Communications manager for major change programmes jobs

Do you have significant strategic leadership, operational management and budget management experience?

AFK is looking for a visible leader of our organisation to inspire and motivate the team through your presence and engagement. 

Context of Job
AFK is a national charity whose mission is to create opportunities for children and young people who are disabled or neurodiverse, to increase their independence, reach their individual potential and remove the barriers they face.
Our vision is a world where there are no barriers to independence for children and young people who are disabled or neurodivergent.
In response to this we offer bespoke employment skills training and organise work experience across North London. At a national level, we provide mobility equipment not available on the NHS for disabled children and young people up to the age of 25.

Overall Job Purpose
The Chief Executive Officer will provide strategic leadership and operational management for the charity, working closely with the Board of Trustees to deliver our mission and ensure AFK's sustainability and growth. You will lead a team of around 30 staff and volunteers, managing an annual budget of approximately £2 million.
As the visible leader of the organisation, you'll inspire and motivate the team through your presence and engagement. You'll be responsible for building strong team relationships, providing hands-on support when required, and will demonstrate the charity's values in everything you do. By leading from the front and showing the commitment and passion that drives AFK forward, you'll create a culture where everyone is motivated to deliver their best work.

Working Conditions
The post is 35 hours a week, normally 9:00am to 5:00pm, Monday to Friday. The post holder may be expected to work some evenings and weekends as required by the job.
28 days annual leave will be given in addition to public holidays.
There is a TOIL policy.

Working Relationships
The CEO will maintain close working relationships across all levels of the organisation and with external stakeholders. You'll work collaboratively with a Board of eight trustees to drive the charity's strategy forward, providing regular updates and ensuring effective governance.
You'll line manage members of the Senior Management Team, ensuring a cohesive and effective leadership group.
Building and nurturing relationships with key funders, partners, and supporters will be essential to the role. You'll act as an ambassador for the charity with AFK’s stakeholders, representing our mission and impact. Developing strong networks within the sector and maintaining meaningful connections with service users will be vital to ensuring the charity remains responsive and relevant to those it serves.
You'll also build visible and accessible connections with the wider staff team through regular communication and engagement across the organisation.
Importantly, this is a hands-on leadership role with a direct portfolio responsibility. In addition to your organisational leadership duties, you will lead and manage one of our core functional areas, whether that is Service Delivery, Fundraising, or Finance and Operations. You'll bring your specialist expertise and people management skills to this area, taking ownership of its performance and development.
This means the CEO role combines strategic leadership of the whole organisation with active, day-to-day accountability for a defined part of it.
AFK is a successful charity with well-established processes and an experienced team, meaning you'll be well supported to fulfil both dimensions of this role effectively.

Interview Schedule
First round of interviews will be held by mid June
Second round to be confirmed

For a full job decription, please sign into your CharityJob candidate account to access this attachment.

Make a real impact in South Kilburn!  The OK Club is hiring a CEO to manage and lead the organisation as we continue to develop our presence and impact in our neighbourhood.

Thanks to funding from John Lyon’s Charity, we’re looking for a visionary leader, who is motivated by their Christian faith and who can inspire and equip our team and work with us to develop and deliver our strategic development plan.  If you’re someone who loves young people and community, and is passionate about seeing people flourish, we want to hear from you! 

Started by students and graduates of Oxford University (hence the OK in our name - Oxford Kilburn) The OK Club has been providing activities for children and young people for the past 60 years and we have exciting plans for our next phase of development.

As well as continuing our programme of youth and children’s activities, over the last couple of years we have also expanded our provision to make the club building available to the wider community.  Taking an asset based approach, our Community Animator enabled us to open our doors and connect in a new way with our neighbours.

As CEO you will be responsible for overseeing three key areas -

1. our youth & children’s work,
2. our community engagement, and
3. our building.

Applicants will have proven experience of leadership in a charity or community context.  The ability to work positively with young people is essential, and experience of managing a building and budgets is also important.

Our funding from John Lyon is initially for three years but we anticipate that, with a brilliant new CEO our funding will grow to make the post sustainable.

The OK Club is located in South Kilburn, North West London.  We currently find ourselves in the middle of a building site (quite literally) and that our neighbourhood is changing drastically. Brent Council are continuing their massive regeneration project - demolishing all existing tower blocks and replacing them with new ones, with a greater number of housing units.  While much around us is changing, our desire to support children and young people with play and development opportunities is as strong as ever.

The OK Club currently has:

• A part time Youth Work Development Officer who oversees our youth work programme.

• A part time Building Manager.

• A part time Community Animator.

• A part time Children's Worker.

• Four interns (two full time and two  part time, shared with churches), usually from abroad on gap year schemes.

• Christian Holt House which can accommodate up to five further individuals who live as part of the missional community and are required as part of their tenancy to contribute to Club activities.

• A small but important number of volunteers are recruited from among parents and the community generally.  We are keen to grow this team, particularly with older young people and other members of the local community.

Our site contains the following facilities:

• A sports hall

• 3 x activity spaces

• A kitchen

• Garden

• Two upper floors which are currently rented out to other organisations.

We have been funded by Brent Council to renovate our Sports Hall and have ambitious plans for our whole site development in the coming years.

The work of the OK Club is overseen by a Management Committee (Trustees) who meet every two months, and the post will be Line Managed by one of the Trustees.

Inclusion & Diversity:

The OK Club strives to be a diverse and inclusive place where we can ALL be ourselves. We particularly encourage applications from people who identify as Black, Asian or from a Minority Ethnic background. 

Safer Recruitment:

The OK Club is a Safe Recruiter and will require all applicants to undergo a DBS disclosure as well as taking three references. A criminal record is not necessarily a bar to working for us but must be declared on application.

Timetable: (subject to amendment)

• Post advertised - 18th May 2026

• Closing Date - 7th June 2026

• Shortlisting will take place in the following week and interviews will take place, week commencing 15th June.

The successful candidate may start as soon as they are available and appropriate checks have been carried out.

Application Process:

• Applications must be received by the deadline on our approved application form.

• Any expressions of interest received through Indeed, Charity Job or other online platforms will be sent the application form to complete and an application won’t be considered until a fully completed form is received.

• All applications will be acknowledged and considered in our shortlisting.

• Applicants who are shortlisted will be invited for an interview which will likely consist of a presentation, a task, and standard panel interview. 

• The recruiting panel reserves the right to request a second interview if they feel this is appropriate.

When you are completing the application form, please pay particular attention to the essay section which is where you can tell us how you fit the criteria listed in the person specification.

About Police Care UK

Police Care UK is the national, independent charity supporting serving and veteran members of the police community, and their families, when they’ve been physically or psychologically harmed through policing.
Demand for our services has grown by more than 400% in the last decade. This reflects the increasing impact of trauma in modern policing – from major incidents and serious violence to cumulative and vicarious trauma. We understand that harm doesn’t end with a shift, and that families are often affected too.

We’ve evolved from a traditional benevolent fund into a sector-leading organisation delivering evidence-informed support, trauma-focused recovery services and practical prevention programmes across UK policing. Our work is grounded in compassion, clarity and evidence, and we’re fiercely independent so we can focus on what people really need.

Our vision is simple: a future where every member of the police community has access to the care and support they need, and nobody faces the impact of harm alone. Based in Woking and working nationally, we’re committed to strengthening the people behind the force – and we’re looking for those who want to be a part of that work.

Role Purpose

Reporting to the Director of Development and working closely with the Executive Leadership Team, the Head of Insight and Innovation will lead the Charity’s research, data, evaluation and innovation functions. This is a strategic leadership role responsible for embedding a culture of evidence-informed practice, continuous improvement and sector-leading innovation across the Charity. 

The postholder will ensure that our insight drives decision-making, strengthens fundraising, informs service design and positions Police Care UK as a thought leader within the policing and blue light sectors. This will involve leading a multi-disciplinary team, with responsibility for future growth of the Insight and Innovation function as organisational needs evolve.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Lead the development of our long-term insight and innovation strategy.
• Ensure data, evidence and evaluation meaningfully influence strategic planning and resource allocation.
• Drive horizon scanning across policing, mental health and the charity sector to inform organisational priorities.

Research and Academic Development

• Oversee our research portfolio, including academic collaborations and commissioned studies.
• Translate research findings into actionable recommendations that strengthen our services, policy influence and fundraising.
• Ensure our understanding of unmet need across the policing family remains current and robust.

Data, CRM and Impact Intelligence

• Lead the strategic development of our CRM and data systems.
• Embed strong KPI frameworks, dashboards and impact reporting across the charity.
• Ensure high standards of data governance, integrity and compliance.

Innovation and Service Development

• Lead our innovation pipeline, from discovery and prototyping to pilot evaluation and scaling.
• Embed co-production with beneficiaries and policing partners.
• Develop business cases and secure funding for new initiatives. 

Monitoring, Evaluation and Impact

• Oversee our success measurement framework and ensure outcomes are evidenced and clearly articulated.
• Produce high-value insight for funders, trustees and external stakeholders.

Governance and External Representation

• Provide high-quality insight and reporting to the Board of Trustees.
• Represent the charity externally across academic, sector and policy forums.
• Uphold the highest standards of safeguarding, ethics and data protection.

Person Specification

Essential

• Degree-level education and ongoing professional development.
• Significant senior experience in research, insight, evaluation or organisational development.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to translate complex data into clear, actionable insight.
• Experience leading multi-disciplinary teams and driving data-informed decision-making.
• Excellent communication skills, including presenting to senior stakeholders and Boards.
• Strong understanding of mental health, trauma or wellbeing in a public-sector or charity context.
• Knowledge of evaluation methodologies, data governance and ethical research standards.

Desirable

• Postgraduate qualification in a relevant field.
• Experience within policing, emergency services or the wider blue-light sector.
• Experience securing research or innovation funding.
• Knowledge of innovation methodologies (e.g. design thinking, co-production, agile).

Why work with us

You’ll be joining a forward-thinking, committed and values driven team making a real difference to the people who keep our communities safe.  We offer:

• Enhanced wellbeing support
• Pension scheme with up to 8% employer contributions
• Development opportunities
• A 35-hour working week
• A supportive, collaborative culture
• The chance to make a meaningful impact on the lives of police officers, staff, volunteers, and their families

How to Apply:  Please submit your CV and a detailed cover letter explaining why you’re the right fit for this role. Applications are assessed on a rolling basis, so please apply as soon as you are able. 

Limitations: This job description is neither exclusive nor exhaustive. The duties and responsibilities may vary from time to time in the light of changing circumstances in consultation with the jobholder. The jobholder will be required to work within the rules and regulations of the Charity and accept the authority of the Chief Executive, who has the discretion to delegate authority to the jobholder and to withdraw it.

Equal Opportunities Policy: The Charity is committed to eliminating any discrimination and promoting diversity and equality of opportunity in all it does.

The Charity is committed to providing equal opportunities in employment, and we will not unlawfully discriminate against job applicants, employees of the Charity, volunteers, workers, or contract workers on the grounds of their age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race (which includes colour, nationality and ethnic or national origins) religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

REF-228 334

Are you passionate about supporting children, young people and adults who are autistic and/or have a learning disability? 

We are seeking to recruit a highly skilled Key Worker for our Key Worker Service in East Berkshire. The role is diverse and service user centred. It would suit someone with significant experience in supporting young people and young adults with autism and Learning Disabilities and their families.

The day-to-day work will involve a flexible approach to coordination and direct support for the young person and their family, as well as providing responsive communication at times of increased need. This is an exciting role which allows for the Key Worker to support families to navigate the system whilst advocating for them and ensuring that their voice is heard.

There will be opportunities for collaboration and co-production - our vision is to provide young person and family centred support, whilst influencing system change to achieve better outcomes for more children, young people and adults under the age of 25.

The service will be provided across the entire East Berkshire footprint covering Slough, Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, Bracknell Forest.Although the team is “virtual”, there will be frequent (weekly) travel within and across the East Berkshire area, therefore being a car driver with access to a car is essential, as well as being based near the local area. 

The Key Working Function has been developed as a response to the NHS England & NHS Improvement Long Term Plan (LTP) commitment that by 2023/24, children and young people with a learning disability, autism, or both, with the most complex needs will have a designated Key Worker, applying the recommendations made by Dame Christine Lenehan in ‘These are our Children'. The East Berkshire Key Worker Service has been established since 2023 and continues to develop and evolve. 

We are looking for someone who:

• has significant experience of working with individuals with Learning Disabilities and/or who are Autistic as well as their families.
• has an understanding of mental health and how this may impact this service user group 
• Is tenacious and passionate about advocating for our families, whilst respectfully challenging professionals and working collaboratively with other agencies
• Able to complete frequent visits to service users and have the ability to be flexible to complete visits/meetings at short notice within working hours across the East Berkshire area

A Barnardo's Project Worker 3 job description and person specification is attached to the advert for this role. This is a generic role description in use throughout the organisation to cover all roles at the given salary band. The Additional Information Sheet outlines the specific responsibilities, skills and experience required and it is important that you read this carefully before you apply.

When completing your application form, please refer to the skills, knowledge and experience required as detailed in the Person Specification and also in the Additional Information Sheet. This should be done with an understanding of the context of the service described.

Please note due to the high volume of applications for some posts, this advert might close before the displayed closing date. We recommend that you apply for this role as soon as possible.

Where a role is advertised as fixed term, we are happy to consider secondment opportunities. Please discuss this with your line manager and the hiring manager for the role.

Pay & Reward Framework

We know that our colleagues go above and beyond in delivering our vital work, driven by their passion and commitment to Barnardo's values.  We also know that we can only realise our ambitions and achieve better outcomes for more children, thanks to the talent, hard work and creativity of our people. 

For all these reasons, we are committed to a new approach to pay and reward, to ensure it is fair, attractive and progressive, which was rolled out in April 2023. This is a positive change for the charity, and a part of our People & Culture Strategy. It will assist us in supporting colleagues to belong, thrive and grow in their colleague journey at Barnardo's and in time will offer clear routes of progression for colleagues in both their career and their pay. 

Whilst the full pay band and salary range is advertised, our approach to starting salaries is to appoint between the minimum to mid-point of the pay band – this ensures that pay steps are available to reward our colleagues annually based on their contribution to excellence and alignment to our values and behaviours.  More details on Barnardo's pay framework can be found upon application. 

Benefits

Workplace Offer: What it means for you

Our hybrid working initiative is based on trust, flexibility and empowerment. We understand our workplace offer means different things to different people, and we encourage those conversations. This may mean working at one of our stores, services, working at home, in the community, at one of our Collaboration Hubs or depending on the role any combination of these. Please read through the advert carefully to understand the remits of hybrid working that will be specific to the role.

Barnardo's require colleagues to be UK residents, based in the UK and to complete their roles from within the UK (with the exception of colleagues providing Barnardo's services in Jersey and colleagues who live in the Republic of Ireland providing services in Northern Ireland)

• Barnardo's believe in creating equality of opportunity in the workplace and supporting people to manage their work-life balance; we are therefore open to offering flexible working arrangements.
• Annual Leave entitlement for full-time colleagues is 26 days per annum, increasing to 27 days per annum, after 3 years Barnardo's service, 29 days per annum, after 5 years Barnardo's service and 30 days per annum, after 7 years Barnardo's service. Those working less than full time are entitled to the same level of holiday pro rata
• The ability to buy up to another 5 days annual leave via our Buy Your Leave scheme
• A host of family friendly leave options including company Maternity Paternity and Adoption pay; together with all family additional leave options
• Service related sick pay from day 1
• Access to a Group Personal Pension with a matched 4% or 6% contribution from Barnardo's. Ability to pay via salary sacrifice to garner both tax and NI savings on your own contribution
• Death in service cover of 4x annual earnings for all staff contributing to our Group Personal Pension
• Cycle2work scheme
• Interest free season ticket loans
• Discounts and cashback from at high street shops including major supermarkets, cinemas, gyms, leisure/theme parks, holidays and much more via our Benefit Portal
• 20% discount at Barnardo's stores
• Opportunity to purchase a health cash plan to claim towards dental, glasses, therapy etc
• Free access to round the clock employee assistance program for advice and support
• Access to Barnardo's Learning and Development offer

*T&C's apply based on contract

About Barnardo's

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and cultivating a culture where everyone can belong and thrive through inclusion and connectivity. We want our workforce to be reflective of the communities we work with, and for equality, diversity and inclusion to be embedded in everything we do. We are a Disability Confident Leader, are progressing our ambition to be an anti-racist organisation with Anti-Racism Commitments and actions in place and have networks for colleagues who are disabled, LGBT+, Black and Minoritised Ethnic and Women. We particularly encourage applications from Black and Minoritised Ethnic and/or disabled candidates who are currently underrepresented in our workforce. For disabled applicants, we offer reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.

Our basis and values

Are you ready for a new challenge?

Do you have a passion for working with young people, helping them grow in confidence, discover their strengths, and explore new opportunities? If so, we'd love to hear from you!

Location

This is a hybrid role, combining work from home with work in the community. You'll also have access to our Barnardo's office in Taunton if you'd like to use this space.

Working Hours

Negotiable, up to 37 hours per week, including some evening work (fixed term until 31st March 2027)

About the Role

The Barnardo's Co-op Partnership is an exciting and innovative programme aiming to support more than one million young people to build positive futures.

Our Sedgemoor for our Future service is co-designed with young people and centred around a welcoming, inclusive youth space where young people can feel safe, connected, and empowered to take part in meaningful experiences.

Using a youth work approach, we support young people to:

• Build positive relationships and develop a strong sense of belonging
• Grow in confidence, resilience, and self-esteem
• Take part in a wide range of activities, including creative, practical, and food-based sessions
• Explore issues that matter to them and have their voices heard
• Develop teamwork, communication, and essential life skills for the future

Session Details

You must be available to lead the following weekly sessions:

• Tuesdays – Highbridge, 4:30pm–6:00pm
• Wednesdays – Bridgwater, 4:30pm–6:00pm

As part of your role, you will plan and deliver engaging, youth-led sessions in a variety of settings, including community venues and schools. You will build trusted relationships with young people, create inclusive spaces that meet diverse needs, and support them to achieve positive outcomes.

You will also contribute to community engagement, develop creative approaches to reaching young people across Sedgemoor, and support ongoing evaluation through reflective practice and outcome recording.

What We're Looking For

• Experience working with children, young people, and families
• Strong understanding of safeguarding and child protection procedures, with experience applying this in practice
• Excellent listening and communication skills with a diverse range of children, young people and families
• Creativity and confidence in designing inclusive workshops and group sessions
• Good written and IT skills to accurately record case notes
• Flexibility to adapt to the needs and interests of young people

When applying, please refer specifically to the Person Specification and Job Description, explaining how your skills and experience meet the requirements.

Please note due to the high volume of applications for some posts, this advert might close before the displayed closing date. We recommend that you apply for this role as soon as possible.

Pay & Reward Framework

We know that our colleagues go above and beyond in delivering our vital work, driven by their passion and commitment to Barnardo's values.  We also know that we can only realise our ambitions and achieve better outcomes for more children, thanks to the talent, hard work and creativity of our people. 

For all these reasons, we are committed to a new approach to pay and reward, to ensure it is fair, attractive and progressive, which was rolled out in April 2023. This is a positive change for the charity, and a part of our People & Culture Strategy. It will assist us in supporting colleagues to belong, thrive and grow in their colleague journey at Barnardo's and in time will offer clear routes of progression for colleagues in both their career and their pay. 

Whilst the full pay band and salary range is advertised, our approach to starting salaries is to appoint between the minimum to mid-point of the pay band – this ensures that pay steps are available to reward our colleagues annually based on their contribution to excellence and alignment to our values and behaviours.  More details on Barnardo's pay framework can be found upon application. 

Benefits

Workplace Offer: What it means for you

Our hybrid working initiative is based on trust, flexibility and empowerment. We understand our workplace offer means different things to different people, and we encourage those conversations. This may mean working at one of our stores, services, working at home, in the community, at one of our Collaboration Hubs or depending on the role any combination of these. Please read through the advert carefully to understand the remits of hybrid working that will be specific to the role.

Barnardo's require colleagues to be UK residents, based in the UK and to complete their roles from within the UK (with the exception of colleagues providing Barnardo's services in Jersey and colleagues who live in the Republic of Ireland providing services in Northern Ireland)

• Barnardo's believe in creating equality of opportunity in the workplace and supporting people to manage their work-life balance; we are therefore open to offering flexible working arrangements.
• Annual Leave entitlement for full-time colleagues is 26 days per annum, increasing to 27 days per annum, after 3 years Barnardo's service, 29 days per annum, after 5 years Barnardo's service and 30 days per annum, after 7 years Barnardo's service. Those working less than full time are entitled to the same level of holiday pro rata
• The ability to buy up to another 5 days annual leave via our Buy Your Leave scheme
• A host of family friendly leave options including company Maternity Paternity and Adoption pay; together with all family additional leave options
• Service related sick pay from day 1
• Access to a Group Personal Pension with a matched 4% or 6% contribution from Barnardo's. Ability to pay via salary sacrifice to garner both tax and NI savings on your own contribution
• Death in service cover of 4x annual earnings for all staff contributing to our Group Personal Pension
• Cycle2work scheme
• Interest free season ticket loans
• Discounts and cashback from at high street shops including major supermarkets, cinemas, gyms, leisure/theme parks, holidays and much more via our Benefit Portal
• 20% discount at Barnardo's stores
• Opportunity to purchase a health cash plan to claim towards dental, glasses, therapy etc
• Free access to round the clock employee assistance program for advice and support
• Access to Barnardo's Learning and Development offer

*T&C's apply based on contract

About Barnardo's

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and cultivating a culture where everyone can belong and thrive through inclusion and connectivity. We want our workforce to be reflective of the communities we work with, and for equality, diversity and inclusion to be embedded in everything we do. We are a Disability Confident Leader, are progressing our ambition to be an anti-racist organisation with Anti-Racism Commitments and actions in place and have networks for colleagues who are disabled, LGBT+, Black and Minoritised Ethnic and Women. We particularly encourage applications from Black and Minoritised Ethnic and/or disabled candidates who are currently underrepresented in our workforce. For disabled applicants, we offer reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.