Union support assistant jobs in Manchester
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Who are we?
NUS is a confederation of over 440 students’ unions representing just under 4m students and apprentices across Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and Wales. In Scotland, there are over 40 students’ associations representing 460,000 students.
NUS Charity is an exciting organisation developing and championing strong students’ unions. We connect our members and curate services to deliver advice, guidance and crisis support to students’ unions.
We do professional differently. We are a progressive charity representing students’ unions across the UK. The sector is inclusive, fun, dynamic and representative and we put students and students’ unions at the heart of everything we do. We are challenging but are committed to creating a supportive and flexible environment which pushes your personal development in your everyday activity.
What we do
Students’ unions can be transformational hubs for students, staff, and wider society. NUS Charity support our member’s development to enhance their capacity and harness opportunities to maximise their positive impact. We do this in many ways, from managing a purchasing consortium to drive great value for our members, to our development activity, supporting the best potential in students’ unions - we strive to make a difference to our members.
The student movement is fast-paced and sometimes challenging, but we’re also a big family who support each other.
We’re see anti-oppression as central to our mission. Education isn’t working unless it’s working for everyone in our society. We’re trans inclusive without exception. And we welcome individuals who are up for taking active responsibility for their own ongoing learning on liberation, equity, diversity and inclusion.
What’s the job?
The Trading Support Assistant role is a full time, permanent post within the Trading Support Department. Your purpose will be to provide administrative support to the central billing team, working across several different teams, and getting relevant information from suppliers where required. In this role, you will provide administrative support to the trading support team and review product lines, inputting and checking information across multiple systems. This will involve taking in information from different sources and entering it into a variety of different systems, making attention to detail and logic crucial skills for success. You will also act as one of the points of contact within NUS’s relationship with students’ unions who are part of the purchasing consortium and with administrative service providers, such as Focus IT. Furthermore, you will act as one of the points of contact within NUS’s relationship with suppliers to ensure that relevant sustainability information is provided through the tender processes. You will report to the Central Billing Manager.
Other responsibilities include maintaining awareness of and acting within agreed processes and procedures for central billing and contract administration, undertaking all necessary duties and activities to deliver the role’s responsibilities, alerting the Central Billing Manager to any barriers encountered and contributing to the successful resolution of any issues. You will also be expected to actively engage in individual and team professional development activities, carry out responsibilities in a resource-efficient manner, and adhere to NUS policies and practices, actively supporting and promoting the NUS vision, mission and objectives.
Who you are
To succeed in this role, you’ll need to demonstrate a comprehensive blend of experience, knowledge, skills, and attributes. Essential qualifications and experience for this position include A level equivalent experience and Microsoft Office Word and Excel experience. You must possess good IT knowledge, including Outlook, good data entry skills, and the ability to demonstrate good communication skills. The ability to work with little supervision is essential, as is being organised, logical, and analytical in all aspects of work. Finally, regarding attributes, you must demonstrate a commitment to being an active part of an environment that promotes equality of opportunity whilst recognising and valuing diversity, and the ability to keep focused and maintain a high level of attention to detail.
This is a full time, permanent post. Your normal place of work will be Stockport, and we support hybrid working and flexible working requests.
Why apply?
As well as a great place to work, we offer a range of benefits including:
- Generous holiday entitlement (starting at 27 days per year rising with service to 30 days, pro rata for part time)
- Enhanced sick, maternity, paternity, shared parental and adoption pay
- Paid volunteer days
- Health Cash Plan
- Pension scheme with employer matched contributions up to 6%
- Employee Assistance Scheme
- Cycle to Work Scheme
- Childcare Allowance
- Paid volunteering days- three days per year for full time staff
We aim to practice what we preach and offer a flexible person-centered working environment. We are open to considering requests for job-share or part-time working/ We are open to exploring flexible working patterns.
We’re committed to equality of opportunity for all and we are explicitly trans inclusive. We welcome applications from individuals regardless of their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, age, gender, or disability.
You can be yourself here whoever you are, be proud of the work you do and build a career in a place that knows different is good.
Please apply via our online application form, we are unable to accept CVs. If you are unable to complete or application due to accessibility needs please contact [email protected].
Closing date for applications is 21st August 2026
If you’re successfully shortlisted we’ll see you at an interview on 1st September 2026
Department
Trading Support
Contract type
Permanent
Hours
35
Salary
£25,091
Benefits
As well as a generous annual leave entitlement, we also have a range of policies focused on promoting work life balance. We offer other benefits including pension, EAP scheme and discounts.
ref-229962
Start date: December 2026
Timeline:
- Application deadline: 13 August 0900
- Initial phone interview: 14 August
- First panel interviews: 20 August (online)
- Written task: wk/c 24 August (online, 1 hour)
- Final panel interviews: 8 September (in person, London)
Full-time 37.5 hours per week.
Remote with international travel
Salary and benefits:
- £98,800 per annum pro rata
- 10% employer pension contribution
- 25 days annual leave, bank holidays on dates of your choice, a week of office closure in August and December
- Flexible working and other benefits (here)
About us
Foxglove is a non-profit that exists to make the use of technology fair for all. When Big Tech companies abuse their power, their workers or the planet – and when governments use technology to oppress, exclude or discriminate – we litigate and campaign to fix it.
Big Tech companies have become so large – gobbling up a huge slice of the global marketplace and an unprecedented treasure hoard of user data – that they’re now more powerful than many states. The harmful effects of this concentration of power are everywhere – threats to our democracy, to our privacy, decimated workers’ rights and platforms rife with disinformation and hate. Big Tech and AI data centres are rapidly expanding, resulting in huge strain on energy and water supplies. Worldwide governments are ploughing ahead with the use of algorithms and mass data systems to cut costs and increase efficiency often resulting in digital tools that entrench unfairness and leave the most vulnerable in society in crisis. All these problems are only getting worse with generative AI.
Foxglove works to bring the rule of law to the tech and AI giants who have upended our public square, workplaces, and social lives. We have a strong track record. We’ve launched landmark cases seeking structural changes to big tech’s harmful business models, supported 180+ Facebook content moderators fired for trying to form a union to sue Facebook. We’ve supported tech workers and their unions to file cases challenging union busting at Google, Amazon and TikTok. We urged state regulators worldwide to stop Google’s theft of independent news. We won the UK’s first legal challenge to a data centre permission decision and filed the first such case in South Africa. We forced disclosure of secret contracts between tech giants and the NHS, stopped a racist Home Office visa streaming algorithm, helped make grading fair for UK A-level students and challenged the Department of Work and Pension’s use of an algorithm unfairly flagging disabled people for benefit fraud investigations. We have much more in the works and we hope you want to join us.
We are a small but growing team of lawyers, communications experts, and campaigners. Our work is global, and we work in partnership with lawyers, civil society, unions, and people impacted by Big Tech.
About you
You are an experienced social change leader who thrives at the intersection of politics, law and communications. You know that court wins alone don't create lasting change – it takes a compelling public narrative and a movement to back it up. You're energised by the prospect of what a well-run Foxglove can bring to the fight for tech justice and thrive in fast-moving environments and complex coalitions – holding a room, building a movement, and keeping a small team motivated and focused. You are a self-starter with the judgement to prioritise and the generosity to support others. You understand that Foxglove's power comes from the communities we work with as much as the cases we bring. If that's you, and the Foxglove mission excites you, we would love to hear from you.
The role
This is a fixed-term parental leave cover post for 1 year. The post holder will step into the co-Executive Director role with co-responsibility for Foxglove's strategy, impact, advocacy, operations, fundraising and public facing work. The post holder will work very closely with Foxglove’s other co-Executive Director and will make all sizable decisions about Foxglove together. UK and international travel (approx. 20%) is required.
Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Strategy, Leadership and Impact
1.Serve as a member of Foxglove's leadership team, helping to set direction across the organisation.
2.Work closely with the co-Executive Director and Director of Advocacy to align Foxglove's legal, advocacy and operations work.
3.Represent Foxglove externally: to the press, at events, with funders (trusts, foundations & individual donors), members of parliament and with policymakers and allies.
4.Help ensure communities', workers' and affected individuals' voices are at the centre of all of Foxglove's work.
5.Champion a culture of impact, monitoring and evaluation across the organisation, ensuring Foxglove can clearly demonstrate the change it is achieving internally and externally.
6.Use monitoring and evaluation insight to sharpen strategic decision-making – learning from what's working (and what isn't) to keep Foxglove's campaigns and casework focused on change for the people and communities we support.
Advocacy and Campaigns
1.Oversee the work of Foxglove's advocacy team (led by our Director of Advocacy) and shape our overall approach to campaigning across digital, media and grassroots channels.
2.Build and maintain relationships with a wide range of allies – civil society organisations, unions, policymakers, regulators, journalists, academics, and international partners – to strengthen Foxglove's reach and influence.
3.Spot and pursue new opportunities for campaigns, litigation, coalition-building and advocacy, keeping Foxglove responsive to a fast-changing tech and policy landscape.
4.Act as a public voice for Foxglove's work – engaging with the press, media and public platforms as required to advance our work.
Operations and Organisational Management
1.Oversee Foxglove's day-to-day operations, ensuring the organisation runs smoothly and effectively.
2.Manage and support staff across the organisation, providing clear leadership and creating a positive team culture.
3.Oversee financial management in partnership with relevant staff, ensuring responsible stewardship of Foxglove's resources.
4.Ensure compliance with Foxglove's policies and obligations to donors, partners and statutory bodies.
5.Line management of Director of Advocacy, Head of Operations, Digital Campaigner, Operations and Executive Assistant and peer support the other co-Executive Director.
Fundraising and Donor Relations
1.Oversee and lead Foxglove’s fundraising and donor relations in partnership with relevant team members.
2.Drive Foxglove’s fundraising strategy that diversifies Foxglove's income across foundations, major donors and other funding sources.
3.Build and maintain strong personal relationships with key funders and major donors, serving as Foxglove's primary external contact for funders.
4.Identify and cultivate new funding prospects aligned with Foxglove's mission, including researching and pursuing grant opportunities.
5.Oversee the preparation of compelling funding proposals, reports, and impact updates, ensuring funders have a clear and accurate picture of Foxglove's work and results.
6.Set and track annual fundraising targets in collaboration with the co-Executive Director and finance team, ensuring income projections align with organisational budgets and plans.
7.Represent Foxglove at donor meetings, briefings, and sector events to build the organisation's profile and credibility within the funding community.
8.Ensure fundraising practices reflect Foxglove's values and independence.
Person Specification
Essential
- A strong interest in tech justice and Foxglove's mission.
- Significant (5+ years) experience at CEO level.
- Experience managing and motivating a team, with a track record of supporting people to do their best work.
- A brilliant fundraising track record and experience in financial management.
- Excellent communication skills – you can write persuasively, clearly and concisely, hold a press conference, and brief a politician, all in the same day.
- Strong political judgement and an ability to navigate complex stakeholder landscapes.
- Experience in organisational management or operations, including oversight of budgets and financial processes.
- A self-starter who is able to work independently and take initiative, while contributing generously to a shared team goal.
- Excellent time management skills of yourself and others – able to prioritise a complex workload and work to tight deadlines.
- Willingness to muck in and support other members of a small team as required.
- UK based with right to work in the UK.
Desirable
- Experience working on technology, digital rights, or AI.
- Legal qualification or equivalent advocacy leadership experience.
- Experience working with a wide range of groups and partners from impacted communities, civil society groups, unions, associations and small businesses.
- Experience working with or alongside legal teams in a campaigning or advocacy context.
- Experience working with unions or impacted communities.
Length and Salary
This is a fixed-term parental leave cover contract of 12 months. The annual salary is £98,800 per annum pro rata less any required deductions for income tax and national insurance. Please note our pay is transparent and non-negotiable.
Our team works remotely; this role must be based in the UK, ideally London. Our team travels every two months for team days and annually for team retreats.
Please note we are only accepting UK based applicants for this role. Applicants must already have right to work in the UK, unfortunately we are not able to provide visa sponsorship.
How to apply
Please make your application via the Be Applied link provided, answering the application questions and uploading your CV. We will not review applications sent via a job board or to our email.
All applications are reviewed by a Foxglove member of staff. We do not use automated systems to select which candidates proceed through the recruitment process. The only way in which we will use generative AI is as a comparison, to assess whether applications may have been AI generated. We do not otherwise use AI to process applications, and would request that candidates do not use generative AI to draft theirs.
Foxglove is growing and we are striving to build a team that is inclusive. We will create a diverse and adaptable environment where we support people to do their best work. We believe an effective and creative team is made up of people from different walks of life. You can read more about how we work and what we offer our staff on our website.
If any part of this process causes you difficulty or you require any reasonable adjustments to make your application, please get in touch with us via our website.
If you would like to know more about how we process your data as part of the recruitment process you can read our recruitment data use policy on our website
Foxglove is an independent non-profit organisation that fights to make tech fair.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
START are recruiting for an Operations Manager.
Job Title: Operations Manager
Location: Salford
Employer: START
Hours: 4 Days per week (28 hours) worked across Monday to Friday, specific work pattern to be agreed, with flexibility required)
Salary Band: £33,860 - £40,000 FTE (£27,088 - £32,000 per annum actual for 28 hours per week)
Contract Type: Permanent
Pension: 5% employer contribution
Annual Leave: 30 days plus statutory holidays (pro rata for part-time staff)
About Us
START is a Salford based mental health charity, of over 30 years, that uses creativity, connection and recovery interventions to help improve people's lives.
Job Overview
We are looking for an experienced, proactive and highly organised Operations Manager to join our Senior Leadership Team. This is an exciting opportunity to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of START by ensuring the organisation operates safely, efficiently and in line with best practice.
Core Responsibilities
As Operations Manager, you will oversee the day-to-day operational management of the charity, leading on health and safety, facilities management, information governance, H.R, organisational policies and procedures, and the continuous improvement of our operational systems. You will also manage operational staff, lead key organisational projects and work collaboratively with colleagues, trustees, partners and external contractors to support the delivery of our strategic objectives.
This varied and rewarding role requires a confident leader with excellent organisational, communication and problem-solving skills, who can manage multiple priorities while maintaining high standards of compliance and service delivery. You will be passionate about creating efficient systems, fostering a positive working environment and ensuring the organisation remains compliant with relevant legislation and best practice.
Additional Information
If you are an experienced operational leader who thrives on driving improvement, building strong relationships and supporting an organisation that makes a real difference in people's lives, we'd love to hear from you.
Closing date for receiving applications will be Tuesday 18th August 2026 at 12 noon.
PLEASE PRESS THE 'HOW TO APPLY' BUTTON FOR MORE INFORMATION.
START are committed to equality of opportunity, to eliminating discrimination and to creating an inclusive working environment for all. With this in mind, we welcome applications irrespective of age, disability, race, religion and belief, gender identity, sex or sexual orientation
No agencies please.

