Position: Head of Research
Hours: Part-time, 14 hours a week – job share
Contract: Permanent
Location: Office-based in London N4, with flexibility for hybrid working
Salary: £66,421 per annum FTE (£26,568 per annum, actual for 14 hours per week) plus excellent benefits
Salary Band: Band 4
About us
We make sure people living with MS are at the centre of everything we do. And it’s this commitment that unites us across the UK.
Our strategy is based on what people affected by MS have told us is important to them. It gives us a clear and determined focus.
Our work is based on the hopes and aspirations of our MS community. Together we campaign at all levels, fund ground-breaking research and provide award winning support and information.
Our people are our greatest asset and the key to our success. We offer a vibrant, progressive working environment where you'll be able to make a difference.
About this job
The Head of Research enables successful delivery of the organisation’s ground-breaking Research Strategy. They will provide vital leadership, strategic direction and day to day management of the MS Society’s research programme as well as leadership of the Research Team.
This varied and exciting role also involves developing and maintaining strategically relevant partnerships, annual grant round, new research strategy and acting as a spokesperson for the MS Society as well as being a key ambassador – inspiring internal teams about the MS Society’s research programme.
Please note this is a part-time 14 hours per week position. This could be worked across either 2 or 3 days.
Closing date for applications: 9:00 on Tuesday 21 July 2026
Interested?
PLEASE PRESS THE 'HOW TO APPLY' BUTTON FOR MORE INFORMATION.
We particularly welcome applications from disabled people and or people from minoritised ethnic backgrounds.
We’d be grateful if you downloaded and completed the equality and diversity monitoring form and submit it with your application.
Disability Confident Employer
We’re a Disability Confident Employer and we’re committed to promoting equality and diversity.
You can ask for reasonable adjustments as part of both our recruitment and new starter on-boarding processes.
If you need any help or adjustments to apply for this role, please contact us. You can also ask for the application materials to be sent to you in a different format. Such as for them to be sent to you by email or in a larger word format.
More about our recruitment and selection process
- The first round of our recruitment and selection process includes an interview with competency-based questions.
- Our recruitment and selection process might also include extra tasks. For example, a written or Microsoft Excel test or making a presentation.
- We’ll let you know what the selection process will include when we invite you to interview. You can ask for any more reasonable adjustments for the interview as part of the invitation.
- You might also be invited for a second interview. We’ll let you know about this during the selection process.
More about our employee benefits:
We have a wide range of employee benefits including (but not limited to):
Encouraging work life balance
- 39 days paid annual leave (including bank holidays), pro-rata for part-time
- More annual leave entitlement, based on length of employment
- Smart working options (with the opportunity to work remotely and find a smart working pattern that suits both you and us)
- Flexible working options
Caring for you and your family
- Generous sick pay entitlement
- More sick pay entitlement, based on length of employment
- Opportunity to buy and sell annual leave in each calendar year
- Free access to a GP virtually 24 hours a day/7 days a week allowing you unlimited advice, reassurance and where appropriate diagnosis
- Enhanced leave for new parents
- Free access to a confidential 24 hours a day/7 days a week helpline service for both you and your family with a specialist range of support and information
- Special leave options (such as up to 5 days paid leave for domestic or personal emergencies a year)
- 10 days paid disability leave a year, pro-rata for part-time
- 10 days paid carers’ leave a year, pro-rata for part-time
- Cycle to work scheme
- Death in service scheme
- New family-friendly benefits, including paid leave:
- In the event of miscarriage or still birth
- To support fertility treatments
- For antenatal appointments for both parents
Thinking about your finances
- Enhanced salary sacrifice pension scheme
- Discounted season ticket loan and interest-free emergency loans
- Give as you earn to support other charities of your choice before tax
- New employee portal including lifestyle savings vouchers and personal wellbeing
Enriching your life at work
- Personalised development plans with a wide range of training courses and opportunities to source additional training options with your line manager
- Yearly internal apprenticeship opportunities
- New, modern offices that embrace working together both in-person and remotely
- Various opportunities to influence how we internally operate (including surveys, and focus and committee groups)
- Active and supportive internal employee networking groups for collaboration and peer support
- 2 days paid leave a year for volunteering for MS Society activities during normal working hours (such as fundraising events, or campaigning in the local community)
- 2 days paid leave a year for volunteering with other charities during normal
Safeguarding
We’re committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of everyone who uses our services and we come into contact with.
This is regardless of Gender, Race, Disability, Sexual orientation, Religion or belief, Pregnancy, Gender reassignment.
We recognise our particular responsibility to make sure vulnerable adults and children are protected.
We have measures in place to protect everyone we come into contact with from abuse and maltreatment of all kinds.
Your right to work in the UK
You must have the right to work in the UK to work in paid employment with us. You’ll need to share documents showing you’re eligible to work in the UK if we offer you employment.
You can find the UK visas and permits granting you the right to work in the UK on the UK Government website. We currently don’t have a Sponsor Licence agreement with the Home Office and aren’t able to support you with your visa applications.
No agencies please.
Registered Charity
101 - 500
To fund world-leading research, share the latest information and campaign for everyone's rights. Together we are a community. Together we can stop MS
Thank you!
Role Purpose
To provide administrative support for the People and Culture team ensuring efficient and effective HR and volunteer processes from onboarding right through to exit. This role requires excellent internal customer service skills and a willingness to help, support and find answers to staff and volunteer queries and questions.
Main Responsibilities
· To provide administrative support to the People and Culture Team in the recruitment of staff and volunteers.
· To assist with the onboarding of staff and volunteers.
· To carry out routine and ad hoc administrative duties to support HR and volunteer processes.
· To issue letters and documentation to staff and volunteers, ensuring copies are filed in relevant online files.
· To update HR and volunteer systems ensuring data is accurate and up to date
· To assist in monitoring and updating HR and volunteer records such as training, DBS checks or health and safety.
· To monitor HR and volunteer e-mail in-boxes and calendars responding to queries where relevant and sending meeting invites where necessary.
· To run reports from HR/volunteers systems as and when required.
· To attend HR/volunteer meetings as and when required which may include occasional out of hours work for volunteer training sessions or social events.
· To be pro-active and responsive to volunteer and staff queries.
· To carry out any other reasonable tasks as discussed and agreed with your line manager.
Person Specification
Essential
· Located within commutable distance from our office in central Gloucester.
· A team player who works flexibly to meet the needs of the organisation.
· Excellent organisational and time-management skills, with the ability to prioritise work and meet tight deadlines.
· Strong written and verbal communication skills.
· Ability to work quickly and accurately with data.
· Excellent interpersonal skills.
· Strong IT skills.
· Ability to use own initiative.
Desirable
· Driver, with access to own vehicle.
· Previous experience of working in a charity or HR.
We are willing to consider full or part-time working for this role.
Benefits
· 28 days’ holiday plus bank holidays (pro rata if applicable) with increase for long service.
· TOIL for our hours work.
· Contributory pension scheme.
· Company sick pay.
· Employee Assistance Programme.
· Life assurance.
· Training loans.
· Enhanced family friendly policies.
Recruitment Timetable
Application deadline: 12th July 2026 at midnight
We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high number of applications for the role before the closing date.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
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!
About us
Carers UK is the leading national charity for unpaid carers. The Finance Manager is responsible for the management of the financial accounting functions of the organisation, for the preparation of statutory accounts, regular management reports, the preparation of all tax returns, supporting budget holders and assisting them fulfil their responsibilities, and for compliance with statutory requirements including compliance with tax laws and regulations.
About the role
The Finance Manager will work closely with colleagues across the organisation, including the nation offices, supporting and advising, building excellence in standards within the finance office and injecting innovative solutions to the organisation’s financial strategy.
About you
We are looking for a proactive and visible finance professional who is able to engage and build relationships across the organisation as a pivotal member within a values led high performing organisation. You will be a qualified accountant with proven track record of financial management awareness and a solid understanding of charity audits and statutory accounts preparation. You will have the ability to work with staff across the organisation in supporting good financial governance and oversight of financial operational matters. You will have the ability to analyse financial information and present this in a suitable format for the audience. You will have good ability to meet deadlines, be IT literate with an emphasis on financial systems, spreadsheets, Quickbooks and Excel. You will be highly organised with excellent attention to detail and be able to work with minimum supervision.
The role will involve the management of the day-to-day financial activities, VAT, gift aid, payroll and the monthly, quarterly and annual reconciliations and statutory accounts preparation. The job holder will work closely with the Chief Operating Officer, Finance Officer and volunteers within the team. There will be a requirement to work closely with the income generating staff, budget holders, auditors, banks and credit card providers on a regular basis. The Finance Manager will be responsible for managing the Finance Officer and Finance volunteer.
Diversity and inclusion
Carers UK is committed to becoming a diverse and truly inclusive organisation. We strive to create a workplace where our colleagues and volunteers can truly be themselves and feel like they belong and constantly seek to ensure all voices are heard.
To embrace this culture of diversity, our employee and volunteer recruitment should reflect our stakeholders and the society that we serve and support, regardless of age, race, gender, sexual orientation, physical abilities, disabilities or religious practices. We value individual diversity and are actively building diverse teams here at Carers UK and value our colleagues from a wide range of backgrounds.
As a membership charity for carers, we particularly seek employees and volunteers with a real understanding of the issues faced by carers. Reasonable adjustments can be made to the process and role dependent on the needs of the applicant.
At Carers UK, we want our application process to be as accessible as possible. If you need any adjustments to apply please email the recruitment team to discuss.
The closing date for applications is Friday 24 July 2026, 5pm.
Carers UK anonymises all applications prior to shortlisting.
Carers UK are actively interviewing as we receive applications.
Carers UK reserves the right to appoint at any stage, should an outstanding candidate emerge.
Carers UK may carry out online and social media checks before a formal offer is made.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.