Jobs for the Charity Support sector

The Organisation

John Lyon’s Charity is a long‑standing, respected grant‑making charity that supports children and young people across North and West London. As part of the John Lyon’s Foundation, the charity distributes significant funding each year to improve education, opportunities and life chances. With income of approximately £11.5m and a strong reputation for impactful grant giving, this is an organisation with a clear social mission and a supportive working culture.

The Job

Reporting initially to the COO, the Finance Manager will lead all day‑to‑day financial operations and provide expert financial advice across the organisation. The role covers monthly and quarterly management accounts, budgeting, forecasting, cash flow oversight and ensuring compliance with Charity SORP and statutory requirements.

You will manage and develop the Finance Officer, coordinate the annual audit, support the preparation of statutory accounts, oversee grant‑related financial processes and maintain key relationships with outsourced partners including payroll, pensions, audit, banking and investment providers.

The Person

The successful candidate will be a fully qualified accountant with strong technical reporting skills and solid knowledge of Charity SORP. You will bring experience from the charity or wider not for profit sector, along with confidence in preparing management accounts, budgets, forecasts and financial analysis. You will have excellent communication skills and the ability to explain financial information clearly to colleagues and trustees. Highly organised, analytical and proactive, you will demonstrate strong attention to detail and a collaborative approach. Experience with SAGE 50 is helpful but not essential. Above all, you will bring energy, integrity and a commitment to improving outcomes for children and young people.

What’s in it for You

• £55,000–£58,000 salary
• 15 percent employer pension contribution
• Bupa private medical insurance
• 25 days annual leave plus additional non‑contractual Christmas closure days
• A supportive, values‑driven culture
• The opportunity to shape a well‑run finance function in a respected grant maker
• A meaningful role supporting work that improves the lives of children and young people across London

What to Do Next

Peter O’Sullivan at HAYS is managing this recruitment on behalf of John Lyon’s Charity.
If you would like to be considered, please apply in the first instance.

Please note that applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, the advert may close early, and the charity may interview and appoint before the stated closing date. Early application is strongly encouraged.

The Basics

Our training programme is growing and we need someone to own it — not follow our process, but develop it further. That means new courses, an institutional offer, and growing the number of people we reach. You'll be shaping how the sector learns to communicate and building something with a real community behind it.

About us

Cast from Clay is a communications consultancy for those who work on policy change. Most good ideas in the world of policy never make it to the desk of a decision-maker. That’s where we come in.

Our training program – including courses like Communicate to Persuade and Generative AI for Policy Communicators – is a key part of how we help the sector get their ideas unstuck. We want to grow this offer, but we need someone to own the engine behind it. You can find out more about our courses on our website. 

The role

As Training Programme Lead, you will be responsible for:

• Growth: Owning the programme's growth strategy, including building an institutional offer for think tanks, foundations, funders, and NGOs.

• Marketing: Running the promotion of our public courses across social channels and professional networks to hit recruitment targets.

• Operations: Managing the student journey, from onboarding and payments to platform management (LMS).

• Development: Working with our course leaders to spot new opportunities and expand what we offer.

• Community: Keeping our alumni community engaged and supported alongside the wider team.

This is a 2 day per week commitment (with opportunity to increase the time as the programme grows).

Who you are

You’ll be someone who knows the world of foundations and non-profits well, you’ve probably worked in a few. Ideally, you’ve got a sense of the kinds of skills that these organisations need to develop (and that a communications consultancy could train on). You’ll also be comfortable in a marketing and sales context, able to argue why an organisation should invest in our training platform, and what benefit it will provide to them.

You will be:

• Intellectually curious: You care about how ideas impact the world

• Commercially minded: You have experience in business development or selling professional services

• A self-starter: You can take a brief and run with it with very little hand-holding

• Facilitation experience: You've run workshops or trainings before and can hold a room.

• Marketing expertise: You understand how to promote a programme, how to build an audience across professional networks, and when to bring in additional expertise (e.g. SEO, PPC specialists) 

• Tech-literate: You’re comfortable managing digital platforms, payments, and comms tools. Experience with Howspace is an advantage.

​Interested?

If this sounds like you, please send us your CV (no more than 2 pages), your LinkedIn profile and a couple of paragraphs on how you would approach growing our training offer for institutions.

Things to note:

1. You need to have the right to work in the already - we cannot sponsor visas for this role.

2. We are an equal opportunities employer and we are determined to ensure that no applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of gender, age, class, disability, religion, belief, sexual orientation, marital status, or race, or is disadvantaged by conditions or requirements which cannot be shown to be justifiable.

Who we are

Social AF are experts in Social Media Moderation. Established in 2021, we work with some of the biggest names in the third sector and have supported charities to raise over £40 million through their Facebook Challenges and Virtual events. 

We are a fast-growing agency with a strong reputation for delivering outstanding results. Our team of experienced fundraisers know exactly what it’s like to be on the front line and put their heart and soul into every event. 

About the Role

As a Fundraising Group Moderator, you’ll manage Facebook groups of up to 10,000 challenge participants, providing exceptional supporter care and helping participants raise five‑ and six‑figure sums for some of the biggest names in the charity sector.

This role is ideal for experienced fundraisers looking for flexible freelance work or an additional income stream. You’ll work remotely, using your own laptop and WiFi, and bring your personality, empathy and initiative to every interaction.

You must be able to begin moderation at 9am (or earlier), wrap up by 9pm, and maintain our sub‑three‑hour response time.

Key Responsibilities

• Represent the charity’s voice, uphold brand guidelines and act as the charity representative 

• Maintain a safe, positive and inclusive group environment

• Identify, report, escalate and signpost all safeguarding concerns

• Provide warm, friendly and informal supporter care, bringing your own personality to create an exceptional participant experience

• Motivate, encourage and support participants throughout their challenge

• Maximise registration conversions and fundraiser activation

• Work independently, manage your own time effectively, use strong initiative and correct any errors promptly

• Follow clear processes and maintain high standards of accuracy

• Identify, solve and diffuse issues within the groups

• Engage with participants using a warm, friendly and informal tone

• Respond to posts, comments, questions and inbox messages in a timely manner (within three hours)

• Use your personal Facebook profile to moderate groups and build genuine relationships

• Post engaging daily content provided by Social AF

• Manage registrations using GivePanel or similar platforms

Workload & Peak Periods

Our challenge calendar has natural peaks, and moderators must be prepared for increased activity during September-November and January-March. These months see higher participant numbers and more concurrent events, meaning more posts, questions and supporter interactions. In addition to these seasonal surges, the first and last day of every month are consistently the busiest, as participants start and complete their challenge.

We maintain a flexible, supportive team culture, and to keep this fairness and flexibility in place, moderators must be willing to work occasional bank holidays and be available on the first or last day of each month, when group activity is at its highest.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

• Minimum 3 years’ professional fundraising experience

• Excellent written communication

• Strong attention to detail

• Ability to work independently and manage your own time

• Confident problem‑solver with the ability to multitask

• Warm, personable communication style

• Receptive to feedback and committed to keeping high standards

• Confident using Facebook day‑to‑day, including basic functions such as posting, commenting, navigating groups and using your personal profile

Desirable

• Events or individual giving experience

• An understanding of the Facebook Challenge Model or experience of running/supporting Facebook Challenges

• Experience using GivePanel

• Experience managing Facebook Groups

Training & Expectations

• Attend compulsory training and monthly team meetings

• Join moderation briefings

• Stay up to date with new processes and training

• Be present and responsive on Slack during working hours

Interviews: Wednesday 22nd & Thursday 23rd April

Compulsory training: Tuesday 28th and Thursday 29th (10am–2pm both days)

Start date: Week commencing 4th May

If this sounds like you, then our four-month (7th September to 18th December 2026), salaried Grant Fundraising Traineeship might be the perfect opportunity for you.

Chell Perkins is looking for four individuals with excellent writing skills who want to learn how to fundraise from grantmakers. 

Our industry-leading paid traineeship (monthly equivalent of a £24,792 annual salary) will see you writing grant applications for multiple charities and gaining a recognised certificate with education credits towards CFRE to kickstart your fundraising career. There are up to four vacancies at Chell Perkins, and at the end of the course trainees will be eligible to apply for a permanent position.

“This programme has been an amazing opportunity to work with so many different clients, and constantly learn new skills on the job. I have learned so much.” Junior Fundraiser, 2022

This immersive programme is home-based with quality training and plenty of support from other experienced fundraisers.

“The hands-on training opportunities that come with a role at Chell Perkins are invaluable for anyone who is looking to get into fundraising. I don't think you could find a more immersive and rewarding experience in the charity sector anywhere else!” Junior Fundraiser, 2022

Why Chell Perkins?

At the end of our Grant Fundraising Traineeship, you will be a confident and capable fundraiser. But there’s much more to the scheme than that. The Chell Perkins team are a great bunch of people to work with. We really care about our partner charities and YOUR future. Our supportive and empowering work culture will enable you to realise your own potential.

“This programme is truly unique and rewarding. I recommend it to anyone thinking of beginning a fundraising career.” Junior Fundraiser, 2020

Client mix

Candidates should be aware that at present, 70% of our partner charities come from a Christian background (churches or Christian charities). While it is not a requirement to be Christian, candidates must be happy to write for a faith-based audience.

Applications

This role is home-based; however, you may occasionally be required to work from client sites across the UK.

For more details about this opportunity, contact us and request a copy of the Job Description & Person Specification document.

Interviews will be held in the week commencing 4th May 2026 for positions starting on 7th September 2026.

If our Grant Fundraising Traineeship sounds like it could be a perfect fit for you, why not apply? We look forward to hearing from you!

To apply for this role, please complete our job application and email it to us with a recent CV and a covering letter. In your covering letter, we are looking for:

• Evidence of strong written communication skills
• Passion for the third sector, and in particular fundraising
• Ability to write persuasively
• Evidence that you have carefully researched the role and our organisation.

Click 'how to apply' below for the email address to send your application to, and for more information on the role and person specification.

A note about generative AI use

As an agency we are not against the use of AI to research or help improve the quality of your application. However, we strongly advise against using AI to generate copy for you. Last year, over 40 applications contained sections with identical wording, due to the use of generative AI. As a result, we could not get to know the applicants from their writing, and subsequently had to reject all of these applications.

We have an exciting opportunity to join the National Lottery Awards For All England team.  This is a permanent vacancy based within our Newcastle or Birmingham offices.  You will be hybrid working between the office, home and community settings.

​Awards For All provides funding for grassroots and community projects. Funding Managers are responsible for coordinating the whole lifecycle of our grant- making, placing communities at the heart of what we do.

As a Funding Manager you will have a team of Funding Officers to support and manage, ensuring high levels of performance. You will have excellent people management skills and be able to coach and motivate staff, creating a constructive, inclusive and positive culture.

You will have strong attention to detail as you will be responsible for the allocation of work, workload management, risk management, decision-making and quality assurance activities.

You will deliver excellent customer service and use feedback to improve what we do, whilst also drawing on your own learning and experience, ensuring our funding responds to the needs of those we serve.

Together with our other Funding Managers on the programme, you will report into the Head of Funding and work flexibly and collaboratively with peers across the organisation at various levels.

Interview Details:

Interview Date: Wednesday 6th May 2026 

Format: Virtual

Location: Hybrid working from home and either Newcastle or Birmingham office

If you would like an informal conversation about the role specifically, please contact the recruitment team.

Any questions about the recruitment process, please email the recruitment team.

​How to Apply

Upload your CV in Word format and write a supporting statement of up to 1000 words. We'll use the following criteria to score your application – so you should show how you meet them in your supporting statement.

Essential criteria

• Experience of driving a high-performance inclusive culture through an ability to coach, involve and empower people, with a particular emphasis on learning and development.
• Direct experience of line and performance management. Ability to set clear objectives and expectations, manage underperformance promptly and fairly and recognize good performance meaningfully and consistently.
• Ability to build and maintain excellent relationships with a range of stakeholders.
• Ability to lead through change, remaining flexible, adaptable and proactive. Ability to engage with ongoing transition and support the team to do the same.
• Demonstrates empathy, self-awareness and resilience, handling difficult conversations with sensitivity and managing own emotions and positive behaviour.
• Plans and prioritises work effectively, allocates resources responsibly and manages capacity ensuring the team works efficiently.
• Demonstrates a strong sense of personal and professional responsibility, fostering an environment of trust, respect and credibility.

​Desirable criteria

• Demonstrates a deep understanding of the challenges and barriers the VCSE sector face.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion  

Communities in the UK come in all shapes and sizes. National Lottery funding is for everyone – therefore, we are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and we work hard to ensure our funding reaches where it is needed.  

We also believe our people should represent the communities, organisations and individuals we work with. That’s why The National Lottery Community Fund is committed to being an inclusive employer and a great place to work. We recognise and celebrate the fact that our people come from diverse backgrounds. We positively welcome applications from people from ethnic minority backgrounds, people with disabilities or longstanding health conditions, people who are LGBTQ+, and people from different socio-economic and educational backgrounds, as well as people of all ages. 

As a Disability Confident Employer, we take a proactive approach in making reasonable adjustments, if needed, throughout the recruitment process and during employment. (This can be related to a physical and mental health condition.) 

Royal Voluntary Service has an opportunity available for a Head of Philanthropy & Partnerships to join our team, working from home. You will join us on full-time, permanent basis, and in return, you will receive a salary ranging from £50,434 per annum.

About the Head of Philanthropy & Partnerships role:

Royal Voluntary Service mobilises volunteers to support people in need and the NHS. Our volunteers work with healthcare teams and in communities providing practical help and emotional support when people are struggling to cope.
 
About the Head of Partnerships & Philanthropy role:

This is a newly created, senior leadership role responsible for building and scaling a high-value income stream across corporate partnerships, high-net-worth (HNW) individuals, and philanthropy at Royal Voluntary Service.
 
The role will lead the development and execution of a strategy to generate £1m+ in sustainable annual income, with a strong focus on new business acquisition, strategic relationship development, and long-term value creation. 

What Makes This Role Attractive

• Opportunity to build a function from scratch with CRO-level sponsorship 
• High visibility across leadership and Board 
• Ability to shape a modern, commercially-driven fundraising model 
• Direct impact on scaling income and social outcomes

Hours: 35 per week, Monday - Friday. 

Location: Homebased with occasional national travel

This is what we're looking for:

Experience

• Proven track record of delivering £1m+ income targets in: 
• Corporate partnerships 
• Philanthropy / major donor fundraising

Skills & Capability

• Highly commercial with a new business mindset 
• Exceptional relationship builder with gravitas at senior level 

Leadership Style

• Proactive, entrepreneurial, and outcomes-focused 
• Comfortable operating in a newly created role with ambiguity 

This is what you'll be doing:
 
Income Generation & Strategy

• Develop and deliver a clear partnerships & philanthropy strategy aligned to RVS growth objectives 
• Own and deliver against a £1m+ annual income target, with defined pipeline metrics 

Corporate Partnerships

• Design and secure strategic, multi-year corporate partnerships (5–6 figure+ value) 
• Target organisations aligned to RVS mission (CSR/ESG agendas, employee engagement, volunteering) 

This is all the other great stuff you'll be getting:

• A salary ranging from £50,434 per annum 
• 26 days’ holiday (pro rata) plus paid statutory Bank Holidays (pro rata)
• Up to 2 days paid volunteer leave a year, through our employer supported volunteer scheme
• Ten weeks’ company sick pay following successful completion of probation
• A great pension scheme with 8% employer contributions
• 2 x Base Salary Death in Service Benefit, subject to qualification
• Enhanced Family Leave schemes
• An employee benefits package that gives access to an exclusive rewards website to get discounts and cashback online
• A 24-hour doctor line, financial support with dental/optical and other therapies
• A free and confidential employee assistance programme with up to six face-to-face counselling sessions included
• Opportunities to discuss flexible working
• Opportunities to develop new skills and progress your career
• The chance to make a positive, lasting impact that changes lives, communities, and society

If you feel have the skills and experience to become our Head of Partnerships & Philanthropy please click ‘apply’ today, we’d love to hear from you!

The closing date for this role is 1 May 2026. However, we reserve the right to close this vacancy early should sufficient applications be received. Please do not delay your application we often get a lot!
 
Join Royal Voluntary Service and together we can change lives, change communities and change society.

Finance System Consultant - QuickBooks Advanced (Charity | Contract | £400/day)

I am excited to be working with a small UK charity (£2M income, 20 staff) to deliver a focused, low-complexity implementation of QuickBooks Advanced, replacing Sage ahead of July 2026.

This is a well-defined, short engagement suited to someone who can get in, structure things properly, and get out without fuss.

Contract: 10 days over 4–6 weeks
Timing: Mid-May → End June 2026
Rate: £400 per day

Scope

• Set up QuickBooks Advanced (finance + payroll)
• Simplify and redesign chart of accounts
• Implement Classes (departments), Projects (funds), Locations (if needed)
• Migrate budgets from Excel
• Support payroll migration (with additional support available)
• Build straightforward, usable reporting
• Enable a clean month-end process
• Provide light handover/training

Why this role

• Clearly scoped, no moving goalposts
• Small organisation, quick decision-making
• No VAT complexity
• Support available where needed (e.g. payroll migration)
• Opportunity to deliver a clean, well-structured system end-to-end

Requirements

• QuickBooks Advanced implementation experience
• Understanding of charity finance (restricted/unrestricted funds)
• Experience migrating from Sage or similar
• Practical, delivery-focused approach

Outcome

A clean, functional system live by July with minimal reliance on Excel and a confident internal team.

If you have the above skill and experience and are immediately available, please apply online today, I woudl love t have a conversation with you!

The Talent Set are delighted to partner with a fantastic charity Interim Community Fundraising Manager role on an initial 3-month interim contract basis. This vital position involves leading community engagement initiatives to support the organisation’s fundraising goals, driving positive impact within local communities.

 

Key Responsibilities

· Plan, develop, and execute community fundraising strategies to meet organisational objectives.

· Build and maintain effective relationships with community groups, stakeholders, and partners.

· Manage and support fundraising campaigns, ensuring compliance with relevant regulations.

· Monitor and evaluate the success of community engagement activities, providing insights and reports to senior management.

· Collaborate across teams to maximise fundraising opportunities and community involvement.

· Ensure all activities reflect the organisation’s values and promote inclusive participation.

 

Person Specification

· Proven experience in community fundraising or similar roles within the charity sector.

· Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.

· Skilled in developing and managing engaging campaigns and events.

· Strong organisational abilities with the capacity to manage multiple projects simultaneously.

· Demonstrates a collaborative approach with a commitment to inclusivity and community focus.

· Adaptable and proactive, with sound judgement and problem-solving skills.

 

What’s on Offer
Salary: £181.74 daily rate + £27.26 daily holiday (£209 total PAYE)

Contract: 3 months contract

Hybrid- London

 

How to Apply
To apply, please submit your CV demonstrating your suitability for this role by clicking the 'apply now' button (please do not apply via email). We aim to get back to all successful candidates within 48 working hours.

Commitment to Diversity
The Talent Set are committed to diverse and inclusive recruitment practices, ensuring equal opportunities for all applicants regardless of race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, disability, or age. We actively encourage applications from a wide range of backgrounds and are always happy to make reasonable adjustments to ensure a fair recruitment process.

Details

Position:Head of Community Support and Operations

Location:Barnsley, South Yorkshire

Hours:30 hours to be taken flexibly over Monday – Friday; 1 day wfh allowance

Salary:                                £50,562 FTE (£40,996 pro rata)

Contract type:Permanent

Reportable to: CEO

Direct reports: Volunteer Development Co-ordinator, Charity Advisor and Partnership Coordinator and any relevant roles that develop

Job Purpose

The Head of Community Support and Operations is a pivotal new role being introduced to the executive team at Barnsley CVS.  This person will be a key role in the growth and development of the executive team.  You will play an exciting part in the delivery and development of the recently developed 4-year strategy and theory of change. Your role will drive intention and focus on developing our support to the sector in a meaningful way to high standards, whilst ensuring our own internal operations reflect best practice.  You will need a strong knowledge of charity set up, management and governance along with a passion for what the VCSE sector does.  You will be confident in people management and development; have the ability to work inclusively with a wide range of people and backgrounds and the skill to see gaps and opportunities for service development.

You will work closely with the Head of Strategic Partnerships to identify gaps and opportunities to develop our offer of support to the sector whether through direct services, training, brokerage agreements or membership offers.  As you identify these opportunities, you will work collaboratively with the Head of Business Development to explore commercial income options that are also in line with our mission and vision.

Using your excellent people skills, you will act as the first point of contact for HR matters within the charity, overseeing the general management of our online HR system, policies and procedures.  You will work in collaboration with the CEO in any areas that need significant development or management.

You will keep up to date with new initiatives and ideas in the wider infrastructure sector, relevant legislation and modern thinking in relation to charity management best practice.

Benefits:

- 33 days annual leave increasing with years of service + annual leave given between Christmas and New Year that doesn't count against your annual leave

- Sick leave entitlement increases with years of service

- 5% pension contribution

- Paid leave to complete voluntary activity for up to 5 days pro rata

- Discount on local gym membership

- Flexible working with TOIL given for any additional hours worked

Role Overview
The Talent Set are delighted to partner with our client on a fantastic Individual Giving Officer - Acquisition role. This position offers an exciting opportunity to support the growth of individual support through innovative acquisition strategies, helping to sustain and expand the organisation’s impact.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement effective acquisition campaigns to attract new individual supporters.
• Manage outreach activities across multiple channels, including digital, mail, and events.
• Build and nurture relationships with prospective donors to convert interest into meaningful support.
• Track, evaluate, and optimise campaign performance to maximise engagement and contribution.
• Collaborate with internal teams to ensure messaging aligns with organisational goals.
• Maintain accurate records of supporter interactions and progress within CRM systems.

Person Specification

• Proven experience in donor acquisition or fundraising, preferably within a charitable organisation.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to inspire and engage diverse audiences.
• Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple campaigns and priorities effectively.
• Data-driven mindset, comfortable analysing campaign metrics and deriving actionable insights.
• A collaborative approach, with the ability to work well in a team environment and build relationships across departments.
• Self-motivated, proactive, and committed to achieving set targets.

What’s on Offer
Salary: c.£32,000 - £35,000 per annum
Hybrid: 2 days per week in office

How to Apply
To apply, please submit your CV demonstrating your suitability for this role by clicking the 'apply now' button (please do not apply via email). We aim to get back to all successful candidates within 48 working hours.

Commitment to Diversity
The Talent Set are committed to diverse and inclusive recruitment practices, ensuring equal opportunities for all applicants regardless of race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, disability, or age. We actively encourage applications from a wide range of backgrounds and are always happy to make reasonable adjustments to ensure a fair recruitment process.

Catalyst is looking to recruit an exceptional leader to be our next Chief Executive.

Candidates should be values-driven, with a passion for leading an organisation which supports the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise sector (VCSE). As Chief Executive, you must have the skills and experience to lead the dedicated, professional staff and volunteers in developing our services based on the needs of the sector, fulfilling the requirements of our funders, and actively seeking other opportunities for partnership work with statutory, private and VCSE partners.

The successful candidate will combine strategic and operational skills and have experience of effective leadership, including facilitating change in this sector. The role is offered at a salary of £51,500, plus pension and 28 days holiday a year.

You can find out more information and how to apply at Catalyst Chief Executive – Catalyst Stockton

Do you enjoy using evidence and judgement to manage risk and raise professional standards? Looking for a senior regulatory role with real impact and public value?
 
TPP is recruiting a Senior Regulatory Officer (Supervision) on behalf of a national regulator working in the public interest. This is a 15-month maternity cover position within a values-led organisation, focused on risk-based supervision, relationship management and improving compliance outcomes.
 
Key Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of regulated individuals, organisations and training providers
• Conduct desk-based reviews and on-site visits, agreeing and monitoring actions
• Lead compliance testing, regulatory returns and thematic reviews
• Maintain accurate case records and produce high-quality reports
• Contribute to regulatory policy development and continuous improvement
• Support and mentor junior colleagues 

About You

Essential:

• Strong understanding of regulatory or quality frameworks
• Experience assessing risk and making evidence-based decisions
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to manage competing priorities and work at pace

Why Apply?

• Senior role with real influence on standards and public protection
• Flexible hybrid working (2 days in the office, 3 from home)
• Opportunity to contribute to meaningful, public-interest regulation

We are reviewing CV’s as they come through. If this is of interest, please don’t delay in applying.

Closing date is 13th April
Interviews to take place week commencing 27th April 2026
  

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

Graduate Urban Designer

When registering to this job board you will be redirected to the online application form. Please ensure that this is completed in full in order that your application can be reviewed.

Graduate Urban Designer 

Location UK Wide 

£29,835 per annum (pro rata for part time) 

Ref: 146REC 

Full time 37.5 hours per week – we are happy to talk flexible working 

Base: Hybrid with the opportunity to work at your nearest Walk Wheel Cycle Hub 

Contract: Permanent 

Disclosure: Basic/Enhanced/ DBS is not required for this position as the post holder will not be working with school and community groups in the region. 

ABOUT THE ROLE 

Team: Delivery/ Infrastructure 

As the Graduate Urban Designer, you will help create technical work by using your developing specialist skills and knowledge. 

You will work under close supervision and mentorship, within a personalised graduate programme which will support you as you grow your expertise. This includes structured mentoring on the path to chartership. 

You will work as part of a multidisciplinary team including designers, engineers, technicians, and other technical specialists. There will also be opportunities for direct engagement with our partners and communities, designing place-based sustainable active travel solutions to deliver real and lasting change. 

 
Your role is to support the delivery of projects and programmes that align with the Trust’s strategic priorities. 

What You’ll Be Doing 

• Working within clear and established guidelines. 
•  
  Managing your own tasks, even when you are working on several projects at the same time.
• Using analytical thinking and problem solving skills to help address challenges that come up during projects.
• Using your developing specialist skills and knowledge to help create project outputs. 
  These may include technical drawings, specifications, and reports.
• Using innovative and sustainable design and construction practices in all your project work. 

 This role is ideal for someone who loves creative problem‑solving and wants to build a broad, future‑focused urban design skillset. You’ll work hands‑on across real projects, engaging directly with communities to understand their needs and help shape inspiring, people‑centred places. Supported through a structured graduate programme, you’ll develop your technical abilities while contributing to innovative, sustainable active‑travel schemes that deliver lasting change. As part of a collaborative, multidisciplinary team, you’ll grow quickly, gain meaningful experience, and play a key role in designing healthier, more accessible streets and spaces. 

ABOUT YOU 

We’re looking for someone who has experience and understanding in the areas listed below. You don’t need to meet every requirement — if you feel you’d be a good fit, we encourage you to apply. 

• You have either a degree (or an equivalent qualification) in a relevant area such as Civil Engineering, Traffic Engineering, Urban Design, Landscape Architecture, or another clearly relevant specialism, or 3 years of work experience in a relevant role.
• You have awareness of good practice in healthy street design.
• You have awareness of health and safety legislation and how it relates to your work.
• The ability to work in a way that promotes the safety and wellbeing of children, young people and adults at risk.

LIVING OUR VALUES 

At the Walk Wheel Cycle Trust, we’re a values‑driven organisation. We’re looking for people who are: 

Always Learning – curious, open‑minded and committed to continuous improvement. 

Championing Equity – inclusive, respectful and focused on ensuring everyone has a voice and fair opportunity to succeed. 

Taking Ownership – proactive, responsible and empowered to make things better. 

Delivering Together – collaborative, transparent and motivated by shared success. 

Through our values we make it possible for more people to walk, wheel and cycle safely, healthily and joyfully. 

WHAT WE OFFER 

We want you to feel supported, valued, and empowered in your role. That’s why we offer flexible working, a positive team environment, and benefits designed to support your wellbeing, finances, and family life. 

Wellbeing Support 

• 28 days’ leave per annum plus bank holidays for full-time employees
• Option to buy an extra week of annual leave (pro-rata for part-time employees) 
• Paid volunteer days to support causes you care about
• Free, confidential support service available 24/7
• Access to cycle-to-work schemes through Green Commute Initiative and Cycle Scheme 

Financial Benefits 

• Up to two extra days of paid leave (pro rata for part‑time colleagues) when travelling sustainably for holidays.
• Group Personal Pension scheme with a 6% or 7% of basic salary contribution being matched by Walk Wheel Cycle Trust 
• Bike, computer and season ticket loans 
• Discount benefits 
• London Weighting Allowance of £4,530 per annum for all those living within a London Borough (32 local authority districts plus the City of London).
• Death in Service benefit – 3 x annual Salary  

Family Friendly Policies 

• Enhanced maternity and paternity pay 
• Flexible Working practices (full time hours are 37.5 per week, Monday - Friday)  

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 

• Application deadline: 23:59, 28 April 2026
• Interviews will be held via Microsoft Teams over a two-week period commencing from 11May 2026. To apply, please complete our online application form.   
• We are committed to being a truly inclusive employer. We welcome applications from everyone from all parts of the community.
• Adjustments are available throughout the application process.

Who we are and why we are needed

The Fore is creating a society that solves its own problems. Each year we provide funding and skills to the best grassroots charities and social enterprises in the UK and we are growing. 

Across the UK, talented people within communities are building practical solutions to our most complex challenges – from poverty and mental health to education, exclusion and sustainability. However, the vast majority of these solutions do not achieve their potential to drive wider change across society because of failures in how the funding system works. 

The Fore is the UK’s only venture philanthropy fund that has cracked the code in how to identify and distribute funding to turbocharge grassroots innovation and catalyse change. Since 2017, The Fore has been backing the best small charities and social enterprises with astonishing results. So far over 50% of local organisations supported eight years ago have gone on to influence policy, shape national conversations and change lives at scale.

Currently The Fore is funding around 50 of the best charities per year and supporting hundreds of others with skills. However, as an organisation we need to do more. We are looking to scale our impact through two routes. Firstly, by increasing our work backing the best charities and convening and educating donors, and secondly by leading change in the broader funding system.

The role

In the next phase of The Fore’s development, it is a priority for the CEO to be able to concentrate on building the external profile and influence of The Fore’s work. Therefore, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) will play a central role in leadership as the organisation develops. The role translates strategy into delivery, providing oversight across grant making, partnerships, people, and governance, and ensuring the organisation can deliver on its ambitions while managing risk and capacity. We’re a small, agile charity so you’ll work across both high-level direction and day-to-day organisational delivery. In the next eighteen months, the COO will have responsibility for designing and delivering on a number of key strategic priorities, such as:

• ensuring the continued excellence of the grant and skills support we provide to the charities and social enterprises we back
• building out and refining existing activities and processes to ensure exceptional relationship management for our growing number of corporate and private philanthropic partners
• working with the CEO to develop the Partnerships Team to set it up for scaling and to meet the needs of new partnership models
• incorporating the use of AI into our systems and processes to streamline operations wherever possible while safeguarding the personalised experience we pride ourselves on offering all our partners.

Key responsibilities

Grant making and programme delivery

• Provides strategic oversight of the grant-making model, ensuring alignment with The Fore’s overall mission and priorities
• Acts as a senior advisor and escalation point for the Programme Team on complex decisions and delivery challenges
• Ensures that operational delivery reflects agreed strategy, including any shifts in focus, criteria, or approach

Partnerships and income

• Provides strategic oversight of funder relationships and income streams, ensuring alignment with organisational priorities and capacity
• Supports colleagues to shape high-quality proposals, renewals, and reporting
• Ensures the organisation delivers on all funding commitments, maintaining credibility and trust with funders
• Ensures that The Fore’s external messaging and positioning are clear, compelling and aligned with partner priorities
• Acts as a senior escalation point for complex funder relationships or delivery challenges
• Supports the ongoing development of The Fore’s Pro Bono (skilled volunteering) offer, ensuring it delivers meaningful value to charities while remaining a compelling and well-structured proposition for corporate partners
• Leads the commercialisation and rollout of the Fore Index (a tool that allows organisations to put a £ value on their impact), securing partners and funding to support its expansion beyond The Fore’s portfolio

Impact, data and systems

• Holds responsibility for the organisation’s impact framework, ensuring it is credible, proportionate, and aligned with strategic priorities
• Ensures data and insight are used effectively to inform decision-making, reporting, and external positioning
• Ensures that insight and impact are translated into clear, compelling external communications to support The Fore’s positioning and influence

People and internal operations

• Holds responsibility for the effective functioning and integration of programme delivery and partnerships activity, ensuring teams are well supported and operating efficiently
• Leads and manages core operational staff, including the Head of Programmes and Impact, Partnerships and Programme Managers, and Partnerships and Programme Officers
• Manages performance, wellbeing, and retention, fostering a high-performing and sustainable team culture
• Works closely with the CEO and trustees to support the development and delivery of strategic initiatives, ensuring these are operationally viable and effectively implemented
• Holds oversight responsibility for The Fore’s physical office space and equipment, managing lease and facilities contracts
• Oversees IT and systems, managing contracts for IT support, Salesforce, and other platforms

Governance, compliance, risk and finance

• Oversees the organisation’s financial management, risk management, and operational governance, ensuring robust and proportionate processes are in place
• Working with the external finance team, provides oversight of budgeting and financial performance, ensuring alignment between income, grant commitments, and operational capacity
• Contributes to the development of board and committee papers, leading on operational, financial, and risk-related content to ensure clear reporting
• Ensures appropriate compliance and governance frameworks are in place across grants, partnerships, and operations (including charity insurance, policies, health and safety, safeguarding, GDPR and cyber security)

Experience and attributes

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in a senior operations or programme oversight role
• Track record of translating strategy into operational plans and delivery
• Exceptional interpersonal, communication and presentation skills
• Track record of developing and sustaining excellent relationships with stakeholders
• Exceptional people management skills
• Strong prioritisation skills and highly organised
• Demonstrable self-starter with excellent follow-through
• Enjoys working in a fast-paced environment with the ability to move between board-level thinking and day-to-day execution
• Takes pride in fostering a friendly, inclusive and productive working environment, with a positive and approachable style

Key details​

• Annual leave: 25 days leave, rising by 1 day for each year of service up to a total of 30 days, plus bank holidays and an additional 4 days during our Christmas closure.
• Location: Our office is based at Vox Studios in Vauxhall, London. We have a hybrid working pattern (three days in the office and two days at home).
• Reports to: CEO