Advice and support team leader jobs

Our client, a well-known anti-poverty charity is looking to recruit a Director of Policy & Engagement on a maternity contract of up to 12 months. This great charity provides front-line advice, advocacy and campaigning and policy work on behalf of people in London beneath pension age, who are experiencing issues around benefit payments, disability and housing or who are at risk of homelessness. The services they provide have become even more essential during the current cost of living crisis.

The role:
As Director of Policy & Engagement, you will lead the organisation’s policy, public affairs, and campaigns function, shaping and delivering local and national influencing to drive change on social security and housing issues. You will ensure the voices of people with lived experience are central to all of the organisation’s work, embedding meaningful participation across the organisation, in governance, services, policy and campaigns.

You will also oversee strategic external communications to support the organisation’s influencing, brand and fundraising objectives and will direct all fundraising for your department including managing funder relationships, identifying opportunities and leading on bid writing and reporting.
 
This is a senior leadership role with responsibility for influencing policy and practice locally and nationally and representing the charity as a spokesperson in the media, with government ministers, MPs, and other senior stakeholders. 
 
You will manage a small multidisciplinary team of four, ensuring integrated effective delivery across the organisation. 
 
The role will cover strategic leadership, policy, public affairs & campaigns, stakeholder & media engagement, external communications, embedding participation, fundraising leadership, team leadership and cross-organisational Integration.

The person:
The successful candidate will be a strategic, politically astute leader with experience of leading policy, public affairs and campaigns at a senior level. They will have experience of integrating research campaigns, participation, external communications and fundraising to deliver impact locally and nationally. They will have excellent media stakeholder and political engagement skills, with experience of acting as a spokesperson for an organisation. This person will value and embed lived experience in all aspects of their work and will have a strong understanding of social security and housing policy. 

This person will also have substantial experience of leading on research for social policy influencing purposes in addition to having developed and shaped policy  for an organisation in a charity which works towards combatting poverty and other social justice issues. Having managed political and media engagement and external influencing activities in the past, this person will be an effective relationship manager both internally and externally, in addition to having provided knowledge based leadership to small teams in the charity sector. In addition to being a highly effective project manager, this person will be a very strong communicator both verbally and in writing, and will be fully committed to the aims and objectives of this anti-poverty charity.
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This organisation is an equal opportunity employer. People with lived experience of poverty, from global majority backgrounds, LGBTQIA+ individuals and disabled people are strongly encouraged to apply. We welcome evidence of experience from both work and non-work settings such as volunteering and personal life. 
 

We have an exciting opportunity for a Head of People to join the College and shape a new role in the People team. This is a hands-on post, providing operational and strategic partnering across the College and taking a leadership role in the People team. You will be our expert on business partnering and employee relations, champion delivery of our equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) plans and foster a supportive culture across the organisation.

The Head of People will collaborate with the People team and leaders across the organisation to deliver our people enabling plan by leading on projects, overseeing our operations and developing our policies and procedures. 

Key responsibilities: 

• Lead people partnering and employee relations 

• Champion EDI and wellbeing

• Design and deliver organisational development and culture 

• Coach and support effective, high-performing teams 

• Use data analytics to identify trends, provide insights, recommend improvements 

• Support delivery of our people operations work 

• Deputise for Director of People when required 

  his role is ideal for a talented people professional who is ready to develop their already significant experience by leading a small team while delivering operationally, implementing our ambitious people plans and making a meaningful impact in a values-led, mission focused organisation. 

For the full list of key responsibilities, please see the recruitment pack.  

About you   

We would love to hear from you if you are ready to contribute to our mission to improve the health of women and girls worldwide. You will have experience working in a business partnering model, understanding of great HR operations and have a passion for EDI, along with skills and capabilities in the following: 

Requirements: 

• Credible, inclusive HR business partner to leaders at all levels 

• Effective, authentic people manager 

• Managing complex employee relations matters 

• Deep understanding of employment law 

• Supporting with organisational design, development and change management

• Shaping and implementing people policies

• Strong skills in data analytics, project management and policy and report writing 

• CIPD level 5 qualification or equivalent expertise 

 Our culture and benefits   

You will be based at our London Bridge offices. We offer hybrid working arrangements and this role will require regular office attendance at least one day a week to ensure visibility and collaboration. We offer a supportive, values-led culture and a competitive benefits package, including: 

• 25 days annual leave, plus bank holidays and office closure from 25 December to 1 January 
• 10% employer pension contribution 
• Life assurance and income protection schemes 
• Employee assistance programme –24/7 confidential advice line and counselling  
• Interest-free season ticket loan 
• Free lunch in our offices in Union Street, London 
• Daily ‘wellness hour’ to support staff to take breaks and focus on wellness 
• Tailored learning and development 
• Enhanced wellbeing and family support 
• Employee-led diversity networks
• Volunteering days 
• Lifestyle discounts 

For a full list of the benefits we offer, please visit our careers site.  

How to apply  

• Click on Apply to be taken to our recruitment platform, Applied. Please visit our careers website, to download the full job pack.   

• Applications close at 10.00 am on Monday 9 March 2026. 

• We will be interviewing candidates at the RCOG in Union Street, SE1 on Monday 16 March 2026.   

• We encourage candidates to apply early and reserve the right to close the advert and appoint before the closing date.

​We believe that diverse teams will deliver the best outcomes for women's healthcare and we strive to be an inclusive employer. We welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds, particularly those from underrepresented groups, including people with disabilities and Black, Asian, and minority ethnic candidates. We recognise that strong candidates may bring different career paths and experiences. If you are excited by the role and believe you can make a meaningful contribution, we encourage you to apply. 

We are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer under the UK Government’s Disability Confident Scheme. We take positive action in employing disabled people, please let us know if you wish to declare that you have a disability.

 Please note: We are only accepting applicants with a right to work in the UK; we are unable to sponsor people requiring a work visa.  

 About us  

RCOG is a professional membership association dedicated to improving women’s health care across the world. We do this by setting standards for clinical practice, providing doctors with training and lifelong learning, and working with partners to advocate for women’s health and health care across their life course. We are a global leader in this specialist area, supporting 18,000 members in the UK and internationally.   

Our values of high standards, innovation, openness, inclusiveness and trust are at the centre of all we do.

Head of Finance

Location: Midlands – Leicester or Birmingham (hybrid working)
Salary: £48,500 per annum, FTE 37.5 hours (we will also consider a 4-day / 30-hour week)
Contract: Permanent (we will consider interim-to-permanent arrangements)

Join a charity fighting hunger, tackling waste and creating opportunities

We are a forward-looking regional charity working across the Midlands to fight hunger, tackle food waste and create opportunities for people and communities. We believe no one should go hungry when good food is going to waste, and that everyone deserves the chance to thrive.

We are now looking for a Head of Finance to join our Senior Leadership Team and play a central role in ensuring our financial strength, sustainability and growth – so we can maximise our social impact.

The role
As Head of Finance, you will be the organisation’s lead financial expert, reporting directly to the Chief Executive and working closely with fellow senior leaders and Trustees. You will provide the financial insight and leadership that underpins strategic decisions and day-to-day operations.

You will:

• Lead the development and delivery of the organisation’s financial strategy, ensuring long-term sustainability and supporting our strategic priorities and business plans.
• Oversee all aspects of financial management, including budgeting, forecasting, management accounts and statutory accounts.
• Lead on financial reporting and liaison with the Trustee Board, including servicing and advising the Trustee Finance Committee.
• Ensure strong financial controls, including procurement, credit control, cash flow management, payroll and systems that support growth.
• Take responsibility for statutory and regulatory financial compliance, including HMRC requirements and charity/company reporting.
• Provide clear, insightful financial analysis to support decision-making, funding applications and operational improvement.
• Work closely with budget holders across the organisation, building financial understanding, ownership and accountability.
• Lead, support and develop a small Finance team of two (Finance Officer and Finance Assistant).

This is a highly impactful role where your work will directly enable the charity to reach more people, make better use of surplus food, and create meaningful opportunities in communities across the Midlands.

About you

We are looking for a values-led finance leader who is motivated by using their skills for positive social impact.
You will bring:

• Significant experience in a senior financial and management accounting role, with responsibility for budgets, management and statutory accounts, controls and reporting.
• Experience of leading a finance function, including oversight of payroll and pensions.
• Strong skills in financial planning, analysis, forecasting and budgeting, and the ability to communicate clearly and confidently with senior leaders and Trustees.
• Experience of working with or supporting a Board or Finance Committee, providing clear, insightful information and advice.
• Confident use of Excel and finance systems to produce robust, timely and accurate information.
• A proven ability to lead and develop a team, building a positive, inclusive and high-performing culture.
• Excellent interpersonal skills – able to influence, challenge and support colleagues at all levels.
• A collaborative, solutions-focused approach and the ability to manage competing priorities.

We welcome candidates who are:

• Professionally qualified in accountancy or who can demonstrate equivalent experience.
• From any sector – charity experience is not essential. We are very open to candidates bringing transferable skills from commercial, public or other not-for-profit environments, with a commitment to learning charity-specific requirements (such as charity/SORP accounting) as part of your induction.

What we offer

• A Midlands base in either Leicester or Birmingham, with hybrid working.
• Salary of £48,500 per annum (FTE, 37.5 hours), with 4-day / 30-hour week options considered.
• The expectation of a cost of living increase from April.
• The opportunity to be part of the Senior Leadership Team, shaping the future direction and impact of the organisation.
• A chance to use your finance expertise to directly support people facing hunger, poverty and barriers to work, while reducing food waste.

Inclusion and accessibility
We are committed to building a team that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve and to creating an inclusive working environment where everyone can be themselves and perform at their best. We warmly encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and sectors, including those who may not have worked in a charity before.

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

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

Policy and Public Affairs Manager (Northern Ireland)
£41,278 pa plus excellent benefits
Home-based with regular meetings in Belfast
35 hours per week, full-time
Fixed-term, 12 months

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) is seeking an experienced and influential Policy and Public Affairs Manager to lead our work in Northern Ireland. This is an exciting opportunity to shape policy, influence decision-makers, and ensure the voices of paediatricians and child health professionals are heard at the highest levels.

Reporting to the Associate Director of Policy and External Affairs / Head of Policy and Public Affairs (Devolved Nations), you will lead the College’s policy and public affairs activity in Northern Ireland. You will develop and communicate policy positions that reflect the national context, engage senior stakeholders across government and the health sector, and maximise the College’s influence to improve child health outcomes.

You will work closely with colleagues across the UK to ensure our four-nation advocacy is aligned, while remaining responsive to the specific needs of our members in Northern Ireland. You will also line manage a Policy and Public Affairs Officer, supporting their development and overseeing external-facing outputs.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading the development of policy positions and public affairs outputs specific to Northern Ireland
• Engaging with Ministers, MLAs, government officials, statutory services, and third sector stakeholders to influence policy and practice
• Producing and overseeing consultation responses and policy briefings
• Acting as a source of expertise on the Northern Ireland political and health landscape
• Supporting College Officers with high-level stakeholder engagement through briefings and policy advice
• Drafting media content including quotes, press releases and opinion pieces in collaboration with communications colleagues
• Managing the College’s presence at the Northern Ireland Assembly and party conferences
• Line managing and developing the Policy and Public Affairs Officer (Northern Ireland)

Essential skills and experience include:

• A primary degree and/or extensive relevant experience in policy and public affairs or a related field
• Proven experience of developing and delivering a measurable and successful public affairs strategy
• Experience of preparing high-quality briefings for political stakeholders and senior leaders
• Strong understanding of the political and health policy landscape in Northern Ireland
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex information clearly and persuasively
• Demonstrable stakeholder management skills, including engagement at senior level
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and project management skills
• Ability to work independently while contributing effectively within a wider UK team

The RCPCH has more than 25,000 members and fellows and employs around 200 staff, most of whom work in our London office in Holborn. We have a Devolved Nations team operating from Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Our College values: Include, Influence, Innovate and Inspire, are important to us. These values ensure we bring out the best in each other, strive forward together to make the College a positive and dynamic place to work. 

The RCPCH champions Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. Our workplace is inclusive, offering a supportive environment where staff can thrive. The College is keen to accept applications from people with protected characteristics. We believe that our staff should represent all of the diverse communities we serve. Join us to help realise our vision of a world where every child is healthy and well.

The RCPCH is committed to safeguarding the children, young people and adults it has contact with in the exercise of its functions and responsibilities. The RCPCH expects all staff to share this commitment – we place a high priority on ensuring only those who do so are recruited to work for us. 

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records. 

Closing date: 4 March 2026

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

Project Manager, Policy Fellow

Terms: full time; 3 year contract
Salary: £36,400-46,000
Location: Remote working, option to use co-working space.  There will be requirements to travel internationally.
Start Date: As soon as possible
Reports to:  Programme Manager, Senior Policy Fellow, Dr Chiara Cervasio

Please note:  Applicants must have the right to work in either the UK, Italy or Germany and be either currently located in one of these countries or prepared to relocate prior to commencing employment.  In this case, BASIC is not providing any relocation assistance and is unable to sponsor VISAs.

About BASIC

BASIC is an independent, non-profit think tank working to safeguard humanity and Earth's ecosystem from nuclear risks and interconnected security threats, for generations to come. Our vision is for a global security consensus founded on multilateralism, the recognition of the indivisibility of security, adherence to Earth's planetary boundaries, and consideration of future generations.

For nearly 40 years, we have built a global reputation for groundbreaking dialogue and incisive thought leadership to strengthen international peace and security. We are an intellectually and culturally diverse team of 20 expert-practitioners with deep institutional experience, headquartered in London with additional presences in Berlin and Rome. We are independent, receive no core funding from any state, and our project work is funded transparently.

BASIC's approach to resolving contemporary nuclear dynamics is centred on dialogue as both a practice and a philosophy. We interpret dialogue broadly, recognising that meaningful engagement takes many forms: from facilitating direct strategic conversations between adversaries grounded in conflict resolution principles, to developing networks and diplomatic initiatives that build consensus around shared objectives, to shaping the intellectual foundations of policy discourse through rigorous research and thought leadership.

BASIC is a fast-paced and rewarding environment with an exceptionally positive and inclusive team culture. We have experienced rapid growth over the past decade and are well-suited to people who are motivated by our mission, able to work at a sustained pace, keen to develop professionally, and enjoy being part of a collaborative team working on consequential issues.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary with room for growth

• 30 days annual leave (pro rata), plus bank holidays and closure days over the December festive period

• Employer pension contributions of 5% (above the national minimum)

• Flexible working arrangements, with set days (Wednesdays required) but flexibility on hours

• Remote working with option to use co-working space

• 1-2 all-staff in-person team away day per year, as well as other in-person working opportunities

• Opportunities for professional growth and development

• Excellent team culture built on respect, openness, and inclusion

The Role

The Project Manager is an adept and organised professional, esteemed within the nuclear policy community for their level. Responsible for overseeing a discrete package of work, they must demonstrate a clear understanding and alignment with broader programme goals, strategies, and objectives. The role will report to the Programme Manager.

Taking charge of project deliverables, the Project Manager will navigate the entire project cycle, from generating fundraising ideas to developing them further and building knowledge of funding relationships. The role will also include deputising for the Programme Manager during periods of absence, ensuring continuity of delivery, external engagement, and team support as required.

The Project Manager will take responsibility for the South Asia portfolio under the Responsibilities and Global Governance (RGG) Programme. The RGG Programme works to strengthen global security by supporting the development of responsible governance frameworks for weapons and dual-use technologies in cross-cutting operational domains. Under the South Asia portfolio, the RGG Programme has facilitated research and dialogue with the Indian and Pakistani nuclear policy communities with a focus on regional crisis prevention, management, and de-escalation practices.

The Project Manager should possess a solid understanding of global security and conflict resolution and a deep understanding and demonstrable knowledge of military security dynamics in South Asia, coupled with a proven ability to design and execute high-quality project management and research. The ideal candidate is an established researcher with a specialisation in nuclear weapons issues and South Asia. As the candidate will be expected to facilitate India-Pakistan nuclear dialogues, it is important that they will show an ability to engage impartially with all parties.

It is expected that the Project Manager will have solo authored, policy relevant, publications. The Project Manager should possess the skills to expand their network in their area of specialisation, benefiting BASIC, and be capable of line managing other team members within their project. 

This role necessitates a formal project or programme management qualification – BASIC will provide the Project Manager with such training and qualifications if they do not already possess one. The Project Manager will collaborate with their line manager to identify a professional development plan, closing skills gaps and aspiring to become an internationally respected leader in their field.

Key Responsibilities

1. Project Delivery

Applicants will need to be able to demonstrate the ability to:

• Manage project timelines, budgets, and reporting requirements

• Line manage, mentor/coach, and provide pastoral care for the project team: policy fellows, project assistants and interns

• Write high-quality, policy-relevant research reports, op-eds and briefings

• Organise international roundtables, workshops and other events with track 1 and 2 participants

• Manage relationships with stakeholders and build BASIC’s network and reputation

• Independently represent BASIC at international meetings

2. Fundraising

Applicants will need to be able to demonstrate the ability to:

• Develop a project, by independently and confidently scoping funding opportunities

• Liaise with the Programme Manager on funding priorities and opportunities

• Manage projects with minimal day-to-day manager input.

• Develop new and existing relationships with funders

• Write and edit funding applications

3. Communications

Applicants will need to be able to demonstrate the ability to:

• Collaborate with various stakeholders including international partners to build strong relationships.

• Facilitate dialogue and cooperation among diverse stakeholders.

• Promote our / their work confidently and internationally 

• Confidently use online social media platforms, and if possible, press contacts

4. Office support

Applicants will need to be able to support the running of the organisation and colleagues with a range of administrative tasks wherever required.

Person Specification:

Essential:

• Educated to Master’s level – or demonstrate the equivalent in work experience

• 5+ years of work experience in a think tank, research institute, NGO, foundation or government working on international security issues

• Demonstrable knowledge of South Asian military security issues

• Passion and commitment to our organisational mission of promoting dialogue to advance global security

• Demonstrated ability and track record in leading the creative development and delivery of policy projects in the UK or internationally, including budgeting and reporting

• Ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders from a variety of professional and cultural backgrounds and with broad variations in seniority and function

• Excellent analytical and methodological skills, and an organised approach to research

• Well-developed interpersonal skills, including evidence of working successfully as part of a team

• Track record of previous fundraising experience and success

• Strong track record of publications, including policy-relevant ones

• Experience organising policy roundtables and workshops

• Willingness to travel internationally including to India and Pakistan when required

• Strong organisational skills and an eye for detail

• Good personal network in their research area

• Previous line management experience

Desirable:

• Educated to PhD’s level
• Formal programme/project management qualification

Please note that, due to the large number of applications we receive, we are not able to acknowledge receipt of all applications and only shortlisted candidates will be notified. If you have not heard from us within two weeks of the closing date, you have not been successful.

It’s an exciting time to join WWT London Wetland Centre.

Experience & Engagement Manager
Salary: £45,602.00 per annum
Contract: Permanent
Work Pattern: Full Time (The role includes regular weekend and public holiday working, with occasional evenings).
Location: WWT London Wetland Centre, SW13. Some travel to other WWT sites may be required.

About The Role

WWT London is entering an ambitious new phase. As we develop a new strategy for the centre, we’re creating bold, engaging experiences that attract more visitors, reach more diverse audiences, and champion the power of wetlands to even more people.

We’re seeking an Experience and Engagement Manager to lead our talented Experience & Engagement team, building on our success to date and creating even more opportunities for visitors to enjoy a fantastic day out and be inspired by the wonder and importance of wetlands.

This is a great opportunity for someone from the visitor attraction, heritage, arts, or leisure sectors who is a strategic leader and passionate about inclusive, high-quality visitor experiences, delivering step change projects to enhance the visitor offering.

About the role

You’ll lead the end-to-end visitor experience at WWT London – from interpretation, public programming, and learning to marketing, PR, and social media. As the site lead for access and inclusion, you’ll ensure our content, programmes, experiences and communications are welcoming, relevant, and accessible to all.

Working closely with national WWT teams, you’ll shape clear, audience-focused messaging and lead the teams that visitors engage with at every touchpoint, embedding excellence in service and experience.

About You

We're looking for:

• Extensive experience in setting and delivering strategic public programmes.
• Proven experience in designing and delivering inclusive experiences and programmes that improve access for underrepresented audiences.
• Strong experience of communicating with diverse audiences, including individuals and groups of varying ages, backgrounds, and life experiences.
• Proven experience delivering projects that drive a significant step change in the on-site visitor offering or overall experience.
• Demonstrable experience of leading and line managing teams, including influencing and supporting colleagues who are not direct reports.
• Proven experience of strategic planning and delivery within a multi-disciplinary environment
• Ability to operate independently with professional judgement in situations where decisions have significant departmental impact.
• Experience in visitor experience design, or a closely related discipline

About Us

We’re WWT, and we’re on a mission to restore the super-powered ecosystems we call wetlands. There’s never been a more important moment for our work, and we’ve got some phenomenal people on the case.

Whether they’re taking a new visitor under their wing, or conducting ground-breaking research further afield, our team are second to none. And there’s nothing we love more than watching them soar.

Whatever you do here, you’ll be helping to restore wetlands and unlock their power. So, the only question left is, what role will you play?

 Why you’ll love working at WWT

• Wake up every day knowing your work is helping to restore wetlands, and our world
• Be surrounded and inspired by our team of passionate, dedicated people
• 33 days annual leave (which goes up to 38 days after 5 years of service) – this includes bank holidays and you have flexibility to take those days whenever you want
• Free entry to all our wetland centres, including your family
• Free car parking and secure bike storage areas
• Colleague discount on shopping and memberships
• Cycle to work scheme
• Contributory pension scheme
• Life Assurance of three times your salary, for peace of mind for your loved ones
• Independent personal, workplace and financial advice from Care first

This role is based at WWT London on a full time basis. The role includes regular weekend and public holiday working, with occasional evenings. Some travel to other WWT sites may be required.

If you’re ready to lead inspiring, inclusive visitor experiences during a time of change, we’d love to hear from you.

Closing Date: Friday 13th March 2026
N.B. We reserve the right to close the advert early if we receive a sufficient number of applications from candidates who meet the required skills and experience. We therefore encourage early applications.

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

WWT is an equal opportunities employer and all applications will be considered solely on merit.

No agencies please.

We are recruiting for a Group Media Manager

Summary

This role has a crucial part to play in Nesta’s success, using the media as a key channel in building Nesta’s influence, profile and impact. Working as part of an expert communications team, you will plan and deliver media activity targeting policymakers and the wider policy and government communities, as well as specific practitioner groups or segments of the public.

Your focus will be largely but not exclusively on our three missions; health, decarbonising heat, and early years. You will also work widely and flexibly on a range of broader topics, collaborating with experts across all of Nesta, as well as working with researchers and behavioural scientists at BIT.

You will take a flexible approach to media audiences, focusing on traditional and legacy media as key sources of influence but also leaning heavily into ‘newer’ outlets and platforms, ranging from policy podcasts to media startups and key Substack influencers, as essential routes to the audiences we need to reach and engage.

This is a hands-on role that combines the tactical delivery of media activity with the strategic planning that is required to build Nesta’s media profile, protect our reputation and position us as an organisation that is a world leader in driving innovation for social good.

What you’ll be doing:

Lead on the development and delivery of UK media plans that support the strategic objectives of Nesta and BIT

• Work collaboratively to shape stories that involve a cross-functional range of colleagues from disciplines including data science, design, behaviour science and policy and research
• Actively seek out proactive opportunities to build our profile among journalists in our three mission areas (health, decarbonising homes, early years), as well as more generally
• Work with colleagues at BIT to grow and build the reputation of the organisation as a world-class research and innovation consultancy that uses a deep understanding of human behaviour to improve people's lives.
• Accelerate our journey from a primarily legacy media-focused media team to a hybrid model where ‘newer media’ is just as important, building relationships with these outlets, writers and broadcasters and securing high-impact coverage
• Monitor relevant breaking news stories and political and policy developments, identifying and quickly capitalising on relevant opportunities for Nesta’s missions and brand
• Protect Nesta’s reputation, develop and implement crisis management media strategies and rebuttal as required
• Identify, develop and maintain relationships with key media and internal and external stakeholders, including taking the lead on managing and coordinating internal and external relationships to progress media stories, statements and positions, with often competing priorities and time pressure
• Develop and maintain Nesta’s cohort of case studies across its consumer-facing projects and services, building relationships with these contacts as advocates of Nesta’s mission goals
• Ensure the smooth day-to-day running of the Nesta press office through developing shared resources and reporting key success metrics
• Support colleagues in the Nesta communications team by guiding and supporting their media outreach, and by acting as a source of expert advice on media for the rest of the organisation
• Covering media enquiries out of hours as and when required
• Deputising for the senior media manager as and when required 

What we’re looking for:

• Professional media relations experience (essential): You will have proven experience of working in a busy press office (ideally a policy-focused media team), with at least 80% of your time spent on media. A creative thinker and experienced writer and editor, you will have experience working on a variety of stories and you think cross-channel. You have a solid understanding of how the media environment works, how it's changing and what that demands from organisations like Nesta and BIT.
• Knowledge and understanding of the UK policy context (essential): You will have worked at the interface of communications and policy, possibly in government, a thinktank, NGO or in the private sector. You will appreciate the pace, nuance and strategic thinking required to operate in a media team that is deeply connected across government, industry and practitioner groups
• Excellent writing skills (essential): You will be a superb writer, capable of adapting your style across different channels to reach audiences in the most effective way. The ability to work quickly and flexibly in the role is important. You will be as comfortable advising on a longer-term strategic project as you will be turning around flawless copy on a breaking news story.
• Project delivery skills (essential): You will have proven experience in delivering high-impact communications campaigns from conception to delivery and evaluation. You can proactively plan and deliver work, identify and act on risks and find solutions.
• Strong interpersonal and networking skills (essential): You will have experience in applying these effectively to collaborate well with colleagues, build stakeholder relationships and develop partnerships. You bring with you a bank of trusted contacts and you are always looking to expand your range of trusted contacts across media.

As with all members of Nesta Group's communications team, the post holder will be at their best working in a collaborative, fast-paced environment with multiple projects and priorities. They will have a positive, can-do attitude and a flexible approach, able to adapt to changing circumstances with good humour and an appetite for taking on new tasks and challenges. They will also have strong communication skills, the ability to write and edit content for different audiences and a proven ability in (or enthusiasm to learn) web publishing and the creation of simple communications products like social cards or videos.

What we offer

Salary: £49,200 - £65,800 plus an array of benefits including private medical insurance, dental insurance, the ability to buy and sell annual leave, eyecare vouchers and more. Offers are usually made at the bottom of the band.

Location: Hybrid, with two days per week in the London office. We ask that our team attend the office on Tuesday and one other day of their choice.

Term: Full-time, permanent

Hours: 37.5 hours per week. Occasional out-of-hours work (evenings, weekends, and public holidays) will be required to fulfil the role.

Flexibility: This is a full-time role, but we offer a range of flexible working arrangements and encourage our people to take advantage of them. Many do.

Reports to: Senior Media Manager

Making an application

To apply for this role, please submit your CV and cover letter before 8:00am on the 9th of March 2026.

Interviews will take place w/c 23rd of March 2026.

About Nesta

We are Nesta, a research and innovation foundation, using a powerhouse of applied methods to design, test and scale solutions for the biggest challenges of our time. Driven by a vision to improve the lives of millions of people, our focus up to 2030 is on three missions: breaking the link between family background and life chances, halving obesity and cutting household carbon emissions.

We work with partners across the public, private and third sectors to develop high-potential solutions and test them as they evolve, drawing on deep expertise in qualitative and quantitative research, data science, behavioural science and design. Once confident in the effectiveness of a solution, we are relentless in the pursuit of scale. We create and make the case for ambitious national policy proposals, develop consumer-facing products and services, spin out and support commercial ventures and harness the power of the arts to shape national narratives.

We extend our impact through two specialised units that help others to solve complex problems and achieve their missions. BIT applies a deep understanding of human behaviour to help clients achieve their goals. Challenge Works designs and runs challenge prizes to spark innovation in science, technology and society.

Together, we are building a powerful ecosystem for innovation that delivers proven solutions to create lasting, positive change. 

At Nesta, we believe that a diverse workforce leads to an organisation that is more innovative, more creative and gets better results.

We want our workforce to represent the diversity of the people and communities we serve. We also want our workplace to be one where different experiences, expertise and perspectives are valued, and where everyone is encouraged to grow and develop.

This means that when we are recruiting, we actively seek to reach a diverse pool of candidates. It also means that we are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that potential employees may need to in order to be successful.

We recognise the importance of a good balance between work and home life, so we do everything we can to accommodate flexible working, including working from home, compressed or part-time hours, job shares and other arrangements.

Please just let us know in your application or at any stage throughout the process (and beyond) if these are options you’d like to explore.

Barnardo's is seeking an empathetic and child led individual who can work within a dynamic and fast-paced environment using their strong organisational, communication and time management skills to support children in the secure estate.

This part-time position (Children's Rights and Advocacy Worker – Project Worker 2) is based within Oakhill Secure Training Centre, which accommodates children aged between 12-18 years, who are in custody, either sentenced or on remand.  Barnardo's refers to Young Offender Institutions (YOI) and Secure Training Centres (STC) as the ‘Secure Estate'.

Barnardo's is commissioned by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) to provide an Independent Children's Rights and Advocacy (ICRAS) Service to children accommodated in a secure setting. The service is known to children as Barnardo's: Your Rights, Your Voice, and currently works within  four Young Offender Institutes,  one Secure Training Centre and one  Secure Children's home. The ICRAS service is child led and independent of the secure estate; our service is delivered within Oakhill STC to ensure children can freely access support for a range of issues linked to their needs, rights & experiences of custody, resettlement, and safeguarding.  As such this is a child-facing service, and at times involves lone working in the establishments, so we are seeking someone who can see the child, not the offence.

We hold ‘voice' at the heart of all we do, therefore we feel the role is best described by someone who is currently working in this sector: “The role is a Children's Rights and Advocacy role, which means it is our job to empower the children we work with and help them to understand that what they think, what they feel and what they want, really matters. We can speak on behalf of children to ensure their voice is heard and we also have the opportunity to help them to find the tools and confidence to raise their voices for themselves.  Advocacy and Children's Rights support is particularly crucial in the secure estate because children are away from home, family and champions, and also because children in secure estate are some of the most vulnerable children in society; they have often faced considerable adversity, disadvantage and discrimination prior to arriving into custody and they might not, therefore, be equipped with the skills needed to articulate their concerns. Through the work you do with a child such as  simply helping them make contact with friends or family on the outside, to helping them with concerns they may have in relation todiscrimination, resettlement or safeguarding issues, you  may be the one person telling them that  they matter for the very first time.”

The position (Children's Rights and Advocacy Worker – Project Worker 2) is line managed by a Team Manager, reporting to an off-site manager. The post holder will need to be able to work autonomously, working to the requirements of the contract and the regime of the STC. The secure estate is a highly structured environment; as a Barnardo's service we deliver independent advocacy and support for a range of issues, whilst still having to follow and adhere to this structure.

This role includes lone working in this challenging secure environment. It is, therefore, critical that the successful candidate can follow guidance and policy and is able to take proactive and individual responsibility to understand and access the service support mechanisms.  This role requires the worker to be onsite for their contracted hours, working remotely only for occasional training or meetings. The advocacy team work on a rota system with set hours each week, which includes weekends and bank holidays. Applicants should also be aware, that due to the nature of working within secure estate, the vetting and induction process can take several months to complete.

When completing your application please refer to your skills, knowledge and experience in relation to the Additional Information, Person Specification and Job Description document. This should be done with an understanding of the context of the service described, including advocacy and safeguarding.  

This is a part-time vacancy with 25.5 hours available per week.

Please note due to the high volume of applications for some posts, this advert might close before the displayed closing date. We recommend that you apply for this role as soon as possible.

Pay & Reward Framework

We know that our colleagues go above and beyond in delivering our vital work, driven by their passion and commitment to Barnardo's values.  We also know that we can only realise our ambitions and achieve better outcomes for more children, thanks to the talent, hard work and creativity of our people. 

For all these reasons, we are committed to a new approach to pay and reward, to ensure it is fair, attractive and progressive, which was rolled out in April 2023. This is a positive change for the charity, and a part of our People & Culture Strategy. It will assist us in supporting colleagues to belong, thrive and grow in their colleague journey at Barnardo's and in time will offer clear routes of progression for colleagues in both their career and their pay. 

Whilst the full pay band and salary range is advertised, our approach to starting salaries is to appoint between the minimum to mid-point of the pay band – this ensures that pay steps are available to reward our colleagues annually based on their contribution to excellence and alignment to our values and behaviours.  More details on Barnardo's pay framework can be found upon application. 

Benefits

Workplace Offer: What it means for you

Our hybrid working initiative is based on trust, flexibility and empowerment. We understand our workplace offer means different things to different people, and we encourage those conversations. This may mean working at one of our stores, services, working at home, in the community, at one of our Collaboration Hubs or depending on the role any combination of these. Please read through the advert carefully to understand the remits of hybrid working that will be specific to the role.

• Barnardo's believe in creating equality of opportunity in the workplace and supporting people to manage their work-life balance; we are therefore open to offering flexible working arrangements.
• Annual Leave entitlement for full-time colleagues is 26 days per annum, increasing to 27 days per annum, after 3 years Barnardo's service, 29 days per annum, after 5 years Barnardo's service and 30 days per annum, after 7 years Barnardo's service. Those working less than full time are entitled to the same level of holiday pro rata
• The ability to buy up to another 5 days annual leave via our Buy Your Leave scheme
• A host of family friendly leave options including company Maternity Paternity and Adoption pay; together with all family additional leave options
• Service related sick pay from day 1
• Access to a Group Personal Pension with a matched 4% or 6% contribution from Barnardo's. Ability to pay via salary sacrifice to garner both tax and NI savings on your own contribution
• Death in service cover of 4x annual earnings for all staff contributing to our Group Personal Pension
• Cycle2work scheme
• Interest free season ticket loans
• Discounts and cashback from at high street shops including major supermarkets, cinemas, gyms, leisure/theme parks, holidays and much more via our Benefit Portal
• 20% discount at Barnardo's stores
• Opportunity to purchase a health cash plan to claim towards dental, glasses, therapy etc
• Free access to round the clock employee assistance program for advice and support
• Access to Barnardo's Learning and Development offer

*T&C's apply based on contract

About Barnardo's

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and cultivating a culture where everyone can belong and thrive through inclusion and connectivity. We want our workforce to be reflective of the communities we work with, and for equality, diversity and inclusion to be embedded in everything we do. We are a Disability Confident Leader, are progressing our ambition to be an anti-racist organisation with Anti-Racism Commitments and actions in place and have networks for colleagues who are disabled, LGBT+, Black and Minoritised Ethnic and Women. We particularly encourage applications from Black and Minoritised Ethnic and/or disabled candidates who are currently underrepresented in our workforce. For disabled applicants, we offer reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.

Our basis and values