Trusts and foundations grants manager jobs

We are Age UK York, a local independent charity which exists to support the older people of York and those around them. For over 50 years our team of staff, volunteers and supporters have helped us to offer a wide range of services providing vital and trusted support so often when it is needed most.

Our vital work is needed today as much as ever and we ever welcome people to join our team as together we realise our shared mission of making a positive difference to the lives of the older people of York.

Job Summary:

Would you like to make a life changing difference in support of local people and communities in need here in York? Can you bring financial management expertise to support a team effort and help shape the future of our long standing charity?

Age UK York is offering an exciting senior leadership opportunity to join our fantastic team and support our vital work here in York. Could you be our Head of Finance and help lead our  team, ensure our effective financial arrangements and the vital part it plays in realising our mission in the positive difference we can make in helping others.,

We are looking to find for our new Head of Finance who can bring their experience, expertise and passion to support our local York charity, our team and those we are here to help each and every day.

You will manage our brilliant team with a focus on strong financial management. With both internal and external focus the role will lead on our financial management and helping our charity make every penny entrusted to us count, as we develop, manage and realise our financial goals and the difference the enable Age UK York to make in supporting older people and those around them across York.

You will be part of our energised senior leadership and management teams helping to shape our charity and the continued positive difference we make whilst working closely across our teams in their role together with our Board of Trustees.

The opportunity offers an excellent benefits package and support for your own personal development and aspirations. The opportunity would not only empower you to take forward the strong legacy from our current team though bring your own identity, ideas and strengths to the fore in our collective efforts to be there tomorrow and beyond.

Key Responsibilities:

We are looking for an experienced financial manager with a keen eye for detail and drive for high performance, continuous improvement and team work. With an ambition and drive to make a telling contribution and strengthen our charity and the difference we can together make in supporting older people  and communities.

We would love to hear from you if you have:

· Experience and success in leading the financial management for an organisation.

· Experience in providing leadership within an organisation; an eye for detail and a driver of standards in continuously learning and strengthening working practices and outcomes.

· Managed a team providing support, motivation and nurturing talent and opportunity

· The ability to readily transfer your existing experiences and skills to a new challenge;

· Understanding of your strengths and areas for continuing development and proactively build your knowledge and skills

We would love to hear from you.

We’re looking for someone who:

· Is successful in providing financial management for an organisation and effective in collaborating and supporting non-financial colleagues in our shared financial goals and successful practice.

· Demonstrates wider leadership qualities including contributing to overarching organisational strategic priorities.

· Skilled, including an excellent communicator, in building and maintaining successful relationships across internal teams and external partnerships.

· Able, and experienced, in delivering in meeting outcomes and targets whilst supporting a performance and continuous improvement organisational approach.

· Highly organised, adaptable, and comfortable working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment;

· Strong attention to detail, analytical and critical thinking qualities, and able to apply and be energised to meet organisational challenges and opportunities in continually strengthening our organisation to help us realise our vision, mission and priorities.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

· Ability to prepare, manage, monitor and report on budgets.

· Previous experience in one or more, management or financial accounting roles delivering day to day finance functions.

· Experience of line management and support, motivation and development to colleagues and collective team.

· Experience of supporting the development and delivery of high quality services through financial management and support to operational colleagues.

· Effective understanding of financial statistics and accounting principles.

· Strong interpersonal, communication and presentation skills. Including interpreting and communicating financial information to non-finance function colleagues and in support of decision making; a facilitative and accessible approach; ability to manage remote communications and diplomacy and conflict resolution skills.

· Passion and commitment to work within a not-for-profit organisation and support a team approach in working to help others.

· Decision making – ability to make decisions based on an analysis of data and insights, including financial, performance and needs based data.

Salary and Benefits:

• £17.75 per hour, £32,391 (FTE) per year, pro rata
• Flexible working options within our 21 hour per week role
• A genuinely friendly and supportive environment
• Generous holidays – 26.5 days plus bank holidays (pro rata for part-time employees). Additional leave – an extra day of long service.
• Birthday day off
• Enhanced sick pay after 6 months of service
• Flexible work schedule 
• Potential for funding towards professional qualifications 
• Employee discounts including Blue Light Scheme eligibility
• BUPA Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• Free eye test 
• Free flu jab 
• Free DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service)

This is an exciting opportunity to join our Executive Team and play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our organisation by driving sustainable income growth, strengthening our public voice and extending our impact.

This newly created senior leadership role will lead a step-change in fundraising, marketing and external engagement, increasing awareness of vital services, and developing new opportunities to engage supporters, partners and communities.

With the chance to help deliver our ambitious strategy through to 2028, this role offers the opportunity to bring vision, creativity and leadership to an organisation committed to making a lasting difference in the lives of older people and unpaid carers 

Development Officer

Salary: £33,000
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full-time, 35 hours per week
Location: East London

An established philanthropic foundation and grassroots grant-maker is seeking a talented, relationship-focused Development Officer to support its ambitious fundraising plans and help increase the funding available to communities experiencing poverty and inequality.

Working closely with donors, businesses, charitable trusts, and other partners, the organisation connects philanthropy with grassroots community organisations that deliver vital support across East London.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who wants to develop their career within fundraising while making a tangible social impact.

About the Role

Reporting to a senior fundraising lead and working closely with the Chief Executive and colleagues across the organisation, you will play an important role in developing supporter relationships and generating sustainable income.

You will have exposure to a variety of income streams and work alongside experienced senior colleagues, making this a particularly attractive opportunity for someone looking to broaden their fundraising experience.

Key responsibilities will include:

· Acting as a first point of contact for enquiries from prospective supporters and donors.

· Helping develop relationships with existing and prospective corporate, individual, public-sector and charitable trust supporters.

· Researching potential supporters and turning information into useful briefings and engagement opportunities.

· Supporting the development of compelling fundraising proposals, pitches and donor meetings.

· Helping deliver fundraising initiatives, sponsored activities and supporter events.

· Building strong relationships with corporate partners and supporting volunteering and wider engagement opportunities.

· Supporting wider fundraising activity and contributing to the organisation's income ambitions.

About You

You are likely to bring:

· Experience within fundraising or a related relationship-focused role.

· Strong relationship-building and communication skills.

· Confidence engaging professionally with a wide range of stakeholders.

· Excellent organisation and attention to detail.

· The ability to manage several priorities within a busy environment.

· A proactive, tenacious and personable approach.

· An understanding of fundraising, or the ability to quickly develop your understanding of how strong supporter relationships translate into sustainable income.

Above all, we are looking for someone who genuinely enjoys building relationships and is motivated by the opportunity to help generate more funding for communities experiencing inequality.

For someone looking to develop their fundraising career, the breadth of this position offers valuable exposure to multiple income streams, different types of supporters and experienced senior colleagues.

How to Apply

To view the full job description, please visit the Giving Back Recruitment website.

Click the ‘Apply Now’ button and submit your CV along with a Supporting Statement explaining your interest in the opportunity and how your experience makes you suitable for the role.

For an informal and confidential discussion about the opportunity, or if you require additional support with your application, please contact Alex Williams at Giving Back Recruitment

Recruitment Timetable

Closing date: 27 August 2026
Interviews: 4 September 2026

Please note that the recruitment window may close earlier if sufficient suitable applications are received.

Help shape the future of an ambitious local charity

MRS Independent Living supports older people, disabled people and people experiencing mental health challenges to live independently, stay active and remain connected to their communities. We combine practical in-home support with innovative community-led projects that tackle inequalities and improve wellbeing.

We're looking for a Deputy Director who is excited by the opportunity to help lead this established local charity into its next chapter. 

This is a role for someone who enjoys thinking strategically while also rolling up their sleeves to make things happen. You'll work alongside the Director to shape our future, develop new services, build partnerships and secure funding. You'll also be happy stepping into day-to-day operations when needed to support the team, maintain continuity and ensure our services are high quality and running smoothly.

Whether your background is primarily in fundraising and you're looking to broaden your operational leadership experience, or you've led services and want to develop your fundraising and strategic skills, this role offers an excellent opportunity to build a well-rounded senior leadership career.

About the role

As Deputy Director you'll provide leadership across our community projects, helping us develop and deliver sustainable, high-quality services that make a real difference to our community.

You'll:

• Work with the Director and Board to shape organisational strategy and future development.

• Lead fundraising from trusts, foundations, corporate partners and other income sources.

• Oversee our community projects, ensuring they deliver expected outcomes.

• Support, coach and develop project staff and volunteers.

• Build strong partnerships across the voluntary, health and public sectors.

• Lead monitoring, evaluation and reporting to demonstrate our impact.

• Deputise for the Director when required.

• Take a practical, hands-on approach - providing operational support wherever it's needed. 

We're looking for someone who has:

• Experience in fundraising, service management or both, ideally within the charity and voluntary sector.

• Ideas to develop and grow our community work, and the confidence and project management skills to operationalise them. 

• Strong leadership skills and the ability to motivate and support others.

• Excellent relationship and partnership-building skills.

• A collaborative, adaptable approach with the confidence to switch between strategic thinking and practical delivery.

• A commitment to co-production, equity and user-led approaches.

Why join us?

This is a rare opportunity to help shape the future of a respected local charity while developing your own senior leadership experience.

You'll join a small, supportive team where your ideas will influence organisational strategy, new services and long-term sustainability. No two days are the same, and you'll have the opportunity to work across fundraising, operations, partnerships, governance and organisational development—making this an ideal stepping stone towards a Director or CEO role.

If you're looking for a leadership role where you can make a tangible difference to people's lives while broadening your skills and experience, we'd love to hear from you.

Our staff benefits include: 

• Flexible and hybrid working

• Generous holiday allowance of 28 days (pro rata) per year plus bank holidays, rising to 29 days after one years’ service

• Enhanced sick leave and pay

• Enhanced family leave and pay

• Ongoing opportunities for learning and professional development

• Employer pension contributions of 4%

• Life assurance cover equivalent to one year’s annual salary for members of our workplace pension scheme

York Travellers Trust (YTT) is seeking an inspiring, values-led Chief Executive to
lead our organisation through its next stage of development.

We work alongside the vibrant and resourceful Gypsy and Traveller communities of York and the surrounding area. We challenge discrimination and inequality, increase opportunities and life chances, and build bridges that promote understanding and community cohesion.

As Chief Executive, you will provide strategic leadership and hold overall responsibility for YTT’s performance, financial sustainability, governance, safeguarding and organisational development.

Working closely with our Board, staff and community members, you will:

 shape and deliver YTT’s strategic direction;
 strengthen our financial sustainability and develop new income opportunities;
 ensure our services remain effective, safe and responsive;
 build influential relationships with communities, funders, partners and
policymakers;
 champion the rights, needs and aspirations of Gypsy and Traveller
communities; and
 embed sociocratic and democratic ways of working so that community voices
genuinely shape our decisions.

We are looking for an experienced senior leader with a strong commitment to equality, social justice and community empowerment. You will have experience of leading in a charity, community organisation, public service or another values-led environment.

You will understand the strengths, needs and systemic barriers experienced by Gypsy and Traveller communities, gained through direct work with these communities or substantial experience alongside other marginalised groups.
You will combine strategic thinking with a collaborative, authentic and hands-on leadership style. You will also bring experience of managing people, working with a Board, overseeing finances, securing income and representing an organisation externally.

This is a rare opportunity to lead a trusted community organisation at an important point in its development. If you share our ambition for an inclusive, community-led and sustainable future, we would be delighted to hear from you.

The job description sets out the skills and experience we are looking for, but we know
that the right person may not tick every box. If you are passionate about our mission and bring significant relevant experience and the capacity to develop into the role, we would love to hear from you.

We are open to applications from people wishing to job share or looking for less than full-time hours; if this applies then let us know in your application.

The Talent Set is delighted to be partnering with the Henry Smith Foundation on the recruitment of a newly created Head of Digital Transformation role. This is a unique opportunity to lead a significant organisation-wide transformation programme and help shape how one of the UK's leading independent foundations uses digital, data and technology to maximise its impact.

As the Foundation continues to grow and evolve, it has recognised the need for a strategic leader who can bring together systems, data, technology and people into a clear and ambitious digital vision. This is an opportunity to build and lead a digital transformation agenda from the ground up, working closely with senior leaders, trustees, colleagues and external partners to create a more connected, data-informed and future-ready organisation.

The Opportunity

The Foundation has grown significantly over the last decade, with increasing organisational ambition and a more complex operating environment. Alongside core grant-making activities, the organisation has developed new programmes, partnerships and ways of working that require a more strategic approach to technology and data. While many systems and processes work well individually, the organisation is now seeking someone who can create a joined-up digital strategy that supports its long-term goals.

Reporting to the Director of Finance, Investments and Resources, you will lead the Foundation's digital, data and technology transformation programme. You will define and deliver a multi-year roadmap, oversee key technology and systems projects, and build digital capability across the organisation. Most importantly, you will help colleagues embrace change and ensure digital becomes part of how the organisation thinks and works every day.

This role offers a rare combination of strategic influence and practical delivery. The successful candidate will shape major decisions around systems, data, AI and organisational capability, whilst also working closely with colleagues to ensure solutions are adopted, embedded and delivering measurable benefits.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and delivery of the Foundation's digital, data and technology strategy and transformation roadmap.
• Drive organisation-wide improvements in systems, processes, data management and digital capability.
• Lead digital transformation projects from concept through to implementation and adoption.
• Champion effective use of technology, including Microsoft 365 tools, collaboration platforms and emerging AI opportunities.
• Build strong relationships across the organisation and act as a trusted advisor to senior leaders and stakeholders.
• Support colleagues through change by providing leadership, communication, training and coaching.
• Manage suppliers, consultants and implementation partners to ensure successful delivery of digital initiatives.
• Line manage the IT and Data Compliance Manager and provide strategic oversight of digital operations and governance.
• Create a culture of continuous improvement, innovation and digital confidence.

About You
We're keen to hear from candidates who have successfully led digital transformation programmes and understand that meaningful change is ultimately about people as much as technology.
You might currently be a Head of Digital, Head of Transformation, Digital Programme Lead, Technology Transformation Leader or similar, and will likely bring:

• A proven track record of leading organisation-wide digital transformation initiatives.
• Experience developing and delivering digital strategies and multi-year transformation roadmaps.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and influencing skills, with the ability to build credibility at all levels.
• Experience leading change, improving adoption of technology and developing digital capability across teams.
• The confidence to operate strategically whilst remaining hands-on when required.
• Strong project, programme and supplier management experience.
• The ability to translate complex technical concepts into practical, engaging and accessible conversations.
• A collaborative and relationship-focused approach, combined with resilience, pragmatism and curiosity.

The Foundation is particularly interested in candidates who can balance strategic thinking with practical delivery, and who understand how to introduce change at a pace that brings people with them rather than leaving them behind.

What's on Offer?
Salary: £67,000 - £70,000 per annum
Hours: Full-time, 35 hours per week (Part Time considered)
Contract: Permanent
Location: Hybrid, Attendance is expected at least 1 day per week in the Kings Cross office, but with some variation.

Interviews
First Stage Interview: Thursday 10th September
Second Stage Interview: Monday 14th September PM

How to Apply
To apply, please submit your CV demonstrating your suitability for this role by clicking the apply button. We aim to respond to all successful applicants within 48 working hours.

Commitment to Diversity
The Henry Smith Foundation are committed to diverse and inclusive recruitment practices, ensuring equal opportunities for all applicants regardless of race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, disability, or age. We actively encourage applications from a wide range of backgrounds and are always happy to make reasonable adjustments to ensure a fair recruitment process.

Requesting reasonable adjustments
We are committed to creating an inclusive recruitment process. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support you during the application or interview stages, please let us know. You can share your needs at any point in the process. Adjustments can be tailored to suit both physical and mental health needs. Our team will work with you to ensure you have what you need to perform at your best.

Our approach to candidates using AI in applications
We recognise that technology, including AI tools, can be helpful when preparing job applications, and we welcome the use of tools that support you in presenting your experience clearly. However, it’s important that your application genuinely reflects your own skills, experience, and voice. We therefore recommend reviewing any AI-generated content carefully to ensure accuracy and authenticity.

If you are invited to interview, we’ll want to hear directly from you about your skills and experiences. Any significant differences between your application and how you present yourself in person may negatively impact your application.

Who we are

Sabre Education is an international NGO which, since 2004, has been providing children in Ghana with the best possible early childhood education by partnering with government to implement play-based learning at scale. Sabre focuses on:

Influencing early childhood education (ECE) policy & practice.
Training teachers and school officials in quality early childhood education.
Transforming learning environments to facilitate positive play-based learning.
Sabre has directly trained more than 6,000 teachers and over 700 Ghana Education Service officials, transforming the early years education of more than 361,000 children through high-quality play-based learning. Our teacher training model has been successfully piloted and replicated across 17 districts in Ghana, with partners extending its reach to a further 48 districts.

Building on this success, the Ghana Government is now scaling play-based learning to every public kindergarten in the country, with Sabre as a technical assistance partner, training around 29,000 teachers and reaching an estimated 1.2 million children each year.

Sabre’s new 2026–2029 strategy builds on these achievements by expanding its impact to other countries across sub-Saharan Africa, sharing Ghana’s experience of successfully scaling play-based learning nationwide. Alongside this expansion, Sabre will continue its work in Ghana, implementing a bold early childhood education system-strengthening strategy in close partnership with the government and wider sector stakeholders.

About the role

This is a senior strategic position within the organisation, sitting on the senior leadership team, reporting to the CEO and working closely with colleagues across the UK and Ghana.

As the Director of Fundraising and Communications, you will lead on strengthening and building relationships with Sabre’s growing portfolio of key funders, including trusts, foundations, institutional and corporate donors. Working with leadership and the team, you will also deepen the charity’s profile, reputation and brand.

Key responsibilities include:

• Nurture excellent relationships with Sabre’s current donor community.
• Work with the fundraising team proactively to attract, cultivate, secure and steward grant funders.

• Work with the Senior Fundraising Manager to identify, cultivate and secure new institutional multi-year grants.
• Work closely with the CEO and SLT to develop other income streams when strategically beneficial.
• Provide strategic leadership for all of Sabre’s communications, profile-building and marketing agendas.
• Lead, develop and manage the fundraising and communications team of four.
• Contribute to the organisation’s overall strategic mission as a member of the SLT.

Who we are looking for

This is a leadership role for someone with a proven track record as a senior fundraiser with considerable experience in trusts, foundations and institutional funding and team management. Crucially, you will be passionate about our work in early years education and motivated by the opportunity to shape our fundraising and communications work.

We are also seeking someone with:

• Experience developing and implementing a growth fundraising strategy.
• Strong experience writing technical proposals.
• Outstanding leadership, mentoring and team-building abilities.
• Personal qualities of integrity, credibility and dedication.

Sabre Education is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community – a place where individual differences and contributions are truly recognised and valued.

We offer a range of inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements, staff engagement opportunities and other methods to support staff from different backgrounds.

Sabre is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or disability status.

Motivated to make a difference and connect communities through sport, you'll be a proactive natural connector who thrives on helping others succeed. With effective communication and organisational skills, you'll confidently support grassroots groups and build lasting impact across the South East. Join Sported as a Regional Delivery Officer and you could be playing a vital role in the heart of our Field Team.

About the role

As the key contact for Sported groups across Berkshire, Hampshire and Surrey, you'll play a vital role in helping community led organisations grow, become more sustainable and maximise their impact. You'll build effective relationships with these groups, understand their challenges and opportunities, and connect them to the support, resources and funding they need to thrive. This involves welcoming new groups to our network and supporting existing ones to develop.

Working closely with colleagues, volunteer consultants and partners, you'll help deliver projects and programmes that strengthens and develops them and creates positive outcomes for people and communities. You'll also contribute to volunteer engagement, partnership development, grant administration and project evaluation, while ensuring accurate records and data are maintained across your area.

 About You

Are you passionate about the power of sport to strengthen communities and change lives? We're looking for someone who is enthusiastic about supporting grassroots organisations, ideally within sport (but please still apply if not in the sport sector), and who shares our commitment to inclusion, equality and positive social change.

You'll be a confident relationship-builder with a proactive, solutions-focused approach and the ability to build trust with a wide range of people. Organised and able to manage competing priorities, you'll be comfortable working independently while contributing to a collaborative remote team. You will  also possessing a working knowledge of Microsoft 365 and have experience of database management. 

Apply to be part of our team

Benefits 

Joining Sported means becoming part of a passionate, supportive team dedicated to ensuring there are opportunities for everyone, improving health and wellbeing, ensuring communities are empowered. We believe in creating a positive environment not only for the people we support, but also for our colleagues. That's why we offer flexible, home-based working, generous annual leave, a pension scheme, wellbeing support, and opportunities to give back through paid volunteering days. With paid study leave, wellbeing days, and ongoing learning and development opportunities, you'll have the support you need to grow professionally while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. At Sported, you'll be part of an organisation where your contribution truly makes a difference.

Act with Integrity. Champion Inclusion. Transform Together. Drive Change.

We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, particularly candidates from ethnically diverse communities, LGBTQ+ communities, disabled people, and those with lived experience of tackling inequality. We believe diverse voices are essential to creating meaningful and lasting change.

Please see the job pack, where you’ll find details of roles and responsibilities, and required skills and experience.

The closing date for this role is 9am on 21st August

Sported is an equal opportunities employer, and we warmly welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. We particularly encourage applications from ethnically diverse, LGBTQ+ and disabled communities, as well as people with lived experience of tackling inequalities, because we value the insight and strength that diverse voices bring to creating meaningful change.

We want you to feel comfortable and supported throughout the recruitment process. If there is anything we can do to help make the process more accessible for you, please let us know. 

The Senior Legal Counsel is the first port of call for colleagues putting together and advising on new legal arrangements and documenting our leading health partnerships and fundraising activities. The Senior Legal Counsel works with the Foundation’s Legal team in providing legal advice and guidance for the Foundation’s innovative, impact-led programmes and activities, supporting our fundraising team alongside our fundraising compliance manager, and our work with Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust. This role also assists with varied internal governance and compliance matters. 

Key Responsibilities 

Charitable Partnerships (Impact on Urban Health) 

• Identify relevant legal and compliance considerations on projects and activities within the IoUH team and work with IoUH to put in place appropriate mechanisms or policies to manage issues that are identified. 
• Structure and assist colleagues with drafting and negotiating agreements for a wide variety of charitable partnerships, including commercial contracts, grants, IP licences, novel investment models, revenue-sharing arrangements and data agreements. 
• Act as a thought partner with the team to advise on the structuring, legal risks and strategic implications of partnerships and future opportunities. 
• Maintain and appropriately file correspondence and documentation relating to commercial contracts. 

Fundraising (Charities)

• Identify and advise on relevant legal and regulatory considerations in respect of our fundraising activities and work with our fundraising compliance manager and the fundraising team to ensure our fundraising activities are carried out in accordance with the relevant regulations.
• Drafting and supporting colleagues in negotiating a variety of fundraising agreements, including charity of the year agreements, commercial participation agreements, sponsorship agreements and pledge agreements.
• Advise on relevant governance matters relating to fundraising activities.
• Work closely with our fundraising compliance manager to ensure data protection aspects of our fundraising activities are managed appropriately. 

Procedure and Policy Efficiencies

• Draft, maintain and update our internal guidelines, policies and standard-form documents. 
• Create policy and process efficiencies. 
• Act as deputy data protection lead, supporting the primary data protection lead through providing training to colleagues and ensuring the Foundation’s mandated practice is understood and followed. 

Tailored Partnerships 

• Consider legal considerations, and appropriate processes, for working with certain partners (e.g. regulatory, private gain, data protection, policy), including advising on due diligence procedures and tailoring our standard form templates. 
• Work with cross-functional stakeholders on longer-term projects to change our partnership models to cede power to the communities we work with, whilst balancing this against our charity law obligations. 

Cross-Functional Work 

• Work with cross-functional stakeholders, including Policy, Influencing & Communications, Data, Evaluation & Learning and the Executive Team to advise on cross-team collaboration, opportunities, issues and risks relating to our charitable partnerships. 
• Assist teams such as Endowment, Systems, and People & Culture on their legal needs, including drafting, negotiating and agreeing documents and being the first port-of-call for a variety of legal issues. 
• Lead on specific projects for either individual directorates or cross-directorate projects. 
• Act as business partner to the Fundraising teams on a variety of issues, including advising and supporting them with drafting, negotiating and advising on a wide range of fundraising agreements. 
• Act as business partner to the Endowment team, ensuring they have the legal support required for the smooth running of their activities. 

Governance and Legal 

• Act as Company Secretary for the Foundation’s three subsidiary companies. 
• Work with the Foundation’s Legal Director & Company Secretary in advising colleagues on legal and governance matters.  
• Undertake research into specific legal issues or matters of best practice and provide training to Legal team colleagues on these issues. 
• Identify need for, organise and run training sessions on key legal and compliance issues to Foundation staff. 
• Deputise for the Legal Director & Company Secretary when required. 

Role responsibilities are not exhaustive, and you would be reasonably expected to take on wider tasks that are commensurate with the level of your role.

Skills, abilities, and attributes:

• Legal research skills 
• Self-starter who is adaptable, works with integrity, and exhibits the Foundation’s enterprising, collaborative and delivery-minded cultural and behavioural values 
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills  
• Detail oriented 
• Good interpersonal skills and able to effectively liaise with both internal and external communities 
• Problem solving skills, able to use initiative and actively seeks pragmatic solutions 
• Good planning and organisational skills, able to work to multiple prioritised tasks, targets and deadlines, with careful attention to detail 
• Team player, with an ability to create effective working relationships 
• Ability to embed diversity, equity and inclusion in everything we do 

Knowledge, experience, and qualifications: 

• Qualified, experienced solicitor (5-6 years PQE or equivalent)
• Experience in drafting and reviewing commercial contracts (Essential) 
• Preparation of guidance notes and training materials (Essential) 
• Sound knowledge of the law of England and Wales (Essential) 
• Familiarity with commercial contracts and contract law (Essential) 
• Experience in law and regulation within a fundraising environment (Highly Desirable)
• Experience in drafting and reviewing grant agreements (Desirable) 
• Familiarity with the charity sector and charity law (Desirable) 
• Some familiarity with health/social care/voluntary sector technical language and organisations (Desirable) 
• Some familiarity with basic financial and grants related terms and concepts (Desirable) 

Benefits

• Contributory pension
• Annual health and wellbeing personal allowance
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, and parental leave pay accessible without length of service requirements.
• Health and wellbeing programme that offers optional free yearly health check-ups.
• Support for healthy eating via fruit bowls and onsite lunch facilities. 
• Agile working, flexible hours, and supportive IT kit. 
• Shower facilities and bike lock area. 
• Generous annual leave (27 days + bank holidays)
• Subsidies for glasses
• Employee Assistance Programme

Position: Community Physical Activity Project Co-ordinator (MS Warrior Alumni Club)
Hours: Part-time, 14 hours a week
Contract: Fixed term until 31 March 2027
Location: Home-based, Scotland
Salary: £26,912 per annum FTE (£10,764.80 per annum for 14 hours per week) plus excellent benefits
Salary Band and Job Family: Band 1, Charity

About us

We make sure people living with MS are at the centre of everything we do and it’s this commitment that unites us across the UK.

Our strategy is based on what people affected by MS have told us is important to them. It gives us a clear and determined focus.

Our work is based on the hopes and aspirations of our MS community. Together we campaign at all levels, fund ground-breaking research and provide award winning support and information.

Our people are our greatest asset and the key to our success. We offer a vibrant, progressive working environment where you'll be able to make a difference.

About this job

Can you inspire people, build partnerships and create communities that help people living with MS thrive?

We're looking for someone who believes that peer support, movement and community can transform lives.

Thanks to funding from the Movement for Health Grant Scheme, we're creating an exciting new fixed-term role to develop the MS Warrior Alumni Club. Building on the success of the 12-week MS Warrior programme, you'll help create opportunities for people to remain active, connected and supported long after the programme ends through local activities, online communities and volunteer-led peer support.

Working alongside volunteers, people living with MS, healthcare professionals and community partners, you'll create opportunities that encourage ongoing physical activity, wellbeing and peer support across Scotland.

A key part of the role will be recruiting, supporting and developing a network of MS Warrior Alumni Champions. Using their own lived experience, these volunteers will encourage others to build confidence, overcome barriers to physical activity and become part of a supportive, community-led network.

You'll also develop partnerships with leisure providers, community organisations and healthcare professionals, creating more inclusive opportunities for people living with MS to be active in their local communities.

This is an opportunity to shape an innovative model that has the potential to influence how community-based physical activity and peer support are delivered for people living with MS across Scotland.

No two days will be the same. One day you might be facilitating a community conversation with people living with MS, the next you'll be supporting volunteers, developing new partnerships or helping launch a local wellbeing activity.

If you're passionate about community development, partnership working and helping people live well with MS, we'd love to hear from you.

Please note this is a part-time 14 hrs per week fixed term contract until 31 March 2027

Closing date for applications: 12:00 noon on 30 August 2026
Anticipated interview date: 10 September 2026

Interested?

PLEASE PRESS THE 'HOW TO APPLY' BUTTON FOR MORE INFORMATION.

Equal Opportunities 
We particularly welcome applications from people with disabilities and or from ethnic minority backgrounds.

We’d be grateful if you downloaded and completed the equality and diversity monitoring form and submit it with your application. 

Disability Confident Employer 
We’re a Disability Confident Employer and we’re committed to promoting equality and diversity.

You can ask for reasonable adjustments as part of both our recruitment and new starter on-boarding processes.

If you need any help or adjustments to apply for this role, please contact us. You can also ask for the application materials to be sent to you in a different format. Such as for them to be sent to you by email or in a larger word format.

More about our employee benefits:
We have a wide range of employee benefits including (but not limited to): 

Encouraging work life balance

• 38 days paid annual leave (including bank holidays), pro-rata for part-time
• More annual leave entitlement, based on length of employment
• Smart working options (with the opportunity to work remotely and find a smart working pattern that suits both you and us) 
• Flexible working options 

Caring for you and your family 

• Generous sick pay entitlement
• More sick pay entitlement, based on length of employment 
• Opportunity to buy and sell annual leave in each calendar year 
• Free access to a GP virtually 24 hours a day/7 days a week allowing you unlimited advice, reassurance and where appropriate diagnosis 
• Enhanced leave for new parents 
• Free access to a confidential 24 hours a day/7 days a week helpline service for both you and your family with a specialist range of support and information
• Special leave options (such as up to 5 days paid leave for domestic or personal emergencies a year)
• 10 days paid disability leave a year, pro-rata for part-time 
• 10 days paid carers’ leave a year, pro-rata for part-time 
• Cycle to work scheme 
• Death in service scheme
• New family-friendly benefits, including paid leave:
  • In the event of miscarriage or still birth 
  • To support fertility treatments
  • For antenatal appointments for both parents

Thinking about your finances 

• Enhanced salary sacrifice pension scheme
• Discounted season ticket loan and interest-free emergency loans
• Give as you earn to support other charities of your choice before tax
• New employee portal including lifestyle savings vouchers and personal wellbeing

Enriching your life at work

• Personalised development plans with a wide range of training courses and opportunities to source additional training options with your line manager
• Yearly internal apprenticeship opportunities
• New, modern offices that embrace working together both in-person and remotely 
• Various opportunities to influence how we internally operate (including surveys, and focus and committee groups) 
• Active and supportive internal employee networking groups for collaboration and peer support 
• 2 days paid leave a year for volunteering for MS Society activities during normal working hours (such as fundraising events, or campaigning in the local community) 
• 2 days paid leave a year for volunteering with other charities during normal

Safeguarding 
We’re committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of everyone who uses our services and we come into contact with.

This is regardless of Gender, Race, Disability, Sexual orientation, Religion or belief, Pregnancy, Gender reassignment.

We recognise our particular responsibility to make sure vulnerable adults and children are protected.

We have measures in place to protect everyone we come into contact with from abuse and maltreatment of all kinds.

Your right to work in the UK 
You must have the right to work in the UK to work in paid employment with us. You’ll need to share documents showing you’re eligible to work in the UK if we offer you employment.

You can find the UK visas and permits granting you the right to work in the UK on the UK Government website. We currently don’t have a Sponsor Licence agreement with the Home Office and aren’t able to support you with your visa applications.

No agencies please.

Senior Partnerships Officer

Do you have experience of successfully developing new major donor/client relationships or corporate partnerships, either in a charity or business environment? Are you confident in asking for and securing gifts or financial commitments?

If you do and have outstanding interpersonal and communication skills, then apply today and join a nature restoration charity, whose mission is to restore beavers to regenerate our landscapes.

Position: Senior Partnerships Officer

Location: Remote, resident in mainland Britain

Hours: Part-time; 3 days per week

Contract: Permanent

Salary: £29,403 per annum, pro rata

Closing Date: 9.00 am on Monday 24th August. We reserve the right to interview candidates and close the ad ahead of the closing date, should a strong candidate be identified.

Interview Date: Online interviews will be held on Monday 14th September. You will be asked to give a short presentation to the interview panel and may also be given a task to undertake prior to or during the interview.

About the Role

The Senior Partnerships Officer (SPO) will work closely with the Chief Executive (CEO) and Fundraising Lead (FL) to ensure the charity has sufficient funding to achieve its mission. This primarily involves developing new donor relationships and partnerships to grow fundraising income streams. The fundraising strategy focuses on high-value grants, gifts and partnerships. We recognise that the lines between major donors, corporate partners and family foundations are often blurred. Therefore, the charity have chosen not to silo work in this way and instead have created a new role focused on developing new relationships across all these income streams. The focus of the role is on ‘winning new business’ and will suit an entrepreneurial candidate with experience in business development, and/or building new corporate or philanthropic partnerships. 

Key areas of responsibility include:

• New business development - acquiring prospective donors and partners
• Solicit gifts
• Relationship management & stewardship
• Be part of the Beaver Trust fundraising team

About You

You will be entrepreneurial and a self-starter, driven to build a network of meaningful relationships with prospective donors and supporters. Able to work independently and make decisions with little supervision.

You will have:

• Excellent prospect research skills, and an understanding of the motivations of donors and how to use this insight to create persuasive propositions and deliver compelling pitches.
• Experience of successfully developing new major donor/client relationships or corporate partnerships, either in a charity or business environment.
• Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills and be able to interact confidently and persuasively in a range of settings with existing and prospective major donors and partners.
• Experience of representing an organisation’s interests and advocating for them.
• Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues to move donors, supporters and partner organisations along a donor journey, from initial contact and relationship building to soliciting a donation and ongoing stewardship.
• Knowledge of all relevant fundraising, data protection and other regulations.
• Resilience and be a problem solver, able to withstand negative reactions and find solutions.
• The ability to think strategically and translate ambitions into actionable plans and delivery.
• Highly competent IT skills, preferably Google Workplace, and high standards for visual content.

All shortlisted candidates will be contacted by Tuesday 1st September 2026. If you have not heard from us by this date, please accept our thanks for applying and assume that you were not shortlisted on this occasion.

About the Organisation

Join a nature restoration charity, restoring beavers to regenerate our landscapes. Our client’s team is small with a diverse skillset and extensive experience in beaver ecology and restoration, human-wildlife coexistence, and policy. They provide practical solutions to help people to co-exist with beavers and influence legislation in Scotland, Wales and at Westminster that rebuilds ecosystems, improves river health, and strengthens climate resilience in a time of ecological and climate crisis.

Benefits include:

• 25 days holiday, plus Christmas day through to New Year’s Day paid, plus 6 days of floating holidays.
• Flexible approach to hours of work.
• Travel, accommodation and subsistence expenses will be met by the trust in
• Pension contribution of 3% of your total pay each month
• One-off contributions toward the cost of an ergonomic office chair and toward purchases of essential devices (laptop, mouse and smartphone)
• Monthly home working allowance, plus an annual contribution toward the maintenance and/or replacement of the essential devices.

We are committed to inclusive recruitment and are happy to make reasonable adjustments at any stage of the process. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, especially those underrepresented in the environmental sector, including people of colour, disabled people, those from low-income backgrounds, LGBTQIA+ communities and all other protected characteristics

You may have experience in roles including Major Donor, Major Gifts, Corporate Partnerships, Major Donor Fundraiser, Major Gifts Fundraiser, Corporate Partnerships Fundraiser, Corporate Partnerships Lead, Senior Corporate Partnerships Officer.

Please note this role is advertised by the recruitment agency acting for the client, Not For Profit People. #INDNFP

We are looking for a Marketing Support Administrator to report to and support the Service Coordinator in the daily running of the charity which runs on a part-time basis. This is an exciting time for the charity as long-term funding has been secured.

Levenshulme Good Neighbours, (LGN) is a local charitable incorporated organization (reg 1163827) offering befriending services to socially isolated and lonely over 55-year-olds members of the Levenshulme local community. We do this by providing local volunteers to match locals struggling from a lack of social companions. We also host Sunday Luncheons and Slow-Moving Exercise classes. 

The Marketing and Support Administrator will be tasked with creating newsletters, data entry, management of client files, dealing with invoices, receipts, social media campaigns, attending promotional and communal events, creating board meeting agendas and other vital tasks to keep the charity running smoothly. We are hoping someone with an optimal outlook and positive attitude can join our team. This role would require someone with a passion for the cause; tackling social isolation and loneliness experienced by older people.

You will be governed by a friendly and diverse team of locals who share the same passion, come from diverse backgrounds and offer a lot of skills and insights into the field.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the creation and management of marketing materials using Microsoft PowerPoint and Excel
• Create regular social media posts about LGN activities, events, volunteers, and community impact
• Write short stories or case studies about members, volunteers, and the difference LGN is making
• Help promote events, activities, and volunteer opportunities locally and online
• Create simple posters, flyers, and social media graphics using Canva or similar tools
• Update information on the LGN site and social media pages
• Collect photos, quotes, and feedback from activities and events to use in newsletters and social media
• Help raise awareness of LGN and encourage more local people to get involved
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously, prioritising tasks effectively through excellent time management
• Maintain organised records of marketing activities, schedules, and reports
• Contribute to the development of marketing strategies by providing insights based on analysis skills
• ·Attend board meetings often, voicing the continual objectives and aims for the charity
• Supporting the ambassadorial function of the Service Coordinator at stakeholder meetings with the council, local councillors, grant funders, and possibly client referrers
• Call handling enquiries from referrers, locals, volunteer prospects
• Checking and sending off D B S forms for volunteer befrienders

Essential Skills And Qualities

• Experience in the charity sector within a marketing environment is advantageous
• Strong analysis skills with the ability to interpret data effectively
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, PowerPoint, and Word is essential
• High level of IT competency, including Google Suite and Microsoft Office
• Strong time management and ability to prioritise a varied workload
• Confident writing, editing, and presenting skills
• Flexible, self-motivated, and capable of working independently and as part of a small team
• Able to respond positively to challenges, feedback, and shifting priorities
• Demonstrates initiative, resilience, and the ability to handle pressure and competing deadlines
• Empathy and sensitivity to the challenges faced by individuals and communities
• A positive, can-do attitude and belief in the power of community development and organising
• Able to stay calm, use tact and diplomacy, and find constructive solutions to problems
• Data entry experience
• Leadership qualities with a proactive approach to problem-solving and team collaboration

Desirable Skills

• Capacity to work with wordpress com and update web pages
• Familiarity with accounting software
• Proficiency in creating leaflets, flyers, social media campaigns with programs such as Canva
• Previous experience in the charity sector
• Intermediate proficiency with Excel software
• Attention to detail in screening reports, accounts, budgets
• Report writing skills
• Bid writing experience

Benefits

First Aid Training, Professional Development, Hybrid working, working in a highly energetic environment alongside other charitable organisations for the betterment of society. There'll be opportunities to attend daytrips to coastal areas with staff from partner organisations and service users. Charity pension plan included. Apply by filling out a Marketing and Support Administrator Application Form.  We would love to hear from you. All the best.

For nearly 20 years, Lively Minds has been proving that parents are the sleeping giants of early childhood development. With strong evidence and a national scale proof point in Ghana, we have shown that parent powered approaches delivered through government systems can transform children's lives at scale.

We are now at a pivotal moment. We have the evidence, the model and the momentum, and we need the funding, profile and influence to match our ambition. This is a rare opportunity to lead income generation and external voice for an award winning NGO entering an exciting new phase of growth. You will lead our fundraising strategy and direct engagement with Funders ensuring that we maximise all funding opportunities as we continue our strategic evolution. You will also shape a compelling external narrative that will help position Lively Minds as the definitive partner for governments strengthening their early childhood development systems.

If you are an exceptional fundraiser and communicator who is equally comfortable in a strategic conversation and writing a winning proposal, we would love to hear from you.

Read the full advert and apply below. Closing date: 3rd September 2026.

About Lively Minds

Lively Minds is an award-winning NGO with nearly 20 years of experience designing, testing and scaling early childhood development (ECD) solutions across the Global South. Our core idea is simple but radical: parents are the sleeping giants of ECD. Governments and donors have long overlooked parents, assuming that poverty and low literacy make them unable or unwilling to support their childrenʼs development. We have spent two decades proving otherwise. With RCT-backed evidence and a national-scale proof point in Ghana, we have demonstrated that parent-powered approaches, delivered through government systems, can achieve meaningful child development outcomes at scale.

Our 2026–2028 strategy marks a pivotal shift. Having demonstrated what is possible, we are now helping pioneer an innovative model of country-led sustainable scale. Rather than delivering programmes ourselves, we provide lean, time-limited technical advisory support to governments to help them integrate parent-powered ECD into their own systems, budgets and institutions. We are currently working with the governments of Ghana, Uganda, Oromia state (Ethiopia) and The Gambia in 2026, growing to six or more country engagements by 2028. Our ambition is to catalyse a sector-wide shift, positioning Lively Minds as the definitive partner for governments seeking to strengthen their ECD systems.

Our scale strategy rests on three interdependent pillars: fixed-term Technical Advisory partnerships with governments; the development of a modular radio model simple and affordable enough for governments to adopt and fund independently; and an advocacy and sector influence agenda designed to make parent-powered ECD the norm globally.

Purpose of the Role

Lively Minds is at a critical inflection point. We have the evidence, the model and the momentum. We now need the funding, profile and sector influence to match our ambition. The Director of Fundraising and Communications is a priority hire, created to provide the dedicated, experienced leadership that this moment demands.

The Director will own and drive Lively Mindsʼ income generation, building new funder relationships, managing and deepening existing ones, and ensuring the organisation has the pipeline, discipline and quality of engagement to meet and exceed its fundraising targets. Working in close partnership with the Founding CEO, who retains ownership of a small number of long-standing strategic relationships, the Director will take primary responsibility for securing the funding that makes the 2026–2028 strategy deliverable, and that opens the door to greater scale beyond it. We need to raise approximately £3.4m over the next 3 years to deliver our strategy. But our ambition is to exceed that target so we can support additional governments.

Alongside fundraising, the Director will provide strategic leadership to Lively Mindsʼ communications and advocacy work, ensuring that the organisationʼs external voice is compelling and that we are building credibility in the spaces where funding decisions are made. The Director will lead and provide strategic coherence to a small but outward-facing team, including Head of Partnerships and Advocacy Lead who are active on the international stage. Lively Minds is committed to thought-leadership and active external engagement, but equally committed to ensuring that communications resource is deployed with discipline and rigour. The Director will set a clear strategic filter for where the organisation shows up, what it publishes and who it engages: prioritising focus and quality over volume, and always asking whether external activity is building the relationships and reputation that ultimately drive income and/or systems change.

Lively Minds is a dispersed, remote organisation. The Directorʼs team the Advocacy Lead, Development Manager and Communications Officer - are internationally distributed. The ability to lead, develop and maintain high standards across a dispersed team is essential. The role requires regular travel to international conferences and events.

Key Responsibilities

Fundraising Strategy & Income Generation

• Own and deliver the multi-year fundraising strategy with clear priorities, targets, income streams and a disciplined pipeline to support the 2026–2028 strategy and future scale
• Steward existing funder relationships, turning strong partnerships into long-term supporters, advocates and connectors to new funding opportunities.
• Lead the shift towards Big Bet and catalytic funding, personally cultivating and negotiating high-value, multi-year partnerships and positioning Lively Minds for system-level scale
• Maintain a high standard of fundraising quality, pipeline management and forecasting, while coaching the team to produce compelling, sophisticated fundraising materials
•  Build and continuously strengthen a diverse funding pipeline, identifying emerging opportunities, new funding markets and strategic partnerships that reduce concentration risk and support long-term financial sustainability

Communications, Brand & Advocacy

• Own and deliver Lively Mindsʼ communications and marketing strategy, balancing visibility and sector influence with the need to strengthen fundraising and systems-change objectives
• Partner closely with the CEO to shape and steward a coherent external narrative, brand and messaging framework across all audiences and channels
• Oversee high-quality core communications and fundraising materials, including cases for support, pitch decks, website content, proposals and donor reports
• Provide strategic communications expertise to Advocacy, Partnerships and MEL, ensuring evidence and learning are translated into compelling narratives and consistent external messaging
• Lead efforts to strengthen Lively Mindsʼ profile and thought leadership in the ECD sector, identifying opportunities for strategic media, events, publications and external platforms that reinforce its positioning and influence

Organizational Leadership&TeamDevelopment

• Contribute actively to SMT and organisational strategy, bringing funder intelligence, external perspective and communications expertise to strategic decision-making.
• Work closely with Finance and MEL to align fundraising targets, forecasting, budgets and evidence, ensuring proposals are credible, accurately costed and evidence-led
• Act as the organisationʼs communications subject matter expert, providing guidance and challenge to ensure high-quality, consistent external communications
• Lead and develop the Advocacy Lead, Development Manager and Communications Officer, fostering a team culture of quality, accountability, strategic clarity and continuous improvement
• Build strong cross-organisational collaboration, ensuring teams understand how fundraising, communications, advocacy and evidence work together to advance Lively Mindsʼ strategic priorities

Person Specification

Essential Experience & Skills

• 10+ years of significant senior-level fundraising experience within international development, education, philanthropy or a comparable sector
• Proven track record of securing major grants from foundations, institutional donors and high-net-worth individuals, alongside demonstrated experience securing or meaningfully progressing large-scale, catalytic funding from Big Bet philanthropy programmes such as the Audacious Project, Skoll Foundation or comparable funders. A strong understanding of what these funders look for and how to position an organisation compellingly within their processes is essential
• Exceptional fundraising writing skills, with the ability to personally develop compelling cases for support, funding proposals, award applications and pitch decks tailored to sophisticated impact funders. This is a hands-on role requiring both strong writing capability and the ability to coach others to consistently produce high-quality fundraising content
• Experienced in developing and owning a marketing and communications strategy, with a strong understanding of how to balance organisational visibility, thought leadership and sector influence with coherence, strategic focus and income generation
• Demonstrated ability to work closely with a Founding CEO to shape and steward the organisationʼs external narrative and brand. Comfortable working in a founder-led environment, providing expertise and constructive challenge while ensuring the organisation maintains a clear, consistent and coherent external voice

Desirable Experience

• Experienced fundraising for a technical advisory, systems change or government-facing organisation
• Knowledge of the ECD, education or early childhood sector and its funding landscape
• Familiarity with the Big Bang Philanthropy network or equivalent impact-focused funder communities
• Experience working alongside advocacy and partnerships teams, providing communications expertise and strategic coherence to their external activity
• Familiarity with the funding landscape for organisations operating in Sub-Saharan Africa
• Experience working remotely across multiple countries and effectively collaborating with cross-cultural teams

Behaviours & Ways of Working

• A doer, equally comfortable in strategic conversations and writing a funding proposal
• Sets a high bar for quality and clarity in all external communications and holds it consistently
• Builds a strong, trust-based partnership with the Founding CEO, provides honest challenge and operates effectively within a founder-led dynamic without losing their own voice or judgement
• Collaborative and cross-organisational. Invests in strong relationships with programme, MEL and finance colleagues, understanding that the best fundraising is grounded in organisational reality
• Calm and focused under pressure - able to manage competing priorities and maintain quality when the stakes are high

What We Offer

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience
• 25 days annual leave
• Health insurance
• Pension contribution
• Generous learning and development budget
• Flexible, remote working

Application Instruction

Interested candidates are encouraged to read the Job Description carefully before applying to ensure they understand the role and meet the required criteria.

To apply, please complete the pre-screening questions and submit your updated CV

PLEASE NOTE - Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Timeline

Closing Date: 3rd September 2026

Our Stance

Lively Minds operates a strict Safeguarding Policy and is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of children and vulnerable people. As part of our recruitment process, the suitability of successful candidates will be verified through appropriate background checks including professional references and police checks.

Lively Minds is fully committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and to providing equal opportunities throughout our recruitment process. We want this commitment to be reflected in the diversity of the people who work for us, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities, experiences and perspectives.

We are committed to ensuring that recruitment decisions are based on merit, skills, experience and suitability for the role, and that all candidates are treated fairly and with respect throughout the recruitment process.

Employment Details: 

• Location: Haringey (N17), London, UK. (This is an In-Person role with optional one day working remotely) 
• Job Title:  Director of Operations 
• Reporting to: CEO, with accountability to the Board of Trustees 
• Line Manages: Operations Co-ordinator and Finance Officer
• Employment Type: Full-Time (40hrs Per Week)
• Start date: October 2026 (Ideally, or later if you have a notice period) 

Benefits:

• Annual Leave: 25 days (Exclusive of Bank Holiday)
• 1 x WFH/flexi working as per policy
• CPD Budget: £1000
• Group Life Insurance
• Discount on Food (Specific Restaurants)
• Free Brunch every Thursday
• Company Well-being Events
• Pension Contribution

Summary of the role:
The Director of Operations is a pivotal senior leadership role at Sister System, responsible for strengthening the people, culture, systems and organisational foundations that enable our mission to thrive. Working closely with the CEO, Senior Leadership Team and Board of Trustees, the postholder will play a central role in delivering our current strategic priorities and shaping the next chapter of Sister System as we develop our future strategy beyond September 2027. 

This is a significant opportunity to help shape a growing, values-led organisation founded on co-curation, sisterhood, race & gender equity and the belief that girls and young women should be active architects of the services, systems and opportunities designed for them. With oversight of financial management, people and culture, compliance, risk and organisational infrastructure, the Director of Operations will lead on empowering & ensuring that our internal culture and ways of working reflect the same care, accountability, ambition and empowerment that sit at the heart of our model. 

The role will be instrumental in translating our founding vision into strong, sustainable practice, ensuring Sister System is equipped to grow its impact while remaining deeply connected to the voices, experiences and leadership of the girls and young women we exist to serve. 

Our Charity:
Sister System exists to ensure that care-affected girls and young women are not defined by the systems they have experienced, but are supported to recognise their strengths, shape their futures and access the same opportunities as their peers. 

Our culturally competent, co-curated model works alongside girls and young women aged 13–24 through a long-term journey of support, progression and leadership. Across three interconnected stages, we provide trusted relationships, mentoring, therapeutic support, education, leadership development and pathways into employment. Our approach recognises that meaningful change takes time, consistency and a community that continues to believe in her. 

Founded with girls and young women, not simply for them, Sister System places their voices, experiences and ambitions at the heart of everything we do. Through our growing hub-and-spoke model, we are expanding our reach while also influencing the wider systems, services and institutions that shape their lives. 

Our ambition is not only to improve individual outcomes, but to demonstrate a better way of working with care-affected girls and young women—one that is relational, culturally responsive, asset-based and built around what they tell us they need to thrive. 

As Sister System enters its next phase of growth and prepares to shape its future strategy, we are seeking an experienced and values-led Director of Operations to join our Senior Leadership Team. This is an exciting opportunity to strengthen the people, culture, systems and infrastructure that will enable our organisation—and the girls and young women alongside us—to achieve even more. 

Our Vision: 
A world where empowered girls reach their potential through equitable opportunities.

Our Mission: 
To bridge the gap between care-affected girls and young women within mainstream society by working alongside them to ensure they have the same opportunities that everyone else has – at home, school, work and within our communities. 

Our Values: 

• COLLABORATIVE 
  We co-curate programmes with our Sis-Stars. We seek powerful partnerships. 
• EVIDENCE-BASED 
  We build trust and respect within our sector. 
• MASTERFUL 
  We aim for excellence as standard and share our learning. 
• SOLUTION-FOCUSED 
  We innovate to overcome challenges with a long-term goal in mind. 
• TENACIOUS 
  We are not afraid to take a stand and push for change. 

 
Key Responsibilities 

Strategic Leadership and Implementation 

• Work closely with the CEO, Senior Leadership Team and Board of Trustees to translate Sister System’s strategy, theory of change, operational model and financial plans into clear organisational priorities and coordinated action. 
• Play a central role in shaping Sister System’s next strategy ahead of the September 2027 refresh, ensuring it reflects our founding commitment to co-curation, the voices of girls and young women, our evolving three-stage model and our future growth ambitions. 
• Lead the development of proportionate planning, monitoring and review processes that enable the Senior Leadership Team to track progress, reflect on performance, identify barriers and remain accountable for delivery. 
• Monitor progress against agreed strategic goals and KPIs, ensuring that risks, dependencies and areas requiring leadership attention are clearly identified and addressed. 
• Support senior leaders to turn strategic priorities into realistic plans, with clear ownership, timescales and measurable outcomes. 
• Ensure that learning from delivery, impact data, staff experience and the voices of girls and young women inform strategic decision-making and organisational improvement. 
• Cultivate a strong shared sense of purpose across Sister System, helping colleagues understand how their roles contribute to our mission, values and long-term ambitions. 

Financial Strategy and Audit 

• Work closely with the CEO, Senior Leadership Team and Board of Trustees to shape, implement and regularly evaluate Sister System’s financial strategy, ensuring it supports our mission, strategic ambitions and long-term sustainability. 
• Provide clear, financial recommendations to the CEO, helping the organisation navigate the balance between delivering high-quality, meaningful impact for girls and young women, achieving value for money and maintaining financial resilience. 
• Translate Sister System’s strategic priorities, delivery model and growth ambitions into realistic financial plans, forecasts and scenarios that support timely and well-informed decision-making. 
• Lead financial scenario planning and ensure that the CEO and Board have a clear understanding of the financial implications, risks and trade-offs associated with key organisational decisions. 
• Lead and oversee the annual audit process, working effectively with external auditors, the finance team, senior leaders and the Board to ensure a robust, timely and transparent process. 
• Ensure that learning and recommendations arising from audits, financial reviews and assurance activity are translated into clear improvements and strengthened organisational practice. 

Financial Management 

• Lead the development, monitoring and management of annual budgets, reforecasts and longer-term financial plans, ensuring resources are aligned with Sister System’s strategic priorities. 
• Hold and actively manage the tension between quality, impact, affordability and value for money, ensuring financial decisions protect the integrity of Sister System’s model and the experience of the girls and young women we serve. 
• Provide the CEO, Senior Leadership Team and Board with clear, accessible and timely financial information, insight and recommendations to support effective leadership and governance. 
• Produce high-level financial reports and analysis covering budgets, cash flow, reserves, forecasts, strategic KPIs and other relevant performance indicators. 
• Maintain and continuously strengthen proportionate financial systems, controls and processes that reflect Sister System’s size, stage of growth and evolving operating model. 
• Ensure that robust financial and performance-reporting infrastructure is in place, with clear accountability, reliable data and appropriate oversight across the organisation. 
• Support Directors and budget holders to understand their financial responsibilities, manage resources effectively and make informed decisions within agreed parameters. 
• Identify emerging financial risks, pressures and opportunities for greater efficiency, advising the CEO on appropriate actions and ensuring these are monitored and addressed. 
• Oversee high quality bookkeeping practice to ensure reporting is accurate and up to date. 
• Work with the fundraising team to develop budgets for proposals and create timely financial reports for funders and donors 

Culture and Operational Effectiveness 

• Work closely with our People and Culture consultant, CEO and Senior Leadership Team to shape and embed a progressive, inclusive and high-performing organisational culture aligned with Sister System’s values: Collaborative, Evidence-based, Masterful, Solution-focused and Tenacious. 
• Champion a culture of regular, honest and constructive feedback, helping managers and colleagues to hold crucial conversations with clarity, care and accountability. 
• Ensure that Sister System’s internal culture reflects the relational, empowering and values-led approach that sits at the heart of our work with girls and young women. 
• Review existing organisational processes and workflows, identifying practical opportunities to improve clarity, consistency, collaboration and efficiency. 
• Develop and embed proportionate ways of working that support Sister System’s current size, evolving operating model and future growth. 

People Planning and Management 

• Lead the development of a clear and forward-looking people plan that ensures Sister System has the right structure, capacity, capabilities and leadership in place to deliver its strategic ambitions. 
• Support managers to build high-performing teams through effective objective-setting, regular feedback, performance management and professional development. 
• Foster an environment in which people are supported to grow, appropriately challenged and held accountable for delivering against agreed expectations. 
• Facilitate professional learning, career development and progression across the organisation, ensuring that opportunities are transparent, equitable and aligned with organisational need. 
• Oversee workforce and succession planning, ensuring that the organisational structure remains appropriate, affordable and responsive to Sister System’s development. 
• Work with the CEO and relevant advisers to ensure fair and appropriate pay, benefits and working conditions. 
• Oversee recruitment and the end-to-end employee experience, from attraction and onboarding through to development, retention and exit. 
• Ensure that people policies, practices and management approaches are legally compliant, consistently applied and reflective of Sister System’s values. 

Compliance and Risk Management 

• Ensure that Sister System meets its legal, regulatory and governance responsibilities as a charity and employer. 
• Lead the development and maintenance of a proportionate organisational risk-management framework that protects Sister System’s people, assets, reputation and ability to deliver its mission. 
• Ensure that key organisational risks are clearly identified, owned, monitored and reported to the CEO, Senior Leadership Team and Board of Trustees. 
• Promote a culture in which risk is understood and actively managed without limiting thoughtful innovation, learning or ambition.

Governance, Communications and Facilities 

• Facilitate clear, timely and effective communication and cooperation between the Board of Trustees, CEO and Senior Leadership Team. 
• Support the development of strong governance systems, ensuring that trustees receive the information, insight and assurance required to fulfil their responsibilities effectively. 
• Work closely with trustees through the Finance and Audit committee 
• Oversee the organisation’s IT infrastructure and digital systems through external providers, ensuring that they remain secure, reliable and appropriate for Sister System’s needs. 
• Oversee the effective operation of Sister System’s physical workspace within a fully managed office environment, working with building management and relevant external providers where required. 
• Ensure that Sister System provides a safe, welcoming and accessible environment for girls and young women, staff, volunteers, visitors and partners across its hub, spoke locations and external activities. 
• Ensure that appropriate health and safety systems, procedures and responsibilities are understood, implemented and regularly reviewed. 

Person Specification 
We are seeking an experienced, dynamic and values-led operational leader to join Sister System’s Senior Leadership Team. You will combine sound judgement and strong organisational skills with a warm, collaborative leadership style and a genuine commitment to improving outcomes for care-affected girls and young women. 

You do not need to be a specialist in every area of the role. You will, however, need the confidence and experience to lead across a broad operational portfolio, work effectively with professional advisers and external providers, and provide clear, practical advice to the CEO, Senior Leadership Team and Board of Trustees. 

Essential Experience and Knowledge 

• Significant experience in a senior operations, finance, people, governance or organisational leadership role within a charity, social enterprise or similarly values-led organisation. 
• Experience of translating organisational strategy into clear priorities, plans, systems and measurable outcomes. 
• Experience of developing and managing organisational budgets, forecasts and financial reporting, with the ability to balance quality, impact, affordability and value for money. 
• Experience of supervising or coordinating an external audit process, working effectively with auditors, finance colleagues and the Board. 
• Experience of people planning, performance management and supporting managers to build capable, accountable and high-performing teams. 
• Experience of developing or improving organisational systems, processes and ways of working during a period of growth or change. 
• A sound understanding of charity governance, organisational risk, compliance and the responsibilities of senior leaders and trustees. 
• Experience of working collaboratively with a CEO, senior leadership colleagues, trustees, consultants and external professional advisers. 
• A strong understanding of equity, inclusion and anti-discriminatory practice, and the ability to embed these principles within organisational culture and decision-making. 

Skills and Leadership Approach 

• An approachable, emotionally intelligent and credible leader who can build trust, motivate others and develop effective working relationships across an organisation. 
• The ability to lead with both care and accountability, supporting open feedback and helping colleagues to hold constructive and sometimes crucial conversations. 
• Strong strategic thinking, with the ability to understand the wider organisational picture while maintaining oversight of important operational detail. 
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to present complex financial, people or operational information clearly and accessibly. 
• Strong organisational and project-management skills, with the ability to prioritise competing demands, meet deadlines and maintain momentum. 
• Sound judgement and the confidence to provide constructive challenge, identify risks and offer clear recommendations to the CEO and Board. 
• A practical and solution-focused approach, with the ability to move from discussion and planning into coordinated action. 
• The ability to handle sensitive, confidential and personal information professionally and in accordance with Sister System’s policies, data-protection responsibilities and GDPR. 
• Energy, curiosity and enthusiasm for strengthening an ambitious organisation as it prepares to shape and deliver its next strategy. 

Values and Commitment 

• A demonstrable commitment to Sister System’s mission and to improving the opportunities, experiences and outcomes of care-affected girls and young women. 
• The ability to model and champion Sister System’s values: Collaborative, Evidence-based, Masterful, Solution-focused and Tenacious. 
• A commitment to co-curation and to ensuring that the voices, experiences and leadership of girls and young women inform organisational planning and decision-making. 
• A commitment to continuous learning, reflective practice and personal and professional development. 

Desirable 

• Lived experience of the care system, or a strong professional understanding of the experiences of care-affected girls and young women. 
• Experience of working within a founder-led organisation or alongside a founder CEO. 
• Experience of supporting an organisation through growth, restructuring or the development of a new strategy. 
• Knowledge of culturally competent, trauma-informed or relational approaches to working with young people. 
• A relevant professional qualification or equivalent experience in operations, finance, human resources, governance or organisational leadership. 
• Experience working with social care and educational service providers (statutory and third sector). 
• Knowledge of the Charity SORP, Charity Commission reporting requirements, and other third-sector financial regulation. 

Sister System is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

This post is subject to two satisfactory reference checks and DBS enhanced disclosure.

How to apply

Please apply via our recruitment platform Breathe by 31st August 2026. You will be asked to upload your CV and answer the following questions:

Values alignment 
Sister System's model is built on co-curation (working with girls and young women, not simply for them) and on being Collaborative, Evidence-based, Masterful, Solution-focused and Tenacious. Which of these values do you feel most aligned with, and which do you find hardest to live up to in practice?
 
People & Culture
Sister System is a founder-led organisation, underpinned by race and gender equity and a culturally competent, trauma-informed approach to working with girls and young women. Tell us about a time you strengthened internal culture of this nature within a team. What resistance did you meet, and what was different a year later?

Finance 
A key element of the role is monitoring income against budget for current and future years. Charity income can provide additional complexities, particularly with different types of grants. Please explain your understanding of these complexities, and how they impact on recording and reporting, including examples from your own experience if relevant. 

Timeline
Deadline for applications: End of day Monday 31st August 2026 
First round interviews: w/c 7th September 
Second round interviews: w/c 14th September
Decisions made: by 22nd September 

Thank you for your interest in joining Sister System in our mission to inspire and empower young women.