Development director jobs
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Lead quality and innovation in adoption – and make a lasting impact.
Position: Adoption Quality and Development Lead
Location: Based in Reading with hybrid working arrangements
Contract: Permanent role. Full time (37 hours per week) or part-time (4 days per week may be considered).
Salary range: Starting Salary Range from £49934 to £58256
About the role:
This is an exciting opportunity to join our team in a newly created position which is a reflection of our dedication to ensure the highest standards of quality and continuous improvement across our adoption services.
The Adoption Quality and Development Lead plays a key role in supporting the delivery of high-quality adoption and adoption support services. The post holder will lead on quality assurance activities, policy development, complaints investigations, and specific projects, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and contributing to continuous improvement. They will be one of PACT’s agency decision makers. They will also manage projects such as the birth relatives project and support digital and training initiatives. The role requires collaboration across teams, liaison with external agencies, and occasional cover for Team Managers.
About you:
We are looking for a qualified and registered social worker with substantial post-qualification experience in adoption and children’s services, including quality assurance and inspection preparation. You will have excellent knowledge of adoption legislation and standards, strong analytical and organisational skills, and the ability to influence and advise at all levels.
This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who is passionate about driving quality and innovation in adoption services. You will have access to learning and professional development opportunities and the chance to make a real difference to the lives of children and families.
We realise that this may be a role that is unique to PACT. Other relevant roles you may have experience of could include: Team Manager; Adoption Team Manager; Adoption Practice Manager; Practice Manager; Adoption Service Manager; Service Manager; Quality Assurance Manager; Social Work Team Lead; Social Work Team Manager etc
About PACT:
PACT is a long-standing, established charity and has been building and strengthening families since 1911. We have a long history of providing adoption services and specialist adoption support for life. As an independent adoption charity, PACT has been rated outstanding by Ofsted three times in a row in 2014, 2017 and 2023.
PACT has a stable and committed workforce, with a passion to support families and a desire to deliver the highest quality services. Last year, PACT found loving and permanent homes for 84 children.
For further information, contact email and details on how to apply, please visit our website.
Closing date: Friday 23rd January 2026 (midday)
Interviews are planned for: Monday 9th February 2026
We look forward to hearing from you. Early application is encouraged. We will review applications received throughout the advertising period and may close the vacancy or interview earlier than stated.
Please do not submit your CV; only completed application forms will be accepted. No agencies please.
PACT is a supportive and respectful place where people are passionate about making a positive difference to the lives of women, children and families from many different backgrounds. We continuously look to progress the ways in which we create families and bring people together and encourage applications from people across all communities. We are committed to ensuring that our people and our services reflect the diversity of the communities we serve and applications from people from under-represented groups are particularly welcomed.
PACT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. Anyone joining our team is subject to PACT’s Safer Recruitment pre-appointment enquiries. These include the provision of documentation of the right to work in the UK, Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check, overseas police check where applicable and references covering a minimum 5-year period. All opportunities are based in the UK
an adoption charity and family support provider helping hundreds of families every year through outstanding adoption and adoption support services

The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
The Development Office at Oundle School is looking for Deputy Director of Development who will be instrumental in advancing our philanthropic goals and will support the management and running of its driven and friendly team.
THE ROLE
The Deputy Director of Development will play a key part in helping us achieve our philanthropic goals. This role provides a real opportunity to make a tangible difference: devising and shaping strategy, driving forward our stewardship and legacies programme, building key relationships with major donors, and working closely with the Director of Development on the next advances in this vital area of the school’s work.
This is an exciting opportunity for a dynamic relationship manager who is highly motivated, creative, and intellectually curious, with experience of working within a fundraising or relatable field. We are looking for a dedicated colleague who will enjoy working across a vibrant constituency within a beautiful architectural setting to deepen philanthropic relationships between the school and its alumni and parent body.
While this role is 40 hours per week, year round, we are open to discussion about working arrangements including hybrid working to attract a candidate who can help us achieve our ambitions.
THE SCHOOL
Oundle and Laxton Junior Schools have long been associated with the very best of modern independent education, especially boarding. The Schools take seriously their responsibility to pupils so that they can emerge as decent, open-minded adults; ambitious about what they can go on to achieve and contribute. Over 1400 pupils are on roll at the School, of whom 840 are full boarders. Academic results are steadfastly excellent.
A team of around 800 staff, both academic and support, ensure an education of the highest standard is in place across the Schools with the efforts of the whole team focused on this fundamental aim.
LIVING IN OUNDLE
We are fortunate in our location at the heart of a beautiful market town. School and town are part of the same community and our pupils take their place within this community, not isolated from it. The town has a spirited cultural life, with an annual international festival, literature festival, and frequent performances of nationally touring shows at the School’s Stahl Theatre.
TO APPLY
Full details of the role, including hours of work and salary, can be found in the Job Description. If you are excited by this opportunity, please complete and return an application form and supplement to the application before the closing date.
Please note CV submissions cannot be accepted.
Application closing date: Wednesday 21 January 2026, 9am.
Interviews will take place week commencing 2 February 2026 and 9 February 2026.
Oundle School and Laxton Junior School are proud to be equal opportunity employers and we welcome applications from all. We aim to ensure that all applicants are provided with the same opportunities during the recruitment process, and we endeavour to comply with the duties placed upon us to make reasonable adjustments as prescribed by the Equality Act 2010. Should you need to request a particular adjustment to enable you to participate fully in the recruitment process, please ensure that this is made known, to the HR Department
Both Schools are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants will be required to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Recruitment Agencies
The Corporation of Oundle School has an internal recruitment department, but where agency support is required, we will engage our trusted partners. Our adverts are intended to encourage direct interest from potential applicants, not recruitment agencies. Speculative CVs sent from sources other than directly from a candidate, will not be acknowledged or considered.
Oundle School has long been associated with the very best of modern independent education.
ONCE REDIRECTED TO OUR WEBSITE YOU WILL FIND THE FOLLOW DOCUMENTS: JOB DESCRPTION, APPLICATION FORM AND RECRUITMENT MONITERING FORM.
King Edward VI Foundation, Birmingham, is a progressive charitable organisation which has supported excellence in education across the City since 1552. Our schools are diverse in nature but have a common purpose and commitment to achieving our mission of “making Birmingham the best place to be educated in the UK”.
The Foundation is made up of two legal entities. The King Edward VI Academy Trust Birmingham (“the Academy Trust”) was established in 2017 and currently consists of six selective and six comprehensive academies. The Academy Trust is sponsored by the Schools of King Edward VI in Birmingham (“the Foundation Charity”), which operates two independent schools and is the steward of a significant charitable endowment.
The Foundation Office provides professional services and leadership, to include Development and Alumni Relations support, to the Academy Trust.
Our recent expansion into a wider diversity of local communities is enabling us to accelerate our strategies for improving the life chances of young people in Birmingham, whatever their background.
We are looking to appoint a Director of Development and Alumni Relations. As a new leadership role developing relations with all King Edward VI Academy Trust Alumni they will also be partnering with the Foundation Charity to generate philanthropic funding across the organisation in line with our six core values.
Please see the applicant’s brochure for full information about the role, the organisation and person specification. Conversations about the role are encouraged for those wishing to apply, please contact the KEVI Foundation HR to discuss further.
As a central support service, our working model must be driven by the needs of our schools. Therefore, please be aware that staff are required to take the majority of annual leave during non-term time.
Quartet Community Foundation is seeking a visionary and strategic leader to join our senior team as Director of Development. This new role will drive our ambitious 2026–29 strategy, building partnerships, securing new funding, and growing our endowment to £100 million to support communities across Bristol, Bath & North East Somerset, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire.
Key Responsibilities
· Develop and maintain relationships with high-net-worth individuals and key partners.
· Secure significant new funds and grow Quartet’s endowment.
· Broker strategic partnerships to support disadvantaged communities.
· Lead and motivate a team delivering philanthropy, grant-making, research, and pro bono services.
· Represent Quartet at events and networks to raise our profile.
Essential Criteria
· Proven experience in philanthropy and donor relationship management.
· Track record of securing major gifts or revenue funding.
· Strong strategic thinking and leadership skills.
· Excellent networking and communication abilities.
· Experience in the charitable sector and managing teams.
Salary & Benefits
£55,000–£60,000 per annum, depending on experience. Benefits include 6% employer pension contribution, health benefits scheme, Employee Assistance Programme, Cycle to Work scheme, and generous holiday entitlement.
Location
Based at our central Bristol office with travel across the region. Hybrid working available.
How to Apply
Download the Recruitment Pack and Application Form from our website.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Located in the historic town of St Andrews, St Leonards is one of Scotland’s leading independent schools, recently named Scottish Independent Secondary School of the Year for Academic Excellence 2026 by The Sunday Times. It is a vibrant, co-educational boarding and day community with a true international outlook.
Approaching its 150th Anniversary in 2027, the School is preparing to launch the most ambitious fundraising campaign in its history. This is a career-defining opportunity for an exceptional professional to drive this initiative, instilling a culture of philanthropy that will secure the future of St Leonards for generations to come.
Reporting directly to the Head, this post will be targeted with generating £500k+ of revenue and will demand both exceptional relationship building skills and technical fundraising expertise. The successful candidate will have freedom to innovate and make a tangible difference and be able to engage prospective donors and the wider highly supportive Seniors (Alumni) community. You will protect the School’s reputation by conducting thorough due diligence on donors and ensuring full compliance with OSCR regulations.
You will be responsible for the School’s capital and strategic fundraising initiatives supported by the Alumni and Development Officer and will work with the supportive, mission-driven Executive Team and Board of Governors to develop and implement these.
To be successful you will be educated to degree level and have knowledge and experience in previous roles where you have developed a demonstrable track record of devising and implementing multi-year fundraising strategies which have allowed you to personally secure 5 and 6 figure gifts from individuals, trusts or foundations. You will possess the financial and legal expertise to structure complex gifts and bring them to completion.
More information on the responsibilities of the role and the skills, knowledge and experience required of candidates can be found in the Candidate Pack.
St Leonards is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All appointments are subject to a satisfactory PVG check.
Interviews are expected to commence in St Andrews week beginning 26th January 2026
We offer a unique and inspirational education, with a strong focus on preparing our pupils Ad Vitam, for life.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Director of Fundraising Development
We have an exciting and rewarding opportunity for a Director of Development to join the Senior Leadership Team.
The Director of Development is a key member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and provides strategic and operational leadership across all fundraising and income generation activities.
Join a youth social action charity which challenges 18 to 25-year-olds to tackle educational inequality through a year of full-time social action. As mentors, tutors and role models in schools, they support pupils growing up in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the UK.
Position: Director of Development
Location: London/Hybrid (two days worked from the office or at external events per week and two days from home)
Hours: Part-Time, 4 days per week, 28 hours per week
Salary: £60,000 pro rata (£48,000 for 28 hours)
Duration: Fixed-term (12 months with possibility to extend)
Start date: March-April 2026
Closing Date: 7 January 2025
Interviews: Starting from the week commencing 12 January 2026
The Role
The Director of Development is responsible for leading a dedicated Development team to secure sustainable income from corporates, trusts and foundations, high-net-worth individuals, events, and statutory bodies.
You will collaborate with the SLT colleagues and the Board’s Development Committee to drive income growth, strengthen relationships with key supporters, and ensure the organisation’s fundraising strategies align with the organisations mission, values, and long-term objectives.
The role combines strategic oversight with hands-on leadership of a high-performing team, ensuring fundraising systems, processes, and reporting are effective, accurate, and aligned with best practices.
Main duties and responsibilities include:
· Strategic Leadership of Development
· Team Leadership and Management
· Major Donor, Corporate and Trusts Management
· Systems, Processes and Reporting
· External Engagement and Profile Raising
About You
We are looking for someone with strong interpersonal, relationship-building, and presentation skills and the ability to engage and inspire diverse audiences.
You will have:
· Demonstrated commitment to the charity’s mission, vision, and values.
· Extensive experience in a senior fundraising or development role with a proven record of securing significant corporate, trust, foundation, or major donor partnerships.
· Experience leading and managing a fundraising or development team, including performance management and professional development.
· Proven track record in managing fundraising income budgets, forecasting, and planning.
· Experience of working with senior stakeholders and trustees to secure funding and support.
· Experience managing fundraising systems and reporting processes, including Salesforce.
· Demonstrable success in achieving challenging fundraising targets.
· Experience working in the charity or education sectors, including integrating programme impact into fundraising.
Please apply by uploading your CV and cover letter (two pages preferred) demonstrating your suitable experience, knowledge, skills and abilities. Due to the high volume of CVs received, the charity can only respond back to the successful candidates.
Employee Benefits
As an organisation, particular emphasis is placed on fairness, well-being, and inclusion and offer a range of benefits for staff, including:
· Great holiday entitlement
· Training including degree-level qualifications
· Pension scheme enrolment starts at 4% as standard, and employee contributions are matched up to 5%
· Free eye tests and £20 off glasses
· Interest-free travel season ticket loans
· Interest-free bike loans under the “Cycle to Work Scheme”
· Interest-free Loans to assist employees with welfare or financial hardship
· 2 days per year to pursue volunteering opportunities and 2 days per year to support wellbeing
· Regular all staff wellbeing sessions with external wellbeing experts
· Reservist friendly employer - Bronze award
· Laptop and mobile phone
Other areas of experience may include Director of Development, Development Director, Director, Fundraising Director, Director of Fundraising, Trusts, Foundations, Major Donor, Corporate, Fundraiser, Fundraising, Head of Fundraising, Income, Director of Fundraising and Development.
Please note this role is being advertised by NFP People on behalf of our client.
Key responsibilities
To be responsible for the effective leadership and management of the organisation and its resources.
To support the Board in setting the vision, mission, strategic objectives and strategic priorities for the charity and develop its philosophy and values.
To lead the business development plans for development of the Charity in its purpose of supporting people and families living with dementia. Ensuring a robust Operating Plan is developed, approved by the Board and fully implemented.
To promote the mission, aims, values and objectives of The Dementia Care Hub as the public facing representative of the Charity, working effectively with the Charity’s stakeholders.
To provide forward looking strategic leadership and management of the organisation and its resources to promote the objectives of the Charity.
To ensure the Charity fulfils all its legal, statutory and regulatory responsibilities.
To offer practical support to the hubs as required
To lead and prepare grant applications to ensure that The Dementia Care Hub can continue to support and grow.
To lead and develop fundraising activities.
Click Apply now to submit your CV with a supporting statement detailing your reasons and motivation for applying and how your experience meets the scope of the responsibilities. As a guide, your supporting statement should be not more than two sides of A4.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
We are looking to recruit a Head of Development and Partnerships to join our team based at either our London or Midlands site. You will join us on a full-time, permanent basis. In return, you will receive a salary of £55,000 - £65,000 per annum dependent on experience and location.
The Royal Air Force Museum is a national museum, a Government non-departmental public body (NDPB) and a registered charity, with two sister sites at London and Midlands. Our purpose is to share the RAF story, past, present and future - using the stories of its people and our collections in order to engage, inform and inspire. Our Vision is to inspire everyone with the RAF story – the people who shape it and its place in our lives. We have two public sites (London and Midlands) and a stored collection (Stafford). Our trading company and active fundraising supplement Grant in Aid which comes through the Ministry of Defence.
Purpose of the Head of Development and Partnerships role:
The Royal Air Force Museum is seeking an experienced and ambitious Head of Development and Partnerships to lead and grow our fundraising activity at a pivotal time for the organisation. As a national museum and registered charity, we rely on successful fundraising to support our day-to-day operations as well as major capital and development programmes that enable us to share the RAF story with current and future generations.
Reporting to the Director of Finance and Resources and working closely with the CEO, you will develop and deliver an ambitious fundraising strategy covering both revenue and capital income. You will lead a skilled Development team and personally cultivate and secure significant gifts. A key part of the role is building strong relationships with Trustees, senior colleagues and external partners, including leading the Museum’s partnership with the RAF Museum American Foundation.
Key responsibilities of our Head of Development and Partnerships include:
- Leading fundraising for the RAF Museum - developing and delivering an ambitious fundraising strategy, and championing fundraising as a discipline within the Museum
- Working closely with Trustees, Directors and colleagues to identify and develop cases for support around capital and revenue needs
- Identifying and cultivating new prospective donor markets in the UK and overseas – showing a willingness to travel internationally as appropriate
- Developing and delivering identified stand-alone fundraising campaigns in support of agreed capital and activity programmes
- Working closely with the CEO, lead the Museum’s partnership with the RAF Museum 3 American Foundation (RAFMAF), support the Chair to manage Board meetings and direct the effective planning and delivery of the annual dinner in Washington DC and other events as appropriate
- Overseeing and co-ordinating Museum partnerships, representing the Museum with external non-commercial stakeholders, in particular the RAF. Liaise closely with the Head of Events to deconflict visits and bookings, working together for the best reputational and financial outcomes for the Museum
What we are looking for in our Head of Development and Partnerships:
- Educated to first degree level or equivalent experience
- Demonstrable experience in developing and delivering fundraising strategies and plans, personally securing five to six figure support
- Is able to inspire team to engage with the long-term vision and purpose of the Museum
- Delegates decision making to the right level within team
- Pushes themselves and team to achieve, setting a clear plan and objectives and ensuring they/their team stay focussed
- Demonstrates positivity in relation to change and encourages team to embrace change
- Ensures own team’s strategy and activities are aligned to the Museum’s priorities and clearly articulates these to team
- Experience of securing National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) Funding
Closing Date: 18th January 2026
Interviews will take place on: 29th and 30th January 2025
If you think you have what it takes and want to be part of this exciting journey, please visit the jobs page on our website for further information. Join us in delivering our purpose and achieving our vision, ensuring that the Royal Air Force's story continues to enrich and inspire current and future generations. We would love to hear from you!
Using Anonymous Recruitment
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Join us and help create opportunities that change young lives.
Career Ready is a UK-wide social mobility charity, working to empower young people with the skills, confidence, and networks they need to succeed. We’re looking for a proactive and strategic Corporate New Business Development Lead to drive growth in our corporate and partnerships income, unlocking innovative collaborations that deliver real impact.
In this pivotal role, you’ll identify and secure high-value corporate partnerships, craft compelling proposals, and lead pitches to senior decision-makers. You’ll work closely with colleagues across Communications, Programmes, and Operations to create multi-year partnerships that combine funding, programme support, and brand alignment—helping us reach more young people than ever before. The role is home-based, but you’ll have opportunities to travel across the UK (primarily London, Manchester, and Edinburgh) for meetings, events, and networking opportunities (expenses covered), giving you variety and the chance to build relationships face-to-face.
We’re seeking someone with a proven track record of winning significant corporate partnerships (five-figure or ideally six-figure), excellent communication and influencing skills, and a strong understanding of CSR/ESG trends. If you’re entrepreneurial, creative, and thrive on building relationships from scratch, we’d love to hear from you.
For full information view our candidate pack, which is available when you click on Apply.
Closing date for applications: 9am on Monday 12 January 2026
First stage interviews: expected to take place w/c 19 January 2026
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
We are seeking an inspiring and strategic Director to lead Heart of the City through its next phase of development. You will work closely with the Board to set strategic priorities, oversee all operations, and ensure the charity continues to deliver impactful programmes for SMEs. Key responsibilities include:
- Leading Heart of the City as an independent charity, both within and outside the City of London Corporation.
- Developing and delivering annual and three-year business plans, reporting progress to the Board, Council of Members, and funders.
- Managing a budget, and driving business development - diversifying income streams, while maintaining the charity’s vision and objectives.
- Embedding robust impact measurement across all streams of work.
- Representing Heart of the City at senior levels across public, private, and third sectors, and building relationships with key stakeholders.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
We are looking for a dynamic, values-led, strategic leader to drive our mission for migration justice and social work solidarity. The role entails oversight of the operations and strategy of the organisation, responsibility for financial management and fundraising, maintaining the health of the organisation and embedding anti-racist and anti-opressive values into every aspect of the organisation.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
We’re looking for a confident and experienced fundraiser to lead our corporate partnerships during a pivotal year of growth. This 12-month parental leave cover will oversee a small portfolio of existing corporate supporters, while driving forward our corporate strategy to build new partnerships—particularly within the finance and professional services sectors.
The role sits in PEAS’ small and ambitious Development Team, which raises over £7M annually to support our education programmes across Uganda, Zambia, and Ghana. You’ll work closely with senior leaders and colleagues across the organisation to deliver excellent stewardship, create compelling proposals, and grow our pipeline of corporate support.
Key responsibilities:
- Lead and manage our corporate fundraising strategy
- Build new relationships and identify partnership opportunities
- Deliver high-quality stewardship, reporting, and proposal development
- Line manage a Development Officer supporting on events and communications
We’re looking for someone with:
- 5+ years of experience in corporate fundraising or business development
- Strong relationship-building and communication skills
- Confidence working with senior stakeholders and developing tailored pitches
- Excellent writing skills, attention to detail, and a collaborative working style
- This is a great opportunity to take ownership of a growing income stream and help drive impact for thousands of young people through quality education.
Please refer to the attached job pack below for further details of this fantastic role.
How to apply
To apply, please click the 'Redirect to Recruiter' button to be redirected to our application form. Please ensure you have read the job pack attached to this job advert before applying.
We will be reviewing and shortlisting applications on a rolling basis, and will close the application process once we have a suitable number of candidates. Therefore, please do submit your application as soon as possible. Due to high volumes of applications, if you have not heard from us within 3 weeks of submitting your application, please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion. We are committed to ensuring our opportunities are accessible to all, so if there is any way that we can support you to be the best you can be in the recruitment process, please do get in touch by e-mail. We welcome all applicants and will always treat every application fairly based on merit.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Employer: Community Rail Network
Salary: £43k-£51.5k pa, full time
Location: Home based / flexible or Huddersfield
We are seeking a dynamic director of policy and communications, to lead and develop our increasingly impactful external affairs activity. You’ll be sharing community insights and evidence with policy and decision-makers at national and devolved level, supporting a shift towards more inclusive and sustainable transport and mobility, while overseeing high-quality, inspiring member communications and thought-leadership, drawing on grassroots experiences.
About us
Community Rail Network is a national not-for-profit organisation supporting a growing ‘community rail’ movement, which helps communities get the most from their railways, promotes sustainable and inclusive travel, coordinates volunteering and place-making, and brings people together.
Community rail is made up of 76 community-based partnership organisations, and c.1,300 station friends volunteer groups and other community-led initiatives around Britain. Their activities range from creative projects for young people, to advising train operators on service improvements, to building travel confidence among marginalised groups, to biodiversity projects at stations, to promoting greener tourism by rail.
Our enthusiastic team of 24 works from home in different locations, but we come together regularly in person and online. We work collaboratively to support our members, provide training, events and resources, run campaigns, and champion community rail and its insights. We believe in developing our team and helping everyone reach their potential while having a good work-life balance.
About this role
This role is crucial for us, our members and their communities, especially at the current time, with our need to seize on the opportunities of rail reform and devolution, promote wider use of sustainable transport, and bring communities together. You will spearhead our external affairs strategy and plans, building political relationships, influencing decision-making and raising awareness of community rail and its insights, while ensuring effective communications with our members and helping them to have a voice locally and regionally. You’ll be striving to put community rail at the forefront of a shift towards more inclusive and sustainable mobility.
As a member of our senior leadership team, reporting to and working closely with our chief executive, you will manage a passionate team of four, ensuring collaboration with our other teams, partners and funders, and drawing on members’ insights.
Main responsibilities
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Lead the review, development and delivery of our communications, policy and insights strategy, working to position the community rail movement effectively, use its insights to influence policy change, and ensure our members are well-informed and have a voice;
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Further strengthen our advisory and influencing work with national, devolved and regional government, transport bodies, parliamentarians and other decision-makers, especially around rail reform, transport devolution and integrated, inclusive, sustainable transport;
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Ensure we’re engaging effectively with policy developments and opportunities, taking forward a programme of relationship-building, and identifying and engaging in relevant consultations, events and speaking opportunities, enabling community rail’s insights and experiences to be shared;
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Collaborate with partners in rail, government and the third sector to feed in our expertise on community engagement with rail, amplify our campaigns, and build opportunities for joined-up communications and policy work;
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Continually develop and disseminate our evidence base and insights on the social, environmental and economic value community rail delivers, and opportunities to create greater benefits for communities from rail and transport;
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Oversee high-quality, coherent and inspiring communications with our members and partners, promoting our work, and sharing news, opportunities, and good practice across the movement;
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Manage production of high-quality resources, case studies and reports that our members can use to enhance their impact and which showcase community rail’s impact;
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Lead and develop our media relations and awareness-raising PR, championing community rail and its messages on sustainable, inclusive travel and communities at national and regional level, while supporting members on local PR;
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Develop our online presence and reach, making full use of our website, social media, our Scenic Rail Britain campaign, and partners’ channels to celebrate and position community rail and grow its reach and impact;
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Oversee a calendar of creative and impactful campaigns that involve and empower our members, creating PR and engagement opportunities, including Community Rail Week;
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Play a key role in collective leadership, strategic focus and organisational development as a member of our senior leadership team, including through internal communications and cross-team working, annual planning, funder liaison and reporting, upholding our strategies and policies, and pursuing opportunities for continuous improvement.
Skills and competencies
- Strong leadership and management skills, including experience managing, developing and drawing on a multi-faceted team delivering complex campaigns or projects, and budget management;
- Excellent communication and external leadership skills; articulate, assertive, and with the ability to work diplomatically and persuasively with stakeholders at all levels;
- An understanding of public affairs, ideally in relation to community development, sustainability and/or transport, and a demonstrable ability to identify influencing opportunities, deliver thought-leadership, and engage with policy-makers, including sharing community insights;
- Politically astute, with awareness of and commitment to social inclusion, social justice and sustainability, and a good grasp of the importance of public transport sustainable travel, and community-led action, to these agendas;
- Understanding of political processes and experience of engaging with policy and decision-making, ideally at national, devolved and local levels;
- Sound knowledge of communication and marketing methods and channels, and ability to oversee messaging and targeting of public and professional audiences, and to align content across multiple channels;
- A demonstrable ability to think analytically and draw on statistical and qualitative research to construct robust, evidence-based arguments;
- Experience of working with the media and achieving coverage at national, regional and local level;
- Experience working collaboratively with partners and ideally funders to deliver communications and policy activity and forming professional networks;
- Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines while dealing with competing priorities, and to support team members to do so;
- IT literate with a good working knowledge of Office, the internet and social media;
- Appropriate qualifications and professional development demonstrating knowledge and skills in line with the above, and a commitment to ongoing learning and development.
Other information
As you will be home-based, we are flexible about your location. However, you will be expected to travel to in-person full team meetings quarterly (usually in West Yorkshire), and you will need to bring your team together (currently all West Yorkshire based) with similar regularity in between. Attendance at in-person events and meetings is also important. We therefore welcome applications from those with decent public transport links, not too far from a railway station, to enable journeys to be made sustainably.
This is a full-time position, 37 hours per week. We use a flexi-time system with core hours 10am-3pm, and are committed to being a flexible, supportive and understanding employer. This is a permanent position with a probationary period of six months.
Community Rail Network is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from disabled people and Black, Asian and other minoritised groups, who meet with the skills and competencies for this role. We will provide reasonable adjustments for interviews as required.
Championing the community rail movement | Connecting people and their railways | Creating inclusive, empowered, sustainable and healthy communities
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
ABOUT THE ROLE
Hours of work: 37.5 hours per week, full time
Salary: £38,870.89 per year (plus London Weighting if applicable)
Place of work: London, or within commuting distance to one of L'Arche's Communities
Contract Type: Full time, permanent
Closing date: Sunday 18th January 23:59
This position does not offer visa sponsorship.
Main purpose of the role:
The Learning and Development Coordinator is key to setting and maintaining the strategic direction for the people and culture team, as part of the learning and development function in L'Arche. This role provides direction and support to L'Arche Communities in the UK, focusing on learning and development in service of the Mission, and our national and regulatory requirements.
The Learning and Development Coordinator provides line management to the National Learning and Development team, supporting and overseeing the coordination of key areas of learning.
In close partnership with national and local learning and development structures, they will ensure the implementation of objectives identified in the national and local community's learning and development strategic priorities.
Key essential criteria:
- Proven experience of developing and delivering learning and development plans aligned to L'Arche's needs and regulatory requirements;
- Experience of line management, including coaching, support, and performance management of employees and volunteers;
- Strong understanding of learning pathways, skills frameworks, and evaluation of impact;
- Knowledge of mandatory and regulatory training requirements, including safeguarding;
- Experience of using or managing a Learning Management System (LMS);
- Experience in a learning and development role, ideally within a charity, social care or health organisation;
You can find more details about L'Arche on our website.
Discover what makes L’Arche a rewarding place to work—explore our employee benefits on our website.
Please download the recruitment pack for more details and a full job description and person specification.
The closing date for applications is: Sunday 18th January 23:59
Interviews are expected to take place in the week beginning 26 January 2026.
We encourage you not to wait until the closing date to submit your application, as we may begin interviewing strong candidates before then.
We also reserve the right to close the advert early if we receive enough suitable applications.
To apply, please answer the questions on our online application form.
Please also read our privacy notice for job applicants.
REF-225 795
Our inclusive communities challenge people to think differently about disability
Are you a commercially minded, senior leader with strong experience in operations, company management, partnership building and income generation?
VDT is seeking an experienced Head of Operations and Business Development to spearhead the implementation of our ambitious new Commercial Strategy, driving growth and expanding income streams.
This is a crucial, high-impact role for someone who thrives on operational excellence, has excellent management skills and a passion for strategy implementation. It is ideal for someone with strong experience in partnership building, negotiating contracts, lead generation and organisational development.
Working closely with the Chief Executive / Artistic Director, the role works collaboratively across the small staff team to deliver the company’s Business Plan, Funding Agreement, Mission and Values. You will identify opportunities, generate new leads and manage the company’s wide range of production, participation and continued professional development programmes. You will grow a new customer base for our online training and E-learning and develop income from within arts academic and social enterprise settings. You will track progress and ensure the company is run in line with best practice.
You might not have worked in the arts or creative industries before. If you have experience as a Business Manager, Operations Director, Executive Director or Senior Producer within or outside of the cultural / charity sector, then you’ll have the core skills we are looking for.
Closing date for applications: Midday Tuesday 6 January 2026
Interview Date: Thursday 15 January 2026 (possible second interview 23 January 2026).
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.