Strategic design lead jobs in Manchester
How's your job search on our site?
You will be part of a high performing team to drive impact and change within the Special Olympics GB networks. You will provide both operational and strategic input and support to grow robust safeguarding policies, procedures and framework for our membership across Great Britain, those in the National Office team, and other stakeholders. You will be accountable for driving a positive and effective safeguarding culture across Special Olympics GB.
Please see Recruitment Pack and Job Description for further information.
To apply, please send a covering letter (maximum 2 pages) explaining why you wish to apply for this role. It is important that all prospective candidates understand our mission and are driven by our cause. Referring to the role description, please be specific about how your skills and experience will help you undertake this role. Generic letters will not be considered.
We are Special Olympics GB. We are Inclusion in Action.



The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Do you have a track record of delivering outstanding fundraising results? Do you have the drive, passion and commitment to develop and lead fundraising campaigns that ultimately help young people succeed? We are looking for a fundraising professional to lead the alumni and fundraising activities at the BRGS Fundraising Trust, a charity connected to Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School.
About Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School
Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School is a mixed secondary grammar school and sixth form for 11 to 18 year olds in Waterfoot, Lancashire. We joined Star Academies in 2023 and, like all Star schools, we have a leadership specialism.
We provide a knowledge-based academic curriculum alongside a rich and diverse leadership programme that grows character and inspires charitable and social action. Our pursuit of educational excellence is based upon our fundamental belief that every pupil has the capacity to become a successful and inspirational leader.
Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School has a charitable foundation, the BRGS Fundraising Trust, that raises and distributes funding to support Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School pupils. It exists to expand opportunities and improve outcomes for all pupils at the school, with a particular focus on supporting those with additional barriers to success, such as pupils from lower‑income families.
Who we’re looking for
We’re looking for a talented individual to lead the development of fundraising and alumni engagement for the BRGS Fundraising Trust. Your expertise will secure the support of our community to continue to provide an outstanding learning environment for our young people.
The successful candidate will be a proactive leader with strong fundraising knowledge and skills. You will have extensive experience of delivering fundraising projects and campaigns, preferably in education contexts, with proven ability to develop relationships with alumni, parents and other donors.
The successful candidate will be employed by Star Academies and will deliver the fundraising strategy for the school and charity.
You will have:
- A degree or equivalent professional experience.
- Experience in fundraising through individual giving and major donors.
- Experience cultivating and stewarding major donors and senior stakeholders.
- Understanding of effective fundraising practice and donor stewardship.
- Knowledge of alumni relations and community engagement strategies.
About Star Academies
Star Academies is a high-performing multi-academy trust that runs more than 30 primary and secondary schools. We are a values-based organisation that works to improve the life chances of young people in areas of social and economic deprivation to help them succeed at the highest levels of education, employment and the professions. Every single day you’ll be rewarded with the opportunity to shape a young person’s future - our STAR values embody what we believe is needed to succeed.
Professional development is key to our ongoing success, so we continually invest in our employees through our professional development hub, Star Talent Academy. With a wealth of training, mentoring and progression opportunities across a large, growing group of academies, joining our team of leading education experts could propel your career to the next level.
We can also offer you a range of rewards and benefits, including competitive salaries and pension schemes, generous holiday entitlements and healthcare cash plans.
Find out more
This role is full time, however we are open to requests for part-time working, with a minimum of 3 days a week.
At least 50% of the role will be on site at Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School, with the remaining proportion undertaken remotely if preferred by the postholder.
Please download the job description and person specification below for further information about the role. For an informal and confidential discussion about the role, please contact the school.
Key Dates
Closing Date: Sunday, 12 April 2026 at midnight.
Interview Date: Thursday, 30 April 2026.
Proposed Start Date: Monday, 1 June 2026.
Application Process
To apply for this vacancy please use the 'Apply for job' link below. You should ensure your application form and supporting statement address all elements of the person specification. We will only consider candidates who meet the vast majority of the essential criteria outlined in the person specification.
Our Commitment
Star Academies is committed to safeguarding, safer recruitment and promoting the welfare of pupils. Our comprehensive recruitment and selection processes aim to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants. Successful candidates are subject to rigorous pre-employment checks.
We are equally committed to eliminating discrimination and encouraging diversity. We aim for our workforce to be representative of society and that each employee feels respected and able to give their best. We are committed to providing equality and fairness in our recruitment and employment practices and not to discriminate on any grounds. We oppose all forms of unlawful and unfair discrimination.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Contract Type: Fixed Term until 31/01/2028
Location: London, Birmingham or Manchester only - hybrid working 40-60% of your week in the office
1st stage interviews: 31/03 in our South London Centre
2nd stage interviews: 08/04 in our Birmingham Centre
We’re looking for a dynamic Strategic Programme Lead to drive one of the most ambitious periods of change in our organisation’s history. As we redesign our business model and deliver against our 2025–2030 strategy, you’ll turn big‑picture ambition into clear, actionable plans that help us create long‑term, sustainable impact for young people across the UK.
In this pivotal role, you’ll lead our business model transformation programme, bringing clarity to complexity, navigating ambiguity, and ensuring progress at pace. You’ll work closely with senior leaders, build strong relationships across the organisation, and translate strategic insight into phased delivery plans that truly shift how we operate. From facilitating leadership workshops to testing new models and monitoring impact, you’ll be at the heart of shaping how The King’s Trust works today and evolves for tomorrow.
If you excel at turning strategy into action and want your work to fuel real organisational progress, we’d love to hear from you. We welcome applications from people with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences - what matters most is your ability to provide strategic leadership, work collaboratively across complex environments, and help drive meaningful change for the young people we support.
What happens next?
Please submit a CV and Cover Letter that includes your experience, transferable skills and motivation to work for The King's Trust! The Team will be in touch about the next steps shortly after the closing date.
Why do we need a Strategic Programme Lead?
Last year, we helped more than 40,000 Young People, with three in four young people on our programmes moving into a positive outcome in work, education or training. The young people we help face a range of challenges, such as unemployment, mental health issues or some who have been in trouble with the law. We believe all young people should have the chance to succeed, and that young people are the key to a positive and prosperous future for all of us. We want to continue having a positive impact on young people’s lives, and we couldn’t do this without the important work of our Strategic Programme Lead!
Perks for working at The Trust!
- Great holiday package! 30 days annual leave entitlement, plus bank holidays. Office closure on the days between Christmas and New Year
- Flexible working! Where operationally possible, our roles require a combination of office days and working from home (please speak to the hiring manager about this particular role)
- You can volunteer for and/or attend events – The King's Trust Awards, Pride, active events, etc.
- In-house learning platform! Develop your skills for your career and your role
- Benefits platform! Everything from health and financial well-being support to discounts on your favourite restaurants, shops and cinemas.
- Personal development opportunities through our Networks – KT CAN (Cultural Awareness Network), KT GEN (Gender Equality Network), KT DAWN (Disability & Wellbeing Network), and PULSE (LGBTQIA+ Network).
- Fantastic Family leave! Receive 13 weeks of full pay and 13 weeks of half pay for maternity and adoption leave. Receive 8 weeks of full pay for paternity leave.
- Interest-free season ticket loans
- The Trust will contribute 5% of your salary to the Trust Pension Scheme
- Generous life assurance cover (4 x annual salary)
We believe that every young person should have the chance to succeed, no matter their background or the challenges they are facing.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Join the Fire Fighters Charity as our Volunteering Manager and lead the development of a dynamic, inclusive volunteering programme that supports the wellbeing of the UK’s fire services community.
You’ll shape and deliver our national volunteering strategy, design an exceptional volunteer journey, build strong relationships, and ensure volunteers feel supported, valued and inspired. Working across teams, you’ll embed volunteering into our services, champion best practice and use insight to drive continuous improvement.
We’re looking for someone who:
· Has strong experience in volunteer management and volunteer strategy implementation
· Brings strategic thinking with hands‑on delivery
· Builds great relationships and influences at all levels
· Understands safeguarding, data protection and inclusive practice
· Is passionate about creating positive, impactful volunteer experiences
If you want a role with purpose and the chance to make a genuine difference, we’d love to hear from you.
Apply now and help us grow a thriving volunteer community.
We offer specialist, lifelong support for members of the UK fire services community, empowering individuals to live happier and healthier lives



The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Job Title: Assistant Director of Philanthropy & Strategic Partnership
Reporting To: Deputy CEO/Director of Fundraising and Communications
Manages: Head of Trusts and Foundations, Head of Corporate Partnerships
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full time (36 hours per week, flexible)
Salary band: £58,000 - £66,000 per annum
N.B. To ensure fairness and consistency across Home-Start UK, new colleagues usually join at the first point of the pay band for their role. This helps us maintain a clear and equitable approach to pay for everyone joining our team.
Location: Remote – with regular travel to meetings with donors, for events and to our central office in Leicester for collaborative meetings and team activities.
About Home-Start UK
Home-Start is a federated charity consisting of a central national office – Home-Start UK - and over 170 geographically dispersed local Home-Start organisations, all working together under the same identity.
We recognise that being a parent has never been easy. Every Home-Start volunteer is trained to work alongside parents to overcome the challenges they are facing. We work with parents to build on their strengths and give them the support that they tell us they need. We offer no judgement – just compassionate, confidential help and expert support. This peer-to-peer support is key to the difference Home-Start makes and often our volunteers have lived experience of the challenges their families are facing themselves.
About The Role
This is an important moment for us and for the families we support. Parents of babies and young children are facing huge pressures, and strong, values-driven partnerships matter more than ever. We’re looking for a senior leader who can help us meet this moment with confidence and ambition.
As Assistant Director of Philanthropy & Strategic Partnerships, you will help shape the future of our national work and support our federation of 170+ local Home-Starts working in communities across the UK. You will lead a talented team, build long-lasting relationships, and help make sure Home-Start has the funding, partnerships, and influence it needs to give every child the best possible start in life. This role will suit someone who is motivated by purpose, who values people and relationships, and who is comfortable working across a large and varied network.
We are looking for someone with a strong track record, someone who has already delivered high-value fundraising and partnerships at a senior level and is ready to take on a role with significant national influence. With responsibility for an annual income portfolio of circa £4 Million – with strong potential to grow this over the next 3-5 years to between £6Million-£8Million plus, you will work with a supportive Leadership Team and Board, who have already engaged external philanthropy expertise to develop a strategy and roadmap that you can build on. You’ll need to be confident working with high-value supporters: able to build trust, communicate clearly, and nurture long-term relationships with people who want to invest in families and early years support. You’ll bring the skills and confidence to grow a portfolio that is already strong and take it further, along with the ability to work well with others in a fast-moving environment.
You will be joining a warm, collaborative organisation that believes in the power of community, the strength of families, and the importance of early help. If you feel excited by the chance to make a national difference, to build partnerships based on trust and shared purpose, and to help shape the next chapter of Home-Start’s impact, we would be delighted to hear from you.
The people at Home-Start are its most important resource. Home-Start UK has been accredited with Investors in People since March 2005, which recognises the commitment we give to developing our staff.
Benefits of working for Home-Start
- Flexible working
- Family friendly policy
- PayCare health cash plan
- Enhanced employer contribution pension
- Learning and development
- DAS Employee Assistance
If it sounds like your type of challenge, we would be delighted to hear from you.
The closing date for applications is Friday 27th March at 4pm.
As part of our recruitment process, shortlisted candidates will be invited to participate in a full-day assessment centre at our Leicester office on Tuesday 14th April.
The assessment centre will include a mix of individual and group activities designed to understand your strategic thinking, relational approach, and leadership style.
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.
Home-Start UK is committed to Equality of Opportunity and Diversity. We wish to encourage applications from all parts of the community irrespective of gender, race, colour, age, sexual orientation or disability.
No agencies please.
About Advantage Mentoring
We are specialists in partnering The NHS with the charitable arms of professional football clubs: known as Club Community Organisations (CCO).
We harness the power of professional football club’s community organisations to deliver mental health mentoring programmes which provide solutions to key community challenges.
Our vision is to create a transformative network where anchor institutions and CCOs collaborate seamlessly to deliver sustainable, impactful mental health and well-being support to local communities.
We aim to fill the gaps in existing healthcare and wellbeing services by harnessing the unique position that CCOs have in local communities and providing effective programmes that meet people at their point and place of need.
Our goals are to continue tackling and reducing health inequalities, increase equal access to mental health support and provide better experiences and outcomes for our participants.
About the role and its purpose
· You will be responsible for Advantage’s income and business development activity
· You will lead a broad range of income generating activities and manage relationships with stakeholders
· You will be responsible for growing income from a variety of sources, income streams and relationships
· You will have a clear priority focus on converting pilot and seed-funded contracts to longer-term sustainable contracts and developing donations and project funding
Key tasks & responsibilities
Income generation
· Use your skills, creativity and experience to develop our income generation strategy
· Develop ideas for creative sponsorship and funding opportunities, putting together and submitting proposal and tender documents; identifying suitable partners; presenting proposals and closing deals
· Converting pilot and seed-funded contracts to longer-term sustainable contracts e.g. current Postcode Lottery agreement in the North-East converting to a long-term contract with North-East and North Cumbria ICB (more information to this can be given at interview stage)
· Support drawing up and negotiating contracts and ensuring delivery
· Work with stakeholders and our internal team to scope and develop exciting new opportunities
· Develop and steward fundraising and donor relationships in order to increase income
· Deliver on agreed income targets
Partnerships and Networks
· Build and maintain a network of strategic key external contacts that can support Advantage Mentoring’s work. Stakeholders will be from private, public and third sector groups. Take an active role in representing Advantage Mentoring to appropriate Trusts and Foundations
· Develop a work plan for private sector and philanthropic engagement to achieve a joined up and coherent approach to engaging with commercial organisations across multiple outcomes (financial, brand awareness, influencing policy and support-in-kind)
Communication, marketing and external relations
· Work with Communications colleagues to create materials that will attract new strategic partners, for example highly targeted work aimed at specific sectors being clear about the value of partnering with Advantage Mentoring
· Represent Advantage Mentoring with external audiences (in the media, at events, in meetings with senior stakeholders)
Strategic Leadership
· Develop and implement Advantage’s income generation strategy and policies, as a part of the Leadership Team
· Ensure that partner organisations understand and commit to our values
Management
· Oversee the business development pipeline and ensure that enough proposals are being submitted to make the achievement of income targets probable
· Provide income generation information to the Managing Director and participate in Executive Team meetings and Board meetings
· Report to the Board on income generation as required.
· Maintain a thorough understanding of financial targets and progress
· Work alongside the Head of Operations & Projects to make sure projects are properly initiated and well managed to ensure all contractual obligations are achieved
· Work closely with the PR/Comms Manager to support the awareness of the organisation’s work on a national and local level
Reporting
· Utilise the project bids pipeline spreadsheet and capacity spreadsheet to inform planning and resourcing
· Maintain an effective database of Grants, Trust and Foundation contacts
· Monitor digital income streams to ensure they are effective and opportunities are secured
· Work in collaboration with the communications team to build brand awareness, and promote income generation and impact developing content for key messaging, PR, and branding materials to support effective marketing of the organisation
· Design and develop key income generation materials to enhance our external visibility including extending our profile via submissions for awards and recognition programmes
· Plan and support events for awareness raising and dissemination of our work
· Ensure systems and processes for managing data comply with the organisation’s data protection obligations, charity law and GDPR
· Develop robust systems for the effective stewardship and reporting to supporters of our work
Essential Experience, Knowledge, Skills and Personal Qualities
Experience
· Substantial experience of income generation and development activity, including
• Handling key clients
• Preparing, costing, pitching and closing proposals
• Completing tender documents for submission
• Ensuring delivery of initiatives on time and within budget to the satisfaction of all parties
· Experience of working with corporate partners, establishing and delivering impactful, strategic partnerships with the commercial sector
· Experience in developing and stewarding fundraising and donor relationships
· Experience of building and sustaining relationships and partnerships with a wide range of stakeholders
· Understanding of impact measurement frameworks
Knowledge & Skills
· Skilled in working with a wide range of organisations and stakeholders
· Excellent communication and influencing skills
· Good knowledge of the public, private and third sector
· Excellent organisational and planning skills
· Ability to set and meet deadlines
· Excellent written communications skills, including ability to write persuasive and engaging content
· IT skills (able to use Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and databases)
· Ability to work in a pressured environment and work to deadlines.
Personal Qualities
· Gets things done, delivers to highest of standards and takes responsibility
· Entrepreneurial, innovative, personable, collaborative and good at working both in a team and under your own initiative
· Able to represent Advantage Mentoring, reflecting its values and priorities
· Able to encourage contributions and involvement from a broad and diverse range of staff by being visible and accessible
· Flexible and dynamic, with an ability to adapt and respond quickly to a fast-changing environment
· Ability to negotiate and influence others in a positive manner and confidence to deal with different priorities and differing views.
· Ability to manage expectations.
· Diplomacy and ability to deal with difficult situations.
· Strong delivery focus, with the ability to drive progress forward and a concern for results and achieving goals.
· Confident communicator
· Ability to quickly build credibility internally and externally
· Ability to work in partnership and with flexibility
· Excellent attention to detail
· Proactive, thinks ahead, generates innovative ideas
Other
· Ability to undertake travel around England if/as needed with possible overnight stays
Values & Behaviours
Collaborative
Advantage collaborates with anchor institutions and CCOs to deliver preventative, engaging, and accessible healthcare to those in the community who need it. Our programmes are co-designed and tailored to local needs whilst building sustainable local and national networks.
Inclusive
Advantage aims to give people the opportunity to access our programmes regardless of their race, gender, or socioeconomic class. We believe in creating equal opportunities and breaking down barriers to ensure everyone can benefit from our services.
Supportive
Our mental health programmes increase equal access to care, delivering better experiences and outcomes through evidence-based practices and continuous improvement. Advantage widens access to services closer to home, reduces unnecessary delays, and unburdens other anchor institutions by building capacity to support people.
Impactful
We specialise in creating sustainable partnerships between CCOs and anchor institutions harnessing each entity’s strengths to form a unified support network. Our tailored project and performance management packages ensure ongoing quality assurance, improvement, and responsive adaptations to meet the evolving needs of our partners and their communities.
Advantage Mentoring CIC positively encourages applications from suitable qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity.
The role is remote but there is an expectation you will be able to travel around the country and in to our Head Office in London Bridge when needed.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Contract Type: Fixed Term for 18 months from start date
1st stage interviews: 31st March and 1st April
2nd stage interviews: TBC
As the Lead for Mental Health and Access, you will guide an organisation that is committed to ending youth employment by supporting thousands of young people across the UK to break down barriers and thrive. This is your chance to drive transformation, inform national practice and build partnerships.
Working closely with senior leaders and cross-functional teams, you will bring specialist insight and a confident, practice-based approach to designing and implementing frameworks, training and tools that strengthen our mental health response. You’ll be creating national principles for our delivery partners, advising on national partnerships and helping us build an inclusive journey for every young person who accesses our programmes. Your work will influence design, safeguarding, learning and operations across the country.
This is an exciting opportunity for someone who combines strong clinical or operational expertise with strategic vision and a collaborative style to implement and deliver on this new and exciting programme of work. If you thrive on leading meaningful change, shaping national initiatives and championing equity of access for young people, we would love you to join us in our most ambitious period of transformation in our organisation's history.
What happens next?
Please submit a CV, and a Cover Letter that includes your experience, transferable skills and motivation to work for The King's Trust! The Team will be in touch about the next steps shortly after the closing date.
Why do we need a Mental Health & Access Lead?
Last year, we helped more than 40,000 Young People, with three in four young people on our programmes moving into a positive outcome in work, education or training. The young people we help face a range of challenges, such as unemployment, mental health issues or some who have been in trouble with the law. We believe all young people should have the chance to succeed, and that young people are the key to a positive and prosperous future for all of us. We want to continue having a positive impact on young people’s lives, and we couldn’t do this without the important work of the Mental Health & Access Lead!
Perks for working at The Trust!
- Great holiday package! 30 days annual leave entitlement, plus bank holidays. Office closure on the days between Christmas and New Year
- Flexible working! Where operationally possible, our roles require a combination of office days and working from home (please speak to the hiring manager about this particular role)
- You can volunteer for and/or attend events – The King's Trust Awards, Pride, active events, etc.
- In-house learning platform! Develop your skills for your career and your role
- Benefits platform! Everything from health and financial well-being support to discounts on your favourite restaurants, shops and cinemas.
- Personal development opportunities through our Networks – KT CAN (Cultural Awareness Network), KT GEN (Gender Equality Network), KT DAWN (Disability & Wellbeing Network), and PULSE (LGBTQIA+ Network).
- Fantastic Family leave! Receive 13 weeks of full pay and 13 weeks of half pay for maternity and adoption leave. Receive 8 weeks of full pay for paternity leave.
- Interest-free season ticket loans
- The Trust will contribute 5% of your salary to the Trust Pension Scheme
- Generous life assurance cover (4 x annual salary)
We believe that every young person should have the chance to succeed, no matter their background or the challenges they are facing.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Manager (Chief Executive) – Chorlton Good Neighbours
Location: Chorlton, Manchester
Salary: £35,000 - £40,000 per annum
Contract: Permanent, full time
Could you be the steady, friendly, hands-on leader who helps more people in Chorlton feel connected, fulfilled and valued?
About Chorlton Good Neighbours
Chorlton Good Neighbours is a small, well-loved neighbourhood charity with roots back to the late 1960s, working to reduce loneliness and support older people across Chorlton and adjacent neighbourhoods. Our work is local, practical and volunteer-led: befriending, home visits, transport, weekly activities, monthly teas, intergenerational groups and occasional day trips are all delivered with warmth and care.
Our volunteer base is extraordinary - around 100 volunteers support drivers, befrienders, activity leads, admin roles and trustees - and in 2024–25 we supported 474 people in total. Funding is a mixed model of public grants, local donations and modest earned income and the charity holds healthy funds to deliver our work.
This is a practical, hands-on, delivery-focused leadership role: you will lead a neighbourhood organisation through planned transition, preserving the community culture that makes CGN trusted, while introducing proportionate systems and succession approaches that secure its future. You will also spend substantial time supporting and supervising volunteers and facilitating activities alongside strategic duties.
As our next Manager (Chief Executive), you will:
• Strategy & Impact: Lead the development and delivery of a clear long-term strategy that sustains CGN’s neighbourhood impact and reduces social isolation amongst older people.
• Governance & Finance: Strengthen proportionate financial controls, grant monitoring and reporting while working closely with trustees including the Treasurer.
• Operational Leadership: Manage day-to-day delivery of volunteer-led services and introduce accessible procedures and safeguarding arrangements.
• Income Generation: Support fundraising and bid activity to secure multi-year funding and diversify local income streams.
• Community & Partnerships: Act as CGN’s visible ambassador, maintaining and developing relationships with Manchester City Council, NHS partners and local organisations.
• Volunteer Development: Recruit, induct and support volunteers and facilitators, building a resilient volunteer pipeline and clear role pathways.
• Brand & Profile: Promote CGN’s offer across local channels to maintain footfall, attract new supporters and celebrate members’ stories.
• Premises & Risk: Work with trustees on lease and premises issues and maintain a robust risk register to protect continuity of service.
Who you are
• An experienced, hands-on manager with significant experience of running small, community-facing charities or local services and a hands-on approach to operational delivery.
• Demonstrable expertise in recruiting, supporting and retaining volunteers, with confidence in DBS/safeguarding practice and volunteer supervision.
• Highly organised with strong event/activity planning skills, practical problem solving and attention to detail.
• Financially literate - comfortable with budgeting, grant monitoring and basic financial controls and able to work with volunteer finance leads.
• An excellent communicator: approachable, diplomatic and skilled at building trust with older people, volunteers, trustees and statutory partners.
• Values driven, emotionally resilient and committed to inclusivity and dignity in later life.
• Desirable: experience of Age-Friendly programmes or befriending schemes and local credibility or knowledge of Manchester/South Manchester.
Why Chorlton Good Neighbours?
• Meaningful local impact - lead a well-regarded neighbourhood charity with deep community trust and a broad activities programme.
• Strong volunteer culture - join an organisation supported by around 100 committed volunteers and an engaged trustee board.
• Secure footing to build from - healthy funds and a clear focus on securing multi-year funding and premises.
• Hands-on role with strategic scope - keep delivery at the heart of the job while developing proportionate systems and succession planning.
• Supportive transition - trustees have planned a careful handover and you will be supported through induction and the subsequent recruitment of a part-time assistant.
For full details of the role including how to apply, please download the full appointment brief. For an informal and confidential conversation about this position, please contact Jenny Hills at Harris Hill via the apply button with times to speak and (optional but appreciated) a CV or professional profile which will be treated with the strictest confidence.
Closing date for applications: 9am, Monday 13th April 2026
As leading charity recruitment specialists and a certified B Corp, Harris Hill is committed to high and ever-improving standards of equitable and inclusive recruitment. We actively welcome applications from all sections of the community regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexuality and other protected characteristics.
Purpose of the Role
The Clinical & Research Lead role provides senior clinical leadership across Together for Short Lives’ most complex and high-profile programmes. The role leads the design and delivery of national clinical initiatives, strengthens clinical governance and safeguarding oversight, and builds the organisation’s research and evidence capability.
Working closely with the Head of Services & Impact, the postholder ensures programmes are credible, evidence-informed and deliver measurable impact for children, families and the wider sector. The role will lead work that strengthens professional practice, improves outcomes for families, and supports national sector development. The role involves significant external representation, national stakeholder engagement, programme planning, research and data oversight, and leadership of internal and external events.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Stakeholder Engagement
· Represent Together for Short Lives in national clinical, policy and professional forums, contributing to the organisation’s credibility and influence across the children’s palliative care sector.
· Lead the planning, coordination and delivery of internally hosted stakeholder meetings, including the Leaders of Care Forum and other professional engagement events.
· Provide professional and reflective input into complex organisational decisions relating to clinical practice, programme design and ethical engagement.
· Build strong relationships with practitioners across health, social care, education and voluntary-sector partners to support implementation of clinical programmes and foster collaboration.
· Engage with Integrated Care Boards, Strategic Clinical Networks, and children’s palliative care providers to ensure our work aligns with national priorities and regional needs.
Programme Leadership & Project Oversight
· Provide senior leadership for the planning, development and delivery of clinical and service-improvement projects, ensuring alignment with organisational strategy.
· Oversee the development of project briefs, initiation documents, outcome measures, risk registers, evaluation plans and implementation timelines.
· Hold responsibility for monitoring progress, quality assurance, and risk management, escalating concerns to the Head of Services & Impact as required.
· Coordinate cross-functional project teams and ensure effective collaboration with external organisations, hospices, NHS partners and charitable funders.
· Ensure projects are delivered within agreed scope, timelines and budgets.
· Support the development of robust programme models, theories of change and outcomes frameworks that strengthen the organisation’s ability to secure external funding.
· Contribute to the development of cases for support and programme proposals in collaboration with fundraising colleagues.
Research, Evidence & Insight
- Lead the organisation’s research prioritisation programme and support development of a national children’s palliative care research agenda.
- Build and maintain relationships with academic partners, research institutions and clinical leaders to strengthen the evidence base for children’s palliative care.
- Support development of evaluation frameworks that demonstrate impact, learning and outcomes across programmes.
- Contribute to the organisation’s longer-term ambition to develop a ‘Centre of Impact’, positioning Together for Short Lives as a national authority on evidence and insight in children’s palliative care.
- Ensure research and evaluation activity is ethically robust, appropriately governed and aligned with sector priorities.
Data, Impact & Reporting
· Provide oversight and leadership for data collection, monitoring and reporting processes across the Services & Impact portfolio.
· Line manage the Data & Impact Officer, ensuring robust reporting systems, high-quality data, and meaningful evaluation of programmes.
· Ensure outputs are translated into insights that demonstrate effectiveness, equity, reach and learning - supporting fundraising, influencing and strategic decision-making.
· Support development of improved feedback mechanisms from families and professionals to evidence the impact of support offers and clinical programmes.
Professional Support, Education & Sector Development
· Contribute to the development and dissemination of clinical resources, guidance, toolkits and training for professionals working with children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions.
· Support national programmes of work, including definitions of children’s palliative care, categories of need, standards, workforce development and professional education.
· Facilitate knowledge exchange and best-practice sharing across the sector through networks, events, workshops and targeted professional engagement.
· Deliver presentations, training sessions and clinical briefings to a wide range of audiences.
Family and Service Engagement
· Work with colleagues across the Services & Impact team and external partners to ensure projects reflect the lived experiences and priorities of children and families.
· Support co-production activities and ensure family voice is meaningfully incorporated into project design and evaluation.
· Promote and signpost to the Family Support Hub and relevant offers, ensuring clear and consistent messaging about available support.
Governance, Quality & Reporting
· Provide additional clinical oversight and challenge across the organisation’s work relating to safeguarding, ethical engagement and complex family situations.
· Contribute to strengthening organisational clinical governance processes and risk management.
· Provide expert advice to colleagues on safeguarding, ethical engagement with families, and complex clinical issues arising from programme work. Contribute to internal reporting cycles, board updates, quarterly programme reviews and funder reports.
· Maintain accurate project documentation, data dashboards and risk logs.
· Provide expert advice to colleagues and stakeholders on clinical considerations and best practice in children’s palliative care.
General Responsibilities
· Provide effective line management, supervision and support to allocated staff.
· Attend team meetings, leadership meetings and organisational events as required.
· Commit to continuous professional development and reflective practice.
· Undertake other duties relevant to the role as required by the Head of Services & Impact.
Please apply using the Application form attached to this advert
We exist to ensure every seriously ill child and their family gets the high-quality children’s palliative and end of life care



Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Submit your application as normal and our system will anonymise it for you. Your personal information will be hidden until the recruiter contacts you.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
The funding environment has shifted fast. Alexandra Rose needs to be sharper, more strategic and more commercially literate than the traditional charity model allows. This role exists to make that happen.
We are looking for a senior funding leader who is comfortable operating as a “department of one” within a small but ambitious organisation. Trusts and Foundations prospecting and bid writing will form a core part of the role, working closely with the CEO and senior team. Beyond that, you will build and steward high-value funder relationships, develop and secure corporate partnerships aligned with our values, test new income models, and help us adapt confidently to a fast-changing landscape.
This is a senior leadership position. You will work closely with the CEO and Head of Finance to shape organisational direction and build a resilient, full-cost-recovery funding model that protects quality, depth and long-term impact.
This is a remote role, with a requirement to regularly attend meetings and events (mainly London but on occasions project areas elsewhere in the UK).
Key Responsibilities
Strategic leadership
• Deliver the current funding strategy, which includes Trusts & Foundations grant funding, corporate donations, and testing new potential ways to generate income.
• Monitor sector trends, opportunities and risks, and reposition the charity as needed.
• Work closely with the CEO and Head of Finance to align income planning with organisational priorities and financial forecasting.
• Build simple, effective systems for pipeline development, forecasting and reporting.
Trusts & Foundations
• Lead the trusts and foundations portfolio, working closely with the CEO to secure multi-year, core and expansion funding, including directly leading on the writing of funding bids. This will be a core part of the role.
• Develop compelling, well-evidenced funding proposals rooted in our mission and impact.
• Build strong, long-term relationships with funders.
Corporate Donations & Partnerships
• Manage and grow existing corporate relationships, ensuring partnerships remain values-aligned, purposeful and mutually beneficial.
• Identify and develop new appropriate corporate donors and partners, informed by research into corporate giving, ESG and CSR trends.
• Shape and evolve a clear, credible and cost-effective corporate engagement offer that supports long-term organisational sustainability.
New income streams
• Scope, test and (if viable) deliver new earned-income models, such as corporate engagement models.
• Develop proof-of-concept approaches and evaluate their feasibility.
• Support the organisation to diversify and strengthen its income base.
Collaboration & leadership culture
• Serve as a key member of the Senior Management Team, contributing to organisation-wide strategy and decision-making.
• Build a transparent, mature, collaborative culture around income generation.
• Ensure the wider team understands funding opportunities, constraints and strategic choices.
Why join us?
• This is a chance to have real impact in an organisation that works practically and strategically to remove the barriers of affordability and accessibility to good food, with a focus on fruit and veg.
• A senior leadership role with real influence over the charity’s direction and sustainability.
• The chance to build and shape a future-facing income strategy in a charity committed to genuine systemic change.
• Remote working and genuine flexibility.
• Work that directly contributes to a fairer, healthier and more dignified food system.
We recognise that candidates may choose to use AI tools to support aspects of their application, such as grammar, formatting, or drafting. We understand that using AI tools in this way can help you express your strengths more clearly. However, your final submission must be a genuine, accurate reflection of your own skills, experience, and understanding of the role.
Please note that applications without a cover letter will not be considered.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
About Us
The Good Ancestor Movement is a UK-based advisory and consultancy firm supporting individuals and organisations to redistribute wealth in ways that are reparative, regenerative and aligned with their deepest values. We work with wealth holders to challenge traditional models of accumulation and tax avoidance, and instead imagine futures where wealth actively contributes to social equity, economic justice, and ecological resilience.
We support clients to shift from extractive to regenerative practices, helping them translate their values into meaningful action through redistribution, reparations, and investment aligned with justice.
Our programmes, like Reimagining Wealth, invite individuals to understand the wider impacts of their capital and take intentional steps toward responsible stewardship.
Good Ancestor Movement’s consultancy work includes strategy design, values-aligned redistribution planning, and building tools and systems that support collective accountability and transformative impact. We are committed to building a regenerative economy where wealth is mobilised in service of repair and liberation.
Resource Mobilisation Team
The Resource Mobilisation team at the Good Ancestor Movement helps liberate and steward financial flows in service of justice, reparation, and systemic change. The team works with wealth holders, funders, and movement partners to design values-aligned redistribution strategies, manage pooled funding vehicles, and co-create tools and practices that shift the culture of wealth. Our work includes grant and investment operations, grantee relationship support, community learning, and strategic resourcing design rooted in equity and care.
About Your Role
As a Resource Mobilisation Lead you will join our Resource Mobilisation team at Good Ancestor Movement in an exciting time for our organisation’s growth. You will be working closely with Kiki Mager, Director of Resource Mobilisation, although you will be working alongside our entire team and contribute to the organisation’s bold aims and ambitions within your role.
After having run 5 cohorts of our political education journey Reimagining Wealth, we launched a trial community of practice for wealth holders collectivising them around a pledge to redistribute. This community of practice is called Catalytic Collective and includes a pooled resourcing vehicle, the Roots Fund, to which members commit funds which are then being redistributed through a participatory governance model, the Accountability Circle, led by movement leaders. We have just completed our first pilot year of this resourcing vehicle including the release of our first round of 3-year funding commitments. To ensure the ongoing feasibility of this vehicle we are looking for a passionate new team member to tend to the ongoing development and scaling of this work.
The Catalytic Collective, Accountability Circle and Roots Fund formed in response to findings of a research and report that we commissioned with Decolonising Economics into Resourcing the Solidarity Economy. This report is the bedrock for our emergent resourcing vehicle and wider organising of wealth holders around wealth redistribution and stewardship practices centred in collective liberation. It also informs our educational programmes, our consultancy offerings and Transformative Investment Practice development.
As our Resource Mobilisation Lead, you will primarily support the management and ongoing development of our resourcing vehicle with Catalytic Collective (CC), the Accountability Circle (AC), the Solidarity Partners (SP) receiving funds and our wider wealthholder community. Your roles here will include:
-
Liaison with our fiscal host Social Change Nest and ensuring processes and grantees (‘Solidarity Partners’) experiences are in alignment with our mission and intentions.
-
Relationship management and primary contact for Solidarity Partners
-
Leading the development and/or fine tuning of a grant management system (GMS) to improve oversight and streamline processes together with one of our movement partners and manage the GMS once implemented, particularly as the number of grants mobilised will increase.
-
Supporting the AC with admin related tasks like the scheduling of meetings, direction on discussion points and the refinement of their own governance.
-
Administering CC agreements and resourcing commitments including confirming & signing funding agreements with CC members, sending out reminders about funding cycle renewal and exploring approaches to open up the resourcing pool for wider funders to contribute as a one-off without being a CC member.
-
Notice, reflect on and feed into ongoing learning and development around the processes and systems in place and what might we need to consider to further improve these in alignment with our vision and mission.
-
Manage the process of mobilising resources from our wider wealth holder community and others to commit boldly.
-
Support with story telling proposition and narrative pieces to support building momentum around the resourcing vehicle
Alongside this workstream, you will also:
-
Steward our Capital Campaigns process to support ad hoc relational and strategic resource mobilisation opportunities meeting needs of aligned organisations in the new and regenerative economy space.
-
Contribute to ideation and creation of tools and practices that further activate and guide wealth holders and wealth advisors in their journeys towards just transition aligned redistribution and stewardship practices.
About You
-
You will care deeply about justice and the transition to a fairer economic system.
-
Through your lived, academic and/or work experience you will deeply connect with the problems of the current system;
-
You feel excited about contributing towards building life-affirming infrastructure for a young but growing social purpose organisation;
-
You have the capacity to engage in self-reflection and a commitment to doing the work of embodying anti-oppressive practice;
-
You can see yourself being comfortable communicating in a thoughtful and empathetic manner with a range of stakeholders across our community including: Movements, community groups and grassroots organisations; New Economy movement partners, wealth holders and wealth advisors;
-
You will not be tied to how things have always been done and will be excited to explore new and emerging concepts with a curious and open growth mindset.
-
You have experience of (or are excited about) collaborating with or working in small emerging teams with ambitious goals and much experimentation;
-
You are able to work independently to tight deadlines while working closely with colleagues, proactively communicating your needs and any changes to agreed timelines;
-
You have experience of (developing and) administering funding or resourcing processes, are committed to critically reflecting on existing practices and you bring creativity and courage to implement change;
-
You ideally have experience of managing CRM tools, digital community platforms such as Notion, Basecamp or Teachable, and developing and executing communications strategies;
We understand that the issues we work on disproportionately impact on low-income, marginalised and minoritised communities. We are an organisation led by a Black female founder and CEO and as an inclusive employer that values both lived experience and professional experience, we hope to be able to attract applicants from a range of backgrounds for this important role. You do not need to have a university degree for this role, nor is it essential for you to have experience in the new economy ecosystem: we care about your character, your experience and your ability to demonstrate leadership and practice personal growth.
We exist to accelerate the just transition to a regenerative economy by leveraging the power of private capital.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Purpose and responsibilities of the post
Reporting to the DARE UK Director, the Deputy Director is a senior strategic leader responsible for shaping and delivering the programme’s next phase of impact.
The post-holder will provide intellectual and operational leadership across the programme, translating strategic ambition into executable plans while ensuring delivery at pace and scale. They will work across research communities, funders, infrastructure providers, technology partners and senior stakeholders across UKRI and government to embed community voice into the design of a UK-wide secure data research ecosystem.
This is a high-profile role requiring visible sector leadership, strong partnership-building capability and confidence operating at Board and executive level. The Deputy Director will deputise for the Director as required and play a central role in positioning DARE UK nationally and internationally.
Main Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
· Co-develop and evolve the DARE UK strategy, roadmap and future phases in response to emerging opportunities, policy developments and sector needs.
· Shape the long-term vision for a federated UK sensitive data research ecosystem, including shared standards for governance, ethics, metadata and interoperability.
· Identify strategic partnerships and funding opportunities to secure programme sustainability beyond the current phase.
· Represent DARE UK at senior forums, influencing policy, research and infrastructure agendas.
Programme Delivery and Oversight
· Lead end-to-end delivery of the programme, ensuring alignment between strategic objectives, commissioned work and measurable outcomes.
· Oversee commissioning, governance and performance management of programme activities and working groups.
· Ensure robust financial oversight, risk management and reporting in collaboration with HDR UK and UKRI partners.
· Maintain effective systems, governance structures and delivery frameworks across partner organisations.
Stakeholder and Community Leadership
· Build and sustain trusted relationships across UKRI councils, academia, government departments, devolved administrations, technical suppliers and public contributors.
· Convene and align diverse stakeholders to co-design standards, services and technical-social specifications.
· Lead strategic engagement and communications activity to secure sector-wide buy-in and adoption.
People and Organisational Leadership
· Lead and develop a multidisciplinary team spanning programme management, communications, public involvement and engagement, and community engagement.
· Foster a high-performance, collaborative culture aligned with HDR UK values.
· Provide clarity, direction and stability in a complex and evolving landscape.
Knowledge, skills and experience
Essential
· Senior leadership experience in complex, multi-stakeholder environments spanning research, government, infrastructure and/or technology.
· Proven track record of delivering large-scale, strategically significant programmes in fast-paced and ambiguous contexts.
· Experience working with executive teams, Boards and senior stakeholders, demonstrating sound judgement and political awareness.
· Strong strategic thinking capability, with the ability to translate vision into structured delivery plans.
· Demonstrable experience influencing, negotiating and building consensus across diverse communities.
· Strong programme governance, risk management and financial oversight experience.
· Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to represent programmes at national level.
· Effective line management experience, leading multidisciplinary teams to deliver high-impact outcomes.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
We’re recruiting an experienced, creative and hands-on communications specialist to work with Platform Places and Footwork over the next 10 months – to develop our bold narratives and inspiring content that help drive locally-led neighbourhood transformation.
- Target start date: 11th May 2026
- Time input: 3 days per week (0.6 full-time equivalent), with flexibility for up to 4 days per week in certain busy periods, by mutual agreement
- Remuneration: £55,000-£61,500 per year (pro rata) depending on experience
- Flexible working: Work hours can be flexible as long as role objectives are met
- Location: Hybrid, remote or in-person (option to work from our London office). Monthly in-person team days in London, plus occasional trips to partners in Newcastle, Sheffield, Liverpool, Bristol and London and learning gatherings (expenses covered).
- Contract type: PAYE employment contract. 10 months fixed term.
- Eligibility: Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK.
About us
In 2025, Platform Places integrated with Footwork Trust, becoming what we call ‘civic partners’. Together we facilitate locally-led neighbourhood transformation – so people have the power to live affordably, sustainably and together.
About Platform Places
Platform Places is a national cross-sector collaboration and not-for-profit social enterprise with a mission to unlock town centre buildings for amazing ideas that help us live affordably, sustainably and together. We convene councils, community leaders and asset owners around the country to build powerful partnerships, to unlock buildings for local benefit. We support these Partnerships with access to funding, technical expertise and networks.
Our deeper intention is to localise and democratise who owns, controls and transforms town centre and neighbourhood buildings, so that communities can:
- design spaces to meet local needs – whether affordable space for arts, music, healthcare, local food, housing, nature connection, reuse & repair, childcare etc
- retain and reinvest the wealth generated by these buildings.
We’re inspired by pioneers like Hastings Commons, Stour Trust, SAFE Regen, Civic Square, Nudge Community Builders, Makespace Oxford and other members of the Mycelial Network.
About Footwork Trust
Footwork (UK charity Footwork Trust) supports local people to transform their neighbourhoods for the better and builds alliances to make this possible.
Since 2022, Footwork’s ‘People and Place’ programme has supported over 50 community innovators to turn their bold ideas into lasting positive change, in response to a local social or environmental challenge. Often reviving land and buildings for community use, they are part of a growing force for fairer, locally-led regeneration, making the places they call home more resilient and equitable.
Through national and local events, Footwork creates spaces for peer support and shared learning, showcases inspiring examples, and convenes built environment practitioners to enable true collaboration with community partners.
Together, Footwork and Platform Places co-facilitate the Mycelial Network for Community Asset Developers.
About the Local Property Partnerships pilot, 2024-2027
Thanks to National Lottery players, Platform Places and partners have received almost £2.5 million over three years from The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest community funder in the UK. The funding is being used to enable communities to come together and secure long-term spaces for the activities and services that they need the most.
This fund and programme resources local leaders in neighbourhoods in Newcastle, Sheffield, Liverpool City Region, Bristol and London – working towards shifting multiple buildings into long-term local ownership. We’re also supported by our national partner organisations Architectural Heritage Fund, Power to Change and Social Investment Business. Our intention is that this work will lay the groundwork for a larger follow-on funding programme, which catalyses England-wide adoption of this approach.
The role
We’re looking for an experienced, creative and hands-on communications specialist to join our small team and network of local and national partners.
The Communications Lead will focus on our key programmes, with the below time distribution. The challenge and opportunity is to hit the ground running and drive communications across our key channels – to help attract allies, funding and support, and inspire replication of these approaches in neighbourhoods around England.
2 days per week, ‘Local Property Partnerships’:
- You’ll lead on promoting, and sharing learnings from, Platform Places’ exciting pilot programme (funded by National Lottery Community Fund) – which is localising and democratising who owns, controls and transforms town centre buildings in five neighbourhoods across England.
0.75 days per week, ‘People and Place’:
- You’ll promote, and share learnings from, Footwork Trust’s ‘People and Place’ programme – which supports community innovators to turn their bold ideas into lasting positive change for their place.
0.25 days per week, Wider movement building:
- You’ll work on ad hoc broader communications opportunities that support our mission and the programmes – for example, creating a content piece with local or national partners from our wider network, or pitching a media story that cuts across all our programmes.
This involves the following areas of responsibility:
- Build on our working communications strategy
- Work with co-directors to develop our bold, inspiring core messaging, and update our boilerplate narratives
- Manage digital channels for Platform Places and Footwork: a) plan and create regular social media content; b) write newsletters (approx. quarterly); c) upload and edit website content, on Squarespace (drag-and-drop editor) and occasionally Wix (guidance available).
- Strategic media relations: build journalist relationships and pitch stories (local or national), op-eds and comments
- Work with local and national partners to share inspiring and compelling stories
- Develop practical how-tos and templates, together with partners (you'll have support initiating partner relationships)
- Provide comms guidance to local programme partners
- Support co-directors and partners with speaking engagements and event opportunities
You’ll start from a strong foundation of communications activities, along with our established tone, visual identity and branded templates – with lots of freedom for new ideas.
About you
- You’re as comfortable with creative storytelling as you are with practical resources
- You’re a campaigner for systems change – experienced in attracting allies and creating communications for diverse audiences
- You make it sing – you turn dense or complicated materials into clear and effective narratives to shift opinion and action
- You’re a collaborator – you can effectively hold relationships with local and national partners to plan and deliver coordinated communications
- You can ‘wear all the hats’: you get stuck in on strategy and roll up your sleeves on delivery; you know when to pitch to media and when the tactic is digital; you can knock up great copy or quick Canva graphics without aiming for perfection
- You’re efficient and resourceful, comfortable leading on comms in a small (and collaborative) team, and know how to make things happen on a small budget (and when to seek external specialists)
- You’re passionate about community-led places and social and environmental justice – and you’re knowledgeable about at least one of: high streets, property, retrofit, community business, heritage buildings, cultural venues, town planning, neighbourhood governance
We know you likely have a particular comms specialism, with more strengths and experience in some areas than others. We’d love to hear about this, and about your approach to getting stuck into the rest.
Our team & culture
You’ll be joining our small, agile team of six people across Platform Places and Footwork. We meet in-person on a monthly basis to have lunch together and plan ahead, and have weekly online huddles to check-in and discuss priorities.
We work flexibly around our needs, whether a caring responsibility or otherwise.
Our culture is driven by our values: generous sharing, diverse perspectives, active listening and curiosity, staying networked and joy.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Do you want to work for a dynamic, creative, fast-paced charity?
At Action Together we see the amazing things people achieve when they work together to make the lives of others better. If you share our values: believe it’s possible, strengthen others, and be true, we’d love you to consider joining our team.
Operations Director
The ideal candidate
We are looking for a values‑driven operational leader with significant experience in senior operations, systems, or transformation roles. You will bring strong technical capability in designing and embedding systems and processes, excellent analytical skills, and the ability to produce high‑quality management information for senior leaders and Boards.
You will be an influential communicator who can lead through change, build strong relationships across the organisation, and support others to work in consistent, effective, and collaborative ways. With a strong grasp of governance, risk, compliance, and organisational assurance, you will balance strategic vision with hands‑on delivery. Above all, you will share Action Together’s commitment to social justice, equity, and strengthening people, places, and partnerships
The role
The Operations Director will lead the development, optimisation, and continuous improvement of Action Together’s systems, processes, and organisational infrastructure. Working as part of the Senior Leadership Team, you will co-design, develop, and maintain internal systems and processes that enhance operational delivery and organisational efficiency, ensuring they are fully embedded into day-to-day use with clear ownership, guidance, and effective performance monitoring.
You will oversee core central functions including HR, Communications and Impact, Data Protection and Information Management, and Health & Safety. You will play a key role in internal digital transformation, policy development, risk management, and organisational compliance. You will produce high‑quality management information that supports strategic decision‑making, work closely with Locality Directors to standardise and enhance delivery models. In addition, with reference to our constitution and Scheme of Delegation you will be responsible for supporting governance at Board meetings, and the AGM.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
At Action Together we value diversity, promote equity and challenge discrimination. We encourage and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. We are committed to ensuring that no applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of gender, age, disability, religion, belief, sexual orientation, marital status, or race.
In order to ensure that our workforce reflects our communities across all levels of seniority, Action Together is offering a guaranteed interview to any candidate who meets the essential criteria listed in the person specification and who is also:
- A disabled person and/or
- A member of a community experiencing racial inequality
Action Together is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children, young people and vulnerable adults with whom we work. We expect all of our employees to demonstrate this commitment.
Right to work
We do not hold a Sponsor License and are unable to accept applications which require sponsorship to work in the UK
Please note, the successful candidates will be required to undertake a basic Disclosure and barring Service (DBS) check. A positive Disclosure of Offences will not automatically bar an applicant from being appointed and suitable applicants will not be refused employment because of offences that are not relevant.
To strengthen the Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise sector. To enable positive social change and promote social justice.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
An exciting opportunity has arisen within Pure Innovations in a pivotal role where you’ll help shape the future of our charity’s relationships and service growth, driving meaningful impact across Greater Manchester’s communities.The Relationship & Growth Manager will lead Pure’s business growth by successfully building strategic relationships with commissioners, funders and stakeholders, which will develop firm foundations for new business, transforming these into tangible new business ventures for Pure Innovations.
The role requires an understanding of the Greater Manchester health and social care landscape, including local authority commissioning teams, NHS Greater Manchester, Adult Social Care, VCFSE networks, and place based partnership structures.
The postholder will draw upon existing networks to expand Pure’s influence and identify opportunities, leading the bidding lifecycle, ensuring all submissions are accurately costed, high quality, and effectively project‑managed through to submission.
We’re seeking a well‑connected leader from the Greater Manchester health, social care, or VCFSE sector who can unlock opportunities, forge strong partnerships, and drive the growth of innovative, high‑impact services.
Responsibilities:
- Work across the organisation to ensure a proactive business growth vision.
- Lead on the delivery of new business by continually horizon scanning for opportunities, exploring tendering options and reviewing trend data.
- Develop relationships with Greater Manchester health, social care, statutory and VCFSE organisations to create business opportunities aligned with strategic priorities
- Use GMCA strategies and commissioning plans to Co-design responsive provision or develop viable business propositions.
- Represent Pure within Greater Manchester commissioning forums, VCSE networks and partnership groups.
- Produce and present outcome focused reports including a Business Growth Dashboard.
- Deliver innovative and creative outcomes supporting organisational growth.
This role is ideal for someone who:
- Has worked in a senior role within business development for a social care provider, supported employment service, NHS partnership team, or Greater Manchester VCFSE.
- Understands how to navigate adult social care commissioning, NHS community pathways, or specialist provision to generate business opportunities.
- Has a network that may include strategic commissioners within health, education social care and community organisation’s.
- Passion for improving outcomes for people with disabilities, learning differences, autism, long term health conditions, or those at risk of social isolation in Greater Manchester
Person Specification
Education and Qualification
Essential: GCSEs level 4+ in Maths & English.
Desirable: Qualification in business or project management.
Essential experience:
•Minimum 2 years business development experience within the Greater Manchester health, social care, VCSE, or supported employment ecosystem.
•Understanding of Greater Manchester devolution priorities and how they influence commissioning priorities, for local health and care agendas
• Bid writing for health/social care contracts (£500,000+)
•Contract negotiation with local authorities/NHS partners
• Social value commitments and ethical practices.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and influencing skills.
• Strategic thinking, analysis and project management.
Desirable experience:
• Minimum 2 years’ experience in a Senior business development role within the Greater Manchester health, social care, VCSE, or supported employment ecosystem.
• Existing relationships with commissioners, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, local authorities, Integrated Care Systems (NHS GM), or social care providers.
• Co designing social impact models
Why Join us?
•Rewarding career pathways and progression opportunities with an award-winning organisation, which puts people first (not profits).
•Full Induction, training & Development programmes.
•Leadership development program recognised by Chartered Management Institute.
•Flexible working hours (subject to the needs of the service).
• 22–30 days holiday after 5 years’ service (pro rata - part-time staff) + Bank Holidays.
• Health Benefits including Simply Health cover, dental treatment plan cover or gym membership. (after completion of probationary period).
•Bonus birthday holiday after 5 years’ service.
•Company events and fun days out.
•Discount at Catering Outlets.
• Employee Assistance Programme- 24-hour helpline for support and advice.
•Nest pension Scheme-salary sacrifice basis. Pure makes a scheme % contribution.
•Mental Health at work first aiders to offer guidance and Support when required.
•Refer a friend recruitment scheme.
Pure Innovations is an equal opportunity employer and a proud supporter of the Disability Confident scheme and the Armed Forces Covenant. If you have a disability or are a member of the armed forces community, please let us know, and you will be automatically invited to interview, provided you meet the essential criteria.
Additionally, please let us know if you require any reasonable adjustments or support with the recruitment process.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.