Jobs

Prospectus is thrilled to be partnering with our client n their search for a Policy Adviser to join their Education and Skills Policy team, supporting high-profile programmes focused on educational reform, mathematical and data education, education research and skills development. This is an opportunity to work on influential projects that bring together leading experts, policymakers, educators and researchers to improve outcomes for young people across the UK. This is a permanent role, 2-3 days a week in the office and paying £35,000 - £38,500. 

Working closely with the Senior Policy Adviser, you will lead and coordinate policy projects from concept through to delivery. You'll help turn strategic recommendations into practical action, manage stakeholder relationships, leading research activity, develop policy briefings, and support the delivery of workshops, events and conferences.

You bring demonstrable experience in policy, research, or a related field. You will comfortable working independently and managing multiple priorities. You’ll also have excellent stakeholder management and relationship building skills, with strong written communication, project management and influencing capabilities.

While previous education policy experience would be advantageous, we are particularly interested in candidates with strong policy expertise and a genuine interest in improving education.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and deliver education policy projects from planning through to implementation.
• Research emerging policy issues and develop evidence-based briefings and reports.
• Build and maintain relationships with Fellows, policymakers, researchers and education stakeholders.
• Organise stakeholder meetings, workshops, committees and events.
• Coordinate project plans, timelines and external contributors.
• Support the delivery of major education policy programmes and events.

Application Process
To apply, please submit your CV and a cover letter outlining your relevant experience and motivation for the role. In your cover letter, please ensure to highlight your: 

• Experience working in a policy environment
• Experience managing projects from inception to delivery 

Recruitment Timeline:
Closing date: 31st August
Shortlisting: 7th-8th September
Interviews: 17th September

At Prospectus, we invest in your journey as a candidate and are committed to supporting you with your application. We welcome candidates from a diverse range of backgrounds and are happy to make reasonable adjustments to enable all interested candidates to apply. If you require assistance with your application, please contact Shannon Sanderson, the lead consultant for this role. Please note that applications and CVs sent directly by email cannot be accepted and must be submitted through the application link to ensure they are properly recorded and considered.

Location: Remote
Contract: Temporary, 3 months (with the possibility of extension)
Hours: Full-time, 36.25 hours per week
Salary: £24.54 per hour (+ holiday pay) (circa £46,400 salaried equivalent)
Start Date: ASAP

Prospectus is proud to be supporting our client, a well established national charity, in their search for a temporary Project Manager. The role offers a fantastic opportunity for an experienced professional to utilise and refine their skillset in an impactful organisation.

The role is infrastructure-focused, and the successful applicant will spearhead the implementation planning phase of a Target Operating Model, requiring oversight of non-structural aspects including project framework, governance, plans, and delivery approach.

Please note that while the role is remote, the successful candidate will be required to attend an in-person induction in London on Wednesday 16th September.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the planning, design and coordination of project delivery activities.
• Establish project governance, reporting frameworks, and implementation plans.
• Manage project risks, issues, dependencies and mitigations.
• Ensure projects remain on track against agreed objectives, timelines and budgets.
• Build effective relationships with stakeholders across multiple teams.
• Support organisational readiness and adoption of new ways of working.
• Ensure project activities align with wider organisational strategy and objectives.

Key Requirements:

• Recent, relevant experience in a similar role within a not-for-profit or charitable organisation.
• Expertise in establishing project systems and processes within an evolving organisation, with the capacity to materialise high level designs and concepts.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the confidence to build strong stakeholder relationships.
• High level of organisation and attention to detail, with the ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines.
• Collaborative and proactive approach, with the capability to work both independently and in a team.

CVs will be reviewed on a rolling basis so early applications are strongly encouraged to avoid missing out. If you're interested, please apply ASAP with your CV in Word format.

At Prospectus, we are committed to supporting you throughout your application journey. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and do not discriminate based on age, gender, disability, race, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, or pregnancy/maternity.

Contract: Interim, immediate start until mid-November 2026
Reports to: Chief Operating Officer

The Role

We are seeking an experienced and highly hands-on Interim Head of Finance to join an international not-for-profit organisation for a short-term assignment.

The key priority will be to hold the fort during a period of transition, ensuring the day-to-day finance function continues to operate effectively before providing a comprehensive handover to the incoming permanent Head of Finance.

This is very much a hands-on, sleeves-rolled-up role. Alongside overseeing the finance function, you will be comfortable getting into the detail yourself, including making payments, managing payroll and VAT returns, maintaining accurate financial information and supporting the migration to a new banking provider.

A significant project during the assignment will also be leading the development of the organisation’s 2027 annual budget.

Key Responsibilities

• Take ownership of the day-to-day finance function throughout the interim period.
• Manage and support the Finance Officer.
• Maintain accurate and timely financial information, reporting and controls.
• Take a hands-on role in payments, payroll and VAT returns.
• Manage and oversee the organisation’s Xero accounting system.
• Lead the migration to a new banking provider, ensuring a smooth transition and appropriate controls.
• Lead the preparation of the 2027 organisational budget, working closely with senior leaders and budget holders.
• Provide management information and financial advice to the COO, CEO and Senior Leadership Team.
• Support effective management and reporting of restricted donor funds, including appropriate allocations and cost recovery.
• Work with fundraising colleagues on grant budgets and donor financial reporting where required.
• Ensure key financial and statutory deadlines continue to be met.
• Maintain strong financial controls and ensure the finance function is well organised for the incoming permanent Head of Finance.
• Deliver a clear and comprehensive handover at the end of the assignment.

About You

We are looking for someone who can quickly get to grips with an organisation and operate with minimal supervision. You will be equally comfortable working with senior stakeholders and getting directly involved in transactional and operational finance.

You will ideally bring:

• A recognised accountancy qualification – ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent.
• Strong experience operating at Head of Finance / Financial Controller level within a charity, NGO or wider not-for-profit environment.
• Good working knowledge and practical experience of Xero.
• A genuinely hands-on approach, with the willingness to process payments and get involved in payroll, VAT and the day-to-day finance workload.
• Strong budgeting and forecasting experience, ideally having led an organisation-wide annual budgeting process.
• Experience managing and reporting on restricted donor or grant funding, including allocations.
• Knowledge of UK charity accounting and Charity SORP.
• Strong financial controls and process management experience.
• The ability to communicate financial information clearly to non-finance colleagues.
• The confidence to quickly establish priorities, keep the function running effectively and leave everything in good shape for the permanent postholder.

This would suit an experienced interim finance professional who enjoys getting stuck into the detail and can provide a safe pair of hands during a period of transition.

Prospectus is excited to be working with our client to help them recruit for an interim fundraiser to join their team. The organisation is a charity that works directly with, and for unpaid carers, providing personalised information, advice and tailored support making it easier for those caring for someone else to continue living their lives to the fullest. With a committed, dedicated staff team and clear plans to scale reach, support and impact, Carers First lives its values by being positive, collaborative and ambitious in all it does.

This role is offered on a flexible 9-month contract paying a salary of up to £33,944 per annum, with flexible remote working arrangements and occasional travel to the Strood Head Office or London for team meetings.

The interim fundraiser will be responsible for securing and sustaining trusts, foundations and corporate fundraising income to enable the charity to grow its support and impact for carers. They will build positive relationships with previous, current and prospective funders; produce compelling and accurate funding applications and reports; use their systems to accurately record and monitor their trust and corporate fundraising and undertake research to identify new funding opportunities. The postholder will also work collaboratively with colleagues across the charity to communicate the need of our work, demonstrate its impact and ensure that funders receive high-quality information.

They are looking for someone with demonstrable experience in fundraising through trusts, foundations and/or corporates. They are looking for a candidate with demonstrable experience of identifying, developing and delivering successful cases for support. They are looking for someone with demonstrable experience of understanding detailed information from multiple sources and turning it into clear, accurate and compelling written applications and reports. The ideal candidate will demonstrate understanding of and an ambitiouscommitment to the goals and values of the charity.

At Prospectus, we invest in your journey as a candidate and are committed to supporting you with your application. We welcome all candidates to apply, regardless of age, sex/gender, disability, race, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, or pregnancy/maternity. If you have a disability and require reasonable adjustments to any part of the process, please contact Firas El Dib at Prospectus.

If you feel you meet some of the criteria but not all, we really hope you'll enquire and learn more. Prospectus can advise and support on each part of the role—and hopefully your application—so we look forward to hearing from you.

In order to apply, please submit your CV in the first instance. Should your experience be suitable, we will arrange a meeting to brief you on the role. You'll then have all the information you need to formally apply. We are looking forward to connecting with you soon.

In-house Talent Acqusition Lead to Help Build the Team Behind Life-Changing Education

Join a growing organisation dedicated to supporting children and young people with SEND and SEMH needs through specialist education provision. As demand for services continues to increase, we're looking for an experienced recruitment professional to help attract, assess and appoint exceptional tutors who can make a genuine difference to young people's lives.

Providing specialist tuition that helps young people engage with learning, build confidence and achieve positive outcomes, the organisation has experienced significant growth and secured a number of new contracts. As a result, they are now seeking an experienced In-House Talent Acquisition Lead to build tutor pipelines, lead recruitment activity and support the next phase of expansion.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a growing, purpose-led organisation where recruitment plays a critical role in service delivery and future success.

About the Role Working closely with operational and education colleagues, you will take ownership of the end-to-end recruitment process, identifying and attracting high-quality tutors across multiple regions.

This role goes beyond advertising vacancies. You'll be focused on developing talent pipelines, building candidate networks, improving recruitment processes and helping the organisation recruit proactively rather than reactively.

A significant part of the role will involve interviewing and assessing candidates, ensuring they have not only the right skills and experience but also the resilience, values and safeguarding awareness required to work with vulnerable children and young people.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead end-to-end recruitment campaigns for tutor vacancies
• Build and maintain talent pipelines across multiple geographical areas
• Develop innovative sourcing and attraction strategies
• Screen, interview and assess candidates
• Conduct values-based and safeguarding-focused recruitment processes
• Manage candidate compliance and safer recruitment requirements
• Build relationships with future talent and passive candidates
• Support workforce planning and future recruitment needs
• Manage and support a Recruitment Resourcer
• Develop recruitment processes that can scale with organisational growth
• Champion a positive candidate experience throughout the recruitment journey

About You:
We're looking for an experienced recruiter who enjoys solving recruitment challenges and finding high-quality candidates in competitive markets.

You may come from education recruitment, SEND recruitment, healthcare recruitment, social care, charity recruitment or another safeguarding-focused environment (in-house or agency)

We'll be particularly interested in candidates who can demonstrate:

• Strong recruitment and talent acquisition experience
• Experience sourcing hard-to-find candidates
• Excellent interviewing and assessment skills
• Knowledge of safeguarding and safer recruitment practices
• Strong compliance experience within a regulated environment
• Confidence building talent pools and candidate networks
• Excellent stakeholder management and relationship-building skills
• A proactive, resourceful and solutions-focused approach
• The ability to work independently and take ownership
• Comfort working within a growing and evolving organisation

What's on Offer?

• £35,000-£40,000 salary, depending on experience
• Hybrid working with 3 days per week in the Paddington office
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Pension scheme
• Ongoing training and development
• Opportunity to influence and improve recruitment processes
• Join a supportive and close-knit team
• Be part of an organisation experiencing significant growth
• Make a genuine difference to the lives of children and young people

Safeguarding This organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All appointments will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check, satisfactory references and safer recruitment procedures as part of our clients onboard process.

Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis and suitable candidates may be contacted before a formal closing date. Early applications are therefore encouraged.

We want you to have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills, ability and potential; please contact us if you require any assistance or adjustment so that we can help with making the application process work for you.

An organisation providing specialist support to the not-for-profit sector is seeking an experienced Head of Finance to join its team.

The Head of Finance will take responsibility for a broad range of financial management activities, working closely with senior stakeholders to provide high-quality financial information, analysis and advice. The role combines strategic financial planning with oversight of core financial reporting and control processes.

Key responsibilities include:
• Lead budgeting and forecasting processes across a complex, multi-entity international environment
• Develop financial models and scenario analysis to support organisational planning
• Oversee monthly management reporting, including analysis of performance against budget
• Manage year-end financial processes and coordinate with external auditors
• Provide financial insight and advice to senior stakeholders to support effective decision-making
• Oversee financial management and reporting requirements associated with externally funded activities
• Support the continued development of financial processes, controls and reporting

About You
• Fully qualified accountant (CCAB or equivalent)
• Experience within the charity, not-for-profit or a similarly complex environment would be advantageous
• Strong budgeting, forecasting, and financial modelling experience
• Experience overseeing management accounts and year-end processes

The role is mostly remote with occasional travel required for on-site meetings.
Given the international nature of the role, some flexibility around working hours may occasionally be required

Location: Hybrid, with a minimum of eight office days per month in either the London or Leeds office
Salary: £45,000-£50,000 per annum
Contract: Permanent, full-time

BookTrust is seeking an ambitious Corporate Partnerships Manager to help grow the organisation's corporate fundraising programme and build partnerships that inspire more children to discover the joy of reading. As BookTrust continues to expand its fundraising activity, this is an exciting opportunity to shape a growing area of income generation and secure long-term support for children and families across the UK.

As the UK's largest children's reading charity, BookTrust reaches millions of children every year through books, programmes and trusted partnerships. Working with families, schools, libraries and communities, BookTrust helps children develop a lifelong love of reading, creating opportunities that can transform lives.

Reporting to the Head of Fundraising, the Corporate Partnerships Manager will develop and deliver a high-performing corporate fundraising programme, driving new business acquisition while strengthening relationships with existing partners. Managing the full partnership lifecycle, you will identify and secure five- and six-figure partnerships, develop compelling propositions and work closely with colleagues across the organisation to deliver meaningful, high-impact collaborations.

Alongside growing a strong pipeline of new prospects, you will steward a portfolio of valued corporate supporters, creating tailored engagement plans that maximise income, deepen relationships and encourage long-term investment. The role will also play an important part in shaping the future of BookTrust's corporate fundraising strategy, embedding effective processes and using data and insight to drive sustainable growth.

The successful candidate will bring a strong track record of securing significant corporate partnerships, excellent commercial and relationship-building skills and the ability to develop compelling opportunities that align organisational priorities with corporate objectives. You will enjoy working collaboratively, negotiating with confidence and turning promising conversations into lasting partnerships.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced corporate fundraiser to shape a developing programme, build partnerships with purpose and help more children experience the lifelong benefits that reading can bring.

Please download the Candidate Pack [PDF] for further information, including details on how to apply.

Closing Date: Monday, 7th September

Crisis Intervention Worker - Talking Spaces Service (Mental Health)

£26,229 (full time equivalent) £20,983 pro rata for 30 hours

Birmingham - Various Sites

Working at multiple sites across Birmingham - Beechcroft Centre, Erdington, Grounded, Selly Oak and Grounded St Paul’s, Jewellery Quarter

Hours: 30 hours per week – various shift patterns between 1pm-11.00pm, over 5 days, including weekends

DO YOU WANT TO BE PART OF THE LARGEST INDEPENDENT MENTAL HEALTH CHARITY IN BIRMINGHAM?

About the role:

The Crisis Intervention Worker will be working closely with individuals who are experiencing a mental health crisis and/or episodes of psychological/emotional distress. The main purpose of the role is to assist individuals through appropriate person-centred interventions to be able to address and help de-escalate their immediate crisis experience.

Listening to individuals in a crisis will be a key aspect of your role and involves focusing, observing, understanding, and responding with empathy, genuineness, respect, acceptance, non-judgment, and sensitivity.

About you:

We are looking for a candidate with the following skills and experience:

● Previous experience working in the mental health field, with experience of supporting people to be in control of their lives either in a paid or voluntary capacity.

● Knowledge and understanding of the social determinants that can lead to poor mental health.

● A good working knowledge and understanding of current safeguarding legislation.

● Extensive knowledge of the local community within which you are working.

● Excellent communication and team working skills and the ability to effectively utilise the technology available.

● Good knowledge of both Microsoft Word and Outlook.

● The ability to work flexibly including evenings and weekend shift patterns.

The Talking Space Service operates from 5pm to 11pm seven days a week throughout the year. Employees will work on a rota basis in their Erdington location.

Candidates must have the right to work in the UK for a minimum of 12 months. They are not a registered sponsor and therefore are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this position.

Benefits include an attractive defined contribution pension scheme, PayCare which offers employees affordable cover for a range of healthcare treatments; Employee Assistance Programme which includes free counselling and a comprehensive training programme.

Their  people are key to the success of the organisation, and they are recognised as both Mindful Employer as well as achieving gold standard success in Investors in People.

They welcome applications from people who have experienced mental health difficulties.

Closing date for applications is Monday 31st August 2026

Interviews to take place on Monday 7th and Tuesday 8th September 2026

Discharge Navigator

£30,024 per annum

Birmingham

Location: BSMHFT Acute and Urgent Care, Birmingham

Hours: Full time - 37.5hrs per week

Our client is a leading provider of mental health services in Birmingham and the West Midlands. They offer high quality services that support both recovery and wellbeing, and they actively work with people so that they can be in control of their lives.

Their Discharge Navigators work within acute units across Birmingham and Solihull in a key role supporting individuals to enable a smooth discharge back into their accommodation and community.

You will work with Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Trust Discharge Manager’s to prioritise and manage a case load supporting individuals on a recovery journey. This will involve participating in bed management and multi-disciplinary team meetings.

You will work closely with a range of statutory and other third sector providers including housing providers to find appropriate housing and community support networks to aid successful recovery.

The successful candidate will have previous experience of working in a paid role in the mental health field, with experience of supporting people with a person-centred approach. You will be organised, solution focused and resilient with excellent communication skills.

A full UK driving licence and use of a vehicle is also desirable but not essential.

Benefits include an attractive defined contribution pension scheme, PayCare which offers employees affordable cover for a range of healthcare treatments, an Employee Assistance Programme which includes free counselling and a comprehensive training programme.

Candidates must have the right to work in the UK for a minimum of 12 months. They are not a registered sponsor and therefore are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this position.

Their people are key to the success of the organisation, and they are recognised as both a Mindful Employer as well as achieving Gold standard success in Investors in People. They welcome applications from people who have experienced mental health difficulties.

Closing Date for applications is Tuesday 1st September 2026

Interviews will be held on Friday 11th September 2026

The role

This is an exciting opportunity to join NEYDL’s growing team and help us establish and develop our work with young dads in Tees Valley.

As a Senior Young Dads Worker, you will provide direct, intensive support to young dads across Tees Valley, working with some of the most disadvantaged young men in the region. You will manage your own caseload, lead peer support activity, work in close partnership with Family Hubs, social care and other local services, and take a lead role in ensuring every young dad you work with is effectively supported from first contact through to positive outcomes.

This is a senior role with real responsibility. Alongside direct delivery, you will take ownership of your project budget, contribute to funder reporting, supervise junior staff and/or volunteers, and develop a designated area of specialism agreed with the senior leadership team. You will be part of a close, supportive team and will play an active role in shaping how NEYDL grows its presence in Tees Valley.

What we are looking for

We are looking for someone with experience of working with disadvantaged young people or young families in a direct support role, ideally in a statutory or voluntary sector context. You will be confident working independently and managing a complex caseload, and you will understand the challenges facing young dads and the systems they navigate.

We particularly welcome applications from people with lived experience of young fatherhood or young parenthood, from individuals with local knowledge of Tees Valley communities, and from people from minoritised backgrounds.

What we offer

NEYDL is a close, inclusive and supportive team that actively invests in the development of its staff. We are a non-judgmental organisation built on mutual trust, respect and honesty. If you join us, you will be part of a team that genuinely believes in what it does.

In addition, we offer:

• 7.2 weeks’ annual leave per year, inclusive of statutory and public holidays
• 5% employer pension contribution
• A flexible hybrid working arrangement
• Regular supervision and fortnightly team meetings
• Funded professional development and training
• Mileage paid at 55p per mile for business travel

Job purpose

To provide high-quality, intensive support to young dads and expectant fathers (aged 25 and under) across Tees Valley; to lead and coordinate peer support activity; to manage allocated budgets and contribute to funder reporting; and to take an active role in the development of NEYDL’s commissioned services in the region.

Key responsibilities

1. Direct support

• Provide in-person and online 1-to-1 support to young dads and non-birthing people, helping them address key challenges and achieve personal outcomes
• Assess new referrals and manage a complex caseload, prioritising according to need and risk
• Support young dads to attend key meetings with professionals (including child protection, child in need, family court and multi-agency forums)
• Help young dads to access wider opportunities including volunteering, employment, education and community activities
• Support young dads and their families to engage in father and child activities, stay and play sessions, and peer supported recreational activities
• Promote and support access to DigiDAD, NEYDL’s free e-learning platform, and other training and information resources

2. Peer support and group work

• Establish, coordinate and co-facilitate in-person peer support groups for young dads in Tees Valley
• Support the development and delivery of parenting, relationship skills and employability sessions in response to community-identified needs
• Support peer moderated video gaming groups as part of DigiDAD Gaming where relevant

3. Induction, onboarding and milestones

• Ensure every young dad is effectively inducted onto the NEYDL service, completing key onboarding steps and baseline self-evaluation measures
• Track and record progress against key milestones throughout the support journey, in line with NEYDL’s evaluation framework
• Ensure all relevant data is recorded accurately and on time in NEYDL’s data management system

4. Budget and targets

• Take ownership of allocated project budgets, monitoring expenditure and liaising with the Programme Manager (Commissioned Services) and Finance Officer as required
• Work proactively to achieve agreed referral rate targets, taking responsibility for building pathways and relationships that generate consistent referrals
• Contribute to the preparation of funder reports under the oversight of the Programme Manager and Fundraiser, providing accurate data and case study material

5. Specialism

• Take on a designated area of specialism within NEYDL, agreed with the Senior Leadership Team (for example, volunteering, safeguarding or environmental programmes)
• Take a lead role within the team in relation to your specialism, contributing expertise and supporting colleagues

6. Management of staff and volunteers

• Line manage junior staff, project workers and/or volunteers as required
• Support staff and volunteers with operational queries and day-to-day delivery
• Contribute to the induction, supervision and professional development of staff and volunteers
• Support the recruitment and progression of young dads into volunteering roles, including as DigiDAD content creators, peer researchers, DADvocates, AmbassaDADS and community leaders

7. Monitoring and evaluation

• Support the effective recording, monitoring and reporting of programme performance via NEYDL’s data management system and evaluation framework
• Comply with all monitoring, evaluation and reporting requirements, both internal and funder-related
• Support the work of NEYDL’s research partners and independent evaluators as required

8. Collaboration and partnerships

• Work in partnership with key stakeholders in Tees Valley to improve the service offer for young dads, including Family Hub teams, social care, health, housing, education and voluntary sector organisations
• Build referral pathways and maintain strong working relationships with local services and networks
• Develop and build effective relationships with principal stakeholders, supporters and referral partners

9. Advocacy and engagement

• Represent NEYDL at external events and meetings to raise awareness of the service and influence other organisations
• Promote, campaign and advocate with and on behalf of young men, ensuring NEYDL continues to be a leading voice for positive change
• Work proactively to enable young dads to influence the design and delivery of the service, including supporting their participation in community leadership programmes
• Support the charity’s communications and engagement activity, including contributing content to annual reports, social media and local media

10. Other

• Deputise for the Programme Managers as required
• Report to the Board of Trustees in person or in writing on a quarterly basis as required

11. Standard clauses

• The post holder must carry out their responsibilities at all times with due regard to NEYDL’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion strategy, policy and statement, and Safeguarding Policy
• The post holder is responsible for ensuring that policies and procedures relating to health and safety in the workplace are adhered to at all times
• The post holder must respect the confidentiality of data stored electronically and by other means, in line with NEYDL’s Data Protection Policy
• This role requires satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance prior to appointment

This job description is not exhaustive. NEYDL reserves the right to reasonably add to or revise it at any time in agreement with the post holder.

The role

This is an exciting opportunity to join NEYDL’s growing team and help us establish and develop our work with young dads in Sunderland.

As a Senior Young Dads Worker, you will provide direct, intensive support to young dads across Sunderland, working with some of the most disadvantaged young men in the region. You will manage your own caseload, lead peer support activity, work in close partnership with Family Hubs, social care and other local services, and take a lead role in ensuring every young dad you work with is effectively supported from first contact through to positive outcomes.

This is a senior role with real responsibility. Alongside direct delivery, you will take ownership of your project budget, contribute to funder reporting, supervise junior staff and/or volunteers, and develop a designated area of specialism agreed with the senior leadership team. You will be part of a close, supportive team and will play an active role in shaping how NEYDL grows its presence in Sunderland.

What we are looking for

We are looking for someone with experience of working with disadvantaged young people or young families in a direct support role, ideally in a statutory or voluntary sector context. You will be confident working independently and managing a complex caseload, and you will understand the challenges facing young dads and the systems they navigate.

We particularly welcome applications from people with lived experience of young fatherhood or young parenthood, from individuals with local knowledge of Sunderland communities, and from people from minoritised backgrounds.

What we offer

NEYDL is a close, inclusive and supportive team that actively invests in the development of its staff. We are a non-judgmental organisation built on mutual trust, respect and honesty. If you join us, you will be part of a team that genuinely believes in what it does.

In addition, we offer:

• 7.2 weeks’ annual leave per year, inclusive of statutory and public holidays
• 5% employer pension contribution
• A flexible hybrid working arrangement
• Regular supervision and fortnightly team meetings
• Funded professional development and training
• Mileage paid at 55p per mile for business travel

Job purpose

To provide high-quality, intensive support to young dads and expectant fathers (aged 25 and under) across Sunderland; to lead and coordinate peer support activity; to manage allocated budgets and contribute to funder reporting; and to take an active role in the development of NEYDL’s commissioned services in the region.

Key responsibilities

1. Direct support

• Provide in-person and online 1-to-1 support to young dads and non-birthing people, helping them address key challenges and achieve personal outcomes
• Assess new referrals and manage a complex caseload, prioritising according to need and risk
• Support young dads to attend key meetings with professionals (including child protection, child in need, family court and multi-agency forums)
• Help young dads to access wider opportunities including volunteering, employment, education and community activities
• Support young dads and their families to engage in father and child activities, stay and play sessions, and peer supported recreational activities
• Promote and support access to DigiDAD, NEYDL’s free e-learning platform, and other training and information resources

2. Peer support and group work

• Establish, coordinate and co-facilitate in-person peer support groups for young dads in Sunderland
• Support the development and delivery of parenting, relationship skills and employability sessions in response to community-identified needs
• Support peer moderated video gaming groups as part of DigiDAD Gaming where relevant

3. Induction, onboarding and milestones

• Ensure every young dad is effectively inducted onto the NEYDL service, completing key onboarding steps and baseline self-evaluation measures
• Track and record progress against key milestones throughout the support journey, in line with NEYDL’s evaluation framework
• Ensure all relevant data is recorded accurately and on time in NEYDL’s data management system

4. Budget and targets

• Take ownership of allocated project budgets, monitoring expenditure and liaising with the Programme Manager (Commissioned Services) and Finance Officer as required
• Work proactively to achieve agreed referral rate targets, taking responsibility for building pathways and relationships that generate consistent referrals
• Contribute to the preparation of funder reports under the oversight of the Programme Manager and Fundraiser, providing accurate data and case study material

5. Specialism

• Take on a designated area of specialism within NEYDL, agreed with the Senior Leadership Team (for example, volunteering, safeguarding or environmental programmes)
• Take a lead role within the team in relation to your specialism, contributing expertise and supporting colleagues

6. Management of staff and volunteers

• Line manage junior staff, project workers and/or volunteers as required
• Support staff and volunteers with operational queries and day-to-day delivery
• Contribute to the induction, supervision and professional development of staff and volunteers
• Support the recruitment and progression of young dads into volunteering roles, including as DigiDAD content creators, peer researchers, DADvocates, AmbassaDADS and community leaders

7. Monitoring and evaluation

• Support the effective recording, monitoring and reporting of programme performance via NEYDL’s data management system and evaluation framework
• Comply with all monitoring, evaluation and reporting requirements, both internal and funder-related
• Support the work of NEYDL’s research partners and independent evaluators as required

8. Collaboration and partnerships

• Work in partnership with key stakeholders in Sunderland to improve the service offer for young dads, including Family Hub teams, social care, health, housing, education and voluntary sector organisations
• Build referral pathways and maintain strong working relationships with local services and networks
• Develop and build effective relationships with principal stakeholders, supporters and referral partners

9. Advocacy and engagement

• Represent NEYDL at external events and meetings to raise awareness of the service and influence other organisations
• Promote, campaign and advocate with and on behalf of young men, ensuring NEYDL continues to be a leading voice for positive change
• Work proactively to enable young dads to influence the design and delivery of the service, including supporting their participation in community leadership programmes
• Support the charity’s communications and engagement activity, including contributing content to annual reports, social media and local media

10. Other

• Deputise for the Programme Managers as required
• Report to the Board of Trustees in person or in writing on a quarterly basis as required

11. Standard clauses

• The post holder must carry out their responsibilities at all times with due regard to NEYDL’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion strategy, policy and statement, and Safeguarding Policy
• The post holder is responsible for ensuring that policies and procedures relating to health and safety in the workplace are adhered to at all times
• The post holder must respect the confidentiality of data stored electronically and by other means, in line with NEYDL’s Data Protection Policy
• This role requires satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance prior to appointment

This job description is not exhaustive. NEYDL reserves the right to reasonably add to or revise it at any time in agreement with the post holder.

About DadVocates

DadVocates is a new four-year project, funded by The National Lottery Community Fund, that will train, mentor and supervise young dads with lived experience of young fatherhood to act as volunteer peer advocates for young fathers going through children’s social care (CSC) proceedings, including Child Protection, Child in Need and Public Law Outline.

The project responds to evidence from our work with over 800 young dads, which shows that the majority felt negatively about CSC proceedings from the outset: many hold fatalistic expectations about losing contact with their children and are reluctant to engage. By matching young dads with a trained volunteer DadVocate at the earliest possible stage, the project aims to build agency, improve engagement and ultimately improve outcomes for children.

Over four years, the project will train 40 volunteer DadVocates, support 100 young dads through CSC proceedings, and deliver father-inclusive practice training to 160 social workers and other professionals across five local authorities. It will also co-design clear guidance on what good father-inclusive practice looks like within children’s social care teams.

This is a genuinely ambitious project, working at the intersection of lived experience, peer advocacy, social care practice and systems change. It was conceived by a young dad who is now a NEYDL trustee and qualified social worker and has been co-designed with 174 young dads over three years.

The role

The DadVocate Programme Manager will lead this project from the outset. You will recruit, train, mentor and supervise our volunteer DadVocates; chair and manage the project Steering Committee; lead the development and delivery of professional training for social workers; oversee monitoring, evaluation and funder reporting; and manage the project budget.

This is a programme management role, not a casework role. Cases are held by NEYDL’s Senior Young Dads Workers; the DadVocates you manage provide peer support within those cases. You will have direct relationships with young dad beneficiaries through steering committee meetings, evaluation sessions and learning events, but your primary responsibility is managing and supporting the DadVocates and the systems around them.

The DadVocates are young dads with lived experience of young fatherhood, not professional practitioners. They will need significant support, encouragement and professional development to operate effectively in what can be a challenging environment. The quality of that management and support is central to the success of this project.

You will work alongside training and research providers, closely with NEYDL’s Senior Young Dads Workers as the case holders and be supported day-to-day by the CEO.

What we are looking for

We are looking for someone with substantial experience, knowledge and competency working within the children’s social care and social work arena, alongside a track record of managing projects in the voluntary sector. The ideal candidate will bring both: professional grounding in children’s social care/social work and the programme management experience to lead a complex, multi-strand project over four years.

You will possess a deep understand of the children’s social care and social work system, be able to design and deliver training that changes professional culture and have the people management skills to support a team of volunteer young dads who are developing professional skills alongside their advocacy role. You will also need to build trusted relationships with young dad beneficiaries, social workers, academic partners and a range of local statutory and voluntary organisations.

We particularly welcome applications from people with lived experience of young fatherhood or young parenthood, from people with personal or professional experience of children’s social care proceedings (including professionally qualified social workers) and people from minoritised backgrounds.

What we offer

NEYDL is a close, inclusive and supportive team that actively invests in the development of its staff. We are a non-judgmental organisation built on mutual trust, respect and honesty. If you join us, you will be part of a team that genuinely believes in what it does.

In addition, we offer:

• 7.2 weeks’ annual leave per year, inclusive of statutory and public holidays
• 5% employer pension contribution
• A flexible hybrid working arrangement
• Regular supervision and fortnightly team meetings
• Funded professional development and training
• Mileage paid at 55p per mile for business travel
• The opportunity to lead a nationally significant project at the forefront of father-inclusive practice

Job purpose

To lead and manage the DadVocates project, a four-year National Lottery-funded programme training volunteer young dads as peer advocates for young fathers in children’s social care proceedings; delivering professional training to social workers; and working towards the embedding of father-inclusive practice across children’s social care teams in five local authorities.

Key responsibilities

1. Project management

• Take day-to-day responsibility for the management and delivery of the DadVocates project across all strands of activity
• Manage the project budget, monitor expenditure and liaise with the CEO and Finance Officer
• Update and maintain NEYDL’s Evaluation Framework with DadVocates-specific indicators and methodologies within the first two months of the project start date
• Ensure the project meets its funder milestones and KPIs, maintaining accurate records of outputs and outcomes
• Produce quarterly progress reports for internal review and contribute to annual funder reports
• Commission and manage the external evaluator for the four-year evaluation
• Identify and escalate risks and challenges to the CEO, recommending solutions

2. Steering Committee

• Chair and manage the project Steering Committee, which meets every two months and comprises young dads, NEYDL frontline staff, the safeguarding lead, social work professionals, related experts and academic partners
• Induct Steering Committee members, including young dads, into their roles, providing tailored support to ensure they can contribute confidently alongside professionals
• Use Steering Committee meetings to review progress, identify challenges and agree recommendations for the next period of delivery

3. Co-creating the DadVocate training programme

• Work with training and research providers, young dads and Steering Committee members to co-create a 100-hour peer advocacy training programme for volunteer DadVocates
• Deliver the DadVocate training programme alongside NEYDL staff and delivery partners
• Lead annual reviews of the training programme and update content in response to learning and feedback

4. Managing and supporting volunteer DadVocates

• Recruit and train 10 young dad volunteers per year (40 over four years), all with lived experience of young fatherhood
• Provide ongoing mentoring, supervision and wellbeing support to all active DadVocate volunteers: at least 50 hours per volunteer per year
• Set clear objectives for each volunteer, conduct regular appraisals and team meetings, and support their professional development and progression
• Recognise that DadVocates are young dads with lived experience rather than professional backgrounds, and provide the high level of structured support this requires, including supporting them to navigate professional environments with confidence
• Support the progression of volunteers into employment, further training and community leadership roles

5. Matching DadVocates with young dads in CSC proceedings

• Build and maintain referral pathways with social services, midwifery, Family Nurse Partnerships, Family Hubs and other local networks across target local authorities
• Match 100 young dads over four years with a volunteer DadVocate (10 in year 1, rising to 40 in year 4)
• Work closely with NEYDL’s Senior Young Dads Workers, who hold cases, to coordinate peer advocacy support within CSC proceedings
• Maintain oversight of active advocacy arrangements, ensuring DadVocates are appropriately supported and that safeguarding obligations are met at all times
• Engage directly with young dad beneficiaries through steering committee meetings, evaluation sessions and project learning events

6. Professional training for social workers

• Co-create professional training content with social workers and young dads on the Steering Committee, drawing on national research and NEYDL’s practice experience
• Deliver half-day induction training to 15-20 social workers per local authority at the outset of each area’s involvement, co-facilitated by young dads or DadVocate volunteers
• Deliver annual refresher training in each local authority
• Facilitate quarterly case review and learning meetings with social workers in each local authority, involving DadVocate volunteers
• Co-design guidance on what father-inclusive practice looks like within children’s social care teams, with social workers and young dads (first version in year 2; updated version in year 4)
• Organise and host two information-sharing events for social care professionals in years 2 and 4 (approximately 100 professionals per event)

7. Monitoring, evaluation and learning

• Coordinate data collection with young dads, DadVocate volunteers and social workers using NEYDL’s evaluation tools and new instruments co-designed for this project
• Produce annual evaluation reports and disseminate learning through NEYDL’s wider networks, events and conferences
• Share learning through stakeholder events, professional networks and NEYDL’s regular sector-facing activity

8. Safeguarding

• Ensure robust safeguarding arrangements are in place for all project activity, particularly for DadVocate volunteers operating within CSC proceedings
• Work closely with NEYDL’s Safeguarding Lead to ensure policies and protocols relevant to the project are current, understood and followed by volunteers and partners
• Act as first point of contact for safeguarding concerns arising within the DadVocates project

9. Collaboration and partnerships

• Work closely with NEYDL’s Senior Young Dads Workers as case holders, ensuring a joined-up and consistent approach to supporting young dads involved in the project
• Build and maintain relationships with academic, statutory and voluntary sector partners
• Work with the Business Development Manager to help secure longer-term Local Authority funding for DadVocates, using evidence of impact from the project to support conversations with Local Authorities and expand the project’s reach beyond the areas and targets in the original funding bid
• Represent NEYDL and the DadVocates project at external meetings, networks and conferences
• Contribute to NEYDL’s wider communications and engagement activity

10. Other

• Deputise for the CEO as required
• Report to the Board of Trustees in person or in writing on a quarterly basis as required

11. Standard clauses

• The post holder must carry out their responsibilities at all times with due regard to NEYDL’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion strategy, policy and statement, and Safeguarding Policy
• The post holder is responsible for ensuring that policies and procedures relating to health and safety in the workplace are adhered to at all times
• The post holder must respect the confidentiality of data stored electronically and by other means, in line with NEYDL’s Data Protection Policy
• This role requires satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance prior to appointment
• This job description is not exhaustive. NEYDL reserves the right to reasonably add to or revise it at any time in agreement with the post holder.

How to apply

To apply, please send your CV (no more than four pages, including two references who can be contacted if successful) and either:

· A covering letter of no more than two sides of A4 (Arial, size 12)

· Or a video of no more than four minutes.

Please explain why you want this role and how your experience meets the person specification.

Shortlisting: 07 September. Interviews week beginning 14 September.

NEYDL is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and particularly encourage applications from people with lived experience relevant to the communities we serve.

The Role

This is a new post and a significant one. As Business Development Manager, you will be the first dedicated commercial function in NEYDL, the only person in the organisation with responsibility for sales and income generation from commissioned services and traded products. You will report directly to the CEO and sit on the senior management team.

Your core mission is to grow NEYDL's earned income across two distinct strands: securing commissioned services and contracts with local authorities and other organisations in the North East; and developing a national market for NEYDL's training products and DigiDAD platform, enabling professionals and organisations across the UK to improve the support available to young dads in their communities.

There is no pipeline to inherit. You will need to identify the right routes to market, build relationships from scratch with commissioners and buyers, and develop the BD function as you go. The CEO will provide strategic direction and support, but you will need to be confident operating with autonomy, exercising commercial judgement independently, and getting on with it.

What you will do

Identify and pursue opportunities for commissioned services and contracts in the North East with local authorities, NHS commissioners, family hubs, children’s services and other public and voluntary sector organisations
Develop a national market for NEYDL's training products and, in time, licensing offer, working across both statutory and voluntary sector audiences. This will include selling training directly to local authorities, NHS bodies and VCSE organisations; testing demand from VCSE organisations for a licensing model that enables them to deliver NEYDL's approach locally; and exploring whether local authorities would fund or commission a local VCSE partner to do so. A key part of this role in year one/two is testing assumptions about which funding and delivery models have most traction.
Promote DigiDAD as a free resource to professional audiences, growing registrations and building relationships with organisations that can champion it with young dads
Develop and manage a BD pipeline, setting targets and reporting progress to the CEO and board
Represent NEYDL at sector events, networks and conferences nationally to build profile and relationships
Develop proposals, tenders and partnership bids, working closely with the CEO and programme team
Work closely with the DigiDAD Engagement Officer to share leads and coordinate activity via an agreed tracker, and with the DigiDAD Programme Manager to ensure BD and digital growth strategies remain aligned
Contribute to marketing and communications activity that supports commercial growth, including supporting the launch of our new national brand
Play an active role as a member of the senior management team, contributing to strategy, planning and organisational leadership.
What we are looking for

We need someone with commercial experience in winning commissioned services, contracts or selling products and services to public and voluntary sector organisations. You will be relationship-focused, self-directed, and comfortable building a function without established infrastructure or a team behind you.

You will need to understand the professional landscape in which NEYDL operates: family support, early help, children’s services, family hubs. You don’t need to be an expert in young dads, but you will need to speak credibly to the people who commission and deliver family support, and to understand what drives their decisions.

What we offer

NEYDL is a close, inclusive and supportive team that actively invests in the development of its staff. We are a non-judgmental organisation built on mutual trust, respect and honesty. We listen to young dads and respond to what they actually need, working with them voluntarily to find long-term solutions rather than short-term fixes. If you join us, you will be part of a team that genuinely believes in what it does, and that belief comes through in everything we produce and every relationship we build.

In addition, we offer:

7.2 weeks’ annual leave per year, inclusive of statutory and public holidays
5% employer pension contribution
A flexible hybrid working arrangement
Funded professional development and training
Mileage paid at 55p per mile for business travel
The opportunity to shape a new function in a growing, mission-driven organisation at a pivotal moment in its development
A supportive and values-led senior team
Job purposeTo grow NEYDL's earned income across two distinct strands: securing commissioned services and contracts with local authorities and other organisations in the North East; and developing a national market for NEYDL's training products and DigiDAD platform, enabling professionals and organisations across the UK to improve the support available to young dads in their communities.Key responsibilities

Income generation and business development

Identify and develop opportunities to secure commissioned services and contracts with local authorities, NHS bodies, family hubs, children’s services, early help teams and voluntary sector organisations
Lead on the sale of NEYDL’s training products to professional audiences nationally, managing the full sales cycle from prospecting to close
Where relevant to other business development activity, make professionals aware of DigiDAD as a free resource and refer interested contacts to the DigiDAD Engagement Officer for onboarding and follow-up
Develop and maintain a BD pipeline, setting annual targets in conjunction with the CEO and reporting progress to the board
Identify new markets, audiences and partnership opportunities and make evidence-based recommendations to the CEO on where to focus BD effort.
Proposals, tenders and bids

Lead on the development of proposals, tenders and commissioned service bids, working closely with the CEO and programme team to develop compelling cases
Maintain awareness of relevant commissioning frameworks, procurement processes and funding opportunities that align with NEYDL’s offer
Ensure all proposals and tenders accurately reflect NEYDL’s costs and margins and are consistent with the organisation’s financial requirements
Relationships and profile

Build and manage relationships with commissioners, buyers, strategic partners and sector networks nationally
Represent NEYDL at sector events, conferences and networks, raising our profile with the professional audiences we want to reach
Work collaboratively with the DigiDAD Programme Manager to align BD activity with the growth of the DigiDAD platform
Support the launch and positioning of NEYDL’s new national brand, contributing to marketing and communications activity that supports commercial growth
Organisational leadership and management

Contribute to organisational strategy and annual planning as a member of the senior management team
Report on BD performance and progress against targets to the CEO and board
Work closely with the DigiDAD Engagement Officer (managed by the DigiDAD Programme Manager) to ensure a joined-up approach to professional audience engagement
Comply with all NEYDL policies and procedures including safeguarding, data protection and equality, diversity and inclusion
Key relationships

Chief Executive Officer: line manager and strategic lead
DigiDAD Programme Manager: close working relationship on professional audience growth and platform promotion
DigiDAD Engagement Officer: referral coordination on professional engagement and DigiDAD growth
Programme Managers and frontline team: to inform BD activity and support proposal development
External: commissioners, local authority leads, NHS contacts, training buyers, sector networks
Targets

Year 1 milestones

The following milestones have been agreed with our primary Year 1 funder and represent the BDM's near-term priorities:

By six months:

Approaches made to at least 25 contacts, including commissioners in all Family Hub areas in the North East and warm VCSE collaborators
By twelve months:

Marketing and outreach completed with at least 100 contacts (warm and cold)
Training delivered at least 10 times
Indicative conversion targets achieved: approximately 3% of cold contacts and 25% of warm contacts progressing to a training booking (these are assumptions to be tested and refined through year one)
Evaluation and review of year one learning completed; year two targets developed
Longer-term targets (to April 2029)

The following targets relate to the areas of work this role will contribute to, alongside the DigiDAD Programme Manager and wider team:

Professionals trained through NEYDL's training products: 50 by April 2027; 350 annually by April 2029
New professional DigiDAD registrations: 750 by April 2027; 1,400 annually by April 2029
New young dad DigiDAD registrations: 510 by April 2027; 1,000 annually by April 2029

The Business Development Manager will play a central role in building the relationships and income pipeline that drives the training targets. DigiDAD registration growth is led by the DigiDAD Engagement Officer and wider team, with the Business Development Manager contributing through referrals identified in the course of other work.

Alongside these targets, NEYDL currently holds commissioned service contracts with several local authorities: Durham, Middlesbrough, Sunderland, Gateshead. A key priority for the Business Development Manager will be to maintain and strengthen these relationships, ensuring contracts are renewed and the value of our work to each commissioner is clearly evidenced. Beyond existing contracts, we are keen to secure commissioned funding in areas of the North East where we currently have limited or no presence. 

Finance Manager
Permanent | 0.6 FTE (3 days/week ) | Hybrid – 1 day/week in office in central London | £33,000pa (0.6 FTE) — pro-rata equivalent £55,000 + 8% pension contribution.

Benefits include: 25 days annual leave (FTE, pro rata), rising after two years' service, plus bank holidays and additional leave between Christmas and New Year.

Following a significant increase in funding across our national programmes, the Architectural Heritage Fund is seeking a hands-on, fully qualified Finance Manager (ACA, ACCA or CIMA) to help us scale sustainably and to provide support to the organisation in delivering its mission of helping create sustainable futures for historic buildings throughout the UK

Reporting to the Director of Finance & Operations and line managing our Finance Officer, you'll take ownership of day-to-day operational finance, produce high-quality monthly management accounts, and support the annual audit process. You'll also help embed AI-powered tools into our finance systems and processes, supporting a period of exciting organisational growth.

We're looking for someone who can:

· Deliver accurate management accounts and financial analysis to tight deadlines

·  Assist with cash flow forecasting, budgeting and reforecasting

· Maintain robust internal controls and audit trails

· Translate complex financial data for non-finance colleagues and Trustees

· Bring a proactive, adaptable approach as our programmes grow

Charity sector experience is a plus, as is confidence using AI tools for reporting and workflow automation.

If you're a qualified accountant looking for a role where you can shape systems, support meaningful heritage and community-led projects, and grow with a scaling organisation, we'd love to hear from you.

In accordance with our commitment to promote equality of opportunity and diversity across all of our areas of work, we particularly welcome applications from people from black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, disabled people and younger people, who are currently under-represented within AHF.

Closing date: Monday 7th September at 9am.

Please submit your updated CV and a cover letter to apply.