We are looking for an entrepreneurial leader to relaunch and build the next phase of the UK Democracy Network: a national network that helps organisations working to strengthen democracy across the UK connect, collaborate and coordinate more effectively.
This is a rare opportunity to shape a growing national network. The Network already has strong foundations, sector backing, and three years of core funding secured. The next step is building it into an independent, trusted and influential organisation that helps the democracy sector work together more effectively.
About the Network
The Democracy Network exists to help make collaboration across the democracy sector more effective. It connects organisations, practitioners and professionals across the UK democracy ecosystem, helping to reduce duplication, strengthen relationships, share intelligence, and enable more coordinated collective action.
About the host organisations
The Network is jointly incubated by two organisations with deep roots in UK civic tech, democratic education, and sector-wide network building:
The Politics Project supports young people to use their voice by giving them access to brilliant democratic education. They work with young people, teachers, youth practitioners and politicians to help them learn about, teach and actively participate in democracy. The Politics Project also leads the Democracy Classroom Network, a sister network of over 100 organisations across the democracy, education and youth sectors which support over 3,500 teachers and youth practitioners to engage young people in democracy.
Democracy Club produces the most comprehensive election data in the UK. Established in 2010 and registered as a Community Interest Company in 2015, it runs the national polling station finder Where Do I Vote and candidate lookup service Who Can I Vote For, serving election information to millions of UK voters each year and supplying data to the Electoral Commission. Democracy Club brings a mailing list of 35,000, an active community of 1,200 volunteer contributors collaborating on election information, and strong digital and data expertise to the Network.
Our vision for the Network
Over the last year, we have carried out extensive consultation with members of the UK Democracy Network, the Network’s Steering Group and funders. Through this process, we have developed a new vision for the Network that is designed to reflect and support the diversity of the democracy sector, and the wide range of approaches, perspectives and organisations within it.
Our model is built around a series of smaller thematic, geographic and demographic-based “hubs” within the wider Network. These hubs will create spaces for organisations and individuals working on particular issues, in particular places, or with specific communities to collaborate more effectively, while remaining connected to the wider democracy ecosystem.
Alongside this, the Network will support stronger coordination and information sharing across the sector through activities such as a monthly bulletin, shared events, an annual conference and practical tools and databases that help partners collaborate more effectively.
Importantly, we want to build on and strengthen the excellent work that already exists across the democracy landscape, rather than duplicate it. Over time, we also hope the Network can help incubate and support new hubs and collaborations around emerging issues and opportunities within the democracy sector.
About the role
The Network will be delivered by a small core team: a Network Director (this role), a Network Manager (in post), and a Network Coordinator (to be recruited).
Our medium-term ambition is for the Network to become an independent organisation in its own right. We see this role as central to shaping that transition, with the successful candidate expected to lead the Network into its next phase as an independent organisation over the course of the grant period.
Key responsibilities
The Network Director provides overall leadership of the Network and is responsible for its long-term sustainability and strategic direction.
Specifically:
- Strategic leadership. Set strategic direction for the Network in consultation with members, hosts and the Steering Group / Board.
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Represent the Network. In networking and fundraising events, high-level roundtables and in high-profile relationships with government, funders, media and sector leaders.
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Lead on fundraising. Develop relationships with major funders, alongside Harriet Andrews at The Politics Project, building a diversified, sustainable funding base.
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Oversee the Network's transition to an independent legal structure. Support the establishment of the Board, working with Harriet Andrews and Sym Roe to recruit members with a mix of professional expertise and elected network representatives.
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Build an inclusive, supportive team culture. Line manage the Network Manager and Network Coordinator.
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Oversee monitoring and evaluation. Lead reporting to funders, and support the annual review process with the team and Steering Group / Board.
Person specification
We are looking for a values-driven, experienced, strategic leader. They will have strong people and financial management skills, and the ability to build trusted relationships across the democracy sector. They will be an excellent communicator, comfortable leading through complexity and change, and motivated by a commitment to strengthening UK democracy.
The postholder will be expected to work in-office two days a week and attend regular in-person engagements in London.
Benefits
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33 days’ annual leave pro rata, including Bank Holidays (with three days off between Christmas and New Year).
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4% employer pension contribution.
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2 working days / 15 hours of volunteer leave a year.
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Cycle to Work scheme.
Further information about the role and job specification can be found in the Candidate Recruitment Pack.
Equity, diversity and inclusion
The UK democracy sector has historically been less diverse than the country it serves, and we want to help change that, starting with how we recruit. We particularly welcome applications from people who are underrepresented in democracy sector leadership, including people of colour, disabled people and people from working-class backgrounds.
How to apply
Please apply via charity job with the following:
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Your CV (no more than two pages).
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A supporting statement of no more than 500 words, setting out how your experience, skills and knowledge meet the person specification and why you are drawn to this role.
The closing date is 11.30pm, Sunday 14th June 2026.
We will shortlist on the basis of the supporting statement against the person specification.
Non Charity Employer 
6 - 10
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Lead a trusted community development charity and bring partners and businesses together to deliver long-term environmental, social and economic benefits across West Wales.
Applications close at 9 a.m. Tuesday 16th June.
Location: Pembrokeshire (office-based, with travel across West Wales)
Salary: £60,000 - £65,000
Who we are
PLANED is a long-established community development charity that now works across Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire. For decades, we have supported communities to improve their quality of life by harnessing local potential, strengthening social infrastructure and helping people turn ideas into sustainable action.
Our work, regionally, brings together communities, public services, third sector partners and local businesses to deliver long-term environmental, social and economic benefit across West Wales.
A defining feature of PLANED is our asset-based approach. We own and manage a growing portfolio of buildings and assets, including our home site, the Old School in Pembrokeshire, which combines our office and conferencing space, with an additional range of tenanted spaces for local businesses.
We also lead the management of the Carmarthenshire Living Well Centre, a multi-use community facility hosting health, well-being, advice and support services. The Living Well Centre brings together a wide range of charities and statutory partners under one roof, creating a genuinely collaborative, free-to-access, local hub supporting 700 clients per month, which is increasingly seen as a model of best practice.
Most of PLANED’s work is delivered through multiple live projects funded by a mix of Welsh Government, NHS, National Lottery, National Grid, BT and other sources. We have a healthy financial position, but much of this funding is short to medium term, requiring continuous bid writing, relationship management and adaptation. The CEO role is therefore both externally facing and highly hands-on.
About the role
We are seeking a CEO to lead our next exciting chapter. This will include developing a new and updated organisational strategy, continuing to secure sustainable funding, overseeing project delivery and ensuring the organisation remains financially resilient while continuing to grow its impact and influence.
The organisation has a strong, inclusive and supportive culture that is bilingual. The team is community-rooted, collaborative and delivery-focused, with a clear ethos of shared responsibility and mutual support. We have a team of around 18 people, the majority of whom are project funded, supported by a small core team, including the CEO.
The role requires on-site presence; given our reach across West Wales, there is also regular travel required.
Who we are looking for
We are looking for someone who will be comfortable in a village hall as they are in a meeting with national and local politicians, senior civil servants, charity or business leaders. You will be confident working across rural and coastal communities, and able to build trust quickly and authentically.
Our CEO leads a significant part of our fundraising activities, and experience in securing income and developing sustainable funding models will be important.
We are open to leaders who might be seeking their first CEO role, and are open to considering what support we can put in place to help a new CEO thrive.
Applications for this role close at 9 a.m. Tuesday 16th June.
For further information about the role and to register your interest, please visit the Peridot Partners page and contact our advising consultants:.
