Trusts and foundations manager jobs

About Mesothelioma UK

Mesothelioma UK is a national charity dedicated to supporting anyone affected by mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer caused primarily by asbestos exposure. Our mission is to help people live better and longer, champion equitable access to improved treatments, advance research, and amplify the voices of those living with mesothelioma. We are proud to provide specialist nursing, information, research, and advocacy services across the UK.

The Opportunity

As our founder and current CEO steps down, we are seeking a visionary and values-driven Chief Executive to lead Mesothelioma UK into its next chapter. This is a pivotal moment for the charity, offering the chance to build on our strong foundations and drive forward our ambitious strategy to improve outcomes for all those affected by mesothelioma.

About the Role

Reporting to the Board of Trustees, the Chief Executive will:

• Inspire and lead a high-performing team, including our unique NHS-based nursing network.
• Develop and deliver organisational strategy and operational plans.
• Ensure robust financial management and income generation.
• Build strong relationships with stakeholders including the NHS, donors, partners, and research teams.
• Act as an ambassador for the charity, raising our national and international profile.
• Uphold our commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

About You

We are looking for an exceptional leader who brings:

• Proven experience at CEO, Director, or equivalent senior level in a non-profit or health sector environment.
• A track record in leadership, strategic planning, financial management, governance and fundraising.
• Strong people management and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Passion for our mission and values, with high ethical standards and integrity.
• The ability to inspire, motivate, and unite staff, volunteers, and partners.

What We Offer

• Salary circa £75,000 (negotiable, dependent on experience)
• 10% employer pension contribution
• Health Cash Plan & Employee Assistance Programme
• Flexible working arrangements
• The chance to make a profound difference to people’s lives

This is an exciting opportunity to join The National Brain Appeal, a highly ambitious neurological charity with an outstanding track record. We have raised significant funds to transform research and care for people living with neurological conditions – from dementia and brain tumours to motor neurone disease and epilepsy.

Building on the success of our recent appeals, this role will play a pivotal part in expanding our major gifts fundraising and delivering a step-change in the impact of our work. We are seeking a highly experienced philanthropy and partnerships professional with a proven track record in generating major gifts up to figures, who will lead the creation of a new Development Board and work closely with senior supporters, clinicians and researchers to grow and deepen our networks.

Head of Donor Stewardship and Legacies

Wiltshire & Swindon Community Foundation

Devizes / Hybrid • £42,000–£46,000 Depending on experience •Full-Time, 37.5 hours per week

Are you passionate about building lasting relationships and seeing generosity make a real difference? Wiltshire & Swindon Community Foundation is looking for an experienced fundraiser to lead and grow our individual giving and legacy programmes.

This role is central to creating a vibrant culture of giving across the region while helping deliver our 2025–2030 strategy. You’ll develop meaningful, long-term relationships with supporters and strengthen our Friends of the Foundation offer, inspiring generosity through thoughtful stewardship and engaging communications.

Wiltshire & Swindon Community Foundation is seeking an experienced and motivated Head of Donor Stewardship and Legacies to lead and grow our relationships with individual donors. This role will be central to developing a culture of philanthropy across Wiltshire and Swindon, contributing directly to the delivery of our 2025–2030 organisational strategy. The postholder will build strong, meaningful relationships with supporters, develop a compelling individual giving programme (including strengthening our Friends of the Foundation offer) and legacy programme This role requires a confident fundraiser with strong stewardship skills, excellent communication, and a deep understanding of the Fundraising Regulator Code of Practice.You will be familiar with developing mailed and emailed communications but also with building relationships both face to face and over the telephone with supporters, specifically with older supporters.

Why join us?

You’ll be part of a small, supportive team who care deeply about what we do. We offer flexible working and a hybrid approach, with our office based in Devizes.

For more information about our current vacancies, and our commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, please visit our website. 

Closing date: 12 noon, Friday 30 January 2026

Please note, the full job description and person specification can be found in the recruitment pack, on the recruitment page on our website, where you can also apply for this role.

If you have experience in individual giving and want to help transform local communities, we’d love to hear from you.

The Senior Funding Operations Officer is a key role in the Finance and Funding Operations team, that provides operational and financial support across the organisation. 

The role is responsible for:
 

• Grant and contract management activities, ensuring all grants and contracts are progressed appropriately and systems are kept up to date 
• Liaising with teams, both inside the organisation and externally, to ensure the smooth running of grant processes 
• Managing complex operational administrative issues 
• Assuming joint responsibility with the rest of the Finance and Operations team for: maintaining the accuracy and integrity of the grants management system; preventing fraud; providing cover for absent colleagues when required; and performing any other tasks as may reasonably be required for the team to operate effectively. 

Key Responsibilities

•  Grants management (for Impact on Urban Health, NHS Charities and Special fund grants) 
• Managing the process of ensuring ongoing grant requirements (such as reports and milestones) are met, including producing monthly reports of outstanding requirements, supporting Funding Operations Officers with requesting conditions/reports and following up on these requests when not received, and liaising with internal grant managers regarding persistent issues. 
• Managing the post-award workflow for grants, including production of grant documentation and working with grant managers to establish payment and reporting schedules and updating grant management systems. 
• Carrying out due diligence checks on grant applicants. · Producing and actioning reports to ensure that grant records are accurate and properly reflect the stage each grant has reached, in particular, ensuring grants are closed appropriately and any outstanding funds are written back to enable further grant funding. 
• Provide assistance to the Funding Operations Officers with queries regarding post-award processes. 
• Support grant managers with the monitoring of complex grants and portfolios, ensuring compliance with terms and conditions. 
• Ensuring clear audit trail of approval of awards and conditions to ensure efficient execution of grant agreements and payment of grant instalments. 
• Reviewing investment papers for Impact on Urban Health projects 
• Processing of all charitable spend ensuring compliance with grant agreements Contract management  
• Carrying out due diligence checks on new contractors. 
• Maintaining appropriate records in relation to service contracts, including adding and updating contract records on internal systems. 
• Processing of all charitable spend ensuring compliance with signed contracts Special purpose fund management 
• Supporting communications with fund holders, including writing and distributing newsletters, and drafting key messages as required. 
• Providing assistance to Funding Operations Officers with complex queries and management of spending commitments and related invoices. 
• Managing queries from Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust Finance staff and fundholders in relation to invoice payments.
• Authorisation of Special Purpose Fund expense claims and invoices in absence of Funding Operations Manager. General 
• Providing cover for the Funding Operations Manager, as appropriate. 
• Deputising for the Funding Operations Manager at Executive Investment Committee meetings to contribute to the Funding Operations perspective on discussions about grant applications, due diligences and awards. 
• Assist with the development of Salesforce, new or improved processes, and new ways of working through user testing and development of guidance. 
• Ensure grants and contract records are accurately maintained. ·
• Creating and maintaining reports to support effective management of grants and contracts
• Provide absence cover for other Funding Operations team members as agreed from time-to-time. 
• Support induction of new colleagues across the Foundation, and development and dissemination of guidance. 
• Liaising with Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust finance staff to ensure all charitable payments for the Trust are made in an accurate and timely way and provide regular updates and reports regarding payments due and invoices received. 
• The post holder will be working in a developing environment and will therefore be expected to undertake other appropriate duties as required for the effective operation of the Foundation. 

Role responsibilities are not exhaustive, and you would be reasonably expected to take on wider tasks that are commensurate with the level of your role. 

Skills, abilities, and attributes: 
 

• Self-starter who is adaptable, works with integrity, and exhibits the Foundation’s enterprising, collaborative, inclusive and delivery-minded cultural and behavioural values.
• Willing to learn and develop new skills, and help to develop the knowledge and skills of peers. 
• Committed to the principle of continuous improvement, with careful attention to detail and due process. 
• Committed to delivering consistent and high-quality customer service to both internal and external stakeholders. 
• Good interpersonal skills and able to effectively liaise with both internal and external communities. 
• Confident in communicating well, both in writing and verbally, and exhibits listening and influencing skills. 
• Problem solving skills, able to use initiative and actively seeks pragmatic solutions.
• Good planning and organisational skills, able to work to multiple prioritised tasks, targets and deadlines, with careful attention to detail. 
• Team player, with an ability to support effective working relationships. 
• A self-sufficient individual, who enjoys the challenge of working with multiple stakeholders and complex systems 

Knowledge, experience, and qualifications: 
 

• Familiarity with grant making and grant management processes. 
• Familiarity with financial concepts around invoicing and grant payments. 
• Able to communicate effectively with others, both verbally and in writing, especially when explaining process. 
• Computer literacy. 
• Experience of grants administration. 
• Experience in financial reconciliations 
• Regular use of database/CRM systems, finance systems and grants management systems.
• Experience using the Microsoft Office suite. Desirable 
• Familiarity with Salesforce or other grant management systems. 
• Some familiarity with health/social care/voluntary sector technical language and organisations. 
• Understanding of contract and supplier management. 
• Experience working within the charity sector. 
• Report development and data analysis skills 

Job description

Hillside Clubhouse is recruiting an IPS Employment Specialist to join our dynamic Islington team, supporting people with mental health conditions to gain and retain employment. The IPS Employment Specialists within the Islington IPS Service work within the nationally recognised IPS (Individual Placement and Support) model within NHS secondary and primary care mental health teams, based in the heart of Islington.

We believe diverse teams create better outcomes for the people we support. While we welcome applications from everyone who meets the criteria, we are particularly keen to hear from Black men, who are currently underrepresented in our team and in the wider mental health and employment support sector. Your perspective and experience can help us shape services that truly reflect the communities we serve.

Who We Are: 

Hillside Clubhouse is a co-produced mental health employment support charity working across Islington. We support people with mental health conditions into training, volunteering, and employment opportunities. People can access our services via our Clubhouse, where they can share their skills and expertise with others and support the running of the charity.  Alternatively, they can receive support out in the community from one of our Employment Specialists based within NHS mental health teams.

The Role: 

We are recruiting for one IPS Employment Specialist role within our Islington IPS Service. This position will be based within the North London NHS Foundation Trust mental health services in the borough of Islington.

As an IPS Employment Specialist, you’ll play an important role in supporting people with lived mental health experience on their recovery journey by supporting them back into paid employment. This is an opportunity to offer ongoing support, to motivate and provide people with hope, while developing the tools and skills required to recover - ultimately transforming their lives.

A variety of skills are needed in this post including but not limited to: a strong ability to develop empathy and rapport with clients; a determined approach to seeking out job opportunities; a person centric-approach to working with people; strong communications skills to motivate clients; strong administrative capabilities and an attention to detail engage with prospective employers via business development and face-to-face meetings, as well as to be able to challenge some perceptions around mental health. 

The postholder will be directly employed by Hillside Clubhouse but work under an Honorary Contract from the North London NHS Foundation Trust.  They will be managed directly by the IPS Operations Manager but work as team member within the clinical team. The role is dynamic and involves being integrated in a clinical team, working within the community, and we operate a flexible working policy where working from home is also permitted up to two days per week.

Overall Aim: 

To enable people with mental health issues to gain and sustain competitive employment by working within the evidence-based Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model.

Duties: 

Please see the Job Description and Person Specification attached for a full description.

Application Instructions:

We are a Disability Confident employer and actively encourage applications from people with lived experience of mental health conditions.

Hillside Clubhouse is committed to building a diverse and inclusive team and strongly encourage applications from those who experience discrimination and / or prejudice based on their race, ethnicity or immigration status, women, new parents, people with disabilities and LGBTQI+ people.

All job offers are dependent on satisfactory references and a DBS check. The successful candidate will also be required to attend mandatory Safeguarding Adults, Children & Young People training.

The recruitment process will be an assessment centre approach, including a task, role play and individual interview. We envision the whole process lasting no more than 90 minutes.

We reserve the right to close this advertisement early if a suitable candidate is identified. Interviews may be scheduled on a rolling basis as applications are received.

Located in the historic town of St Andrews, St Leonards is one of Scotland’s leading independent schools, recently named Scottish Independent Secondary School of the Year for Academic Excellence 2026 by The Sunday Times. It is a vibrant, co-educational boarding and day community with a true international outlook.

Approaching its 150th Anniversary in 2027, the School is preparing to launch the most ambitious fundraising campaign in its history. This is a career-defining opportunity for an exceptional professional to drive this initiative, instilling a culture of philanthropy that will secure the future of St Leonards for generations to come.

Reporting directly to the Head, this post will be targeted with generating £500k+ of revenue and will demand both exceptional relationship building skills and technical fundraising expertise. The successful candidate will have freedom to innovate and make a tangible difference and be able to engage prospective donors and the wider highly supportive Seniors (Alumni) community. You will protect the School’s reputation by conducting thorough due diligence on donors and ensuring full compliance with OSCR regulations.

You will be responsible for the School’s capital and strategic fundraising initiatives supported by the Alumni and Development Officer and will work with the supportive, mission-driven Executive Team and Board of Governors to develop and implement these.

To be successful you will be educated to degree level and have knowledge and experience in previous roles where you have developed a demonstrable track record of devising and implementing multi-year fundraising strategies which have allowed you to personally secure 5 and 6 figure gifts from individuals, trusts or foundations. You will possess the financial and legal expertise to structure complex gifts and bring them to completion.

More information on the responsibilities of the role and the skills, knowledge and experience required of candidates can be found in the Candidate Pack.

St Leonards is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All appointments are subject to a satisfactory PVG check.

Interviews are expected to commence in St Andrews week beginning 26th January 2026

Curatorial Assistant

Permanent, Full-Time

£28,000 - £30,000 per annum

You will participate in an ambitious and inclusive permanent display and exhibitions programme, and will work closely with the Senior Curator, Senior Collections Manager and other colleagues deliver the strategy for care, access and engagement for the Collections. You will contribute to the efficient day-to-day running of the Collections Department, creating a sense of common purpose, with an openness to innovative thinking and awareness of best practice. You will participate in the strategy for Waddesdon and the RF as a whole and the representation of the Collections within it so that learning and skills are valued and the Collections Department is recognized as an exemplar of excellence. You will work with a wide range of other departments and require good people and communication skills.

Key responsibilities include:

• Become familiar with the whole collection and develop interests in particular subject areas. Those that would benefit from particular focus include (but are not limited to) paintings (specifically Dutch 17th century), textiles, photographs, books, prints and drawings, sculpture and contemporary art

• Undertake research and information gathering for projects and reports

• Support the delivery of exhibitions, projects and permanent displays

• Assist with planning of events, activities and visits by groups and individuals to the Department. Act as point of contact for these arrangements and liaise with relevant teams to deliver these activities

• Schedule and support meetings of the Collections Department and assist with the preparation of agendas

• Manage the distribution of incoming enquiries about the collections, passing on to relevant colleagues, taking action as appropriate and drafting some communications as required.  Keep track of progress on enquiries

• Support research and cataloguing campaigns and assist with inputting information onto the Collections Management system including tidying of information such as checking for duplicate records, checking for missing/inaccurate data)

You will be a great fit if:

You have a relevant Undergraduate degree, or equivalent experience and qualifiations, with a desire to expand your skills and working with varied 19th and 20th century collections. You are collaborative, engaged, and motivated, able to work both as a kay part in a small team and independently.

You enjoy variety but can show your attention to detail and dedication in infromation gathering and record keeping.

For the full job description, please see the attached. To apply for the role, please submit your covering letter and CV.

Quartet Community Foundation is seeking a visionary and strategic leader to join our senior team as Director of Development. This new role will drive our ambitious 2026–29 strategy, building partnerships, securing new funding, and growing our endowment to £100 million to support communities across Bristol, Bath & North East Somerset, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire.

Key Responsibilities

· Develop and maintain relationships with high-net-worth individuals and key partners.

· Secure significant new funds and grow Quartet’s endowment.

· Broker strategic partnerships to support disadvantaged communities.

· Lead and motivate a team delivering philanthropy, grant-making, research, and pro bono services.

· Represent Quartet at events and networks to raise our profile.

Essential Criteria

· Proven experience in philanthropy and donor relationship management.

· Track record of securing major gifts or revenue funding.

· Strong strategic thinking and leadership skills.

· Excellent networking and communication abilities.

· Experience in the charitable sector and managing teams.

Salary & Benefits

£55,000–£60,000 per annum, depending on experience. Benefits include 6% employer pension contribution, health benefits scheme, Employee Assistance Programme, Cycle to Work scheme, and generous holiday entitlement.

Location

Based at our central Bristol office with travel across the region. Hybrid working available.

How to Apply

Download the Recruitment Pack and Application Form from our website. 

Join Quartet Community Foundation’s small, supportive finance team to provide additional capacity as our Head of Finance returns from absence. You’ll work closely with the Head of Finance and CEO to deliver accurate, timely financial reporting and help modernize our systems.

Key Responsibilities:

· Produce monthly management accounts and board reports.

· Ensure investment income is integrated into financial updates.

· Support improvements to financial systems and reporting for clarity.

· Collaborate on efficiencies and make data accessible to non-finance stakeholders.

About You:

· Qualified accountant with charity finance experience.

· Skilled in fund accounting, Excel, and financial systems.

· Able to present complex information clearly and meet deadlines.

Benefits:

Pension (6% employer), health benefits, EAP, Cycle to Work, 29 days holiday + public holidays, flexible working.

Family Support Worker

£24,000 pa + Company Car and benefits (including 25 days annual leave, reward scheme and pension)

South West Team - Bristol and surrounding areas

Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity is going through an exciting time where we are growing, with the aim of reaching more families in need.

About the role:

This Best Companies Top 100 mid-sized organisation and Top 20 Charity is looking to appoint a Family Support Worker to deliver a high-quality family support service as part of our South West Care Team.

Reporting to the Family Support Manager of the South West Care Team and working in partnership with health, education and social care professionals, you will take responsibility for providing needs-led emotional, social and practical support to families where a child/young person has a life threatening or terminal illness.

Having worked in a stressful and emotional environment you have a genuine interest in building supportive relationships and helping people; and having provided bereavement support to families, you understand processes of grief, loss and change - and how best to help others deal with its impact.

Location:

This post will cover the South West of England, with this position focusing on Bristol and the surrounding area.

What we’re looking for:

· An experienced child health, education or social care professional - applications will be particularly welcome from those who have worked in a community environment and those with a recognised qualification in education, health or social care.

· A warm, inclusive approach to achieving goals quickly and correctly.

· Practiced in child protection, information sharing and the rules around data protection - you lead by example, drawing on your own professional experience and working within established guidelines.

· Practical and people-oriented - you will thrive working at a fast pace whilst maintaining accuracy and be a confident user of IT (including MSOffice)

· A persuasive and open communicator, you will work collaboratively with your team and volunteers to ensure delivery of a high-quality service and support fundraising colleagues by writing case studies and family updates

· A practical knowledge of diversity issues affecting children, young people, and their families – aware that being responsive to others needs and concerns, is essential.

What we offer:

We have a range of fantastic benefits that we offer our employees, including:

• Flexible working hours to balance home and working life
• Employee Assistance Programme with access to remote GP, counselling, physiotherapy, resources to support your mental health and financial wellbeing, as well as a 24/7 helpline via Help@Hand
• Company car for front line care posts
• 25 days of annual leave plus public holidays – rising to 26 days after 1 year, 27 days after 5 years and 30 days after 11 years, with an additional 5 years to use in your 10th or 20th year of service (pro rata for part time)
• Time off in Lieu
• Access to the Blue Light Card Scheme, and other rewards and discounts
• Bike to work, season ticket loan and payroll giving schemes
• A recommend a friend recruitment bonus scheme
• Family friendly policies, focused on employee wellbeing, and an active cross-organisational wellbeing group running a number of initiatives throughout the year
• Pension scheme where we contribute 5% of your salary and you contribute at least 3%
• The option to buy/sell annual leave, as well as additional leave for your birthday, wedding/civil ceremony and an extra half day off for Christmas shopping
• Robust training and development programmes to support your learning and growth

We also have a fantastic learning and development programme - the Anne Harris skills development programme - in which we aim to provide a high level of training and development opportunities for all staff, so you are able to perform to the best of your ability, achieve individual and team objectives aligned to Rainbow Trusts strategic plan, supporting staff to be the best they can be, and feel a valued member of a high performing organisation.

Our Family Support Workers are given the opportunity to complete a number of diverse training courses in their first 12 months, including but not limited to: Mental Health First Aid, Makaton, counselling skills, and Introduction to Play.

The programme aims to provide a building block for you to individually tailor your own learning and development needs, with all family support workers having a foundation level of skills within their first year.

About us:

Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity enables families who have a child with a life-threatening or terminal illness to make the most of time together, providing expert, practical and emotional support, where they need it for as long as it is needed. For families living with childhood illness, time is everything. Right now, there are too many families coping alone with no support, no time to think, no time to make memories and no time for each other. We believe that no family should go through this alone, so we are here to change that.

How to apply:

To apply please visit our website via the link.Please disclose on your application form if you have used AI for any part of your job application.

Interview dates: Interview Dates to be confirmed.

Interviews will take place at our South West Care Team office with the dates to be confirmed. We will only contact those applicants who have been successful.

There will be a requirement for flexible working and a full current driver’s licence to accommodate the team and family need. An enhanced DBS disclosure will be required for this post.

Rainbow Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all employees to share this commitment.

Rainbow Trust is an equal opportunities employer and a Best Companies One-Star rated organisation. Registered Charity No: 1070532

Job Title: Development Officer

Closing date: 19 January 2026 17.00 GMT

Interviews TBC

Reports to: Programme Manager  

Location: Min 2 days per week based in North London office,

remote working available for max 3 days a week

Pay: £37,000-£40,000 full time, gross per annum

Type of Contract: One-year fixed term contract

Annual Leave Entitlement: 28 days’ annual leave, including UK bank holidays. 

Pension: 3% employer pension contribution on eligible earnings.

About The Role 

The Development Officer is a key role in The Phoenix Way (TPW). It has a lead responsibility for strengthening organisational effectiveness and sustainability, enhancing the skills, knowledge, and resources of Black and racially minoritised voluntary and community-based organisations.

The Development Officers work will work closely with local community leaders and their staff, volunteers, and other stakeholders to assess needs, develop strategic plans, and implement capacity-building activities that promote growth, resilience, and optimal service delivery within the sector.

We are looking for exceptional candidates who can help developing staff capabilities, build strategic partnerships, and implement programmes that increase organisational capacity to achieve their outcomes. Strong communication, organisational, and interpersonal skills are essential for effectively facilitating change and empowering Black and racially minoritised community groups across TPW Greater London partnership.

The Director is the senior leader of Firefly International, responsible for driving the charity’s mission to support war-affected children through the provision of education, mental health and peacebuilding programmes delivered in genuine partnership with our overseas partners. This is a hands-on leadership role within a small, donation-dependent charity, suited to an adaptable all-rounder who is motivated to lead growth and change rather than maintain the status quo. Firefly has a good track record and a good reputation and has both the will and the capacity to do more and do better, for the children it exists to serve.  To do that, it needs to recruit the right Director.

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
Essential:

• Experience in fundraising from individuals, charitable trusts and foundations, and companies: developing successful grant proposals, managing implementation of grants and reporting to funders
• Experience of working in a small charity
• Experience in organisational strategy development and implementation
• Experience of management, working with Trustee boards and of managing partnerships
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including representing an organisation in public

Desirable Skills and Knowledge:

• Experience of international humanitarian relief and development
• Experience of safeguarding policies and practices
• Demonstrated ability in budget setting and in management of budgets and financial reporting
• Capacity to plan and prioritise and to manage multiple, sometimes competing demands efficiently
• Experience of event management
• Experience of using social media to build awareness and engagement and for fundraising
• Experience of developing and managing close working relationships with partners
• Understanding of the contexts in which our partners work, in Bosnia, Palestine/Cairo and in Syria, and of the contexts for fundraising in the UK for these areas
• Awareness and sensitivity to the needs of war-affected children and the concerns of the individuals and organisations who support them
  

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Director’s role is to lead Firefly International in its mission to safeguard, extend and develop the activities conducted by its overseas partners.  Within that over-arching goal, to:

• Provide strategic leadership in collaboration with the Chair of the Trustee Board
• Secure sufficient funding to sustain long-term growth
• Manage existing partnerships in overseas project areas and build new ones, overseas and in the UK, in response to any new opportunities to meet the needs of war-affected children where we have relevant experience to offer.
• Lead and support the staff team and any volunteers
• Represent Firefly International as an ambassador for the organisation, its partners and more broadly for war-affected children

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Leadership & Growth

• Lead Firefly’s strategic direction in Scotland, ensuring alignment with the charity’s mission and values
• Build Firefly’s visibility, credibility, and influence with its key stakeholders.

Income Generation

• Strengthen existing funder relationships and develop new funding opportunities
• Develop a compelling case for support

Stakeholder Engagement

• Represent Firefly at events and within networks relevant to its mission and objectives
• Build our supporter base and opportunities for engagement

Communications

• Ensure production of a high quality Annual Review and newsletters
• Take prime responsibility for the website as an attractive, user-friendly communications tool and mechanism for giving
•  Extend and develop our social media presence, ensuring high quality content.

Financial Management and Compliance

• Work with the Treasurer and Finance and Admin Officer to develop budgets and manage expenditure against them, providing accurate and timely information for the Board.
• Work with the independent examiner to facilitate a smooth process of examination of the annual accounts
• Ensure that Firefly remains fully compliant with all statutory authorities such as OSCR and that statutory reports and accounts are produced and filed to time.

OTHER DETAILS

• Our office is in central Edinburgh.  If you live further afield, you may still apply.  One of our team lives and works from home in south west England.
• The role requires travel within the UK and occasionally to project areas overseas.
• Reports to: Chair of the Board of Trustees
• Manages: staff team of three/four plus ad hoc volunteers
• Contract: Permanent, 35 hours pw.
• 25 days leave plus 8 public holidays
• Time Off In Lieu (TOIL)or extra hours worked
• Pension contribution.
• Open to discussing part time or flexible working arrangements

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.

Full-time 35 hours per week. 2 year's fixed term

For the right candidate we are open to flexible working terms. Hybrid working is available, office based in Gloucester

Salary Band 5 (£30,961 – 33,682) per annum depending on experience

We are looking for a highly organised, experienced and exceptional administrator to work as a trusted partner to The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Church Development Agency (CDA). The CDA is a national organisation dedicated to supporting the Church in serving its communities through the delivery of affordable housing and community development projects, established in response to the Church of England’s “Coming Home” report.  

This key role within the CDA requires a thinker who can anticipate needs, manage priorities, and support The CEO in his leadership function and ensuring effective governance. The Executive Assistant (EA) will play a pivotal role in enabling the CEO to oversee a diverse portfolio of approximately 50 affordable housing projects. Most of the work is funded by the Oak Foundation, with a focus on achieving long-term sustainability.

The ideal candidate will have:

· Demonstrable experience of working as a high-level EA support to a CEO/Senior leader or equivalent

· Excellent time management and the ability to balance numerous priorities and deadlines

· A high degree of confidentiality and flexibility

Crucially, you will love to organise and drive forward actions while building meaningful relationships and enabling social impact.  If you are looking for a stimulating role where no day is the same, this could be the perfect job for you.

Closing date is 10 am on Monday 12th January 2026

Interviews in Gloucester on Thursday 22nd January 2026