Part-Time Education Jobs
Challenge Partners is seeking a purpose-led sales leader to deliver a crucial strand of our ambitious strategy to benefit 500,000 pupils each year by 2027.
Applications from our growth target regions - North West, North East, Yorkshire and Humber, and the Midlands - are strongly encouraged, but not essential. Weekly term-time office days in London are a requirement of the role, but we would consider reduced office days for a successful candidate based in one of these target regions.
Challenge Partners is an England-wide education charity with a mission to reduce educational inequality and improve the life chances of all children. We do this by delivering programmes and networks to boost school improvement, leadership development, and pupil progress.
By leading our sales and marketing, you will deliver a crucial strand of our exciting strategy to enhance and extend Challenge Partners to benefit 500,000 pupils each year by 2027. Reporting to the Chief Executive, your main objective will be to drive sales to increase the number of new schools and trusts joining Challenge Partners. You will also devise and lead marketing campaigns to build our brand and profile.
You will be the sales and marketing expert in the organisation, with good commercial sense and sensitivity to the sector. You will be able to design, execute and monitor impactful campaigns to help us reach new schools and trusts. You will have the personal credibility to win the confidence of school and trust leaders and the tenacity to convert interest into sales personally and through your small team.
You will be a strong and highly-skilled communicator with excellent interpersonal skills and ability to develop and strengthen new and existing relationships. As a confident public speaker, you will engage and inspire audiences of school and trust leaders. As a senior leader you will have a track record of building, managing and developing high-performing teams and play an important role on our Leadership Team in steering the organisation and upholding our culture.
We are a small, but diverse and dynamic team. We expect everyone in the central team to get stuck in, so you will need to be comfortable to both set the strategy and ‘do the do’ in the functions you oversee.
All employees at Challenge Partners will be subject to an enhanced DBS check as part of our commitment to safeguarding.
Challenge Partners is committed to diversity, equality and inclusion and we are working towards a goal where our team fully reflects the diversity and difference in lived experiences. We strongly encourage applications from under-represented groups including: people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, LGBTQ+ people, and those with disabilities.
Strictly no agencies.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Initially, the post-holder will take responsibility for fundraising for our ongoing expansion project. A key part of the role is building relationships with friends of the school, cultivating high-net-worth individuals and corporate partnerships as well as applying to trusts and foundations. The Development Manager will be responsible for seeing the process through from application to conclusion. As the role develops, there will be the opportunity to actively grow the fundraising and development function looking at regular and legacy giving from across the school’s supporters.
Main purpose of the role:
Working with the Governors and Senior Management Team (SMT), building relationships with friends of the school and creating new links with high-net worth individuals. Keeping a relevant database of prospects, donors and links including communications, pledges and actual donations.
To research, prepare and submit well written applications based on information provided by the Governors and SMT with bids of four, five and six figures to trusts, foundations and statutory bodies. Tracking and coordinating applications.
To identify, cultivate and secure corporate philanthropic partnerships.
Create and run suitable fundraising events for the Unicorn School’s expansion project.
Reporting to stakeholders regarding fundraising progress for the expansion project.
Person Specification:
At least five years’ experience in fundraising would be preferred.
Work to the highest professional ethical standard as set out by The Chartered Institute of Fundraising or other, relevant professional body.
A proven track record of drafting meaningful, successful proposals to trusts and foundations and other relevant bodies be they corporate or individuals.
Evidence of an aptitude to work with senior, highly influential and well-connected supporters, donors and canvassers.
An expert understanding of the core principles of trust and foundation fundraising, with a focus on building long-term and sustained senior relationships with grant makers.
A proven track record in identifying, cultivating and soliciting significant donations from high-net-worth individuals.
A proven track record in establishing valuable corporate partnerships.
Salary: £34,596, Grade 4 (this is pro rata- Actual Salary £20,758)
Location: Leeds Beckett Students’ Union, Portland Way, Leeds. Once in post, there may be an opportunity for hybrid working.
Informal Interview (online): 17th & 18th June 2024
Final Stage Interview Date: 26th June 2024
This is a permanent post working 21 hours per week across 4 days, a flexible approach to working hours is required.
Do you have experience of leading a team to provide outstanding operational finance management?
Are you an ambitious individual with the drive to ensure full financial compliance?
Leeds Beckett Students’ Union is changing and you could be a part of it! After two years of research, reviews and collecting feedback, we are very excited to launch a brand-new strategy that is innovative, community focused and prioritising fighting for the basic needs of our students. We're looking for enthusiastic and passionate people that can help us deliver our new missions! Experience in higher education or students is useful but not essential, passion to help make our student’s lives better is non-negotiable.
At Leeds Beckett Students’ Union we have the opportunity for someone with accounting and budget setting experience to join the team in the new role of Head of Finance.
You’ll lead the finance team on all operational aspects to support the work of the students’ union. You’ll strive to deliver outstanding service to a variety of stakeholders and ensure legal compliance at all times.
The role will suit an individual with a high level of attention-to-detail and exceptional accounting skills, with experience of financial management. You will need to be able to work independently and as part of a team.
The ideal candidate will be committed, self-motivated, and adaptable and be able to work with minimum supervision.
In return we offer a generous annual leave allowance, works pension scheme, a range of staff benefits and discounts and development opportunities.
We look forward to reading your application and your cover letter. Your cover letter should illustrate how you meet the person specifications for this role and express your desire to work for our organisation.
We are especially keen to encourage expressions of interest from people currently under-represented within the organisation, these include but are not limited to those from the LGBT+ community, people with disabilities, and those from a Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic background. Candidates with a disability will be guaranteed an interview, providing they meet all the essential requirements of the post.
Community Learning Partnerships is a highly recognised, successful Leeds based charity with over 30 years of experience working in deprived areas to reduce inequality, poverty, and deprivation by improving wellbeing in Leeds through the provision of learning, skills, and personal development opportunities.
We are looking for a finance professional, someone who can provide the Charity with sound financial management. This role will be considered for hybrid working on completion of successful probationary period, although a minimum of 2 days in the office will be required.
The ideal candidate will have:
Ø AAT full or part qualification or other equivalent relevant qualification or experience
Ø Experience in financial management and payroll processing
Ø Full understanding of all aspects of book-keeping
Ø Proficient in Sage Line 50 accounts
Ø Outstanding numeracy skills and accurate data entry
Ø Experience of working within the charity / third sector would be desirable
The successful applicant will benefit from:
Ø 25 days annual leave (increasing according to length of service) + 8 bank holidays (pro-rata for part-time)
Ø Birthday day off (pro-rata for part-time)
Ø 24-hour employee assistance programme
Ø Free healthcare scheme
Community Learning Partnerships is committed to equality of opportunity, and we welcome applications from all sections of the community.
Due to the nature and financial responsibility of this role, we will undertake a standard DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) background check.
About Us
Fundraising and Supporter Development (F&SD) provides a fundraising and alumni engagement function in support of King’s College London. We are proud to work with colleagues across the university and its health partners to help them serve society through world-leading education, research and healthcare.
Our work also includes a partnership with the Maudsley Charity in support of children’s mental health initiatives between the university’s Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience and the South London & Maudsley NHS Trust.
We are a committed team that brings together fundraisers working across different channels, alongside colleagues who promote King’s College London’s engagement with its worldwide alumni community. Our work is underpinned and enhanced by a range of dedicated professionals in supporting areas covering proposition development, supporter engagement, supporter operations and business operations.
We have an impressive, well-established track record of success in securing support that allows the university and partners to deliver on their missions. This includes our global, award-winning World Questions: King’s Answers campaign, which set the standard in the sector and enabled us to raise substantial funds to help tackle some of the world’s biggest challenges. Ambitious and innovative, the team has won awards such as a CASE Platinum Award for Fundraising and a CASE Gold Award for Donor Relations and Stewardship. We are strongly values-driven with a focus on sustaining an excellent and supportive culture, which we see as key to creating a successful team that can support the university and its partners in making a real and positive difference to the world, we live in.
More on King’s College London
King’s College London is an internationally renowned university delivering exceptional education and world-leading research. The university is dedicated to driving positive and sustainable change in society and realising our vision of making the world a better place. Through its commitment to exceptional education, impactful research and genuine service to society, King’s College London is creating positive change in its communities, both in London and on the world stage. The Strategic Vision 2029 looks forward to King’s College London’s 200th anniversary in 2029 and sets out ambitious plans in five key areas:
· Educating the next generation of change-makers
· Challenging ideas and driving change through research
· Giving back to society through meaningful service
· Working with our local communities in London
· Fostering global citizens with an international perspective.
About the role:
We are looking for two exceptional Senior Philanthropy Managers – Health to join our Fundraising & Supporter Development (F&SD) team to significantly increase philanthropic income for health fundraising priorities across King’s College London (KCL). The roles will focus on major gifts (£100k - £3m gift level) to raise funds in support of the Faculty of Life and Medical Sciences (FoLSM) and the Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery and Palliative Care (NMPC).
There are two posts available (full time - 35 Hours per week) on Fixed Term Contracts until August/September 2025. We welcome applications from those seeking part-time and flexible working - minimum of 0.8FTE.
F&SD has a hybrid working approach, with a minimum of 40% of time in the office. Typically, this equates to two days per week, but we’re very happy for colleagues to be in more frequently if they so wish.
Closing date: 28 May 2024.
To apply, please click “Apply Now”.
Are you an experienced and well-rounded marketing professional ready for your next challenge? Do you have a proven track record of using your marketing and sales expertise to deliver revenue growth? Are you passionate about transforming education for post-16 students? Then this could be the role for you.
About Us:
At Learning on Screen, our core purpose is crystal clear: to elevate post-16 education by harnessing the transformative power of moving image and sound. We do this by working with members in educational institutions and beyond to provide unparalleled access to millions of audio-visual resources dating as far back as the 1920s for use in teaching and learning. We also support people to use this content, whether that’s navigating the minefield of copyright legislation or understanding best practice for embedding our content into their teaching. In addition, we work on pioneering partnerships and collaborations to amplify our global impact. Join us in our journey in shaping the future of learning and teaching and making a lasting impact in education.
Role Overview:
The Head of Marketing & Sales plays a pivotal role in driving the organisation’s growth. You will develop and execute multi-channel strategies delivered across the funnel from enhancing brand visibility and generating leads, nurturing leads to conversion, right the way through to supporting customer retention and advocacy. This varied role offers the opportunity to expand market reach with our current services, as well as helping launch new products into existing and untapped markets, while delivering a strong RoI.
As well as being a commercial and strategic leader you will need to be a hands-on problem solver, ready to roll your sleeves up to support a small team to deliver where needed. You will be pivotal in ensuring we achieve our mission and deliver impact for post-16 students.
You will report directly to the Chief Revenue Generation Officer who leads the revenue team, comprising of digital marketing and content specialists as well as membership support staff.
Key Responsibilities:
- Membership engagement and growth: Developing and executing strategic marketing and sales strategies to drive member engagement, growth and retention with our flagship membership and subscription services.
- Brand positioning and visibility: Ensuring we have a powerful brand that punches above its weight to increase market share, drive competitive advantage and to position the organisation as a thought leader within the sector.
- Marketing analysis and segmentation: Conducting market analysis/research within existing and untapped markets to uncover insights to segment audiences and tailor marketing messaging and activities effectively to drive conversions.
- Digital marketing: Overseeing digital marketing strategies, including website optimisation, email marketing, search marketing and social media marketing to drive traffic and conversion across the funnel stages.
- Content and creativity: Oversea content strategy and creation across various formats and channels, ensuring innovation and creativity to stand out in a crowded market.
- Data-driven decision making: Using analytics to test strategies, measure results and generate insights in order to iterate and improve performance, tracking key metrics and leading the team to deliver and report against agreed KPIs.
- Budgeting and resource management: Tracking spend, ensuring cost effective allocation of resources and reporting on RoI.
- Leadership and collaboration: Leading and mentoring the team to perform against growth and revenue targets as well as collaborating with other departments to ensure a unified approach.
Essential experience and skills
- Extensive experience in a similarly commercial marketing and sales role with a proven track record in driving revenue growth.
- Strong strategic thinking skills with a track record of successful planning and execution.
- A commercial and results-driven mindset with a commitment to achieving and exceeding financial targets.
- A diverse marketing skillset and proficiency across a range of marketing channels.
- Experience leading and line managing a team to perform.
- Excellent communication skills with an ability to convey complex ideas and concepts in an accessible way for a range of stakeholders,
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with fluctuating demands and priorities.
- Demonstrated ability in managing budgets and tracking RoI.
Benefits:
- Flexible working hours: 4 days (80% / 28.8 hours)
- Remote or Hybrid: Work from the comfort of your home or join us at our London office as needed.
- Competitive Salary: £36,000 per year pro rata (4 days / 80%).
- Professional Development: We encourage continuous growth and provide resources to enhance your skills.
- Make an Impact: Contribute to the future of digital learning in a dynamic and forward-thinking organisation.
Join us in driving unparalleled success as the Head of Marketing & Sales at Learning on Screen. We look forward to reviewing your applications and welcoming the newest member of our dynamic and forward-thinking team!
How to Apply:
To apply, please follow the "Apply via Website" button below to upload your CV, a cover letter outlining your relevant experience and qualifications, and a completed equality monitoring form via our Breathe Recruitment vacancy page.
Application Deadline: Wednesday, 22nd May 2024 by 6pm.
Please note that this is a part-time, permanent position. The job description is subject to occasional amendments and not considered part of the employment contract. Flexibility is required within the broad scope of the role.
Learning on Screen is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates. We are committed to creating an inclusive and diverse workplace.
Unfortunately, we are unable to consider any applications received after the deadline.
First interviews - will be held virtually on 27th May.
Second interviews - will be held in person on 3rd June.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
EduSpots is an innovative, dynamic, and community-driven UK and Ghanaian registered charity which connects, trains, and equips voluntary community educators to drive community-led change through education spaces named ‘Spots’. Our vision is of our world where communities unite to create the futures they want to see, through education.
Since 2016, through collaborating extensively with over 250 local volunteers, who take a central leadership role in the development of the network, we have supported 50 communities in creating and running community-led and owned education spaces named ‘Spots’, with a strategy to support them in moving towards our ‘Dream Spot Model’. Together, we are developing a model for a community-led education space with accompanying network engagement that could have relevance in settings across the world.
Our Ghana-based programmes team creates collaborative learning opportunities through three leadership programmes for volunteers: the Ignite, Catalyse and Peer Mentoring Programmes. These enable them to lead EduLit, EduSTEM, EduKidz and Ignite Equity clubs, alongside locally designed education projects, reaching over 10,000 students of all ages annually. Read our 2022 Impact Report here.
We are in an exciting period of our development, having more than doubled our income, programme breadth and reach in the last year. In 2024, we are launching our new Catalyse Leadership Programme, alongside developing an EduSpots app to enhance data management and programme management at the community level, alongside a wider digitalisation process through the distribution of tablets across the network.
We won the Tes International Award in 2018 and the Big Give Supporters’ Choice Award in 2022, and we were recently selected as a finalist for the Their World Scale-Up Innovation Prize. In 2021, our Founder/CEO was a Finalist in The Varkey Foundation’s UNESCO-backed $1 million Global Teacher Prize.
We are excited by our future. Do visit our website for further information.
About this role
We are looking for an experienced and dynamic fundraising professional, with a proven track record of income generation and a strong ability to develop impactful relationships with the skills to bring aligned individuals and organisations into our long-term EduSpots community. The post holder will be creative, passionate and self-motivated, with strong marketing and communications skills, able to design and implement strategic fundraising approaches.
In this role, you will take on responsibility for identifying, creating and delivering impactful fundraising strategies that enable us to generate further relationships and income in support of our programmes.
You will oversee the development of our individual giving and monthly giving strategies and further develop relationships with schools, corporate organisations and NGOs, with a focus on resource acquisition (e.g. books, electronic devices) alongside fundraising. You will also play a supportive role in events and campaigns, and work closely with our Head of Communications to ensure our marketing and communications strategy is integrated with our fundraising aims. Currently, we already have a trusts and foundations manager, but would welcome applicants with experience of trust fundraising.
We are an innovative, flexible and creative team, where all ideas are welcome and a strong teamwork ethos which ensures that fundraising is integrated into our overall strategy thinking, with staff in UK, Ghana and Nigeria working closely together. The role offers an exciting opportunity to make a tangible and immediate difference, with our inspiring Catalysts and remarkable stories of local change on a low-cost model, making working for EduSpots a rewarding and impactful experience.
EduSpots is an equal opportunities employer and is also committed to the safeguarding of children & vulnerable adults. Appointment will be subject to child protection screening appropriate to the post.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
The key responsibilities of this role are to:
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Develop our individual giving and monthly giving strategies, including:
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Ensuring we have the right tools in place.
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Strengthening thanking and communications to existing supporters.
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Trialling new strategies for outreach to new audiences.
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Organise occasional fundraising events (e.g. face-to-face events in London; virtual events and fundraising challenges).
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Support organisation and delivery of appeals and campaigns (e.g. the Big Give).
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Support the development of impactful relationships with schools, universities, corporates and NGOs for fundraising and resource acquisition (e.g. books, digital devices, science equipment).
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If time and experience, possibly support grant applications.
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Line manage, and provide support to, the intern/s (fundraising).
Other
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Ensure all administrative tasks relating to the role are carried out accurately.
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To comply at all times with the organisation's policies, procedures and performance expectations of staff as set out in the Staff and Volunteers Handbook.
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To ensure compliance with data protection legislation.
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Any other duties as may be reasonably required under the role.
Skills, Experience and Attributes
Essential
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Proven track record of successful income generation from individuals or communities - ideally in a similar education / international development organisation
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Experience of developing and maintaining successful income generating relationships (e.g. with schools, corporates, individuals, communities)
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Experience of digital marketing to engage new charity supporters / donors (including using paid advertising and innovative engagement techniques)
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Experience of email marketing and donor conversion strategies
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Strong communication and marketing skills, ideally with basic design skills (Canva)
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Ability to work effectively in a remote based role with minimal day-to-day support
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Outstanding interpersonal skills
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Excellent written and verbal communication skills
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Ability to use own initiative and work to tight and competing deadlines
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Ability to effectively manage workload and prioritise tasks
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Good IT skills - Google Suite, Microsoft Office, Zoom, Canva, Social Media
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Alignment with EduSpots’ core values of care, passion, teamwork, sustainable impact, community leadership and play.
Desirable
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Experience of writing compelling and successful funding proposals
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Experience of managing and reporting to funders
How to apply:
Please send your CV along with a covering letter (max 2 pages) explaining your interest in EduSpots and how your skills, experience and attributes meet the criteria we are looking for. Please send your application to Cat Davison, EduSpots Founder & CEO by email.
Deadline for applications: Noon on 30th May 2024.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Data and Insight Manager
We are looking for a Data and Insight Manager to investigate, analyse, synthesise and summarise qualitative and quantitative information for the organisation.
Position: Data and Insight Manager
Location: Hybrid/Reading
Hours: Full-time 35 hours per week (part-time working over 28 hours per week considered)
Salary: £53,939
Contract: Permanent
Benefits: 28 days’ annual holiday (rising to 33) plus bank holidays, Gym contribution membership (on completion of probation), Defined Benefit pension scheme
Closing date: 3rd June 2024 at midday
About the Role
The Insight Manager is responsible for transforming a wide range of data and information into insights and learning. This insight is used internally to continuously improve casework and is shared externally, with a variety of stakeholders.
You will use your knowledge to explain not just what the data tells us, but to present hypotheses about why it is what it is and what may happen next. Your role will include providing oral briefings to colleagues, but most of your work requires written communication.
You will ensure that the organisation is able to respond quickly to requests for information about the impact of its work, using your understanding of the Higher Education (HE) sector.
The role requires a highly collaborative approach, as it maintains a continuous link between casework, outreach and insight, public policy, senior leadership, and communications functions.
About You
As the Data and Insight Manager, you will excel in providing clear summaries of complex information, making appropriate use of different formats and images to communicate insights clearly, and working with communications colleagues to adapt and tailor this to different audiences.
You will have:
- Knowledge of the HE sector and of the political environment as it relates to tertiary education in the UK.
- Experience of using data to identify trends, themes, patterns and exceptions. Experience of explaining complex information simply, in writing.
- Experience of using Dynamics and Excel at an advanced level
About the Organisation
The organisation’s vision is that students are always treated fairly. It resolves complaints from students, shares learning from complaints to help improve policies and practices, and works with other organisations in the higher education sector and beyond.
The application system used for recruitment aims to overcome unconscious bias in recruiting. Instead of using your CV alone, we'll be asking you to answer questions to test skills needed for the role. The responses are then anonymised, and reviewed in a random order by members of the team.
You may also have experience in roles such as Data, Insights, Impact, Engagement, Data Manager, Insights Manager, Impact Manager, Engagement Manager, Impact and Engagement Manager, Data Analyst & Insights, Impact and Insights Officer, Research & Insight Officer, Monitoring & Insights Analyst
PLEASE NOTE: This role is being advertised by NFP People on behalf of the organisation.
The Task Ahead: Finance Manager
As The Difference moves from its early start-up phase into the delivery of our 2025-30 strategy, our programmes and sector-influencing work are expanding to reach more schools and to deepen our impact. Alongside this growth, our team - and the operational function which supports them - is also growing.
As Finance Manager, you will be a key member of the Finance & Operations team. You will hold end-to-end responsibility for the finance function, from reconciliations to budgeting. You will decide where and how our existing processes could be improved, as well as developing new systems that will underpin our work as a larger and more established charity. You will be supported by the Director of People, Finance & Operations, as well as our external auditors.
The Difference is still a small and growing charity. This means that our work is fast-paced, our roles are broad, and there is a culture of being reactive and flexible, as the needs of the organisation evolve. If this sounds exciting rather than daunting, then this could be the role and team for you!
Areas of Responsibility
The Difference is looking for a Finance Manager to lead our finance function in the following ways:
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Oversee our internal bookkeeping, payment, and accounting processes, and improve these systems ongoingly.
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Lead on budgeting and forecasting across the organisation, supporting teams to predict income and expenditure and make sound financial decisions.
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Lead on the production of management accounting information, including internal monthly management accounts, quarterly reports for Trustees, and financial reports for investors.
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Lead on The Difference’s audit process, with external auditors.
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Work with the Development & Impact Manager to update fundraising pipelines, and ensure the availability of high quality income projections for Trustees.
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Support accurate budgeting and reporting for grant funding, including tracking spend of restricted funds.
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Support business planning by working with teams to model potential future work - e.g. costs of expansion of an existing programme; modelling potential new programmes.
Person Specification
Essential – We are looking for the following skills, aptitude and experience; though you may be stronger in some areas than others:
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Values – Your experience evidences shared values with The Difference (see below) and a personal commitment to our mission to improve life outcomes for vulnerable people.
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Finance experience, operational and strategic – Experience across all areas of finance, from accurate invoicing, payments and record-keeping, through to setting and managing budgets, financial modelling and forecasting, and working with external accountants or auditors.
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Finance process development – Experience of developing finance systems; the ability to recognise how processes could be continuously improved, and enact this improvement.
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Leadership of self and others – Confident in identifying skills or information gaps within your team, and drawing on the expertise of others to address these gaps. Able to show how you've continually grown your own skills and those of your team members so that together you can efficiently cover workload and plan ahead.
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Proactive problem-solving – Ability to thrive in a fast-paced start-up environment and to problem-solve: from rolling sleeves up and diving into detail to working collaboratively to build capacity.
Desired – You are more likely to be successful in your application if you have one or more of the following additional experiences:
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Accounting qualification and experience - Some form of accounting qualification and post-qualification experience.
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Early-stage charity/social enterprise experience – You may have specific experience growing charities or businesses for social good at the early or start-up phase.
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Experience of charity finances – You may have worked for or supported other charities, and have experience of working with philanthropic grants, charity accounting, and governance.
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Insight into schools – You may have experience working in the education sector, whether that’s through working for a business or charities that partnered with schools, or through working in a school yourself.
Why Work for The Difference?
Schooling isn’t working for the children who need it most. Every week in England 109 children – equivalent to three full classrooms – are permanently excluded. This is just the tip of the iceberg. Since the pandemic, school suspensions have risen significantly, as has persistent absenteeism. 1 in 5 children are missing more than 10% of their time in school. Children who are excluded or persistently absent are much more likely to already be experiencing vulnerability or disadvantage. They are more likely to live in poverty, have additional learning needs, suffer mental health challenges, or experience a lack of safety outside school. Certain ethnicities are also disproportionately affected, notably Gypsy Roma Traveller and black Caribbean children.
Exclusion and high rates of absence can have a dramatic effect on life chances. These young people are more likely to drop out of education or employment, become vulnerable to long-term mental ill health, or be at risk of criminal exploitation. The Difference believes that children and young people deserve better and that the education system has to change.
Our Organisation
The Difference is a young education charity, founded to change the story on lost learning. By 2030, we want rates of exclusion and absence to be falling nationally and for schools to be better equipped to support all children, including those who may be vulnerable. The Difference was born out of a year of research into school exclusions with think-tank IPPR. This research identified a lack of inclusion expertise in schools and proposed a new leadership development programme to fill this gap. In 2018, Difference founder Kiran hired the team who took this idea from concept to reality, beginning work with our first schools.
The Difference is now a 22-strong team delivering multiple school leadership programmes, alongside a growing research and policy arm. The team is supported by our Youth Advisory Board, made up of young people who have experienced exclusion and who provide their expertise and insights on how school inclusion work should be done. This work is needed more than ever. Effects of COVID-19, coupled with the spiralling cost of living, have substantially increased levels of vulnerability. Schools serving excluded pupils face under-funding. The Difference has had excellent early impact but there is work ahead to capture this, share learning with schools and policy-makers, and grow our capacity to lower exclusions across England.
Our Values
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High Expectations - We are ambitious for excellence from young people, colleagues and ourselves. We don’t believe in writing off someone’s potential because of their identity or experience of crisis.
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Strong Relationships - We prioritise genuine relationships over transactional interactions, and know that this requires deliberate relational practice. We see colleagues and partners as people first and their roles second; and know this greater trust allows us to take more risks, gain more feedback and have greater impact.
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Internalised Locus of Control - We work hard to reframe difficult situations to discover what we have within our power in terms of solutions. We take it upon ourselves to walk towards challenges and can take a high level of ownership and agency in our work/
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Pragmatism - We believe leadership means recognising current limitations and striving for improvements within and beyond them. We develop consensus and chart new ways forward, challenging false and extreme positions like “zero exclusions” or “no excuses”.
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Scientific approach - We take a diagnostic approach to unpicking causes of problems. We are loud and proud of our failures, recognising failing fast and often is key to finding the best solutions. We test solutions and are willing to use data and feedback to make adjustments and choose new directions.
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Not Squeamish about Structural Inequality - We believe patterns of inequality can and should be disrupted. We strive to be clear-eyed about these inequalities, and both the individual practice and system-changes required to address them. We push ourselves to overcome awkwardness in talking about this; and begin by acknowledging our own biases and blind spots.
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Asset-based - We work hard to avoid deficit thinking and aim to start with what’s strong, not what’s wrong. We are careful not to frame our colleagues and stakeholders - particularly young people and families – as victims but instead to recognise their agency.
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Wise selves - To both enjoy work and do their best, we want to make decisions and work with others in our “wise” - or regulated - selves. We also want to bring our compassionate self to those we work with, externally and internally, to support one another through challenging times.
How To Apply
To apply, please complete all sections of the application form by midnight on Sunday 19th May.
First round interviews will be held during the week beginning 27th May, over video call. Please indicate if you would not be available to attend an interview during this week.
If successful in this stage, second round interviews (including a task to be completed the same day) will take place on the week beginning 3rd June, at our office in Bethnal Green.
We are committed to building a diverse team and strongly encourage applications from under-represented groups in the charity sector such as people from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, LGBTQ+ people, people with disabilities, people with experience in the care system, non-graduates and first-in-family graduates.
As part of our commitment to fairer recruitment, all applications will be assessed with names and any protected characteristics redacted.
Recommended Reading
If you’d like to understand more about The Difference and what we are trying to achieve, we would recommend the following:
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The research which underpins our organisation.
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Our latest Impact Report, sharing our work in 2023
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.