Jobs for the Disability sector

North West Anglia Hospitals Charity is entering an important period of change. We have identified a clear opportunity to strengthen the Charity’s leadership, sharpen its strategy, grow sustainable income and ensure charitable funds deliver the greatest possible benefit for patients, families, staff and volunteers.

We are now seeking an exceptional Charity Director to lead that transformation. This newly created senior role will provide the strategic leadership, professional expertise and momentum needed to develop North West Anglia Hospitals Charity into a confident, high-performing NHS charity with strong local credibility and lasting impact.

The Charity supports North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust, which serves around 850,000 people across Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire and neighbouring counties through Peterborough City, Hinchingbrooke, Stamford and Rutland hospitals, alongside community-facing services.

Please note the interviews will consist of two stages compiling of a Stakeholder Session on 9 September 2026 with the formal interviews taking place on 10 September. 

Main duties of the job

This is not simply a fundraising leadership role. It is an opportunity to build the next stage of a hospital charity: setting direction, strengthening governance, improving fund deployment, developing the team & creating a more planned, visible & sustainable approach to charitable impact. Reporting to the Executive Director of Corporate Affairs, Risk & Governance & working closely with the Chief Executive, Charity Committee & Corporate Trustee, the Charity Director will:

• Develop and deliver a clear 3 to 5-year strategy, aligned to Trust priorities and focused on patients, staff wellbeing, sustainability, innovation and future needs.
• Grow a more sustainable and diverse income base, with a focus on regular giving, appeals, corporate partnerships, community fundraising, legacies and selective major donor opportunities.
• Develop a planned programme of high-impact charitable investment.
• Strengthen governance, decision-making, financial stewardship, risk management and regulatory compliance on behalf of the Corporate Trustee and Charity Committee.
• Improve the use and deployment of charitable funds, including supporting work to simplify fund arrangements and reduce administrative burden.
• Build, lead and develop our capable and ambitious Charity team, equipping them with the systems, processes and confidence to deliver.
• Act as the Charity’s senior ambassador, building trusted relationships with donors, supporters, local businesses, community partners, staff and senior Trust leaders.

At Ambitious about Autism, we're currently looking for a Head of Risk, Governance and Assurance to join our team.

You'll lead the organisation's governance, compliance, legal, risk and assurance functions, ensuring robust frameworks and controls are in place to support the delivery of our mission. You'll act as the organisation's lead adviser on governance and regulatory matters, maintaining effective relationships with trustees, governing bodies, regulators, legal advisers, auditors and insurers.

You'll ensure compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements, uphold high standards of corporate governance, and oversee the management of legal, contractual, operational and reputational risk. You'll provide strategic oversight of governance, risk management, internal audit, insurance and contractual arrangements, strengthening organisational accountability, supporting informed decision-making and promoting a culture of compliance and continuous improvement across the organisation.

We are looking for someone who has:

• Significant experience in governance, company secretarial practice, compliance, risk or a related discipline.
• Significant experience leading governance and compliance functions within a charity, education or similarly regulated environment.
• Experience supporting Boards, Trustees, Committees or Governing Bodies, including advising on governance matters and overseeing the production of high-quality governance documentation.
• Thorough understanding of company secretarial responsibilities and corporate governance best practice including within a Multi Academy Trust or similar.

In return, we offer great benefits including a generous holiday allowance and commitment to continued professional development (CPD), flexible, hybrid working and more!

This is a fantastic opportunity for an ambitious individual who would like to work for a forward-thinking, open and honest organisation and make a real impact to the young people we work with. Please find our full recruitment pack on the link below.

If you have any questions about the role or would like to have a confidential chat, please contact James Axford, Recruitment Officer.

Ambitious about Autism is committed to fostering equity, diversity, and inclusion at every level of our organisation. We warmly welcome applications from all qualified candidates, valuing the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives they bring. We encourage applications from individuals regardless of race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or parental status, disability, or age.

Our recruitment process promotes equal opportunities, and we are committed to providing reasonable adjustments for candidates with disabilities or additional needs throughout the recruitment process. Please contact our Recruitment Team for accommodations. We recognise disability as a physical or mental impairment that significantly and long-term affects a person's ability to perform day-to-day activities, as defined by the UK Equality Act 2010. All applications will be considered solely on merit, aligned with our mission to support autistic children and young people.

Ambitious about Autism is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and successful candidates will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check. As part of our Safer Recruitment checks, an online search maybe carried out in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education.

The Safeguarding responsibilities of the post as per the job description and personal specification.
Whether the post is exempt from the rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendment to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2021. This means that when applying for certain jobs and activities certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected', so they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. Further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS Filter Guidance.