Policy and research director jobs

This is an exciting position for an exceptional person with a strong campaigning background to work for one of the UK’s leading rights NGOs. In this role, you’ll have the opportunity to devise high-impact campaigns to achieve real change, co-ordinating a multi-disciplinary high-performing team to further privacy, free expression and data protection rights. Ideally, you’ll also be a key Big Brother Watch spokesperson in the media.

You’ll have both people and project management responsibilities, leading our campaigns on key civil liberty issues such as digital ID, free speech and protest rights, facial recognition, AI and mass surveillance. 

You’ll plan, execute and evaluate campaigns across all areas of our work.

Big Brother Watch

Big Brother Watch is a UK civil liberties campaign group fighting for a free future. We’re determined to reclaim our privacy and defend freedoms at this time of enormous technological change. And we fight to win.

We’re a fiercely independent, diverse, non-partisan and non-profit group of campaigners and researchers who work to roll back the surveillance state and protect the public’s rights in parliament, the media or the courts if we have to. We publish unique investigations and pursue powerful public campaigns to pursue real change. We work relentlessly to inform and empower the public to collectively reclaim privacy, defend our civil liberties and protect freedoms for the future.

We’re a small, dedicated and highly effective team of seven full-time staff and five volunteers.

Job description

Campaigns

• Develop and execute quarterly campaigns plans to manage and schedule relevant advocacy, policy and research work to further our strategic aims

• Co-ordinate a high-performing, multi-disciplinary team to pursue campaign goals

• Identify advocacy and press opportunities to further campaign aims

• Strategise/oversee development of campaign materials & engaging supporter actions 

• Promote Big Brother Watch’s campaigns in the media, writing articles and giving quotes/live interviews to press and for our social media channels

• Uphold Big Brother Watch’s reputational excellence in public fora 

• Work with Director to periodically set campaign priorities in our organisational strategy

• Communicate complex issues to varied audiences, whether parliament, press or public; whether through traditional means (e.g. print media) or public stunts and actions

• Build strong relationships with parliamentarians and advisors across all parties

• Identify opportunities to further our strategic aims in parliament through committees, parliamentary questions and other activities; as well as regional assemblies and on occasion local government

• Work with stakeholders and pursue collaborative campaigns/coalitions on key issues

• Develop and advance Big Brother Watch’s relationships with allies across Government, legislative bodies, international organisations & NGOs in a strictly cross-party manner

• Reflect, evaluate and implement learning from Big Brother Watch’s campaigns

Events

• Organise Big Brother Watch’s party conference fringe events annually

• Seek other opportunities to organise Big Brother Watch events at appropriate times, including report/campaign launch events, public events and stakeholder roundtables

Management

• Oversee the organisation’s execution of campaigns, ensuring appropriate delegation

• Ensure the highest level of quality of all campaigns output

• Line management responsibilities for the advocacy team (currently two Legal and Policy Officers)

• Manage staff performance and development, and ensure wellbeing

• Help foster a positive, supportive and high-performance work environment 

Macular disease is the biggest cause of sight loss in the UK, with around 300 people diagnosed every day. The Macular Society is the only charity determined to beat the fear and isolation of macular disease with world class research, and the best advice and support.

To support people affected by macular disease now, the Macular Society provides a range of support, information and services. Our research programme is focused on finding new treatments and a cure to beat macular disease forever.

We’re looking for an experienced and strategic individual to lead our community engagement work in Northern Ireland and manage our UK-wide team of Community Engagement Managers. You’ll oversee peer support development, build strong partnerships, and ensure consistent delivery across regions. This role requires excellent leadership skills, the ability to manage complex relationships, and a strong understanding of how to engage and empower communities. If you feel you have the attributes above, we would love to hear from you.

In return, we provide a great working culture and offer flexible working options, 26 days annual leave, the ability to buy or sell annual leave, supportive family policies, and a 6% pension contribution.

We are an equal opportunities employer, and we welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons.

This role is predominantly home-based; however, travel will be required across NI and occasionally to Andover in Hampshire.

Saferworld is recruiting a Country Manager, Afghanistan (UK based) to lead our Afghanistan programme and shape the strategic direction of our work in line with Saferworld’s 10-year organisational strategy.

The post-holder will provide strong leadership and be responsible for the strategic steer based in our organisational strategy and rooted in partners’ collective visions for their societies. They will lead on partnership relations, resourcing efforts, providing financial oversight, managing staff, and reporting to donors. They will represent Saferworld in interactions with relevant authorities, donors, and other stakeholders in Afghanistan, South Asia, and globally. The post-holder will engage in cross-organisational information-sharing and lesson-learning on policy and strategy issues, and develop written analysis linking experiences and learning in Afghanistan to global trends and platforms.

This programme operates in a complex context. In this environment, effective leadership requires that the post-holder centres partners voices and views in planning for and managing a range of expected and unexpected risks. The post-holder will contribute to organisation-wide strategic planning, processes and discussions to advance thematic and operational priorities, methodological approaches and organisational development. This will specifically require developing new ways of working to ensure impactful change, linking programmes across different contexts and regions.

Saferworld is unable to sponsor work visas. This role is based in London, UK, and applicants must have the right to work in the UK. As Saferworld does not currently have a presence in Afghanistan, applicants based in Afghanistan will not be eligible for this role unless they already have the right to work in the UK.

Key info
Closing date: Sunday 25th January 2026 at 23:59. 

Annual salary: £42,400

Hours: 37.5 hours per week (full time)

Contract length: 3 years initially, with contract extension subject to funding

Location: UK based, mainly remote with occasional in person work

The role

TransActual is recruiting a Communications Lead to join our rapidly growing team. You’ll be working alongside our board and Senior Management team to develop and implement a communications strategy across all media channels that supports the accurate representation of TransActual’s work to the wider world and our mission to advocate, empower and inform.

We are looking for someone with strong interpersonal skills both in terms of understanding and responding to underlying questions in a sometimes hostile media environment, identifying the effective ways of proactively and reactively communicating about our advocacy goals, and working closely with our Policy Lead, Director of Operations and for Healthcare, staff team, board and volunteers to achieve that.

Your responsibilities will include, but not be limited to, the creation of a communications strategy, communications processes, protocols and standards, press releasing and liaison, and line management of our communications officer. You will be responsible for forward planning of communications where events are foreseeable and will also be required to enable rapid and sensitive response to unpredictable events and consequent media inquiries.

An in-depth understanding of trans people’s lived experiences and an ongoing commitment to bringing about positive change for all trans people in the UK is absolutely essential for this role. This understanding can come from your own lived experience. You will demonstrate a strong understanding of and commitment to equity, particularly in relation to race equity and disability equity.

We particularly welcome and encourage applications from trans people, Black People and People of Colour, neurodivergent people and disabled people.

The role of the Operations Officer (Licensing and Compliance) is to support the development, coordination and delivery of Licensing and Compliance processes and procedures across the Association.

The Operations Officer (Licensing and Compliance) will support the Senior Licensing and Compliance Manager and other members of the Operations Team to ensure that, through the consistent and proactive use of standards, policies and quality assurance processes, backed up by effective licensing, the intellectual property and good reputation of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is effectively protected.

The role will work closely with Operations Directors, Operations Managers and the Foundation Finance Team to support licensing of Operators.

Key Responsibilities

• Processing, in liaison with relevant Operations Team colleagues, new licence applications from Independent Award Centres (IACs), including due diligence and database management.
• Lead on the management of the IAC Compliance Check schedule and surrounding processes including regular communications with relevant Operations Managers.
• Coordinate the ongoing compliance management process for IACs.
• Provide support to the Senior Licensing & Compliance Manager with processes related to the compliance for National Award Operators (NAOs) and Operating Partners (OPs).
• Support the Senior Licensing and Compliance Manager with issuing of and drafting correspondence in relation to all licence documentation (terminations, licence extensions, agreements and certificates etc).
• Support the Senior Licensing and Compliance Manager to disseminate information regarding licensing and quality assurance processes to Foundation colleagues, and to the wider Association when appropriate.
• Support with ad hoc projects, as required.

If you're an organised, proactive Administrator who is motivated by social impact, this could be your next step! As Administrator at FLEX, you will play a central role to our everyday operations, supporting a small but dynamic team working towards ending labour exploitation.

Job title: Administrator

Location: FLEX office, Vauxhall, London – Currently hybrid working with a mixture of in person and online working

Salary: £33,500 per annum (pro rata), subject to deductions for tax and national insurance contributions as required by law 

Hours: Part time (4 days, equivalent to 30 hours per week)

Contract: Permanent

Reporting to: Director of Operations

Benefits: 25 days holiday per year plus bank holidays and incremental leave (pro rata), extra days over the holiday period, enhanced maternity, adoption and paternity pay; occupational sick pay; incremental pension contributions; Employee Assistance Programme; and a wide range of opportunities for skills development.

About the role:

In this role you will support FLEX’s staff team and Board of Trustees to guarantee the smooth running of our operations. You will ensure the effective administration and maintenance of relevant office resources and systems. This role involves supporting tasks related to governance and compliance, HR, finance and grant administration. You will work closely with FLEX’s Management Team but will have a central role, working across teams, and you will be responsible for staff communications regarding internal operations.

About FLEX:

Focus on Labour Exploitation (FLEX) is a research and policy organisation working to end labour exploitation by challenging and transforming the systems and structures that make workers vulnerable to abuse. We are striving for a world free from all forms of labour exploitation, including forced labour and human trafficking. FLEX seeks to achieve this vision through the prevention of labour abuses, protection of the rights of those affected or at risk of exploitation and by promoting best practice responses to labour exploitation through research and evidence-based advocacy.

Key responsibilities:

General Administration 

• Provide administrative support to the FLEX team/Board including organising meetings, taking minutes, booking travel and accommodation

• Financial administrative support including processing invoices and expenses claims

• Ensure post is collected, filed and forwarded

• Coordinate the schedule for donor progress reports with staff, ensuring that internal and external deadlines are met

• Create and maintain effective filing systems in line with data protection legislation 

• Manage and respond to general enquiries, received by phone, email or post.

• Provide logistical support and coordination for FLEX events

• Liaise with external stakeholders to support FLEX’s work within the sector

• Support the drafting of FLEX organisational and governance documents

• Support the implementation of FLEX’s Equality and Diversity Strategy

• Identify any opportunities to improve and streamline existing processes.

Office Management/Health and Safety

• Ensure office provisions and office stationery are well stocked

• Act as tenant representative for FLEX at The Foundry (shared office building), liaising with Ethical Property Company building management, attending tenant meetings and sharing relevant information with the FLEX team

• Report any health and safety issues to the Ethical Property Company 

• Organise annual PAT testing and fire risk assessments

• Liaise with The Foundry Facilities Manager regarding fire safety and other aspects relating to FLEX’s office lease

• Maintain equipment log

• Ensure FLEX has functional, up-to-date IT equipment, including ensuring printer, phone and Wi-Fi are working as expected

• Liaison with IT provider, website support provider, and any other relevant services to enable smooth operations

• Act as Fire Warden

HR Administration 

• Support recruitment processes including equality monitoring, recruitment timelines, candidate communications, interview set up (online and in person)

• Keep starters and leavers checklists up to date

• Maintain up to date staff records on Breathe HR database, including training and development

• Ensure provision of equipment associated with homeworking and office-based work e.g. cameras, laptops, DSE requirements 

• Support the implementation of FLEX’s Equality and Diversity Strategy 

• Organise and collate staff surveys. 

Other

• Undertake any other duties within the context of the role as may be determined by your line manager.

• Attend team meetings

• Attend training relevant to the role

• Adhere to FLEX’s organisational policies.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer, creating a culture where everyone can be themselves and thrive. This means we are committed to being an anti-racist, trans-inclusive, gender-equitable and intersectional organisation.

We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures. In particular, those who have lived experience of the immigration system or who identify as part of marginalised communities.

If you are disabled or become disabled, we encourage you to tell us about your condition so that we can make reasonable adjustments and consider what support may be provided at the interview and task stage.

How to apply: Please download, complete and send the FLEX application form and equal opportunities from our website.

Deadline for applications:  25th January 2026 23:59

Shortlisting:Your application will be assessed against the criteria in specified in the Job Description. To ensure fairness and consistency in our shortlisting process, applications will be anonymised before being reviewed by the panel.

Interviews will be held for shortlisted candidates in person at FLEX offices, Vauxhall on 9th/10th February 2026. Please state in your application if you are not available to attend on these dates.

Macular disease is the biggest cause of sight loss in the UK, with around 300 people diagnosed every day. The Macular Society is the only charity determined to beat the fear and isolation of macular disease with world class research, and the best advice and support.

To support people affected by macular disease now, the Macular Society provides a range of support, information and services. Our research programme is focused on finding new treatments and a cure to beat macular disease forever.

We’re looking for someone who can lead on community engagement across Wales – helping to grow and strengthen our local peer support services. You’ll work collaboratively with colleagues and volunteers, develop partnerships, and help us reach more people affected by macular disease. You’ll need to be organised, adaptable, and confident managing multiple projects at once. If you feel you have the attributes above, we would love to hear from you.

In return, we provide a great working culture and offer flexible working options, 26 days annual leave, the ability to buy or sell annual leave, supportive family policies, and a 6% pension contribution.

We are an equal opportunities employer, and we welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons.

This role is predominantly home-based; however, travel will be required across Wales and occasionally to Andover in Hampshire.

Please note there are two positions available: 1 Permanent and 1 Fixed Term Contract (12 Months)

Location: Office Based - London (Southwark) (due to the nature of this role, it cannot be offered on a home-working or hybrid basis)

Job Profile

Are you interested in an opportunity in the charity sector? Would you like to develop an understanding of internal processes and liaise with multiple teams in the organisation? Are you someone who likes to work with money, data and people?

The post holder will contribute to ensuring the Supporter Donations Team (SDT) manage and administer supporter donation activity on behalf of CAFOD, providing a high level of supporter care while delivering within agreed service levels and Key Performance Indicators. SDT has the overall responsibility for managing and thanking all supporter donations to CAFOD made through a variety of channels and schemes. SDT works within the Finance and infrastructure group, liaises across all teams in CAFOD, and external service providers to ensure donations are processed within agreed service levels and quality standards. Due to the nature of SDT’s role, SDT has particularly close ties to CAFOD Fundraising activities and actively engages in our fundraising programmes and schemes.

Key Responsibilities

Supporter Care:

• Handle telephone, email and postal enquiries from supporters; identifying and resolving queries in a prompt, warm and sensitive way.
• Provide phone cover to the Supporter Care team as required.
• Provide reception cover to the Supporter Care team as required.

Donations:

• Accurately code donations received, ensuring agreed departmental procedures are followed.
• Process, set up and administer instructions and payments through a variety of donations channels and schemes such as Online, Direct Debit, standing orders, BACs, Payroll giving schemes and online giving platforms.
• Input and maintain data on CAFOD’s supporter database, ensuring high degrees of accuracy on our donor records.
• File and archive financial data, while adhering to strict audit controls.

Gift Aid:

• Understand Gift Aid and its application within CAFOD.
• Assist with all aspects of tax effective giving, in accordance with agreed procedures and priorities, including preparation of regular tax claims for submission to HMRC.

Thanking:

• Produce and dispatch letters to thank and acknowledge donations received.
• Write bespoke letters of thanks to supporters to respond to exceptional donations and provide a personal touch.
• Contribute to ongoing enhancement and improvement of supporter thanking

Post/banking:

• Assist with all incoming and outgoing postal duties held by SDT to maximise effectiveness of processes and delivery of key service levels.
• Preparation of daily banking, cash handling and initial reconciliation of all monies received daily.

 All SDT staff are expected to:

• Attend and contribute to regular team, section, divisional and CAFOD-wide meetings and briefings.
• Work as a supportive member of the team, providing cover for and training of the section staff and volunteers as required.
• Participate in training and other activities as requested by the line manager
• Assist with the rapid set up of projects and work packages in response to major emergency and disaster appeals.
• Rotate through all key tasks within the team / section.

This list of duties and responsibilities is by no means exhaustive and the post holder may be required to undertake other relevant and appropriate duties as required. This job description is subject to regular review and appropriate modification.

Safeguarding

All CAFOD staff share responsibility to promote and maintain a strong safeguarding culture, including identifying the key actions they should take given their role and responsibilities.

Job Specific Competencies 

• Displays a methodical approach to administrative tasks to meet processing deadlines, whilst maintaining an excellent standard of attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to communicate professionally with supporters, from individual givers to religious communities.
• Displays excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to build strong collaborative relationships with colleagues.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience with CRM software/ database

Please click here for a full list of CAFOD’s Staff Benefits

Come and join us and help make a real difference in the lives of the world’s poorest communities.

CAFOD is an equal opportunities employer. Recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults.

Role Description

The purpose of the Executive Assistant role is to provide administrative, organisational and coordination support to the Executive Team, ensuring their time and attention are aligned with organisational priorities, goals, and objectives. The role covers executive coordination, governance administration and project support.  The Executive Assistant enables effective decision making across the Leadership Team, supports the smooth delivery of priorities, and contributes to the execution of long-term strategic goals.

The Executive Team comprises the Chief Executive, Operations Director and Business Development Director.  They work together as part of the Leadership Team, comprising key leaders from across the charity.

Excellent attention to detail is crucial, as is the ability to operate with discretion and flexibility. A high standard of written and verbal communication is essential. The role requires collaboration across Finance, HR, Trustees, and external stakeholders, and an understanding of effective charity governance would be desirable.

This role requires a high level of emotional intelligence, sound judgement, and the ability to build trusted relationships across all levels of the organisation. Success in this role depends on a proactive mindset, strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to remain calm and resourceful under pressure. The Executive Assistant must be highly dependable, detail-oriented, and capable of managing sensitive information with discretion and professionalism.

Responsibilities

Executive Coordination

• Manage calendars, inboxes, travel and meeting preparation for Executive Team
• Coordinate agendas and logistics for internal and external meetings
• Liaise with stakeholders, clients and partners to ensure smooth engagement

Governance Support

• Own the established governance timetable, board meeting scheduling, and trustee communications
• Draft and distribute board packs, take minutes, and track actions
• Support governance processes in collaboration with the Operations Director
• Support trustee onboarding, training, and engagement
• Ensure timely completion of Charity Commission and Companies House submissions
• Leverage AI tools and platforms to enhance business processes

Strategic communications

• Communicate with external stakeholders on behalf of the Executive Team
• Coordinate staff events and meetings
• Work with marketing and communities & projects teams for conferences and external events

Project support

• Support ongoing transformation projects in collaboration with Head of Business Functions
• Support recruitment and onboarding for senior roles led by the Head of Business Operations
• Support strategic planning and performance tracking led by the Operations Director and Business Development Director
• Support handover and re-onboarding of Executive Assistant on her return April 2027

Role Requirements

Required:

• Minimum of four years’ experience in a similar role.
• Experience supporting senior leaders in a fast paced and changing environment, taking initiative and managing competing deadlines calmly and flexibly.
• Confident communicating with the executive and leadership team, trustees and external partners in a professional and timely way.
• Able to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion and good judgment.
• Confident coordinating meetings, preparing papers and taking accurate minutes.
• Ability to research, digest, analyse and present material clearly and concisely.
• Ability to identify and apply AI-driven tools to enhance business activities and using AI to streamline workflows and personalise business engagement.
• Comfortable stepping into an established role quickly and maintaining continuity during the maternity leave period.

Desirable:

• Experience in charity governance
• Experience in project support/management

Employees are also expected to be flexible in undertaking the duties and responsibilities attached to their post and may be asked to perform other duties that are consistent with the grade, responsibilities, and typical scope of the role. Any additional tasks should remain appropriate to the nature of the post and not extend into unrelated functions or specialisms.

All employees are expected to work in accordance with the organisation’s values and behavioural standards, which include being supportive, transparent, respectful, kind, honest, and collaborative. This means fostering a culture of empathy, openness, integrity, and teamwork in all interactions, and contributing positively to the organisation’s mission and strategic objectives.

We are committed to flexible working and are open to requests for different working patterns. This includes part time arrangements and four day working week requests, which we will always consider as part of the recruitment process.

To apply for this role, please share your CV with a one-page cover letter setting out why this role appeals to you and how your skills and experiences meet the key skills points in the job description.

Interviews expected to take place on week commencing the 2nd of February 2026.

We are seeking a full-time Training and Development Associate to develop, pilot and deliver a range of training programmes in 2026. These programmes will be developed from the findings of two key research reports from 2025. Our flagship Shattered Britain report outlined the seven segments of Britain today, while our Progressive Activists report delved deeply into this segment’s views and beliefs. The training programmes aim to:

• Equip Progressive Activists with the tools and strategies to build broad coalitions and campaign effectively informed by deep knowledge of public opinion.

• Help leaders and boards manage progressive, values-driven workforces, ensuring alignment between organisational mission and staff culture while maintaining effectiveness.

• Help managers understand the diversity of public opinion on a range of issues, as well as wider trends and drivers of public opinion, and learn how to use the seven segments to understand and reach new audience

The Training and Development Associate role involves the following indicative duties:

• With the Deputy Director (Strategy and Development), launch More in Common UK’s training arm, ensure all training programmes are high-quality, impactful and - in the long-run - commercially self-sustaining.

• Develop More in Common UK’s training programmes, creating a suite of training materials with advice and support from external partners and contractors where necessary.

• Deliver directly, and support others to deliver, at least 20 in-house training programmes and 6 ‘open-access’ training programmes in 12 months.

• Train over 700 individuals in 12 months, with more than 90% rating the training highly effective.

• Design and implement a robust approach to monitoring and evaluation for our training programmes.

• Ensure all training programmes are underpinned by robust, up-to-date research from More in Common’s work.

• Contribute to More in Common’s wider thought-leadership and political engagement.

• Ensure that More in Common’s UK outputs are of the highest quality and genuinely lead to impact in line with our mission.

• Lead the marketing and outreach to external partners and organisations to secure new business and customers for the training programmes.

• Work with colleagues to build opportunities for training into larger research projects with external partners.

• Design and deliver webinars and short insights products to disseminate our latest insights and research to partners and the wider eco-system.

• Support and collaborate with colleagues on a range of quantitative and qualitative research projects for More in Common’s own thought leadership work and our client/partner work.

• Represent More in Common's work and values to a wide variety of external organisations, acting as a public face for people to learn about our research.

• Any other tasks as reasonably required from time to time.

The Training and Development Associate will work closely with the UK Team across our core areas of research, communications, partnership, and client work. More in Common UK is a small team with a start-up culture where everyone is expected to execute a range of responsibilities, though the Training and Development Associate will focus on launching and making a success of More in Common’s new training arm.

We have initial funding to appoint a Training and Development Associate on a fixed-term (12-month) contract. However, subject to the success of the training programmes, their potential commercial viability and/or further funding, our hope would be to extend or make permanent the role.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Considerable experience in delivering high-quality training programmes. 

• Experience in designing or updating training materials, particularly drawing on robust research.

• Experience designing monitoring, evaluation and learning frameworks for training.

• Strong public speaking and facilitation skills

• Some experience with and understanding of quantitative and quantitative research methods.

• Experience producing written content that is engaged with wider political or social debates, and grounded in robust research.

• A deep understanding of UK politics and the role research and communications play in shaping public policy outcomes. 

• An ability to manage projects from start to finish, handling both budget and time management, and dealing with large and complex clients. 

• An entrepreneurial mindset and a track record of spotting opportunities to secure new work.

• The ability to manage tasks and projects independently and in a team - from inception through to delivery and evaluation 

• A hunger for disseminating More in Common’s research to new audiences.

The above is an indicative guide to what we’re looking for, but you do not need to meet every bullet point listed. We are open to a diverse range of experiences, backgrounds and skillsets.

OTHER INFORMATION

With over 70 staff across six countries, each member of our team makes a vital contribution to our impact, and we put a strong emphasis on team selection and values. We look for people who: 

• Are curious, rigorous, restless, energetic and creative

• Are able to think ahead and get big stuff done

• Are committed to a process of ongoing learning

• Have direct experience with and understand people from different perspectives and backgrounds

• Are excited to do work that works across political divides and that promotes shared national identities

• Are interested in reaching left behind communities

• Are excited to work with heart as well as head

• Want to be part of finding practical solutions

COMPENSATION AND CONDITIONS

Competitive salary (£35,000-£40,000) plus excellent benefits including private health insurance, generous leave policy, and a personal learning and growth budget.

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

We will have a better chance of uniting divided societies if our team reflects a broad range of social and cultural backgrounds, beliefs, political opinions, and life experiences. We particularly encourage applications from underrepresented and minority communities.  

HOW TO APPLY

Applications should include:

• a short cover letter (max. one page)

• a CV

• a separate Word document describing a piece of training or public speaking you have delivered in the last few years, and what made it effective (max 200 words). 

Initial screening calls will take place w/c 12 January, with interviews w/c 19 January. We aim to appoint by w/c 26 January.

We are looking for an exceptional, value-driven candidate who can hit the ground running as our Legal Education Officer, working closely with the Director and the rest of our small and dynamic Right to Remain team.

The person must be someone who understands the Right to Remain ethos and is prepared to bring their whole self to our organisation. Needless to say, the role requires an impeccable grasp of the asylum and immigration system and its operation on the ground, including how it impacts our community of people seeking asylum, refugees, migrants, their families, friends and allies. It requires an ability to help and guide our community to navigate the complex and hostile asylum and immigration system.

You will be working closely with the Director and the rest of our small and dynamic Right to Remain staff team: another Legal Education Officer based in Leeds (generally) covering the North, the Organiser based in Manchester leading our mighty These Walls Must Fall, and the Engagement Officer based in London. In particular, the post holder will be closely coordinating their work with another Legal Education Officer in Leeds. The post holder is also expected to be already embedded in the local and regional asylum and migration field, familiar with its dynamics and able to tap into their existing relationships and connections with local groups and actors. 

We are proud of Right to Remain’s unique and bold approach that really believes in collective power. We are focused on building knowledge, radical solidarity and the power of our community. We show up authentically at work and for our community, always giving our 100%. We are determined and calm amidst the crisis and chaos of the world. We know that now is not a ‘business as usual’ time, and we need to meet the moment as the anchor organisation for the migration justice movement. That comes with a lot of responsibility but we also carry it with lightness. We want our new team members to be similarly passionate, ambitious and compassionate. 

With the rest of the team, you will be responsible for maintaining, developing, and increasing usage of our highly popular and accessible resources about the asylum and immigration system, most notably the Right to Remain Toolkit. You will deliver interactive workshops on the legal system for people navigating that system as well as professionals and volunteers. You will engage with our network of community groups to ensure that we are apprised of developments on the ground and we are communicating important changes to these support groups. You will also work with the Director and other colleagues to develop and deliver specific public legal education projects, when necessary. You must have outstanding communication skills and the ability to engage with a wide range of audiences, in a manner that reflects Right to Remain’s mission and values. 

Do you have strong organisational skills, sound judgement and a proactive approach to executive support? Join Shelter as our Executive Assistant in Campaigns, Policy and Communications and play a key role in supporting senior leaders to deliver influential campaigning, policy and communications that help end the housing emergency.

About the role

The Executive Assistant (EA) is responsible for the efficient running of the Director’s office and for providing executive support for the Directorate Leadership Team and the Wider Leadership Team.

The following job description cannot cover every issue or task that may arise within the post at various times, and the post-holder will be expected to carry out other duties from time to time which are broadly consistent with those in this document. This job description does not form part of the contract of employment.

Role specifics

We’re looking for an experienced Executive Assistant, with excellent organisational and problem-solving skills and the confidence to work proactively and on their own initiative. You’ll have strong experience supporting senior leaders and executive-level meetings, including agenda setting, minute-taking and follow-up, as well as working with non-executives such as Boards of Trustees. You’ll be comfortable managing complex diaries and inboxes, drafting correspondence, producing high-quality documents and presentations at pace. The role also involves supporting a public-facing executive, including media work, events and high-profile engagements, alongside event planning or project management. You’ll be adept at building strong relationships, anticipating needs, and handling a varied workload calmly and effectively.

Apply to be part of our team and be the change you want to see in society.

Benefits 

We offer a wide range of benefits, including 30 days of annual leave, enhanced family friendly policies, pension and interest free travel loans. Our employees also have access to a tenancy deposit loan, payroll giving, cycle to work scheme and an employee assistance programme.

We are happy to talk about flexible working, personal growth, and to promote a workplace where you can be yourself and achieve success based only on your merit.

About the team 

The Campaigns, Policy and Communications (CPC) directorate at Shelter researches and understands the full range of Shelter’s audiences, creates the content, products and strategies needed to engage and support them, and campaigns for the systemic change needed to end the homelessness and the housing emergency.

About Shelter

Home is a human right. It’s our foundation and where we thrive. Yet everyday millions of people are being devastated by the housing emergency.

We exist to defend the right to a safe home. Because home is everything.

We need ambitious, passionate people to join us. This is your chance to play a part in the fundamental change we are striving to achieve.

Our enemy is the social injustice at the core of the escalating housing emergency. To win this fight, we must be representative of the people we are here to help and those who support our movement. In all our people decisions, we take pride in being inclusive, equitable and transparent. We are committed to combating racism both within and outside Shelter. We welcome you on our journey to becoming truly anti-racist.

Safeguarding statement 

Safeguarding is everyone's business. Shelter is committed to protecting the health, wellbeing and human rights of those we support, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. All our staff will be expected to observe professional standards of behaviour and conduct their work in line with our Safeguarding Policies.

Shelter does not accept unsolicited CVs from external recruitment agencies nor accept the fees associated with them.

Macular disease is the biggest cause of sight loss in the UK, with around 300 people diagnosed every day. The Macular Society is the only charity determined to beat the fear and isolation of macular disease with world class research, and the best advice and support.

To support people affected by macular disease now, the Macular Society provides a range of support, information and services. Our research programme is focused on finding new treatments and a cure to beat macular disease forever.

We’re seeking a creative and organised individual to lead on communications and learning for our volunteer network. You’ll be responsible for developing engaging content, coordinating volunteer newsletters, and supporting the delivery of training and learning resources across a wide range of roles. This role requires excellent written and verbal communication skills, a keen eye for detail, and a collaborative approach to ensure volunteers feel informed, supported, and connected. If you feel you have the attributes above, we would love to hear from you.

In return, we provide a great working culture and offer flexible working options, 26 days annual leave, the ability to buy or sell annual leave, supportive family policies, and a 6% pension contribution.

We are an equal opportunities employer, and we welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons.

This is a UK-wide role and can be home-based from anywhere in the UK. Some travel will be required, including occasional visits to our office in Andover, Hampshire. Office-based or hybrid working is also available for those living within commuting distance of Andover.

Job Purpose

The Head of Campaigns will work to ensure that we meet our UK campaign goals, currently for Marine Protected Areas, Sustainable Fisheries, and Offshore Oil and Gas.  

Reporting to and advising the Executive Director, and working closely with the Leadership Team, you will oversee the planning, development and implementation of all delivery across our current campaigns.   You will manage the Campaigns team (2 direct and 2 indirect reports) to ensure that we deliver impactful campaigns that ultimately achieve our goals.

Eligible candidates should be confident and proactive, with the ability to oversee multiple projects, and with excellent team management skills.  They must have sector relevant campaigning experience, be able to support and advise during the annual strategic planning cycles, and be enthusiastic and positive in response to the changing demands of a small team.  They must be passionate, and able to design and develop creative and bold campaign strategies alongside our small but experienced team.

The position will be hybrid, with 3 days per week (Tues-Thurs) based in Oceana’s UK offices in Newquay, Cornwall or Paddington, London.  Regular national, and occasional international, travel will be required to meet team members and stakeholders in geographically diverse locations, including Washington, DC.

Oceana 

Oceana is dedicated to protecting and restoring the world’s oceans on a global scale. We are a leader in science-based advocacy, and we campaign for policies to make the world’s oceans more abundant, vibrant, and biodiverse. Globally, Oceana has won more than 325 policy victories for marine life and habitats. From stopping bottom trawling in sensitive habitat areas to protecting sea turtles from commercial fishing gear, our victories represent new hope for the world's ocean. Our talented staff consists globally of about 240 people, working in more than twelve countries, including scientists, communications, fundraising, finance, administration, policy, and advocacy experts.   All team members have the opportunity for occasional travel to our headquarters in Washington, DC to connect with the global network.

Oceana in the UK is tightly focused on some of the biggest threats facing UK seas, including protecting seabed habitats, ending overfishing, and preventing new offshore oil and gas developments. 

We fight for UK seas to get the protections they deserve through highly visible campaigns and detailed policy interventions to secure measurable changes to rebuild and maintain ocean abundance and health. We act as a vital public-policy interface – raising the profile of our issues through campaigns, science, communications, and expeditions, and influencing policymakers directly for commitments at key moments throughout the year.

Our small, experienced, and highly motivated team work in geographically diverse locations in London and Cornwall, coming together both digitally and in person as part of developing and delivering our ambitious campaign strategy to restore ocean biodiversity and abundance.

We’re proud to be bold, creative, agile and visual in our campaigns, and proud of the team we’re creating here in the UK. We’d love for you to join us.

Responsibilities

• Lead all current campaigns, and take accountability for the quality, timeliness and success of all campaign activities and deliverables in support of our campaign goals.
• Oversee all projects across the campaigns team including (but not limited to) campaign actions and launches, public mobilisations, digital actions, NGO partnerships and coalitions, and potential legal challenges.
• Oversee and document project planning, ensuring activities are underpinned by an effective theory of change, and ensuring input and buy-in is secured from all relevant members of the UK and HQ teams.
• Monitor and evaluate progress against plans, ensuring effective delivery of campaign objectives.
• Oversee the campaign calendar and budget, ensuring that all campaign deliverables are managed and delivered on time and to budget, with any updates accurately reflected in the quarterly reforecast process.
• Work closely with the Executive Director, Leadership Team and global team members on the strategic development and innovation of campaigns, reviewing and setting annual plans, longer term goals, and new campaign areas.
• Understand and monitor all components of all campaigns and be able to confidently communicate progress and details to internal and external stakeholders.
• Oversee public affairs activities, manage political consultancy and co-ordinate Oceana presence at relevant political meetings and events.
• Collaborate closely with senior Science and Research, Policy, and Communications colleagues to ensure campaigns have robust and complementary foundations across all departments.
• Work with the UK leadership team to develop and communicate a compelling campaign vision and strategy to Oceana staff, supporters, donors, and allies.
• Work as part of the UK’s Leadership Team, contributing to decision making and overall progress towards organisational goals, and represent campaigns in this forum.
• Represent the Leadership Team in person in the London or Cornwall office 3 days per week (Tues-Thurs), providing direction and guidance and promoting a positive working culture.
• Manage and support 2 line reports, and 2 indirect reports, helping to coach and lead a high-performing Campaigns team.
• Build strong external relationships and represent Oceana UK to ensure we advance our campaign goals with a wide range of stakeholders, including civil servants, politicians, the fishing industry, NGOs, and businesses.
• Draft timely, accurate and compelling funder and supporter reporting.
• Draft periodic progress reporting on UK campaign goals and milestones for Oceana’s global board.
• Be prepared to represent the organisation publicly where needed, including through media interviews, speaking events, and writing.
• Ensure a strong commitment to the organisation's values and vision, as set out by Oceana globally.  
• Travel occasionally, both nationally and internationally, to meet with team members and wider internal and external stakeholders.
• Other responsibilities as appropriate and necessary to achieve campaign and organisational objectives.

Candidate Requirements

Education and work experience:

• At least 7 years of professional experience in campaigning, ideally toward ocean or environmental goals (essential).
• Experience leading and developing campaign strategic plans, alongside detailed annual plans and budgets.
• Proven experience developing innovative, bold and creative campaign activities in support of overall campaign goals.
• Experience as an active member of a Leadership Team or Management Team in a similar organisation.
• Extensive line management experience, including of multiple reports.
• Experience working in an international NGO (preferred).
• Experience working closely with policy colleagues, lobbying and negotiating with civil servants in government on policy matters.
• Experience working closely with communications colleagues, ensuring effective messaging and engaging growing audiences.

 Skills and knowledge:

• Familiarity with fisheries or marine and environmental regulations, legislation and policies in the UK, as well as with the key institutions and decision-making processes.
• Excellent project management skills, with demonstrable experience managing and prioritising multiple workstreams, tasks, projects and timelines effectively.
• Attention to detail and a commitment to quality and impactful campaign outputs.
• Excellent management skills, and proven ability to work effectively in a team environment.
• Excellent relationship building and stakeholder management skills, and the ability to work collaboratively with staff and with other organisations and allies.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to collect, organise, analyse, and disseminate significant amounts of information with attention to detail and accuracy. 
• Good understanding of the principles of Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, and a proven commitment to improving these in the environmental space.  
• Excellent communication and public speaking skills, with the ability to speak confidently in the media and at events.
• Integrity and the ability to work with confidential information with discretion.

Equal Opportunities

Oceana is committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the community it serves at all levels of the organisation, and we particularly welcome applications from candidates who are currently underrepresented within the conservation sector. 

All offers of employment are conditional upon the successful completion of reference checks and a criminal background check.

• Application Deadline: Sunday 11th January
• Interview Dates (TBC)