Communications officer jobs

As the Head of Academic Services, you will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of the academic department, ensuring smooth operations and fostering an effective, positive learning environment. This role involves direct line management of the Academic Services and Student Services team as well as collaborating with the other departments to uphold academic and company standards. Reporting to Senior Management, you’ll play a crucial role in formulating reports, monitoring performance metrics, implementing and overseeing academic policies to achieve our objectives.

This is a senior role within the organisation and the successful candidate will be a leading member of the leadership team. The role will require previous experience in a comparable management position in an academic setting, with extensive knowledge of Higher Education regulatory frameworks, policies and procedures.

The Head of Academic Services is responsible for managing, developing and strengthening Fourth Monkey’s academic and student support services, quality assurance and enhancement.

The Head of Academic Services acts as the expert in academic standards, oversight, programme management, student services and academic quality & compliance for the organisation and as such undertakes a senior responsibility within the smooth operational and administrative management of the organisations day to day operations.

This role is about driving student success. 

Join Affinity Trust as Director of Quality Improvement and Compliance

• Location: Hybrid with frequent travel to our Head Office for Executive Meetings, and national travel to our support locations.
• Head Office: Thame, Oxfordshire
• Salary: £100,000 per annum
• Car Allowance: £6,200
• Governance: You will be the Nominated Individual and Caldicott Guardian

With the right support, anything is possible

We are looking for a collaborative and visible leader—ideally from within social care or a closely related sector—who has significant experience leading a Quality or Operations function across a large and diverse set of services. 

Through your engagement with regulators, networks, and professional bodies, you will bring external insight into the organisation and help us stay at the forefront of best practice in quality and compliance.

About us

We are Affinity Trust, a national charity with over 30 years' experience supporting children, young people, and adults with learning disabilities, autism, and other needs. 

With nearly 2,500 colleagues and services across England and Scotland, we are values-led, financially strong, and driven by a single purpose: supporting people to live their life, their way.

Why this role matters

This is a pivotal, high-impact role. As Director of Quality Improvement & Compliance, you will play a central part in shaping how we continuously raise the standard of support across Affinity Trust. 

You will lead our approach to quality, improvement and co-production — ensuring we have the systems, insights, and culture needed to deliver consistently excellent, person-centred support.

You will influence practice across our services by working in close partnership with operational leaders, providing the challenge, guidance, and support needed to embed sustainable improvements. 

You’ll also champion innovation—harnessing the potential of digital tools and outcomes measurement to improve how we understand, assess, and enhance the lives of the people we support.

Above all, your work will be vital in helping us live out our core belief: that with the right support, anything is possible. This role is key to Achieving More Together.

What you’ll bring

We're looking for:

• A proven, senior leader from social care or a similar regulated sector.
• Deep understanding of quality, compliance, and safeguarding in complex service environments.
• Strategic acumen paired with empathy, collaboration, and a values-driven approach.
• Passion for co-production, data-informed improvement, and empowering people to thrive.
• Experience engaging with regulators (CQC/Care Inspectorate), driving innovation, and leading high-performing teams.

 Benefits

• £100,000 salary + £6,200 car allowance
• 30 days annual leave + bank holidays
• Private healthcare, enhanced pension, life insurance, and Blue Light discounts
• Hybrid flexibility, national influence, and deep local impact

Ready to be part of something extraordinary?

Apply by: 27 July 2025
Interviews: 28 August 2025

For more information, please refer to the candidate pack attached to this advert. 

Could you lead our Flagship LGBTQI+ specialist mental health service?  Islington Mind have an exciting opportunity to apply for the of role Outcome Senior Team Leader (LGBTQI+ specialist service). Due to the ethos of the project and funding requirements we are seeking a person from the LGBTQI+ community to lead this multifaceted service. Islington Mind has worked alongside volunteers and service users for over 40 years to co-create a unique, supportive and therapeutic LGBTQI+ community, supporting people with mental health difficulties.  This role offers the opportunity to join a well-established, skilled and committed team.  Please see the Job description for the full range of duties and role requirements.  

We offer:

• An inclusive and supportive work environment
• Competitive salary
• 26 days annual leave, plus bank holidays (Pro rata for part time hours)
• A pension scheme
• Access to Employee Assistance Programme

If you are interested, please visit our website, view the full job description and download the following documents:

1. The Monitoring Form

2. Application Form

Carers First is a charity that works directly with, and for unpaid carers, providing personalised information, advice and tailored support making it easier for those caring for someone else to continue living their lives to the fullest.

We have a committed, dedicated staff team and you could be just the person we are looking for to join us to make that valuable difference in carer’s lives. We live and work through our values in all that we achieve by being positive, collaborative and ambitious and we have clear plans to scale our reach, support and impact for carers.

About this role

As a CIC your responsibilities would include:

· Developing and coordinating carer and volunteer-led projects across Lincolnshire and centrally.

· Coordinating volunteering in the Lincolnshire area.

· Developing and running the Lincolnshire Carer Forum and co-production projects.

· Working as part of the Community Inclusion Team

About you

To be successful in this role you will need:

· Experience of working within the health and Social Care Sector is desirable.

· Good organisational skills with the ability to work in a proactive, flexible, and innovative way to meet objections.

· Experience of delivering projects/initiatives that aim to empower communities.

· Knowledge and experience of delivering volunteer-led programmes of work.

· Experience of recruiting and developing ongoing relationships with volunteers.

· Knowledge of co-production; with experience an advantage.

· Ability to network, develop and sustain joint work between agencies, including establishing good working relationships. 

· Ability to build positive and constructive working relationships with colleagues at all levels across the organisation. 

· Strong IT skills, use of (Microsoft applications, Word, Excel, Outlook), mobile telephone and social media platforms.

We are looking for passionate people who are committed to the overall aims and objectives of the Charity. Carers First is committed to providing a supportive, vibrant, diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive.  

Carers First Can Offer You

In return for your contribution, we have an amazing package of staff benefits including 26 days annual leave entitlement which increases with length of service, flexible working options, paid carers leave, access to our work-place pension, staff discount scheme, employee assistance programme and a Benenden Healthcare package.  Whatever you are aiming to achieve in your career, we are here to encourage, help and support you grow, through our excellent training and development programmes.

How to apply

To apply for our exciting opportunity and make a real difference to the lives of carers, click on the ‘Apply Now’ button to begin your application. Appointments are subject to Carers First receiving an appropriate disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service that we consider acceptable.

Interview process

All successfully shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview.

Closing date: 09 August 2025 – We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role

Interview date: Week commencing 11 August 2025

Carers First is an Equal Opportunities Employer

Positive      Collaborative      Ambitious

We are looking for our new Campaigns Coordinator for Birmingham Friends of the Earth.

If you are passionate about environmental campaigning, and love supporting and working alongside committed voluntary activists, we’d like to hear from you. You do not need to have had a similar paid role in the past to apply for this role.

Birmingham Friends of the Earth (BFoE) is a non-profit organisation campaigning to create a more sustainable and fairer Birmingham. We empower others to take action, we hold decision-makers to account on climate change, waste, nature and clean air, and we make sure environmental justice is at the heart of everything we do, campaigning intersectionally and inclusively. As well as having an active volunteer-led campaigns group, we run The Warehouse, our lively environmental community centre in Digbeth and a key centre for the city’s activism. BFoE is linked to Friends of the Earth, the national organisation, but independent and able to campaign on issues that matter to us, in ways that resonate with us.

The purpose of the role, part of our small staff team of 5, is to lead our campaigns activity, working with and supporting our campaigns group.

We welcome applications from those for whom this would be their first paid campaigns role. Experience of voluntary activism and enthusiasm to develop your skills and grow into the role are more important than ticking all the boxes.

Interviews are still to be confirmed, as we are aiming for some flexibility to allow for summr holiday arrangements. There is space on the application form to give us any dates you are not available for interview within the period 18th August to 5th September.

We look forward to reading your application!

We are recruiting for a new Operations Manager to take on a broader and more strategic version of an existing role, with overall responsibility for the operational delivery of our services across three office locations.

The successful candidate will oversee HR, facilities management, IT, and our volunteer programme. You will lead a small but dedicated administrative team and work closely with colleagues at all levels as part of our Senior Management Team (SMT).

We are seeking a practical, solutions-focused and detail-oriented individual who thrives in a fast-paced environment and enjoys improving systems, processes and ways of working— especially within a charity context and with limited resources. You will be confident working with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, including major City law firms who support our pro bono work.

To apply, please share your up-to-date CV together with a cover letter of no more than two pages of A4, setting out how you meet the person specification and why you would like to work with South West London Law Centres.

Please note that applications without a cover letter will not be considered.

The closing date for the post is 29 July 2025 by cob 5 pm with interviews soon after. If you would like to have a brief informal chat to discuss the role, please contact us.

Role:  Head of Finance

Location:Hybrid (on-site 3 days per week in Sheffield)

Our offer to you

We pride ourselves in being a great place to work, providing a supportive culture with opportunities to grow and develop your career, achieve a healthy work life balance and to be recognised for the great work you do. You will receive:

• Competitive salary and pension scheme
• 33 days holiday (inclusive of bank holidays) - increasing to 38 days over 5 years
• Hybrid, Flexible working
• Cycle to work scheme Electric Vehicle Scheme
• Health and Wellbeing portal – access to financial, health and wellbeing support and an Employee Assistance Programme
• Discounts – you will have access to Blue Light and NHS Discounts as well as discounts on mobile phones, gym membership, cinema tickets, restaurants, holidays and shopping

About Us

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a team of over 1,400 employees and over 31,000 volunteers, united by our goal of saving lives through essential first aid services, training and campaigning.  As a charity with rich heritage and a long history of serving humanity, we are proud of our past and excited about creating a healthier, safer, more resilient future. 

St John Ambulance works at the heart of communities, supporting and enabling them to access and receive physical and mental health first aid. We do this through developing and providing effective community response and outreach services (e.g. Ambulance response & Nighttime Economy) and using our longstanding expertise to empower people with vital clinical skills and the confidence to use them (e.g. our Volunteers and Community Advocates, NHS Cadets and Young Responders programmes). There is also a buoyant social enterprise network which delivers first aid training and supplies medical consumables to businesses and consumers.

Job Summary

We’re looking for an experienced and forward-thinking finance leader to play a central role in shaping the future of the finance team at St John Ambulance. Reporting to the Finance Director (who reports directly to the CEO), this is a high-impact position at the heart of our finance transformation journey—ideal for a self-motivated, qualified accountant who thrives on change and making an impact.

As a senior leader within the organisation, you’ll be instrumental in driving the evolution of our finance function, leading and developing a large, multi-disciplinary team. You'll bring deep expertise across a broad range of finance disciplines and be excited by the opportunity to embed best practices, streamline processes, and strengthen financial governance.

This is more than a technical role—it's a strategic leadership opportunity. You'll collaborate with senior stakeholders across the organisation and externally, using your communication and influencing skills to shape decision-making and support our charitable mission.

You’ll oversee the delivery of timely, accurate management accounts and play a key role in providing high-quality financial reporting to our Trustees and Finance Committee. You'll also take the lead on our statutory audited accounts, acting as the principal contact for both internal and external auditors.

With additional responsibility for cashflow forecasting, treasury management, tax compliance, VAT, and gift aid, this role ensures St John maintains robust financial governance. While charity sector experience is an advantage, it's your passion for making a difference and your leadership in finance that will set you apart.

About You

• Educated to degree level with a full professional accounting qualification (ACA, ACCA, or CIMA).
• Significant post-qualification experience (PQE) in senior financial accounting roles, with strong technical expertise.
• Proven track record in producing annual statutory accounts and successfully managing external audit processes.
• Extensive experience leading and developing large finance teams within complex organisations, driving performance and accountability.
• Skilled in preparing management accounts, income and expenditure reports, and cash flow forecasts to support strategic decision-making.
• Demonstrated success in finance team transformation, implementing process improvements, and enhancing financial controls.
• Experienced in stakeholder engagement at all levels, including Board reporting, and providing expert technical accounting advice to support change and excellence.

About the Role

• Lead statutory and management reporting: Oversee the production of audited statutory financial statements and timely completion of the external audit. Ensure best practice in external financial reporting and take full responsibility for the accuracy and delivery of monthly management accounts.
• Own cash flow and balance sheet management: Lead the preparation of the charity’s monthly rolling cash flow forecast and ensure full ownership of the balance sheet, including timely and accurate reconciliations.
• Strengthen financial controls and working capital: Ensure effective financial processes and controls within transactional teams to manage working capital and drive continuous improvement in financial operations.
• Oversee compliance and tax: Identify, manage and control financial risks, including tax compliance. Provide expert technical accounting advice and ensure the charity remains fully compliant in all taxation matters, including VAT and gift aid.
• Drive counter fraud and governance improvements: Act as the financial lead for the charity’s control environment and counter fraud framework. Champion improvements in fraud awareness, culture, and control.
• Manage key external relationships: Serve as the main contact for the charity’s bankers and investment managers, and act as secretary to the Finance Committee and Investment Advisory Group.
• Optimise treasury and investment performance: Lead treasury activities to maximise returns on working capital and investments, ensuring alignment with the charity’s strategic objectives.
• Develop team and performance culture: Foster a high-performing finance team through regular 1-1s, development reviews, and team meetings. Embed a strong performance management culture in line with St John Ambulance policies.

Please see the job description for more detail (this can be viewed on our website or once you click apply)

If you are a current St John Ambulance employee, please apply here: Click here

For all other candidates, or St John Ambulance volunteers wishing to apply: please apply below

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive high volume of applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

St John Ambulance are committed to increasing the diversity of our team and making sure we best reflect the diversity of the communities we serve.At St John, everyone is valued and supported to thrive, we have several networks including Multi Culture, Disability and Accessibility, Pride, Family and Carers and Women’s groups.  We do not tolerate any form of discrimination and engender a sense of belonging for all, by creating an environment of mutual respect, where we value unique differences and demonstrate authentic allyship. We believe passionately in equality, diversity and inclusion.

St John Ambulance is committed to safeguarding and we promote safe recruitment practice. Therefore, all successful applicants will undergo pre-employment checks, including DBS Clearance, as part of the onboarding process, if applicable to the nature of the role

Please note: St John does not accept speculative CVs and will only review CVs sent in application for an advertised vacancy.

Looking to lead impactful work with a passionate, high-performing charity team? Join Cosmic to shape and deliver life-changing family support.

Based across two world-renowned London hospitals, this role puts you at the heart of vital projects supporting NHS staff, families, children and babies in intensive care. You’ll lead our pioneering post-discharge service, work closely with clinical teams, and ensure Cosmic’s work continues to deliver measurable and meaningful impact. If you're a confident project manager with a head for data, a heart for people, and a drive to improve services where it matters most - we’d love to hear from you.

About Cosmic

Cosmic is a small but mighty children’s charity dedicated to supporting the incredible work of the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, and Queen Charlotte’s Hospital, Hammersmith. We provide vital funding for life-saving equipment, specialist staff training, and pioneering research. We also deliver our own emotional and practical family support services - making a real difference for children and families when they need it most.

The Role

This role will be pivotal in connecting Cosmic with the families we support and our NHS units across both hospital sites, by managing service delivery and fostering continuous engagement. The postholder will lead and coordinate our new Post-Discharge Support service, working closely with families, the NHS Family Liaison Team, and counsellors. They will also be responsible for monitoring and evaluating the outcomes of service delivery projects - focusing on the experiences and impact on both NHS staff and families - while ensuring efficiency and value for money through careful cost assessment.

NHS Engagement & Relationship Management

▪ Build strong partnerships with PICU and NICU teams to embed Cosmic’s presence, raise awareness, and identify areas for support.

▪ Collaborate with clinical teams to develop and deliver projects that improve patient, family and staff experiences - maintaining an up-to-date pipeline of funding needs.

▪ Liaise directly with families on the units to understand their needs and explore how Cosmic can offer practical and emotional support, helping to build trusted relationships and inform future service development.

▪ Organise engagement activities and events to promote Cosmic across the units, ensuring consistent branding and visibility.

▪ Represent Cosmic at senior staff hospital meetings, forums and working groups, sharing feedback and opportunities with the wider team.

▪ Manage project timelines, budgets, KPIs and reporting to senior management and funders.

Engagement Campaigns

▪ Create, promote and mobilise staff on our units to deliver a yearly schedule of engagement campaigns. Work with staff to develop new and existing campaigns; creating and implementing the plans as appropriate.

▪ To keep abreast of any key or newsworthy/trending national developments and topics relating to PICU & NICU care and the NHS and develop campaigns as appropriate.

Post Discharge Support Project

▪ Manage development and delivery of Cosmic’s new pioneering family support service after intensive care.

▪ Develop, in partnership with the units, service delivery models that include services provided, and their impact.

▪ Develop project budgets with the COO, monitoring and evaluating them to ensure projects are delivered on budget.

▪ Oversee ongoing evaluation and development of the service to ensure it meets targets and desired outcomes.

▪ Work with our supporters and past patients and families in the development of projects and services.

▪ Work closely with the Family Liaison Nurse, who will interact directly with families benefiting from the service, to ensure their needs and experiences inform the ongoing development of the project.

Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting

▪ Develop and implement data metrics and gathering points to measure and analyse the impact of Cosmic’s services, supporting outcomes reporting and strategic decision-making.

▪ Utilise strong IT skills for database modelling and data interpretation, ensuring timely data capture in collaboration with clinical staff to enhance service delivery and promote awareness.

▪ Monitor and report on the impact of Cosmic’s work to support funding efforts and improve overall effectiveness.

Who We’re Looking For

We’re looking for a confident and organised professional who can manage high-impact projects, work effectively with NHS colleagues, and deliver meaningful services for families and staff. You’ll need to be comfortable juggling multiple priorities while keeping a clear focus on outcomes and relationships.

You’ll bring:

• Strong project management skills, with experience of engaging with stakeholders and reporting on services.

• Proven ability to develop and use data metrics to measure programme impact, support service improvement, and meet external reporting needs.

• Confidence in working with clinical teams to gather data, track progress, and interpret complex information for strategic use.

• Experience developing end-to-end processes - from identifying needs and prioritising projects to delivery and evaluation.

• Excellent communication skills and an authoritative, professional manner when representing the charity.

• A collaborative approach to teamwork, including chairing meetings and motivating others.

• The ability to make sound decisions under pressure and communicate them clearly and constructively.

• An understanding of paediatric or neonatal care environments is desirable but not essential.

Why You’ll Love Working with Us

At Cosmic, we’re a small team with a big heart. Every day, we’re privileged to support families and NHS staff when they need it most - often during the most difficult and vulnerable moments of their lives. This role offers the opportunity to be a vital part of that support, making a tangible difference where it truly matters.

• 27 days holiday plus Bank Holidays

• £200 professional development budget annually

• Hybrid working opportunities

• Employee Assistance Programme

• Flexible hours. Core office hours 10am – 4pm

To be considered for the Service Delivery Manager role, please ensure you answer the screening question in full.

We’re an award-winning charity that runs local learning centres in the heart of communities where the young people we support live. Our centres provide an innovative education programme which includes practical learning support and motivational and confidence-building activities for children and young people aged 7-18. Our aim is to inspire students from the least advantaged neighbourhoods to broaden their horizons and achieve their full potential.

As the UK’s leading university access organisation, our staff team is helping thousands of young people each year. We have forty-three centres and extension projects across England and Scotland, with plans to scale-up our provision further over the coming years.

We are looking for someone to take up an important role in our safeguarding team as a Safeguarding Manager. This role will be crucial in supporting our delivery team to safeguard the young people we work with and help ensure that IntoUniversity provides a safe environment for all of our young people at all times.

The role at a glance

Contract:

This is a permanent role. Part-time, 4 days a week (0.8 FTE). We would be open to discussing the possibility of a full time role with the successful candidate - responsibilities would be adjusted proportionally in this case. 

Start date:

As soon as possible, to be agreed directly with the candidate.

Working hours

30 hours across
Mon and Thurs: 09:30-18:00
Tues, Weds, Fri: 09:00-17:30

We’re happy to discuss your preference for the non-working day but we would like the successful candidate to work on Fridays. You will also be able to work from home one day a week. (Some out-of-hours work will be required from time to time - for example, out of hours safeguarding phone cover for an enrichment event or residentials).

Location

Could be based in one of the following IntoUniversity centres:

Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Clacton, Coventry, Great Yarmouth, Hull, Leeds, Leicester, London, Manchester, Middlesbrough, Norwich, Nottingham, Southampton, Weston-Super-Mare (with occasional travel around the IntoUniversity network as required)

Salary

£35,500 per annum FTE (£28,400 pro rata). This will rise to £36,400 per annum FTE (£29,120 pro rata) from 1st September 2025.

London based candidates will also receive £2,600 London contribution (pro rata). The pro-rated amount is £2,080. This will rise to £2,700 (pro rata) from 1st September 2025. The pro-rated amount will be £2,160.

Annual leave 

Full-time staff entitlement, pro-rated for part-time staff: 33 days (inc bank & public holidays) + 3 closure days (two in December and one in July) + additional length of service entitlement (one day per year of service, up to 5 days) 

In order to be eligible for the role, applicants must:

• Have achieved a grade C/ grade 4 or higher in GCSE Maths and English/ achieved National 5s or Standard Grade at Credit level (grades 1-2) in Maths and English (or equivalent).
• Have previous experience of working with children or young people in a safeguarding capacity.
• Have a secure knowledge of key legislation and statutory guidance on safeguarding and promoting the  welfare of children.
• Have the right to work in the UK (please note that as a charity we do not have the capacity to sponsor work visas).

Job Purpose

We are fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and adults. You will work closely with the Head of Safeguarding, the Safeguarding team and the Senior Operations Team to provide a safe environment for all young people and families across our centres and programmes. With the support of the Head of Safeguarding and Operations, the Safeguarding Manager will contribute to the development of safeguarding policies, training, procedures and guidance to promote the welfare and protection of children and young people. Alongside the safeguarding team, you will manage the
coordination of referrals, arranging action and ensuring accurate monitoring and recording of all safeguarding cases.

Battersea is entering an exciting phase of innovation and transformation during this first year of our new five-year strategy. With increased investment in income generation, we are strengthening our team to drive the growth necessary to achieve our organisational goals.bThis role sits within the Philanthropy, Partnerships & Commercial (PPC) team, made up of Philanthropy & Trusts, Corporate Partnerships & Commercial, Special Events & Stewardship, and Fundraising Operations.

The focus of the Philanthropy & Trusts team is to build a solid base of support through excellent stewardship of existing trusts and major donors alongside cultivation of new prospects, reached through prospect research and the networks of senior volunteers.
The key purpose of this Philanthropy Manager is to meet both financial and strategic KPIs, by managing a portfolio of key individual relationships and cultivating new prospects to support the long-term health of the Philanthropy pipeline. This role, together with Battersea’s other Philanthropy Manager, will also work closely with senior leadership, senior volunteers and other individuals to open up networks and introduce new major donors to Battersea.

What we can offer you:

In return for your commitment to our cause and to recognise the value of our employees, Battersea offers a range of benefits to support the wellbeing of our employees. These include:

• 28 days of annual leave (plus 8 days paid public holidays) per year.
• Discounted gym memberships and cycle to work schemes.
• Employee Assistance Programme and access to Wellbeing Resources.
• Generous pension contributions - up to 10% employer contribution.
• Free healthcare cash plan, where you can claim for a range of treatment including dental, optical, physiotherapy, chiropody and acupuncture every year.
• Annual interest-free season ticket loans.

We are also committed to providing learning and development to our employees. During your time with us, we provide support for your professional and career development, including access to digital and in-person training programmes, leadership and management training, mentoring and much more.

Our hybrid working model:

We operate a 50% onsite hybrid working model, with our office-based staff splitting their time between site based and home working. This enables our office-based staff to balance the benefits of home working with onsite collaboration and maintaining a connection to our cause.

Diversity and inclusion:

We are committed to providing a welcoming and inclusive experience for all staff, volunteers and trustees and those hoping to join us. We operate an anonymised shortlisting process and actively seek to ensure our process is fair and equitable for all.

We understand the value of diverse voices, perspectives, and experiences to help us deliver even more for our dogs and cats, and we welcome applicants from all sections of the community.

As a Disability Confident Committed Employer we will ask about any adjustments you may need at application and/or interview stage, and if you are offered a role with us, we’ll talk to you about any workplace adjustments you may need to help you perform at your best.

More about us:

At Battersea, we aim to never turn away a dog or cat in need of help. We give each one lots of love, expert care and get to know their characters and quirks so we can find them a new home that’s just right for them. Join us and help us be here for every dog and cat, wherever they are, for as long as they need us.

Closing date: 3rd August 2025
Interview date(s): w/c 11th August 2025 (1st round), w/c 18th August 2025 (2nd round)

All applications must be submitted before the closing date advertised. We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of applications is received.

You don’t need to tick every box; if you care about making a difference, we want to hear from you.

We’re looking for two Place Leads to help drive our work in Stoke-on-Trent and East Staffordshire. Each role will be rooted in its local area, but both will work across the whole county, helping us build more connected, inclusive systems that support people to be active in ways that matter to them.

This work is part of a wider investment from Sport England, focused on changing how systems support people to be active. That means shaping how physical activity is understood, prioritised, and embedded, not just in programmes, but in policies, partnerships, and everyday decisions. That includes health, local government, community development, and beyond.

You’ll work with partners, communities, and decision-makers to make sense of what’s already happening, spot where things are stuck, and help shift both the culture and the practice. The work will be messy, layered, and relational. Some days will be about strategy. Others will be about trust.

You’ll be part of a small, committed team working across policy, systems, community insight and practice. And you’ll be trusted to bring your own judgement, experience, and clarity to the role.

If you’re someone who can see the potential in people and systems, even when they’re tired or fragmented, we’d love to hear from you.

Role Outcomes:

• Improve wellbeing outcomes for families as part of place expansion work
• Connected, vibrant, proactive system of partners working in core priority places
• Grassroots, community organisations in our priority places are part of decision making
• Robust learning and evaluation framework in place the can effectively demonstrate the our impact across systems and directly for people living in place
• The people who need to understand and demonstrate system leadership do
• Coordinated, coherent approach has been developed to place based working in areas of focus.

What does this mean day to day?

• You’ll spend time listening to what’s emerging in communities, building trust with partners, and making sense of how insight, decisions, and action travel across the system.
• You’ll support our governance groups, coordinating agendas, shaping recommendations, and helping hold people gently but clearly to account for the things they’ve committed to.
• You’ll track where energy is building, where its leaking, and where attention needs to shift. That means spotting patterns, asking difficult questions, and making sure conversations lead to decisions, and decisions lead to change.
• You’ll need to hold contradictions without forcing resolution: where different truths exist at once, where progress creates new tensions, and where outcomes are unclear. Critical thinking is key; this role is as much about reflection and challenge as it is about delivery.
• Some days you’ll be co-designing a development session. Other days, you’ll be reflecting on what’s working, what’s drifting, and how we bring things back into focus. You’ll be supported by a small team who care about doing this work well, with clarity, kindness, and a shared sense of purpose.

How do we value you?

• Generous annual leave allowance: 27.5 days upon commencement of employment plus bank holidays. This rises by an additional 1 day of leave per year after 2 years of continuous employment, up to an additional 5 days leave in total. (Pro rata for part time staff)
• Three concessionary days leave over Christmas and New Year (pro rata for part time staff)
• Death in service scheme up to the value of three times actual salary
• Volunteer day to spend either as a team or individual helping out with an organisation or cause you select
• Up to 8% employer contribution to pension scheme
• Reimbursement of the cost of a standard eye test as a user of visual display equipment
• Health & Wellbeing Cashplan – including access to a virtual GP any day anytime, Discounts to gym memberships, Retail discounts such as cinema tickets and your weekly shop.
• Access to Cyclescheme
• Annual CPD courses offered by Staffordshire University
• Online skills training platform – for employees to use to broaden their professional and personal development across a range of online courses.
• Access to counselling service.

To apply, please visit our website, read our recruitment pack, and send us your CV along with a cover letter answering the three questions below.

We’re recruiting on a rolling basis. If your application feels like a good fit, we’ll be in touch within a week to arrange an interview.

Questions to answer:

• What draws you to place-based systems work, and what helps you stay with it when it gets messy or slow?
  We’re interested in your motivation, but also in your mindset; how you approach complexity, pace, and change that doesn’t always follow a plan.

• Tell us about a time you helped hold people or partners to account in a way that built trust rather than eroded it.
  This could be from work, volunteering, or anywhere you’ve had to navigate power, tension, or different agendas with care.

• How do you recognise when systems change is happening, and when it isn’t?
  We don’t need a textbook answer. We want to hear how you spot movement (or drift), and what you pay attention to when trying to shift something deeper than outputs.

Job Role

The café manager is responsible for leading all team members both paid staff and volunteers in the efficient and self sustaining operation of the cafe. They are responsible for managing the day-to-day operations and financial performance of the café and maintaining high standards. They need to foster a positive environment, which provides consistent, fast, efficient, and friendly service and a high quality experience for both our customers and team members. Team members include paid staff and volunteers some of whom have learning difficulties.

The manager will support and work within the Christian aims and purposes of St Thomas Church, and in accordance with its ethos and values, creating a place for all at the heart of the community.

The Church takes the safety of everyone within the church very seriously and expects that everyone will work within the Church safeguarding policy.

The café manager will be responsible to the Team Vicar at St Thomas Church

 Responsibilities

Product:

Manages and develops menus

Initiates, reviews and manages processes to make sure that all staff and volunteers are ensuring food served and delivered is to a high and consistent quality.

Ensures that all team members are educated on our products and services and products are delivered to customers consistently to a high quality.

Initiates, reviews, and manages systems that ensure that all staff and volunteers are inducted and continually trained in food hygiene, allergen awareness and that all statutory records regarding food hygiene, allergens are kept up to date.

Initiates, reviews and manages systems to improve stock control and minimise wastage

Service:

Is the Role Model for outstanding service in the cafe.

Pro-active in solving customer problems and satisfying customers in various situations and can handle conflict and other sensitive issues in a calm and fair manner.

Ensures that all team members provide customers with efficient, friendly, superior service on a consistent basis.

Consistently monitors, coaches and encourages team members to meet excellent service standards.

Assesses and provides adequate resource (paid staff and volunteers) to provide efficient and friendly, superior service and documents this on the weekly rota.

Maintains high cleanliness standards consistently throughout the cafe in the areas of store appearance, merchandise and equipment.

Training and Development:

Ensures a safe, enjoyable place of work for all team members recognising and respecting the unique needs, abilities and potential for development in every individual

Provides ongoing training and development to all team members (staff and volunteers) in the areas of operating standards, customer service and product knowledge.

Demonstrates the ability to lead, effectively communicates and is passionate about the Cafe.

Builds morale and team spirit by fostering a work environment where team members input is encouraged and valued.

Ensures each team member has received proper training to perform as a barista or in any other role effectively and efficiently.

Coaches and counsels team members for improved performance, documenting developmental plans for paid staff as necessary.

With support from your line manager, ensure that employment law and the businesses policies are followed in relation to human resources.

Hold 1 week and 3 month reviews with new employed starters, and with your line manager

Ensure that new starters are fulfilling the duties of their role(s) before the end of their probationary period

Hold annual reviews with employed café staff to celebrate their achievements and to identify areas where additional training or support may be required.

Cafe Operations:

Ensures that all cafe operating procedures are adequately documented and available for all to use

Ensures the Staff handbook is updated regularly

Facilitates on-going training and development of current staff and volunteers.

Promotes and practices safe work habits, identifying and resolving potential safety hazards, operational inconsistencies and any team member or customer incidents.

Provides the necessary health and safety training for staff and volunteers

Documents accidents, conducts initial investigation and determination of root cause in the interest of maintaining a safe work environment

Business

Delivers the agreed financial targets for the café

Develops promotional programmes to deliver the sales targets

Safeguarding

The Church takes the safety of everyone within the church very seriously

and expects that everyone will work within the Church safeguarding policy.

In particular, the Church expects anyone who becomes aware of a safeguarding risk or of actual abuse, to immediately raise this with the Parish Safeguarding Officer.

Those who work with children, young people and/or adults who are vulnerable should have a commitment to:

· Adhere to the church's policies and codes of conduct

· Treat individuals with respect

· Recognise and respect their abilities and potential for development

· Working in ways that meet and develop the personal, spiritual, social and pastoral needs

· Promote their rights to make their own decisions and choices, unless it is unsafe

· Ensure their welfare and safety

· The promotion of social justice, social responsibility, and respect for others

· Confidentiality, never passing on personal information, except to the person you are responsible to, unless there are safeguarding issues of concern which must always be reported to the person you are responsible to and to the safeguarding officer.

Person Specification:

1 Skills

1.1 Good written and oral communication skills

1.2 Good numeracy skills

1.3 Confident, enthusiastic and self-motivated with a great work ethic

1.4 Creative, innovative and willing to implement ideas and professional opinion

1.5 Team player with a demonstrable positive, ‘can do’ attitude and ability to motivate a team including volunteers.

1.6 Motivated by a passion for preparing food with quality and with great service delivery

1.7 Excellent customer service skills and demonstrable experience in a café environment- preferably in management, but not essential.

1.8 Able to show sensitivity and flexibility as circumstances demand

1.9 Resilient and able to work under pressure when faced with complex and demanding situations

1.10 Able to handle conflict and other sensitive issues in a calm and fair manner

Knowledge

2.1 Knowledge of the catering and / or coffee sector

2.2 Possess a high level of coffee art skills and knowledge

2.3 Sound knowledge of Hygiene, Health and Safety

Experience

3.1 Experience of preparing food to safe and high standards

3.2 Experience of working as a barista in a coffee shop

3.3 Experience of working with, supporting and guiding people and volunteers of all ages

3.4 Experience of line managing people

Qualifications

3.1 A good general level of education

3.2 Food Safety and Hygiene level 2

Working Arrangements

40 hours per week between the hours of 8am to 4.30 Monday to Wednesday, 8am to 6.30pm Thursday and Friday, 9 am to 4.30 pm on Saturdays. 10am to 4.30pm Sunday including up to three weekends per month (minimum two)

28 days paid holiday per year plus public holidays.

Plus 1 day paid holiday per year on your birthday

Salary Up to £14.79 per hour depending on experience (Annual £30,763)

Pension scheme

The PCC has a workplace pension scheme with NEST and follows legal requirements . Nest is the workplace pension scheme set up by the government.

You may be automatically enrolled into the occupational Pension Scheme however you may also choose to opt out of this. Should you opt to take out a Personal Pension Plan then this is a private matter between yourself and the financial institution concerned and does not involve the Church in any way.

References:

Excellent and unequivocal references

Current Employer

Former Employer

At Children’s University Trust, we believe every child deserves the opportunity to thrive through learning beyond the classroom. We’re a small, passionate team with bold ambitions to expand our impact – and we’re looking for an equally ambitious Business Development and Community Partnership Manager to lead the way.

This is more than just a development role. It's about building sustainable growth strategies, forging powerful partnerships, and shaping a future where opportunity is no longer defined by postcode or circumstance.

As our Business Development and Community Partnership Manager, you will take the lead in shaping and implementing visionary, data-driven growth strategies across three vital areas:

• Place-based memberships with schools, universities, councils’ departments, and third sector organisations.
• Individual “at home” subscriptions for children in areas without direct Children’s University provision or those who do not engage with traditional education.
• Strategic business partnerships with corporates and SMEs, securing vital funding and in-kind support.

You’ll be a key figure in our next phase of growth — identifying new opportunities, building meaningful relationships, and helping us scale our reach across the UK.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive new business activity and revenue growth across all three strategic areas.
• Build a strong, inclusive pipeline of potential members, partners, and funders.
• Manage and nurture relationships from first contact through to long-term collaboration.
• Use data and insight to shape decision-making and report progress to the board.
• Be a passionate ambassador for Children’s University at events, conferences, and online.

We’re Looking for Someone Who:

• Has a proven track record in income generation, partnerships or sales – all sector’s welcome!
• Is passionate about improving the lives of children and young people.
• Is a strategic thinker with the energy of a new business developer.
• Has the confidence to influence senior stakeholders and the empathy to build trust.
• Brings a creative, collaborative, and resilient mindset.
• Thrives in a fast-paced, flexible, remote-first environment.

Why Join Us?

• A unique chance to shape a growing national charity’s development strategy.
• A collaborative, driven team that values innovation and purpose.
• Flexible working, with one day a week in Manchester.
• An opportunity to truly change lives through education and opportunity.

If you’re excited by the chance to lead sustainable growth with purpose, and you want your work to matter, we want to hear from you.

Apply today and be part of a team creating a brighter future for children across the UK.

This is an exciting new role to head up DanceSyndrome’s Community work across Lancashire developing, nurturing, growing, and managing our community workshops. At the heart of our organisation are our weekly bespoke Community Inclusive Dance Workshops; ‘Everybody Dance’. These workshops are co-delivered by a qualified Dance Leader with a learning disability, working side-by-side with a non-disabled Dance Artist. As part of our ambitious strategy, we will be establishing several new workshops across Lancashire over the next five years and co-delivering inclusive dance provision for all ages from early years through to adulthood by 2030.

As Head of Community, you will oversee several vibrant and active communities; build community engagement and cohesion; and to collect, collate and analyse key data to demonstrate impact and to drive forward strategic planning and decision making. This is alongside developing and managing both strategic and operational long-term partnerships & collaborations across communities in the North-West and building and executing an engaging and effective Volunteer Programme to support all Community workshops.

This role supports strand one of DanceSyndrome’s ambitious strategy; Vision 2023; ‘To deliver an outstanding, collaborative, and high-quality programme of co-produced and co-delivered inclusive dance across the North-West’.

We are looking for an exceptional, experienced, self-motivated, and enthusiastic individual to represent DanceSyndrome at the heart of our communities taking our inclusive person-centred offering to the next level.

You will pro-actively support our timetable of weekly Community inclusive dance workshops ensuring they operate to the highest standards of Quality & Excellence and making sure that all systems and processes are in place in relation to security, registers and payments.

You will line manage the Programmes & Operations Manager and Data & impact Manager and collectively drive forward all aspects of our Community work to the highest standards.  

You will manage key partnerships with Community Centres and be instrumental in engaging and onboarding new participants supporting DanceSyndrome’s ambitious Vision 2030 strategy to increase participation, and reach under-served and diverse communities, as well as executing our Children & Young People strategy working across all ages.

You will identify, understand and engage with key partners and Stakeholders who can support DanceSyndrome’s ambitions to be the ‘go to’ and ‘organisation of choice’ for people with learning disabilities, leadership opportunities and an inclusive unique co-led delivery model which doesn’t exist anywhere else. Through effective partnership working, you will work across sectors and reach under-served and diverse communities. You will also be able to identify key barriers to access, gaps in current provision across the region and seek valuable evidence to inform strategy and to feed back to funders.

You will be an extremely personable and approachable individual with a strategic mind, and persuasive manner who is able to reach and attract new participants, increase engagement in our Community workshops, and secure local community engagement to ensure the long-term sustainability of DanceSyndrome’s community offering.

You will turn leads in sales in a variety of ways from initiating unusual and impactful partnerships, growing the number of beneficiaries, increasing sales of our products and services, securing in-kind support and vital funding.

You will also develop and manage an engaging and rewarding Volunteer Programme across key communities including recruiting, training, onboarding and retaining volunteers.

We particularly welcome applicants from Global Majority, who identify as LGBTQIA+, People with Disabilities and Older People to apply for this role.