Deputy executive director jobs
Our Second Home (OSH) is the UK’s youth movement for people with refugee backgrounds. We support young people to build community, become leaders, and flourish into adulthood in the place they call home.
Each year, hundreds of young people from dozens of countries and living in London & Bristol take part in our residential programmes, leadership training and youth hubs. Our residentials are often the first step – immersive, relationship-rich spaces where young people connect, reflect and begin to see themselves as leaders. From there, many move into leadership training and take on volunteer roles within the movement.
Our work is youth-led and rooted in lived experience. We are now implementing our 2025–2028 strategy, focused on strengthening quality, embedding learning and ensuring our growth is sustainable and safe.
The Head of Programmes is a senior leadership role, reporting to the CEO and managing two senior colleagues. You will hold responsibility for the quality, coherence and safeguarding of all programme activity.
Responsibilities (abridged - see attached job description)
Programme Leadership & Strategy in Practice
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Lead implementation of OSH’s 2025–2028 programme strategy.
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Oversee the design, quality and coherence of residentials, leadership training and hubs.
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Take operational responsibility for residential delivery, including participant referrals, recruitment of staff and freelancers, programme content and educational standards.
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Attend and lead approximately five residential programmes per year.
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Identify opportunities to strengthen youth engagement and leadership pathways as the organisation scales.
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Ensure programme data is accurately recorded and used to improve delivery.
Team Leadership
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Line manage the Communities Manager and Leadership & Volunteering Manager.
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Provide structured supervision, clear objectives and professional development support.
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Ensure strong coordination between hubs, residentials and leadership pathways.
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Build a culture of accountability, reflection and continuous improvement.
Safeguarding & Welfare
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Act as Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead and serve as DSL at events as required.
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Ensure safeguarding practice is robust, consistent and embedded across all activities.
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Respond to safeguarding and behavioural issues appropriately and oversee safe recruitment processes.
Partnerships, Budget & Oversight
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Maintain referral partnerships and represent OSH externally where appropriate.
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Hold programme budgets within agreed limits and ensure financial discipline.
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Embed monitoring, evaluation and reflective practice across the programme team.
Experience & Competencies (abridged - see attached job description)
Essential
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At least 5 years’ experience in youth or youth-centred programming, including residential or intensive settings.
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Experience designing and delivering leadership development or informal education programmes.
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Strong facilitation and training skills.
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Demonstrable experience managing staff and developing teams.
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Strong understanding of safeguarding practice and willingness to act as Deputy DSL.
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Experience working with young people from refugee or asylum-seeking backgrounds, or strong understanding of the issues affecting them.
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Ability to balance strategic oversight with hands-on delivery in a part-time senior leadership role.
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Strong organisational skills and commitment to inclusive, youth-led practice.
Desirable
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Level 3 Safeguarding training.
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Experience managing programme budgets.
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Experience contributing to organisational strategy or scaling programme models.
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Familiarity with Google Workspace, Beacon CRM, MyConcern or similar systems.
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Lived experience of migration or displacement.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Job Title - Research Manager
Contract – 1-year fixed term contract
Work pattern - Full time or 0.8 FTE (for flexible working, including term time working)
Salary - £42,000 - £48,000 per annum (or pro rata)
Location - Flexible, with an expectation of working at Coram’s campus in London on average at least once a week.
We are looking for someone who is passionate about using their research and evaluation expertise, including involving children, young people and their families in research, to join our growing Impact and Evaluation team to help improve support for vulnerable children and young people, and ultimately make a positive difference in their lives.
About Coram and the team
Established as the Foundling Hospital in 1739, Coram is today a vibrant charity group of specialist organisations, supporting hundreds of thousands of children, young people and families every year from infancy to independence. We champion children’s rights and wellbeing, making lives better through legal support, advocacy, adoption and our range of therapeutic, educational and cultural programmes.
Coram’s vision for children is a society where every child has the best possible chance in life, regardless of their background or circumstances.
Building on our legacy as the first and longest continuing children’s charity, we have launched the Coram Institute for Children, the dedicated research and development organisation for children. The Institute will be instrumental in realising this vision by acting as a catalyst for change and collaboration, seeking evidence-based solutions to the challenges facing children in the 21st century in policy, law and practice.
This role will be based in Coram’s Impact and Evaluation team[1]which sits at the heart of Coram’s Institute for Children dedicated to improving the life chances of children.[2] This role will play an important part in building the Institute and the strategic direction of the team. The role offers exciting opportunities to work within the Coram’s Impact and Evaluation team to lead a portfolio of mixed methods research projects and evaluation studies. As well as build links across Coram as well as externally with research partners and universities to pursue research dedicated to improving the lives of children and young people.
As a team, are core research principles are to be child-centred, rigorous, grounded in experience, collaborative and impactful. We are dedicated to delivering child-centred research to ensure their voice is at the forefront of our work. We use co-design and participatory research methods to challenge power imbalances within research and work with marginalised groups.
About the role
The Research Manager will play an important role in working with the Head of Impact and Evaluation and across Coram to develop and expand work of the team within Coram’s Institute for Children.
Working within Coram’s growing Impact and Evaluation team (which currently includes eight permanent researchers) the Research Manager will lead the delivery of high quality, innovative qualitative and quantitative studies including externally commissioned research and evaluation to support the improvement of policy and practice for vulnerable children, young people and their families. This will include implementation and process evaluations with children/young people, parents/carers and professionals as well as quasi-experimental and experimental impact evaluations.
We welcome applications from mixed-methods, quantitative and qualitative researchers who have knowledge of a range of research methods and evaluation approaches. We are dedicated to delivering child-centred research to ensure their voice is at the forefront of our work. We use co-design and participatory research methods to challenge power imbalances within research and work with marginalized groups.
The Research Manager will work with colleagues across Coram and with external partners in local authorities, central government, businesses and other third sector organisations. They will have the opportunity to shape the work of the Institute by designing new research funding bids, responding to tender opportunities and developing our academic partnerships.
The role also comes with a range of personal and professional benefits including dedicated time for continuous professional development, 25 plus days of annual leave, regular team reflective practice sessions and flexible working arrangements.
This is a great opportunity for an experienced research manager who has a passion for innovative, participatory research to take the initiative to design and deliver high-quality evidence which improves policy and practice for children, young people and their families.
Coram is an equal opportunities employer and we are genuinely committed to encouraging candidates from all sections of the community we seek to support. This includes those from global majority groups, those that identify as LGBQT+, those with disabilities, those with lived experience of care, those with neuro-diversity, and those from other groups who are underrepresented in research roles. If applicants feel comfortable, we would encourage them to draw on lived experience in their personal statement as part of their application.
To apply for this role, please click on the 'apply now' button below to complete the application.
Closing date: 15/03/2026 @ 09.00AM
Interview dates: W/C 23/03/2026
We will also make any reasonable adjustments at the interview stage for applicants invited to interview to support inclusivity.
We are committed to the safeguarding of children and where appropriate will require the successful applicant to undertake a check from the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Registered Charity No. 312278.
Coram changes lives, laws and systems to create better chances for children, now and forever.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Mary’s Meals is a global movement supported by people from all walks of life and we are focused on one goal – that every child receives a nutritious daily meal in a place of education. We offer more than just a career, we offer the opportunity to support our global movement in a dynamic and inclusive environment with a real focus on personal development.
We are delighted to be recruiting for Head of Northern Ireland to be the senior ambassador and strategic leader for Mary’s Meals across Northern Ireland. This role is remote however we require candidates to be based in Northern Ireland.
While playing a key role within the wider Development Directorate, you will guide how Mary’s Meals is seen, understood, and felt in Northern Ireland – shaping our public profile, driving sustained income growth, and building the partnerships and grassroots energy needed to grow our movement.
Key responsibilities include:
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Working cross-directorate to create and deliver a fundraising growth strategy for Northern Ireland, rooted in regional insight, cultural understanding, and community needs, and aligned with the global and national strategy.
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Working with the Communications team, shape a clear and compelling narrative, respecting the nation’s strong identity.
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Identify emerging opportunities across Northern Ireland, including diocesan networks, local relationships, and regional giving patterns, adjusting plans quickly to drive maximum impact.
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Serve as the senior MMUK representative in Northern Ireland, ensuring activity aligns with the national organisational strategy.
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Act as the leading spokesperson for Mary’s Meals in Northern Ireland, representing the charity to churches, schools, local authorities, individuals, universities, and community or business networks.
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Spend focused time externally; networking, nurturing partnerships and driving growth through representing the charity at events, meetings, faith gatherings, conferences, and civic forums.
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Proactively cultivate, pursue, and develop fundraising opportunities via networking and outreach with the aim of securing support for our school feeding programme.
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Develop and maintain a robust national growth pipeline, ensuring proactive identification, cultivation, conversion, and stewardship of opportunities.
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Significant focus on the growth and development of new Volunteer Fundraising Groups in counties across Northern Ireland.
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Line manage and coach a Regional Development Officer, enabling them to become a confident, high‑performing fundraiser.
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Serve as a trusted media spokesperson for press, broadcast, and faith media when required.
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Work closely with the Communications team to provide compelling local supporter stories, impactful moments, and local activity to showcase.
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Shape national to local messaging so that campaigns resonate with audiences across Northern Ireland.
To apply for the role of Head of Northern Ireland based at Mary’s Meals UK, please follow instructions on Charity Job.
Applicants must hold full right to work in the UK.
We welcome applications from candidates of all different backgrounds and identities to apply. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse charity providing a supportive place for you to do the best and most rewarding work of your career.
Closing date for applications is Tuesday, 24 March 2026.
Interviews will commence week commencing 30th 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.
Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Submit your application as normal and our system will anonymise it for you. Your personal information will be hidden until the recruiter contacts you.
Barnet Mencap is a charity based in Finchley that provides support and runs a multitude of projects for people with learning disabilities and/or Autism. We are dynamic, enthusiastic, diverse, and committed to equal opportunities and the safeguarding of children and adults at risk.
There is currently a vacancy within our Equality Housing Team for a focused individual to join our caring, passionate, and diverse team in supporting adults with moderate learning disabilities and autistic adults to live independently in housing situations of their choice. Please view the Job Description and Person Specification for a better idea of what the role entails and what we’re looking for.
The successful candidate will have:
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Experience of working with adults with learning disabilities and autistic adults in a community setting
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Understanding of the issues faced by people with learning disabilities and autistic people living independently and the skills to meet their practical, social and emotional needs
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A ‘Person Centred Planning’ ethos
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Providing support with personal care as required
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Excellent communication and record keeping skills
We know job satisfaction, flexibility, work/life balance, and a great team are incredibly important. So, at Barnet Mencap, in addition to offering 30 days of annual leave per year (including Bank Holidays), we have a TOIL system to allow flexible working, and our team can benefit from other perks including the Blue Light Card.
To apply, please send your CV alongside a covering letter explaining how you meet the criteria on the person specification or fill in an application form which you can find on our website.
The successful candidate will be required to complete an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service application in line with Section 115 of The Police Act 1997.
Closing Date: Tuesday 17th March
Interview Date: Wednesday 25th March
Barnet Mencap is the leading charity for children and adults with a learning disability and their families in the London Borough of Barnet



The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
This senior leadership role oversees a portfolio of 13 high-performing, award-winning retail shops generating over £3.5m in annual sales. The role is responsible for maintaining and growing this performance through strong leadership of paid staff and volunteers, working closely with the central trading team and hospice colleagues.
The post holder balances commercial focus with creativity, accountability and strong people skills, supported by a genuine passion for retail excellence. Retail is a vital part of the hospice’s long-term success and sustainability.
The Hospice of St Francis provides free care across West Hertfordshire and South Buckinghamshire. Over 80% of its income comes from trading and fundraising. Our retail operation is one of the strongest in the sector, with innovative shop formats, committed volunteers and teams delivering excellent customer service.
Experience:
Extensive senior retail management experience across multiple sites or channels, ideally within a charity or values-led organisation. Demonstrated success in increasing sales income and net profit while maintaining strong cost control.
Growth & E-commerce:
Proven experience developing and growing online or e-commerce sales, alongside identifying and delivering new business opportunities, including expansion of shop portfolios.
Leadership:
Strong, inspirational leader with a track record of developing high-performing teams of staff and volunteers. Experienced in collaborative working with marketing and wider support teams.
Skills:
Highly commercially astute with strong analytical capability and a solid understanding of profit and loss. Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
Other:
Full UK driving licence and access to transport. Flexible approach to working hours, including weekends.
We reserve the right to close this advertisement early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.
The Hospice of St Francis helps local people and their families, in Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire, to live their precious lives well.



The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Partnerships Officer (Programme Officer)
Aga Khan Foundation
The position
AKF(UK) Partnerships Officers are part of the Global Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) Partnerships team tasked with identifying funding partnerships and strengthening existing ones to support our strategic goals. Partnerships Officers manage a set of grants across a variety of themes and geographies. They also support engagement with European and Asian bilaterals, multilaterals and foundations to secure funding for ten multi-sector not-for-profit and for-profit agencies of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) operating across Asia and Africa. This is all done in close collaboration with field units, global teams, and our partners.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND CORE TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES
Grants Management
- Manage a portfolio of grants through regular interface and coordination with AKF(UK)’s partnerships team, AKF(UK)’s programme finance team and relevant AKF/AKDN field units/agencies acting as a central resource for field units in donor best practice.
- Interface with donors about the implementation of ongoing grants to ensure strong, enduring relationships.
- Coordinate, review, and assure the quality of donor deliverables (e.g. work plans, monitoring and evaluation plans, staffing plans, budgets, close-out plans, donor troubleshooting).
- Ensure adherence with donor requirements, rules, and regulations, and that grant deliverables are produced on time and to a high standard.
- Coordinate contractual amendments, changes, and project adaptations, engage with donors in a pro-active and diplomatic way, and flag potential changes (e.g. budget revisions, extensions, risks) in advance to ‘trouble shoot’ and ensure smooth project implementation.
- Facilitate grant monitoring efforts including routine coordination meetings and as needed, support with donor steering committees, donor project visits, and donor monitoring missions.
- Undertake coordination and administrative tasks related to grants and support the maintenance and update of grant management tools and tracking systems (e.g. Award Information Management System (AIMS)).
- Ensure strong relationship cultivation throughout the grants cycle, anticipate, and plan for future funding and project extensions.
Resource Mobilisation
- Coordinate and facilitate the development, review and quality assurance of expressions of interest, concept notes, and full proposals for funding opportunities.
- Liaise and coordinate with internal stakeholders as well as with donors, partners, and consortia to facilitate project design, align proposal and donor requirements, gather required legal and administrative documentation, and draft sections of proposals as needed.
Coordinate processes of contracting and negotiation, engaging relevant stakeholders, and ensuring contracts ‘get over the line’ in a timely and efficient way.
- Conduct due diligence of new partners (donors, NGOs, universities, etc.) in coordination with AKF(UK)’s programme finance team and AKF’s global programmes team.
- Develop and contribute to positioning pieces and communication materials (e.g., presentations, narrative overviews) to enable regular and effective engagement with donors.
- Research, scan and source relevant information regarding new donors and funding opportunities to identify potential funding matches and gather intelligence around European and Asian donors.
- Update donor profiles, researching and summarising latest donor strategies and using AIMS to update AKF/AKDN funding summaries.
- Contribute to management systems, such as AIMS.
Carry out any other duties as assigned by the Senior Partnerships Manager, Deputy Regional Directors or Global Deputy Director for Institutional Partnerships.
The requirements
QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE, BEHAVIOURS, ATTRIBUTES
Qualifications
- Undergraduate degree essential
- Master’s degree in a relevant field preferred
Skills
- Strong level of fluency in French is highly desirable
- Creativity, critical thinking, and project management
- Entrepreneurial, pro-active self-starter with maturity and emotional intelligence
- Ability to problem-solve, work independently and manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment with numerous and competing deadlines
- Ability to handle complex relationships with colleagues and external stakeholders in a professional manner
- Excellent writing, speaking and other communications skills, with thoroughness and attention to detail
- Ability to provide stable, consistent, reliable and courteous communication when dealing with external organisations, senior colleagues and community members
- Strong financial literacy, including the ability to read and produce detailed budgets and business plans
- Strong IT skills, including Microsoft Office 365 and Salesforce
- French language skills desirable, but not essential
- Proficiency in French language desirable
Knowledge
- Understanding and knowledge of the UK/European and Asian donor landscape preferred
- Knowledge of and commitment to international development
Experience
- A minimum of 3 years of professional experience
- Experience in developing and writing proposals, developing budgets, business plans/cases, concept papers, briefs, executive summaries, as well as coordinating multiple inputs from a variety of sources
- Experience of managing relationships in complex organisations with numerous stakeholders
- Experience managing grants in complex organisations desirable
Attributes
- Committed to international development, improving the quality of life, and promoting pluralism through civil society.
- Demonstrates equity, transparency, and integrity with high personal and organisational ethical standards; is fair, honest, and trustworthy with respect for confidentiality; inspires and builds trust and respect from others; promotes credibility and professional reputation.
Behaviours
- Communicates clearly and concisely with a broad range of audiences at different levels; ability to expresses complex ideas and concepts in simple terms; listens to the views of others; changes communication styles to meet individual and audience needs; encourages dialogue and effective communication by others.
- Builds, maintains, and deepens constructive and effective relationships with stakeholders with a specific focus on AKF’s mission; balances business situations and the art of dealing with people and communities; changes approach to achieve desired results if required.
- Has a customer focused orientation to others, is flexible and always puts the good of others at the centre of decision making; optimises respect for others and is dedicated to AKF’s purpose and fulfilling the mission.
- Acknowledges creativity, has the desire to understand and use new innovations (including technology); adapts established methods for new uses; is focused on improving systems and processes; open to change; analyses, synthesises and challenges conventional thinking; supports the development of communities of practice.
FURTHER DETAILS
- The role will involve travel to countries where we operate programmes, and where the candidate is supporting grants management.
- As well as a rewarding role with a global international development organisation, you’ll get access to a wide range of enhanced benefits including but not limited to flexible hybrid working, enhanced leave entitlement and access to several health and wellbeing programmes and benefits.
- Must include CV and a supporting statement that outlines why you want the role, why you want to work for AKF(UK) and how your experiences and skills to date make you the most suitable applicant for the role.
Sector
Social Development
About the Agency
The Aga Khan Foundation is a leading global development organisation working to tackle the root causes of poverty. For more than 50 years, we have helped create strong community institutions that support sustainable, locally driven initiatives to improve the lives of millions of people. By combining local knowledge with global best practices, we strive to bring about transformative and long-lasting improvements to quality of life.
Working alongside the agencies of the Aga Khan Development Network and through partnerships with local communities, civil society and business as well as governments and international aid agencies, we are building a future where we all thrive together.
Job Expires: 25-Mar-2026
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
For 30 years, Wallace & Gromit’s Grand Appeal has helped transform children’s healthcare in Bristol, funding pioneering treatment, facilities and research at Bristol Children’s Hospital and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at St Michael’s Hospital. By uniting philanthropy with world-class medicine, the charity enables clinicians to deliver exceptional care and improve outcomes for babies and children across the South West and beyond. Our long-standing partnership with Aardman underpins the charity’s national profile and reach, while initiatives such as Cots for Tots and Gromit Unleashed demonstrate the scale, creativity and impact of our work. As The Grand Appeal continues to grow in scale, complexity and long-term investment commitments, we are creating a new Group Financial Controller role to strengthen financial leadership across the organisation and its subsidiary activities. This is a pivotal role at the heart of the charity. The successful candidate will ensure that the organisation’s financial systems, commitments and reporting remain robust, transparent and capable of supporting ambitious future plans - from major capital projects to long-term programme investment. Working closely with senior leadership and external advisers, the Group Financial Controller will help ensure that donor funds are stewarded responsibly and that the charity remains financially resilient as it evolves and grows. The role also covers the charity’s significant commercial and retail activity delivered through its trading subsidiary, requiring clear financial visibility of trading performance, margins and income streams. You will ensure this activity is reflected confidently within group reporting, supporting disciplined growth and long-term financial resilience. We are looking for someone who combines strong technical financial expertise with a practical, hands-on approach and the confidence to operate at both operational and strategic levels. This role offers the opportunity to shape financial governance in a growing, high-impact charity where financial leadership directly enables better outcomes for children and families. If you are motivated by purpose, value, integrity and want your work to have real-world impact, we would love to hear from you
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
HEAD OF TRAINING AND IMPACT
Salary: £50,000–£55,000 (subject to experience)
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full time, 9am–5pm, hybrid with minimum 3 days in the office, or on site at projects in prison, or in the community.
Location: Our Head Office is in Herne Hill, SE24 London
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so early applications are encouraged. The closing date is Friday 3 April at 09:00am.
ABOUT THE CLINK CHARITY
The Clink Charity, founded in 2009, aims to prevent and reduce reoffending through training, rehabilitation, and support. We deliver hospitality and horticulture training behind the prison walls and in the community by creating an environment where our students are supported to gain the skills, confidence and qualifications they need to rebuild their lives.
Since that time, we have trained approximately 5,000 people in prison and delivered 2,600 City & Guilds qualifications in a variety of hospitality and food courses.
What makes The Clink unique is our post-release support and mentoring programmes that rehabilitates an offender back into society through assistance with health mental health issues, housing, employment, family connections and friendships.
The charity operates an award-winning fine-dining restaurant open to the public inside HMP Brixton, training kitchens in the prison estate, horticulture projects at HMP Send and HMP Erlestoke, a commercial bakery in Brixton, and a bespoke delivery service, Catered by Clink.
Additionally, Clink Events is our social enterprise catering business with food produced by the women at HMP Downview and also in additional kitchen at Herne Hill and then served by alumni in front of house at some of the best venues in London including: the Guildhall, the Science Museum, Cutty Sark, Kew Gardens and the Camden Roundhouse. In 2024, across 218 events, The Clink fed 36,000 people.
More information can be found on our website and social media channels
ABOUT THE ROLE
Our Head of Training and Impact is a vital and high-profile role within the organisation, responsible for overseeing the implementation of all training projects at The Clink Charity across our portfolio, both in prisons and out in the community, evaluating the outcomes and impact of our work for our beneficiaries.
This is a broad and varied role allowing the incumbent to work across catering, hospitality and horticulture training projects, delivering nationally accredited and high calibre City & Guilds qualifications to vulnerable learners.
Having oversight of the projects, and working closely with our team of expert project leads in our restaurant, bakery, gardens and in our youth café of South London, this role offers the opportunity to develop exceptional training programs, rigorous quality assurance processes, and reflective practice in evaluation work.
As we scale our youth projects to a second site in Guildford, this role also comes with the wonderful opportunity of mobilising a brand new project to meet the needs of a NEET community of 16–25 year olds in a café based at Guildford County Court.
The Head of Training and Skills will onboard referral partners, design the delivery program and impact framework, and work alongside a skilled support team to ensure the success of the site, with a view to opening more of these projects in 2027.
If you are committed to the mission of The Clink Charity to reduce reoffending by changing attitudes, transforming lives and creating second chances, and you have great experience and passion for using education, skills and training to be the tool to generate this rehabilitation, we want to hear from you.
A LITTLE ABOUT YOU
You could be a great fit for our Head of Training and Impact role if you bring a strong background in hospitality and a passion for developing others. Perhaps you’ve led hospitality training in a college or cookery school, delivered City & Guilds qualifications within an FE setting, or built your career as a Chef or hospitality professional in a busy restaurant, hotel or catering environment.
You may have combined industry experience with teaching, or progressed from the kitchen into education and leadership. We welcome applications from a wide range of professionals across the hospitality and training spectrum who are ready to use their expertise to drive quality training, inspire our learners and shape meaningful outcomes.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Leadership and line management
- Work with the CEO, ELT and Board to achieve The Clink’s mission, vision and strategic objectives.
- Lead the design and implementation of a skills and training strategy which delivers the agreed vision and goals, and to communicate its effectiveness to project leads via KPIs, targets, and regular briefings.
- Lead the design and implementation of effective and robust systems and processes for the operational delivery of training programmes in achieving required delivery outputs.
- Lead on the embedding and implementation of an effective Quality Assurance programme for all project delivery across the Charity.
- Provide line management support for the programme leads in the Restaurant, Bakery, Gardens and Café, providing wider leadership to the staff team on all matters connected to delivering training and measuring the outcomes and impact of our work.
- Line manage the Data and Compliance Manager and support him with preparation of data driven insights informing strategic decisions.
- Conduct 1:1s with your direct reports, manage appraisals and oversee performance management processes.
- Ensure the learning and development needs of all delivery staff are met.
Project delivery
- Oversee all project delivery work at The Clink Charity, ensuring consistent, quality delivery and effective monitoring, evaluation and reporting of all projects.
- Manage the recruitment, training and development of our training staff continuously reflecting on improvements to the roles that can more effectively achieve project outcomes.
- Own the design and implementation of our work based on insight and learnings, lead on reviewing existing services and assessing new services or approaches.
- Make operational delivery decisions to ensure quality projects and provision – oversight of logistics, staffing, and resource management.
- Provide cover and support for staff delivering projects across our portfolio as/when needed.
- Ensure the CPD needs of staff delivering projects are met – including tracking completion of IHASCO courses for mandatory training.
Qualifications, assessing and verification
- Act as the lead link to City & Guilds for the delivery of the charity’s training courses across all projects ensuring that the content of the training programmes enables learners to achieve their qualifications and meet the high standards of City & Guilds NVQs.
- Work with the project leads on preparing portfolios for hospitality, catering and horticulture projects ready for assessment and verification.
- Oversee all verification of these courses. Act as one of a team of IQA’s for The Clink Charity and facilitate the EQA (External Qualification Assessor) visits, and HMPPS/HMI inspections across all sites.
- Host standardisation meetings with colleagues to build a collaborative training culture.
- Regularly monitor qualification outcomes against targets.
Monitoring, evaluation and insight
- Work with the project team in prisons and in the community to develop measurement and evaluation processes to assess the impact and outcomes of The Clink’s training programme, inform future decisions about programme development, and enable robust reporting to stakeholders.
- Attend quarterly reporting meetings with the MoJ to share the outcomes of our projects, preparing reports for those meetings and working with colleagues at New Futures Network who monitor our work for the MoJ.
- Regularly review impact methodology and implementation to ensure The Clink’s impact is measured and demonstrated in the most effective way, showing the full impact of our programmes.
- Develop efficiencies in collecting and analysing data.
- Be impact-driven and use data and results to ensure the planning and delivery of high-quality programme to drive continuous improvement.
Safeguarding
- Champion safeguarding in all the work that you deliver in and out of prisons, ensuring processes are adhered to and a culture of safeguarding is sustained throughout the organisation.
- Act as a DDSL – Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead.
- Approve updates to related policies and procedures annually.
- Ensure all staff working in our projects are appropriately trained in safeguarding practice at The Clink Charity.
New business, income generation and programme development
- Lead on strategic planning for delivery and programme development across all sites, seeking opportunities to grow/scale our impact by exploring new opportunities with our partners.
- Build and develop relationships with all relevant stakeholders, including MoJ and HMPPS colleagues, referral agencies for our community work, and strategic funding partners to increase our reach and deepen our impact on beneficiaries.
- Build and develop The Clink’s network of potential delivery partners including HMPPS, DWP, DfE, local authority, social care, schools, and other third sector organisations who work with us in supporting our beneficiaries.
- Provide expert content surrounding programme delivery and development for funding bids and proposals.
- Support the work of the CEO and Grants Manager in raising funds for the charity, including through attending pitches and meetings with current and prospective funders.
Finance
- With the support of the Director of Finance and Resources, prepare and oversee budgets for project delivery and track spending against forecasts ensuring good fiscal management of projects.
General Duties
- Report on delivery to the Board of Trustees, prepare papers for and attend subcommittee and full board meetings every quarter as requested.
- Carry out other duties as required by The Clink Charity.
- Act in a manner that is in keeping with The Clink’s values and promote inclusive practices.
PERSON SPECIFICATION – DESIRABLE EXPERIENCE
- Experience of leading projects and training and developing a team made up of staff members of differing levels of seniority.
- Experience of working in: social justice, education, youth work, or criminal justice projects, or having worked in hospitality or horticulture before, or having lived experience that reflects the lives of the beneficiaries that we serve.
- Have an IQA qualification or be willing to complete the course to become accredited.
- A track record of excellent project management skills (accuracy, attention to detail, scheduling, problem solving and monitoring) at a national level and have a strong working knowledge of GDPR.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and experience of building relationships with various stakeholders at a senior level.
- Experience of contributing to the development of overall strategy as part of a senior management team, and ability to translate this into operational strategy and plans that help deliver the organisation’s vision and mission.
- Knowledge of implementing quality assurance systems and the ability to objectively assess the performance of partners and colleagues against an agreed competency matrix.
- Knowledge of report writing and extrapolating data to inform decisions.
- An understanding of the catering, hospitality or horticulture courses (NVQs) provided by City & Guilds.
- Proven experience and working knowledge of safeguarding principles and practices and investigation / reporting protocols.
- Proficient IT skills, including use of Microsoft Office programmes.
- Can work flexible hours when necessary and is willing to travel between our South East projects.
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES
- Demonstrable belief in The Clink’s mission and passion for our work.
- High levels of self-awareness, humility and flexibility, as well as an open and collaborative leadership style.
- Personal integrity, kindness, warmth and sound judgement.
- Good communicator: orally and in writing.
- Proactive, adaptable and can use initiative and find solutions to problems.
- Positive, entrepreneurial, energising and adopts a “can do” mentality.
- Values driven and promotes inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility (IDEA).
REPORTING LINES AND MANAGEMENT EXPECTATIONS
You will report to our CEO and to the MD of Clink Events. You will line manage and support members of the delivery team across projects.
GENERAL CLINK CHARITY INFORMATION
All staff are expected to comply with all current legislation, comply with prison operational policies, comply with The Clink Staff Handbook and undertake such other duties within the scope of the post as may be requested by your manager.
Special requirements include passing the prison security vetting process to be able to draw keys and holding a valid driving licence.
Benefits include 28 days holiday plus bank holidays, a company pension scheme, and free meals on duty when based in a restaurant or visiting for business.
HOW TO APPLY
If you would like to apply for this post, please send your CV and a supporting statement (maximum 2 sides of A4).
In your supporting statement you should ensure that you try to address the desirable criteria set out in the person specification for the role. Make sure you give evidence which shows how you meet the criteria, not just telling us that you did it.
Interviews will be arranged on a rolling basis for this role, so early applications are encouraged. The deadline for applications is Friday 3rd April .
We do not send individual acknowledgment of applications due to the high volume we receive, and we will only contact candidates who are shortlisted for an interview. If you do not hear from us within two weeks of the closing date, your application has not been successful on this occasion.
If you would like an informal chat about this role, we can offer a call with a member of The Clink Team. Even if you feel you do not meet some of the criteria listed above, we would still welcome applications from passionate candidates who are keen to make a difference.
Appointment process
Applicants who have demonstrated that they meet the desirable criteria set out in the person specification will be contacted and interviews arranged on a rolling basis.
Interview
If you are shortlisted for interview, you will be invited to a selection process. A panel of two or more, including the recruiting manager conducts all interviews. If there are any special arrangements associated with the selection process e.g. tests or presentations, you will be informed accordingly.
Interview outcome
If you are invited to attend an interview, you will be informed either verbally or in writing of the outcome. The successful candidate will have the decision confirmed in writing as an offer of employment. Unsuccessful candidates will be offered the opportunity for feedback.
References
If you are successful in your application, you are asked to provide us with the details of two referees. We only contact referees with your permission after an offer of employment has been made.
All offers of employment are conditional upon the receipt of references that are satisfactory to The Clink Charity, verification of right to work in the UK and where applicable, verification of qualifications and Disclosure and Barring Service (where required).
Personal information
The personal information that you have supplied will only be used for recruitment and selection purposes. You should refer to the Privacy Notice on our website, which sets out how The Clink Charity will deal with the personal and sensitive data you have provided in your application form and supporting information.
EDIA
We welcome all applicants and are keen to enhance our team to reflect the diversity of the UK and the communities we serve. We would like to encourage applications from disabled people, those from LGBTQIA+ and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds and those experiencing other forms of marginalisation, as they are underrepresented at this level. In addition, as this role works directly with people in prison and those at risk of offending, those with lived experience are encouraged to apply.
Accessible recruitment
The Clink Charity is committed to making our recruitment process and workplace accessible to all. If you are an applicant with a disability and/or have any specific needs or adjustments that you would like us to consider, at application, interview, or appointment stage, please make us aware in your application.

