Turn insight into impact for autistic children and young people as Ambitious about Autism's first Director of National Programmes.
Applications close at 9 a.m. Monday 29th June.
Location: Hybrid working with at least two days in the London office and able to travel on a regular basis throughout the UK as necessary.
About the organisation
Ambitious about Autism stands with autistic children and young people, championing their rights and creating opportunities across education, employment, health and community life. We educate and support hundreds of autistic children and young people directly and reach thousands more through our national programmes, employability initiatives, participation work and policy influence.
With our Ambitious Together strategy launching later this summer, we are building on our strong foundations as a service delivery organisation, and seek to play a greater role in shaping the systems that affect autistic children and young people. To deliver on this vision, we have created a new executive leadership team role: Director of National Programmes.
About the role
Reporting to the Chief Executive and sitting on the executive leadership team, the Director of National Programmes will lead the strategy, design and evolution of our national portfolio, helping Ambitious about Autism strengthen its role as a catalyst for systems change. Working at the intersection of education, policy, evidence and lived experience, you will identify opportunities to improve outcomes for autistic children and young people, influencing practice far beyond our own organisation.
You will develop innovative and scalable programme models, creating partnerships that enable successful approaches to be tested, evidenced and adopted by others. Working closely with colleagues across fundraising, external affairs and education, you will help secure the investment, partnerships and evidence needed to influence lasting change.
Who we are looking for
We are seeking a collaborative, values-led leader with a deep understanding of education systems and a passion for improving outcomes for autistic children and young people, who can turn strategic insight into practical solutions that influence policy and practice. You will have a proven track record of developing evidence-led programmes, building partnerships and driving impact, while being commercially astute, politically aware and effective in complex environments.
As a strong people leader, you will inspire teams and champion co-production, and you will be motivated by our mission to help Ambitious about Autism lead a more inclusive education system within a values-driven organisation.
Applications for this role close at 9 a.m. Monday 29th June.
For further information about the role and to register your interest, please visit the Peridot Partners page and contact our advising consultants.
We stand with autistic children and young people, champion their rights and create opportunities.
At Hestia, we are guided by our core values and are dedicated to fostering an equitable, diverse, and inclusive organisation. Our mission is to empower individuals to rebuild their lives and achieve independence. Right now, we are looking for a Employment Specialist to play a pivotal role in our Employability Services in Haringey.
Sounds great, what will I be doing?
We are seeking a dedicated and adaptable professional to manage a caseload of up to 20 clients, supporting individuals with mental health conditions into meaningful employment using the IPS model. The ideal candidate will work closely with clinical teams, contribute to multi-disciplinary care planning, and build strong relationships with employers to tailor job opportunities. Strong organisational and communication skills are essential for managing referrals, job retention support, and compliance with NHS and Hestia protocols. The role also requires accurate KPI tracking, benefit guidance, and flexibility to work across various settings. A commitment to professional development, collaboration, and client-centred outcomes is key.
What do I need to bring with me?
You'll need to be able to demonstrate the core skills this role requires as well as match our values and mission. You don't have to tick all the boxes right away; the important thing is that you're willing to learn. We also value lived experience of the areas we support, so if you feel comfortable, please do mention this on your application.
Someone who is a self starter and comfortable with a lone working environment, you will have strong empathy skills and an eye for detail. You should have experience of supporting people in a job search and have made an impact on this. To succeed you would need to have worked in a target environment and used to meeting and exceeding targets.
Interview Steps
We keep our interview process simple, so you know exactly what to expect.
- Shortlisting call: We have a team of dedicated recruitment specialists who will speak to you about your experience, motivations and values. They will also tell you about all the great work we do!
- Face to face interview: Now you will have face to face interview with the hiring manager. Our interviews are value and competency based.
Don't be alarmed if there are other stages in the process, it's all part of the plan for some of our roles.
Our commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
Our services users come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds because it makes us stronger. We are committed to creating and maintaining a diverse and inclusive workforce and value the skills, abilities, talent and experiences, different people and communities bring to our organisation.
We are a disability confident employer
Hestia is proud to be a disability confident employer, dedicated to the employment and career development of individuals with disabilities. We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for all applicants with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria for the role they have applied for. We also provide reasonable adjustments during the selection and interview process, and throughout your employment with us.
Safeguarding Statement
Hestia is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults, children and young people who are potentially at risk, and we therefore expect all staff and volunteers to do the same. We require all staff to undertake internal and external safeguarding training throughout their employment with Hestia.
Important Information for Candidates
If your application is successful, please be aware that you will be required to undergo pre-employment checks before a formal offer of employment can be confirmed.
We reserve the right to close this job advert early should we receive a high volume of applications or if the position is filled before the closing date. We encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as possible to ensure their application is considered.
We deliver services across London as well as campaign and advocate nationally on the issues that affect the people we work with.



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!
About Us
Established in 2002, Greenhouse Sports is a youth charity specifically using sport to support social change. Sport is our hook to engage young people and one of the vehicles through which we support youth development. But our purpose is not to create elite athletes or address physical inactivity. Rather, we create opportunities for young people to recognise their strengths and develop the skills they need to thrive both now and in the future.
We work across London, Portsmouth, and Leicester, specifically in areas of high deprivation. We embed evidence-based positive youth development programmes into primary and secondary schools. These programmes are delivered by our trusted, high-quality coach-mentors who deliver year-round to ensure that young people have ongoing access to sport, mentoring, enrichment, and employability activities. The result of this work is that every year, Greenhouse Sports support over 9,000 young people to attend school more often, improve their wellbeing, and raise their aspirations, transforming life chances in the communities that need us the most.
Purpose of the Role
Greenhouse Sports believes its people are its most important asset. From our coach mentors delivering impact on the front line to the teams supporting our growth, everything we achieve is powered by our people. We are looking for a People Operations Coordinator to join our team and play a key role in delivering a smooth, professional and engaging employee experience across the organisation
This is a hands-on, operational HR role with a strong focus on administration, alongside opportunities to contribute to projects and continuous improvement across the People function
You’ll be the first point of contact for HR queries, supporting the full employee lifecycle—from recruitment and onboarding through to payroll, systems, and employee experience initiatives. Reporting directly to the Head of People, you’ll gain broad exposure across HR and play an important role in keeping everything running smoothly.
HR Operations & Systems
- Manage and maintain our HR system (PeopleHR), ensuring data is accurate and up to date.
- Monitor absence and holiday data, flagging trends or concerns to managers.
- Produce reports and support GDPR compliance and data integrity.
- Support the upkeep and documentation of People processes and policies.
Payroll & Benefits
- Prepare monthly payroll data for our external provider, ensuring accuracy and timely submission.
- Manage pension data and resolve payroll queries.
- Support payroll sign-off processes with Finance and senior stakeholders.
- Administer employee benefits (e.g. Westfield Health, BetterSpace).
Recruitment & Onboarding
- Coordinate end-to-end recruitment processes, including posting ads and scheduling interviews.
- Manage and optimise use of the Applicant Tracking System (ATS).
- Prepare contracts and onboarding documentation.
- Conduct pre-employment checks (RTW, DBS, references, etc.)
- Deliver HR induction and manage new starter onboarding.
- Monitor probation periods and support line managers.
Learning, Development & Compliance
- Coordinate internal and external training (including safeguarding and first aid).
- Track completion of training and performance reviews.
- Support CPD agreements and development activity across the organisation.
Employee Experience & Engagement
- Support employee engagement and culture initiatives.
- Play an active role in staff wellbeing and organising social activities.
- Help create a positive and inclusive employee experience.
Support to Head of People
- Assist with employee relations administration, including note-taking.
- Provide first-line guidance on policies and procedures.
- Support continuous improvement across the People function.
Experience
- You have experience in an HR or administrative role.
- You have strong organisational skills and high attention to detail.
- You’re confident using systems (HRIS experience helpful, but not essential).
- You have a good working knowledge of Microsoft Office (especially Excel).
- You understand HR processes and best practice (or have a willingness to learn).
Skills
- You are approachable, empathetic, and able to build relationships quickly.
- You’re discreet and always maintain confidentiality.
- You are proactive and solutions-focused.
- You are a team player with a positive, can-do attitude.
Please ensure you have provided both your CV and Cover Letter to support your application.
We will be interviewing candidates on a rolling basis, so please do submit your application as soon as you can.
Greenhouse Sports is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children therefore applicants must be willing to undergo child protection training and screening including an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check and obtaining satisfactory references from past employers.
Helping young people succeed through sport and team spirit
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.