Customer service and programme assistant jobs in Birmingham, west midlands

About Chapter One 

Chapter One is a small but growing charity, working to ensure that every child has 1:1 reading support at the time they need it most.

Our unique Online Reading Volunteer programme currently supports about 3,500 children a year. It pairs disadvantaged, struggling five to eight-year old (KS1) readers with reading support volunteers who come from over 180 local and national businesses. The volunteer task is very focused: readers commit 30 minutes a week to read with a child using a bespoke digital platform for an entire academic year. The results are transformative, boosting children's reading confidence and ability.

We have set ourselves ambitious targets and want to support 3,900 children by 2026/27, so this role, with responsibility managing, stewarding and nurturing our existing corporate partners, will be crucial to ensuring that we have sufficient volunteers and support to achieve this target. 2026 has been designated by the Government as the National Year of Reading, so we have a great opportunity to capitalise on this and secure business commitment for our work!

For more information about our programmes please visit our website. Please also take some time to visit our social media channels and watch our videos.

About the role 

Chapter One is seeking a proactive, energetic and enthusiastic Corporate Partnerships Officer to be an integral part of a team which aims to both maximise corporate income and deliver an excellent partner experience. 

Reporting to our Corporate Partnerships Manager, but also working closely with our Business Development Manager, you’ll support them both to deliver our annual volunteer targets and maintain our strong partner retention rate (currently 84%). This will involve supporting the account management of a portfolio of existing partners and the responsibility to nurture relationships to increase partner investment in Chapter One over time. The role involves collaborating across departments to ensure a seamless and positive experience for volunteers and partners.

This is a new role within Chapter One and is an opportunity for an early career professional to learn about charity-business partnerships in a dynamic, small charity which is flexible and agile.

Key Responsibilities 

Partner Stewardship

• As determined by the Corporate Partnerships Manager, lead the account management of a selected portfolio of corporate partners, achieving annual retention and growth targets for these partnerships.

• Focus, in all corporate partnership discussions, on maximising income and identifying opportunities to grow a partner’s support.

• Plan and conduct a regular cycle of partnership meetings, including mid and end of year reviews, proactively seeking out new opportunities that will maximise income and retain and grow partner support. 

• Support the Corporate Partnerships Manager to produce high quality written communications, reports and pitches as per the requirements of each partner, collaborating with the Data and Systems Officer and other teams as needed.

• Advocate effectively, with passion and enthusiasm, for Chapter One’s programmes in a variety of internal and external settings.

• Ensure, in conjunction with the HR and Finance Assistant, that partners are invoiced for their Chapter One donations accurately and in a timely manner. 

Partner/Volunteer Onboarding and Experience

• Work closely with the Corporate Partnerships Manager, Head of Corporate Partnerships and Volunteer Support Team to ensure that partner and volunteer onboarding is a smooth and positive experience. 

• Lead volunteer recruitment meetings as requested by partners, including presenting the programme to prospective volunteers and creating excitement and interest. 

• Alongside the Corporate Partnerships Manager, use internal systems to assign partner teams and volunteers to specific schools and ensure that their needs are met.

• Build proactive, supportive relationships with Volunteer Coordinators across partner organisations, providing timely, high-quality data and insights, and delivering an excellent partner experience to foster long lasting relationships.

• Working with Programme Manager team, Volunteer Support Team and IT team, to trouble shoot any issues arise. 

• Support the Programme Management team to liaise with partner contacts about the organisation of in-person school/office visits and virtual meet and greets.

• Attend Chapter One’s internal Volunteer Experience group and Corporate Engagement Group.

Marketing and Communications

• Work with the Marketing and Communications team to ensure that companies and volunteers have access to an array of promotional assets and recruitment materials

• Contribute content for the regular volunteer and corporate partner newsletters, including working with partners to gather volunteer testimonials and partner profiles

• Encourage corporate partners and volunteers to promote Chapter One through their own social media and channels

• Support the organisation of online and in person partner and volunteer recognition events

General

• Oversee and maintain specific Account Management related processes, including stewardship plans, recording of activity on the Salesforce CRM and internal spreadsheets and platform databases

• Regularly use Microsoft Excel / Google Sheets to analyse data and support decision-making

• Conduct administrative duties as required to support the Head of Corporate Partnerships and Corporate Partnerships Manager

• Attend conferences and events to represent Chapter One and talk about its work to existing and potential new partners

We are looking for some of the following attributes, though you might be more experienced in some areas than others: 

• A commitment to Chapter One’s mission and values. 

• Experience of account management of Corporate Partnerships or equivalent relationship-based roles in a fundraising, events, sales or marketing environment

• An ability to create compelling written pitches, ensuring messaging and brand are consistent 

• Outstanding presentation skills, with the ability to excite and inspire an audience 

• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships with business professionals at all levels 

• Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail 

• An understanding of CSR/social value and employee engagement 

• An understanding of social media platforms, particularly LinkedIn. 

• Able to take personal accountability for own workload and for delivery of targets 

• A ‘can do’ and flexible approach with an ability adapt to changing priorities 

• Awareness of the importance of data security best practice and GDPR regulations when processing a range of stakeholder data 

• Highly computer literate, particularly in Excel, with hands-on experience of using Google suite and platforms and tools such as Salesforce CRM, PowerPoint and more. 

You’ll be more successful in the role if you have: 

• Experience of using digital marketing platforms 

• Experience of working in the charity/non-profit sector 

How to Apply 

Please send your CV (maximum 2 A4 sides) and a covering letter via Charity Jobs. Your covering letter (maximum 1 side of A4) should: 

1) Detail your relevant experience, including clear examples.

2) Tell us about a partnership that you have initiated or been involved with and what you did to make it succeed. 

3) Tell us about how our organisational mission is in line with your values. 

Applications that fail to meet these criteria will automatically be discounted. We understand that you may use AI to help craft your application, but do remember that we will be looking for individuals who write a letter that stands out. We want you to have every opportunity to shine and to show us your talents - please let us know if there is anything we can do to make sure the assessment process works for you.

As a charity that values and celebrates people's diversity and champions opportunities for all young people, we are keen to receive applications from people who have experienced disadvantage and from those who are of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities who are currently underrepresented in the organisation. We believe that a diverse organisation is one that is more innovative, more creative and gets better results.

Chapter One is committed to safeguarding children and young people. All post holders are subject to a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service disclosure. Copies of our Safeguarding Policy and Safer Recruitment Policy are available on request.

Location: Remote (UK only) or Hybrid (Brighton/Sussex) 

Salary: £35,787 (pro rata), 4 days £28,629.60 (actual) plus statutory pension contributions 

Hours: Part-time, 30 hours a week

Contract: 12 month contract, with the intention to renew if the role makes a positive impact 

Start: As soon as possible 

Who we are: 

Grassroots Suicide Prevention (GSP) is a national charity committed to the timely intervention and prevention of suicide. We work to empower people to help save lives through connecting, educating, and campaigning nationally. Our vision is a future where more lives are saved from suicide. 

About the role:  
We are seeking a highly organised and driven Project and Operations Manager to help streamline processes, deliver key initiatives, and support our continued growth in our Training team. In this role, you will bring together complex communications, requests, and ideas, translating them into clear plans, structured workflows, and effective processes that ensure the successful delivery of multiple projects. You will combine strong planning and organisational expertise with a practical, hands-on approach to implementation. Comfortable managing competing priorities, you will remain flexible and adaptable, responding effectively to unforeseen challenges while keeping projects on track. 

Your excellent communication skills will set you apart. You will be an active listener who can clearly convey ideas, build alignment, and confidently influence colleagues, stakeholders, and external partners. With a strong business mindset and a passion for operational excellence, you will play a key role in ensuring both projects and day-to-day operations run smoothly. 
 
This is a highly rewarding role with significant real-world impact. Candidates should demonstrate resilience, as the role involves remote working, engaging with complex subject matter, operating in a fast-paced environment, and managing multiple priorities. You will also be responsible for overseeing the simultaneous delivery of multiple training courses, requiring flexibility, strong organisation, and the ability to multitask effectively. You will be working in close collaboration and guided by the Training Manager and senior leadership staff. 

Your welfare is the utmost priority; before applying, please consider carefully whether the demands and requirements of the role and subject matter could impact your wellbeing. 

Main Duties and Responsibilities:  

• Lead the project management of all training programmes and services, ensuring effective planning, coordination, delivery, evaluation, and reporting 

• Provide day-to-day coordination and effective leadership, including clear direction and support to the training team (currently three reports) 

• Oversee all aspects of contract delivery, including project planning, timelines, budget management, communications, and reporting to clients, partners and internal teams 

• Manage and maintain updates of a training calendar identifying activity, allocating trainers to training courses to ensure quality delivery of courses 

• Working with managers and team in Training, oversee the Assistant Trainers (freelance trainers) communications, allocations, contracts, feedback and allocation of work 

• Build, develop, and maintain strong relationships with external partners and clients, ensuring all interactions reflect the strategic direction and protect the reputation of the charity 

• Work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders, using strong negotiation and influencing skills to ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to a high standard 

• Monitor and report on project progress and performance, ensuring the efficient and effective delivery of all training activities and identifying and raising risks or issues early 

• Working with managers in Finance and Training, set realistic targets, manage budgets, cross-checking invoices, and capacity, and track project performance against agreed KPIs 

• Support quality assurance across training programmes, including accreditation requirements, reviewing and proofreading materials, adherence to brand, copyright and maintaining high standards of training materials 

• Working with managers in Marketing and Training. oversee and provide reports on training evaluation data and feedback to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for improvement 

• Working collaboratively with the Marketing team to ensure a consistent flow of content to promote the courses, such as upcoming training, feedback quotes and data, website updates, training videos and raising courses that align with campaigns 

• Working with managers in Communications, implement improvements to systems, processes, and workflows to enhance operational efficiency and the client experience from initial enquiry through to evaluation 

• Support the growth of the organisation’s training offer by identifying and assessing opportunities for new partnerships, services, and income generation 

• Maintain oversight of the effective and consistent use of operational systems and platforms across the team (such as Salesforce, Eventbrite, SurveyMonkey, Monday), recommending improvements where appropriate 

• Working across the training team, ensure activities comply with relevant policies and regulations, including health and safety, safeguarding, suicide prevention, and ethical standards 

• Undertake additional duties as required to improve the function of the Training team, as directed by your line manager. 

To succeed and thrive in this role, you will be: 

• Confident, adaptable, and highly organised, with exceptional attention to detail 

• Eager to learn and develop, welcoming guidance and feedback from senior managers to continually improve 

• Hands-on and comfortable engaging with operational detail, while maintaining a strategic mindset 

• Proactive and solutions-focused, able to suggest improvements and independently resolve challenges when needed 

• Able to prioritise your own workload and that of your team 

• Reliable in meeting deadlines and maintaining consistently high standards of work 

• Skilled at communicating tasks clearly to project teams effectively and efficiently, with the ability to adapt communication styles to suit a range of audiences 

• Comfortable working in a fast-paced training delivery environment, able to prioritise effectively and manage multiple responsibilities 

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively adapting to rapidly changing needs and working flexibly across multiple projects 

• Self-motivated and capable of working independently and remotely, while also contributing positively as part of a team 

• Willing to act as a brand ambassador and consider and raise any risks to the charity’s reputation and profile within Training activity 

• Represent Grassroots Suicide Prevention on external groups and promote our services and expertise 

• Willingness to travel occasionally if required 

• Passionate about your part in delivering high-quality online and in-person training courses that help save lives. 

Essential Skills and Experience: 

• A recognised project management qualification or equivalent practical experience 

• Proven experience managing multiple projects simultaneously, delivering them from initiation through to completion across cross-functional teams 

• Strong ability to analyse quantitative and qualitative data, identify risks, and recognise emerging trends to inform decision-making 

• Experience writing high-quality reports for clients, clearly demonstrating project progress, outcomes, and impact 

• Demonstrated ability to lead, manage, and motivate teams, fostering collaboration and high performance 

• Highly self-motivated and resilient, with the ability to work effectively in a remote or distributed environment 

• Evidence of developing and improving processes and procedures to increase organisational efficiency and effectiveness 

• Advanced working knowledge of Microsoft Office, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, CRM systems, and email marketing platforms 

• Proven experience building and maintaining strong relationships with colleagues, clients, and key stakeholders 

• Strong negotiation, influencing, and diplomacy skills, with a track record of achieving positive outcomes, including growing client engagement 

• Experience representing and communicating with senior stakeholders and decision-makers internally and externally 

• Experience in operational, financial, and business planning, including budget management and monitoring 

• Understanding of accessible communications, brand consistency, key messaging, and reputation management 

• Commitment to safeguarding, confidentiality, and ethical practice. 

Desirable Skills and Experience: 

• Project management experience within teaching and learning environments, including e-learning development or delivery 

• Understanding of quality assurance processes, including reviewing and maintaining training or educational materials 

• Experience using AI tools responsibly and effectively, with awareness of both the opportunities and potential risks 

• Experience working in the non-profit or charitable sector 

• Experience collaborating with a diverse range of clients, such as non-profit organisations, county councils, corporate organisations, and the Civil Service 

• Knowledge or experience in health and social care, mental health, or suicide prevention 

• Experience with design principles and accessibility in communications, ensuring materials are inclusive and user-friendly 

• Familiarity with platforms such as Eventbrite, Salesforce, SurveyMonkey, Mailchimp

• Awareness of marketing and promoting training courses 

• Experience conducting competitor research and analysing data to inform improvements and decision-making. 

Why Grassroots Suicide Prevention: 

GSP is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community and workplace - a place where we can all be ourselves, and each have the equal opportunity to succeed and be recognised for our unique contribution. We value the experiences, skills and perspectives of all individuals and actively encourage applications from people with diverse backgrounds. We make recruitment decisions based on applicants’ skills, experience, and knowledge, ensuring all applicants are treated fairly. 

Our employee benefits include: 

• Hybrid/Flexible working – we offer our team a split of home and office working, or fully remote working in some roles 

• Health Cash Plan and employee assistant programme offering a contribution to the costs of everyday healthcare needs (dental, optical, wellbeing) and counselling support, plus legal and financial support 

• Learning and development opportunities

• A creative, friendly and collaborative culture. 

Please note that we are looking for a start as soon as possible, so the selection process begins immediately and will close when we fill the post with the right person.

GSP is in a period of transition and development, and the post holder should be aware that their Job Description and line management may evolve to meet the future needs of the charity.