Director of strategy and programmes jobs in Brixton hill, greater london

The Seafarers’ Charity is the leading fundraising and grant‑making charity dedicated to improving the lives of seafarers and their families. For over 100 years, we have supported those who work at sea by funding vital welfare services and driving long‑term, systemic change across the maritime sector.

We are now seeking an experienced Grants Manager to lead the delivery of our annual grant‑making programme and play a key role in achieving our Thrive strategy.

About the role

Reporting to the Impact Director, the Grants Manager will manage an annual grants programme of approximately £3 million, overseeing the full grants lifecycle from application and assessment through to monitoring, evaluation and learning. You will build strong relationships with funded partners, prepare robust funding recommendations for Trustees, and ensure our grant‑making is effective, proportionate and aligned with best practice.

You will also line manage an Impact Executive (0.4 FTE) and work closely with colleagues across the organisation to share learning, evidence impact and support wider fundraising and advocacy work.

About you

You will bring:

• Experience working in a charity, trust or grant‑making environment
• Proven experience managing grant programmes and the full grants lifecycle
• Strong analytical and organisational skills, with confidence reviewing budgets and financial information
• Experience using grant management or CRM systems
• Excellent communication and relationship‑building skills
• A collaborative, proactive approach and a strong commitment to improving outcomes for seafarers

Knowledge of the maritime or fishing sectors, experience working with Trustees, or relevant professional training is welcomed but not essential.

Why join us?

You’ll be part of a friendly, inclusive organisation of around 20 staff, working in a hybrid model from our London office. We are proud of our commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds.

How to apply

Please send a CV (no more than two sides) and a supporting statement outlining your suitability and motivation for the role t

Applicants will be required to provide evidence of their right to work in the UK at interview stage.

The National Youth Orchestra is the UK’s leading organisation championing orchestral music as a powerful agent for teenage development.

We are a welcoming community where every teenager can play their part in shaping their world through extraordinary music. Every year we welcome over 10,000 teenagers of all backgrounds and different levels of musical ability into a national community to play and share orchestral music.

We are looking for a Head of NYO Schools to lead the development of NYO’s overall programme offer for schools, with an initial focus on Catalyst, our flagship new schools programme. This is a key strategic role within NYO’s Engagement team and will play a major part in shaping a scalable model that supports schools to create vibrant musical communities for teenagers. You will lead the design and delivery of activity including school residencies, teacher CPD, creative resources, alumni training and celebratory events, while helping shape the future direction of NYO’s wider schools offer.

This role will suit someone who combines strong programme development and leadership experience with excellent relationship-building skills, a thorough understanding of the mainstream secondary education sector, and a commitment to inclusion, youth-centred practice and safeguarding. You will be motivated by creating meaningful opportunities for young people, teachers and early career alumni through music, and able to translate strategic vision into high-quality delivery. 

At the National Youth Orchestra, you'll work as part of a supportive, friendly and adventurous staff team. Learning and personal growth are intrinsic to every role. Our offices near Holborn in central London are a hive of activity, a space for collaboration and ideas. Hybrid working is standard for most roles, with a flexible and supportive culture. NYO offers a season ticket loan scheme, cycle-to-work scheme, health cash plan, retail and entertainment discounts, and a 24/7 counselling and support helpline.

Deadline for applications: Monday 11 May 2026 at 10am.

This is an exciting opportunity to work on the frontline of policy advocacy and development in child health. As Head of Policy and Research you'll be responsible for overseeing the development of our policy positions and all related outputs, as well as the research that underpins our campaigns and advocacy, across England, Scotland and abroad. You will be an integral thought partner to the Director of Strategy & Delivery and wider leadership team on the development of pioneering research concepts that will drive the child health agenda forward. You will be our internal technical expert on food policy, ensuring all of our work is evidence-based and impactful, as well as being our external representative, liaising with leading policy and research experts across academia, civil society, and government agencies. 

RESPONSIBILITIES

Research

• Work with the Director of Strategy & Delivery and Research Manager to plan research projects and support their delivery, ensuring they support policy calls and reflect young peoples’ experiences.

• Lead the translation of  Bite Back’s research into high quality outputs including reports, briefings and submissions.

• Work with campaigns, communications and content teams to turn research findings into high impact creative communications for a range of audiences.

• Serve as a primary spokesperson for our research including in media placements, speaking slots and government evidence sessions. 

Policy development

• Lead on the development of Bite Back’s policy positions in key and emerging areas, ensuring young peoples’ views and experiences are fed in at every stage.

• Lead the development of all policy outputs including submissions, consultation responses and briefings, ensuring they are evidence-based and reflect young peoples’ voices. 

• Lead the technical policy liaison with stakeholders and experts in the field to gather evidence and critically assess the Bite Back’s positions. 

Evidence

• Keep abreast of new evidence on key areas relating to nutrition, climate and health and consider the implications for Bite Back’s policy and relevant activity.

• Collaborate internally to provide knowledge and advice on policy and evidence issues with colleagues and the youth board.

• Review and sign off key outputs to ensure they reflect the latest evidence and data.

Stakeholder engagement

• Build and maintain relationships with a range of external stakeholders to support Bite Back’s influencing agenda, including with senior government policymakers, academia, WHO and other charities in England, Scotland, and abroad.

• Represent Bite Back on a range of alliances, coalitions and partnerships.

• Deputise for the Director of Strategy & Delivery when needed.

Leadership

• Line management of Research Manager and Impact & Evaluation manager, with a dotted line to the Policy & Engagement Executive and Senior Programmes & Policy Manager for Scotland.

• Operate as a member of the extended leadership team, collaborating with other Heads and the Directors to ensure research and policy considerations are embedded seamlessly into campaigns, communications and programmes.

• Lead the policy and research strategy development for Bite Back in new geographies, providing visionary technical leadership in how we expand to new countries across the UK and abroad.

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

We will be looking for applications that demonstrate experience in at least some of these areas, and evidence of capacity to build skills in others. Please don’t be put off applying for one of our jobs because you can’t demonstrate every skill. If you're passionate and excited about working for us, and possess the main skills and experience we are looking for, go ahead and apply. You could be just what we are looking for!

Required: 

• Significant experience  of managing food policy work, which has informed and influenced national and local food policy in England. 

• In depth knowledge of the breadth of the food, nutrition and obesity public health landscape and the key challenges faced in the policy environment.

• Deep technical expertise in food policy research, development, and communication - with a strong focus on commercial determinants of health.

• Strong analytical skills, including a good understanding of quantitative and qualitative research methods, including creative implementation research techniques. and experience with commissioning external research.

• Ability to synthesise and utilise evidence to support policy development and influencing. 

• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, including ability to communicate complex issues.

• Calmness under pressure, with ability to prioritise multiple projects to agreed objectives and deadlines. 

• Line management experience.

• A passion for our mission and a commitment to our values: Fresh, Resilient, Respectful, Energetic, Real.

Desired: 

• Strong policy and research networks in the UK across academic, civil society, and government agencies. A trusted technical voice.

• Post graduate experience in public health or nutrition and/or evidence of continuing professional development of relevant knowledge and skills in the field. 

• Experience in working with young people.

• Experience with designing creative, outside the box research with fresh ways of influencing food policy change.

• Understanding and some experiencing working on food policy across devolved nations (Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland), and within other global contexts.

Role Purpose

The Head of Philanthropy is accountable for delivering significant philanthropic income for Justice & Care, including through personally secured major gifts, alongside building and leading a high-performing philanthropy function.

The postholder will design and execute the philanthropy strategy, hold and actively manage a portfolio of major donors and prospects, and personally secure five- and sixfigure gifts through direct relationship management and solicitation.

This is a hands-on income-generating role: the Head of Philanthropy will lead from the front on donor cultivation, stewardship and asking, while also setting direction, prioritising effort and building capability within the team to maximise long-term philanthropic income.

They will work closely with the Global Director of Fundraising on key relationships and strategic opportunities, supporting the growth of philanthropy across the UK and expansion into the US and emerging markets.

This role combines senior-level leadership with significant personal income delivery; candidates should expect to spend a substantial proportion of their time directly engaging donors and securing major gifts.

Global Scope

This role will support the growth of philanthropy across multiple markets, including strengthening the UK portfolio and developing opportunities in the US and emerging markets (e.g. Middle East), working closely with senior stakeholders to shape and deliver market-specific approaches. 

Main Responsibilities

Your key responsibilities include, but are not necessarily limited to:

1. Strategic Leadership and Income Delivery

• Lead the development and delivery of the philanthropy strategy, with a clear focuson generating major donor income in the UK and driving growth in the US and emerging markets
• Be accountable for achieving philanthropy income targets, including through personally secured major gifts, working closely with the Global Director of Fundraising
• Translate organisational priorities into fundable propositions and compelling donor opportunities
• Actively shape and drive the philanthropy pipeline, making clear, evidence-based decisions about where time and effort are invested
• Work with the CEO, Board and senior leaders to prepare and support major donor asks, including co-solicitation where appropriate

2. Major Gifts and New Business

• Personally manage and grow a portfolio of high-value donors and prospects, typically at £25k-£250k+ level
• Lead all stages of the donor journey: identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship
• Personally secure new major gifts through one-to-one relationship building, tailored proposals and direct asks
• Develop and maintain a live pipeline of prospective donors with clearly defined next steps
• Take primary responsibility for preparing and delivering high-value asks, working closely with the CEO, Board members and Global Director of Fundraising
• Convert access to senior networks into tangible income outcomes

3. Team Leadership and Development

• Line manage and develop the Philanthropy Specialist and future members of the team
• Build capability within the team to support pipeline growth, donor stewardship and future expansion of the philanthropy function
• Establish strong ways of working, including prioritisation, pipeline management and CRM discipline
• Set clear objectives and KPIs for the team

4. Events and Strategic Engagement

• Design and lead a programme of philanthropic events with clear income andpipeline objectives
• Personally leverage high-value donor events to progress relationships towards major gifts
• Use international engagement and trips selectively where they support donor cultivation and solicitation
• Represent Justice & Care in philanthropic networks to generate new donor relationships

5. Pipeline, CRM and Reporting

• Own and maintain a live, decision-ready major donor pipeline
• Ensure robust pipeline management and accurate forecasting
• Maintain high-quality CRM data and reporting (Salesforce)
• Provide strategic insight on income performance, risks and opportunities

6. Other ad hoc duties

• Collaborate across the organisation to support delivery of shared objectives
• Contribute to cross-functional projects and organisational initiatives
• Undertake other tasks as required to support Development Team and organisational priorities

We will be holding an online webinar to provide prospective applicants the chance to meet JRF staff and learn more about the role. 

Please register via our website if you are interested in finding out more about the role. 

About the role

We are seeking a visionary leader to join us as Principal Policy Adviser (Work and Care) to drive the design, development and delivery of programmes that generate influential arguments, policies and ideas addressing the social and economic challenges underpinning poverty and economic insecurity in the UK today. This role is central to charting a course toward a fairer and more prosperous future.

You will actively seek out and engage with individuals and organisations developing innovative ideas and strategies that align with our mission. You will take ownership of how our platform and resources can be best leveraged to support the development and diffusion.

In addition, you will lead the external projection of this work, shaping national conversations, influencing decision-making at the highest levels, building strategic alliances and partnerships and backing experimentation and real-world alternatives. Your leadership will help nurture longer term shifts in thinking and action, ensuring that our work resonates and drives meaningful change across society.

The successful candidate will work collaboratively across the wider organisation, drawing on different disciplines and perspectives to strengthen policy and ideas work and maximise potential for change. You will engage closely with colleagues in teams across devolved nations, considering the territorial implications of their work and exploring how to address issues where responsibilities are devolved.

About you

We are seeking a candidate with strong expertise in UK labour markets or systems of care and a clear understanding of how these relate to poverty and economic insecurity. You will have a sophisticated grasp of how policy making works across the UK including devolved and sub-national governments and be well engaged with current political and policy debates. You will also understand how a range of analytical approaches, both quantitative and experiential, can be applied to complex policy issues, alongside a commitment to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture.

You will be skilled at navigating complex dilemmas, using evidence, research and lived experience to develop insightful and original ideas. You will think critically and creatively, communicate persuasively and identify and support new ideas and perspectives beyond JRF. You will also be an effective collaborator, able to build partnerships and work with a diverse range of stakeholders.

You will bring a track record of shaping influential ideas or policies and experience of engaging and influencing at senior levels. You will have led successful projects or programmes, supported others through coaching and development and contributed to building high-performing, positive teams.

How to apply

If you share our passion and this role sounds like you, then we’re looking forward to hearing from you.

Please submit your CV and supporting information via our website.

The closing date for applications is Sunday 10th May 2026.

Interviews will take place on Wednesday 20th May 2026.

We reserve the right to bring the closing date forward should enough quality applications be received prior to the current closing date.

Additional Information

Applications are welcome from all, regardless of age, disability, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, religion or belief, race, sex, sexual orientation, trans status or socioeconomic background.

We positively encourage applications from people from marginalised backgrounds, including but not limited to those with experience of living in poverty.

We are committed to being an anti-racist organisation and operate an anonymised recruitment process so that bias is eliminated from the shortlisting process.

In support of our approach to flexible working, we are happy to receive applications from those seeking full-time employment, as well as those who may want to share the role on a part-time basis. When making your application, please state whether you want to be considered for either full or part-time work and, if part-time, the number of hours per week you would be looking for.

At JRF we’re at our best when we’re continually building on trust, showing we care and making a difference – and hope others will do the same. So, for those roles which allow it, we’re developing a more blended approach to how and where you work. This means you can expect to work flexibly between the office and home (with an expectation of two days a week in your home office).

We offer a supportive and flexible workplace. More information on JRF Benefits can be found on our online platform. 

We encourage you to read our EVP, which again is located on our online platform.

We are a Disability Confident Employer. This means that we are committed to the recruitment, progression and retention of disabled individuals. We shall also offer interviews to disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria for the job. If you have a disability, please tell us if you would like to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident Scheme.

If you have any additional needs and need reasonable adjustments to be made to the interview process, please let us know.

Location: National Support Centre, London SE1

Contract: Full time, permanent

Salary: £40k

Closing Date: 1st May 2026

Marine Society have an exciting new role! Help us deliver and expand our core bursary and welfare services and support the needs of seafarers. You will manage our highly renowned Slater scholarship fund and other training bursaries, together with the Coming Ashore mentoring programme and careers advice and guidance resources.

You’ll be expected to have a good understanding of seafaring training and certification requirements and have experience of working in the not-for-profit sector. A background working in the maritime sector is helpful but not essential.

The Marine Society & Sea Cadets (MSSC) is the leading maritime charity for youth development and lifelong learning. We are a vibrant and growing charity inspiring young people to achieve their potential through challenge and nautical adventure and also enabling seafarers and maritime professionals to realise their potential through learning and career development. Working with our employees, cadets, and volunteers, we have built a strong vision and five-year Future Ready strategy to meet the growing demand for what we provide, both for young people, seafarers and maritime professionals – and the thousands who aspire to be the sea cadets and marine professionals of the future. It is also about equipping them to achieve their potential and thrive in a rapidly changing world, while growing our charity to benefit even more people – including those from under-represented or marginalised groups.

We are currently looking for a Bursary and Welfare Manager to join our team.

About the role

This new role is to manage the bursary and welfare services of Marine Society. This requires an in depth understanding of seafarer’s needs and the training and certification they require to progress in their careers, both at sea and ashore. The manager will also oversee wider aspects of careers information and guidance and assisting with fundraising activity

Responsibilities

· Assess and process all bursary applications, including Slater Scholarships, Worcester, Hanway and Green Skills bursaries against clearly defined eligibility criteria

· Authorise the award of financial bursaries and approve beneficiary claims and expenses

· Maximise the use bursary funding and ensure successful outcomes for beneficiaries

· Identify new bursary funding opportunities and devise bids in collaboration with the fundraising team

· Manage the bursary and Coming Ashore programme restricted funds. Monitor and report on expenditure and activity

· Manage the operation of the Coming Ashore mentoring programme and ensure its sustainability

· Produce statistical reports and analysis pertaining to bursaries and welfare services for internal and external stakeholders.

· Put in place and maintain online and physical resources that provide seafarers with information, advice and guidance and supports maritime career development.

· To lead the annual Matrix accreditation process

· Work with the Digital Marketing Coordinator to ensure the effective marketing of bursary and welfare provision through a range of media and ensure the website remains up to date and relevant to seafarer needs.

· Represent Marine Society on external committees and forums that relate to welfare, including Merchant Navy Welfare Board and Nautilus Slater Management Committee

Requirements

• Educated to degree level or equivalent professional qualifications/experience
• In depth knowledge and understanding of the training needs of UK and international seafarers including their welfare and certification routes within the maritime sector both at sea and ashore
• Experience of working as team leader or manager in the not-for-profit sector
• Experience of preparing and presenting reports to management team and funders as required
• Ability to use social media and press effectively to inform and promote seafarer welfare and professional development.

Benefits

• 25 days annual leave per annum increasing with length of service
• Hybrid working for many roles
• Life assurance (4x salary)
• Private medical insurance
• Generous pension (employer contribution up to 10%)
• Cycle to work scheme
• Wellbeing portal and EAP with 121 counselling
• Employee development: We are investing in our employees' development and have an annual calendar of learning and development opportunities, designed to support employees to develop into their roles and stretch them to achieve their full potential.

Additional Information

MSSC positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates from all backgrounds. Equity, diversity, and inclusion really matters to us, so we can best serve our beneficiaries from every community. We work to ensure a fair and consistent recruitment process and aim to be a charity where diversity of experience, identity and skills are valued and welcomed. MSSC is an equal opportunities employer.

We recognise our responsibilities to safeguard and protect the young people and vulnerable adults with whom we work. We do all we can to promote their health, safety and wellbeing, and we expect our staff to share this commitment and work in line with safeguarding policy, the MSSC’s values and ethos of inclusivity. We adhere to safer recruitment practices and therefore employment is subject to detailed pre-employment checks for successful candidates, including references and criminal disclosure checks and the completion of a disclosure questionnaire. 

All successful applicants are required to attend safeguarding training and undergo pre-employment checks including a criminal record check.

Release Counselling and Therapy for Women is entering an exciting new chapter. 

Founded in Brighton and Hove in 2013, Release has grown from a small local charity into a financially robust organisation with a growing national reach. Under the leadership of our outgoing CEO, the charity has been transformed—moving from a challenging financial position to one with strong reserves, clear sustainability, and ambitious plans for growth. 

We now provide affordable 1:1 online counselling to women across the UK, alongside specialist group programmes supporting maternal mental health and key life transitions. One-to-one counselling is a core offer and a vital income stream, enabling us to extend our reach while staying true to our values. 

This period has also seen Release grow from having no volunteers to working with over 20 dedicated volunteer counsellors, strengthening our capacity and community impact. 

As our CEO steps down, Release is ready for its next phase—building on strong foundations, amplifying our national impact, and remaining firmly rooted in our purpose: being a charity that supports women’s mental health, run by women, for women.

We're looking for a Data & Insights Coordinator who will work with our team to generate the evidence which is a core part of Khulisa's strategy and informs crucial strategic decisions.

About Khulisa

Khulisa, meaning 'nurture' in the Zulu language of South Africa, is an award-winning charity dedicated to providing therapeutic support to young people. We focus on reaching those who are most at risk – young people from deprived communities who are often marginalized, vulnerable to exclusion, and at heightened risk of becoming involved in crime

Our approach centres on safe, exploratory methods that aim to understand behaviour and experiences often rooted in trauma, abuse, and neglect. We deliver intensive therapeutic programs within educational and community settings, empowering young people to confront the underlying causes of their emotional distress and work toward healing. To create lasting, sustainable change, we work to establish trauma-informed environments around young people by equipping parents, caregivers, educators, and other professionals with the tools they need to offer effective, supportive care. Currently, our services are active in London and Manchester.

About the role

Khulisa has invested heavily in the development of its monitoring and evaluation framework, alongside augmenting its evaluation capacity and capability through innovation. At Khulisa, we're committed to making a difference in the lives of young people. We're a dynamic organization with a strong focus on evidence and impact. We use our evidence to inform future programme design and to influence policy and practice. This role will involve:

• Managing and developing the CRM (Salesforce) to ensure we collect high quality data at scale.
• Extracting meaningful insights to inform decision making, strategy development, and support the development of effective policies within the justice and education sectors.
• Ensuring the day-to-day operating of Khulisa’s data recording, processing and reporting processes.
• Continually refining and improving Khulisa’s internal MEL capacity including our evaluation systems; organisational and programme Theories of Change; evaluation indicators; data collection tools and define system improvements.
• Supporting the scoping and design of new programmes by providing data from past programmes, insights from beneficiaries and service-users, research into best practice and offer ongoing guidance on establishing best practice MEL systems and processes.

For a full list of duties and responsibilities, please see the attached job description when you click the apply button.

This is a hybrid role, with the post holder required to work mostly from home but with access to desk space in our London office. Travel to various locations in London and the North-West of England may also be necessary to fulfil the requirements of the role.

What we're looking for

Abilities/Experiences

• Developed experience of analysing data (ideally customer and audience data) and delivering insights to inform decision making.
• Experience in using data visualisation tools to create dashboards that improve efficiency and enable self serve insight.
• Excellent presentation skills and ability to write reports both verbally and in writing clearly and confidently to a range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Solution focussed and able to respond effectively to challenges and changes that emerge in research/evaluation projects and in the wider organisation.
• Ability to work collaboratively and build strong relationships with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Comfortable working with stakeholders from non analytical backgrounds, gathering requirements, and translating them into structured analytical questions and approaches.
• Proven ability to effectively plan, manage, and implement projects and initiatives.
• Demonstrated skill in prioritising tasks, managing conflicting demands, and ensuring high quality outcomes for both individual and team deliverables.
• Strong communication skills to influence and persuade at all levels, translating complex ideas into accessible formats.
• Experience of working with a range of CRM and evaluation software including Excel, Salesforce, PowerBI and others.

Knowledge/Skills

• Excellent quantitative and qualitative research skills;
• Ability to work at pace and to tight deadlines;
• Excellent analysis, interpretation and storytelling skills;
• Outstanding eye for detail in all work;
• Outstanding written and editing skills;
• Skilled in using insight, evidence and impact evaluation data to influence internal and external audiences;
• Creative thinker with the ability to identify new approaches to deliver our learning needs;
• Solutions focused and able to respond effectively to challenges and changes that emerge in research/evaluation projects and in the wider organisation;
• Strong project management skills (from project initiation, project delivery, updating colleagues, driving a process, completing and learning);
• Experience in coaching others on a range of skills;
• Outstanding communication skills;
• Excellent collaboration, partnership and influencing skills;
• Flexibility and ability to embrace change, supporting colleagues to do the same.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: We are actively looking to recruit a diversity of talent. We embrace, respect and value the difference in our employees and believe that we and our work is better for it. We are committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive environment that consists of fairness, dignity, and caring for everyone, and one that enables every employee to flourish and realise their potential.

Job title: Senior Philanthropy Lead (USA)
Department: Development    
Responsible to: Director of Development and Funded Programmes
Location: London (UK) - Hybrid working. Alternatively USA  based.
Working pattern: Full-time, 38.5 hours per week
Duration of contract: Permanent
Start Date: As soon as possible

Help shape the future of global education through transformative philanthropy.

UWC International is seeking a Senior Philanthropy Lead (USA) to advance major gifts fundraising and strategic philanthropic engagement across the United States.  This is a newly created role, reflecting our ambition to significantly grow our fundraising capability and expand our reach. Reporting to the Director of Development and partnering closely with the UK-based Executive Director, you will lead the cultivation of a high-value donor portfolio, secure transformational gifts, and build long-term, trust-based relationships with individuals, foundations, and partners who share our vision.

This is a pivotal senior role with the opportunity to elevate UWC International’s presence in the U.S. while developing your own expertise within a globally connected organisation. You will work alongside experienced international fundraisers, including senior leadership and board members, offering a unique platform to learn, grow, and influence strategy at the highest level. Bringing strategic insight and creativity, you will help grow income, strengthen donor engagement, and advance key priorities, including the UWC Global Endowment and ambitions set out in our  2030 Strategy. Collaboration will be central—working closely with schools, particularly UWC-USA in Montezuma, New Mexico, as well as national committees and dedicated supporters to unlock new opportunities for impact.

The role is UK-based with regular travel to the United States, though we are open to exploring a U.S. base for the right candidate. We are looking for a relationship-driven leader who combines sharp strategic thinking with a strong track record in major gifts fundraising. Experience or strong knowledge of the U.S. fundraising, advancement, or development landscape would be a distinct advantage. You will be confident in identifying and engaging new prospects, stewarding high-level donors, and translating ambition into measurable results, ultimately strengthening UWC’s visibility and influence in the U.S. and contributing to a global movement that transforms lives through education.

About us

UWC is a global movement of 18 schools across four continents, united by the mission to make education a force for peace and a sustainable future. Each year, we bring together young people from over 150 countries to live and learn in diverse international communities, developing academic excellence, cross-cultural understanding, and a drive for social impact.

Our students go on to become leaders in politics, NGOs, business, education, and grassroots movements, shaping a more just and sustainable world. Today, our global network includes over 85,000 alumni united by the values they developed at UWC.

About UWC International 

UWC International is the operational arm of UWC, a UK-registered and Germany-registered charity at the heart of the global UWC movement. Based in London and Berlin, our team works closely with stakeholders across the UWC network and supports a global alumni community.

Our work includes global fundraising, communications, promotion and support for the network of more than 150 UWC national committees. We also lead on global strategy and provide key services to UWC schools and colleges.

We are proud to reflect the diversity we champion. Our international team represents over 25 nationalities, bringing a wide range of perspectives and lived experiences. We are committed to anti-racism, diversity, equity and inclusion (ARDEI) across all aspects of our work – ensuring our organisational culture reflects the values we promote across the UWC movement.

What we offer

As part of a commitment to our employees, we offer the following:

• Hybrid working -  we operate hybrid working arrangements, with at least 20% of the week in the office and up to 80% working from home. This role however will require flexibility to travel to and spend additional time in London or abroad beyond the 20% in-office requirement.

• Flexible working hours - our standard working hours are 38.5 per week. We support flexible working and are happy to discuss different working patterns.

• Generous annual leave allowance – we offer 28 days holiday per year plus 8 public holidays (pro rata for part-time or fixed-term contracts).

• Paid leave for personal growth - up to 2 days per year for volunteering or up to 2 days per year for study leave. 

• Learning & development opportunities – we have access to various learning and development platforms to support your professional growth, as well as a budget set aside for professional development.

• Income Protection & well-being support - We offer income protection to all employees, an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) with access to a legal support helpline, remote GP appointments, medical second opinions, mental health support, physiotherapy, lifestyle coaching, personal trainer and nutritionist sessions, and a well-being calendar featuring podcasts and webinars. 

• Exclusive discounts & perks - with access to a range of discounts across shopping, dining, lifestyle and entertainment, with thousands of offers on hundreds of top retailers.

• Cyclescheme and eyecare vouchers

• Enhanced maternity and enhanced paternity leave

• Enhanced sick pay

• Higher-than-standard pension contribution scheme - UWC International will contribute up to 8% of the employee’s gross salary toward their Pension scheme with NEST in the UK.

• In-person meetings: Yearly Staff Away Days, team retreats and travel to our international schools and international events as needed to create connected teams.

Visa requirements

Anyone who applies to work at UWC International in London must have a work visa before starting employment, in compliance with the relevant immigration rules. Please provide confirmation of your eligibility to indefinitely work or reside in the UK in your application. If you are planning to be USA based, please make this known in your application. Any offers of employment made by UWC International will be subject to a right-to-work check on your immigration status.

Application Process
Do you want to be part of our team?  To apply, please submit an up to date copy of your CV along with a cover letter in English (each a maximum of 2 pages) on the application link provided. 

Your cover letter must:

• Provide details of  your expected salary and location

• Outline your experience, skills and competencies against the Person specification section in the attached Job Description.

• Explain why you want to join UWC International.

• Provide confirmation of your eligibility to work or reside in the UK or US.

• Provide the name and contact details of two professional referees, including their job title, email address and the capacity in which you are known to them. References are taken up prior to the second round interviews.  We will not contact your referees without first letting you know.

PLEASE NOTE: applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and interviews will be arranged as soon as we receive a set of suitable candidates. If you are interested, submit your application as soon as possible. 

For further information on this opportunity, please contact us to connect you with the recruiting manager.

Safeguarding Statement
The job holder might have to travel to UWC schools and colleges. Therefore, a Basic DBS check (Disclosure and Barring Service) or international equivalent will be required before any job offer is made. We will also take up references before the second stage of the interview process. 

Diversity Statement

UWC places deliberate diversity at the heart of our educational model because of its critical importance in our mission ‘to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future’. At the UWC International Office, we believe this commitment to deliberate diversity must be reflected within our team, organisational practices, policies and culture. We recognise people with different backgrounds, skills, attitudes and experiences bring fresh ideas and perceptions, and we encourage and leverage these differences to make our work more relevant and accessible.

We will not discriminate or tolerate discriminatory behaviour on any grounds such as, but not limited to, race, gender, disability, nationality, national or ethnic origin, religion or belief, marital/partnership or family status, sexual orientation, age or socioeconomic background.

We strive to be an inclusive workplace where everyone feels a sense of belonging, has a voice, can raise concerns, and feels comfortable and confident. We expect everyone who works with us to share this commitment and to act accordingly as we aspire best to serve the UWC mission and our global community. It is an ongoing journey and we welcome all those ready to travel with us.

CAFOD is looking for a strategic and collaborative leader to shape how digital, data and technology enable our mission, strengthen supporter engagement, and build a resilient, future-ready organisation.

The Role

You’ll lead our DDaT Solutions function, working across the organisation to design and deliver high-impact, cost-effective technology and data solutions. You’ll oversee multidisciplinary teams spanning business analysis, digital and business solutions, and data & insight—while managing key suppliers, budgets, and delivery priorities.

As a senior adviser to the Executive Team, you’ll play a critical role in setting direction, balancing innovation with stability, and ensuring technology investments deliver real value.

What You’ll Do

• Shape and deliver CAFOD’s digital, data and technology strategy
• Lead enterprise platforms, data, and solution design to support organisational goals
• Drive transformation programmes and ensure value from technology investments
• Advise senior leaders on priorities, risks, and opportunities (including AI and automation)
• Strengthen governance, data quality, and risk management
• Build high-performing teams and foster a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement

What You’ll Bring

• Experience leading large-scale digital, data or technology functions
• Strong track record delivering technology-enabled change
• Ability to balance innovation with security, resilience, and value for money
• Excellent stakeholder engagement skills, including at the executive level
• Experience leading and developing multidisciplinary teams

The full job description is available on CAFOD's careers page 

CAFOD is a welcoming, supportive workplace committed to a safe, inclusive culture where everyone is respected. CAFOD will make reasonable adjustments at every stage of the recruitment process to ensure candidates with disabilities or individual needs are fully supported. 

Safeguarding for Children and Vulnerable Adults

CAFOD recognises the personal dignity and rights of children and vulnerable adults, towards whom it has a special responsibility and a duty of care and respect.  CAFOD, and all its staff and volunteers, undertake to do all in our power to create a safe environment for children, young people and vulnerable adults and to prevent their physical, sexual or emotional abuse.  CAFOD is committed to acting at all times in the best interests of children and vulnerable adults, seeing these interests as paramount.  Any candidate offered a job with CAFOD will be expected to adhere to CAFOD’s Safeguarding policy and sign CAFOD’s Code of Behaviour as an appendix to their contract of employment and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these documents.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references, and appropriate screening checks can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. CAFOD also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of, and consent to, these recruitment procedures. 

Leukaemia UK – Our Charity

We are a ‘small but mighty’ charity with one big ambition: to stop leukaemia devastating lives. Despite decades of incredible progress, only half of leukaemia patients live longer than five years after their diagnosis. We won't stop until we change this. 

We accelerate progress through the life-changing research, awareness and advocacy that matter most to people affected by leukaemia, doing everything we can to make sure that the next person with leukaemia has the best possible experience of diagnosis, treatment and care. 

We are looking for an experienced, driven and resourceful Head of HR and Operations, reporting to our Director of Finance and Resources. The role brings together delegated leadership for HR, Governance, Operations (Facilities, H&S, IT) and Risk management, working within the strategic direction set by the Director of Finance and Resources and CEO. We are transitioning from a historically outsourced HR model to a strengthened, inhouse HR and Operations function, to support delivery of our new five-year strategy.

Team  

We are a close-knit team, who are all passionate about Leukaemia UK and putting those affected by the disease at the heart of everything we do. We are all focused on ‘keeping it real’ with pragmatic, practical solutions, as well as ensuring that our charity gets the funding it needs to continue to help those diagnosed with leukaemia.

As a small organisation with just over 30 employees, every role counts. We have ambitious plans and we rely on individuals being self-starters, resilient and working at pace to maximise our collective impact. We may not be about the corporate life here, but we are all about delivering exceptional expertise and making a real change to people’s lives.

Leukaemia UK and You 

You will lead the development and delivery of People, Governance & Operations frameworks, aligned to the organisation’s strategy and under the direction of the Director of Finance and Resources. As a Head Of, you will contribute strategically as a specialist in your field, combining hands‑on operational delivery with a strong focus on continuous improvement. You will have the opportunity to help shape and embed new ways of working, improve processes and systems, and develop an important function that is fit to support an ambitious and growing charity. Delivery will be a team effort, with operational coordination and administrative delivery carried out by the Governance & Operations direct report, under your leadership.

Whilst the accountability is broad, we seek first and foremost a qualified and experienced HR professional, with a track record in a wide range of HR disciplines, working across a variety of stakeholders and managing a busy workload to deliver programmes of work. As part of this, we would expect a level of exposure and competence with regards to operations, governance and risk management. You will line‑manage and develop the Governance and Operations direct report, who provides administrative and coordination support across HR, governance, health & safety, facilities and IT activity.

In return, you will gain exposure to a broad range of organisational activity, work closely with senior leaders and teams, and play a key role in supporting Leukaemia UK’s next phase of strategic development.

Skills and Experience

Essential:

• Experience in managing a broad range of HR activities in a small or medium-sized charitable organisation.
• CIPD Qualified
• Proven experience of shaping HR strategy and implementation, with tangible outcomes.
• Business partner experience, to tailor HR support to the needs of different teams.
• Proven experience in shaping the culture and internal ways of working of an organisation, including expertise in EDIB and Wellbeing.
• Proven experience in organisational design and change management
• Excellent knowledge of UK Employment Law and how to embed this into HR policy.
• Proven experience in advising on Employee Relations to reach fair and just outcomes.
• Sufficient knowledge to oversee and review the Comp and Benefits framework.
• Proven experience in providing learning and development solutions to meet internal needs.
• Experience of line managing staff and supporting their development.
• Effective communication skills (written and oral), ability to work collaboratively with colleagues, strong stakeholder management and facilitation skills.
• Effective planning and work prioritision skills to balance strategic and project work with hands on delivery and line management.
• Comfortable working in a part time role with clear priorities and boundaries.
• Resilient and resourceful to navigate through and embed organisational and process change
• Able to demonstrate our charities values of being bold, collaborative and curious.
• Discrete and trustworthy with high levels of integrity.
• Strong IT skills, including Office 365 and SharePoint.

Desirable:

• Governance experience
• Risk management experience
• Level of exposure to Health and Safety obligations
• Management of outsourced service providers.
• Willingness to identify, test and apply appropriate technology and AI tools to streamline processes.

Role Specifics

• 22.5  hours per week (0.6 FTE) worked over 4-5 days, Monday to Friday.

• Location: We are very flexible! Our offices are based in Central London, and we operate hybrid working.  In this role you are required to work from the office at least 1 day per week.
• FTE Salary range £60,000 dependent on experience (pro-rata for part time)
• We are proud of our benefits – see a summary on our website Work with us - Leukaemia UK

Benefits 

• 36 days holiday per year, including bank holidays- pro rata for part time employees
• Pension – default is 4% employee and 4% employer and we match up to 6%
• Life Assurance – x 4 cover
• Critical Illness Cover
• Cash back healthcare scheme & Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• Hybrid Working- 1 day in the office per week
• Company sick pay

Applications and interview timings  

If you feel you have the passion for our work and the right mix of experience, skills, energy, and flair, then we would love you to apply. Please also see the full job description attached to the advert. 

To minimise unconscious bias, we use anonymous recruitment and are unable to consider direct applications. Please apply via the CharityJob website with your CV and covering letter.

Closing Date: Midnight Tuesday 12th May 2026

- First interviews will be held via Teams on Thursday 21st May 2026

- Second interviews will be face to face in our London Offices – at 26 Great Queen St, London WC2B 5BL on Wednesday 27th May 2026 

I look forward to hearing from you! 

Azra

Azra Karaselimovic

Director of Finance and Resources

Leukaemia UK

Lead our flagship partnership with Nationwide Building Society delivering exceptional relationship management alongside inspirational leadership of a portfolio of high-value partnerships. This strategic and creative role is central to our organisational growth and to ensuring we continue to raise vital funds to save the lives of people with cancer everywhere. 

About the role 

As Senior Corporate Partnerships Manager, you will lead our flagship partnership with Nationwide Building Society, delivering exceptional stewardship, strategic planning and measurable impact. You will work closely with colleagues across the Charity and The Royal Marsden to deliver our multi‑faceted partnership, that funds world-leading cancer research, and inspires support from across the business through a wide range of activities including sponsorship, virtual challenges, volunteering and training.

Alongside this, you will provide leadership across a portfolio of other high‑value corporate partnerships, helping to drive sustainable growth.

This is a highly visible, strategic and creative role, ideal for someone who combines strategic thinking and a keen eye for detail, with a passion for building relationships that create lasting, meaningful impact. You will line manage and develop one to two team members as well as playing a key role in shaping our Partnership Management strategy and supporting the wider growth of corporate income. 

Joining our team 

You will be joining an ambitious team of supportive colleagues who together manage a range of high-profile partnerships including Ralph Lauren, Omaze, Banham and many more. Our Charity has ambitious plans for the coming years as we raise £200m in support of the development of The Royal Marsden in Chelsea, our biggest capital appeal to date. Through our work, we ensure the nurses, doctors and research teams at The Royal Marsden can provide the very best care and develop life-saving treatments, which are used across the UK and around the world. 

About you

You will be an experienced and driven partnerships specialist, with a strong track record of managing multi-faceted, high‑value relationships in the charity sector. Confident, creative, highly proactive and a natural leader, you will bring a blend of strategic thinking and hands‑on delivery.
 

You will bring:

• Proven success in corporate/charity partnerships or business development within the charity sector, with demonstrable experience in managing seven-figure, complex, multi-faceted partnerships, with a strong track-record of delivering income against ambitious targets 

• Excellent communication and relationship‑building skills, with the ability to engage confidently with senior stakeholders 

• Strong negotiation and influencing ability, with experience of delivering high‑impact presentations 

• Creative and strategic thinking, with a flair for writing and presenting compelling impact reports 

• Strong organisational, analytical and planning skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously

• A collaborative, solution‑focused approach and the confidence to work both independently and as part of a high‑performing team

• Experience of managing and developing at least one line report.

What we offer

• Competitive salary of £47,000-£50,000 

• Hybrid working between home and Chelsea with occasional travel to Sutton 

• Flexible working around our core hours of 10am to 4pm 

• 27 days annual leave rising with length of service 

• Training, support and development opportunities 

• Access to the Blue Light discount scheme and other discounts opportunities 

• Range of wellbeing initiatives including access to an employee assistance programme designed to save money and improve your physical, financial and mental health and wellbeing, access to free online GP appointments and free eye tests and contribution towards any glasses required for work purposes 

• Opportunities for training and career development. 

Inclusion matters 

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and walks of life. 

If this sounds like the opportunity for you, we’d love to hear from you. 

How to apply 

On CharityJob, please send a CV and cover letter of no more than two pages, setting out how you meet the criteria in the person specification of the job description by 23:30 on Sunday 17 May 2026. 

Please note: To avoid disappointment, you are advised to submit your application as soon as possible as we reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of applications is received. This is to ensure that we can manage application levels whilst maintaining a positive candidate experience. Unfortunately, once a vacancy has closed, we are unable to consider further applications. 

SUMMARY

Position Title:  Head of Digital Organising & Communications

Level: Level 6

Salary: £40, 000 - 46, 000 (FTE yearly/depending on experience/salaries under review as part of our ongoing pay review process)

Reports to: Director of Organising and Campaigns

Location: Liberation centre Brixton, London (New office in Brixton)/ Remote working within the UK with at least 2 days’ work from our office (Pro rata for part time)

Contract: Fulltime (40hrs/weekly), fixed-term contract for 2 years with potential for Part time (e.g., 32hrs/weekly) options

Hours: TAA has flexible working hours, with some expected evenings (e.g., one 9pm finish once every two weeks) and weekends due to the nature of the role. All extra hours are reimbursed as Time off in Lieu (TOIL).

Start date: As soon as possible (with consideration for notice period)

Benefits:  TAA laptop and phone, (employee assistance and health cash package including staff supervision, counselling, dental, optical care and more.).

The Advocacy Academy is an activist youth movement. We serve as the political home for grassroots youth organising and the catalyst for collective action. The lives of the young people we work alongside have been directly shaped by living in an unjust world, and we exist to turn their anger into action and change.

Young people are often the catalysts for major social change, from the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee at the heart of the Civil Rights Movement, to the Soweto Uprising mobilising young people to resist the apartheid regime's education policies, to the Sunrise Movement redrawing the electoral map across America, and more recently protests across the world protesting the genocide in Palestine. How successfully they achieve real and lasting change depends on whether they are organised and whether they have the right strategy and tactics to be effective.

Before you skim the job description, please remember you don’t have to tick all the boxes for each role to apply.We all experience a bit of imposter syndrome, including the staff here at The Advocacy Academy. Let’s name it for what it is - a manifestation of the oppression many of us face on a day to day. If this role pulls you and you believe you could make a difference, then apply anyway or reach out to us to discuss more!

ABOUT THE ROLE

In a context of the rise of the far right, increasing inequality, and climate disaster, The Advocacy Academy is growing to meet this moment. As part of this, we are expanding our Organising and Campaigns Team, including recruiting an experienced Digital Organiser.

This person will lead the design and implementation of an ambitious digital organising approach, including building out our base online and supporting campaigns to amplify our message and deliver the tangible wins we are pushing for. The work will be supported by up to five of our ‘changemakers’ - young people who will be paid to support our digital organising alongside their other work or study.

AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

1. Oversee and deliver a Digital Organising Strategy within TAA, including but not limited to:

• Working with the SLT to set the strategic objectives and direction of your area of responsibility in relation to the broader growth of the organisation, ensuring appropriate resources, KPIs and relevant tools are in place to assess progress and make judgements on priorities. 
• Taking the lead on decision-making and problem-solving for all considerations relating to the area of responsibility, working with your department director and SLT around overlapping projects.
• Understanding the impact of socio-economic and sector specific changes that could impact the department, including wider trends around digital organising and campaigns.
• Supporting the department director with the management and mitigation of organisational risks by escalating issues within your department in a timely manner and supporting them with problem solving.

2. Lead on TAA’s digital organising approach, implementing online strategies as part of our campaigns, growing our membership, supporting our fundraising and building the systems needed to support these initiatives, including but not limited to:

• Leading the development and implementation of digital organising strategies as part of our youth-led organising campaigns, and support members and wider supporters to take action to deliver material change on issues that matter to our membership.
• Leading the development and implementation of digital strategies to deliver membership growth, working alongside colleagues to track and achieve key target numbers. 
• Leading the development and implementation of online member journeys, from initial touch points with TAA through to leaders of our youth movement.
• Ensuring the right digital platforms and technology (including website, WhatsApp, CRM, email, social media) are used to facilitate the effective and efficient delivery of key objectives
• Supporting the crafting and implementation of campaign messaging and content to support our campaign aims.
• Supporting the Development Team to create and implement key digital mechanisms to fundraise, including with individual donors, HNWIs, corporate donors and international funders).

3. Lead on TAA’s communications, storytelling and engagement work, ensuring we have a clear, consistent and effective narrative that reaches people, including but not limited to:

• Leading the strategic direction of TAA’s storytelling work, ensuring narrative change is embedded across the programme and rooted in the lived experience, values, and leadership of our communities.
• Coordinating the distributed communications efforts by different teams, ensuring consistent, high-quality outputs across all channels.
• Overseeing the development and delivery of multimedia content that shifts public understanding and showcases the impact of youth organising.
• Providing editorial oversight and creative leadership to ensure our digital storytelling is coherent, compelling, values-aligned, and responsive to the external environment.
• Supporting and advise the senior leadership team on narrative risks, opportunities, and emerging digital trends relevant to our movement goals.

4. Support our members to learn and grow as digital organisers in their own right, including but not limited to:

• Proactively build relationships with our members and grow our membership, through holding regular 1:1s and relational meetings that strengthen campaigns but more importantly help them to identify and act on their developing political interests and to plug them into relevant opportunities for growth at TAA and our wider networks.
• Hold a list of members that you are the relationship lead for, developing and delivering a live learning plan with many of them, supporting them to become powerful organisers.
• Work closely with the Programmes and Community teams to set trajectories and expectations for a young person’s campaigning and organising journey, their starting point coming into TAA, and the training and support they need.
• Facilitate workshops and meetings, holding space effectively and designing and delivering creative learning journeys for young people.

5. Be a key member of the Organising and Campaigns Team, including but not limited to:

• Support efforts to set the strategic direction and priorities for the Organising and Campaigns Team each financial year.
• Proactively develop an interest in the impact of political, socio-economic and sector specific changes that could impact the HOST Programme, department and TAA in general.
• Support the Director of Organising and Campaigns and Head of Organising and Campaigns with the management and mitigation of organisational risks presented by the Programme by escalating issues in a timely manner and supporting them with problem solving.
• Support colleagues in the Organising and Campaigns team to run events, training programmes and other key activities to deliver on departmental aims.

6. Culture, values and wider strategy and mission. Hold senior accountability for driving the achievement of our strategic objectives by embedding our vision, mission, strategy, ideology and cultural values across your area and the wider organisation. Play a central role in shaping organisational direction and leading cross-departmental priorities and initiatives, including but not limited to:

• Embodying and championing our commitment to social and economic justice, ensuring this is consistently reflected in organisational strategy, decision-making, delivery and partnerships
• Acting as a champion of organisational culture and values, setting the standard across teams and holding others to account in upholding these in practice
• Leading on identifying and driving opportunities that strengthen organisational impact, working closely with senior leadership, including the Director of Finance, HR and Ops, and contributing to high-level strategic direction
• Holding ultimate responsibility for identifying, assessing and addressing risks to our integrity, authenticity and alignment with our ideology and culture, taking decisive and timely action
• Enabling and lead effective cross-departmental collaboration, ensuring teams are aligned, appropriately resourced and working cohesively towards shared goals
• Shaping and model a culture of openness, care and accountability, contributing to organisational wellbeing approaches and supporting leaders across the organisation to do the same
• Taking ownership of your continued leadership development, while also actively developing others and building leadership capacity within your area

7. Governance and Compliance

• Provide strategic leadership on governance and risk management within your portfolio, working in close partnership with the Finance, HR and Operations team.
• Lead and hold accountability for risk identification, analysis and mitigation, ensuring risks to strategic objectives are anticipated, escalated and managed effectively
• Maintain oversight of risk across your area, ensuring robust systems, controls and practices are in place and consistently applied
• Ensure strong organisational compliance with TAA policies and practices, taking responsibility for their effective implementation, continuous improvement and alignment with wider organisational standards
• You will support Programmes and Community Departments by ensuring that the operations, structures, processes, and practices align with and support TAA's campaigning and organising goals, activating new allies' goals, and community goals

A BIT ABOUT YOU  

• You are passionate about, and committed to, creating a more fair, just and equal world. 
• You believe in the potential of young people to challenge the status quo and are dedicated to helping them become more powerful citizens.
• You have a deep understanding of, and a personal connection to, issues of social justice. You are attuned to how injustice affects young people and marginalised communities, and are well-informed on the key challenges they face, and are committed to driving meaningful change.
• You’ll be comfortable managing a “to-do” list of competing priorities and balancing your workload to meet competing deadlines.
• You’re a sensitive and thoughtful relationship-builder who is interested in building a network of relationships to support the Advocacy Academy’s work. You’re a great listener, and remember people’s names, faces, and stories. 
• You’re a confident written and verbal communicator, who is comfortable with tailoring communication to reach a diverse range of audiences and stakeholders.
• You’re proactive, organised, and eager to learn, whether that’s chatting with potential funders, researching new opportunities or collaborating with teammates.

IDEAL SKILLS & EXPERIENCE  

• At least 2 years of experience in digital organising and campaigning on issues of social justice and
• At least 2 years of experience in direct content creation
• Strong written, verbal and visual (graphic, video or other) communication skills
• Experience working with different audiences or types of stakeholders 
• Project management and experience working collaboratively across teams both in person and online
• Excellent organisational skills with confidence managing multiple tasks at the same time/ balancing multiple priorities to meet deadlines
• Experience with our existing systems e.g., Gmail/ Google Docs/ Google Sheets/ Canva
• Confidence working in a fast-paced environment 

This is an outline of the responsibilities and duties of the Head of Digital Organising & Communications; it is not intended as an exhaustive list and may change from time to time to meet the changing needs of the Liberation Centre and our young people. Any changes will be made in consultation with the post holders.

HOW TO APPLY

Candidates will be asked to provide a CV and a Cover Letter OR a supporting video application addressing the following questions (no more than 1000 words or 10 minutes for all questions).

• Tell us about a social justice issue that makes you angry and why it matters to you?
• Our Organisers support our members to organise and campaign on issues that matter to them.Tell us about a digital organising effort or campaign you were part of, what it achieved, what it didn’t, your role in that effort and any reflections you have about being part of it?
• Our Organisers support our members to identify and act on their developing political interests, including helping them to be more confident and comfortable developing and implementing organising strategies. Tell us about a time when you helped someone learn and develop their capacity to make change in the world?
• Include anything else you would like us to know as we consider your candidacy for the roles.

In addition, please also provide information on your notice period and your availability for interview. You may also attach any other content that would be relevant for us to have in order to showcase interest and experience. The content can come in any form of media, including but not limited to - a mind map of ideas, a timeline or portfolio of your work, life or experiences; a recording; a Powerpoint or other form of presentation; a song, article, poem or other writing samples.

DATES

• Closing Date: The deadline for applications 31st May 2026 by 10am.
• Task: If shortlisted you may be required to develop and present an outline of organising strategy on a topic shared in advance.
• First Round of Interviews (online): will be scheduled for 9th & 11th June 2026 (Dates are subject to change).
• Second Round of Interviews (IRL): will be scheduled for 24th June 2026 (Dates are subject to change).

Please be aware that we will be interviewing as we receive applications. The application date might be brought forward if we find the right person.

ONLINE OPEN HOUSE

Any questions? Give us a call. If you have any questions about the role or are interested in hearing more about what The Advocacy Academy is about, we are happy to do 15-20 mins exploratory phone call, including trying to find time with the Director of Organising and Campaigns if the questions are helpful. Contact using the email on the JD if you would like to explore further.

A NOTE ON USING AI TOOLS IN YOUR APPLICATION

We understand that AI tools like ChatGPT can be helpful when preparing an application, and you’re welcome to use them as a support. However, we’re most interested in hearing directly from you. Please ensure your application reflects your own voice, experiences, and perspective.

We value the unique insights, lived experiences, and ways of thinking that each candidate brings. These are what help us understand who you are and what you would bring to the role, and they are an important part of how we assess applications.

If you require any adjustments or support during the application process, please don’t hesitate to let us know. we’re committed to making our recruitment process as accessible and inclusive as possible.

NOTHING ABOUT US WITHOUT US

We aim to be representative of the community we are working with. We encourage applications from people of colour, those who identify as LGBTQIA, working class as well as disabled people, those living with mental health conditions, refugees and migrants. We welcome people from all identities who are made to feel marginalised. 

We’re not just committed to being an equal opportunity employer, we actively celebrate diversity in all its forms. Let us know if we can do anything to make the application or interview process more accessible. If you are invited to interview, we will at that point ask you for any accessibility requirements or preferences.

As an employer we make all reasonable adjustments to support employees in their work if they are disabled or have a health condition. We support the Access to Work scheme which could provide you with financial support to get the help you need to do all tasks successfully. We are happy to facilitate Access to Work assessments and reclaims and would actively welcome applicants who would need this in order to do the job.

All staff who work on our programme must have, prior to starting work, a returned satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) dated no earlier than 1st January 2021. The Advocacy Academy will assist the application for, and pay for the processing of, a new DBS for staff members where required. 

We welcome applications from people with convictions. Please disclose in your application if you have any convictions, cautions, reprimands or final warnings that are not “protected” (as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013)) . We consider each person on their own merits, taking into account all the circumstances.

We are seeking an exceptional leader to be our next chief executive, leading a respected and influential membership organisation at the heart of a thriving grassroots movement.

You’ll be working to build on the success we’ve seen and strong position and voice we have established for ourselves and our members, as a leading force for inclusive and sustainable transport and communities.

You’ll bring an impressive track record in values-based leadership, a proven ability to engage and inspire grassroots change-makers, strategic partners and policy-makers, and a deep belief in the importance of community-led change towards a sustainable, equitable future.

About us

Community Rail Network is a national not-for-profit organisation, which is in the process of applying for charitable status, supporting a growing ‘community rail’ movement, which helps communities get the most from their railways, promotes sustainable and inclusive travel, coordinates volunteering and place-making, and brings people together.

Community rail is made up of 77 community-based organisations, and around 1,300 station volunteer groups and other community-led initiatives around Britain. Their activities range from creative projects for young people, to advising train operators on service improvements, to building travel confidence among marginalised groups, to biodiversity projects at stations, to promoting greener tourism by rail.

Our enthusiastic team of 24 works from home in dispersed locations, but we come together regularly in person and online. We work collaboratively to support members, provide training, events and resources, run campaigns, and champion community rail and its insights. We believe in helping everyone reach their potential while having a good work-life balance.

About this role, and your main responsibilities

Our current CEO is moving on after nine years in role, leaving the organisation, team and wider movement in a strong and empowered position to deliver on the next phase of our development.

Your opportunity is to lead the organisation, and to deliver on our new five-year strategy setting an ambitious course for the future during a period of major transformation for our railways and the wider transport system. You will ensure that we are:

• clear in our identity and our independence, and seen as thought leaders in our field;
• are supporting our members and stakeholders to meet their changing and diverse needs; and
• ensuring the financial and operational resilience of the organisation in an environment that is undergoing a period of rapid change.

As CEO, you will lead a passionate and experienced senior leadership team with three direct reports, while working closely with and reporting into our Board, key partners and funders, and ensuing an engaging, empowering, tenacious approach across all we do.

Advocacy of community rail and its benefits will be high on your agenda, and you will be working closely across multiple stakeholders including UK and devolved national governments, regional and local authorities as well as forging collaborative partnerships with like-minded organisations.

Maintaining our community-centric ethos, you will need to ensure we're effective in enabling members to unlock greater value from the railways at a grassroots level, while drawing on their insights to affect wider change. With hundreds of member groups and organisations across Britain delivering life-changing, place-enhancing work, you will have a solid foundation to build on, to take community rail forward and expand our impact in the years ahead.

Last, but not least, you will be responsible for ensuring the strong and effective governance of the organisation, modelling our governing principles, values and behaviours, and ensuring that we have robust financial and resource management in place.

Skills, competencies and qualities

1. Exceptional leadership skills, including a proven ability to lead, develop and grow third sector organisations or multi-faceted teams delivering complex activities, projects and campaigns;
2. Excellent communication and external leadership skills: articulate, assertive, with the ability to work diplomatically and persuasively with stakeholders at all levels;
3. Experienced in acting as the public face of an organisation, such as through the media, public speaking and high-level meetings, and using evidence and storytelling to articulate and champion a cause;
4. Politically astute, with knowledge of and commitment to social inclusion, social justice and sustainability, and a sound grasp of the importance of public transport, sustainable travel, and community-led action;
5. A proven ability to influence policy and decision-makers, and to identify influencing opportunities, ideally in relation to community development, sustainability and/or transport, including sharing community insights;
6. A strong track record in income generation and development, building strong funder relationships and delivery partnerships, managing programme or organisational budgets and controlling expenditure;
7. Experience of working with and/or reporting to a board, ideally in a not-for-profit and/or membership context;
8. An empowering, engaging approach to leadership, management and change-making;
9. Resilient, pragmatic and determined, with the ability to work under pressure, seize emergent opportunities, manage risk, and support others dealing with competing priorities.

Other information

The role will involve extensive travel within Britain as part of building your profile and that of the organisation with central and devolved government in Scotland and Wales, and increasingly with the devolved regions of England.

There is flexibility on location given the requirement to travel and that your office will be home-based. You will need to travel to in-person quarterly team meetings (usually in London or West Yorkshire) and to Board meetings which alternate between online and London. It is expected that travel will be by public transport and easy access to the rail network is therefore required to ensure journeys can be made sustainably. 

This is a full-time position, 37 hours per week. We use a flexi-time system with core hours 10am-3pm, and are committed to being a flexible, supportive and understanding employer. This is a permanent position with a probationary period of six months. 

Benefits: 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays (rising up to 30 days, plus Bank Holidays, in line with long service); pension with employer contribution of 7%; and access to Employee Assistance Programme.

Successful applicants will need to provide proof that they have the right to work in the UK and provide two references.

Community Rail Network is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from disabled people and Black, Asian and other minoritised groups, who meet with the skills and competencies for this role. We will provide reasonable adjustments for interviews as required.