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Job Title: Communications & Engagement Officer  

Reports to: Senior Communications Manager

Location:Contracted to Breaking Barriers’ office in London, with some expectation of travel 

Terms:22.5 hours per week over 3 or 4 days – open to flexible working arrangements

Contract:Permanent

Salary:£30,500 - £33,500 (inclusive of London weighting), pro-rata

Purpose of the Role

The Communications & Engagement Officer is a key role within Breaking Barriers’ Income and Engagement Directorate. It helps refugees find meaningful employment through communications and fundraising activities that maintain and grow relationships with partners, funders, supporters and relevant influential organisations and individuals.

The post holder reports to the Senior Communications Manager, and works closely with the Head of Public Engagement, Senior Digital Marketing Manager and Fundraising & Partnerships Officer. They also lead or participate in activities involving colleagues across Breaking Barriers’ teams and our refugee clients.

This role contributes to the implementation of our communications, engagement and fundraising strategies, and is closely involved in team planning – including input into operational plans and communications campaigns to steward and inspire key audiences.

The Communications & Engagement Officer is responsible for the planning and creation of day-to-day communications across our owned channels, with a particular focus on social media. They are also responsible for managing social media interactions and outreach, and for creating selected content for Breaking Barriers’ website.

The post holder helps the Senior Communications Manager to ensure that organisational content complies with brand guidelines. And they play a key role in data management – maintaining our multi-media asset bank and the storytelling data within our Salesforce CRM.

This role will suit a team player who is able to build strong relationships across Breaking Barriers to support content creation, ethical storytelling and impact. The post-holder should be comfortable in a fast-paced environment, solution-focused and creative, whilst having a good eye for detail. And, of course, they should have a passion for stewarding, inspiring and mobilising audiences through high-quality, engaging communications.

Key Responsibilities

1. Communications planning and delivery (60%)

· Work with the Senior Communications Manager to manage the communications calendar.

· Collaborate with colleagues across Breaking Barriers, especially the Income & Engagement and Services teams, to source content that reaches, engages, stewards our key audiences – including partners, funders and individual supporters.

· Plan, create and schedule written and multi-media (graphics, videos, photos) content on social media platforms.

· Plan and create or coordinate longer-form content, including case studies, articles and blogs.

· Contribute to the delivery of integrated communications campaigns that support income generation, brand awareness and positioning amongst key audiences.

· Support the continual improvement of our communications by monitoring and evaluating their own work and implementing recommendations.

· Support the development of communications, engagement and fundraising strategies and input into team planning.

2. Community and supporter engagement (30%)

· Manage and engage with our organic social media communities.

· Pro-actively engage with relevant organisations and individuals via social media, in line with agreed strategies.

· Help develop and manage our growing community of storytellers with lived experience of life as a refugee.

3. Other responsibilities (10%)

· Update storytelling data in the Salesforce CRM, and undertake other administrative tasks.

· Take responsibility for maintaining Breaking Barriers’ asset bank of photographs, videos and graphics.

· Advise and support colleagues on compliance with brand guidelines, and create brand resources.

· Represent the Public Engagement team at selected events, including photographing or filming key moments and activities.

· Support other teams with ad-hoc requests for communications support.

· Take a proactive approach to professional development.

· Take on other marketing and communications tasks as required.

Person Specification
Essential

· Demonstrable knowledge of and/or interest in refugee, employment or migration sectors

· Experience in a communications or fundraising role (this doesn't have to be in the UK)

· A demonstrable understanding of key communications and fundraising principles, whether through direct experience or study, and including:

o Understanding audiences

o User journeys

o Developing key messaging

o Audience stewardship

o Working with brand guidelines

· Experience of creating high quality campaigns or content to inspire or drive action

· Experience creating written and multi-media (photography/graphics/video) content for social media, websites and/or emails

· Strong copywriting, editing and proofing skills, and the ability to tailor content for different audiences and channels

· Excellent relationship-building skills, and confidence working with colleagues at all levels of seniority

· Ability to work on own initiative, take responsibility for work, and learn from challenges and successes

· A proactive and creative approach to problem solving and idea generation

· Comfortable within a fast-paced team and able to prioritise multiple projects

· Ability to pay close attention to detail, to maintain communications quality and accuracy

· Experience with administrative, team communication and workload management applications, preferably including the Microsoft Office 365 suite.

· Experience with one or more of the following:

o Design tools such as Canva

o Photography and film editing

o Website CMS software

o Email broadcast platforms

o Social media scheduling platforms

Desirable

· Lived Experience of Breaking Barriers’ cause

· Experience using Salesforce, or another CRM system

· Knowledge of GDPR and data protection principles as they apply to communications and fundraising

· Experience of monitoring and evaluating communications or fundraising activities

Other considerations:

· Breaking Barriers is committed to protecting an adult’s right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect and for their views, wishes and beliefs to be fully taken into account when deciding action. 

· We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity status, race, religion or belief. 

· Breaking Barriers particularly welcomes applicants with experience of seeking asylum and/or a refugee background. 

As a member of the Disability Confident Scheme, we are committed to offering an accessible recruitment process and guarantee an interview to all applicants with a disability who meet the minimum criteria for the role.  

This is an exciting opportunity to lead our approach to monitoring and evaluation at a key moment, ensuring that high-quality evidence underpins our programmes and future growth.

Villiers Park is a national social mobility charity with a strong track record of delivering impactful programmes that support young people from under-represented backgrounds to fulfil their potential. The ability to demonstrate impact clearly and credibly, both to inform our own learning and to evidence our effectiveness externally, will be critical to achieving our strategic ambitions.

As a core part of our 2025-30 strategy, the Data and Insights Manager will work to embed consistent and robust evaluation across the organisation. This will be achieved by approaches such as Stories of Change, which combines quantitative data with rich qualitative insight to build a compelling and nuanced understanding of the difference our programmes make.

Our work is possible because of a brilliant team of staff, trustees and volunteers and committed funders and partners who believe in what we do and want to make the greatest possible difference. The Data and Insights Manager will work closely with colleagues across programmes, communications, fundraising and leadership, you will ensure that data and evidence are actively used to inform decision-making, improve delivery and demonstrate impact to funders, partners and the wider sector.

This is a highly collaborative role with organisation-wide impact, offering the opportunity to shape how Villiers Park learns delivers on its long-term strategic ambitions.

Alex Grant

Assistant Director

Job purpose

The Data and Insights Manager will play a key role in supporting Villiers Park through the collection, analysis and reporting of robust evaluation and monitoring. Working across teams and hubs, the postholder will support consistent data collection, lead analysis and synthesis, and help ensure evidence informs learning, decision-making and external communication. The role will focus on coordinating mixed-methods evaluation, with qualitative approaches, including Stories of Change, as a key way of understanding young people’s experiences of change, or clarity, and the impact of our programmes.

Key responsibilities:

• Working closely with the Assistant Director, develop, implement and review monitoring and evaluation approaches for all programmes, ensuring that the data outputs can be used in a range of ways.
• Collaborate with the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and wider staff team to develop, implement and review Theories of Change.
• Work with the Programmes team to design and deploy monitoring and evaluation methods to capture and store relevant quantitative and qualitative data from a range of sources, including individuals and via schools/colleges and partner organisations.
• Undertake data analysis and write reports for internal and external audiences on process and impact evaluations for all programmes, including annual school impact reports.
• Support the Communications and Fundraising Teams by providing regularly updated data and evaluation, regional contextual demographic data and comparative national datasets.
• Manage programmes and impact data storage to ensure relevant access is delivered for SLT, Programmes, Fundraising and Communications teams and compliance with GDPR.
• Keep up to date with changes in regulation and best practice in data management and data protection/consent, especially when data subjects are under 18.
• Ensure that all data management and evaluation practices are compliant with statutory safeguarding and GDPR regulations and Villiers Park’s safeguarding, data protection and privacy policies.
• Deliver evaluation training and evaluation review meetings to inform and engage the wider organisation with evaluation practices and the implementation of data and insights.
• Undertake other duties as required to support the mission and work of Villiers Park.

Knowledge, experience and abilities (essential)

• Experience of, and strong interest in, high quality evaluation methodologies, including programme theory, process evaluation, mixed-methods approaches.
• Strong experience of critically appraising data and evidence, and staying abreast of developments within evaluation of youth-based charities and university widening participation, using this to support proportionate, well-evidenced conclusions.
• A strong track record in planning, coordinating and delivering successful evaluation activity across programmes, sites or stakeholder groups, including managing complex workloads, setting priorities and working to agreed timelines and standards.
• Experience of effectively communicating evaluation findings, both written and verbal, to different audiences.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and decision-making ability, including using evidence, judgement and stakeholder input to resolve challenges in evaluation delivery.

Skills and competencies (essential)

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build effective relationships and influence stakeholders, articulating evaluation concepts and findings clearly and concisely.
• Skilled in planning, prioritising and managing multiple strands of work to deliver high quality evaluation outputs.
• Analytical and methodical, with the ability to interpret evidence carefully and proportionately.
• An effective manager of evaluation activity across teams, hubs and programme cycles.
• Strong qualitative and mixed-methods analysis skills, including interpretation and reporting.
• Ability to anticipate and identify challenges in evaluation delivery, and work with colleagues to resolve these productively.
• Demonstrate a curiosity about other evaluation methodologies and research from the wider evaluation sector.
• Strong IT and digital skills including Microsoft suite and data management systems.
• A collaborative team member who can also take initiative, work proactively and operate independently where needed, and who has excellent interpersonal skills to facilitate learning conversations and support and advise colleagues to use evidence confidently in practice.

Desirable

• Familiarity with longitudinal or progression tracking and/or data-sharing partnerships.
• Experience of contributing to fundraising proposals with ready evidence and an understanding of fundraising audiences.
• Proficiency in qualitative analysis software, such as NVivo, to support coding, thematic analysis and synthesis.
• Confidence using data management tools such as Dataverse, MS Forms and PowerAutomate, and Power BI for reporting or visualisation.
• Understanding of value-for-money or ROI-related analysis in a social context.

Additional Information:

• The postholder will have some travel to schools, events and partner organisations.
• An enhanced DBS check will be required.
• On occasion, evening work and overnight stays may be required. 
• Hybrid – location local to our Cambridge office or near to one of our Regional Hubs

Employee Benefits

• 26 days annual leave plus bank holidays (pro rated) and additional leave over Christmas.
• A dedicated wellbeing day for you to take at any time and three days (pro-rated) paid leave for volunteering or study each year.
• Training and professional development, including termly staff development days.
• Support from our wellbeing working group and access to an employee assistance programme.
• Opportunity to join working groups with other colleagues from across the organisation as well as wider networks such as the Fair Education Alliance.
• Flexibility in working hours.
• Additional sick pay and compassionate leave policies. 

Safeguarding

Villiers Park Educational Trust is committed to safeguarding and to providing a safe and supportive environment, which secures the well-being and best outcomes for the young people with whom we work.

Safeguarding is embedded in all aspects of Villiers Park's work and integral to the commitment we make to our schools, partners and the young people and communities we serve and work with. All employees and volunteers are expected to share this commitment by adhering to our organisational safeguarding procedures, attending regular in-house training and keeping up to date with developments in policies and legislation.

All employees and volunteers will also agree to undergo an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Services check and successfully complete our mandatory online training courses including NSPCC Safeguarding in Schools and PREVENT training.

Context and Background

Our award-winning Creative Team sits within the NSPCC's Communications directorate. We're made up of creatives with design, writing and film production expertise. We create campaign and marketing identities, concepts, and materials, across all channels and for all audiences. We mainly work across three brands -- NSPCC, Childline and NSPCC Learning.

Our team has a broad skillset, covering creative strategy, ideation and delivery. We provide consultancy, art direction, planning, tone of voice guidance and copywriting across print and digital. So whether our colleagues are promoting a fabulous new fundraising event, introducing one of our frontline services, or kickstarting a new national campaign, our team is on hand to offer expertise.

As our new Senior Writer, you'll play a fundamental role in making sure the work we put out is as engaging and impactful as possible to a wide range of audiences.

Job purpose

The Senior Writer will be a highly talented communicator with substantial expertise in creative copywriting, branding and communications, preferably with experience in the charity sector.

You'll work on a wide range of creative briefs that might see you writing copy for print, digital, film, social media or web, based on briefs that come in from teams across the NSPCC. You'll also share your knowledge and expertise through workshops and consultation with internal teams and external agencies.

You’ll work closely with the Head of Creative to drive the quality, consistency, and effectiveness of our marketing and communications, making sure we’re talking to our supporters and the people we help in the most effective way possible. A large part of this is continuing to increase the use of plain English across the organisation.Finally, you will develop and lead strategy relating to copywriting, core messaging and tone of voice for the organisation. And as a senior member of the team, you'll help guide and mentor more junior colleagues.

Key relationships - Internal

• Reports to the Head of Creative.

• Is a key part of the senior Creative team and the wider Brand and Marketing department.

• Works collaboratively with all teams across the organisation to ensure creative excellence and brand integrity.

• Proactively engages with NSPCC colleagues.

Key relationships - External

• Liaises with external professionals e.g. freelance writers, agencies, filmmakers.

• Develops links and shares best practice with peers within the UK charity sector.

• Establishes networks with industry opinion formers, media and other stakeholders.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Develop verbal brand identity – through copywriting, core messaging and tone of voice guidance – across the NSPCC and Childline.

• Work with the senior Creative team to agree and deliver client projects from initial concepts through to the finished product, in line with our department’s annual business plan.

• Explore and develop creative concepts and help push the boundaries of the creative direction and output of the NSPCC, working closely with the Head of Creative and senior team.

• Pitch concepts and finished copy to commissioning teams, in line with brief objectives and the NSPCC brand.

• Make sure creative collateral across NSPCC and Childline marketing and communications is consistent and of a high standard.

• Partner with teams across the charity that create content, offering expert advice and creative solutions relating to brand and tone of voice.• Work effectively with other Communications colleagues to make sure we complete projects on time and in budget.

• Support junior team members, and contribute to the growth and personal development of communications team staff through supervisory, coaching and mentoring activities.

• Identify and provide long-term strategic solutions to the NSPCC’s editorial and copywriting needs, and fulfil them by working with the Head of Creative and senior team.

• Develop high-quality writing standards for the NSPCC, including style guides and training, with a focus on increasing the use of plain English and inclusive language across our work.

Responsibilities for all staff within the Communications directorate

• Actively participate in regular department and team meetings, contributing to strategy discussions and decisions which will benefit the NSPCC’s communications activities.

• Maintain an awareness Health and Safety and comply with the NSPCC’s Health and Safety policy and procedures.

• Take personal responsibility for keeping up to date with the NSPCC’s work to keep children safe.

• A commitment to safeguard and promote the welfare of babies, children, young people and adults at risk.

Person specification

1. Substantial experience in a copywriter role in either an agency or in-house team, with demonstrable ability of working across a broad range of briefs.

2. Proven ability to communicate and present confidently and clearly to senior stakeholders and clients.

3. Enthusiastic about embedding EDI principles across all areas of copywriting and in our wider communications work.

4. Experience working with and creating brand guidelines.

5. Experience guiding and mentoring junior team members.

6. In-depth and up-to-date knowledge of current trends and best practise in marketing, advertising and communications.

7. Highly collaborative and focused on creating a collaborative team spirit.8. Solid understanding of copywriting and editorial across environments including social, web, film and online advertising.

9. Ability to manage numerous complex projects for senior stakeholders, working to agreed deadlines often with conflicting priorities.

Safer Recruitment

As an organisation, we are committed to creating and fostering a culture that promotes safeguarding and the welfare of all children and adults at risk.

Our safer recruitment practices support this by ensuring that there is a consistent and thorough process of obtaining, collating, analysing and evaluating information from and about candidates to ensure that all persons appointed are suitable to work with our children and adults.

The recruitment and selection of our people will be conducted in a professional, timely and responsive manner and in compliance with current employment legislation, and relevant safeguarding legislation and statutory guidance.

Our principles:

• Always seek to recruit the best candidate for the role based on merit including their skills, experience, motivation and competencies. Our robust recruitment and selection process should ensure the identification of the person best suited to the role and the organisation.

• Committed to diversity and equality of opportunity and will interview all applicants (internal and external) who self-declare at application as having a disability and who meet the minimum requirements in the person specification of the vacancy they are applying for.

• We will make reasonable adjustments at all stages of the recruitment process in order to enable successful candidates who declare disabilities to start working or volunteering their time with us.

• Any current member of staff or volunteer who wishes to apply for vacancies and is suitably qualified will be considered and addressed fairly and objectively based on their merit.

• As an organisation committed to safeguarding, we will ensure all under 18’s joining the organisation will have ongoing risk assessments to ensure their role and activities are safe and appropriate.

• All documentation relating to candidates will be treated confidentially in accordance with the GDPR legislation.

The Politics Project is looking for a collaborative, strategic and people-focused Partnerships and Advocacy Manager. You’ll lead our influencing and partnerships work with a focus on the Democracy Classroom network, strengthening relationships across the youth, education and democracy sectors. If you are energised by connecting organisations, building relationships, and mobilising a network to take up new opportunities, we’d love to hear from you.

About The Politics Project

The Politics Project supports young people to use their voice by giving them access to brilliant democratic education. They work with young people, teachers, youth practitioners and politicians to help them learn about, teach and actively participate in democracy. The Politics Project works across the UK with over 3,000 schools and youth groups and 400 politicians.

About Democracy Classroom

Democracy Classroom is a growing, non-partisan partnership of more than 100 civil society organisations committed to strengthening democratic engagement among young people across the UK.

The network is supported by the Democracy Classroom Platform, an online hub featuring hundreds of free resources for teachers and youth practitioners. Democracy Classroom reaches educators in 95% of UK parliamentary constituencies and plays a leading role in shaping the sector’s voice - coordinating joint submissions to government consultations and producing shared visions such as The Roadmap to Votes at 16.

This is a rare opportunity to drive collaboration at a national level and support the sector to prepare for major upcoming changes in democratic education, including the introduction of Votes at 16.

About the role

We are looking for an experienced Partnerships and Advocacy Manager to strengthen The Politics Project’s influencing and partnerships work, with a focus on Democracy Classroom - a non-partisan network of organisations across the youth, education and democracy sectors. You’ll lead the implementation of the new Democracy Classroom strategy, and grow the network’s impact and reach in the build up to the next general election and the implementation of votes at 16.

You will play a central role in expanding and activating the network - supporting over 100 partner organisations to collaborate effectively, share learning, build trust and increase their collective impact. You will be a key player in keeping the sector informed, connected and ready to respond to key moments in democratic engagement, from elections to policy changes.

You will take on a highly relational role, working closely with the team to manage and nurture a complex network blending multiple sectors. You will collaborate with the Director to manage shared relationships across the Democracy Classroom network, building more ownership over time. You’ll help position Democracy Classroom as an important conduit between the sector and major stakeholders like government departments and funders.

This is a dynamic, outward-facing role that blends strategic thinking with hands-on coordination. You’ll work closely with the Head of Communications and Networks, the Democracy Classroom Programme Coordinator and colleagues across The Politics Project to make sure partners feel supported, valued and part of a shared mission.

The Politics Project is based in London, and the post holder will be expected to work from the office at least two days a week. The role may require occasional UK travel and some evening/weekend work, for which time off in lieu will be given. The role has a six-month probation period. The hours of work are 37.5 hrs per week. This is a fast-paced role in a friendly, supportive and growing team.

Key responsibilities

Partnership management

• Build, nurture and deepen relationships with more than 100 civil society partners, helping each partner see themselves as part of a growing and collaborative sector.

• Identify and recruit new organisations into Democracy Classroom, leading our onboarding process and helping new partners make the best of Democracy Classroom.

• Facilitate partner input into planning, shared problem-solving and decision-making.

• Build understanding of partners’ diverse needs and perspectives, supporting and balancing between these with sensitivity.

Advocacy and influencing

• Spot and act on emerging opportunities for collaboration, policy influence and joint sector action.

• Work with government departments such as DfE, DCMS, and MHCLG on the implementation plan for Votes at 16, translating sector expertise and experience.

• Manage relationships with academics and engage confidently with research to be an effective advocate for democratic education.

• Organise and facilitate events and advocacy opportunities such as advocacy panels, funder roundtables.

• Draft reports, submit evidence to the government, and feed into policy consultations.

• Jump on quick opportunities for the network, bringing people together and turning things around fast (e.g., presenting sector needs to funders or submitting evidence to Government).

Engagement and representation

• Plan and deliver Democracy Classroom meetings, training and networking events.

• Represent The Politics Project and Democracy Classroom externally as a confident ambassador for our collaborative, non-partisan approach.

• Develop and deliver partner communications to ensure consistent, clear and timely updates.

• Act as the main point of contact for Democracy Classroom partner queries, support and collaboration.

Monitoring and reporting

• Track partner engagement and feedback to support continuous improvement.

• Contribute to monitoring, evaluation and reporting to demonstrate the network’s impact.

• Work with The Politics Project team to most effectively document partner activity.

Benefits

• 33 days’ annual leave including three days off between Christmas and New Year, in addition to Bank Holidays. 

• 4% employer pension contribution.

• 2 working days / 15 hours of volunteer leave a year.

• Cycle to Work scheme.

• Professional development and training opportunities

• A warm, inclusive and values-led working environment

About you

You are passionate about democratic engagement and believe in the power of young people’s voices. You’re an enthusiastic relationship-builder who enjoys connecting organisations, spotting opportunities and turning ideas into action.

You’ll bring a strategic mindset, strong emotional intelligence and communication skills, and confidence working across sectors. You’re proactive, organised and comfortable balancing long-term partnership development with hands-on delivery.

Most of all, you’re motivated by the challenge and opportunity of supporting a high-profile national network that is shaping the future of democratic education.

An enhanced DBS check is required for this role (provided by The Politics Project).

Skills and experience

Essential

• Proven experience in partnership or stakeholder management, ideally in civil society, education or government.

• Strong strategic thinking, and a drive to identify and jump on opportunities for collaboration and growth.

• Excellent relationship-building, communication and influencing skills.

• High emotional intelligence and ability to navigate complex relationships in a growing space.

• Strong project management and organisational skills, and ability to manage multiple priorities.

• Confident working with the youth or education sectors (teaching/youth work not required).

• Experience of submitting evidence to Government, drafting quasi-academic reports or policy briefings, or responding to consultations. An academic background is not needed, but you must be comfortable engaging with policy and research.

• Knowledge of, and interest in, UK politics and democratic engagement.

• Self-motivated, resilient and solutions-focused.

• Willingness to work occasional evenings/weekends and travel within the UK.

Desirable

• IT literacy, including strong use of Google Workspace.

• Experience using CRMs or managing databases.

• Experience evaluating partnership impact and producing reports.

How to apply

Please apply via Charity Job with the following:

• Your CV (no more than two pages).

• A supporting statement of no more than one A4 page, setting out how your experience, skills and knowledge meet the person specification and why you are drawn to this role.

The closing date is 11:30pm, Saturday 20th June 2026.

Screening calls are planned for the week beginning Monday 29th June, with interviews to follow in early July.

Anticipated start date will be August or September, depending on notice period.

Hours: 36 hours per week

Contract: 3 years fixed term

Location: Surbiton/London (with some Hybrid working)

About the Role

Lead delivery of a schools programme supporting young carers and building partnerships across education settings.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver programme
• Build partnerships
• Train staff
• Improve outcomes
• Report impact
• Ensure safeguarding

Further information about the role can be found in the Recruitment Pack.

To apply, please complete the attached Application Form.

Closing date: Monday 15th June 2026.

Interview date: W/C 22nd June 2026.

Make a difference to Young Carers in Kingston.

What does it take to lead the national voice for special schools at a time of real change?

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – National Association of Special Schools (NASS)

National – home-based, with regular travel across England and Wales, particularly London

£90,000–£110,000 per annum

Full-time, permanent.

About NASS 

The National Association of Special Schools (NASS) is the membership association for special schools in England and Wales. We bring together independent special schools, non-maintained special schools, special academies, maintained special schools and multi-academy trusts with specialist provision.

We exist to inform, support and represent our members, helping specialist schools improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND and secure the place of specialist provision within the wider education system. NASS is known for being accessible, responsive and personal, combining national influence with practical support that members value as timely, human and trustworthy.

This is a pivotal moment for the organisation. In February this year, the Department for Education published a major white paper on SEND reform which will require NASS to both influence national policy on behalf of our members and children and young people, as well as support them to navigate the changes. Our new CEO will need to review our strategy while building on our strong platform and momentum to further deepen our influence and strengthen our internal capacity.

As our next Chief Executive, you will:

• Strategy & Impact: Lead NASS through a period of policy and structural change, ensuring the organisation remains clear on purpose, responsive to members and influential in the SEND landscape.
• Governance & Finance: Work closely with the Board of Trustees to provide strong governance, prudent financial stewardship, robust risk management and clear strategic oversight.
• Operational Leadership: Provide confident leadership to a small, remote team, strengthening collaboration, accountability, resilience and a positive, high-trust culture.
• Income Generation: Oversee budgeting, planning and reporting while developing thoughtful opportunities to diversify income through membership, partnerships, events and related activity.
• Community & Partnerships: Build and sustain trusted relationships with government, parliament, regulators, sector bodies and member schools, ensuring NASS remains relevant and well connected.
• Member Services: Protect and enhance the practical offer to members, from briefings and special interest groups to conferences, webinars, training and peer-to-peer learning.
• Brand & Profile: Act as a credible public ambassador for NASS, helping to modernise communications and broaden the organisation’s voice beyond a founder-shaped model.
• Future Growth: Shape a distributed leadership profile and support a more varied, accessible and engaging approach to membership, advocacy and communications.
• A seasoned senior leader with experience in a charity, membership body, education or public sector setting, and a clear track record of leading through change.
• A strong strategic thinker, able to absorb complex information quickly and translate it into clear, practical direction.
• A confident communicator with the gravitas to represent NASS with members, staff, trustees, MPs, peers, media and national partners.
• A politically astute relationship-builder, comfortable navigating a complex and fast-moving external environment.
• Experienced in governance, with a sound understanding of working with boards or trustees and supporting effective decision-making.
• Numerate and commercially minded, with experience of budgets, financial planning, income generation or partnership development.
• Credible, approachable and resilient, with the emotional intelligence to lead well in a high-profile, remote and sometimes uncertain context.
• Direct SEND experience would be a significant advantage, alongside understanding of specialist education or similarly complex stakeholder environments.

Why NASS?

• This is a chance to lead a respected, member-led organisation with a strong national reputation and a clear public purpose.
• You will help shape the future of specialist education at a time when SEND reform is high on the agenda.
• NASS has a loyal, experienced and collegiate remote staff team, supported by an active Board of Trustees.
• The organisation offers a genuinely influential platform, with strong connections across the sector and with government.

Application

For full details of the role including how to apply, please download the full appointment brief. For an informal and confidential conversation about this position, please contact Jenny Hills at Harris Hill via apply button with times to speak and (optional but appreciated) a CV or professional profile which will be treated with the strictest confidence.

Closing date for applications: 9am, Monday 8th June 2026

As leading charity recruitment specialists and a certified B Corp, Harris Hill is committed to high and ever-improving standards of equitable and inclusive recruitment. We actively welcome applications from all sections of the community regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexuality and other protected characteristics.