Head of Support Services

Harris Hill are delighted to be partnering with Action for Pulmonary Fibrosis (APF), the UK’s leading charity for people affected by pulmonary fibrosis, to recruit a Head of Support Services.

Salary: £50,000 – £59,000 per annum
Location: Hybrid role, with attendance at the charity’s Peterborough office for team meetings, collaboration and other key activities, typically on a quarterly basis, alongside travel to meetings, events and partner sites as required.

With an ambitious five-year strategy, APF is entering an exciting period of growth. The successful candidate will play a key role in developing and expanding its support services, ensuring they are accessible, inclusive, evidence-led and sustainable.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the strategic direction, planning and continuous improvement of APF’s patient-facing support services.
• Lead the redesign of APF’s Support Group Network, using insight, evaluation and lived experience to develop a sustainable and inclusive new model.
• Work with the Support Line team to develop a new delivery model that expands access to specialist support.
• Drive innovation, including the appropriate use of technology and digital solutions to improve access, quality and experience.
• Lead and develop teams across the Support Line and Support Networks, creating a supportive, inclusive and accountable culture.
• Oversee the delivery and development of APF’s Support Line, Support Networks and volunteering approach.
• Ensure people affected by pulmonary fibrosis are meaningfully involved in shaping services.
• Build strong partnerships with healthcare professionals, clinical colleagues, community organisations and other external stakeholders.
• Develop and oversee partnership arrangements, KPIs, reporting and evaluation.
• Ensure services operate safely and effectively, with strong safeguarding, governance, risk management and quality processes.
• Manage budgets and resources effectively, contributing to financial planning and forecasting.
• Work with Fundraising colleagues to provide service insight, outcomes and evidence to support funding proposals and reports.
• Represent APF externally and promote its support offer and approach.

We are looking for:

• Significant experience of leading service change and developing new models of delivery using insight, evaluation and user feedback.
• Strong experience of partnership working, including formal agreements, KPIs, reporting and evaluation.
• Experience managing teams, budgets and resources, with the ability to develop and motivate others.
• Experience working with volunteers, peer support groups, communities or people with lived experience.
• An understanding of safeguarding, confidentiality, data protection and risk management within service delivery.
• Experience of using data, insight and feedback to improve services and demonstrate impact.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to build trust across a wide range of stakeholders.
• Strong planning, prioritisation and problem-solving skills.
• A collaborative and values-led approach, with sound judgement and confidence making decisions.
• A commitment to inclusive, accessible and person-centred support.

Experience within a health charity, patient organisation, helpline, peer support or voluntary sector setting would be desirable, as would experience working with healthcare professionals or NHS stakeholders.

This is a unique opportunity to shape and grow APF’s support offer and make a meaningful difference to people affected by pulmonary fibrosis.

If you are an experienced support services leader looking for a role where you can combine strategic leadership with real-world impact, we would love to hear from you.

For more information, please submit your CV.

Please note, CVs are being reviewed on a rolling basis, and only successful applicants will be contacted with more information.

As leading charity recruitment specialists and a certified B Corp™, Harris Hill is committed to high and ever-improving standards of equitable and inclusive recruitment. We actively welcome applications from all sections of the community regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexuality and other protected characteristics.