Children services director jobs

Reports to: Assistant Director of Finance & Operations

Line Manages: Delivery Operations Manager

Salary: £52,692

Location: Central London, Hybrid

Contract: 2-year fixed term

Closing date for applications: 12pm, Tuesday 17th March 2026

Interview dates: Week commencing 30th March 2026

About the Youth Endowment Fund

We’re here to prevent children and young people becoming involved in violence. We do this by finding out what works and building a movement to put this knowledge into practice.

In recent years violent crime has risen significantly. Homicides, assaults, robberies and offences involving weapons have all seen sustained growth. We have also seen large increases in violent crime involving children and young people. This is a tragedy. Every child captured in these numbers is an important member of our community and society has a duty to protect them.

The Youth Endowment Fund (YEF) is a charity with a £200m endowment and a mission that matters. We exist to prevent children and young people becoming involved in violence. We do this by funding great initiatives, finding what works and working for change - scaling and spreading the practices that make a difference.

One of the most important things we do is ensure that our funding and commissioning processes run smoothly and deliver maximum impact. We manage significant grants and complex commissioning arrangements that support projects designed to make a lasting difference. To do this well, we need robust systems, clear governance and strong relationships with partners. This role is critical to making that happen. As our Senior Grants & Commissioning Manager, you’ll lead on optimising our grant management system Salesforce, oversee risk and compliance and drive improvements in commissioning and procurement across the organisation. You’ll be the go-to person for contracts, grant agreements, policy guidance and Salesforce, ensuring data integrity and enabling confident decision-making. By keeping everything organised and efficient, you will be helping us achieve our strategic goals and deliver on our mission.

Key Responsibilities

Your role would be to ensure our funding and commissioning processes run efficiently, compliantly and strategically. You’ll lead improvements in systems, governance and risk management, act as the organisation’s Salesforce and grant management expert, and provide strong leadership to the team which will enable confident decisions and maximising impact. A detailed list of your key responsibilities on how you’ll do this is given below:

• Grant management and system optimisation:
• Manage the organisation’s grant management system (Salesforce), ensuring functionality, accuracy and integrity of data.
• Configure and update forms, fields and workflows to support new applications and evolving business needs.
• Develop and deliver custom reports and dashboard for internal teams to enable effective monitoring and decision-making.
• Act as the primary liaison for system enhancements, ensuring continuous improvement, and day-to-day troubleshooting.
• Commissioning and procurement:
• Support the Assistant Director of Finance and Operations in delivering improvements to commissioning and procurement processes across the Programmes, Evaluation, Change and Evidence directorates.
• Ensure commissioning activities align with organisational priorities and compliance requirements.
• When required, provide support and additional resource to the Delivery Operations Manager on the execution of agreements for all teams.
• Risk management and compliance:
• Lead on negotiating terms and conditions with grantees, evaluators and researchers, escalating complex issues where necessary.
• Conduct due diligence for funded projects, ensuring compliance with organisational standards and risk mitigation.
• Maintain and control master versions of all templates, including Grant Agreements and Variations, ensuring accuracy and consistency.
• Governance and policy development:
• Develop, maintain and disseminate non-HR policies and guidance documents related to commissioning and procurement.
• Ensure governance frameworks are robust, up-to-date and embedded across the organisation.
• Training and capacity building:
• Design and deliver training sessions to build staff competency in policies, guidance and system procedures.
• Act as the organisational expert on Salesforce and grant management processes, providing ongoing support and advice.
• Leadership and team management:
• Provide direct line management, mentorship and professional development for the Delivery Operations Manager. When required during periods of peak activity, provide support and resource for their responsibilities.
• Ensure effective delegation, clear escalation routes and a culture of high team performance

Please visit our website for the full 'About You' information.

While it’s not a criterion, we’re especially interested to hear from applicants who have lived experience of youth violence.

It’s also important to us that the people we hire do not discriminate. We believe in being inclusive and giving everyone an equal chance to succeed. Applications are welcome from all regardless of age, sex, gender identity, disability, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, religion or belief, race, sexual orientation, transgender status or social economic background.

Hybrid Working Details

The office is based in Central London. Those living in and around the 32 London Boroughs are expected to be in the office for a minimum of 2 days per week. If you live outside of London and work remotely, you’ll be expected to work from the London office 2 days per month.

As part of our commitment to flexible working, we will consider a range of options for the successful applicant. All options can be discussed at the interview stage.

To Apply

To apply, please send a CV, your answers to the two questions below and complete the monitoring form by clicking on "Apply for this" button by 12pm on Tuesday 17th March 2026.

When applying for this role, please ensure that your cover letter can answer, within a maximum of 400 words per answer, the following questions below:

1. Please provide an example of a complex operational process you’ve developed from scratch and implemented independently. What did you do, what impact did it have, and what did you learn?

2. Please describe your experience working with CRM or database systems and provide an example of when you’ve implemented a change to how that system is designed.

You’ll be required to provide proof of your eligibility to work in the UK. As part of our commitment to flexible working, we will consider a range of options for the successful applicant. All options can be discussed at the interview stage.

Interviews will take place in the week commencing 30th March 2026, we foresee this being a one stage process.

Benefits Include

• £1,000 professional development budget annually

• 28 days holiday plus Bank Holidays

• Four half days for volunteering activities

• Employee Assistance Programme – 24hr phone line for free confidential support • Volunteering days - 4 half days per year

• Death in service - 4 times annual salary

• Flexible hours. Core office hours 10am – 4pm

• Financial support including travel and hardship loans

• Employer contributed pension of 5%

Personal Data

Your personal data will be shared for the purposes of the recruitment exercise. This includes our HR team, interviewers (who may include other partners in the project and independent advisors), relevant team managers and our IT service provider if access to the data is necessary for performance of their roles. We do not share your data with other third parties, unless your application for employment is successful and we make you an offer of employment. We will then share your data with former employers to obtain references for you. We do not transfer your data outside the European Economic Area.

At Ambitious about Autism, we're currently looking for a Corporate Partnerships Officer (MAT cover) to join our Fundraising team.

You'll identify and cultivate corporate prospects, supporting on securing income through written application and pitches, whilst managing a portfolio of existing corporate partnerships. You'll build and maintain effective relationships to maximise corporate participation with current and prospective supporters.

You'll proactively identify funding opportunities and use your own initiative to make suggestions on our approach and/or suitable funding areas, devising innovative ways of accessing and engaging companies, as well as organising volunteering opportunities for corporate partners.

You will have:

• Experience of working successfully with corporate funders
• Experience of supporter relationship management with a track record in building successful relationships and raising funds from companies.
• Experience in accurate, timely data recording and CRM
• Excellent communication skills with good written and verbal communication.

In return, we offer great benefits including a generous holiday allowance and commitment to continued professional development (CPD), flexible, hybrid working and more!

This is a fantastic opportunity for an ambitious individual who would like to work for a forward-thinking, open and honest organisation and make a real impact to the young people we work with. Please find our full recruitment pack on the link below.

If you have any questions about the role or would like to have a confidential chat, please contact James Axford, Recruitment Officer.

Ambitious about Autism is committed to fostering equity, diversity, and inclusion at every level of our organisation. We warmly welcome applications from all qualified candidates, valuing the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives they bring. We encourage applications from individuals regardless of race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or parental status, disability, or age.

Our recruitment process promotes equal opportunities, and we are committed to providing reasonable adjustments for candidates with disabilities or additional needs throughout the recruitment process. Please contact our Recruitment Team for accommodations. We recognise disability as a physical or mental impairment that significantly and long-term affects a person's ability to perform day-to-day activities, as defined by the UK Equality Act 2010. All applications will be considered solely on merit, aligned with our mission to support autistic children and young people.

Ambitious about Autism is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and successful candidates will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check. As part of our Safer Recruitment checks, an online search maybe carried out in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education.

The Safeguarding responsibilities of the post as per the job description and personal specification.
Whether the post is exempt from the rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendment to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2021. This means that when applying for certain jobs and activities certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected', so they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. Further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS Filter Guidance.

We are recruiting for a family support worker and we would like to hear from you if you have a Level 3 qualification or substantial work experience related to social care, social work, family support or early help. The ideal candidate will also have experience working with children, adolescents and families and have knowledge of parenting skills.

The role of the  Family Support Worker is to directly support, maintain and develop the network around the child, liaising, building relationships and communicating between multiple agencies and multi-disciplinary roles, these include, the local authority, social workers, family members, carers and significant others and the child in placement.
Within the community, the role is closely linked with each child in placement and will closely work with the Community Director and the senior management team to ensure that it meets the therapeutic and educational needs and interests of each child. This will necessarily include working closely with professionals and developing their expertise in a psychoanalytic-systemic approach to care, education and treatment.
Responsibilities include:

• Ensure that plans for the process of assessment, co-ordination and delivery of placement and family support and transition plans are developed and managed on a day to day basis to agreed standards.
• Co-ordinate and facilitate contact arrangements, linking with networks and families in a manner which is integrated with the community’s existing relationship and contribute to and develop its professional effectiveness.
• Contribute to the holistic assessment of needs of children, families and networks.
• Devise and develop tailored packages of support based on assessment.

Childhood First is committed to safeguarding children. Appointments will be subject to a satisfactory DBS Disclosure and references.

Respond is seeking an experienced and values-driven Psychotherapy Service Manager to lead our specialist psychotherapy service for autistic people, people with learning disabilities, and their families. 

This is a senior clinical leadership role for an experienced psychotherapist with strong service management skills and a commitment to psychodynamic, systemic and trauma-informed practice. 

About the Role 

You will: 

• Provide clinical leadership and day-to-day management of Respond’s psychotherapy service 

• Ensure high-quality, safe and effective therapeutic provision across London, schools and online 

• Lead on clinical governance, safeguarding, supervision and reflective practice 

• Support and develop the therapy team through coaching and compassionate leadership 

• Contribute to organisational strategy, service planning and partnership development 

You will hold a small caseload alongside management responsibilities and work closely with the Senior Leadership Team. 

About You 

You will be: 

• A qualified psychotherapist, counsellor or arts therapist with postgraduate training 

• Registered with a relevant professional body (e.g. HCPC, BACP, BPS, UKCP) 

• Experienced in psychodynamic and/or systemic practice 

• Experienced in working with autistic people and/or people with learning disabilities 

• Confident in leading teams and managing services 

• Knowledgeable about trauma, abuse and safeguarding 

Experience of clinical supervision, reflective practice or organisational safeguarding leadership is desirable. 

Why Join Respond? 

• A respected specialist organisation with a strong trauma-informed ethos 

• A collaborative, reflective and supportive working culture 

• Opportunities to shape and develop a growing service 

• Flexible working arrangements and ongoing CPD 

If you’d like to find out more about this role, please read through the job description and person specification.

When you apply, please send a CV and Supporting statement of no more than 2 sides of A4. In your supporting statement ensure that you address the key competencies in the person specification.  

We are looking for a passionate and creative Head of Brand, Communications & Marketing to lead the next stage of our journey.

This is an exciting, strategic and hands‑on leadership role for someone who can confidently amplify our brand in the public sphere, drive meaningful engagement, and increase both supporter and beneficiary acquisition.

What You’ll Do

Reporting to the Director of Income Generation & Marketing and leading a small, high‑performing team, you will:

Brand, Communications & PR

• Lead and evolve Life’s brand strategy, ensuring clarity and consistency across all channels.
• Raise Life’s visibility with powerful campaigns that engage beneficiaries, supporters, volunteers and the public.
• Oversee media relations, PR activity, reputation management and crisis communications.
• Support and strengthen internal communications across the organisation.

Marketing Leadership

• Develop innovative marketing strategies that grow reach, impact and sustainability.
• Drive supporter and beneficiary acquisition through targeted, insight‑led campaigns.
• Use data, analytics and performance metrics to continuously improve marketing effectiveness.
• Provide inspiring leadership and development to the Marketing & Comms Team.

Digital Strategy

• Lead Life’s digital marketing approach, including SEO, paid social, PPC, email, content and inbound marketing.
• Create effective user journeys and optimise conversion rates through testing and analytics.
• Oversee engaging social media content and paid advertising campaigns.
• Ensure high‑quality digital design, content, and brand guardianship.

Website & Content

• Support the development of Life’s website, focusing on optimisation, content quality and user experience.
• Oversee high‑quality storytelling that reflects Life’s values and mission.

About You

You’ll be a confident, creative and strategic leader who brings:

• At least 5 years’ experience in digital marketing, communications or brand roles (charity sector experience desirable).
• Proven experience developing and delivering brand, digital and communications strategies.
• Strong understanding of digital marketing trends, analytics and audience insight.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience managing budgets and leading a team.
• A warm, values‑driven approach aligned with Life’s mission of humanity, solidarity, community and compassion.

About Life: 

Life is a national pregnancy support charity that helps over 60,000 people a year. Through our services, we help people – whoever they are – to meet pregnancy or pregnancy loss with courage and dignity so they can flourish. 

Our services include:  

• Supported housing and community support   
• Counselling and skilled listening   
• Free pregnancy tests and baby supplies  

Our values :

All our work is underpinned by the following universal human values: 

• Humanity – All people are special and equal 
• Solidarity – We’re with you and for you 
• Community – We’re better together 
• Charity – Doing good for one another 
• Common good – Building a better world 

Information about the role: 

For further information, please see the attached job description. 

Salary: £40,000 – £44,000 per annum

Hours: 35 hours per week (part time considered)

Location: Remote

Benefits:  

At Life we are passionate about providing our employees with a supportive and engaging environment. As well as ongoing development and training, we offer our:  

• Generous holiday allowance, starting at 25 days per year, plus 8 Bank Holidays (pro rata for part time hours) 
• Birthday Leave  (applicable after 1 years service)
• Additional annual leave for long term service  
• Company Pension Scheme  
• Signed member of the Menopause Workplace Pledge 

Safeguarding and Equality: 

Life is committed to protecting all staff, volunteers and service users from harm of any kind. Life expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct.   

We are committed to ensuring diversity and equality within our organisation by encouraging applications from all backgrounds.  

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks. Life takes its obligation to protect the rights of children and vulnerable people very seriously; therefore, the successful candidate for this post will be also subject to extensive background checking, including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check (DBS) which is paid for by the Charity.  

We’re seeking an experienced and driven Trusts and Foundations Fundraiser to help change the lives of young carers. In this pivotal role, you’ll secure vital funding from charitable trusts and foundations, building strong relationships and crafting compelling cases for support. You’ll lead on high-value applications, identify new funding opportunities, and play a key role in shaping our income growth. Working with a passionate, mission-led team, you’ll see the direct impact of your work every day. If you’re persuasive, and inspired by making a lasting difference for children, we’d love you to join us.

Tom’s Trust provide specialist psychological support to children with brain tumours and their families – the UK’s leading charity dedicated to this work.

A brain tumour diagnosis can be devastating. Without timely intervention, many children face life-long challenges – but with the right psychological support from the moment of diagnosis, we can help them return to school, resume their lives, and achieve their potential. Support for the whole family is a vital part of the outcomes for this unique group of children.

The Assistant Clinical Psychologist for Tom's Trust is integral to our mission and is embedded in our strategy to walk alongside the child and family. This exciting new position, under the supervision of a clinical psychologist, is intended to develop and implement our new strategy to provide more national resources to reach every family in the UK impacted by a child’s brain tumour diagnosis.  This will include supporting the development of the online resources hub, an online forum, peer support groups, activity camps and increasing patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE). 

We are currently seeking a dynamic and experienced Director of Housing to lead our supported housing services nationally and help shape the next stage of our growth.

As Director of Housing, you will provide strategic and operational leadership across all of Life’s supported housing services. This is a key role within the Senior Leadership Team, responsible for ensuring our housing provision is high‑quality, compliant, safe and truly centred around the needs of our clients.

You will lead our national Housing Strategy, drive service improvement, ensure regulatory compliance, support organisational growth, and champion a culture of compassion, accountability and high performance.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership & Growth

• Develop and deliver a national Housing Strategy aligned to Life’s vision and mission.
• Identify housing development and expansion opportunities, including partnerships with local authorities and commissioners.
• Support organisational business planning and future growth.

Regulatory Compliance & Governance

• Ensure full compliance with housing legislation and regulatory requirements including the Social Housing (Regulation) Act, HHSRS, safeguarding and Health & Safety.
• Lead regulatory audits, inspections and risk management.
• Provide assurance on compliance and viability to the CEO and Trustees.

Service Quality & Client Experience

• Embed a client-centred, compassionate approach aligned with Housing Ombudsman principles.
• Oversee effective complaints management, learning reviews and client feedback systems.
• Ensure properties and services meet high standards of safety, warmth and comfort.

Operational Leadership

• Lead housing management, income recovery, voids, repairs and maintenance, compliance and tenancy sustainment.
• Ensure effective escalation of tenancy breaches and safeguarding practices.
• Work closely with Life’s Helpline services around referral and allocations.

Financial & Asset Management

• Oversee rental income, arrears, void control and financial performance.
• Manage contracts, grants and local authority funding.
• Ensure major works, planned maintenance and statutory compliance are delivered effectively.

Leadership & People Management

• Lead and support Housing Managers, support teams and frontline workers.
• Foster a positive culture of accountability, inclusion and high standards.
• Support staff development and performance.

Partnership Management

• Build strong relationships with local authorities, property professionals, contractors, funders and other key partners.
• Represent Life at external forums and sector networks.

About you:

Essential

• CIH Level 5 (or equivalent) qualification
• Senior leadership experience in supported housing, social housing, or homelessness services
• Strong knowledge of housing law, tenancy management and regulatory compliance
• Understanding of Housing Ombudsman standards and consumer regulations
• Experience in strategic planning, service development and organisational growth
• Budget management and financial performance experience
• Experience with property maintenance, asset management and compliance
• Strong safeguarding knowledge
• Excellent leadership, communication and stakeholder management skills
• UK driving licence and access to a car

Desirable

• Experience supporting vulnerable women or family services
• Charity/third sector leadership experience
• Experience securing funding or development partnerships

About Life: 

Life is a national pregnancy support charity that helps over 60,000 people a year. Through our services, we help people – whoever they are – to meet pregnancy or pregnancy loss with courage and dignity so they can flourish. 

Our services include:  

• Supported housing and community support   
• Counselling and skilled listening   
• Free pregnancy tests and baby supplies  

Our values :

All our work is underpinned by the following universal human values: 

• Humanity – All people are special and equal 
• Solidarity – We’re with you and for you 
• Community – We’re better together 
• Charity – Doing good for one another 
• Common good – Building a better world 

Information about the role: 

For further information, please see the attached job description. 

Salary: £45,750 per annum

Hours: 32 hours per week

Location: Home based with extensive travel across the South of England

Benefits:  

At Life we are passionate about providing our employees with a supportive and engaging environment. As well as ongoing development and training, we offer our:  

• Generous holiday allowance, starting at 25 days per year, plus 8 Bank Holidays (pro rata for part time hours) 
• Birthday Leave  (applicable after 1 years service)
• Additional annual leave for long term service  
• Company Pension Scheme  
• Signed member of the Menopause Workplace Pledge 

Safeguarding and Equality: 

Life is committed to protecting all staff, volunteers and service users from harm of any kind. Life expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct.   

We are committed to ensuring diversity and equality within our organisation by encouraging applications from all backgrounds.  

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks. Life takes its obligation to protect the rights of children and vulnerable people very seriously; therefore, the successful candidate for this post will be also subject to extensive background checking, including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check (DBS) which is paid for by the Charity.  

About us

The Lucy Faithfull Foundation (LFF) is a UK-wide charity that exists to prevent child sexual abuse and exploitation. We’re here for everyone who needs us. We protect children by working with people who pose a risk and diverting them from causing harm. We support individuals and families who have been affected by abuse. And we help professionals who work with families to create safer environments for children through delivering risk assessments, interventions, training and consultancy.

About the role and you

We are recruiting for a management accountant to work within our busy finance team at our Bromsgrove office.

You will be a professionally qualified accountant able to provide technical leadership as well as ongiong support to the Director of finance and coaching to the wider finance team. You will be a team player and have excellent attention to detail. You will need previous experience in management accounting as well as strong communication skills and the ability to liaise effectively with non-finance staff. Previous sytems experience (Xledger preferred), as well as an excellent knowledge of Excel.

What you'll get from us

• hybrid working with 3 days in the office
• free car parking
• NEST pension
• 33 days' annual leave rising to 38 days (inclusive of statutory bank holidays) following qualifying period
• up to 5 days learning and development per year
• flu jabs
• eye tests
• season ticket loans
• charity discounts
• employee assistance programme
• option of Benenden medical cover

How to apply

To apply, please download the job pack and return your completed documents by Monday 9th March @9:00am. Stage 1 Teams interviews are scheduled to take place on Monday 23rd March with Stage 2 face to face intervidews scheduled to take place on Monday 30th March for shortlisted candidates.

Please note that only applications with all sections completed will be reviewed during shortlisting. We do not accept AI generated responses. 

If you have not been contacted within 2 weeks of the closing date you have been unsuccessful with your application. Please note the successful candidate will be required to undergo a DBS check for this position.

#managementaccountant#accountant#finance#cima#acca#excel

We are seeking a talented individual to join our ambitious team, championing the wellbeing of the young patients, families and staff through a high-quality programme of visual arts, music, performance and cultural activity at Bristol Children’s Hospital and St Michael’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. This role is for 7 hours a week.

You will be an excellent communicator, able to build trusted working relationships across the hospital, particularly with the Play team and Hospital School, alongside clinical and non-clinical colleagues, to ensure the effective planning and delivery of The Grand Appeal’s annual arts programme.

You will bring genuine passion for the arts and a strong belief in their therapeutic value in a children’s healthcare setting and will be committed to creating opportunities for children and families to experience joy, distraction, comfort and connection by recognising that enriching cultural experiences can play a meaningful role alongside clinical care.

The Haberdashers’ Company is one of the ancient Livery Companies of the City of London, with a history dating back to 1371. While custodians of a remarkable heritage, we are firmly focused on the present and future. Our enduring purpose is to empower young people from every background to fulfil their potential through our schools and by supporting their communities.

Today, the Company is a thriving membership organisation of more than 1,000 members from a wide range of professions, united by a shared commitment to service and social impact. We are a modern, values-led funder, committed to flexible, relational and transparent grant-making, working in partnership with our schools, churches, communities and charity partners to create lasting change.

Central to our approach is the Haberdashers’ Advantage, a distinctive funder-plus model that combines grant funding with member-led governance support, volunteering, mentoring and capacity building. Each year, the Company distributes over £5.6 million to support schools, young people, churches and charities across North London, Southeast London, South Wales and the West Midlands, with a primary focus on education and community resilience.

The Role

We are seeking a Director for Charities to lead and further develop the Company’s grant-making, philanthropy and fundraising. This senior leadership role is responsible for shaping and delivering charitable strategy and ensuring the Company’s resources create meaningful, long-term impact for young people and communities.

The Director for Charities will oversee our grant-making, steward key funding relationships and play a central role in developing fundraising with members, including growing individual giving, legacies and events-based income. The role is inherently relational, working closely with charity partners, schools, dioceses, Company members and colleagues. You will support and advise grant-making committees, convene learning and engagement events, and represent the Company within external funder networks to remain connected to best practice in modern philanthropy.

Who We Are Looking For

We are looking for a values-driven leader with strong experience of flexible and responsive grant-making and fundraising in the charitable sector, and a clear commitment to improving outcomes for young people and communities. You will have excellent communication skills, a warm, engaging and reflective leadership style, and will thrive in a small but highly collaborative organisation. You will be comfortable engaging with grassroots charities, senior stakeholders, Company members and robust governance structures, combining an appreciation for heritage and service with a commitment to modern, progressive philanthropy.

To read more about the opportunity and our work, please download the full appointment brief.

Closing Date: 3 March 2026

People Beyond Profit Screening Conversations: 9-18 March 2026

The Haberdashers’ Company Panel Interviews:

• First Stage: 27 March 2026
• Second Stage: 13 April 2026

Life is a national charity committed to delivering high‑quality, compassionate and person‑centred support to people facing crisis. Guided by our values of Humanity, Solidarity, Community, Charity and the Common Good, we work across multiple sites to provide safe, effective and life‑changing services.

The Role

We are seeking an exceptional Director of Quality Improvement and Compliance to join our Senior Leadership Team at an exciting time of organisational development.

Reporting directly to the CEO, this is a senior, influential role with strategic responsibility for quality, safeguarding, compliance, estates and continuous improvement across our national portfolio of services.

You will provide visible, values‑led leadership, ensuring that everything we do is safe, effective, person‑centred, financially sustainable and fully compliant with regulatory requirements. This role has a real opportunity to shape the future of Life – and to positively impact the lives of hundreds of people we support.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership on quality improvement, compliance and continuous improvement across supported housing, estates and services
• Hold senior accountability for safeguarding governance, complaints and assurance frameworks
• Lead audit, inspection and review activity, ensuring consistently high standards and strong regulatory outcomes
• Embed a culture of quality, learning and improvement across multi‑site services
• Oversee property compliance, health & safety and estates management, ensuring safe and welcoming environments
• Use data, insight and digital systems to drive performance, manage risk and support innovation
• Act as the organisation’s senior lead with regulators, inspectors and professional bodies
• Work collaboratively with fellow Directors to deliver a joined‑up, high‑quality client journey
• Develop, coach and inspire senior leaders, fostering a high‑performing, values‑driven culture

About You

You will be a credible, values‑led leader with a strong background in regulated services and a passion for quality and safeguarding.

Essential experience and qualifications include:

• Senior leadership experience within supported housing, homelessness or a closely related regulated sector
• Proven success leading multi‑site services and senior operational leaders
• Strong track record in quality improvement, safeguarding, compliance and inspection readiness
• Sound financial and commercial awareness, including managing significant budgets and resources
• Lean Six Sigma qualification
• Level 5 Safeguarding qualification
• Health & Safety qualification (IOSH Managing Safely or equivalent)

You will also bring:

• Strategic thinking with the ability to translate vision into practical delivery
• A collaborative, visible and approachable leadership style
• Integrity, humility and purpose in how you lead
• A commitment to co‑production, continuous learning and innovation
• Strong communication, influencing and relationship‑building skills

Information about the role: 

For further information, please see the attached job description on our website. 

Salary: £50,285 per annum

Hours: 32 hours per week

Location: Home Based with travel across sites in the UK

Benefits:  

At Life we are passionate about providing our employees with a supportive and engaging environment. As well as ongoing development and training, we offer our:  

• Generous holiday allowance, starting at 25 days per year, plus 8 Bank Holidays (pro rata for part time hours) 
• Birthday Leave  (applicable after 1 years service)
• Additional annual leave for long term service    
• Company Pension Scheme  
• Signed member of the Menopause Workplace Pledge 

Safeguarding and Equality:   

Life is committed to protecting all staff, volunteers and service users from harm of any kind. Life expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct.   

We are committed to ensuring diversity and equality within our organisation by encouraging applications from all backgrounds.  

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks. Life takes its obligation to protect the rights of children and vulnerable people very seriously; therefore, the successful candidate for this post will be also subject to extensive background checking, including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check (DBS) which is paid for by the Charity.  

About Parenting for Lifelong Health:

Parenting for Lifelong Health (PLH) aims to empower parents to improve child development, reduce family violence, and promote mental health. We give parents the support they need, the skills that work, and trusted advice they can count on to protect and support their children’s health, safety and development. Our parenting courses are developed with families, powered by low-cost and accessible technology, backed by rigorous evidence, and delivered within systems. Originally founded as an initiative in 2012 in collaboration with UNICEF and the WHO, Parenting for Lifelong Health was established as a UK charity in 2022 and since then has reached over 8 million families in more than 35 countries. 

PLH Values

• Courage

We have the courage to design for the big picture and complex problems with a commitment to creating sustainable solutions that last.

• Evidence

We believe our work transforms the lives of children, families, and communities. Evidence of impact guides every decision, and we are relentless in pursuing the greatest impact with the least investment of time and resources required for parents and providers.

• Playfulness

Parenting and child wellbeing thrives on play — and so do we. We experiment, learn from each other, as well as from parents and children, and create playful and engaging products and programmes that inspire joy, curiosity, and connection.

• Respect

Everyone brings something essential. We show kindness in our team, honesty with our partners, and deep respect and empathy for parents and children, and those who are on the frontline of providing services for them.

PLH has a strong commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity in how we work, who we work with, and what we do. Candidates from minority and disadvantaged backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.

PLH also has a strong commitment to the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA). All candidates considered for the role will be subject to background and reference checks in their country of residence. 

Benefits: Flexible remote-working, home office set-up, unlimited annual leave, professional development opportunities, enhanced pension contributions, enhanced statutory leave provisions including maternity and paternity leave.

About the role:

The Senior Director of Finance is the most senior finance professional at Parenting for Lifelong Health (PLH). The role provides strategic financial leadership and ensures the organisation meets its fiduciary, regulatory, and governance obligations as a UK charity, while enabling responsible growth and global scale.

Acting as the organisation’s senior finance lead, the postholder will support the CEO and Board of Trustees to meet their statutory duties under UK charity law, including duties of care, prudence, and accountability, while building robust financial systems aligned to PLH’s 2026-2028 Strategic Plan and country implementation model.

The role ensures that PLH’s resources are used exclusively to further its charitable purposes, safeguarded appropriately, and managed transparently in the public interest.

Responsibilities:

Charity Governance, Fiduciary Oversight, and Trustee Support

• Act as the primary source of financial advice to the CEO and Board of Trustees, supporting trustees to fulfil their legal and fiduciary duties under UK charity law.

• Support the effective functioning of the Board Finance Committee, including preparation of high-quality financial papers, scenario options, and risk analyses.

• Ensure trustees have clear oversight of:

  • Financial performance against approved budgets

  • Liquidity, reserves, and solvency

  • Financial risks and mitigations

  • Long-term sustainability and going-concern considerations

• Ensure financial decision-making aligns with PLH’s charitable objects, governing documents, and public benefit obligations.

• Support compliance with Charity Commission guidance, including SORP (Standard Operating Procedures), CC3 (The Essential Trustee), CC12 (Managing a Charity’s Finances), and CC19 (Charity Reserves).

• Support trustees in understanding and exercising oversight of charity-wide financial risk, including downside and stress-test scenarios.

Financial Strategy, Planning, and Sustainability

• Lead the costing and financial modelling of PLH’s 2026-2028 Strategic Plan and country implementation model, ensuring affordability, sustainability, and strategic coherence.

• Design, implement, and institutionalise a three-tier scenario planning framework (base, growth, and downside cases) to support prudent and adaptive decision-making.

• Develop a long-term (3-5 year) financial sustainability model projecting:

  • Revenue by source (restricted and unrestricted)

  • Expenditure and staffing growth

  • Enterprise risk management (ERM) contributions

  • Reserves, liquidity, and risk exposure

• Develop, maintain, and regularly review PLH’s reserves policy, including target levels, rationale, and planned use, in line with Charity Commission expectations.

• Advise senior leadership and trustees on the financial implications of growth, innovation, and funding opportunities.

• Provide forward-looking financial insight to support organisational decision-making under uncertainty and changing funding conditions.

Financial Management, Reporting, and Controls

• Work closely with the Finance Manager to ensure accurate, complete, and timely accounting records in accordance with UK charity accounting standards (SORP FRS 102).

• Provide strategic oversight and assurance over organisation-wide financial reporting, using management accounts and dashboards prepared by the Finance Manager to inform executive and trustee decision-making.

• Ensure proportionate internal controls, segregation of duties, and approval frameworks are current and implemented by the Finance Manager.

• Lead the development and implementation of a comprehensive financial risk management framework covering:

  • Liquidity and cash-flow risk

  • Donor concentration and funding dependency

  • Currency and foreign exchange exposure

  • Contractual and grant compliance risk

  • Contingency and downside planning

• Ensure effective coordination between in-house finance staff and outsourced accounting and payroll providers, maintaining clear accountability and quality assurance.

Audit, External Reporting, and Transparency

• Oversee the annual audit process, supporting the Finance Manager’s role as primary liaison with external auditors and ensuring timely completion of statutory accounts.

• Support trustees in reviewing and approving:

  • Statutory financial statements

  • Trustees’ Annual Report

  • Financial disclosures to regulators

• Ensure high standards of financial transparency and accountability to donors, partners, regulators, and the public.

• Oversee statutory filings and financial reporting to the Charity Commission and Companies House.

• Contribute to narrative financial reporting on sustainability, risk, and reserves where appropriate.

Organisational Financial Capability and Culture

• Develop and maintain clear financial policies, procedures, and approval workflows to support consistency, compliance, and accountability.

• Embed a culture of financial stewardship, prudence, and shared accountability across the organisation.

• Promote ethical financial practice and safeguarding of charitable assets in line with PLH’s values and public-interest obligations.

Team Leadership and Management

• Lead and develop PLH’s finance function, including line management of the Finance Manager and oversight of external bookkeeping and accounting partners.

• Ensure the finance function is appropriately resourced, scalable, and fit for a growing, multi-country organisation.

• Set clear objectives, performance standards, and professional development pathways for finance staff.

• Promote ethical practice, professionalism, and continuous improvement within the finance team.

• Provide mentoring and strategic development support to mid-career finance staff as the organisation grows.

Essential Skills and Experience

• Senior-level financial leadership experience.

• Strong understanding of UK charity governance, trustee responsibilities, and Charity Commission expectations.

• Demonstrated expertise in strategic financial planning, scenario modelling, and reserves management.

• Proven experience establishing robust financial controls, reporting systems, and audit processes.

• Experience working directly with Boards and Board Committees in a governance context.

• Demonstrated experience embedding or overseeing organisational-wide financial risk management frameworks.

• Ability to translate complex financial analysis into clear, decision-ready advice for trustees and senior leaders.

• Experience operating in organisations with a mix of restricted, unrestricted, and partially recoverable income streams.

• Comfort working in an evidence-driven, analytically rigorous organisational environment.

• Strong people leadership and management capability.

• High levels of integrity, sound judgement, and commitment to PLH’s charitable aims.

Preferred Skills and Qualifications

• Financial leadership experience within a UK charity, international NGO, or comparable not-for-profit organisation.

• Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CPA) or equivalent experience.

• Experience with multi-country, multi-currency operations and restricted funding environments.

• Familiarity with UK charity accounting (SORP FRS 102).

• Experience working closely with trustee Finance or Audit & Risk Committees.

• Familiarity with donor concentration risk analysis and income diversification strategies.

• Exposure to safeguarding or PSEA considerations from a financial governance perspective.

• Experience supporting organisational growth and scale within regulated charity contexts.

Director of Public Engagement

Location: London (Hybrid)
Salary: £90,000 per annum
Contract: Permanent

Every child deserves to be safe, loved, and free from abuse. At the NSPCC, that belief drives everything they do.

The NSPCC is one of the UK’s oldest and largest children’s charities, and today their mission has never been more urgent. From tackling the challenges of online safety to delivering vital frontline services, the organisation is responding every day to the changing world children are growing up in.

This is a pivotal moment for the NSPCC as they establish an Engagement & Fundraising Directorate to modernise how they connect with supporters and unlock new opportunities for growth. Key to that team is a visionary, and collaborative leader to join the charity as their Director of Public Engagement, leading work to engage and motivate public audiences to support their work.

What You’ll Do

As the new Director, you will lead the development and delivery of public engagement and income‑generation strategies and drive an insight‑led understanding of NSPCC’s public audiences, shaping segmentation, motivations and long‑term value plans. You will also oversee an integrated, multi‑channel marketing that grows and retains supporters and boosts sustainable net income. As well as creating engaging propositions and products, you will be responsible for leading an integrated supporter-development approach across all audiences and fostering a high‑performing, collaborative culture.

This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of the charity’s public engagement, leading bold, audience-driven strategies that unlock significant and sustainable funding to help protect children for generations to come.

Who You Are

You will bring a proven record of driving income growth at scale, with deep expertise in consumer marketing, fundraising and supporter engagement, including digital. You’ll be an experienced fundraising and marketing leader of large, diverse teams, skilled at guiding transformation with clarity and resilience, and inspiring public audiences. Strategic and able to make high-impact decisions quickly under pressure, you are an outstanding communicator who can inspire trust and build strong relationships at every level.

Above all, you’ll be driven by the belief that together, we can end child abuse.

Ready to Learn More?

Click below to view our full Candidate Pack for everything you need to know including how to apply.

Closing date: Monday 9th March, 9am