Entry level jobs

We are seeking a dynamic and strategic Deputy Chief Executive to join our Senior Leadership Team. This pivotal role will work closely with our Chief Executive to ensure our internal governance, planning, and systems are robust and future-ready.

About CAN (Community Action Network):
CAN is a respected local infrastructure charity proudly holding the NAVCA Quality Award. We are a membership-led organisation committed to strengthening Dorset’s voluntary and community sector. Our mission is to serve and champion local charities and community groups, helping to build strong, healthy, diverse, and thriving communities.

We hold two national quality assurance awards and our work is underpinned by NAVCA’s four functions of a Local Infrastructure Charity:

• Leadership and advocacy
• Partnerships and collaboration
• Capacity building
• Volunteering

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic leadership and operational oversight across the organisation.
• Drive performance by setting clear expectations and evaluating outcomes.
• Contribute to the delivery of our strategic plan, Action With Heart, aligning with our vision, mission, and values.
• Act as a key ambassador and representative for CAN, deputising for the Chief Executive as required.
• Collaborate with the Senior Leadership Team to identify and secure new income streams, strengthening our financial sustainability

About You:
You are an experienced leader with a passion for the voluntary and community sector. You bring:

• Proven experience in strategic planning, governance, and performance management.
• Strong financial acumen and a track record of income generation.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• A collaborative and values-driven approach to leadership.

Why Join Us?
At CAN, you’ll be part of a dynamic team making a real difference in Dorset. We offer a supportive and flexible working environment, opportunities for professional development, and the chance to shape the future of a vital local charity.

We offer a competitive salary and great benefits, including contributory pension scheme, 25 days holiday, plus all bank holidays, season train ticket loan, flexible working and much more.

For an informal discussion, please contact Karen Loftus CEO

Available documents on our website

• Strategic Plan 2025 – 2026
• CAN our values
• Deputy Chief Executive Job description and person specification
• Application form

How to apply

Please download and complete our CAN application form from our website and return it to via email by 5:00pm, Monday 18th August.

It is not our policy to accept CV’s. If you have any problems completing your application, please call or email (details on our website).

Closing date: 18th August 2025 (5pm)
Interviews: On Teams 28th August 2025

Inspire the next generation through outdoor adventure

Blackwell Adventure is one of the UK’s leading outdoor education charities. Located across two sites in rural Worcestershire and welcoming over 30,000 visitors annually, we deliver high-quality outdoor learning experiences to schools, Scouts, Guides, youth organisations, and corporate clients.

As our current CEO prepares to retire, we are seeking an exceptional leader to take the helm and shape the next chapter of our charity’s story. This is an outstanding opportunity for a dynamic and visionary professional with a deep commitment to outdoor learning and youth development. 

About the Role

As Chief Executive Officer, you will provide strategic and operational leadership for the charity, reporting to the Board of Trustees. You will lead a committed team of staff and volunteers to ensure the continued delivery of safe, inclusive, and transformative experiences for young people, while ensuring Blackwell Adventure remains financially sustainable and future-focused.

Key areas of responsibility include:

• Strategic planning and organisational governance
• Operational and programme delivery across Blackwell Court and Pikes Pool
• Fundraising and income diversification, including grant acquisition and commercial development
• Financial planning, risk management, and regulatory compliance
• External representation and partnership development
• Team leadership and values-driven cultural stewardship
• This is a hands-on leadership role suited to someone who is equally comfortable setting vision, making strategic decisions, managing complex operations, and building strong, positive relationships with partners and funders.

About You

• We are looking for an experienced, inspirational leader with:
• A proven track record of strategic and operational leadership at senior level
• A strong background in outdoor education or a closely related field
• Demonstrable success in financial management and income generation
• Excellent people management, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills
• A deep understanding of the educational, developmental, and safeguarding needs of young people
• A collaborative, values-led approach, and commitment to continuous improvement

Higher-level outdoor qualifications and familiarity with the voluntary or charitable sector will be advantageous. 

Why Join Blackwell Adventure?

· A respected, successful, and values-driven charity

· A supportive and engaged Board of Trustees

· A passionate and talented staff and volunteer team

· Two beautiful 50-acre sites with extensive facilities

· A competitive salary and benefits package

· Relocation support available

· Optional on-site accommodation available for rent (Detached 2-bedroom Gatehouse Lodge).

Deadline for applications: 5:00 p.m., Monday 18th August 2025

Key Dates

• Application deadline: Monday 18th August 2025, 5:00 p.m.
• Shortlist notification: Friday 22nd August 2025
• Interviews + Facility tours (2.5 hrs, in-person at Blackwell Court):  Up to the 4th of September 2025
• Proposed start date: Monday 5th January 2026

Blackwell Adventure is an equal opportunity employer.
We welcome applications from all backgrounds and actively encourage candidates with lived experience of the power of outdoor learning.
All offers are subject to satisfactory references, enhanced DBS clearance, and background checks.

Main Purpose

This is a key role in Learning and Work Institute, leading our team and work in Wales and part of L&W's Senior Management Team. It aims to further increase our impact on learning, skills and employment in Wales, including by: growing and diversifying our income; increasing our profile; managing our strategic partnerships and exercising influence at the higher levels in Wales; and ensuring we deliver high quality policy, research and events that makes a difference to policy and practice. The role is also a member of L&W's Senior Management Team, working across the organisation, ensuring we work in a joined up way, that L&W is an engaging and supportive place to work, and leading on specific organisational initiatives.

Duties and Responsibilities

Income generation and diversification. Identify and secure new sources of income including the production of high quality, successful funding applications, working with colleagues across the organisation where appropriate.

Strategy and financial planning. Lead development and implementation of L&W's strategic plan in Wales, including working with our Wales Strategy Group and maximizing opportunities for impact, and ensuring the financial sustainability of L&W’s work in Wales.

Stakeholder engagement. Build effective and productive relationships across the public, private and third sectors in Wales, including with ministers, special advisers and senior officials in the Welsh Government, and other key influencers, to maximise our impact

Leadership and management. Be an active member of SMT and organisational leader, promoting joined-up working and L&W as a great place to work. Lead our Wales team, ensuring they have opportunities to further develop. Act at all times in an inclusive, collaborative, open way that lives our values.

Project management. Ensuring our portfolio of work in Wales is delivered on time, on budget, and to a high quality, and making the links between projects so they have maximum impact.

Strategic communications. Proactively promote L&W’s external profile and key messages through PR, marketing and media activity. Ensure L&W adheres at all times to Welsh language standards.

Undertake any other reasonable duties as required by the CEO, including travel to other L&W offices.

Person Specification

Essential

• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to engage a range of audiences. You will be confident on national platforms dealing with the media; writing for a range of different platforms and social media.
• Leadership skills that include developing and motivating staff and teams, and ability to work collaboratively as part of the Senior Management Team
• Ability to build and enhance networks, alliances and relationships at the highest level across stakeholders in Wales including politicians and policymakers
• Well developed knowledge of the political and policy environment in Wales in the areas of learning, skills and employment
• Ability to develop new business and income streams for L&W including responding to tenders and generating proactive funding from trusts and foundations
• Excellent written and oral communication skills to influence and persuade, a confident presenter with the ability to relate to a wide range of audiences
• Ability to effectively manage a portfolio of research and policy projects and events, delivered on time and on budget to a high quality

Desirable 

• Understanding the fields of learning, skills and employment policy and practice across the UK and network of contacts in Wales and the UK
• Knowledge or experience of governance requirements, such as working with Boards, in the third sector
• An innovative and creative thinker with a record of transforming ideas into practice and ability to understand and analyse a range of research and policy
• Ability to communicate through Welsh, and the confidence to do so

Learning and Work Institute works across the UK, and staff are expected to work across the organisation. Our work in Wales is led by a Cardiff-based team, but all staff are required to follow the guidance set out in our Welsh language scheme when working in Wales.

Benefits Package

Salary of £64,450-£77,880 depending on experience and location

- 31 days' holiday increasing to 33 days after 5 years’ service, of which 3 are shutdown days in addition to public holidays.

- Generous company pension scheme with 8% employer contribution

- Group Life Assurance 3*salary

- Hybrid working (with 40%-60% of your time in the office)

- Flexible working practices

- Employee Development Scheme

- Retailer Discounts

- Enhanced occupational maternity, adoption, paternity and shared parental pay

- Enhanced occupational sick pay

- Eye care scheme

- Employee Assistance & Wellbeing Programme

- Gold award in Investors in People

We're looking for a confident and compassionate Co-Director to lead our mental health charity using gardens, creativity & community for recovery.

**We offer mentoring support for applicants who might benefit from additional guidance - please see the full Job Description for further details**

About Sydenham Garden

Based in Lewisham in South-East London, Sydenham Garden is a unique wellbeing centre utilising its gardens, nature reserve and activity rooms to help people living with and recovering from mental and physical ill-health. We provide nature and arts based creative, social and therapeutic activities for co-workers (the name we give to our primary beneficiaries).

About the role 

Our Director has been in post since November 2021 and on returning from maternity leave in January 2026 she will be working 3 days a week.  We are seeking a Co-Director to jointly lead the organisation going forwards as we have made a positive decision to move towards a co-director model.  This is an exciting opportunity which can have benefits of increasing capacity, efficiency, and transparency and allow for a broader range of identities both to better reflect the diverse populations they serve and as a way to include more diverse leaders. It is a model that can also reduce burnout, build equity, and support flexible working.

As Co-Director you will be jointly responsible for leading and manage the day-to-day running of Sydenham Garden for the benefit of our co-workers.  This will involve overseeing implementation and regular review of Sydenham Garden’s strategic plan and to ensure all governance arrangements are in place to monitor the work of the organisation and to report to the Board of Trustees and to funders.

You will ensure fundraising and financial plans and processes are in place to deliver the agreed services, including fundraising from Trusts & Foundations, community fundraising and developing contracted services as necessary.

The Co-Directors will be jointly accountable to the Trustee Board for all aspects of the job description. You may take lead responsibility on particular areas which will be discussed and agreed with the existing Co-Director and Trustee Board.

About You

You are a confident and compassionate leader with a commitment to the mental health and wellbeing sector.  You bring a thoughtful, strategic and inclusive approach to leadership.

Your communication skills are excellent, and you’re able to build strong, trusting relationships with colleagues at all levels, as well as with external partners, funders, and stakeholders.  You are deeply committed to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, with a clear track record of putting these values into practice.

You have a proven experience in securing income for charitable work and are confident in financial management and planning. 

You also understand the value of co-production and have experience working collaboratively with volunteers and co-workers (service users), ensuring their voices are central to service design and delivery.

We’re looking for someone who is dedicated to the mission of Sydenham Garden and has relevant experience at management level in a mental health charity of similar organisation. 

How to apply

Candidates will be shortlisted based on:

· Experience of working at a management level in a mental health charity or comparable organisation. 

· An excellent strategic thinker with experience of input into strategic development and implementation.

· Good communication skills and the ability to build relationships with colleagues at all levels in an organisation and with external contacts and partners. 

· A proven commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.

· Experience of line managing and developing staff, including through appraisal systems. 

· Proven ability to secure income, manage fundraising processes and to manage and produce fundraising applications. 

· Experience of financial management and planning, including managing budgets. 

· Experience of working with volunteers and co-workers (service users). 

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Sydenham Garden is committed to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). We want to build a diverse and inclusive staff, volunteer and trustee team where everyone feels that they belong and that reflects the profile of the communities we serve. Therefore, we will welcome and consider applications from candidates of all backgrounds and protected characteristics, and we particularly encourage applications from people of African or Caribbean heritage to ensure our staff team represents the communities we serve.

To apply, please send us a CV together with a supporting statement (maximum 2 pages, minimum font size of 11) that addresses how you meet the Person Specification listed above.

Are you looking for a varied and rewarding finance role? Join us as Director of Finance and support the transformational work in the social inclusion, education, scientific research, arts, and heritage sectors.

Location: The Peak, 5 Wilton Road, London SW1V 1AP (2-3 days per week in the office)

Applications for this role close at 9 a.m. Monday 8th September. 

The Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts (SFCT) is an umbrella organisation that facilitates the work 16 grant-making trusts, along with its associated charitable companies, established by three generations of the Sainsbury family. 

Each Trust is an independent legal entity with a separate focus and Board of Trustees, and in many cases, led by the family member who established it. The Trust works in many fields, including climate and environment, arts and heritage, disability rights, social inclusion, healthcare, science, education, neuroscience, and international development. 

About the role

The Director of Finance will lead the finance team to ensure the effective support for SFCT’s complex requirements across all aspects of finance, investment management, governance, compliance and risk.

The role will report directly to the CEO, providing financial and operational oversight, as well as high-level strategic engagement with senior stakeholders. This will require you to establish effective working relationships across the office and with family members and Trustees.

The role is part of the Head of Central Services group, working closely with the Head of Finance (Gatsby) to play a key role in decision making and delivering shared ways of working across the group, strengthening cross-functional collaboration and continuous improvement to ensure that support for our Trusts and charitable organisations remains fit for the future.

This is a varied and complex role that covers three main areas of work.

1. Leading a team that is responding to changing needs from internal customers to ensure high performance.
2. Leading projects with a focus on continuous improvement.
3. Proactively supporting family members and trustees in managing investments.

The role’s challenge and variety come from a mix of central and tailored support for the entities that SFCT supports.

Who we are looking for

This role is a fully functional finance role with multiple entities that require support. You will be an experienced Finance Director (and/or perhaps a CFO of an endowment-funded foundation) with the people skills to lead and develop a large finance team, as well as the skills to manage a complex mix of stakeholders.

As a qualified accountant, you will be someone with knowledge and experience in charity finance, who also has a commercial focus and likely has had a stint in industry. Experience in managing a complex finance function and being proactive when it comes to change is essential, as well as the ability to inspire and develop a team to deliver high performance and continuous improvement.

You will enjoy working with people and come with a broad set of experiences. Experience in investments would be an advantage, as would any other additional areas of expertise. This role is a platform for value-added support.

Please click 'Apply on website’ to be redirected to the Peridot Partners website, where you can find full details of the job description and register your interest to apply.

Applications for this role close at 9 a.m. Monday 8th September.