Finance and commercial services director jobs

Do you believe in the power of communities to shape change?
OCVA is seeking a values-driven Chief Executive to inspire, connect and champion Oxfordshire’s community and voluntary sector.

This is an opportunity to lead a respected local infrastructure organisation at the heart of Oxfordshire’s voluntary and community sector. As Chief Executive of OCVA, you will work alongside a committed Board and a small, passionate team to support charities and community groups, promote and champion volunteering, influence local systems, and ensure the sector’s voice is heard.

You will balance strategic leadership with strong relationships. This includes working closely with local councils, funders and partners, while staying grounded in the realities faced by community organisations. 

We are looking for someone who shares our values, understands the voluntary and community sector, and is motivated by making a meaningful difference. The role is as much about listening, collaboration and trust as it is about income, sustainability and delivery. If our mission resonates and you bring curiosity, integrity and a commitment to inclusive leadership to all that you do then we would love to hear from you.

Job Title: Director of Examinations 

Reports to: Chief Executive

Line reports: Examinations Manager (x2) 

The Royal College of Ophthalmologists (RCOphth) is a membership organisation and the voice of the profession, with over 4,750 members in the UK and overseas. Our role is to champion the specialty, set standards of training and practice, and influence change to make a difference to the lives of patients with eye conditions.

Job Purpose 

The Director of Examinations plays an important role within the College, providing strategic leadership, oversight and delivery of our exam function in the UK and overseas, at the same time as ensuring alignment with best practice and GMC standards.

This role has responsibility for a budget of £2M+ and for the delivery of exams to around 3,000 candidates each year. The postholder is also responsible for leading a team of six members of staff and forms a key part of our Senior Leadership Team, taking corporate responsibility for the overall direction and operational management of the College.

Main responsibilities 

1. To oversee the strategic direction and delivery of exams 

• Provide strategic leadership for the College's examination function, ensuring all examinations are designed, delivered and continuously improved in accordance with the College's strategic objectives, regulatory requirements, obligations and recognised best practice 

• Develop and implement the long-term exams strategy, anticipating future developments in medical education, assessment, AI technology and regulation to identify opportunities, manage risks and ensure the continued relevance and sustainability of the College's examinations 

• Ensure the College's examinations meet the standards required by the General Medical Council (GMC) and other relevant regulatory bodies, maintaining robust governance, quality assurance and standard-setting processes that demonstrate examinations are valid, reliable and fit for purpose 

• Lead the strategic planning, financial management and performance of the examinations function, ensuring delivery within agreed budgets while maintaining high-quality services and identifying opportunities for innovation and operational efficiency 

• Champion an outstanding candidate and stakeholder experience by ensuring examinations are delivered to consistently high standards of customer service, accessibility, fairness and professionalism, with particular regard to equity, diversity and inclusion, confidentiality and information security 

• Provide executive leadership for the development, implementation and continuous improvement of policies, assessment methodologies and quality assurance frameworks, ensuring alignment with developments in medical assessment and educational best practice. 

• Oversee governance arrangements for examination appeals, reasonable adjustments, examination security and risk management, ensuring robust, transparent and legally compliant decision-making processes 

• Ensure comprehensive monitoring and analysis of examination performance, assessment outcomes and equality data, using evidence and statistical analysis to inform continuous improvement, maintain standards and provide assurance to the College's governance structures and external regulators 

• Drive the development and implementation of digital solutions, leading business change to improve resilience, efficiency, data quality and the candidate experience 

• Lead the strategic development and expansion of the College's international examination portfolio, identifying opportunities for growth while ensuring consistent quality, governance and candidate experience across the UK and overseas in a financially sustainable way 

• Ensure appropriate governance, oversight and maintenance of systems, policies, guidance and digital resources, including candidate communications and public-facing information 

• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, innovation and evidence-based practice across the examinations function, ensuring emerging risks, operational issues and opportunities are identified and addressed proactively. 

2. To foster close and constructive relationships with key stakeholders 

• Develop and maintain strategic relationships with examiners, psychometricians, clinical leaders, regulators and international delivery partners, fostering collaboration to ensure the consistent delivery, quality and integrity of the College's examinations across the UK and internationally 

• Provide strategic oversight of the recruitment, development and performance of the College's volunteer examiner workforce, ensuring examiners are appropriately trained, supported and calibrated to deliver assessments in accordance with regulatory requirements and recognised best practice 

• Serve as the executive lead for the College's Examinations Committee and its subcommittee structure, providing strategic advice, governance support and assurance to enable effective oversight of the examination function and its ongoing development 

• Lead the College's relationship with the GMC, acting as the principal point of engagement on examination matters. Ensure timely and robust regulatory reporting, represent the College in formal discussions, and provide assurance that examinations continue to meet all applicable regulatory standards 

• Build and maintain productive relationships with key UK stakeholders, including the Postgraduate Dean for Ophthalmology, the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoMRC), NHS partners and other professional bodies, influencing developments in postgraduate medical assessment and promoting collaboration across the sector 

• Lead the College's engagement with international partners, including examination delivery organisations, host institutions and the College of Ophthalmology of Eastern, Central and Southern Africa (COESCA), supporting the strategic growth, quality assurance and sustainable development of the College's international examination portfolio 

• Represent the College externally on matters relating to examinations and assessment, acting as a trusted advisor to senior clinical leaders, regulators and partner organisations, and enhancing the College's reputation as a leader in postgraduate medical assessment. 

3. To lead the directorate 

• Provide executive leadership of the team, creating a high-performing, collaborative and customer-focused culture that enables colleagues to deliver excellent outcomes 

• Lead, develop and empower the team through effective coaching, succession planning and identification of professional development opportunities, building capacity and resilience

• Establish clear individual and team objectives aligned to the College's strategic priorities, monitoring performance, fostering accountability and supporting the successful delivery of agreed outcomes

• Promote effective communication and collaboration across the team, ensuring colleagues are informed, motivated and connected to the College's strategic direction, while championing the team's achievements across the organisation 

• Ensure robust financial stewardship, including strategic financial planning, budget management and long-term forecasting, contributing to the College's sustainability and value for money 

• Provide strategic advice, analysis and assurance to the Board of Trustees and Finance Committee, reporting on performance, risks, financial position and progress against objectives 

• Establish effective governance and programme management arrangements to deliver strategic initiatives, foster cross-College collaboration and drive continuous improvement. 

4. To contribute as a member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) 

• Play a full and active role as a member of the SLT, contributing to the development and delivery of the College's strategy and organisational priorities 

• Provide visible organisational leadership, promoting collaboration across teams and embedding a one-College approach that delivers consistently high standards of service and performance 

• Contribute to the development, implementation and review of College-wide policies, governance arrangements and organisational processes, ensuring effective and consistent application across the organisation 

• Share collective corporate responsibility for decisions taken by the SLT and Board of Trustees, supporting their successful implementation and promoting a culture of accountability and continuous improvement 

• Lead and contribute to cross-organisational change programmes and strategic projects, ensuring effective engagement with colleagues and stakeholders to deliver sustainable improvement 

• Champion and role model the College's values, behaviours and leadership expectations, fostering an inclusive, respectful and high-performing organisational culture. 

5. To undertake other duties as required:  

• Undertake any other reasonable duties as required by the Chief Executive

• Extensive travel in the UK and overseas is required, alongside working outside normal hours from time to time during exam sittings. 

Person Specification 

Knowledge, Qualifications and Experience 

• Degree or equivalent professional qualification 

• Significant senior leadership experience in examinations, education, assessment or a professional membership organisation 

• Experience of leading high-stakes assessment or examination services, including quality assurance and regulatory compliance 

• Experience of strategic planning, budget management and organisational performance 

• Experience of leading, developing and motivating high-performing teams 

• Experience of working with Boards, committees, regulators and senior stakeholders 

• Experience of leading organisational or digital change programmes 

Skills and Abilities 

• Strategic leadership with strong planning, analytical and decision-making skills 

• Excellent communication, influencing and relationship management skills 

• Financial and commercial awareness with the ability to manage resources effectively 

• Ability to lead change, manage risk and deliver continuous improvement 

• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver results 

Personal Qualities (Attributes) 

• Collaborative, inclusive and values-driven leader who demonstrates integrity, professionalism and sound judgement 

• Resilient, adaptable and committed to innovation, continuous improvement and customer excellence 

• Commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and to continuing professional development 

Other requirements

Willingness to travel within the UK and internationally and work occasional evenings or weekends during examination periods

About Future Frontiers

Household income is still one of the strongest predictors of a young person’s future opportunities and earning potential in the UK. Future Frontiers exists to help level the playing field. We equip under-resourced young people with the knowledge, skills, confidence and connections they need to broaden their horizons and take positive steps towards their futures. 

In partnership with schools and businesses across Greater London, we deliver programmes of personalised careers coaching, skills development and exposure to professional role models for young people from low-income families. This year, we are supporting around 2,500 young people through our programmes. You can find out more about our work and impact in the Annual Impact Report on our website. 

The role

We are seeking a dynamic Director of Income & Engagement to join our senior leadership team. This pivotal role is responsible for developing and implementing robust income generation strategies to diversify and grow our voluntary and traded income streams. 

The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in sales and/or fundraising, building strategic partnerships and driving innovation in income generation. As a key leader in our organisation, you will be responsible for a team of c.10 people, and work collaboratively across the charity to enable us to grow sustainably and ensure that we have the support to reach and impact more young people

Key responsibilities

Leadership and Strategy:

• Lead, inspire, and develop a high-performing income generation team of 10 people, including two direct reports (Head of Partnerships and Head of Philanthropy)
• Develop and execute a comprehensive income generation strategy and plans that align with the charity’s mission and goals
• Oversee all income generation and stakeholder engagement activities, maximising the growth potential and visibility of Future Frontiers to deliver impact
• As a member of the Senior Leadership Team and wider leadership team, contribute to discussions and decisions around Future Frontiers’ performance and plans for the future
• Play a key role in the development and delivery of charity-wide initiatives and embedding an inclusive and enabling culture

Partnerships and Business Development:

• Lead the team to identify, establish, and nurture strategic partnerships with businesses, foundations, and other organisations
• Motivate and enable the Partnerships team to develop new business, retain existing partners and meet stretching sales targets
• Develop and grow high value partnerships through attending meetings, sharing impact and exploring wider opportunities for collaboration 

Fundraising and Product Development:

• Equip and empower the team to develop compelling grant applications, fundraising campaigns and events to attract new supporters and further engage existing ones
• Collaborate and innovate across the organisation to develop new products and services that align with the charity’s mission, generate income and support diversification
• Stay abreast of trends, opportunities and challenges in education, employment and the charity sector, enabling Future Frontiers to plan ahead, embrace opportunities and mitigate for emerging risks 
• Marketing and Communications:
• Lead collaborative efforts across Future Frontiers to develop marketing and communications plans and content that align with the charity’s objectives
• Act as an ambassador for Future Frontiers, championing our work and impact with supporters, stakeholders, prospects and the wider public
• Enhance the charity’s reputation through effective brand management, ensuring consistent branding and messaging across all channels

Performance and Accountability

• Prepare and manage the Income & Engagement budget, ensuring effective allocation of resources and working closely with the Finance & Operations team to accurately account for income and expenditure
• Take overall responsibility for achieving income targets and developing sustainable, diversified income streams that support the charity’s long term growth 
• Monitor and report on income performance, providing regular updates to colleagues, the CEO and Board of Trustees
• Oversee the production of the Annual Impact Report and Annual Report & Accounts 
• Ensure compliance with relevant legislation, regulations and best practice

About you

Knowledge and experience:

• Proven experience in developing and delivering successful income generation strategies (Essential)
• Demonstrated success in growing income through diverse streams, including one or more of fundraising, sales, partnerships, philanthropy and product development (Essential)
• Experience of leading successful sales and/or fundraising teams (Essential)
• Experience in the social mobility, education, or charity sectors (Desirable)
• Knowledge of relevant fundraising regulations and best practices (Desirable)

Skills, competencies and personal qualities:

• Passion for Future Frontiers’ mission and a strong commitment to improving opportunities for under-resourced young people
• Strong leadership skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate others
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; able to build and maintain relationships, negotiate with and influence  a wide range of stakeholders
• Strategic thinking, analytical and problem-solving skills
• Proven commercial and financial acumen
• Commitment to and consistent demonstration of our values - outlined on our website here

What we can offer you

• Annual leave of 27 days plus bank holidays, pro-rated for part time employees and increasing with length of service
• Enhanced leave and pay packages exceeding statutory requirements
• Pension scheme with employer contributions starting at 3%, increasing with length of service 
• Flexible working arrangements, including regular home working, up to two weeks working abroad annually, and flexibility around core hours
• Opportunity to apply for an extended career break (following 3+ years’ service)
• A supportive and inclusive workplace, with dedicated wellbeing initiatives and mental health support through our Wellbeing and Inclusion Group and mental health first aiders
• Employee Assistance Programme including 24/7 GP access
• Annual personal training and development budget of £300
• Cycle-to-work scheme access and season ticket loans
• Access to discounts and savings through Tickets for Good and Charity Worker Discounts

Equity, diversity and inclusion 

Here at Future Frontiers we are dedicated to equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in everything we do. The principles of EDI underpin our mission and we treat all employees, partners, volunteers and young people as individuals. We are proud to foster an open, inclusive and supportive culture where everyone feels respected, valued and able to thrive.  We champion diversity in all its forms, including disability, culture, race, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion and socio-economic background. We recognise that people face different barriers to opportunity and are committed to creating a workplace where everyone has the chance to succeed. 

We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds . If you would like to talk to us about working at Future Frontiers in advance of your application, particularly regarding diversity, we strongly encourage you to contact us via email and we will arrange a call. We are committed to making reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process and employment where needed. As an organisation dedicated to improving social mobility, we are particularly interested to hear from candidates who have not been to university or who have lived experiences relatable to the young people we support.

How to apply

• To apply, please complete the application form on CharityJob, upload your CV and add a supporting statement. We recommend that you draft your supporting statement in a separate document first, and then copy and paste it into the form. Your supporting statement should be no more than 1,000 words, and should cover:
  • Why you want to work at Future Frontiers. What is it about our charity that excites you? 
  • How you meet the essential knowledge and experience criteria given in the job description

• Deadline: Wednesday 22 July, 5pm
• Initial online interviews will be held during the week commencing 3 August
• Final interviews are expected to be held on at our office in London Bridge on Wednesday 12 or Thursday 13 August

The successful candidate will be required to undergo a full ‘safer recruitment’ checking process, including an enhanced DBS check and reference checks.

Location: Any of our King's Trust office's (flexible working - minimum of 2 days in the office)

Interviews: 3rd & 4th August 2026

This is a high-impact leadership role at the centre of building large-scale corporate employment partnerships that directly change young people’s futures. As Head of Business Development – Employment Partnerships, you will lead the strategy and delivery of new, high-value partnerships that create sustainable job opportunities, working across sectors and in close collaboration with design, delivery and fundraising teams. You will own a significant income target (£600k+), shape a 24-month pipeline, and play a key role in positioning the organisation as a leader in employment-focused partnerships.

We are looking for a commercially minded, relationship-driven leader who understands the challenges employers face in attracting and developing entry-level talent. You'll have a proven track record of securing six-figure partnerships through a consultative approach, working with senior decision-makers to design solutions that create value for both employers and young people. With extensive experience across the entry-level employment landscape, you'll bring a deep understanding of apprenticeships, early careers, recruitment and workforce trends, alongside the credibility to influence senior stakeholders and translate insight into compelling partnership propositions.

This role will suit someone who thrives on building something meaningful at scale,  combining strategic thinking with hands-on delivery, and leadership with collaboration. You will be motivated by creating real opportunities for young people, and comfortable leading a team while navigating a matrix environment to drive results.

You will stand out if you bring:

• Significant experience helping employers solve recruitment, workforce or early careers challenges through strategic partnerships.
• A consultative business development approach, with experience engaging senior leaders including CHROs, Talent Directors, Recruitment Leaders, Early Careers teams and DE&I leaders.
• A strong track record of winning complex, high-value partnerships by understanding organisational needs and designing impactful solutions.
• Experience leading cross-functional initiatives and influencing multiple stakeholders within complex organisations.
• A background in recruitment, workforce solutions, HR services, SaaS, apprenticeships, consulting or a related commercial environment where you've sold strategic solutions rather than products.

This is an opportunity to redefine how employers engage with young talent, bringing together commercial expertise, strategic partnerships and social impact to create sustainable employment opportunities at a national scale. You'll be engaging with senior HR and talent leaders from some of the UK's largest employers, helping them tackle real workforce challenges while creating life-changing opportunities for young people.

What happens next?  

Please submit a CV, and Cover Letter that includes your experience, transferrable skills and motivation to work for The King's Trust! The Team will be in touch about the next steps shortly after the closing date. 

Why do we need Head of Business Development - Employment Partnershipss? 

Last year, we helped more than 40,000 Young People, with three in four young people on our programmes moving into a positive outcome in work, education or training. The young people we help face a range of challenges, such as unemployment, mental health issues or some who have been in trouble with the law. We believe all young people should have the chance to succeed, and that young people are the key to a positive and prosperous future for all of us. We want to continue having a positive impact on young people’s lives and we couldn’t do this without the important work of Head of Business Development - Employment Partnershipss! 

Perks for working at The Trust! 

• Great holiday package! 30 days annual leave entitlement, plus bank holidays. Office closure on the days between Christmas and New Year 
• Flexible working! Where operationally possible, our roles require a combination of office days and working from home (please speak to the hiring manager about this particular role)
• You can volunteer for and/or attend events – The King's Trust Awards, Pride, active events etc. 
• In-house learning platform! Develop your skills for your career and your role 
• Benefits platform! Everything from health and financial well-being support to discounts on your favourite restaurants, shops and cinemas. 
• Personal development opportunities through our Networks – KT CAN (Cultural Awareness Network), KT GEN (Gender Equality Network), KT DAWN (Disability & Wellbeing Network), and PULSE (LGBTQIA+ Network). 
• Fantastic Family leave! Receive 13 weeks of full pay and 13 weeks of half pay for maternity and adoption leave. Receive 8 weeks of full pay for paternity leave. 
• Interest-free season ticket loans 
• The Trust will contribute 5% of your salary to the Trust Pension Scheme 
• Generous life assurance cover (4 x annual salary)

For this role we are looking for highly competent Programme Managers with significant experience in successfully delivering advanced programme and portfolio management, and who have experience delivering large complex multi-stream programmes. You will be PRINCE2, PMP, or equivalent qualified, and experienced in a fundraising organisation would be highly desirable.

Reporting to the Head of Change, the Programme Manager will manage the Foundation’s strategic change portfolio of work. You will establish a trusted, secure, well‑governed programme of change. The role will be responsible for delivering the project assurance board, ensuring that all programmes of work deliver the organisational-wide change the charity requires.

This role is cross-organisational, with involvement with the Chief People Officer on the operating model, the Chief Finance Officer, and the Director of Transformation on planning and delivery. 

The role will assist in delivering:

• A transformational, organisation-wide approach to change grounded in best practice.
• High-quality, consistent programme delivery through a strengthened PMO capability.
• Improved organisational readiness and staff confidence during periods of change.
• Clear, measurable outcomes across the Foundation’s strategic transformation priorities.
• A culture that embraces innovation, adaptability, and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Data Leadership:

• Establish and maintain programme governance frameworks, controls, and reporting standards. 
• Ensure the programme delivers measurable business value and ROI. 
• Provide executive-level reporting to sponsors and other appropriate governance groups. 

Portfolio & Delivery Oversight: 

• Oversee multiple interdependent projects, managing the end‑to‑end delivery, from design through to implementation and evaluation.
• Manage the programme with clear plans, milestones, budgets, and risk management so that the Foundation is well informed about the programme’s performance. 
• Drive delivery to time, cost, scope, and quality targets. 
• Ensure benefits realisation planning and post-implementation reviews are held, and findings shared where appropriate. 

Risk & Issue Management: 

• Develop a programme-level risk management framework. 
• Proactively identify cross-project risks and systemic issues, using data, evidence and learning to improve programme effectiveness
• Develop organisational-wide mitigation and contingency strategies. 
• Ensure regulatory, compliance, and governance standards are met within Projects

Change & Transformation Leadership: 

• Lead on large-scale organisational change initiatives. 
• Embed change management and organisational adoption. 
• Develop communication plans to support transformation. 
• Embed new ways of working, processes, or systems. 

Financial & Commercial Management: 

• Support delivery leads with the development of business cases. 
• Ensure financial performance and cost control are managed, an appropriate use of charitable funds and value for money
• Develop in Project vendor and third-party relationships and serve as an escalation point for delivery leads. 
• Assist on procurement strategy where required. 

Team & Capability Leadership: 

• Lead and mentor more junior project managers and delivery leads so that project teams’ performance are consistent across the programme. 
• Develop performance standards and accountability structures. 
• Foster a culture of delivery excellence and continuous improvement. 

Quality & Continuous Improvement: 

• Identify opportunities to improve ways of working, programme design and delivery
• Implement programme assurance and quality control measures. 
• Promote best practices in project and programme management. 
• Conduct lessons-learned reviews and drive process improvement. 

Role responsibilities are not exhaustive, and you would be reasonably expected to take on wider tasks that are commensurate with the level of your role.

Skills, abilities, and attributes:

• Self-starter who is adaptable, able to operate strategically and hands‑on in equal measure.
• Willing to learn and develop new skills, and help to develop the knowledge and skills of peers 
• Committed to the principle of continuous improvement, with careful attention to detail and due process 
• Committed to delivering consistent and high-quality customer service to both internal and external stakeholders 
• Good interpersonal skills and able to influence and effectively liaise with both internal and external communities 
• Confident in communicating well, both in writing and verbally, and exhibits listening and influencing skills, working with integrity, and exhibits the Foundation’s core values 
• Skilled in working with agile methodologies 

Knowledge, experience, and qualifications:

• Proven experience in advanced programme and portfolio management expertise, delivering large, complex, multi-stream programmes. 
• Able to demonstrate good strategic thinking and commercial acumen, showing strong problem-solving and analytical capability. 
• Good financial literacy (budget management, cost modelling, ROI analysis). 
• Expertise in building business cases, development, and benefits realisation planning. 
• Expertise in leading cultural organisational changes, bringing planning to life across an organisation.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to translate technical concepts for senior and non‑technical audiences.
• Track record of influencing at senior/executive levels 

Desirable Qualifications: 

• MSP, PgMP, PRINCE2, PMP, or equivalent. 
• Experience in fundraising and fundraising organisations (desirable)

Benefits: 

• Contributory pension
• Annual personal development budget
• Annual health and wellbeing personal allowance
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, and parental leave pay accessible without length of service requirements.
• Health and wellbeing programme that offers optional free yearly health check-ups.
• Support for healthy eating via fruit bowls and onsite lunch facilities. 
• Agile working, flexible hours, and supportive IT kit. 
• Shower facilities and bike lock area. 
• Generous annual leave (27 days + bank holidays)
• Subsidies for glasses
• Employee Assistance Programme

Salary: £45,000 to £50,000 per annum, DOE.

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Reports to: Programme Director

Location: Harlow, Essex. Easily commutable from London Liverpool Street or Tottenham Hale Station. We offer a free minibus service to/from Harlow Town Train Station as well as free parking and EV charging on site.

Extra Information: We offer blended working within this role, with 3 days a week on site.

About the role:

At the Motability Foundation, we fund, support, research and innovate so that all disabled people can make the journeys they choose.

We’re building a Transport Solutions Team that works flexibly across all the tools in our delivery kit – from grants and innovation pilots to research, partnerships, and commercial interventions. Our growing portfolio includes flagship projects tackling challenges such as inclusive EV charging infrastructure, complex community transport needs, and large-scale research and systems change activity through the National Centre for Accessible Transport (NCAT).

We are now recruiting a Transport Solutions Manager to play a leading part in the management of NCAT, which will make up around half of the role, while also contributing to the design and delivery of other high-impact transport solutions activity across the Foundation’s portfolio. This is a pivotal role that combines programme leadership, stakeholder management, governance, and delivery, and is designed to work flexibly across our matrix structure.

The successful candidate will act as a key point of coordination for NCAT, supporting its effective mobilisation, delivery, governance and partner relationships, while also working across other Transport Solutions priorities in line with the expectations of broader internal Transport Solutions Manager roles.

This is an opportunity to join a collaborative, purpose-led team driving change in the transport system for disabled people, and to work on some of the most complex and impactful projects in the sector.

What you will be doing:

• Act as a key point of coordination for NCAT within the Foundation, bringing together cross-functional input across areas such as delivery, innovation, governance, operations, insight and evaluation.
• Lead the ongoing management activity for NCAT, including the development and implementation of systems, processes and governance structures to enable effective delivery.
• Coordinate programme reporting for NCAT, including the preparation of regular updates for senior leadership and governance committees, ensuring accuracy, insight and alignment with organisational goals.
• Monitor progress against plans, budgets and timelines, identifying and resolving risks such as under or overspend, ineligible costs or delivery delays.
• Escalate risks and issues proactively, supporting the development of mitigation strategies to manage impact and maintain programme integrity.
• Support governance structures, including advisory boards or steering groups, ensuring they are effectively convened, briefed and engaged in programme direction.
• Build and maintain strong funder and delivery partner relationships, acting as a key link between the Foundation and external partners to support trust, alignment and shared learning.
• Ensure monitoring, evaluation and learning approaches are embedded, working with internal and external stakeholders to drive continuous improvement and strategic alignment.
• Contribute to knowledge sharing and insight generation, supporting the dissemination of findings, progress and outcomes from NCAT and related work to maximise external impact.
• Lead and/or contribute to other projects, programmes or funding activity across the Transport Solutions portfolio, working flexibly in line with team priorities and the expectations of other internal Transport Solutions Manager roles.
• Collaborate across the Foundation, including with Finance, Legal, Communications, Insight and Evaluation, HR and Data Protection, to ensure high-quality delivery and strong organisational alignment.

Your experience:

Must haves:

• Significant experience in programme or project management roles, ideally within complex or multi-stakeholder environments and as a funder.
• Strong understanding of programme delivery, governance and reporting, with the ability to coordinate multiple workstreams and stakeholders effectively.
• Excellent organisational and record-keeping skills, with the ability to maintain accurate information for monitoring, reporting and decision-making.
• Financial literacy, with experience in analysing budgets, monitoring spend and managing financial risks.
• Experience managing contracts, legal agreements or delivery arrangements with external partners, suppliers or grantees.
• Strong interpersonal and listening skills, with a relationship-first approach that builds trust and enables collaboration across internal teams and external stakeholders.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, agile, matrix-working environment, adapting to shifting priorities and timelines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to produce high-quality reports, papers and presentations for senior audiences.

Nice to haves:

• Understanding of managing cross-disciplinary research or systems change activity involving technical, social and user-centred disciplines.
• Experience managing large-scale grants, programmes or partnerships and holding a primary relationship with external delivery partners.
• Track record in delivering or supporting innovation pilots, research programmes, grant programmes or cross-sector partnerships.
• Experience working in or in collaboration with government, industry, academia or the non-profit sector.
• Knowledge of disability and transport issues, including relevant policy, legislation, barriers to access and the social model of disability.

If you’re interested in applying and excited about working with us but are unsure if you have the right skills and experience, we'd still encourage you to apply.

Head of Communications & Public Affairs

The Head of Communications & Public Affairs is a pivotal role at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) promoting our world-leading work in science, conservation, horticulture, and education.

Working as an active member of the Senior Leadership Team, this role will lead the organisation’s approach to strategic communications, seeking opportunities to engage external audiences, disseminate key messages, and raise RBGE’s profile on a national and international stage through press and media engagement.

With oversight of the communications and publishing functions, this role will also provide key support to the Regius Keeper and the Executive Team in shaping engagement and communication strategies with political stakeholders across the Scottish and UK governments.

This is an exciting opportunity to make a real impact in the next phase of RBGE’s corporate strategy, strengthening key policy relationships and promoting RBGE’s expertise to deliver real impact in the fight against the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change.

Closing date:                            09:00am (BST) on Monday 20 July 2026        
First interview date:               30 July 2026
Second interview date: 5 August 2026

Recruitment information: 

Further details on the job description, person specification, and how to apply can be found in the candidate pack for the role on our website here: Head of Communications and Public Affairs Candidate Pack