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!
Communications Manager
We are looking for an experienced, hands-on communications all-rounder with a breadth of skills to lead all regional and local communications activities in the areas where we are developing new Youth Zones.
The breadth of this role means no two days are the same, which is why we are seeking somebody organised, dynamic and self-motivated with exceptional project management and stakeholder management skills.
Working for an equal opportunities employer, we welcome applications from under-represented groups; in particular from Black, Asian, Mixed Race & other ethnically diverse individuals, people with disabilities, and members of LGBTQ+ communities.
Position: Regional Communications Manager
Location: Hybrid working: two days a week in an OnSide office (based in either Bolton or White City, London) combined with home-working and travel across our Youth Zones Network (including those in development) plus occasional other travel as required.
Salary: £40 - £45k per annum
Hours: Full-time (37.5 hours/week)
Contract: Permanent
Benefits: Agile working with flexibility in working hours; 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays (rising to a maximum of 30 days); birthday leave, additional annual leave purchase scheme; company matched pension; company sick, maternity, paternity & adoption pay; Employee Assistance Programme, active and engaged networks to join (including Equity, Diversity & Inclusion) and access to Charity Worker discounts.
Closing Date: 12 noon on Monday 13 July 2026 (We may close this role early if we receive a high volume of applications, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.)
First stage interviews (virtual): Thursday 16 July 2026
Second stage interviews (in-person): Thursday 22 July, Location TBC
About the Role
With 19 Open Youth Zones, supporting 60,000 young people, the organisation is moving into a period of steady growth towards their long-term goal of 35 Youth Zones by 2035. This role will take sole responsibility for communications activity across live and established projects including those currently in development.
This is a key role within the communications team that will see you create understanding and awareness between the charity and the key local and regional audiences that matter to us as.
This role will involve managing a portfolio of end-to-end integrated communications and PR programmes across multiple Youth Zones at various stages of development. You will work closely with the teams, each Youth Zone’s relationship managers and fundraisers, as well as its CEO, and Trustee Board, and Young People's Development Group, acting as their trusted communications advisor. You will also collaborate with local stakeholders including Local Authority communications leads and supporters, to help establish the new Youth Zones as independent charities.
It is important to note that this role lays the foundations for each new Youth Zones’ ongoing communications approach. For each project you will be required to effectively and smoothly handover to the Youth Zones full time communication resource once in place while continuing to provide light touch ongoing support - so some experience mentoring or coaching and supporting others is beneficial.
About You
We will be looking for someone that can demonstrate a broad range of communications skills from brand development to working with local media to place newsworthy, positive stories around the Youth Zone development, to supporting the development of new Youth Zone websites and the launch of social media channels.
You will have experience of:
· Communications, either in agency or in house
· All-round integrated communications experience, including PR, copywriting and digital
· Building relationships with journalists and working with the media
· Advising internal and external teams and stakeholders at all levels
· Working directly with young people.
· Using digital platforms and tools such as MailChimp, Hootsuite, WordPress and Google Analytics
· Managing creative/design/digital agencies and briefing design and print teams
If you are as confident pitching a story to media as you are managing a branding project or overseeing an event, then this could be the role for you.
About the Organisation
A national charity that believes all young people should have the opportunity to discover their passion and their purpose that fund and build state-of-the-art, multimillion-pound youth centres called Youth Zones in the country’s most economically disadvantaged areas. The organisation trains the amazing people that run them and offers continuing support to youth zones nationwide through a national network of independent youth charities.
It’s about opportunity.
You may have experience in areas such as Accountant, Business Account, Finance Manager, Director of Finance, Head of Finance, Finance and Systems, Director of Finance and Systems, Finance and Systems Manager, Finance and Systems Lead.
Please note this role is advertised by the recruitment agency acting for the client, Not For Profit People. #INDNFP
Thank you!
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!
Contract: Full-time, permanent
Hours: Full-time
Reports to: Chair; Board of Directors
Location: Hackney
Salary: £50,000-60,000 depending on experience.
Pension: HSoF participates in the National Employment Savings Trust (NEST) pension scheme and contributes 3%.
Benefits: 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays, free onsite lunches .
Probation period: Six months.
About Hackney School of Food
Hackney School of Food is an award-winning food education hub based in the grounds of Mandeville Primary School in Clapton, East London. Through our teaching kitchen and educational garden, we help children, families and communities build the skills, confidence and knowledge to grow, cook and eat good food.
Each year, we welcome more than 10,000 visits to our kitchen and garden, delivering curriculum programmes for schools alongside community cooking courses, gardening projects, holiday clubs, corporate volunteering and public events. Since becoming a Community Interest Company (CIC) in 2023, we have expanded our facilities, strengthened our governance and built a strong reputation as a leader in food education.
We're now looking for an exceptional Managing Director to build on these strong foundations and lead Hackney School of Food through its next phase of growth and impact.
About the role
Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Managing Director (MD) will provide both strategic and operational leadership, ensuring the organisation delivers its mission while remaining financially resilient, well-governed and responsive to the needs of the communities it serves.
The Managing Director is responsible for all aspects of the organisation, including strategy, income generation, finance, governance, partnerships, programme delivery and people leadership. Working closely with a small, committed team and an engaged Board, they will build on strong foundations to grow Hackney School of Food's impact, reach and long-term sustainability.
This is a varied, hands-on leadership role for someone who enjoys balancing big-picture thinking with practical delivery. One day you may be developing a new partnership, meeting a prospective funder or working with the Board on future strategy; the next you could be supporting the team, welcoming visitors to the garden or solving day-to-day operational challenges.
Key priorities
In your first 12 months you will:
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Build on Hackney School of Food's strong foundations to deliver the next phase of our strategy and growth.
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Increase and diversify income through fundraising, partnerships and commercial opportunities to strengthen long-term sustainability.
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Lead, support and develop a small, ambitious team, fostering a positive and inclusive culture where people can thrive.
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Strengthen relationships with funders, partners and local businesses, helping Hackney School of Food deepen its impact.
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Work closely with the Board to embed strong governance, organisational systems and long-term planning for the future.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
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Provide overall leadership and strategic direction for Hackney School of Food, ensuring delivery of its mission, vision and long-term objectives.
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Lead the development and implementation of Hackney School of Food's annual business plan and organisational priorities.
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Work with the Board to evolve organisational strategy, identify opportunities, manage risks and support sustainable growth.
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Monitor, report on and respond to organisational performance against agreed objectives and impact measures.
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Champion Hackney School of Food externally, strengthening its profile and influence.
Financial sustainability and income generation
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Oversee organisational budgeting, financial planning, forecasting and cashflow management, working closely with the Treasurer and accountant.
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Lead income generation across the organisation, including trusts and foundations, corporate partnerships, sponsorship and earned income.
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Build and maintain strong relationships with funders, sponsors and strategic partners.
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Ensure all funding commitments are met, including grant reporting, monitoring and evaluation requirements.
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Identify new opportunities to diversify income and strengthen long-term financial sustainability.
Partnerships & External Relations
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Act as the main point of contact for HSoF’s key partners, LEAP Federation and Chefs in Schools to ensure the partnerships are effective and positive.
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Build and maintain strong relationships with other key stakeholders, including local authorities, funders and sponsors.
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Represent Hackney School of Food at meetings, events, and public forums.
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Champion the value of food education and contribute to wider local and national conversations.
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Ensure programmes remain responsive to community needs through ongoing engagement and consultation.
Governance and public benefit
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Ensure the organisation operates in line with its CIC objectives and delivers clear public benefit.
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Support the Board of Directors to fulfil its governance responsibilities through high-quality reporting, planning and decision-making.
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Prepare Board papers, reports and agendas, ensuring timely and accurate information is available to support effective governance.
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Oversee and report on organisational performance to the Board of Directors quarterly.
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Act as the primary link between the Board and the operational team.
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Maintain effective governance, delegated authority and accountability frameworks.
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Support the Board in meeting all statutory and regulatory obligations relating to the CIC.
People, Culture and safeguarding
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Provide leadership to a small core team (currently c.4 employees), directly managing staff and fostering a positive, inclusive culture.
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Provide oversight and support for a wider network of approx. 15 freelance contractors to ensure consistently high-quality delivery.
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Lead recruitment, induction, performance management and professional development in line with safer recruitment and equality principles.
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Ensure effective organisational structures, clear roles, and performance accountability.
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Oversee HR processes including appraisals, performance management, and professional development.
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Act as Designated Safeguarding Lead, embedding safeguarding throughout the organisation maintaining compliance with all relevant requirements.
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Develop organisational systems, policies and practices that support an inclusive, high-performing workplace.
Risk Management & Compliance
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Maintain and regularly review the organisational Risk Register and report key risks and mitigations to the Board.
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Oversee organisational policies, procedures and continuous improvement, ensuring policies and legal requirements are up to date, clearly communicated and embedded across the organisation.
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Ensure compliance with employment law, health and safety, safeguarding, GDPR and other relevant legislation.
Personal specification
Essential experience
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Senior leadership experience with responsibility for organisational performance and accountability.
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Experience securing income through fundraising, partnerships and/or commercial activity.
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Experience of financial leadership, including budget setting, forecasting and cashflow oversight.
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Experience working closely with a Board, Trustees or governing body to translate strategic vision into operational delivery.
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Experience building and managing successful partnerships with funders, businesses and community stakeholders.
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Experience in managing and motivating a team, creating a positive and inclusive workplace culture.
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Experience of governance, compliance and organisational risk management.
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Experience of safeguarding within an education, youth or community context.
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Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise competing demands, make sound decisions and remain resilient in a resource-constrained environment.
Essential skills and attributes
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Passion for Hackney School of Food's mission and the role of food education in improving health, wellbeing and community connection.
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Strategic thinker who is equally comfortable with hands-on operational leadership.
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Entrepreneurial, resourceful and committed to building long-term financial sustainability and identifying growth opportunities.
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Ability to lead a team through change with sensitivity, clarity and kindness.
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Strong communicator with excellent relationship-building skills.
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Confident decision-maker with a high level of personal accountability.
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Committed to equity, inclusion and community-led practice.
Desirable
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Experience working within a Community Interest Company (CIC), social enterprise or charity.
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Knowledge of Hackney, its communities and local stakeholder landscape.
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Experience of working in food education, community food, gardening, environmental education or a related field.
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Experience reviewing and managing contracts, service agreements or other legal documentation.
An inclusive workplace
We know that diverse teams make stronger organisations and are committed to building a workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We are committed to fair and inclusive recruitment and will consider all qualified applicants regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.
We particularly encourage applications from people who are under-represented in our sector and in leadership roles, including people from the global majority and those whose lived experience brings valuable perspectives from the communities we serve. We also welcome applications from people who live in Hackney or East London.
How to apply
The deadline to apply is Monday 20 July at 9am. Please apply by filling out this application form.
You'll find the link to the application form on our Recruitment Pack which provides more information.
Stage 1: A one-hour online interview with the Senior Team and Board (24 July)
Stage 2: On-site interview at Hackney School of Food (30 July), including a short presentation.
We may also invite the preferred candidate to an informal meeting with the wider team and Board before making a final appointment.
The successful applicant will need to pass an enhanced DBS check and provide two suitable references.
We may close the application window earlier if we are inundated with applications, so please don't wait to apply.
If you have any questions about the role or your suitability, please feel free to get in touch with us. You will find a Recruitment pack and email address to contact via our website.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Create is seeking a dynamic, ambitious, driven, fundraiser (grants/major gifts) with strong strategic skills, an exemplary income generation track record, and a passion for the power of the creative arts. This Senior Leadership Team position reports directly to the Chief Executive and manages a small team.
Do you believe in the power of the creative arts to connect, empower and upskill isolated and vulnerable children and adults? Are you passionate about relationship building, storytelling, meeting targets and changing lives? Are you excited to use your extensive senior-level fundraising experience, knowledge and contacts to lead Create’s income generation from Trusts & Foundations (T&F), public sector and High Net Worth Individuals (HNWI)?
Registered Charity
21 - 50
Create believes in the power of the creative arts to promote inclusion, empower lives and increase acceptance.