Senior researcher and office coordinator jobs

ABOUT US

The Great Friendship Project is an award-winning organisation tackling loneliness through research-informed community programmes, campaigns, and partnerships.

We design and deliver social interventions that help people build real-world friendships, strengthen social confidence, and rise out of loneliness.

Over the past four years, we have delivered hundreds of community activities, partnered with major brands and public institutions, contributed to national research and policy conversations, and built a highly engaged community of tens of thousands of young adults.

We are now entering a critical next phase of growth, strengthening our foundations in preparation for wider national expansion.

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THE ROLE

This new Programmes & Operations Coordinator role will act as the central operational lead for day-to-day delivery.

You’ll take ownership of systems, operations, volunteer coordination, and delivery logistics, while working closely with the Founder across areas such as community activity, growth planning, partnerships, and fundraising.

As a growing organisation, this is a broad, hands-on role with scope to help shape systems, processes, and ways of working as we grow.

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OPERATIONS

• Planning & Scheduling - Develop and maintain operational plans, timelines, systems, and delivery schedules to support effective coordination across the organisation
• Process Development - Establish and maintain clear processes for tracking tasks, deadlines, risks, outputs, and learning
• Documentation - Develop and maintain scalable documentation, playbooks, and operational processes to strengthen organisational readiness for growth
• Systems Management - Build, refine, and maintain digital tools, databases, and shared filing systems to improve coordination, visibility, and efficiency
• Financial Administration - Support basic financial processes, including processing invoices, tracking expenses, and supporting grant-related financial reporting

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PROGRAMME DELIVERY

• Delivery Oversight - Support the delivery of community programmes, campaigns, and pilots, ensuring quality, safeguarding, and consistency
• Programme Logistics - Coordinate venues, volunteers, partners, and programme materials to ensure smooth delivery
• Participant Communications - Lead day-to-day communications with participants and community members, acting as a clear and reliable point of contact
• Community Development - Develop and refine induction, member contact, and retention processes to support a welcoming and inclusive community
• Impact Tracking - Support evaluation, feedback collection, and continuous improvement across programmes

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VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT

• Recruitment & Onboarding - Lead the recruitment and onboarding of volunteers and interns
• Volunteer Coordination - Coordinate volunteer rotas, availability, and deployment across programmes and act as the primary day-to-day point of contact for volunteers
• Training & Development - Support volunteer training, shadowing, and development plans

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FUNDRAISING & GROWTH SUPPORT

• Business Development - Support the identification of new partners and assist with building and maintaining relationships, including day-to-day coordination
• Grant Writing - Assist with grant applications, funding research, and partnership follow-up
• Marketing & Growth - Support the development of marketing and growth plans, providing operational input and capacity planning
• Campaigns & Events - Support the delivery of national campaigns, research dissemination, and stakeholder events through coordination of logistics, volunteers, and internal systems

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WHO YOU ARE

• Reliable & Adaptable - You are proactive and can prioritise effectively in a fast-moving environment
• Problem Solver - You have strong organisational skills and a sharp eye for detail
• Great Communicator - You are comfortable with public speaking and talking to everyone from community members to trustees and partners
• The Sherpa - You have experience coordinating or leading teams, projects, or delivery activity
• Tech-Savvy - You love using digital tools (Google Workspace, Notion, Slack, Canva) to make work easier and more visible
• Flexible - You’re happy to work evenings or weekends, when required (N.B. Time Off In Lieu will be provided)

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EXPERIENCE - ESSENTIAL

• Experience in an operations, coordination, programme delivery, or project support role with responsibility for outcomes
• Experience managing multiple priorities across people, systems, and deadlines in a small or fast-moving organisation
• Confidence taking ownership, exercising judgement, and working with limited supervision

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EXPERIENCE - DESIRABLE

• Experience in a charity, community, events, or volunteer-led environment
• Experience supporting partnerships, fundraising activity, or grant applications
• Experience working closely with senior leadership or a founder

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BENEFITS

Beyond the opportunity to play a pivotal role in a growing social movement, we provide a supportive environment designed to help you thrive both personally and professionally.

• Meaningful work with real impact - Play a central role in tackling loneliness and helping people build lasting, real-world friendships
• Hybrid working - A flexible mix of office-based, community, and home-based working, with autonomy around how you structure your week
• 20 days annual leave + bank holidays + your birthday off - On top of this, you’ll also earn an extra day of annual leave every year you work with us, up-to 5 years
• Learning & development support - Opportunities to build skills across operations, programme delivery, fundraising, and leadership, with mentoring from the Founder and access to relevant training - where required
• Progression opportunities - As a growing organisation, this role is designed to grow alongside the organisation, with the potential to develop into a more senior role over time

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HOW TO APPLY

Please submit your application and CV by completing the online form via the link below.

CLOSING DATE: Wednesday 21st January @ 12pm

If you have any queries about the role or application process, you can contact us via email or use the enquiry form on our website.

This is an exciting opportunity to steer Asylum Aid at an important time in its 30-year existence. As Executive Director you will be responsible for delivering on our strategy for impact. You will oversee our work to increase access to expert, trauma-informed legal representation to those in the asylum, trafficking and statelessness systems and lead our policy and strategic legal work to achieve systemic change that contributes towards our vision.

You will line manage the Director of Legal Casework to oversee the provision of supportive and enabling leadership to Asylum Aid caseworkers so that they can continue to deliver high quality expert advice in complex cases, while being supported in their professional development and wellbeing. You will also manage and develop the work of our welfare advice team within the Westminster Advice Services Partnership and beyond, and work collaboratively with colleagues in the sector to build capacity and increase our impact. 

The ideal candidate, who may be legally qualified, will have experience of leadership in the charity/NGO sector and a sound understanding of the asylum, human rights and trafficking processes in the UK and the legal frameworks which govern the protection of refugees, survivors of trafficking and stateless people, and of the role of law in achieving system change.

We are looking for someone who is strategically minded and passionate about providing supportive and inclusive leadership to our expert team. You will be committed to our objectives and to the role which expert legal representation plays in enabling people in need of protection in the UK to obtain it.

As is the nature of this sector, the role may be exposed to a high volume of traumatic and distressing material and, whilst they will be supported by the Helen Bamber Foundation Group CEO and surrounding team, the candidate should also be able to demonstrate knowledge of good self-care principles in an intense work environment and dissemination of those principles to junior members of the team.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Leadership and strategy

·Be responsible, with the support of the Helen Bamber Foundation Group CEO, for the development, implementation and monitoring of Asylum Aid’s organisational strategy

·Provide leadership and strategic direction at Asylum Aid in accordance with its aims and objectives, with the support of the Director of Legal Casework

·Act as external spokesperson for Asylum Aid, maintaining and strengthening Asylum Aid’s position as a leader in the refugee rights, statelessness and legal aid sectors;

·Work collaboratively with others in the sector to promote and strengthen Asylum Aid’s work, identify and establish potential partnerships, with the support of the Director of Legal Casework;

·Work collaboratively with the Helen Bamber Foundation Group CEO and Executive Leadership team to drive the implementation of the Group strategic framework;

·Ensure that all reporting and monitoring requirements are met to support fundraising, contract compliance and monitoring strategic impact;

·Support the cross collaboration of the Asylum Aid team with the Helen Bamber Foundation team and play an active part in the management of the Helen Bamber Foundation Group.

Governance  

·Act as the Data Protection Supervisor with responsibility for data protection and cyber security within Asylum Aid

·Together with the Helen Bamber Foundation Group CEO and designated safeguarding leads, be responsible for child and adult safeguarding within Asylum Aid

·In collaboration with the Director of Legal Casework, ensure compliance by Asylum Aid with all legal and regulatory obligations, including the Legal Aid Agency contract, the Immigration Advice Authority and Solicitors Regulation Authority;

·Lead on the preparation and presentation of quarterly reports on Asylum Aid’s activities, strategy and risks to the Asylum Aid Board, the Finance and Fundraising Committee and the People and Governance Committee;

·Lead on the preparation of the Trustees’ annual report and ensure that monitoring and evaluation systems are adequate to enable reporting on Asylum Aid’s activities and impact.

Management and Supervision 

·Responsible for line management of the Director of Legal Casework and Welfare Advice service coordinator, and other team supervisors as required;

·Together with the Group Director of People, responsible for Human Resources and implementation of the People Strategy within Asylum Aid, including development and implementation of HR policies and procedures;

·Together with the Director of Legal Casework and team supervisors, drive the effective management and supervision of the Asylum Aid team and ensure that they comply with relevant professional standards and accreditation;

·Foster a supportive and inclusive team culture at Asylum Aid in which each member feels valued and supported to develop professionally and to perform to the best of their ability;

·Ensure the team’s well-being and that self-care practices are established and work in tandem with the Director of Legal Casework and supervisors to ensure trauma-informed ways of working.

Policy & Strategic Legal Work

·Together with the Group Director of Policy, identify policy priorities and coordinate the preparation of evidence and briefings drawing on Asylum Aid’s experience and expertise to influence system change;

·Build and maintain relationships and partnerships with sector colleagues to support joint strategic engagement including policy advocacy and strategic legal work;

·Work closely with the Director of Legal Casework and team supervisors to drive changes in the UK asylum, trafficking and statelessness systems through strategic legal work.

Finance & Fundraising

·Work closely with the CEO and the Helen Bamber Foundation Group Finance Team to set and manage budget(s) and general financial matters for Asylum Aid

·Together with the Director of Legal Casework and the Group Finance Team, establish systems for monitoring legal aid Work In Progress and billing, and securing casework income including legal aid, and inter partes income from judicial review cases;

·Work closely with the Helen Bamber Foundation Group Fundraising and Communications Team to secure funding for Asylum Aid from a range of sources including trusts and foundations, corporate philanthropy and major donors;

·Ensure that Legal Aid and other income is maximised, and targets are achieved.                                   

Other duties

·Manage the recruitment and supervision of volunteers where necessary in collaboration with the Helen Bamber Foundation Group Volunteers Coordinator;

·Support the Helen Bamber Foundation Group Facilities team to ensure the smooth running of the office and that the facilities meet the needs of Asylum Aid;

·Work outside normal office hours as required and travel in order to carry out the responsibilities of the post.

·To undertake any task that may be requested from time to time that may be consistent with the nature and scope of this post.

Essential Experience, Skills and Knowledge

•Experience of running a small to medium sized charity/legal NGO and/or legal department within the NGO sector (or other equivalent senior management role);

•Demonstrable experience of managing and leading a successful team and the ability to manage a growing team with mixed roles from team supervisors to administrative support staff, working co-operatively with colleagues to maintain transparency and effective working relationships within the team;

•Strong communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with people from a wide range of backgrounds

•Strong understanding of good governance including legal, regulatory and financial responsibilities;

•Ability to work with a range of stakeholders from trustees to external partners;

•Experience of leading and/or participating in organisational strategic planning;

·Experience of legal policy work within the human rights field and /or of strategic litigation, whether as an NGO claimant or legal representative;

•Experience of managing diverse funding sources and setting and implementing budgets;

•Experience of working in a service delivery partnership with other organisations;

•Experience of fundraising, especially grants from trusts and foundations;

•Sound working knowledge of the law and policy as it relates to immigration,  asylum, human rights and modern slavery/trafficking;

•Demonstrable understanding of the asylum and human rights sector in the UK;

•An understanding of the barriers migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers face regarding access to legal advice, reasons why they may become destitute and why this makes it more difficult to access advice and support; and

•The passion for working empathetically and supportively with migrants, refugees, stateless people and asylum seekers.

Desirable Experience

·Experience of managing the delivery of frontline casework with people in the asylum or trafficking systems

·Experience of tendering for and delivering publicly funded contracts e.g. LAA or local authority funding;

·Working knowledge of Legal Aid Agency contracts, including the delivery of casework and billing under a legal aid contract in the immigration and asylum category and/or the public law category;

How to apply 

The first stage is to complete on our online application form on our website by 10am on Monday 26th January 2026.

The website form will ask you to:

1.Upload a short covering letter. Please tell us why the position appeals to you, and how your relevant skills and experience, including any voluntary experience and lived experience, matches the listed responsibilities and person specification. Please also state in your covering letter when you would be available to start the role.

2.Upload your current CV

3.Complete an online Equal Opportunities monitoring form – completion of this form will help us ensure that our recruitment procedures operate in such a way as to provide genuine equality of opportunity. The questions are entirely optional, and this information will not be available to members of the selection panel.

For an informal conversation about the post before applying, please contact Alison Pickup, the current Executive Director.

Selection Process

We will invite candidates to an initial online interview on Tuesday 10th or Wednesday 11th February, followed by shortlisted candidates attending in-person interviews at our office in Old Street on Tuesday 24th or Wednesday 25th February.

We offer a guaranteed initial interview for refugees, stateless people and others with lived experience of forced migration, provided that they provide some evidence of relevant experience or skills in relation to the essential criteria.

We regret that we can only respond to applicants who make it to the interview stage.

Eligibility

Please note that the successful candidate must have the right to work in the UK (as a small charity we do not have the capacity to sponsor work visas).

Successful candidates will also be subject to a basic DBS check. If appointed, you will also be required to give your consent to the charity to receive regular updates on your criminal records status throughout your employment and to disclose any relevant convictions incurred during your time with us.

Adjustments

We are committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process and we’ll always endeavour to be as accommodating as possible. If you require a different format of the application form, such as large print or Word format, or if you would like to discuss any specific requirements, please get in touch with us.

EQUITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

Our commitment to principles of equity, diversity and inclusion is an integral part of our approach to our clients, our volunteers and our staff, and we are an equal opportunities and Living Wage employer.

We are committed to attracting and recruiting diverse candidates because we are keen to make sure that our staff, trustees, volunteers and ambassadors reflect the communities we serve and the wider community we work in.

We genuinely welcome and encourage applications from candidates from a range of backgrounds, especially people of colour, people with disabilities, people from low socio-economic backgrounds, refugees, stateless people and others with lived experience of forced migration or trauma and of the housing and welfare system, who are under-represented in our organisation.

We recognise and value the role of lived experience in meeting the needs of our clients and acknowledge the under-representation of people with lived experience of forced migration and statelessness in the advice sector. We value experience gained overseas as well as in the UK.

We are also proud to be a member of the Experts by Experience Employment Network which aims to increase representation of people with lived experience in the charitable sector.

If you are an expert by experience (a refugee or a migrant with direct, first-hand experience of issues and challenges of the UK asylum or immigration system), you can ask for an independent and confidential support for your job application from the Experts by Experience Employment Network and access other information and resources which may help in preparing your job application.

Please complete the form on their website to request support and they will confirm if they can match you with a mentor to support your application.

The Vacancy

Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW) is a faith-based humanitarian relief and development organisation working to save and transform the lives of some of the world’s most vulnerable people.  Established in 1984, with an active presence in over 45 countries, we strive to make the world a better and fairer place for those affected by poverty, conflict and natural disasters. IRUK’s focus is strengthening effective funding, mobilising for change through advocacy and awareness-raising, and strengthening programme development and delivery. IRUK works with various partners and institutions, from governments, non-governmental organisations and local authorities to grassroots communities.

Islamic Relief UK (IRUK) is recruiting for the position of ‘Digital Product Specialist’ on a permanent, full-time basis, to be based from its Waterloo Office, London. The organisation is currently operating to a hybrid working model.

Job Purpose:

• Manage the digital assets of Islamic Relief UK, particularly the website, ensuring that it operates in an optimal manner.
• Manage the development, evolution and/or integration of digital assets, e.g. digital giving platforms and digital events management systems.
• Ensure all development projects have well considered user interfaces and provide an optimal user experience.
• Provide the Digital Marketing team support with technical SEO, email marketing, and tracking/reporting across key digital marketing platforms.

The successful candidate must have:

• Proven record of excellent people and interpersonal skills with strong communication skills at individual and group levels.
• Experience of managing web development projects
• Experience of working with internal clients and diverse teams
• Experience of delivering with a marketing budget and using resources effectively to successfully balance creative aspirations with limited financial and other resources
• An academic qualification at degree level or equivalent experience/qualification in a digital/developer related field
• A comprehensive knowledge of CMSs, preferably WordPress
• Working knowledge of PHP, HTML, CSS, SQL and JavaScript and version controlling with Git
• Experienced in interpreting data from Google Analytics, Google Search Console and other analytic platforms
• In-depth understanding of UX and UI in the context of web design
• Knowledge and understanding of implementing technical SEO
• Commercially aware, with good understanding of budget management
• Ability to communicate technical information and requirements to non-technical management and internal stakeholders
• Experienced in working from wireframes and written design briefs to build mobile responsive solutions
• An aptitude for managing short-term projects effectively
• An understanding of marketing trends and the charity market

For more information, please click on the Documents tab above to view the full Job Description.

If you are talented, reliable, service-minded, resilient and a highly motivated professional looking for a meaningful career, with a strong commitment to IRW’s mission and values of sincerity, excellence, compassion, social justice and custodianship, please apply by completing our online application form.

For more information on the excellent company benefits we offer our employees, please visit our website.

PLEASE NOTE: Interviews are expected to take place on an ongoing basis until a suitable appointment is made. Therefore, we may close the advert sooner than the advertised date.

Pre-employment Checks:

Any employment with Islamic Relief will be subject to the following checks:

• screening clearance
• proof of eligibility to live and work within the UK
• receipt of satisfactory references

Please note, for UK-based roles, we are only able to accept applications from candidates who are eligible to work in the UK. We are unable to progress applications which would require sponsorship.

Our values and commitment to safeguarding

IRW is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and committed to promoting the welfare of children, young people, adults and beneficiaries with whom IRW engages. IRW expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us.

The post holder will undertake the appropriate level of training and is responsible for ensuring that they understand and work within the safeguarding policies of the organisation.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records checks. IRW also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.

In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment.

By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Islamic Relief is an equal opportunities employer

The National Gallery is looking for an experienced Project Manager to lead the delivery of the upcoming major capital projects at the National Gallery. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to a major capital project that will have a lasting impact on the Gallery’s future.

The successful candidate will have a proven track record in managing complex capital projects and a strong understanding of heritage environments and design quality.

This is a full-time, fixed-term contract for up to 36 months. The role is primarily on-site (4–5 days per week), with some flexibility. Full attendance will be required during key project phases.

For more information, please refer to the attached job pack and explore the benefits we offer.

• Provide inspirational leadership and clear strategic direction for the Freshly Greated CPP programme.
• Lead the implementation of the programme with creativity and a strong commitment to its aims and objectives.
• Develop and nurture the key partnerships in Great Yarmouth and beyond that support the programme’s sustainability and growth.

The Executive Director leads the Freshly Greated programme, working closely with the Freshly Greated Consortium, Arts Council England (ACE), freelancers, volunteer Community Producers and the wider local community. The Director manages a small, multi-disciplinary team and is responsible for the programme’s creative direction, partnership development, financial sustainability, evaluation,  compliance and will also develop and lead an ambitious, co-created community-led arts and culture programme that has action research and evaluation at its core. 

Freshly Greated is a year round programme which includes award winning youth participation and intergenerational projects across three neighbourhoods. In partnership with Out There Arts, Freshly Greated create vibrant public celebrations across parks, beaches, and town spaces, inspired by local stories. Last year, 61,942 residents took part in workshops, events, and festivals that are free, inclusive, and locally led. All Community Producers agree Freshly Greated proves everyone is creative, builds skills, and strengthens community spirit - 94% say it increases local pride, and 91% believe it makes Great Yarmouth a better place to live.