Director of development jobs

Are you an experienced Development Executive looking to make a meaningful impact? Join the Gardens, Libraries and Museums (GLAM) team within Development and Alumni Engagement (DAE) at the University of Oxford to make a difference within a globally renowned institution.

About the Role

This is an opportunity to join Oxford’s DAE team and to make a significant contribution in support of the mission of one of the world’s leading universities.

The Development Executive is a professional fundraiser (ordinarily with some prior experience), with responsibility for devising, implementing, and collaborating on approaches to high-level philanthropic donors, and for working with DAE and academic colleagues to articulate cases for support, develop fundraising strategy and raise funds for priorities at the Ashmolean, Bodleian, Pitt Rivers Museum, Museum of Natural History, History of Science Museum and Botanic Garden and Arboretum.

Location: University Offices, Wellington Square, Oxford OX1 2JD / GLAM sites across Oxford.

Salary: Grade 7: annual progression from £39,424 - £47779 per annum, with a possible extension to £51,983 per year, including an Oxford University Weighting of £1,730 (pro rata)

Contract: Full Time (37.5 hours), Permanent 

About Us

Spanning the historic streets of the “city of dreaming spires”, the University of Oxford has been ranked the world’s leading university for ten consecutive years. A place where centuries of tradition meet world-changing innovation, we offer you the chance to shape the future while working in an inspiring environment that promotes excellence. Here, you’ll contribute to an organisation which delivers ground-breaking research that tackles global challenges - from advancing sustainability to pioneering healthcare solutions - and join a diverse, inclusive community that champions your wellbeing, development, and aspirations. Apply now to become part of our extraordinary legacy.

What We Offer

Working at the University of Oxford offers several exclusive benefits, such as:

• 38 days of annual leave (inclusive of public holidays) to support your wellbeing, with the option to purchase up to 10 extra days and additional leave after long service.

• One of the most generous family leave schemes in UK higher education, offering up to 26 weeks of full-pay maternity and adoption leave, plus 12 weeks of full-pay paternity/partner leave.

• A commitment to hybrid and flexible working to suit your lifestyle.

• An excellent contributory pension scheme.

• Affordable and sustainable commuting options, including a cycle loan scheme, discounted bus travel, and season ticket loans.

• Access to a vibrant community through our social, cultural, and sports clubs.

About You

Essential Criteria (See full list in the attached Job Description)

• Prior fundraising experience and direct involvement in securing major gifts

• An ability to think both strategically and tactically about the relations between potential donors and fund-raising goals

• Excellent communication skills

• Demonstrable ability to show highly nuanced sensitive and good judgement when working with key internal and external stakeholders

• The candidate must work well in a team

Application Process

To apply, please upload:

• A covering letter/supporting statement

• Your CV

• The details of two referees

The closing date for applications is 12 noon on 11 May 2026

Interviews will take place on 19 May 2026, and will be held face-to-face.

As Director of External Affairs across the Bild Group of four small charities (with collective turnover of approx. £3m/yr), you will have a deep commitment to human rights and improving people’s lives.

You will provide strategic direction and leadership to the External Relations function across all four charities in the group, taking overall responsibility for and providing thought-leadership on our strategic approach to policy, influencing, public affairs, stakeholder engagement. 

You will play a lead role in planning, developing, and implementing the communication and external relations and wider engagement strategic plan to grow awareness and profile of Bild, Respond, Restraint Reduction Network (RRN) and ACT.

By sharing the impact of our work and programmes in improving the lives of people with learning disabilities, autism and /or mental health conditions, you will support Bild in becoming the sector leading provider of organisational and workforce development (and RRN in becoming the leading charity in reducing restrictive practices globally – and Respond as leaders in trauma informed therapy).

You will champion Bild and RRN’s brand, vision, mission and values acting as an ambassador for the organisation both internally and externally to partners, stakeholders and media.

Key Responsibilities and Duties: 

Strategic Leadership:  

• Develop and implement an integrated communications and external relations strategy across the four charities in the group to raise our profile and to influence change which positively impacts on our beneficiaries, aligning media, campaigning, and public affairs with the charity’s mission and strategic priorities 

• Lead and inspire a high-performing team including Membership and Events Officer, Resources Coordinator and comms team as required 

Comms & Marketing:

• Plan, develop and implement strategic communications and marketing plans to maximise awareness of the Bild Group of charities across the broad spectrum of communications disciplines including media relations, stakeholder management, influencer engagement, ethical (impact focused) marketing, social and new media and the production of new materials and resources 

• Write, develop and produce materials such as infographics, press releases, briefing documents, media statements and online information suitable for stakeholders, including people with lived experience

• Ensure effective marketing across all four charities focusing on impact and including ensuring we attend a range of external events and that all four websites are best practice. 

Influencing & Public Affairs:  

• Working with the CEO, you will drive policy change by developing strategies to influence key decision makers through building relationships with parliamentarians, government departments, and sector stakeholders to ensure the charity's policy agenda is impactful 

• Lead proactive and reactive media engagement, calls and requests for information in order to capitalise on suitable opportunities for maximising the reach and impact of all four charities

• Build our credibility as a thought leader in the sector 

Stakeholder Engagement & Partnerships:  

• Build and sustain strategic alliances with senior civil servants, civil society groups, and community partners to increase the organization's influence and impact 

• Develop effective stakeholder relationship management processes that ensure partnerships of all levels are provided with a rich, immersive engagement experience with the organisation and the work that we do 

• Identify, liaise with and ensure positive relationships with key stakeholders – internal and external including media, government departments, partners, charities, providers, customers, other relevant parties to secure maximum impact for all four charities and their beneficiaries

Reputation, Brand Management & Marketing:  

• Champion the Bild group brands, promoting the mission, values and impact of the organisation and ensuring consistent, engaging narratives and high-quality storytelling across all external channels

• Shaping the charity's profile and protecting its reputation through media relations, digital engagement, and consistent key messaging and building our credibility as thought leaders in sector. 

Membership, Events & Communities:  

• By ensuring appropriate, effective and engaging communications to all relevant audiences and stakeholders, your role will support the growth and development of our membership, Communities of Practice and the event programme (including webinars and conferences).

• Effectively plan, manage and lead a range of events for the Bild group of charities and associated marketing and communications

• Develop framework for Communities of Practice and strategy for engagement and growth 

• Supporting Bild and RRN spokespeople with PR and media outreach

• Keep abreast of communications and engagement activity within the sector and demonstrate an awareness of the impact these may have on existing and future communications activity

General Responsibilities 

• Contribute to evaluation and assessment of results against KPIs and tracking activity

• Allocate, manage and evaluate budget spend

• Identify resource requirements for activity across Bild group

• Develop and maintain systems, databases and procedures to support Bild group communication activities

• Plan, monitor, appraise and report progress of activity regularly with an innate understanding of how this supports activity across the Bild group

• Plan, manage and oversee budgetary spend related to outsourcing specialist activities such as video editing and design

• Ensure communications and marketing work complies with data protection and other legal, professional and agency requirements, standards and policies

• Support the senior leadership team on any activity as required. 

Personal Development  

• Be part of a culture of quality in all areas of communications, PR and marketing

• Participate and contribute to individual performance appraisal and supervision sessions

• Keep abreast of relevant initiatives and developments within the adult health and social care, education & disability sector and the wider communications / engagement profession

• Undertake relevant training, as necessary including accessing new systems and software as required to support the role.

Organisational Responsibilities: 

• Access and work within Bild’s policies and procedures.  

• Attend internal cycle of team meetings relevant to this role.  

• Engage with line management, supervision (where appropriate) and appraisal process.  

• Comply with data protection regulations, ensuring that information on clients, employees, volunteers and other stakeholders remains confidential.  

• Take responsibility for personal learning and development with support from line manager.  

• Work in a manner that facilitates equal opportunities and inclusion for all.  

• Remain professional and respectful at all times, promoting positive relations with all those we encounter in our work.  

• Maintain health and safety and risk awareness for self and others across the organisation.  

• Undertake any other duties that Bild may require within the remit of this role.  

This job description does not form part of the contract of employment. It is intended as a guide to the general scope of duties and is not definitive or restrictive. It is expected that some duties will change over time and this description will be subject to review with the postholder at their annual appraisal.  

Person Specification  

Job Title 

Director of External Relations 

• Exceptional copy writing and verbal communication skills

• Good presenting, negotiating and influencing skills

• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to build mutually beneficial relationships

• The ability to work effectively within a small team

• Ability to work under pressure, and plan, manage, and adapt own workload

• A flexible, proactive and problem-solving approach to work

• A motivated attitude and ability to work on own initiative 

• A commitment to human rights and modelling accessibility and inclusion throughout activity

• Willingness to travel and work flexible hours as demanded by the post

• Fit to undertake the duties of the post. 

Experience/Skills/Competencies 

Essential 

• Significant experience working in communications, policy and PR with demonstrable success

• PR and media management experience, including both online and traditional PR

• Experience of managing and implementing social media plans, including post development, scheduling, evaluation and monitoring feedback

• Experience of overseeing the design and production of print and electronic publications, including website management and development

• Experience of managing CRM systems and ensuring effective data capture and utilising data to inform decision making

• Ability to analyse data and shape results into reports that inform decision making

• Ability to build effective relationships and networks and establish credibility for Bild, RRN, Respond and Bild ACT 

• Ability to work collaboratively and develop positive relationships with colleagues, members and wider stakeholders

• Demonstrated digital comms / social media skills and understanding of emerging digital marketing tools and platforms

• Ability to use a variety of IT packages/databases including CRM systems.

• Experience managing budgets and associated reporting

• Ability to work remotely and regularly travel to in person events

• Time management skills and ability to prioritise workload under pressure as part of a small but vibrant team

• Strong awareness and interest in news/current affairs/politics and the broader third sector, social care and education sector. 

Desirable 

• Experience working in the not-for-profit sector, preferably in another disability and/or membership charity

• Strong understanding of education, health, social care, disability and not for profit environment

• Strong media contacts within relevant trade sector publications

• Ability to use externally managed media databases (such as Agility etc.)

• Experience with conferences, webinars and hybrid events. 

• Experience supporting and manging a remote team

Education and Qualifications: 

Other Requirements: 

• Commitment to anti-discriminatory practice and equal opportunities and able to apply awareness of diversity issues to all areas of work.  

• Regular travel to attend meetings and events. 

• Occasional evening meetings.  

Legal requirements: 

• Enhanced DBS check. 

ABOUT GLOBAL CANOPY

Global Canopy is a data-driven not for profit delivering real transparency and accountability for market impacts on nature and people. Our special focus is on ending deforestation – an essential step in achieving urgent global goals on climate, nature and human rights.

ABOUT CORPORATE PERFORMANCE

A growing number of companies and financial institutions are seeking to mitigate their impacts on nature. But many have made commitments that are not being met, and others are failing to take any action at all. We hold the most exposed companies and financial institutions to account through our Forest 500 project, by assessing their policies and performance.

With our suite of Deforestation-free Finance Guidance and a forthcoming new tool, DEFT Pathway, we provide tools and data for financial institutions and investors to support effective engagement with high-risk companies. We support the finance sector, policy makers and other stakeholders by providing market-leading data on deforestation and ESG metrics through Forest IQ.

ABOUT THE ROLE

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced and deeply knowledgeable Programme Director. It is an opportunity to become part of an accomplished and proactive team at the heart of the fight against market-driven deforestation and nature loss.

You will be a strong technical leader who excels at programmatic management and delivery. With a drive and passion for effective delivery, technical quality and rigour, and ensuring teams are well organised and properly resourced to meet their individual and collective objectives on time and on budget. You will lead the management and mentoring of the team and its development to ensure it is equipped and motivated to deliver on and scale-up its day to day work, while also continuing to innovate. 

You will participate in strategy development and external representation, helping to ensure we stay at the leading edge of global efforts to transition to deforestation-free supply chains and portfolios. You will ensure that our external partnerships are well managed, and that we are continuing to secure the resources and relationships needed to effectively deliver on our strategy in this fast-moving space.

The programme is structured as three workstreams, which work across our projects and products. The workstreams Leads are responsible for delivery, so a key part of your role will be in supporting and enabling them and their teams to effectively deliver on their goals:

• Research, Methodologies and Innovation
• Data and Product
• Uptake (Communications and Engagement)

The workstreams all work across Forest 500, Forest 500 – Finance, Floresta 250 – Cattle, Deforestation-free Finance Sector Guidance, Forest IQ, and DEFT Pathway.

You will also hold overall budget and fundraising responsibilities for the team and be supported by a dedicated Finance Business Partner and our Development Team.

You will ensure that we are making the most of the technical expertise, data and other synergies across Global Canopy as a whole, leveraging the time and skills of regional and cross-cutting programmes, such as the Brazil-based team and Human Rights and Learning & Development functions.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Programme leadership

• Lead the effective implementation of the Corporate Performance strategy and workplan through the oversight and management of delivery of the Corporate Performance portfolio of projects. Ensure effective and impactful delivery, building and maintaining strong relationships with partners and strong programme management and leadership. 
• Oversee all major programme management tasks and deliverables including ensuring delivery against budgets, risks and opportunity management and escalation, donor reporting and deliverables. Day-to-day management of workstreams will be with the respective workstream Leads.
• Guide and direct the Corporate Performance team, ensuring technical excellence and high-quality outputs. Support their growth and development as individuals and in sharing learning opportunities across the team. This includes line management of Corporate Performance Leads and matrix working across Global Canopy teams.

Team and people management

• Develop multi-year plans and design processes to ensure staff ownership and clarity of roles and responsibilities.
• Empower, support and line manage staff including technical coaching, career development and progression planning as well as identification of key team capabilities to be developed.

Strategy, fundraising and external representation

• Stay abreast of external developments affecting our strategy. This includes engaging with NGO peers and our target audiences of companies, financial institutions and policymakers.
• Manage partnerships and identify new strategic partnerships to further drive forward the Corporate Performance work of Global Canopy and partners.
• Work with other senior colleagues in Corporate Performance and Global Canopy to develop the strategy and future opportunities via consultative processes.
• Working collaboratively with the Development team to cultivate and sustain strong relationships with both new and existing donors, while developing tailored fundraising proposals as needed to sustain and grow the programme..
• Engage in public speaking at conferences, on webinars and more to engage stakeholders and inspire action on deforestation by companies, financial institutions and other key players.

ABOUT YOU

To be successful in this role, these are the things that will matter the most:

• Strong programmatic and people management skills, with a proven track record in successfully delivering on complex, cross-sector projects.
• Deep technical knowledge and leadership on deforestation, climate and nature frameworks and policies, and the latest developments in this fast-evolving space.

Essential behavioural competencies:

• Strong leadership presence, modelling and championing leadership behaviours and organisational values.
• Positive outlook. High emotional intelligence and a coaching and mentoring-based approach to line management.

Skills and experience:

• Significant experience of project/programme management, working with and leading a large team.
• Experience of all stages of project development and delivery e.g. project design, fundraising, as well as project implementation and delivering results.
• Ability to oversee partnership projects with a variety of stakeholders and competing interests and priorities.
• Ability to identify potential fundraising opportunities and design concepts in collaboration with Global Canopy’s Development team. 
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Specific expertise in at least one combination of Global Canopy’s focal areas of forests and land use, and supply chain and financial transparency.

SALARY & BENEFITS

Salary: £70,000 full time equivalent (This role sits within Band B on Global Canopy’s remuneration framework.)

Nature of contract: Full- or part-time (0.8 FTE), fixed term (24 months). We are a flexible employer and welcome candidates wishing to work flexibly.

Base: Our office is in Oxford, with flexible home-working arrangements in place. Ability to attend the office fortnightly at minimum would be desirable. We will support UK visa sponsorship for this position. 

Holidays: 36 days (including bank/public holidays) for discretionary use across the annual leave year. Option to purchase up to an additional 5 days or equivalent of one week’s leave.

Pension: Employer pension contribution of 8%.

Healthcare cashback plan: Covering dental fees, eye-care, wellbeing, physiotherapy, chiropody and much more – for you and any children. 

Group Life Assurance: Paying a lump sum of 3 times annual salary

Group Income Protection: Paying 75% of annual salary for up to 2 years (for long term sickness).

Employee Assistance Programme: Which provides free, confidential advice on personal and legal matters.

Other: Huge range of discounts and cashback deals at gyms, restaurants, holidays, and much more.

HOW TO APPLY

To apply for the position, please use this link and submit an up-to date CV and answers to the following questions (max 300  words each). 

1. Why are you interested in this role? Which of your previous roles are most relevant to the Corporate Performance Director position, and what skills, strengths and experiences would you bring to Global Canopy?
2. Please give an example of when you have led a team that worked across multiple projects and/or workstreams. What were the biggest challenges you faced and how did you deal with these?
3. Please give an example of a time when you were accountable for evolving a programme strategy and fundraised for a new or existing area of work. What were the key lessons you will bring to this role?

Applicants are required to disclose if and how they have used AI in their application. 

The closing date for applications is Monday, 18 May at 9am BST.

The recruitment process for this position is intended to be as follows: 

1. First-round interview of 30 mins (tentatively 26 & 28 May) 

2. Final interview of 1 hour (tentatively w/c 8 June) with a written assessment to complete in your own time

This recruitment process will take place online via video. The entire process is likely to take 4 weeks to complete from the closing date of this advert. Due to the volume of interest, we are unable to provide all applicants with individual feedback.

Are you an outstanding leader, fundraiser and a natural networker? Do you want to help local communities to take practical action to make a difference to UK seas and shores? 

Sea-Changers is looking for a motivated leader to make a step change at a key point in the organisation’s journey. Sea-Changers’ vision is a future where the UK’s seas and shores are clean and healthy and marine species and habitats are protected. Our grants seek to support communities of Sea-Changers – people who care about the seas and want to take practical action to make a difference. Through our grants we enable diverse, grassroots and community-led marine conservation across the UK.

Doubling our income to over £300,000 in 2025 has catalysed Sea-Changers to move from a volunteer-led charity to a sustainable organisation with a dedicated staff team. To enable this, we are seeking to appoint our first Executive Director. This new role will work alongside the Co-Founders and our Board of Trustees and lead the transition from a volunteer-led operation to a staff-led organisation.

As a driven individual, you will build on our success — strengthen partnerships, expand our impact, and help more communities to protect the ocean. Supported by a strong group of volunteers and an impressive Board, the Executive Director will be comfortable working at both a strategic and operation level, and ‘hands on’. By the end of 2027 it is our expectation you will take full responsibility for the strategic leadership and overall operational delivery of Sea-Changers.

This is an extraordinary opportunity for the right individual. It is a chance to build on our success to date, to forge new partnerships with our funders, to motivate and inspire our inspiring volunteer team and to engage with our wide community of applicants. Through Sea-Changers, the Executive Director has the rare chance to deliver a lasting legacy for UK marine conservation.

Strategic leadership, increasing organisational income and managing a motivated team of volunteers are essential aspects to the role. A passion for the marine environment is key, as is a working understanding of UK marine policy. We want someone who passionately advocates for Sea-Changers, who can communicate confidently and credibly at all levels. You will champion our oceans and galvanise others. 

Assistant Finance Director (12–18 month FTC to begin)
A leading Housing Association in the area

A well-established and forward-thinking Housing Association is seeking an Assistant Finance Director to join on a 12–18 month contract initially. Reporting directly to the CFO, this position offers a unique opportunity to operate as the number two in finance, playing a key role in both strategic leadership and operational delivery.

The organisation provides a broad range of general and supported housing and is recognised for its commitment to delivering high-quality services and positive outcomes for its communities.

This role is ideally suited to a senior finance professional with Housing sector experience who is looking to step into a high-impact leadership role, driving improvements across people, processes, and financial insight.

Key responsibilities

• Lead and develop the finance function, acting as deputy to the CFO
• Oversee financial and management accounting, ensuring robust reporting and controls
• Support financial planning, treasury activities, and development finance
• Drive a high-quality business partnering function across the organisation
• Lead on improving financial processes, systems, and internal controls
• Support the Executive team on business planning, including scenario modelling and stress testing

Requirements

• Fully qualified accountant (ACA / ACCA / CIMA)
• Proven experience within a Housing Association or Registered Provider
• Strong leadership capability, with experience managing and developing teams
• Ability to operate at a strategic level and influence senior stakeholders
• Excellent technical finance skills combined with a commercial, business-partnering mindset
• Strong analytical and systems capability, with confident communication skills

This is an excellent opportunity for an ambitious finance leader looking to step into a director level role within a purpose-driven organisation.

The Director of Performance and Assurance provides leadership to ensure the VCSA has a robust internal infrastructure in alignment with our mission and values.

To include compliance, risk management, assurance, health and safety, performance and impact measurement.

This post also provides leadership to ensure VCSE delivery partners to have required compliance, risk management, assurance, health and safety, performance and impact measurement processes in place.

As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, the Director of Performance and Assurance works as part of that team to contribute to strategic planning and ensure that the VCSA is a great place to work where performance, reporting and compliance is strong.

Duties and Responsibilities –  Strategic Leadership

• Lead the development and implementation of a Risk and Performance Strategy that supports the charity’s strategic ambitions and annual operational plan
• Provide expert advice to the Board, Finance and Resource Committee and Leadership Team on risk exposure, compliance, and organisational assurance
• Embed a culture of transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement
• Contribute to strategic planning and policy development, ensuring alignment with risk appetite and performance priorities
• To lead performance and assurance support for our network of network VCSE partners where required Line manage the Impact and Insight Manager

AND MORE - Please read the Job Description.

The VCS Alliance

The VCS Alliance is a charity dedicated to transforming health and social care across Bradford District and Craven. To do this, we act as a bridge between the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector and the Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership, channelling investment into the sector, to deliver transformational programmes. These programmes keep people out of front-line and emergency health services and address health inequalities.

We also provide and support Bradford District and Craven’s VCSE sector voice to contribute to system conversations, leading to better outcomes for our diverse communities. To do our work, we support the convening of spaces and organisations for collaborative conversations leading to better outcomes and learning. 

As a senior leader, you will be expected to model and promote The VCS Alliance’s values in all areas of your work whilst leading a team in supporting the VCS achieve its vision:

VCSA Values
• We demonstrate honesty, openness, and respect for everyone
• We challenge ourselves and be open to challenge from others
• We are trusted and build trust across the organisation
• We create safe spaces where creativity can flourish
• We work in true partnership with communities
• We are forward-looking
• We work sustainably
• We do the right thing

SCiA is a values‑driven social care organisation delivering high‑quality, person‑centred support across Hampshire. We have an exciting opportunity for an outstanding leader to join our Executive Leadership Team in the role of Director of Social Care.

This is a senior, executive‑level role with overall accountability for the quality, safety, performance and sustainability of all regulated care services. Acting as CQC Nominated Individual, you will provide visible regulatory leadership while shaping strategy, driving continuous improvement and supporting future growth.

About The Role

As Director of Social Care, you will:

• Provide executive leadership across all regulated care operations
• Act as the organisation’s CQC Nominated Individual, holding statutory accountability
• Lead and support Registered Managers to deliver consistently high‑quality services
• Drive operational performance, quality assurance, safeguarding and compliance
• Work collaboratively with local authority commissioners, NHS and ICB partners
• Contribute to organisational strategy, business planning and service development
• Champion a values‑led, inclusive and high‑performing workplace culture

This role offers significant influence at board and system level and the opportunity to shape care delivery across multiple services and communities.

What We’re Looking For

You will be an experienced senior social care leader with:

• Substantial leadership experience within regulated social care services
• Previous experience as a Registered Manager and/or CQC Nominated Individual
• A demonstrable track record of achieving Good or Outstanding CQC outcomes
• Strong knowledge of safeguarding, regulation and statutory compliance
• Experience leading multi‑site or multi‑service care operations
• Confidence working with commissioners, NHS partners and external stakeholders
• Excellent leadership, communication and decision‑making skills
• A values base aligned with person‑centred, accountable and compassionate care

Essential Qualifications and Requirements

• Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Health and Social Care (or equivalent)
• Full UK driving licence and access to transport
• Right to work in the UK
• Enhanced DBS and CQC Fit and Proper Persons assessment

What We Offer

• Competitive executive‑level salary (£60,000 – £70,000)
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Birthday day off
• Pension scheme
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements
• Investment in leadership development and professional learning
• The opportunity to make a meaningful impact within a values‑led organisation

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

SCiA is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and to creating a workplace where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. We welcome applications from all sections of the community and particularly encourage applications from candidates under‑represented in senior leadership roles.

How to Apply

Please apply with your CV and a supporting statement outlining how your experience and values align with this role.

Closing Date: Friday 8 May

We look forward to hearing from you.

Leukaemia UK – Our Charity

We are a ‘small but mighty’ charity with one big ambition: to stop leukaemia devastating lives. Despite decades of incredible progress, only half of leukaemia patients live longer than five years after their diagnosis. We won't stop until we change this. 

We accelerate progress through the life-changing research, awareness and advocacy that matter most to people affected by leukaemia, doing everything we can to make sure that the next person with leukaemia has the best possible experience of diagnosis, treatment and care. 

We are looking for an experienced, driven and resourceful Head of HR and Operations, reporting to our Director of Finance and Resources. The role brings together delegated leadership for HR, Governance, Operations (Facilities, H&S, IT) and Risk management, working within the strategic direction set by the Director of Finance and Resources and CEO. We are transitioning from a historically outsourced HR model to a strengthened, inhouse HR and Operations function, to support delivery of our new five-year strategy.

Team  

We are a close-knit team, who are all passionate about Leukaemia UK and putting those affected by the disease at the heart of everything we do. We are all focused on ‘keeping it real’ with pragmatic, practical solutions, as well as ensuring that our charity gets the funding it needs to continue to help those diagnosed with leukaemia.

As a small organisation with just over 30 employees, every role counts. We have ambitious plans and we rely on individuals being self-starters, resilient and working at pace to maximise our collective impact. We may not be about the corporate life here, but we are all about delivering exceptional expertise and making a real change to people’s lives.

Leukaemia UK and You 

You will lead the development and delivery of People, Governance & Operations frameworks, aligned to the organisation’s strategy and under the direction of the Director of Finance and Resources. As a Head Of, you will contribute strategically as a specialist in your field, combining hands‑on operational delivery with a strong focus on continuous improvement. You will have the opportunity to help shape and embed new ways of working, improve processes and systems, and develop an important function that is fit to support an ambitious and growing charity. Delivery will be a team effort, with operational coordination and administrative delivery carried out by the Governance & Operations direct report, under your leadership.

Whilst the accountability is broad, we seek first and foremost a qualified and experienced HR professional, with a track record in a wide range of HR disciplines, working across a variety of stakeholders and managing a busy workload to deliver programmes of work. As part of this, we would expect a level of exposure and competence with regards to operations, governance and risk management. You will line‑manage and develop the Governance and Operations direct report, who provides administrative and coordination support across HR, governance, health & safety, facilities and IT activity.

In return, you will gain exposure to a broad range of organisational activity, work closely with senior leaders and teams, and play a key role in supporting Leukaemia UK’s next phase of strategic development.

Skills and Experience

Essential:

• Experience in managing a broad range of HR activities in a small or medium-sized charitable organisation.
• CIPD Qualified
• Proven experience of shaping HR strategy and implementation, with tangible outcomes.
• Business partner experience, to tailor HR support to the needs of different teams.
• Proven experience in shaping the culture and internal ways of working of an organisation, including expertise in EDIB and Wellbeing.
• Proven experience in organisational design and change management
• Excellent knowledge of UK Employment Law and how to embed this into HR policy.
• Proven experience in advising on Employee Relations to reach fair and just outcomes.
• Sufficient knowledge to oversee and review the Comp and Benefits framework.
• Proven experience in providing learning and development solutions to meet internal needs.
• Experience of line managing staff and supporting their development.
• Effective communication skills (written and oral), ability to work collaboratively with colleagues, strong stakeholder management and facilitation skills.
• Effective planning and work prioritision skills to balance strategic and project work with hands on delivery and line management.
• Comfortable working in a part time role with clear priorities and boundaries.
• Resilient and resourceful to navigate through and embed organisational and process change
• Able to demonstrate our charities values of being bold, collaborative and curious.
• Discrete and trustworthy with high levels of integrity.
• Strong IT skills, including Office 365 and SharePoint.

Desirable:

• Governance experience
• Risk management experience
• Level of exposure to Health and Safety obligations
• Management of outsourced service providers.
• Willingness to identify, test and apply appropriate technology and AI tools to streamline processes.

Role Specifics

• 22.5  hours per week (0.6 FTE) worked over 4-5 days, Monday to Friday.

• Location: We are very flexible! Our offices are based in Central London, and we operate hybrid working.  In this role you are required to work from the office at least 1 day per week.
• FTE Salary range £60,000 dependent on experience (pro-rata for part time)
• We are proud of our benefits – see a summary on our website Work with us - Leukaemia UK

Benefits 

• 36 days holiday per year, including bank holidays- pro rata for part time employees
• Pension – default is 4% employee and 4% employer and we match up to 6%
• Life Assurance – x 4 cover
• Critical Illness Cover
• Cash back healthcare scheme & Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• Hybrid Working- 1 day in the office per week
• Company sick pay

Applications and interview timings  

If you feel you have the passion for our work and the right mix of experience, skills, energy, and flair, then we would love you to apply. Please also see the full job description attached to the advert. 

To minimise unconscious bias, we use anonymous recruitment and are unable to consider direct applications. Please apply via the CharityJob website with your CV and covering letter.

Closing Date: Midnight Tuesday 12th May 2026

- First interviews will be held via Teams on Thursday 21st May 2026

- Second interviews will be face to face in our London Offices – at 26 Great Queen St, London WC2B 5BL on Wednesday 27th May 2026 

I look forward to hearing from you! 

Azra

Azra Karaselimovic

Director of Finance and Resources

Leukaemia UK

Shakespeare’s Globe is currently seeking a Trusts & Foundations Manager on fixed-term, full-time basis

We are committed to improving diversity and inclusion across our organisation. Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and the Global Majority are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single specification. If you’re excited about the role but your experience or qualifications don’t perfectly align, we encourage you to apply anyway. We particularly encourage applications from underrepresented groups such as the global majority, LGBTQA+, those from a working-class background, those with a disability and neurodiverse conditions.

The role:

We are looking for a dedicated Trusts & Foundations Manager to join our Development team on a fixed-term basis. Working closely with the Head of Trusts and Foundations and a fellow part-time Trusts and Foundations Manager, you’ll play a key role in identifying projects, exploring suitable funders, and writing funding applications to ultimately maximise grants from Trusts and Foundations.

Working in collaboration with the Director of Development and the Head of Trusts and Foundations, you will have the opportunity to be a part of the strategic shift to dramatically increase this funding stream over the next five years through better articulation of our long-term ambitions alongside compelling monitoring and evaluation data to secure sustainable middle-to-large-scale, multi-year funding.

The skills:

• Experience contributing to Trusts and Foundations fundraising, including securing four and five figure grants, preferably within the arts, culture, or higher education sectors.
• Knowledge of Trusts, Foundations, and other grant-making bodies, and how to engage effectively with them.
• Proven experience of developing effective and successful funding applications.
• Experience of researching new funders and supporting the development of sustainable funding relationships.
• Experience using a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system within a fundraising or Development context (we use Tessitura).
• Ability to develop and maintain strong working relationships with colleagues, partners, and external stakeholders.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively to support shared fundraising goals.
• A creative and flexible approach, with the ability to adapt and work effectively in a changing environment.
• Proven ability to deliver excellent funder stewardship and donor care.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with strong attention to detail.
• Ability to influence, engage, and build positive relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders.
• Strong numeracy and analytical skills, with confidence handling financial and performance data.
• Ability to maintain professionalism and discretion when handling sensitive or confidential information.
• Experience of establishing and maintaining effective working relationships and being a supportive team member.

The team:

The Shakespeare Globe Trust is a registered charity (No. 266916). Shakespeare’s Globe receives no annual subsidy from Arts Council England and, therefore, raise a critically important percentage of funds from the public each year. We focus on developing relationships with Individuals, Trusts and Foundations and Corporates to support us and raise funds across three income streams: revenue, commercial, and capital. In addition, Shakespeare Globe Centre USA is an independent, but related, US charity that supports our fundraising activities in the USA and then donates to Shakespeare’s Globe. We seek to empower everyone at the Globe (staff, volunteers, or committees) to embrace a fundraising culture and increase charitable giving as we work collaboratively towards our mission to make Shakespeare accessible to all.

Shakespeare’s Globe:

We celebrate Shakespeare’s transformative impact on the world by conducting a radical theatrical experiment. Inspired and informed by the unique historic playing conditions of two beautiful iconic theatres, our diverse programme of work harnesses the power of performance, cultivates intellectual curiosity and excites learning to make Shakespeare accessible for all.

Benefits:

• Discount in the Globe shop and onsite restaurants/cafes
• Staff discounts via My Globe perks and better Bankside Buzzcard
• Free entry to selected shows, events and activities
• Access to our free employee assistance programme and 24/7 virtual GP service
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption, and shared parental leave and pay
• Life assurance scheme
• Rental deposit scheme
• Season ticket loans
• Eye test voucher scheme
• Flu vaccination scheme
• Cycle to work scheme

To apply:

For more information, please download the job description from this page. To apply, please complete the online application form by 12pm (midday) on Monday 11th May 2026.

Role: Interim Director of Fundraising (Maternity Cover)

Hours: Full-time

Remuneration: Up to £80,000 GBP gross annual pro rata (dependent on experience). We are open to considering applications on a substantial part-time basis for the right candidate.

Right to work: Applications are accepted only from those with the right to work in the UK.

Duration: Approx. 8 months from starting late July

Location: UK-based; UK-Med is based in Manchester – postholder would need to agree sufficient attendance in Manchester office.

Can you provide inspiring interim leadership to drive fundraising growth that powers humanitarian impact?

UK-Med is a frontline medical aid charity founded on the values and expertise of the UK’s National Health Service (NHS). For more than 30 years we’ve been working towards a world where everyone gets the healthcare they need when emergencies hit.

We are seeking an Interim Director of Fundraising (Maternity Cover) to lead our fundraising and communications function, accelerating voluntary income growth to support the organisation’s humanitarian impact.

As a key member of our leadership team, you will lead and deliver our fundraising and communications strategy to maximise emergency fundraising, build a community of advocates and repeat givers and build meaningful partnerships with philanthropists and foundations. Our small and talented Communications Team, focused on growing our audiences and awareness across media and digital channels, reports into this role.

If you are an experienced fundraising leader with an international or humanitarian background and a proven track record of delivering exceptional interim leadership that drives income growth, we would love to hear from you.

How to apply

We strongly recommend that you read the Candidate Information Pack – Interim Director of Fundraising - April 2026 before applying for this role.

To apply, please submit a current CV and a supporting letter (2 pages) through our online jobs portal.

Response to the following question:

• A detailed explanation of your suitability for this post with specific reference to the essential criteria in the person specification

Please apply as soon as possible and no later than 17th April 2026.

This role is based in the UK, and applications are accepted only from candidates with the right to work in the UK.

UK-Med is committed to safeguarding of our personnel and beneficiaries and has a zero-tolerance approach to sexual exploitation and abuse. We conduct thorough vetting before any appointment is confirmed.

UK-Med is committed to the principles of diversity, equality, and inclusion. We strive to provide an inclusive and supportive environment where employees feel respected and supported to be able to fulfil their potential.

Leukaemia UK – Our Charity

We are a ‘small but mighty’ charity with one big ambition: to stop leukaemia devastating lives. Despite decades of incredible progress, only half of leukaemia patients live longer than five years after their diagnosis. We won't stop until we change this. 

We accelerate progress through the life-changing research, awareness and advocacy that matter most to people affected by leukaemia, doing everything we can to make sure that the next person with leukaemia has the best possible experience of diagnosis, treatment and care. 

We are looking for a Temporary Finance Manager to join our Finance & Resources team in the short term, to provide immediate capability and capacity whilst we recruit for a permanent Finance Manager. The context is that we are transitioning from a historically outsourced finance model to a strengthened, in‑house finance function as we prepare to deliver our new five‑year strategy. The role holder will support the Director of Finance and Resources with the immediate finance needs regarding management accounting, business partnering, financial analysis and working with outsourced finance partners to ensure the organisation’s core financial delivery.

Team

We are a close-knit team, who are all passionate about Leukaemia UK and putting those affected by the disease at the heart of everything we do. We are all focused on ‘keeping it real’ with pragmatic, practical solutions, as well as ensuring that our charity gets the funding it needs to continue to help those diagnosed with leukaemia and other blood cancers.

As a small organisation with just over 30 employees, every role counts. We have ambitious plans and we rely on individuals being self-starters, resilient and working at pace to maximise our collective impact. We may not be about the corporate life here, but we are all about delivering exceptional expertise and making a real change to people’s lives.

Leukaemia UK and You 

We are a growing charity with an annual income of £3.5m with a diversified funding portfolio including grants, donations and trading income with a mix of restricted and unrestricted funds. This is a new interim part‑time role within Leukaemia UK’s Finance & Resources team and forms part of a planned transition from an outsourced finance model to a fully in‑house finance function. The role has been created to provide support to the Director of Finance and Resources, whilst the role is recruited for permanently. The role holder would be welcome to also apply via Charity Jobs to our permanent vacancy.

You will play a leading, hands‑on role in running the organisation’s core finance operations, ensuring robust financial control, accurate reporting and effective support to teams across the organisation. Working closely with the Director of Finance & Resources, you will support the core finance processes providing operational leadership, internal business partnering and process discipline.

As part of a small central team, you will work alongside the Director of Finance & Resources and our outsourced provider to partner closely with colleagues across the organisation. You will provide practical financial guidance, help teams understand and manage their budgets, and act as a trusted internal finance partner, as well as ensuring the smooth running of day‑to‑day finance processes.

This role is particularly suited to someone who enjoys being hands‑on, combining operational delivery with continuous improvement.

Skills and Experience 

Essential:

• Significant experience and confidence in managing a full range of finance operations in a small or medium sized charitable organisation.
• Qualified or part-qualified accountant, holding one of the UK mainstream accountancy qualifications with strong operational finance experience.
• Excellent knowledge of UK charity SORP and regulatory reporting requirements.
• Strong understanding of financial controls and month and year-end processes.
• Strong experience in preparing management accounts, forecasts, budgets and statutory accounts.
• Highly experienced in all aspects of Xero cloud-based accounting system, especially reporting.
• Strong IT skills, including Office 365 and SharePoint.
• Experienced in charity fund accounting and restricted funds tracking and monitoring.
• Ability to balance hands on delivery with improvement and change.
• Experience in improving finance processes and introducing automation or system improvements.
• Strong communication skills, ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and strong stakeholder management skills.
• Comfortable working in a part time role with clear priorities and boundaries.
• Resilient and comfortable with navigating through change.
• Uphold the charities culture and values of being bold, collaborative and curious.

Desirable:

• Experience of line managing staff and supporting their development.
• Management of outsourced service providers.
• Independent learner, keen to find and apply best-practise solutions.
• Willingness to identify, test and apply appropriate technology and AI tools to streamline processes.
• Discrete and trustworthy with high levels of integrity.

Role Specifics

• 22.5  hours per week (0.6 FTE) worked over 3 days or more, Monday to Friday.

• Location: We are very flexible! Our offices are based in Central London, and we operate hybrid working.  In this role you are required to work from the office at least 1 day per week.
• £40,000 – £45,000 FTE dependent on experience. Pro-rata for part-time hours

Benefits

We are proud of our benefits – see a summary on our website Work with us - Leukaemia UK

• 36 days holiday per year, including bank holidays- pro rata for part time employees
• Pension – default is 4% employee and 4% employer and we match up to 6%
• Life Assurance – x 4 cover
• Critical Illness Cover
• Cash back healthcare scheme & Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• Hybrid Working- 1 day in the office per week
• Company sick pay

Applications and interview timings  

If you are  available in the short term and feel you have the passion for our work and the right mix of experience, skills, energy, and flair, then we would love you to apply. Please also see the full job description attached to the advert. 

To minimise unconscious bias, we use anonymous recruitment and are unable to consider direct applications. Please apply via the CharityJob website with your CV and covering letter.

• Closing Date: Midnight Thursday 7th May 2026
• Interviews will be face to face in our London Offices – at 26 Great Queen St, London WC2B 5BL on Friday 15th May 2026 

I look forward to hearing from you! 

Azra

Azra Karaselimovic

Director of Finance and Resources

Leukaemia UK

Director of Fundraising - Back Up : London office / hybrid (2 days per week)

Salary: £72,000 - £80,000 per annum : Full time, permanent

Closing Date: Wednesday 13th May

Charity People is delighted to be partnering with Back Up, a national charity supporting people affected by spinal cord injury, to recruit their new Director of Fundraising.

This is a pivotal, senior leadership role at an exciting point in Back Up's journey. With income at £3.6m and plans to reach £5m by 2030, the Director of Fundraising will play a critical role in shaping strategy, driving sustainable growth and further developing Back Up's high-performing, values-led fundraising function.

About Back Up

Founded in 1986, Back Up exists to ensure that no one faces spinal cord injury alone. Every two hours, someone in the UK sustains a spinal cord injury. Back Up provides life-changing services including mentoring, wheelchair skills training, family support, residential courses and return to work. Their Limitless Ambition strategy (2025-2030) sets out bold plans to expand reach, deepen impact and strengthen the organisation for the future.

The role

• Salary: £72,000 - £80,000 per annum
• Full-time, permanent role
• Generous annual leave and pension
• Strong commitment to flexible working and inclusion
• Disability Confident Leader (Level 3) employer
• Hybrid working, 2 office days per week (Wandsworth, South London)

As Director of Fundraising, you will be a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, reporting to the CEO and leading income growth across a broad and diversified fundraising portfolio. You will:

• Lead delivery of Back Up's 2025-2030 fundraising strategy, growing income from £3.6m to £5m+
• Provide inspiring leadership to senior fundraising leaders and teams
• Strengthen fundraising systems, performance frameworks and governance
• Build strong relationships with trustees, the Fundraising Development Board, major donors, corporates, trusts and foundations
• Champion ethical, values-led and inclusive fundraising practice
• Use insight, data and innovation (including responsible use of new technologies) to improve performance and decision-making

This is a role for a strategic, credible leader who enjoys translating ambition into income and impact.

About you

You will bring a strong track record of leading and delivering significant fundraising growth, alongside:

• Senior leadership experience within fundraising
• Expertise across high-value income streams (corporate partnerships, major gifts, trusts/foundations,)
• Experience working with boards, senior volunteers and high-level stakeholders
• Strong strategic thinking, commercial acumen, financial awareness and communication skills
• A leadership style that is collaborative, values-driven and inclusive
• Alignment with Back Up's values and mission

Experience in health, disability or adjacent sectors is welcome, but not essential.

Location

Hybrid working, with offices based in Wandsworth, South London.

How to apply

To request a full application pack, please submit an application with your updated CV.

Key dates

• Closing date: Wednesday 13th May
• Invitations to interview: 18th May
• First stage interviews (online): 26th May
• Second stage interviews (in person): 2nd June

Charity People is a forward thinking, inclusive organisation that actively and deliberately promotes equity, diversity and inclusion. We know organisations thrive when inclusion is at the forefront. We evidence our commitment by matching charity needs with the skills and experience of candidates irrespective of background e.g. age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. We do this because we believe that greater diversity leads to greater results for the charities we work with

Leukaemia UK – Our Charity

We are a ‘small but mighty’ charity with one big ambition: to stop leukaemia devastating lives. Despite decades of incredible progress, only half of leukaemia patients live longer than five years after their diagnosis. We won't stop until we change this. 

We accelerate progress through the life-changing research, awareness and advocacy that matter most to people affected by leukaemia, doing everything we can to make sure that the next person with leukaemia has the best possible experience of diagnosis, treatment and care. 

We are looking for a Finance Manager to join our Finance & Resources team playing a key role as part of an exciting transition from a historically outsourced finance model to a strengthened, in‑house finance function as we prepare to deliver our new five‑year strategy. This role will have exposure to an exciting mix of management accounting, business partnering, financial analysis and process improvement whilst ensuring the organisation’s core financial delivery.

Team

We are a close-knit team, who are all passionate about Leukaemia UK and putting those affected by the disease at the heart of everything we do. We are all focused on ‘keeping it real’ with pragmatic, practical solutions, as well as ensuring that our charity gets the funding it needs to continue to help those diagnosed with leukaemia and other blood cancers.

As a small organisation with just over 30 employees, every role counts. We have ambitious plans and we rely on individuals being self-starters, resilient and working at pace to maximise our collective impact. We may not be about the corporate life here, but we are all about delivering exceptional expertise and making a real change to people’s lives.

Leukaemia UK and You 

We are a growing charity with an annual income of £3.5m with a diversified funding portfolio including grants, donations and trading income with a mix of restricted and unrestricted funds. This is a new part‑time role within Leukaemia UK’s Finance & Resources team and forms part of a planned transition from an outsourced finance model to a fully in‑house finance function. The role has been created to strengthen internal finance capability and resilience as the organisation prepares to deliver its newly approved five‑year strategy from 2027.

You will play a leading, hands‑on role in running the organisation’s core finance operations, ensuring robust financial control, accurate reporting and effective support to teams across the organisation. Working closely with the Director of Finance & Resources, you will take ownership of core finance processes providing operational leadership, internal business partnering and process discipline.

As part of a small central team, you will work alongside the Director of Finance & Resources and the Finance Officer, and partner closely with colleagues across the organisation. You will provide practical financial guidance, help teams understand and manage their budgets, and act as a trusted internal finance partner, as well as ensuring the smooth running of day‑to‑day finance processes.

This role is particularly suited to someone who enjoys being hands‑on, combining operational delivery with continuous improvement. You will have the opportunity to help shape and embed new ways of working, improve processes and systems, and build a finance function that is fit to support an ambitious and growing charity.

In return, you will gain exposure to a broad range of organisational activity, work closely with senior leaders and teams, and play a key role in supporting Leukaemia UK’s next phase of strategic development.

Skills and Experience

Essential:

• Significant experience and confidence in managing a full range of finance operations in a small or medium sized charitable organisation.
• Qualified or part-qualified accountant, holding one of the UK mainstream accountancy qualifications with strong operational finance experience.
• Excellent knowledge of UK charity SORP and regulatory reporting requirements.
• Strong understanding of financial controls and month and year-end processes.
• Strong experience in preparing management accounts, forecasts, budgets and statutory accounts.
• Highly experienced in all aspects of Xero cloud-based accounting system, especially reporting.
• Strong IT skills, including Office 365 and SharePoint.
• Experienced in charity fund accounting and restricted funds tracking and monitoring.
• Ability to balance hands on delivery with improvement and change.
• Experience in improving finance processes and introducing automation or system improvements.
• Strong communication skills, ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and strong stakeholder management skills.
• Comfortable working in a part time role with clear priorities and boundaries.
• Resilient and comfortable with navigating through change.
• Uphold the charities culture and values of being bold, collaborative and curious.

Desirable:

• Experience of line managing staff and supporting their development.
• Management of outsourced service providers.
• Independent learner, keen to find and apply best-practise solutions.
• Willingness to identify, test and apply appropriate technology and AI tools to streamline processes.
• Discrete and trustworthy with high levels of integrity

Role Specifics

• 22.5  hours per week (0.6 FTE) worked over 3 days or more, Monday to Friday.

• Location: We are very flexible! Our offices are based in Central London, and we operate hybrid working.  In this role you are required to work from the office at least 1 day per week.
• £40,000 – £45,000 FTE dependent on experience. Pro-rata for part-time hours
• We are proud of our benefits – see a summary on our website Work with us - Leukaemia UK

Benefits

• 36 days holiday per year, including bank holidays - pro rata for part time employees
• Pension – default is 4% employee and 4% employer and we match up to 6%
• Life Assurance – x 4 cover
• Critical Illness Cover
• Cash back healthcare scheme & Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• Hybrid Working- 1 day in the office per week
• Company sick pay

Applications and interview timings  

If you feel you have the passion for our work and the right mix of experience, skills, energy, and flair to embrace this role and enable our strategy to fly, then we would love you to apply. Please also see the full job description attached to the advert. 

To minimise unconscious bias, we use anonymous recruitment and are unable to consider direct applications. Please apply via the CharityJob website with your CV and covering letter.

Closing Date: Midnight Tuesday 12th May 2026

- First interviews will be held via Teams on Friday 22nd May 2026

- Second interviews will be face to face in our London Offices – at 26 Great Queen St, London WC2B 5BL on Wednesday 27th / Thursday 28th May 2026 

I look forward to hearing from you! 

Azra

Azra Karaselimovic

Director of Finance and Resources

Leukaemia UK

Do you want to join an organisation committed to addressing low literacy and numeracy levels amongst people in the criminal justice system?

We’ve made substantial progress in recent years, with improvements and expansions to our delivery model and significant growth in our staff team. In Spring 2026, we will launch our refreshed organisational strategy, which will shape our work over the next three years and beyond. To support this growth, we are recruiting for a full time National Director of Operations to lead our delivery across England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and emerging community settings, with an ambition to reach Scotland. This is an exciting opportunity to play a central role in scaling our impact and strengthening our presence across the criminal justice system and beyond.

As National Director of Operations, you will provide strategic and operational leadership for our learning programmes in prisons and community settings. You will ensure high‑quality, consistent and accessible delivery, overseeing a team of six Regional Managers and a wider workforce of around 65 staff, volunteers and over 2,000 peer mentors trained each year.

Working closely with senior colleagues, partner organisations and national bodies such as HMPPS, you will drive programme excellence, innovation and partnership working. You will also play a key role in new business development, operational strategy, contractual delivery and ensuring we can reliably demonstrate the impact of our work.

The role requires an experienced operational leader with a deep commitment to improving outcomes for people facing disadvantage. You will bring:

• Senior leadership experience in a complex, multi‑site environment.
• A track record of delivering large-scale programmes and leading distributed teams.
• Strong strategic thinking, problem‑solving and relationship‑building skills.
• Experience working with statutory bodies or large public-sector partners (e.g. HMPPS).
• Excellent judgement, communication skills and the ability to influence at all levels.
• Understanding of the criminal justice system, safeguarding, or alternative education environments (desirable).
• A collaborative, inclusive leadership style aligned with Shannon Trust’s values.

We want to hear from applicants who are as committed to the cause as we are.

This is a home-based role but will require travel around the UK including overnight stays. This role is 5 days per week (35 hours) with working days/hours to be mutually agreed in line with business needs.

Employee benefits include a company contribution to pension scheme of up to 5%, 30 days holiday plus bank holidays, life insurance, paid volunteering days, discounts via Reward Gateway and an Employee Assistance Programme. The biggest benefit though is our culture – our people really want to work for the organisation.

We welcome job applications from people with lived experience of the criminal justice system and do not routinely ask for details of any criminal convictions. This role does require prison security clearance, so we will need to ask for details of any relevant criminal convictions before an offer of employment is finalised.

Interviews, which will be held online, are planned for the w/c 18th May.