Entry level jobs

Cerebra is the national charity dedicated to improving the lives of children with neurological conditions and their families. We provide vital research, support, and practical solutions that empower families facing complex challenges.

With an annual income of £3 million and a headcount of 68 employees, we have ambitious plans to double our income between 2025 and 2027, ensuring we can extend our impact, reach more families, and drive real change. To achieve this, we are investing in fundraising innovation, income generating ventures, and strategic partnerships, alongside enhancing our brand to increase our national recognition.

Our work is underpinned by our values ensuring that everything we do aligns with our mission to create a better world for children with neurological conditions.

This is an incredibly exciting time to join Cerebra, as we are preparing to launch our new strategy and brand. The COO is a vital leadership role that will support the drive towards even greater impact for children and families across the UK.

Our Services

Sleep Advice Service

Cerebra understands that if you have a child that doesn’t sleep, the whole family suffers. Many children with neurological conditions suffer from disrupted sleep. Our sleep advice service provides bespoke advice and support so that everyone can get a good night’s sleep.

Legal Rights Service

Our Legal Rights Service provides help and support to families of children with neurological conditions when they are faced with barriers and difficulties in accessing statutory support services they are entitled to. The service provides information on their legal entitlements.

Book and Toy Library Service

Our specialist postal lending library contains a wide range of books for both adults and children, plus a selection of sensory toys specifically chosen for children with a neurological condition.

Innovation and Product Design Service

Our Innovation Service designs and builds bespoke products that cater to the specific needs of children with neurological conditions. The aim of the service is to make products that are desirable and exciting, therefore promoting social inclusion, peer acceptance and enabling children to participate in everyday activities that are so often close to them.

Information Products

Cerebra publishes different information products to help families with a child with a neurological condition. Our information products offer comprehensive, up-to-date support and research-driven strategies to assist families with a wide range of issues.

Buzgi and Toy Adaptation Service

Cerebra designs and builds bespoke assistive equipment for disabled children, this includes creating custom mobility aids, switch‑adapted toys, and other innovative solutions to help children access play, learning, and independence.

The Bugzi - a mini powered wheelchair for children offers many children their first experience of independent mobility. It uses either a joystick or switches and adaptable seating for complex needs, and helps develop spatial awareness, confidence, and early mobility skills. The Bugzi is available through a national loan scheme.

Additionally, we operate commercial services (including a web shop) to supplement our income to support children and their families.

Our services are provided to families free of charge.

Job Title:

Chief Operating Officer

Reports To:

Chief Executive Officer

Direct reports:

3 senior managers (Finance (headcount of 3), HR (headcount of 1), IT (headcount of 5))

Purpose of the Role:

The Chief Operating Officer will play a vital role in supporting the Chief Executive Officer, Board and Leadership Team to deliver Cerebra’s vision and ambitious strategic aims. The Chief Operating Officer will provide strategic leadership and operational management across key areas within Cerebra including:

• Operational Systems
• Governance
• Compliance
• Finance and Growth

This is a pivotal executive leadership role, responsible for driving organisational performance, sustainability and growth. The COO will translate Cerebra’s strategic ambitions into effective operational delivery, ensuring robust governance, financial stewardship and a high-performing, values-led culture.

As a trusted advisor to the CEO and Board, the COO will lead core operational services and commercial activity, enabling the charity to maximise impact and generate sustainable income in support of its charitable objectives.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic & Executive Leadership

• Partner with the CEO and Board to deliver strategic priorities, growth and long-term sustainability
• Collaboration with the Director’s Group to ensure strategic alignment across the charity. The Director’s Group consists of:

            Chief Executive Officer

            Chief Operating Officer

            Director of Fundraising, Marketing and Communications

            Director of Research and Support Services

• Provide expert advice on finance, operations, commercial performance and organisational risk
• Lead organisational planning, business continuity, and operational resilience
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, accountability and inclusion

Finance, Commercial & Sustainability

• Lead financial strategy, planning and performance, ensuring long-term sustainability
• Oversee budgeting, forecasting, cashflow and financial controls
• Lead and develop Cerebra’s strategy for commercial income , ensuring alignment with charitable objectives
• Support funding growth through strong financial insight and business case development
• Ensure robust financial governance, audit and compliance

Operations & Infrastructure

• Lead and strengthen operational functions including HR, IT, governance and administration
• Ensure effective systems, processes and infrastructure that enable growth, efficiency and impact
• Oversee procurement, contracts, facilities, and organisational compliance
• Drive innovation and value for money across operations

People & Culture

• Champion a positive, inclusive and high-performing organisational culture
• Oversee HR strategy, workforce planning and leadership development
• Ensure compliance with employment law and best practice
• Promote wellbeing, engagement and organisational effectiveness

Digital & Technology

• Provide strategic oversight of IT, data and digital development
• Ensure systems are secure, resilient and aligned to organisational needs
• Leverage data and technology to improve insight, decision-making and organisational impact

Governance, Risk & Compliance

• Ensure effective governance frameworks, risk management and regulatory compliance
• Support the CEO and Board with high-quality reporting and strategic insight
• Lead safeguarding, data protection and organisational risk strategy
• Drive a strong culture of accountability and ethical practice

Leadership & Management

• Lead and develop a small senior team across finance, HR and IT
• Build capability, strengthen performance, and embed a collaborative culture
• Model Cerebra’s values and leadership behaviours

Key Attributes

• Strategic and commercially minded leader with strong operational delivery experience
• Strong financial leadership and business acumen
• Proven track record of driving income growth, sustainability and organisational performance
• Skilled in governance, risk and stakeholder engagement

Please see attached job description for the Person Specification.

The People Matter Trust is a Christian Charity based in Eastbourne helping job seekers reach their full potential.  The organisation gained the Queens Award for Voluntary Service in 2022 and is Matrix accredited.  The Board of Trustees are seeking to recruit a Director of Operations to take up a position that will become vacant due to retirement during the second half of 2026.  The post will be full time (35 hours per week).

This key senior management role is responsible for the operational delivery of services, in line with the Christian ethos and values of People Matter. The Level 6 CIAG (or equivalent) qualified post-holder will hold responsibility for overseeing the delivery, management and reporting of funded contracts, managing the team of advisers, and overseeing all Careers, Information, Advice and Guidance services.

The salary for this post is £36,000 per annum.

Under the 2010 Equality Act, schedule 9, there is a genuine occupational requirement for the Senior Management Team (CEO and Director of Operations), and Board of Trustees to be practising Christians, to ensure the protection of our strong Christian ethos and values.

People Matter is an inclusive employer.  However potential applicants should be aware that our office premises are located on 2nd floor of a multi-occupancy building with no lift and we are unable to accommodate wheelchair users.

Closing date for receipt of applications is midnight on Friday 3rd July 2026

Interviews will be held during the period 20th to 21st July 2026.

Join Homeless Oxfordshire as our Housing First Service Manager and lead a dedicated team supporting people with complex needs facing multiple exclusions to sustain long-term tenancies, increase independence and rebuild their lives. Working within Housing First principles, you will oversee the delivery of a high-quality, trauma-informed service and develop strategic partnerships with local authorities, housing providers, health services, social care and voluntary sector organisations. This is an exciting leadership role where you will drive service excellence, support staff development, ensure contract performance and champion resident voice! If you are passionate about creating a lasting change and impact, we would love to hear from you!

Main Purpose Of The Job:

To deliver a high-quality, trauma informed support service to people with complex needs facing multiple exclusions in line with Housing First principles to create long term sustainable tenancies by increasing independence and maximising connectivity with local communites across Oxfordshire. To take a strategic lead on the development and maintenace of excellent partnership working with all our stakeholders to ensure high fidelity Housing First is delivered. Ensuring that commissioned contracts are adhered to and KPIs for these contracts are met. In addition, supporting the professional development of staff to develop deliver services and maintain partnerships across relevant sectors.

Main Areas Of Responsibility:

Working closely with the Operations Manager :

• To lead the Housing First team providing excellent trauma informed support to 40+ Housing First residents in Oxford City.

• To work closely with commissioners on delivery of the service, to develop and maintain strategic relationships with Oxford City Council, housing providers, NHS services, Adult Social Care, Probation and voluntary sector partners.

• Provide reflective, trauma-informed supervision and support to staff.

• Lead safeguarding, risk management and multi-disciplinary case reviews.

• Ensure adherence to Housing First fidelity and continuous quality improvement.

• To ensure that Homeless Oxfordshire delivers effective and high-quality support that meets the evolving needs of our residents.

• To deliver a psychologically person centred trauma informed approach across all services.

• To promote the active involvement of service user experience and voice in the delivery, development and monitoring of Housing First.

• To manage the personalisation budget attached to the Housing First.

• Ensuring that commissioned contracts are adhered to and KPIs for these contracts are met.

• To support staff to ensure that all services are run safely and compliant with safeguarding.

• Being proactive in reviewing and evaluating own performance and identifying and acting upon areas for improvement and development.

• To actively look to develop yourself and your team through training and development opportunities.

• To develop, review and improve your services in accordance with the aims and objectives of Homeless Oxfordshire.

• To provide reflective, trauma-informed supervision support and line management to direct reports, ensuring they meet all aims, objectives and outcomes, according to relevant policies and procedures.

• Manage complaints and suggestions in line with to Homeless Oxfordshire policies and procedures.

• Ensure your team are aware of and include their residents in engagement and coproduction activities working proactively with the LEAP team.

• Develop and maintain strong internal working relationships to ensure managers and teams deliver high quality services that are reflective of Homeless Oxfordshire’s values and address local needs.

• Co-create a positive and inclusive working environment for team members and residents.

• Be part of Homeless Oxfordshire on-call rota.

• To cover for other Service Managers if needed.

• Adhere to Homeless Oxfordshire’s policies and procedures at all times.

• Undertaking, as required, any other duties compatible with the level and nature of the post.

Safeguarding Statement:

Homeless Oxfordshire is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all adults, children and young people who are at risk of harm and that come into contact with our services. We believe that all adults, children and young people have an equal right to protection from abuse, regardless of their age, race, religion, ability, gender, language, background or sexual identity and consider the wellbeing of the vulnerable adult, child or young person is paramount. As a result, we have a robust safeguarding policy to ensure everyone is treated fairly and a whistleblowing policy to enable people raise any concerns confidentially. We expect everyone (staff, trustees, associates, volunteers and anyone working on behalf of the Company) to share this commitment and read, understand and adhere to this policy and related procedures.

Equal Opportunities:

We employ people on the basis of their abilities. We strive to attract and develop talent that is representative of our residents and all sections of the society, and do not discriminate based on of age, faith, disability, race, gender, sexuality and socio-economic, regional or cultural background. If you are shortlisted and need us to make any adjustments to help you attend for interview, please let us know.

About Us:

We are an open door for people experiencing homelessness whose lives have been shaped by trauma and disadvantage; providing safety, stability and support when it is needed most. We deliver this support across Oxfordshire by providing a range of accommodation with access to high quality support, offering a safe and welcoming space for people to take control of their own lives. We are an accredited Oxford Living Wage employer, and benefits to the role include: annual leave starting at 26 days (excluding bank holidays), flexible working, enhanced benefits with qualifying service, retail discounts with our Homeless Oxfordshire Benefits Hub, and life assurance up to four times your salary and a £250 bonus if you successfully refer a someone as a new colleague through our Employee Referral Scheme as a thanks from us!

What’s Next: Have a look at the job description to find out more about the role and apply on our website. Please be aware that this role is subject to an enhanced DBS disclosure check and will be undertaken for the successful candidate .

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we identify a suitable candidate before the advertised closing date.

Refugee Resettlement Employment Advisor M520

Salary: Grade 5 - £32,061 to £34,434

Term: Fixed-term until 31st March 2027, with possibility to extend

Working Hours: Full-time (37 hours per week)

Charnwood Borough Council in Leicestershire is an ambitious and dynamic organisation with a strong focus on supporting communities, looking after the environment, and creating a thriving economy.

We are customer focused, both internally and externally. We are looking for the latest member of the CBC team to deliver our aims and values.

An opportunity has arisen to be part of the Resettlement Services team supporting newly resettled refugees across Leicestershire and Rutland.

The role

The Refugee Resettlement Employment Advisor will be responsible for providing effective employment support to adults resettled in the area. You will plan and deliver a combination of tailored one-to-one and group sessions regarding all aspects of employability to assist individuals into volunteering, training and employment.

So, if you have:

• Experience in planning and delivering high quality individual and group sessions on CV writing, job applications and job search techniques;
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to use appropriate discretion to address complex situations;
• Experience working with individuals with a wide range of vulnerabilities to develop their confidence and skills to enter the employment market;
• The ability to work in partnership with external agencies and potential employers to achieve positive outcomes for vulnerable individuals;
• The ability to motivate and inspire individuals facing multiple barriers to employment;
• Good knowledge of the statutory framework in relation to safeguarding and an ability to apply this in practice and in day-to-day case work,

then this role might be for you.

If you have any questions, please contact Hayley Watts an informal chat about the role.

Please note that this job requires the post holder to work across the County and Rutland and attend meetings at various different locations.

The successful applicant will be subject to a DBS check.

Secondments will be considered, please ensure you have your Line Manager’s approval to apply.

What we offer

The benefits of working with CBC: 

• Agile working for many roles 
• Generous annual leave of between 35.5 and 40.5 days of leave (depending on length of service), inclusive of bank holidays 
• Most services are closed over Christmas 
• Opportunities for professional development linked to many roles
• Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme 
• Free parking 

The Council strongly believes a diverse and inclusive workforce helps make our services better. We value the individual strengths of each colleague and the potential they bring.

We are a Disability Confident Employer and strive to promote a disability confident culture. To find out more about our Disability Confident commitments including reasonable adjustments and the guaranteed interview scheme please visit our website.

We have signed the Armed Forces Covenant (AFC) and have achieved the AFC’s Employer Recognition Gold Award.

Colleagues are also actively engaged through our Staff Forum and groups such as our Health and Wellbeing Group and Equality Working Group.

Find out more about this role and who we are by visiting our website.

No agencies please.

Closing Date: 22/06/26.

A little about us 

We are one of the largest providers of mental health services to schools in Greater London. We also provide high quality early years education and family support, including offering emergency assistance for families in crisis. This work makes a real difference to thousands of children and families each year.

Our values

We work with people of all faiths and none; our sole aim is to help those in greatest need so they can overcome the challenges they face and achieve their potential. Our work is underpinned by our core values of integrity, compassion, inclusion and partnership. 

About the role

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Senior Management Team (SMT) of a dynamic and growing children’s charity as Head of Human Resources and Operations, taking on a critical leadership role to support the next phase of our development.  Working closely with the SMT as trusted advisor and most senior HR professional, you will provide strategic and operational advice, guidance and support to the organisation on all people related practices.

What we are looking for

The successful candidate will have:

· A CIPD Level 7 qualification, or equivalent demonstrable senior HR experience.

· A strong track record of working successfully within a senior HR role.

· Initiative, creativity and a proactive approach.

· Excellent interpersonal and people management skills.

What you will get in return

· Generous annual leave allowance of 35 days p.a. plus bank holidays (pro rata)

· 11% employer pension contribution

· Access to a staff Health Plan and Employee Assistance Programme

· Hybrid working options.

· CPD opportunities.

· The opportunity to wake up each morning and feel you are making a positive difference.

Salary

£60,000 - £65,000 p.a. pro rata (£36,000 - £39,000 for three days per week).

Hours

Three days per week (21 hours), with flexibility to spread hours across the full working week if preferred.

Location

Lovely office at 73 St Charles Square, London. W10 6EJ (private off-street parking is available for staff), with hybrid working options.

How to apply

A full job description is attached. Please apply using the 'Apply Now' button and include your CV and cover letter.  Please ensure your cover letter is concise (max. two sides of A4) and clearly set out why your skills and experience make you suitable for this role and what motivated you to apply. 

CLOSING DATE: Monday 6th July 2026, 9am
INTEVIEW DATE: Week commencing 13th July 2026

Please be aware that due to the high volume of applications, feedback will not be provided for candidates who are not shortlisted.

Further information

CCS is an inclusive employer and we aim to have a workforce that reflects the rich diversity of the communities we service. There is no requirement for our staff to be Catholic and we encourage applications from candidates from diverse backgrounds. We are committed to safer recruitment and maintaining a strong and positive safeguarding culture.  This post will be subject to an enhanced DBS check.  References from current/past employers will also be sought once an offer has been made.

Charity No. 210920

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Location: London, UK (Hybrid – 50% office attendance)

Summary Purpose - what you will be achieving:

The Policy Directorate brings together the Academy’s policy, analysis and external affairs functions to address major science and health policy issues in the UK and internationally. The Directorate works as a single, coordinated team, focusing resources on priority areas, applying strategic approaches, generating high-quality evidence and insights, and engaging effectively with government, stakeholders and partners to inform decision-making and influence policy.

You will lead and integrate the Academy’s external affairs function—spanning policy influence, parliamentary and government engagement, and sector engagement through FORUM—to strengthen our reach, visibility and impact.

By drawing on the Academy’s Fellowship, networks and reputation, you will ensure coherence across all external-facing policy activities and play a senior leadership role in delivering the Academy’s transformation priorities. You will position the Academy as an authoritative voice on medical science and health, and ensure that our external engagement is strategic, aligns with the wider organisation’s approach to stakeholder management, and strengthens our influence.

About the Role

Strategic leadership across external affairs

• Lead and integrate policy engagement and relationships to deliver a coherent external affairs strategy.
• Ensure alignment between external affairs activities related to policy and wider Academy strategic priorities (through COO).
• Provide strategic advice on public affairs opportunities, political risk, reputational management and external positioning.

Team leadership, governance and performance

• Lead a unified external affairs team, embedding KPI-driven planning, performance management and evaluation.
• Build capability, progression pathways and consistent project management approaches within the team.
• Manage political risk on behalf of the Academy, ensuring effective governance, narrative discipline and coherent external messaging.
• Ensure cross-Academy planning and alignment between external affairs, policy development, policy analysis, communications and engagement functions.

Strategic programme and portfolio leadership

• Oversee priority influencing programmes, ensuring coherence, sequencing and impactful delivery.
• Provide external-facing leadership for high-profile programmes.
• Support cross-sector initiatives and commissions by providing strategic political insight and external influence.

Political, parliamentary and institutional influence

• Lead the Academy’s UK parliamentary and government engagement strategy, including select committee interactions, parliamentary briefings and relationship building with MPs, Peers and parliamentary staff.
• Position the Academy as an authoritative voice on medical science, policy priorities and the wider health system.
• Build and sustain high-level influencing relationships across parliament and political parties, national bodies, arm’s-length agencies, health systems and sector leaders.

FORUM and commercial

• Oversee and evolve the Academy’s FORUM to align with policy priorities and maximise its impact as a neutral, cross-sector convening space exploring scientific innovation, technological trends and strategic priorities shaping UK healthcare.
• Lead the transformation of FORUM into a leading UK convenor, including membership growth, securing contributions from organisations, and delivering at least six high-quality convenings per year.
• Contribute to income-generating initiatives within approved budgets and ensure external-facing activities support organisational sustainability.

Leadership within the organisation

• As a member of the Academy Leadership Team (Heads and Directors), contribute to organisational strategy, cultural development and the transformation programme.
• Provide senior leadership on organisational measurement, impact reporting and securing external funding.

Financial and governance responsibilities

• Oversee budgets associated with external affairs and related programmes.
• Ensure compliance with governance processes, financial controls and risk management.

Requirements

• Strong track record in public affairs, political strategy or policy influencing, with demonstrable success securing policy adoption and measurable outcomes.
• Experience leading communications, media or public-facing activity in a complex environment.
• Understanding of the UK science, research and public health landscape, including inequalities, national strategies and institutional dynamics.
• Proven experience managing teams, building capability and integrating multidisciplinary functions.

Benefits

We provide our staff with a comprehensive benefits package outlined as follows:

Competitive rewards

• Generous pension scheme with flexible contributions – we contribute between 8% - 13% of your gross salary (with employee contributions of 3% - 8%).
• Life assurance at three times your salary.

Work-life Balance

• Hybrid and agile working. 50% office attendance.
• 26 days annual leave, plus Christmas closure days and bank holidays.
• Buying and selling leave.
• Family-friendly policies including enhanced maternity and paternity leave (subject to a qualifying period).

Wellbeing and Development

• Complimentary subscriptions to Headspace and Classpass to support your physical and mental wellbeing.
• Support through tailored learning and development.

Additional Benefits

• A range of enhanced benefits become available once you’ve completed your probation period.

For more information and to apply, please visit our careers portal.

Closing date: 9:00am on Monday 22 June 2026.

Interviews will likely be held w/c 6 July 2026.

Director of Finance

c.£85k pa | Derby, hybrid

Campbell Tickell are proud to be recruiting to the role of Director of Finance at YMCA Derbyshire.

Founded in 1847, YMCA Derbyshire is a charity that supports children, young people and communities across Derby and Derbyshire through a wide range of integrated services. We provide housing and supported accommodation for around 270 people each night, alongside pathways that help individuals move toward independent living.

Our work spans lifelong learning provision including our vocational college, employability programmes, school-based childcare, early years provision,

youth and community programmes, health and wellbeing activities, and vital services through our poverty relief programmes. We are a strong, stable and well-led organisation with a clear sense of purpose, and an equally clear belief that we can do so much more for the young people and communities we serve. We’re now looking for a new Director of Finance who can help us continue to unlock that potential.

We have grown considerably in size as an organisation in the last five years and we retain a clear focus on continuing that momentum to expand our provision and invest to strengthen our long-term financial sustainability. We are seeking a

senior finance leader who can support sustainable progress while balancing risk and resource constraints as we build more resilient financial foundations. The Director of Finance will play a critical leadership role in helping us address these challenges and seize emerging opportunities.

This is not a routine finance leadership role. We are looking for someone who can bring fresh thinking, someone who is not only technically strong, but also creative, forward-looking, and who brings an entrepreneurial flair to help us identify and seize opportunities as we grow the organisation. Above all, we are

looking for a leader with emotional intelligence, strong judgement, and the ability to build trusted relationships across a complex organisation. You will bring experience in one or more of the housing, charity, or education

sectors and while we expect you will already be operating at Finance Director level, we remain open to exceptional candidates who can demonstrate the capability to step into this level of responsibility.

This is a significant leadership opportunity with considerable

scope to have a big impact at an organisation with strong foundations, committed colleagues, an excellent reputation and strong networks in Derby and Derbyshire. If you’re energised by possibility, motivated by purpose, and ready to help us take bold steps forward, we’d love to hear from you. Join us, and help lead the next chapter of YMCA Derbyshire’s story.

Closes: Monday, 6th June 2026| 9am

This role is open to candidates based in the UK or Belgium.

UK

• Location: London-based or remote in the UK, as long as travel to the office in London for two consecutive days per month is feasible.
• Role: Permanent, full time or part time  
• Salary: £70,000 per annum plus 10% employer-contributed pension; 4 day full-time week (Monday-Thursday)

Belgium

• Location: Brussels-based or elsewhere in Belgium as long as regular travel to Brussels is feasible, with travel bimonthly to London
• Role: Permanent, full time or part time
• Salary: €6,106.32 per month plus 8% employer-contributed pension; 4 day full-time work week (Monday – Thursday)

About us

Established in 2021, Opportunity Green is a fast-growing not-for-profit organisation that helps to identify and unlock opportunities to tackle climate change. We build ambitious coalitions, support climate vulnerable countries in international negotiations and find innovative legal pathways to fight climate change.

What’s the role?

The Development Director will work closely with the CEO and the Chief Strategy and Impact Officer (CSIO) on all of Opportunity Green’s fundraising. We are looking for someone who truly gets what OG is trying to achieve, who can pull strands of our work together and turn it into cohesive cross-cutting proposals that funders want to be part of. You will draft and write compelling concept notes and proposals – not just edit them.

To date, the CEO and CSIO have overseen all of Opportunity Green’s fundraising, with the assistance of a Project Officer. We have been hugely successful in our fundraising to date; testament to the extraordinary talent of our staff and the impact they can make. However, as we continue to rapidly scale as an organisation, now is the right time for a Director to add capacity and further expertise to our fundraising.

This role is essential in Opportunity Green’s expanding team and organisation. You will work closely with OG colleagues across the organisation to understand their work, assist the CEO and wider team in managing our current donors and develop ambitious, strategic and innovative funding partnerships with trusts and foundations. You will have a specific focus on grants at the £1m+ level and increasing the number of unrestricted grants. It is important to note that we believe the following will not be a large part of the role in the short to medium term:

1. Searching new prospects – while in time this could become part of the role, we have multiple prospects that we are not currently pursuing due solely to capacity constraints.

2. Institutional or corporate fundraising – while this is a large source of potential funding, we are not currently pursuing it, or looking to secure any institutional or corporate funding from the UK / EU etc.

3. Individual giving – while there is an overlap between High Net Worth Individuals (HNWI) and philanthropic trusts & foundations, developing a HNWI giving programme is not, for now, a large part of our strategy.

You’ll be the kind of person who sees connections, chases opportunities, gets out from behind your desk to meet people, and influences internally and externally to achieve results. You will be driven, determined, tenacious and focused on solutions. You will not be someone who simply comments on proposals and ensures funder timelines are met, instead you will co-develop the strategies and projects that we will pitch to potential funders.

The Development Director will be our first fulltime fundraising hire, with continued support from the current Project Officer. There is huge potential for the right candidate to grow this role, working directly with the CEO, and a longer-term potential to expand into a fundraising team over time. As the organisation grows (we have grown to 35 people with a turnover of £5m in almost five years, with no sign of slowing down!) it is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in enabling Opportunity Green to achieve our ambitions and have an even greater impact. 

About the candidate

We are looking for a candidate with:

· A passion for using their fundraising skills to tackle climate change.

· Experience of philanthropic, not just institutional/corporate, fundraising in climate / environment / international development sector(s)

· Ability to, over time, understand Opportunity Green so well that they would be almost as comfortable in OG’s project teams as leading on OG’s fundraising.

Desirable skills and experience:

We do not expect any candidate to have all skills listed below but rather we look for transferable skills and potential as well as past experience. We are looking for someone who has:

· Excellent strategic relationship-building skills and proven ability to manage philanthropic donor income streams.

· Experience maximising opportunities and income with current and prospective donors by focusing on strengthening relationships and implementing creative engagement plans.

· Developed and secured new sources of income from trusts and foundations, with a strong focus on funders with a potential to give £1m+ annually.

· Executed a fundraising strategy and develop a strong pipeline, managing a portfolio of current donors at the same time.

· Experience of managing the complexities of restricted income projects.

· Ability to understand diverse donor motivations and deliver a bespoke relationship to meet these. Demonstrable skill in adapting written and verbal communications for a philanthropy audience.

· Engaging presentation and writing skills for tailored presentations, proposals and grant reports for donors.

· Confidence in working with senior stakeholders internally and externally, using tact and diplomacy.

· Organised and methodical approach to plan and deliver against a varied workload, managing competing priorities under your own initiative and to strict deadlines.

· Be financially savvy and able to work with the finance team to ensure new proposals support a full-cost recovery approach.

Diversity and inclusion

Diversity and inclusion are important principles at Opportunity Green. We believe that diversity and inclusion make teams stronger and more effective. We are committed to fair and equitable employment practices, and we are striving to ensure that a variety of voices and experiences are included in our organisation. Our commitment to diversity and our parental leave policy are available to view on our website, here.

We will consider all applicants who meet most or all of the essential competencies regardless of their identity or background. That said, we know that diverse candidates may be reluctant to apply for jobs where they don’t meet 100% of the criteria outlined in the job description. We encourage anyone to apply who can demonstrate the variety of skills and experiences relevant to meeting the requirements of this role.

We recognise that many diverse experiences and perspectives are not represented in our current workforce, and are seriously underrepresented across the non-profit sector in general, and as such, we particularly welcome applications from people with disabilities, non-white people, people from marginalised backgrounds, and members of the LGBTQIA+ communities.

We also value flexible working and are open to those who would want to work part-time in this role. This could include for example, a 3-day week or working school hours over 4-day week.

To learn more about our application process and receive advice on how to prepare in such a way as to showcase your full potential, please find our Application Guide here.

What we offer - UK

The successful candidate will be offered an annual salary of £70,000 plus 10% employer-contributed pension. Please note that Opportunity Green has fixed salary scales, with the possibility of step increases with strong performance. When hiring we always hire at the bottom of a band and do not enter negotiations with new employees as negotiations have been historically shown to disadvantage women and minorities.

We take our team’s well-being and professional development seriously. In addition to a competitive salary, we offer:

· A commitment to work/life balance, with a 4-day work week at 28 hours.

· A generous holiday entitlement of 20 days’ holiday per year, plus bank holidays and office closure between Christmas and New Year’s that does not count towards your holiday entitlement (and expectation that you fully disconnect when taking time off).

· A market-leading pension of 10%.

· A progressive family leave policy, including 26 weeks’ paid leave for the new parent, as well as other support.

· Lots of flexibility within a hybrid working arrangement, with regular opportunities to come together as a team.

· Support for your professional development as part of Opportunity Green, with a budget to support your learning & development plus opportunities to lead projects, publish content, learn from experts, work directly with policymakers and stakeholders, and take part in conferences and events.

However, it is important to note that while this role is permanent, employment is always reliant on Opportunity Green continuing to receive philanthropic support from our funders, which we expect every member of the team to play their part in working towards.

What we offer - Belgium

The successful candidate will be offered a monthly salary of €6,106.32 plus 8% employer-contributed pension. Please note that Opportunity Green has fixed salary scales, with the possibility of step increases with strong performance. When hiring we always hire at the bottom of a band and do not enter negotiations with new employees as negotiations have been historically shown to disadvantage women and minorities.

We take our team’s well-being and professional development seriously. In addition to a competitive salary, we offer:

· A commitment to work/life balance, with a 4-day work week at 28 hours.

· A generous holiday entitlement of 20 days’ holiday per year, made up of 16 legal annual leave days and 4 extra-legal holiday days, plus Belgian bank holidays. Additional office closure between Christmas and New Year’s that does not count towards your holiday entitlement (and expectation that you fully disconnect when taking time off).

· A market-leading pension of 8%.

· A progressive family leave policy, including 26 weeks’ paid leave for the new parent, as well as other support.

· Lots of flexibility within a hybrid working arrangement, with regular opportunities to come together as a team.

· Support for your professional development as part of Opportunity Green, with a budget to support your learning & development plus opportunities to lead projects, publish content, learn from experts, work directly with policymakers and stakeholders, and take part in conferences and events.

However, it is important to note that while this role is permanent, employment is always reliant on Opportunity Green continuing to receive philanthropic support from our funders, which we expect every member of the team to play their part in working towards.

How to apply

To minimise the risk of unconscious bias, we ask that applicants remove certain identifying elements from their CVs. If you do not remove these details, we reserve the right to withdraw your application from review.

· Photos

· Name – if needed, please use ‘Applicant’

· Age

· Email and/or phone number

We also reserve the right to withdraw your application from review if you use AI tools such as Chat GPT to complete the sift questions / write your CV.

Unfortunately, if you do not already hold the right to work in the UK or Belgium, Opportunity Green will not be able to consider your application at this time.

The closing date for applications is 29 June 2026 at 9am GMT.  

We actively encourage applicants to reach out if there are any reasonable adjustments we can make to help them demonstrate their full potential in the hiring process. 

Please get in touch and we can discuss how to best make the recruitment process as accessible and comfortable for you as possible.

You can read our application guide here.

What happens next?

We will review applications after closing date. Over the last few months, we have been receiving between 100-400 applications per role. Our small team cannot manage such high volumes without impacting the delivery of our work. If we receive a large volume of applications for this role, we reserve the right to part-review your application. This would include reviewing CVs first, looking for match with essential job requirements as stated above. Only pre-shortlisted candidates will have their full application reviewed.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an online interview to discuss their experience and suitability for the role. After this, candidates that are most suitable for the vacancy will be invited for an in-person interview in our London office, for which there may also be a short task. Travel will be reimbursed for non-London-based applicants (within the UK) and for Belgium-based candidates.

Online interviews are likely to take place w/c 13th July. In person interviews will likely be shortly after this (w/c 20th July).

We reserve the right to ask for references during the recruitment process.

If you have any questions, or you need any reasonable adjustments at the application stage, please contact us.

Be Our First Hire. Build the Infrastructure that Saves Lives.

About Us
We are a newly registered, fully-funded UK health charity embarking on a variety of health-related Missions.  Having secured Charity Commission approval and robust initial funding, we are now ready to step out of the planning phase.

Duet Health Foundation is starting with significant funding and access to external resources to support our initial campaigns which will include;

- Addressing significant safety issues related to certain commonly used medicines, gathering data on adverse events and deaths in order to campaign for ways to mitigate this.

- Raising awareness of rare diseases which are being missed. These can significantly affect sufferers’ lives, and while they may be relatively easy to diagnose and treat, are often simply not recognised by primary healthcare providers.

We are seeking our first employee—a visionary Director of Operations—to build our operational infrastructure from the ground up and turn our strategic vision into a highly impactful reality.

The Role

As our first hire, you will be a key part of the operational architecture of the charity. Working closely with the Founders, you will help transition the organisation from a newly approved legal entity into a fully functional, compliant, and active campaigning force. This is not a role for someone who just wants to manage existing systems; it is for a builder who also wants to create them.

The Director of Operations is a pivotal senior leadership role within the organisation, responsible for creating the operational backbone of the organisation. This role ensures that the organisation’s systems, people, suppliers and processes operate smoothly, safely and compliantly, enabling high-quality delivery. The Director of Operations will provide strong day-to-day operational leadership and discipline, freeing the Founders to focus on strategy, partnerships and organisational growth. The postholder will be highly organised, practical and accountable, with a strong focus on implementation and follow‑through.

To apply for this role, you will need to have significant operational management experience in a charity or similar environment. You will have demonstrable experience of managing complex operational systems and will have proven experience of workforce planning, operational delivery and implementing organisational change. You will have experience of managing suppliers, contracts and procurement processes and will have a strong understanding of operational compliance, risk management and audit readiness. Overall, you will be practical, organised and solutions-focused, with the confidence to work across teams and with trustees, suppliers and external partners.

Key Responsibilities

• Operational Blueprinting: Design, implement, and oversee all required documentation and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), financial controls, and risk management systems.
• Governance & Compliance: Ensure total alignment with Charity Commission regulations, particularly the CC9 guidelines regarding political and health campaigning.
• Information Governance: Establish secure data sharing, privacy frameworks, and GDPR structures for future collection of sensitive patient and clinical data.
• Strategic Scaling: Manage third-party vendors (legal, IT, Associate contractors etc) and eventually support building the infrastructure for future recruitment.

About You

• Experienced: You have at least 5 years’ experience of operational management within the UK charity sector of the NHS, the pharmaceutical industry, or healthcare regulation (e.g., MHRA, NICE).
• A "Builder": You thrive on both teamwork and autonomy. You have a proven track record of setting up systems, policies, and teams from scratch.
• Governance Savvy: You have a solid understanding of UK charity law, compliance, and financial frameworks.
• Locally Based: You live within 25 miles of Camberley, Surrey, allowing for regular, in-person collaboration with the Founders.

Why Join Us?

This is a rare opportunity to shape a charity's DNA from day one. You will have substantial autonomy, and the opportunity to play a key part in building an organisation that will directly improve patient safety and rare disease outcomes across the UK.

The Founders of the charity are a married couple who have both spent their working lives in healthcare and health research, particularly focussing on  developing treatments for often-neglected patient groups.

Strategic IT  Lead- Shape Technology Strategy, Innovation and Digital Future 

Location:

​

Hybrid (2 days in Office) Leatherhead, Surrey 

Salary:

£Competitive per annum plus benefits 

Hours:

​

Part time, 22.5 hours 

Contract:

Permanent 

​

​

A New Opportunity to Shape SeeAbility's Digital Future

SeeAbility is looking for an exceptional Strategic IT Lead to shape our digital, technology, and data strategy at a pivotal time in our growth. This is a senior leadership role with real influence and visibility. Reporting to the Finance Director, you will help define how technology drives our mission and improves outcomes for the people we support.
Do you want to use technology to make a real difference in people’s lives?

Leading Strategy, Innovation and Digital Transformation 

You will lead SeeAbility’s organisation‑wide approach to digital, data, and technology. Your work will ensure our systems and tools are modern, secure, and ready for the future.

You will be responsible for:

• Leading the development of our IT and digital strategy
• Overseeing major system changes and digital upgrades
• Driving the adoption of AI and intelligent tools
• Strengthening data governance and data quality
• Enhancing digital services across the organisation
• Building a secure, resilient, future‑ready technology environment

You will partner closely with:

• The Strategic IT team, who you will lead and develop
• The Head of Technical IT, ensuring alignment across all technology functions
• Colleagues across operations, finance, and service delivery
• The Senior Leadership Team, advising on risk, transformation, and long‑term digital priorities

Are you confident influencing senior leaders and shaping strategy at the highest level?

A Role for Visionary, People-Focused Leader

You are a forward‑thinking technology leader who brings clarity, energy, and strategic insight. You combine technical understanding with strong people and communication skills.

You bring experience in:

• Leading organisation‑wide digital and IT strategies
• Managing data, infrastructure, and major technology platforms
• Modernising systems and improving digital capability
• Delivering secure environments and mitigating technology risk
• Driving digital transformation in medium‑to‑large organisations
• Working in charity, social care, or not‑for‑profit settings (desirable)

You excel at:

• Translating complex technical topics into clear business decisions
• Building strong relationships across teams and departments
• Leading high‑performing, collaborative teams
• Balancing long‑term vision with operational realities
• Making decisions with good judgement and strategic awareness

Do you thrive in environments where technology has the power to create social impact?

What You Will Bring:

We’re looking for someone who is:

• Strategic, adaptable, and future‑focused
• Confident at senior levels, with strong influencing skills
• Motivated by purpose‑driven work
• Skilled at both strategy and hands‑on problem‑solving
• Committed to creating modern, user‑centred digital experiences
• Passionate about using technology to empower people and communities

Are you ready to lead meaningful change and shape a more digital, connected SeeAbility?

Why This Role Matters

This is a rare opportunity to lead an ambitious digital journey with:

• Real autonomy
• Senior visibility
• Strategic influence
• A strong mandate for change
• The chance to create lasting impact for people and communities

If you want to lead our digital future — and help build a modern, resilient, user‑centred technology environment — we would love to hear from you.

Why Join Us as a Stategic IT Lead?

We don’t just offer jobs — we build careers and celebrate people.

Your Development & Appreciation

• Annual Excellence Awards – we celebrate your impact
• Long Service Awards – recognition every 5 years
• Development Discussions – your growth matters
• Leadership Development Academy – take your next step

Your Work-Life Balance

• 33 days holiday (pro-rata) (incl. bank holidays), rising to 41 days with long service
• Life events leave – time off when it matters most
• Organisational Sick Pay – 2 weeks after 6 months, up to 12 weeks over 3 years
• Buy or sell annual leave
• Enhanced Family-Friendly Pay + Paid Fertility Leave
• Carers Leave

Your Money Goes Further

• £500 monthly bonus draw – two lucky winners every month
• Blue Light Card + retail discounts & cashback
• Access to Tickets for Good
• Pay reviews + competitive rates
• Pension scheme with tools to plan your future
• Paid DBS & renewals
• Season ticket loans
• Advance Pay & Savings via Stream

Your Wellbeing Counts

• Cycle to Work scheme
• Life assurance – 2x annual salary
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme
• Free eye tests
• Discounted gym membership
• In-house Wellbeing Coach

Safeguarding and Promoting Welfare

SeeAbility is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the people we support. We expect all staff to uphold this commitment and have a strong understanding of their roles and responsibilities in safeguarding. 

Safer Recruitment

As part of our safer recruitment procedures, we require the following checks for all successful applicants:

• A criminal background check through the Disclosure and Barring Service (where appropriate).
• Documentary evidence to confirm your identity, current address, and the right to work in the UK.
• Health Declaration to ensure that you are medically suitable for the role you have been offered. 
• References will be obtained to ensure satisfactory evidence of conduct in current or previous employment concerned with the provision of services relating to (a) health or social care, or (b) children or vulnerable adults. 

These checks will be carried out and completed prior offering a date to start employment at SeeAbility’ s expense.

Diversity

SeeAbility is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from individuals of all identities, including those from underrepresented groups and those who have a disability or neurodivergent condition. We are please to confirm that we are a Disability Confident Employer.

We believe a diverse workforce drives innovation, creativity, and success. Everyone’s unique experiences and views are appreciated, and their opinion valued. We are happy to offer any reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process or the role itself to ensure a fair and equitable experience for all candidates.

In exceptional circumstances, the exempt from the Equality Act 2010 (Schedule 9, Part 1) which provides for the application of a genuine occupational requirement.​

Assistant Head of Fundraising (Public Fundraising)

Salary £57,574.79 per annum

LocationLondon/Hybrid

Weekly Hours35

The Vacancy

Job Title: Assistant Head of Fundraising (Public Fundraising)

Location: London/Hybrid

Salary: £57,574.79 per annum

Weekly Hours: 35

Reference: YMC1212513

An exciting moment to join us

YMCA England & Wales is entering one of the most exciting chapters in its fundraising history, launching our ambition to create 10,000 new homes for young people. Working alongside local YMCAs, we will support the development of new accommodation across the federation, helping young people move towards independence.

This role sits at the heart of that ambition.

You will lead the fundraising behind two critical components of the 10,000 Homes programme:
• Securing income from the public to build and sustain a central Centre of Expertise (mobilisation team), supporting local YMCAs to develop and deliver housing projects.
• Raising capital from individual supporters, mid-level donors and major donors to grow a replenishing national fund that provides upfront investment to unlock housing developments across the federation.

At the centre of this is the 10,000 Homes Fund: a bold, housing-focused proposition that offers the public a clear and tangible way to support young people into safe, stable accommodation. You will be responsible for growing this proposition, ensuring it resonates strongly with supporters and inspires giving at all levels.

You will lead an integrated public fundraising approach, bringing together individual giving, mid-level and major donors into one compelling, housing-led narrative. A key part of the role will be translating a complex, federated model into a simple, emotional and compelling case for support that connects with people’s motivations to give.

We’ve established strong early foundations and are now ready to scale. This role offers the opportunity to take a high-potential public fundraising proposition to the next level -expanding its reach, deepening supporter engagement, and unlocking significant new income.

We are looking for someone who is creative, data-driven and passionate about engaging the public to drive meaningful change for young people. We’re looking for someone comfortable working in a federated environment, with the ability to simplify complex ideas into compelling messages for the public.

The role

As Assistant Head of Fundraising (Public Fundraising), you will lead and inspire a team of talented fundraisers, deputising for the Head of Fundraising and taking ownership of our most ambitious programmes:

The 10,000 Homes Fund driving forward our flagship proposition across individual giving, cash appeals and mid-level audiences.

Major Donors shaping the strategy for high-net-worth relationships, new giving circles and development boards.

RoomSponsor, YMCA’s flagship regular giving product, now in its third year of an ambitious growth strategy. You will oversee a unique partnership model across 45 local YMCAs, support the income distribution process, and see first-hand the impact of your work through a programme that directly supports young people with safe accommodation.

Legacies working with the Senior Fundraising Manager and Head of Fundraising to define and grow what is set to become a landmark legacy programme.

This is a hands-on leadership role: you will set direction, manage budgets, develop your team, while also being prepared to step into delivery when it matters most. You will balance strategic oversight with practical execution, ensuring programmes are both ambitious and deliverable.

About you

You are an experienced public fundraising professional with a strong track record in individual giving or direct marketing, alongside a well-developed understanding of major donor fundraising. You know how to bring different disciplines together behind a single proposition and deliver results.

You are an effective and confident leader, able to build, motivate and develop high-performing teams. You create clarity, set high standards, and support others to do their best work, stepping in when needed and leading from the front.

You are at your best when driving a clear proposition forward. You are excited by the opportunity to take a compelling idea and translate it into something that engages the public, inspires generosity and delivers sustainable income.

You are energised by a challenge, comfortable with complexity and working in a federated environment, where success depends on strong relationships and shared ownership. You are skilled at working with partners, whether agencies, internal stakeholders or local YMCAs, and know how to align people around a common goal.

You combine strategic thinking with operational delivery. You are data-driven, using insight and performance to shape your decisions, and confident working with (and occasionally building) financial models to plan, test and scale activity. You bring both creativity and discipline, generating new ideas while ensuring they are grounded, deliverable and effective.

Above all, you are a strong communicator and influencer. You can simplify complex ideas into clear, compelling messages, build confidence with colleagues and stakeholders, and position fundraising as a critical enabler of impact.

Why join us now

YMCA is the oldest and largest youth charity in the world, serving communities across England and Wales every day. The fundraising team is geared up for success, the strategy is set, the proposition is proven, and the results are already coming in. What we need now is a leader ready to take this momentum to the next level.

YMCA England & Wales is committed to equality and valuing diversity. We welcome applications from all backgrounds.

Our recruitment process is anonymised and candidates' names are hidden. Safer recruitment is important to us and the successful applicant will be asked to provide two references. They will also be required to complete a safeguarding self-declaration, safeguarding training and undertake a DBS check.

We are seeking an exceptional governance leader to join a respected membership organisation with a long-standing commitment to advancing professional excellence and delivering positive societal impact. This is a rare opportunity to influence organisational strategy at the highest level while leading governance, risk, compliance, audit, and regulatory functions across a complex and evolving organisation.

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive and working closely with Trustees, senior leaders, and key committees, you will play a critical role in ensuring the organisation continues to operate with transparency, integrity, and accountability while supporting ambitious plans for the future.

If you are an experienced governance professional who enjoys balancing strategic leadership with practical delivery, this could be your next career-defining opportunity.

About the Role

This is a strategically important leadership position responsible for overseeing governance, compliance, risk management, internal audit, data protection, and organisational assurance.

You will provide expert advice to the Board of Trustees, senior committees, and executive leadership team, ensuring governance frameworks remain effective, proportionate, and aligned with best practice.

Leading a specialist team, you will champion a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and informed decision-making across the organisation. You will also play a key role in supporting organisational change, strengthening risk management capability, and embedding governance excellence throughout the business.

This role offers significant visibility and influence, providing the opportunity to work closely with senior stakeholders and contribute directly to organisational strategy and performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership across governance, risk, compliance, audit, and assurance functions.
• Act as a trusted adviser to Trustees, Board committees, and executive leaders on governance matters.
• Ensure governance structures, constitutional processes, and decision-making frameworks operate effectively and transparently.
• Lead the organisation's approach to risk management, ensuring risks are identified, assessed, monitored, and mitigated appropriately.
• Oversee internal audit programmes and drive implementation of recommendations that strengthen organisational performance.
• Act as the organisational lead for data protection and regulatory compliance.

About You

• You will be an experienced governance, company secretarial, legal, or regulatory professional with a track record of operating at a senior level within a complex organisation.
• You will bring strong strategic thinking alongside the ability to translate governance requirements into practical solutions that support organisational objectives.
• Experience within a membership body, charity, professional association, regulator, public body, or similarly governed organisation would be highly advantageous.

If you are passionate about governance, leadership, and organisational excellence, we would love to hear from you.

Manchester Central Foodbank is a busy Trussell Trust-affiliated food bank, with centres in Central, North, and East Manchester. We were established in Ardwick in 2013 by students at the Manchester Universities’ Catholic Chaplaincy, making us the first student-led food bank in the country. Since then we have grown significantly, expanding our weekly sessions into Harpurhey and Openshaw.

Our core aims are to deliver the best quality support that we can to the largest number of our neighbours in need, while working with partners and influencing and organising at a neighbourhood and citywide level to reduce and end the need for food banks in Manchester.

We currently support 16,000 people per year with nutritionally balanced 3-day food parcels. This is double the number of people we supported in the first year following the Covid-19 pandemic, and four times the number supported in 2019. We also provide financial inclusion support with advice workers in public sessions, access to energy vouchers, SIM cards, and other voucher or material support. We coordinate across a network of 200 active front-line referral agencies with the aim of ensuring everyone who accesses our service has appropriate, specialised, and ongoing support alongside the material provision that we provide.

We are active leaders in anti-poverty organising and community development, as convenors of the citywide Building an Anti-Poverty Community collective and aim to be key shapers and influencers of new strategies and policies, working closely to support and influence local government, NHS, education and research agendas in Manchester and more widely building upon our track record of successful anti-poverty partnership work, social value impact and Parliamentary influencing. Our core values are: care, partnership, dignity, partnership, anti-stigma and rights-based.

Key responsibilities
As Chief Executive Officer you will be the key senior staff leader for the charity. You will lead the team to ensure they have the resources, frameworks, and support to effect smooth day-to-day running of our frontline support service. You will provide a strong business management focus, through supporting the financial process, overall metrics and reporting, day to day HR and input for the external Payroll Team, Health and Safety, appropriate working conditions, and strategic planning and communications. 

As the senior lead you will also facilitate and support the Board of Trustees to develop and lead strategic development objectives and plans for transformation, and ensure the delivery and implementation of the charity’s overall strategy and specific focused strategies. You will develop and manage strategic relationships with stakeholders including Council, NHS, and other statutory partners and funders, corporate and social value funders and partners, and high-value and donors. You will also plan and lead fundraising strategies. 

You will be a key external interface for our community and partners.  You will do this by:

Staff/Board Leadership and Governance:

• Line managing a current team of operations staff, including those supporting the recruitment, training, and management of a large team of volunteers. 

• Building team spirit and employee engagement and offer.

• Leading and delivering regular staff performance and development reviews.

• Developing and delivering robust metrics and reporting to the board and staff team, through consistent monthly and quarterly reporting packs to the board of trustees.

• Ensuring all staff and volunteers are familiar and engaged with the charity’s long-term goals and objectives, and know how their work helps to implement these on the ground. Leading the development of induction packages and ongoing offers for staff and volunteers. You will be responsible for writing, implementation, and update of institutional policies as needed to staff and volunteers.

• Leading targeted volunteer recruitment strategies to maximise core delivery capacity through volunteer roles and prioritise staffing capacity to core charity operations.

• Ensure policies are kept current.

• Ensure recording and management of absence/leave.

• Ensure Health and Safety aspects of all organisational operations are compliant, in collaboration with the Board sponsor.

• Manage day to day financial input, through the Xero app, and ensure accurate and up-to-date financial reporting for the Board/Treasurer. This includes administering monthly payroll requests.

• Oversee training and personal development plans for staff and volunteers, as appropriate.

• Working with the Chair of Trustees to implement the charity’s strategic plan and structural development objectives.

• Develop and implement ongoing plans and actions to ensure operationally-appropriate and safe office, warehouse, and working spaces.

• Lead on development, modelling, and maintenance of service delivery standards, quality control, and ensuring frontline teams have the appropriate resources, support, and frameworks to deliver high quality and consistent support offers.

Foodbank Management:

• Support the Operations and Project Lead to deliver the smooth running of food bank sessions across multiple centres, ensuring an excellent standard of service across all centres, and seeking to continually develop our service in line with our goals to support the largest number of people with the best support we can while working to reduce and end the need for food banks in Manchester.

• Develop and build a new Delivery Strategy with the Chair of Trustees and Operations and Project Lead.

• Support the Operations and Project Lead and Warehouse and Logistics Coordinator to safely store and maintain optimal stock levels, maximise food donation levels and reduce food spend, develop and maintain relationships with community donors, and record incoming and outgoing stock, with the aim of ensuring that all centres are well stocked to provide as many varied, balanced, and nutritious and culturally-appropriate food parcels as necessary.

• Ensure compliance with the procedures set out in Manchester Central Foodbank’s policies, the Trussell Trust’s Operating Manual, and relevant statutory requirements at all times.

• Ensure our food bank centres provide a safe and dignified environment for clients, free from discrimination, judgement, and stigma.

Strategy and External Relationships:

• Working with the Chair of Trustees on development, monitoring, and implementation of the core charity strategy and sub-strategies. Ensuring the involvement and participation of the food bank’s staff, volunteers, external partners, and service users in all strategic planning and decision making, where appropriate.

• Support the Operations and Project Lead to work build strong relationships with referral partners and wider community and statutory networks of collaborators and support to ensure that our service users are able to access the maximum amount of support before, during, and after accessing our service to minimise the length and severity of financial crisis, maximise their incomes, and provide pathways to ongoing and longer-term support.

• Play an active role in strategic and convening spaces around our city and neighbourhoods to present the foodbank’s approach, bring more partners into our network, and influence policy and funding frameworks.

• Develop and manage a Corporate Relationships and Social Value strategy, including communications, networking, and relationship management.

• Lead on directing the charity’s external communications, including social media, in person, newsletters, company visits, and other content.

• Manage internal communications, including developing and delivering two-way team briefings with the board and staff/volunteers, biannual town halls or away days with board members and staff/volunteers, newsletters, and an open and collaborative, person-focused, and developmental culture within the organisation.

About you

Essential Experience and Knowledge:

• 5 years’ experience of leading a similar profiled charity or organisation and successful Board interaction.

• Experience of leading successful transformation and change for a charity and a strong developmental mindset and focus.

• Have led a team of 5 or more staff members to successful performance, demonstrating experience of coaching and individual development skills.

• Experience in developing and leading successful and engaged volunteering programmes and support.

• Full valid driving licence. 

• Proven experience of leading the development and delivery of strategy and sub-strategies to successful conclusion and fashioning evidenced business cases for current and new development projects.

• Leading multiple complex projects or services, balancing the needs and interests of a range of stakeholders.

• Experience of implementing rigorous reporting and evaluation practices on operations.

• Experience of managing day-to-day financial administration and reporting.

• Evidence of delivering clear metric dashboards and reports.

• Experience of high-quality implementation of Health and Safety and Safeguarding policies and a leadership practice that centres care for staff, volunteers, and service users. Safeguarding lead qualification is desirable but will provide training if not.

• Demonstrable knowledge and experience in HR processes and management.

• Experience in building and delivering strategic plans.

• Proven experience of effective problem solving and responding to crisis situations.

• A good working knowledge of the social welfare and political landscape in Manchester – or demonstrable experience in similar expertise and networking and an openness to learn and develop sector-specific knowledge.

• A nuanced and sensitive understanding of the complex reasons people attend food banks.

Desirable Experience and Knowledge:

• Partnering with and building relationships with Council, NHS, and other statutory partners and funders, corporate and social value partners and funders, high net worth donors, and fundraising through grant applications and individual/community donors.

• Experience of working collaboratively with stakeholders from a variety of backgrounds, cultures, faiths, and views. 

• Experience of handling safeguarding incidents, follow-ups, and debriefs with staff, volunteers, and service users.

• Demonstrated success in delivering communications strategies for internal and external stakeholders, including social media and press content and campaigns.

Personal Skills and Attributes:

• An individual who embodies the values of Manchester Central Foodbank in their core professional practice and personal approach to their work.

• An empathetic and care-centred approach and the ability to centre the experience and outcomes of people from marginalised or socially-excluded backgrounds in core decision-making and prioritisation.

• A leader who takes ownership, accountability, and responsibility to drive an organisation and team forward with a developmental mindset.

• A highly self-motivated and proactive person who centres collaboration and consensus with the staff team, volunteers and Board of Trustees in their approach.

• Able to develop strategy and plans and translate strategy to actionable delivery and developmental projects.

• A high level of literacy and communication.

• A high level of numeracy and ability to analyse data.

• Strong leadership attributes to build engagement and performance with the team.

• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to motivate, persuade, and coach staff and volunteers.

• Excellent personal organisation skills and the ability to manage multiple conflicting priorities and deadlines.

We are seeking an outstanding Chief Executive Officer to guide First Step into its next chapter, following the announcement of the planned retirement of our current CEO after 11 years of dedicated service.

You join us at an exciting and transformative time. We are actively driving the organisation forward, focusing on long-term sustainability while ensuring we never lose sight of the families who rely on us.  We are looking for a CEO who shares our values, inspires others and can lead with vision, compassion and determination.

This is a hands-on, outward-facing role, leading from the front, championing First Step’s profile within the community and igniting the interest of existing and potential supporters and donors. You will need to:

• Inspire, energise and direct the First Step team of staff and volunteers, to consistently deliver outstanding support for families of children with special needs and or disabilities
• Foster a positive and proactive culture that embodies excellence and compassion at every level
• Shape and communicate a strong strategy and vision, ensuring that every aspect of our work aligns seamlessly with First Step’s objectives and values
• Actively seek out and embrace new possibilities to expand and enhance services, driving innovation to ensure the organisation continues to make a meaningful difference to the community

As we follow the recruitment requirements of Keeping Children Safe in Education we do require a fully completed application with a full education and working history with any gaps explained.  A supplimentary CV can also be provided for additional information, but not in place of a fully completed Application Form.

At First Step, safeguarding children and vulnerable adults is at the core of everything we do. Working closely with children, parents, staff, volunteers, and the wider community, we are dedicated to creating a safe and nurturing environment where everyone can thrive. Our team is vigilant and proactive to identify and address any concerns, and to follow our robust procedures whenever there is a belief that a child or vulnerable adult may be at risk of harm.

We are equally passionate about championing equality and diversity in our employment practices and the services we provide. First Step embraces inclusion, celebrating the unique perspectives and talents that each individual brings to our organisation. We actively encourage people from all backgrounds – regardless of race, gender, disability, age, marital status, sexuality, religion, background, or personality – to play a key role in building vibrant, sustainable communities. Our commitment is rooted in recognising and valuing the strengths diversity brings to our team and our wider community.

Please note: You will be required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check in line with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, ensuring we maintain the highest standards of safety and trust.