trust and foundation fundraising and bring proven experience in generating income, as well as experience of writing compelling proposals to a high standard, building long term relationships with donors and key stakeholders and reporting to funders on the impact of their support.

You will be flexible and agile in your working style and able to support all income streams and new lines of business. You should have exceptional communication skills, with the ability to translate complex information into compelling cases for support. Additionally, you will have a proven track record of writing successful bids and securing four and five figure gifts and multi-year support. 

We’re looking for someone with:

• Strong experience of working in a trust and foundation fundraising role.

• Proven track record of writing successful bids and of securing four and five figure gifts and multi-year grants.

• Exceptional written communication skills, with the ability to translate complex information into compelling cases for support. 
• Strong relationship management skills, with experience building and maintaining effective relationships with funders and senior stakeholders. 

Further information and how to apply:

For the further information on the role, the application pack and details of how to apply, please visit the MAG website

by the closing date of Sunday 8th February 2026.

This role is based in the UK, therefore, a pre-existing right to work in the UK is a requirement and MAG will not be able to sponsor visa applications. Please note that if you have not declared your right to work in the UK on your application, we will not be able to consider you for this role.

Please note that as part of MAG's commitment to safeguarding, this post is subject to background checks before an offer of employment is confirmed. For more information on MAG’s approach to safeguarding and background checks please consult our website. 

You can also find more information in the candidate information pack, available on our website.

MAG is committed to the principles of diversity, equality and inclusion. If you think you would be suited to one of our roles we would welcome your application regardless of your background. We strive to provide an inclusive and supportive working environment where all employees feel respected and supported in fulfilling their potential.

We are happy to receive flexible working and job share requests in your application. If you are applying with an existing job share partner please see the candidate information sheet for further guidance.

Media and News Lead

Location: London

Salary: £67,674.55

12 month fixed-term contract

Full-Time, 35  hours per week

About the Role:

Want to put the issues that matter to working people at the centre of the national conversation? Ready to help shape the stories that dominate the news agenda?

We are looking for a dynamic comms professional to join its busy press office.

In this fast-paced role you’ll develop and deliver media plans across print, digital and broadcast. You’ll jump on breaking news, turn complex issues into crisp copy and deliver press releases, quotes and op-eds that land.

You’ll help keep the General Secretary and senior leaders firmly in the spotlight with a strong, positive media profile.

You’ll also team up with policy, campaigns and social colleagues to shape compelling stories, build journalist relationships and find the case studies that bring our campaigns to life.

You’ll need:

• Experience in a busy press office or a newsroom
• Outstanding writing skills and sharp news judgement
• Strong knowledge of UK print, broadcast and digital media
• The ability to work at pace and respond quickly to events
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• An understanding of key policy issues and the political landscape
• Knowledge of trade unions and commitment to our values, equality and antiracism
• Willingness to take part in an out-of-hours media rota and occasional overnight stays

Why Join Us?

Here, you'll be at the heart of the trade union movement, helping shape and deliver events that make a national impact.

You’ll work with passionate colleagues in a fast-paced, values-driven environment where your expertise and leadership will be recognised and valued.

Further information

The closing date for completed applications for this post is midday on Monday 2 February.

Interviews will take place on the week commencing Monday 16 February 2026.

We value a diverse workforce and welcomes applications from all sections of the community and from within and outside of the trade union movement.

We welcome applications from any candidate but are particularly keen to receive applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates, who are underrepresented at this grade. Therefore, if you’re BME and are interested in the post, we invite you to join an online briefing at 1 pm, on Wednesday 28 January about the post, and ask questions of the recruiting manager. 

We operate an anonymised recruitment process and names are not included during shortlisting. We don’t ask for details of educational institutions attended.

To view the job description and person specification, guidance on completing your application and our terms and conditions, please visit our online application portal.

Closing date: 2nd February 2026

Shortlist date: 3rd February 2026

Interview date: Week commencing Monday 16th February 2026

About the opportunity 

This is an exhilarating time for Advancement as we have recently embarked on our second comprehensive campaign. Your leadership will be vital in cultivating complex relationships with high-net-worth individuals, industry collaborators, and innovative organisations, building a vibrant ecosystem of supporters committed to advancing science, technology, engineering, maths and business.

The Director of Development, STEM and Business is a senior role in the team, responsible for growth of the University’s fundraising program within the University’s Faculty of Science, Faculty of Engineering and the University of Sydney Business School.

Building on several established relationships and a strong trajectory of major philanthropic gifts, this position will establish, manage and nurture relationships with existing and potential donors for the STEM and Business portfolios.

Working closely with academic leadership, this position is also charged with growing a culture of philanthropy across the Faculty and schools to increase awareness of and engagement with the fundraising process.

You will bring a wealth of experience in major gift fundraising, a proven track record of closing gifts, and a strategic mind adept at navigating complex stakeholder environments. You will be a creative, inspiring leader, motivating and developing a team of development professionals dedicated to achieving bold goals.

The following overview of Activities and Accountabilities are designed to deliver outcomes aligned with the University’s strategic goals:

• Demonstrated success in closing multi-million dollar gifts and meeting stretch financial targets.

• Ability to think strategically and provide robust, tactical advice on fundraising strategy.

• Current knowledge of best practices in development.

• Expert influencing skills and the demonstrated ability to coordinate and optimise outcomes from competing objectives across the institution through collaboration, negotiation and priority setting to mitigate internal competition.

• Proven leadership experience with the ability to mentor, inspire and motivate a group of ambitious and goal-oriented professionals.

• Proven ability to present complex information in a clear and compelling manner in writing and in person.

• Demonstrated success in establishing, cultivating and maintaining high-level, strong relationships with influential donors.

• Experience building collaborative working relationships with colleagues and senior leadership to achieve the organisation’s goals.

• Relevant tertiary qualifications would be beneficial.

About us

The Advancement Portfolio team at the University of Sydney is the most successful fundraising program in Australian higher education. Having completed the nation’s first $1BN fundraising campaign and recently launched on the next, the team is not only the finest performing, its success facilitates the largest real-world impact that philanthropic giving makes possible.

Since its inception 175 years ago, the University of Sydney has led to improve the world around us. We believe in education for all and that effective leadership makes lives better. These same values are reflected in our approach to philanthropy and underpin our long-term strategy for excellence and growth. We’re Australia's first university and have an outstanding global reputation for academic and research excellence.

Why us

When you join the University of Sydney, you become an integral part of a community in which you are fully supported to achieve your career ambitions. You’ll be in a workplace where development is encouraged, and intellectual pursuits foster a sense of purpose and confidence including:

• 35-hour work week

• flexible working model

• up to 36 weeks paid parental leave.

• tax-efficient salary packaging options

• ongoing training and development in-house and external

• subsidised parking on campus

• access to Relocation Assistance and sponsorship if needed

Note for candidates from overseas

• The University will cover costs and travel for the final shortlisted candidate interviews.

• We will also assist with a temporary visa for this position, assist with immigration and family relocation costs

Closing date: 11:59pm Tuesday 27th January 2026

EEO statement

At the University of Sydney, our shared values include diversity and inclusion and we strive to be a place where everyone can thrive. We are committed to creating a University community which reflects the wider community that we serve. We deliver on this commitment through our people and culture programs, as well as key strategies to increase participation and support the careers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, women, people living with a disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and those who identify as LGBTIQ. We welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds.
 

If you are passionate about the power of philanthropy to impact the future of research and education, and if you seek a rewarding opportunity to inspire change across multiple sectors, we would be delighted to hear from you. Join us in shaping a legacy that will benefit generations to come, in a vibrant university renowned for its innovation, diversity, and opportunities.

Pre-employment checks
Your employment is conditional upon the completion of all role required pre-employment or background checks in terms satisfactory to the University. Similarly, your ongoing employment is conditional upon the satisfactory maintenance of all relevant clearances and background check requirements. If you do not meet these conditions, the University may take any necessary step, including the termination of your employment.

How to apply
Applications (including a cover letter, CV, and any additional supporting documentation) can be submitted via the Apply button at the top of the page.

For employees of the University or contingent workers, please login into your Workday account and navigate to the Career icon on your Dashboard. Click on USYD Find Jobs and apply.

For a confidential discussion about the role, or if you require reasonable adjustment or any documents in alternate formats, please contact, Sarah Scott, Recruitment Operations.

© The University of Sydney

The University reserves the right not to proceed with any appointment.

The Vacancy

Job Title: Head of Fundraising, YMCA Essex

Location: Chelmsford

Salary: £55,000 per annum

Weekly Hours: 35

Reference: YMC1154754

Make a lasting impact with YMCA Essex.
We’re embarking on an exciting journey to redevelop our iconic Victoria Road site — creating a vibrant community space that transforms lives. To make this vision a reality, we’re seeking a dynamic Head of Fundraising to lead the generation of income across multiple streams and help shape the future of our organisation.

About the Role
As Head of Fundraising, you’ll play a pivotal role in delivering YMCA Essex’s income generation strategy, ensuring sustainable and diverse funding for our redevelopment project and wider community initiatives. Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, you’ll bring creativity, strategic thinking, and drive to build meaningful partnerships and deliver strong results.

You’ll lead on securing income from a variety of sources including trusts and foundations, corporate partners, major donors, legacies, community fundraising, and social enterprise. With ambitious targets and a clear vision, you’ll identify new opportunities, manage risks, and ensure a healthy return on investment.

This role will also see you collaborate across teams - engaging staff, residents, volunteers and community supporters in our mission. You’ll be a visible and inspiring leader, fostering a culture of energy, growth, and shared purpose.

About You

You are seeking an opportunity where there’s space and scope to build something amazing from the ground up. This means you’ll almost certainly be an experienced fundraiser or income generation professional who thrives on building relationships and achieving results. You’ll combine strategic insight with hands-on delivery and bring a proven track record of meeting ambitious income targets for capital projects.

Key qualities include:

Experience in one or more of the following: trusts and foundations, corporate partnerships, major gifts, or community fundraising.

Strong, pragmatic communication and stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to engage senior leaders, donors, and partners.

The ability to innovate, plan strategically, and manage competing priorities effectively.

A commitment to YMCA Essex’s core values of Kindness, Fairness, Professionalism, Perseverance, and Joy.

Why Join Us?
At YMCA Essex, we believe in creating opportunities for everyone to thrive. You’ll be joining a passionate, supportive team driven by a shared purpose - to strengthen our community and change lives for the better.

If you’re ready to bring energy, expertise, and vision to this transformative project, we’d love to hear from you.

Apply today and be part of something extraordinary.

Our recruitment process is anonymised and candidates' names are hidden. We welcome and encourage job applications from people of all backgrounds. Safer recruitment is important to us and the successful applicant will be asked to provide two references. They will also be required to complete a safeguarding self-declaration, safeguarding training and undertake a DBS check.

Job title: Programme Assistant, Enquiries 

Line manager: Team Leader, Enquiries (Senior Officer, Enquiries in Team Leader’s absence) 

Salary: £30,000 

Type of contract: Permanent 

Start date: 16th February 2026 or shortly thereafter 

Benefits: 

• Challenging and rewarding work, always life-changing, sometimes lifesaving 

• Competitive salary 

• Team and individual training opportunities 

• Commitment to performance and personal development 

• Hybrid working, home and office (minimum 2 days each week in the office) 

• Eight hours each day Monday – Friday, with flexible working by arrangement around core hours of 10am – 4pm 

• 25 days plus Bank Holidays annual leave entitlement 

• 8% employer pension contribution 

• Convenient office location at Elephant and Castle, close to Tube (Bakerloo and Northern lines) and bus routes 

Role purpose statement: The Programme Assistant, Enquiries plays a vital role in the Fellowship Programme working directly with academics facing immediate risk in their home countries to carry out due diligence or signposting. This includes managing an individual caseload, dealing with prospective applications and general enquiries, providing administrative support to the Enquiries team as well as support across the Fellowship Programme when needed. 

Organisational Background 

The Council for At-Risk Academics is a UK-registered charity founded in 1933 under the leadership of William Beveridge, to rescue academics suffering persecution under the rise of Nazism and facilitate their continued work in safety. Sixteen Cara Fellows from the 1930s and 1940s became Nobel Laureates, and many more innovators in their fields, including, Nikolaus Pevsner, Lise Meitner and Karl Popper. A number of Cara’s founders and Council members also personally provided places and/or funds to help individual academics; and Cara, known in the 1930s as the AAC, later the SPSL, was closely involved in the successful effort in 1933 to bring to London the Warburg Institute art library, which had been prohibited by the Nazis, and six of its staff. The Fellowship Programme is the continuation of the rescue mission operation started in 1933. 

Cara has been a lifeline to academics at risk for over 90 years, as and when world events have placed them in the line of fire: Hungarian Uprising, Cold War, Apartheid South Africa, Iran, Latin American Juntas, Vietnam, Kosovo, DRC, Rwanda, Sudan, Zimbabwe etc. and, more recently Iraq, Turkey, Yemen, Palestine, Syria, Afghanistan and Ukraine. Cara support is typically framed as temporary sanctuary offered at times of heightened risk. 

Cara Objectives ‘To assist academics who have been, or are, or are at risk of being, subject to discrimination, persecution, suffering or violence on account of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion, to relieve needs among them and their dependants and ensure that their specialist knowledge and abilities can continue to be used for the benefit of the public.’ 

‘To advance education by supporting academics and their educational institutions in countries where their continuing work is at risk or compromised, to ensure that such academics and institutions can continue to fulfil their critical role as educators for the public benefit.’ 

This is a critical time to join our dedicated and friendly Fellowship Programme team as we expand our capacity to support at-risk academics from the Middle East, Sudan, Myanmar, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Russia and many other countries. 

Role & Responsibilities  

Casework  

• Signposting prospective applicants to the application form. 

• Manage own caseload, preparing cases for eligibility review, including arranging calls to speak with applicants, booking English language tests, and gathering all relevant documentation.

• Escalating complex cases to the Team Leader as required. 

• Maintain accurate and GDPR-Compliant records of casework activity. 

• Researching international affairs to develop understanding about risks applicants face. 

• Researching potential hosts for academic placements and liaising with external stakeholders in relation to applicants. 

• Attend weekly case review meetings with the team. 

Administration   

• Provide general administrative and logistical support, including answering phone enquiries. 

• Manage the general enquiries inbox, alongside another colleague, answering emails about the enquiries’ process, the Fellowship Programme and Cara. 

• Signpost enquiries to relevant colleagues internally and to other organisations where applicable. 

• Contribute to report writing. 

• Present and collect data on general enquiries and applications to the Programme. 

• Ensure safekeeping of confidential information. 

• Maintain excellent detailed records of correspondence, documents, and activities. 

• Provide administrative support to colleagues on projects as required.

Managerial Support  

• Contributing to Fellowship Programme policy changes and decision-making. 

• Provide advice and guidance to colleagues. 

Ad Hoc Responsibilities  

• Show adaptability and willingness to take on additional work when necessary. 

• Support the Fellowship Programme and Cara as a whole with ad hoc responsibilities.

Responsibilities also include related activities that might arise in relation to the Fellowship Programme as required by the Chief Executive and Deputy Chief Executive & Fellowship Programme Manager, and other senior colleagues. 

Person Specification 

Essential:  

• Bachelor’s degree 

• Fluent English (spoken and written) 

• Proactive with a willingness to learn 

• Confident and empathetic with strong interpersonal and communication skills 

• Ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment 

• Keen team player who is ready to support and help colleagues 

• Excellent record keeping and attention to detail 

• Ability to work independently and in a team 

• Good time management with ability to prioritise and independently work to deadlines 

• Understanding of issues of confidentiality

• Interest in and commitment to the work of Cara 

• Confident use of Microsoft package 

• Awareness of current global issues

• Ability to handle difficult conversations with sensitivity and resilience 

Desirable 

• Master’s or equivalent experience 

• Casework experience 

• Arabic language skills are desirable. Other foreign languages (such as Farsi/Dari, Pashto, Ukrainian and Russian) will also be considered 

• Salesforce/CRM software experience 

• Experience in a supporting role with people with lived experience of forced migration or other forms of severe adversity