Life is a national charity committed to delivering high‑quality, compassionate and person‑centred support to people facing crisis. Guided by our values of Humanity, Solidarity, Community, Charity and the Common Good, we work across multiple sites to provide safe, effective and life‑changing services.
The Role
We are seeking an exceptional Director of Quality Improvement and Compliance to join our Senior Leadership Team at an exciting time of organisational development.
Reporting directly to the CEO, this is a senior, influential role with strategic responsibility for quality, safeguarding, compliance, estates and continuous improvement across our national portfolio of services.
You will provide visible, values‑led leadership, ensuring that everything we do is safe, effective, person‑centred, financially sustainable and fully compliant with regulatory requirements. This role has a real opportunity to shape the future of Life – and to positively impact the lives of hundreds of people we support.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide strategic leadership on quality improvement, compliance and continuous improvement across supported housing, estates and services
- Hold senior accountability for safeguarding governance, complaints and assurance frameworks
- Lead audit, inspection and review activity, ensuring consistently high standards and strong regulatory outcomes
- Embed a culture of quality, learning and improvement across multi‑site services
- Oversee property compliance, health & safety and estates management, ensuring safe and welcoming environments
- Use data, insight and digital systems to drive performance, manage risk and support innovation
- Act as the organisation’s senior lead with regulators, inspectors and professional bodies
- Work collaboratively with fellow Directors to deliver a joined‑up, high‑quality client journey
- Develop, coach and inspire senior leaders, fostering a high‑performing, values‑driven culture
About You
You will be a credible, values‑led leader with a strong background in regulated services and a passion for quality and safeguarding.
Essential experience and qualifications include:
- Senior leadership experience within supported housing, homelessness or a closely related regulated sector
- Proven success leading multi‑site services and senior operational leaders
- Strong track record in quality improvement, safeguarding, compliance and inspection readiness
- Sound financial and commercial awareness, including managing significant budgets and resources
- Lean Six Sigma qualification
- Level 5 Safeguarding qualification
- Health & Safety qualification (IOSH Managing Safely or equivalent)
You will also bring:
- Strategic thinking with the ability to translate vision into practical delivery
- A collaborative, visible and approachable leadership style
- Integrity, humility and purpose in how you lead
- A commitment to co‑production, continuous learning and innovation
- Strong communication, influencing and relationship‑building skills
Information about the role:
For further information, please see the attached job description on our website.
Salary: £50,285 per annum
Hours: 32 hours per week
Location: Home Based with travel across sites in the UK
Benefits:
At Life we are passionate about providing our employees with a supportive and engaging environment. As well as ongoing development and training, we offer our:
- Generous holiday allowance, starting at 25 days per year, plus 8 Bank Holidays (pro rata for part time hours)
- Birthday Leave (applicable after 1 years service)
- Additional annual leave for long term service
- Company Pension Scheme
- Signed member of the Menopause Workplace Pledge
Safeguarding and Equality:
Life is committed to protecting all staff, volunteers and service users from harm of any kind. Life expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct.
We are committed to ensuring diversity and equality within our organisation by encouraging applications from all backgrounds.
All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks. Life takes its obligation to protect the rights of children and vulnerable people very seriously; therefore, the successful candidate for this post will be also subject to extensive background checking, including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check (DBS) which is paid for by the Charity.
Registered Charity 
51 - 100
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Will you accept the challenge?
Right now, is Manchester’s time to shine. At the end of 2025 we launched our first ever fundraising and volunteering campaign, “ Challenge Accepted”. This campaign, unprecedented in Manchester’s history, will increase both reach and impact, engaging broader audiences and encouraging participation from the University community in fundraising and volunteer activities.
Manchester individuals distinguish themselves through shared values such as integrity, boldness, ambition, and collaboration. We are also united by a pioneering spirit and the determination to effect positive change. If you possess a fearless character, strong optimism, and a commitment to promoting a healthier, fairer, and more sustainable world, we encourage you to contact us.
Details of the role
Reporting to the Head of Philanthropy (Health), and working in a team of major gift fundraisers, you will be responsible for securing six-figure gifts across a range of life-changing priorities spanning students, research and innovation. This post will work closely with colleagues across the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health to deliver major gifts into priority areas including cancer, brain health and health inequalities. The post will support the Division’s efforts to develop and implement the health fundraising strategy in order to significantly increase philanthropic income.
An exceptional major gift fundraiser, you will be responsible for managing a portfolio of relationships to secure six-figure gifts. You will proactively build the pipeline, demonstrating a creative approach to reach potential new donors. You will develop creative and effective engagement, cultivation and stewardship plans that deepen prospect relationships and inspire future support.
You will have experience working within a team whilst working towards personal targets. We are looking for enthusiastic individuals who are results orientated, persuasive and have exceptional negotiation skills.
You will work in collaboration with colleagues in areas including Alumni Engagement, Regular Giving and Donor Relations to identify opportunities to maximise fundraising income and give our donors the very best supporter experience possible. And you’ll work together with colleagues across the University to help embed a culture of fundraising at Manchester.
What you will get in return:
- Fantastic market leading Pension scheme
- Excellent employee health and wellbeing services including an Employee Assistance Programme
- Exceptional starting annual leave entitlement, plus bank holidays
- Additional paid closure over the Christmas period
- Local and national discounts at a range of major retailers, and more.
As an equal opportunities employer we welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of age, sex, gender (or gender identity), ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation and transgender status. All appointments are made on merit.
Our University is positive about flexible working – you can find out more here.
Hybrid working arrangements may be considered.
Please be aware that due to the number of applications we are unfortunately not able to provide individual feedback on your application.
Please note that we are unable to respond to enquiries, accept CVs or applications from Recruitment Agencies.
Any CV’s submitted by a recruitment agency will be considered a gift.
This vacancy will close for applications at midnight on the closing date.
Please see the link below for the Further Particulars document which contains the person specification criteria.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.