Head of people services jobs in Orpington, england

We are seeking an experienced and motivated Head of Adult Learning, Skills and Employment to join our Senior Management Team and lead one of our core service areas.

This is an exciting opportunity to oversee a wide-ranging, community-based service that supports local residents to develop skills, confidence and pathways into employment. Bringing together our Community Education & Training provision and Employment & Careers services, the role is responsible for ensuring a cohesive offer that supports hundreds of individuals each year from community learning through to work.

A core element of our provision is the delivery of high-quality adult learning, including functional skills (English, maths and ICT), ESOL, community wellbeing, family learning, pathways to employment and selected vocational courses. Our services are shaped by both community need and funding priorities and continue to evolve in response to local demand and emerging opportunities.

Employment support also forms an integral part of our wider offer, both through embedded progression support within Adult Education provision and through separately funded programmes for priority groups, including younger jobseekers (18–24) and older residents (50+). This requires a flexible and responsive approach to programme development, partnership working and service delivery.

Our current provision is primarily funded through Lambeth Adult Learning and the Greater London Authority, with a combined annual budget of approximately £750,000 per year. A significant focus of the role will be overseeing the successful delivery of these contracts and services, ensuring high-quality provision, strong performance and meaningful progression outcomes for residents.

We are looking for someone who brings:

• Experience in managing complex community-based programmes, including adult learning and/or employment support
• A proven track record of leading teams and delivering against funded contracts
• Strong organisational and project management skills
• Excellent communication and partnership-building skills
• A strategic but practical approach, with the ability to balance delivery with long-term service development
• A commitment to improving outcomes for local residents

Why join High Trees?

At High Trees, our staff are at the heart of everything we do. We are a supportive and collaborative organisation where people are encouraged to grow, develop and contribute to the wider direction of our work. Our benefits include a generous annual leave allowance, pension contributions, and access to employee support.

This role offers the opportunity to shape a key service area at an exciting point of development, working alongside a committed team to deliver meaningful outcomes for local residents. You will play a central role in strengthening pathways into employment and ensuring our services continue to respond to the needs of the community.

Due to the nature of our services and the importance of community-based delivery, this role is primarily office based and will suit someone who is passionate about working within community settings and building strong relationships with residents, partners and colleagues. While we are committed to supporting flexibility where possible, the majority of the role will be delivered in person across our services and community venues.

Head of Support Services - National Charity

Salary: £50,000 per annum.  35 hrs per week.
Location: Hybrid - Our offices are based in London, and there is a high degree of flexibility.
Permanent.

About Missing People
Somebody goes missing in the UK every 90 seconds. Missing People exists to ease the heartache experienced by those missing someone, and to help people who are away from home find their way back to safety. Our vision is for every missing child, adult and family left behind to find help, hope and a safe way to reconnect. We are a non-judgemental, highly skilled team of staff and volunteers working for everyone who needs us.  We provide free, confidential support, help and advice by phone, email, text and live chat.   We coordinate a UK-wide network of people, businesses and media to join the search for the estimated 170,000 people who go missing each year. Missing People aims to put people with lived experience at the heart of our work, amplifying their voices to achieve change.

The impact you will have
As the Head of Support Services you will lead Missing People’s 121 trauma support and peer support services, ensuring these are high quality, safe, accessible and inclusive, and responsive to needs. You will lead a team of staff and volunteers, ensuring they are well trained and supported. You will promote best practice around involving people with lived experience in the design and delivery of services and a strong approach to evidencing outcomes.

Our Support Services offer emotional, practical and peer support to people with missing loved ones, as well as to young people affected by criminal exploitation and their parents or carers. We provide confidential, tailored help for anyone experiencing the trauma of missing or exploitation, offering expert guidance and opportunities to connect with others who understand what they are going through.

About You
You will need to have:

• Significant experience of leading services providing high quality, trauma-informed emotional and practical support;
• Strong team management experience with proven ability to develop staff and volunteers;
• Demonstrable experience of safeguarding children and adults at risk of harm;
• Experience of setting aims and outcome objectives / key performance indicators for services and reporting against them to key stakeholders; 
• Proven ability to reach vulnerable and underserved groups to develop services which meet their needs;
• Comfortable and skilled at supporting people experiencing trauma and ambiguous loss;
• Advocacy skills and the ability to develop others in how to advocate with other agencies in support of service users;
• An understanding of the emotional impact on families of having a missing loved one;
• Knowledge of the particular risks faced by missing and exploited children and young people;
• Right to work in the UK.

What you will get in return
Missing People is a friendly and supportive place to work – it’s a welcoming, caring organisation which really makes a difference to people affected by the issue of missing throughout the UK.  We offer generous paid holidays, a range of enhanced family friendly benefits and are happy to talk about flexible working in most roles.

Find out more and apply
If you want to be a lifeline when someone goes missing, click apply to read the full job description.  You will find attached a detailed job description and person specification, and a letter to applicants from the line manager.

To apply, please ensure you include your CV and a brief covering letter explaining how you would be a good fit for this role.  We look forward to receiving your application.

Closing date: 3rd June 2026.  We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient interest, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.
Interviews: 11th June 2026

REF-228 677

Head of Operations and People

Are you a dynamic and organised leader, ready to inspire and support a dedicated team of staff and volunteers? 

Energetic, yet calm and composed at a senior level? If you’re excited about using your professional experience to make a difference to young people, this could be the perfect role for you!

This is an exciting opportunity to take on a senior leadership role, where no two days are ever the same!

As 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: Head of Operations and People

Location: Tilbury, Essex (Until the youth zone is completed and fully operational you will be based at the temporary offices space at Tilbury Community Association)

Salary: £40,000 to £45,500 (dependent upon experience) with 33 days

Hours: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week

Contract: Permanent

Benefits: 33 days Holiday (inclusive of bank holidays) Workplace pension, Free gym access (once the youth zone opens) Access to the organisations Talent Academy; bespoke training and mentoring

Closing Date: 12 noon on 5th June 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: Online – 16th July 2026

Second Stage Interviews: 23rd July 2026 at a location local to Tilbury

About the Role

During the pre-opening phase, the role will focus on developing the youth zones back-office functions, undertaking all necessary tasks, planning and preparations to ensure we are fully operation at opening. This will include setting up the HR function ahead of recruiting the wider team and supporting staff wellbeing, development, and compliance.

The Head of Operations and People role is a key position at the youth zone. When open, as part of the Senior Management team, you’ll lead and manage the back-office functions, ensuring the team deliver the best possible service to the thousands of young people who rely on the organisation.

We’re looking for an experienced and professional operational manager who can manage multiple teams and being the go-to person for ensuring the environment is safe, welcoming, and efficient, so the frontline teams can focus on delivering life-changing experiences for young people.

In this role, you’ll also serve as the secretariat for the Board of Trustees and oversee monthly payroll administration.

This is an exciting opportunity to shape the future of the Youth Zone and make a real impact!

Key responsibilities include:

• Day to day operations
• Recruitment and HR management
• Compliance and legislation
• Financial and support function management
• Management and staff development
• Leadership and networking
• Safeguarding

About You

We’re looking for someone who can juggle multiple roles, tackle new challenges daily, and make a real impact on the lives of young people and the community.

You will have experience of:

• Working in a senior administrative and operational management roles within a busy office environment, including line management responsibility for large and varied staff teams.
• HR functions, including HR practices, procedures and policies.
• Basic finance administration processed, including payroll, accounts work and budget management.
• Providing high-level support to Boards, Chief Executives and external stakeholders, including partnership working, contracts, and service agreements and commissioning.

You will have proficient IT skills with an understanding of Office 365 and relevant support systems

If you have a passion for young people and genuine enthusiasm for working in a youth environment, then we would love to hear from you!

About the Organisation

Join a brand-new locally run youth charity, set to provide thousands of young people with the opportunity to have fun, make new friends, try something new and feel safe.

With community centric values and located in the heart of Tilbury, it will be an inspiring place for young people

aged 8 – 18, and up to 25 for those with additional needs, to feel empowered and try new experiences. The building is due to be completed in 2027.

This is passionate, properly funded youth provision, with no ifs or buts. It’s about giving young people a chance to shine in an environment where they can be themselves.

It’s about opportunity.

Our dedicated Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Group, with support from the Senior Leadership Team, is actively promoting and advancing diversity and inclusion, ensuring a culture where everyone can be themselves and thrive.

You may have experience in areas such as Operations, People, People and Operations, HR, Human Resources, Personnel, HR and Operations, Head of Operations, Head of People, Head of People and Operations, Head of HR, Head of Human Resources, Head of Personnel, Head of HR and Operations.

Please note this role is advertised by the recruitment agency acting for the client, Not For Profit People. #INDNFP

Dignity in Dying and Compassion in Dying are partnering with Robertson Bell to recruit a Head of Finance on a permanent basis.

This is an exciting opportunity to join two sister organisations working at the centre of an important and evolving area of public policy and individual choice. Operating with a shared vision and strong collaborative culture, both organisations are committed to supporting people through high-quality information and support services, advocacy and campaigns.

Reporting to the Deputy CEO, the Head of Finance will play a key role in supporting the organisations’ ongoing work by providing integrity and efficiency across financial processes, systems, controls and reporting. This role offers the opportunity to join a collaborative and values-led organisation with a supportive leadership team, flexible hybrid working and the chance to contribute meaningfully within a small but highly impactful environment.

The role:

• Provide integrity and efficiency in the financial processes, systems, controls and reporting across both organisations.
• Prepare statutory annual accounts in accordance with Charity and Company law.
• Work with the Senior Management Team (SMT) to prepare, present and implement annual budgets.
• Monitor and manage financial performance including production of quarterly management accounts, finance reports and ongoing cash flow forecasts.
• Reconcile major balance sheet accounts and revenue reporting between systems.
• Oversee transactional input of income and expenditure transactions, and all payroll procedures.
• Support the Finance and Audit Sub Committees, preparing relevant papers and attending meetings.
• Work closely with auditors and maintain relationships with professional advisors, insurance brokers and bankers.
• Ensure compliance with all statutory reporting and filing requirements, including the Charity Commission and Companies House.
• Provide support and advice to the SMT on financial and relevant matters as they arise.
• Monitor and manage organisational funds on cash deposit platforms.
• Manage partial VAT exemption and VAT reporting requirements.
• Develop and implement financial systems and procedures to ensure best practice and adherence to applicable accounting standards.
• Identify opportunities to improve reporting, operational efficiency and financial processes.
• Line manage and support the development of the Finance Officer.

The organisations:

Dignity in Dying and Compassion in Dying share the aim of improve dying in the UK by putting people in charge of decisions about the end of their life. Dignity in Dying campaigns to change the law to allow the option of assisted dying for terminally ill, mentally competent adults in the UK. It is a not-for-profit membership organisation. Compassion in Dying is a registered charity which provides information and support to people to be in control of their end-of-life decisions, alongside gathering evidence to improve culture and policy.

Operating within a collaborative and supportive culture, this role offers the opportunity to work alongside committed and passionate colleagues within a flat organisational structure. The successful candidate will join a team that values initiative, accountability and strong working relationships, while offering the autonomy to take ownership of the finance function and contribute to future improvements.

Essential criteria:

• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent).
• Experience in a managerial finance role, ideally within a charity or not for profit organisation.
• Strong understanding of charity accounting and Charity SORP.
• Experience preparing management accounts, budgets, forecasts and statutory accounts.
• Strong understanding of financial controls, governance and compliance requirements.
• Experience supporting audit processes and working with external auditors.
• Knowledge of VAT reporting and partial VAT exemption.
• Ability to explain financial concepts to non-financial colleagues and managers.
• Self-starter with the ability to manage responsibility within a small team environment.
• Strong relationship-building skills with the ability to quickly establish credibility internally and externally.

If you are a qualified finance professional looking to join a collaborative and mission-led organisation where you can contribute both strategically and operationally, we would love to hear from you. Apply before the 7^th June to be considered!

This role is based in London with hybrid working and an expectation of a minimum of two days per week in the office at Oxford Street.

The Follicular Lymphoma Foundation (FLF) is partnering with Robertson Bell on a retained basis to appoint a Head of Finance on a permanent basis. This is a pivotal leadership opportunity within an ambitious, globally focused organisation working to accelerate a cure for follicular lymphoma - and to do it fast.

Founded in 2019, FLF is the first charity in the world dedicated solely to curing follicular lymphoma, an incurable blood cancer affecting more than 1.5 million people globally. Operating across the UK, US and Israel, FLF brings together researchers, clinicians, patients, pharmaceutical partners and funders to drive innovation and breakthrough research.

Reporting directly to the Global CEO and working closely with Trustees, Board Members and senior stakeholders, the Head of Finance will play a key role in shaping financial strategy, strengthening operational maturity and supporting international growth.

The role:
• Lead the development of FLF’s long-term financial strategy, supporting growth and international expansion.
• Partner with the Global CEO, Trustees and leadership team, providing financial insight to support decision-making, programme investment and fundraising activity.
• Oversee financial management across multiple international entities, ensuring robust controls, governance and compliance.
• Lead budgeting, forecasting and scenario modelling processes.
• Support grant funding, restricted income management and pharma partnership activity.
• Oversee management accounts, statutory reporting, audits and regulatory submissions across UK and US operations.
• Drive improvements in systems, reporting and operational efficiency.
• Provide leadership and development support to the Finance and Operations Officer.
• Act as a trusted advisor across the organisation, balancing strategic leadership with hands-on delivery.
• Present financial information clearly to Boards and non-finance stakeholders.

The organisation:
FLF combines the pace and agility of a scaling start-up with the credibility and reach of an internationally connected research organisation. With income and organisational complexity expected to grow significantly, this is an exciting opportunity to join a mission-driven organisation at a transformative stage.

The successful candidate will join a collaborative leadership team committed to delivering meaningful impact for patients worldwide. FLF offers flexible hybrid working, genuine work-life balance, professional development opportunities, private medical insurance, life insurance, pension contributions and 25 days annual leave.

Essential criteria:
• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent) or qualified by experience.
• Experience in a senior finance leadership role within a charity environment.
• Strong experience managing reporting, budgeting and forecasting within a growing organisation.
• Experience operating across complex stakeholder environments, with the confidence to influence senior leaders and Boards.
• Strong understanding of governance, controls, compliance and risk management.
• Hands-on and adaptable approach, comfortable operating strategically while remaining close to operational detail.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Proactive, solutions-focused mindset with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience across multiple entities, funding streams or international operations would be advantageous.

If you are a strategic and hands-on finance leader looking to play a meaningful role within a high-growth charitable organisation, we would love to hear from you.

Apply before 14th June to be considered.

This role is based in London with an expectation of 2 days per week in the office on Finchley Road.

Coin Street Nursery is seeking an experienced and passionate Head Chef to join our friendly and dedicated team. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who takes pride in creating fresh, nutritious meals from scratch and is committed to promoting healthy eating for young children.

While experience in a nursery or similar setting is desirable, it is not essential. We welcome candidates with strong catering experience in preparing meals at scale who share our values around nutrition and quality.

We operate a busy nursery, preparing meals for up to 80 children and staff daily. The successful candidate will be highly organised, able to manage their own workload, and committed to maintaining high standards across all areas of the kitchen.

We are proud of our 5-star food hygiene rating and our excellent standards of cleanliness. Maintaining health and safety, food hygiene, and compliance will be central to your role. Working within a set budget, you will also be responsible for effective menu planning, stock control, and food purchasing, ensuring meals remain fresh, healthy, and varied.

You will play a key role in meeting the diverse dietary needs of our children. A strong understanding of allergies, intolerances, and special diets is essential to ensure every child receives safe, high-quality meals.
You will be supported by a part-time kitchen assistant; however, you will retain overall responsibility for the kitchen, including end-of-day cleaning and organisation.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan and prepare nutritious, balanced meals for children and staff
• Manage kitchen operations, including ordering, stock control, and budgeting
• Maintain high standards of food hygiene, cleanliness, and safety
• Cater for a range of dietary requirements, including allergies and cultural preferences
• Lead and organise daily kitchen activities effectively

We are looking for a Head Chef who can demonstrate:

• A current Food Hygiene Certificate
• Significant experience preparing a wide range of meals in a non-domestic setting for large groups, ideally including young children
• Experience in menu planning, ordering, and stock management 
• Strong knowledge of dietary requirements, food hygiene, and health & safety 
• Good literacy, numeracy, and budget management skills 
• The ability to work collaboratively and communicate effectively with colleagues and children 
• A proactive approach to contributing to service development, including diverse and culturally inclusive menus

Creating an inspirational neighbourhood
We provide the opportunities and spaces for people to lead their own change.

Our activities are wide and far reaching. From giving families and children the best start in life through our childcare and family support, to creating and maintaining high quality live, work and play spaces on land which we own.

We promote enterprise, creativity and lifelong learning whether that’s through providing employment, volunteering opportunities, nurturing enterprise or delivering programmes and activities.  We provide housing that supports our community; we champion co-operative housing and influence local and national housing policy.

From sports and dance to healthy eating and gardening, we offer a range of facilities and activities accessible to everyone to support health and wellbeing in our community.

In return, we can offer you:

• 35 days’ annual leave (including bank holidays) pro rata for part time staff
• 8% contributory pension scheme (5% employer contribution, 3% employee contribution)
• Health and wellbeing support, including online mental health therapy sessions
• Free gym membership at Colombo, annual flu jabs
• Commitment to training and development

Contract
Permanent, 37.5 hours per week

Salary
£33,000 per annum

To Apply
To apply, please download and complete the application form. Once completed, submit your application via email. Please visit our website if you require more info.

Due to Safer Recruitment guidance, please note that additional documents, such as CVs, will not be considered.

Successful candidates will be required to undertake an Enhanced DBS check. 

Closing Date
Please send your application by midnight on 21 June 2026

Our Youth and Play Practitioners will play a pivotal role in the Children, Young People and Families (CYPF) team, working as a core team of practitioners to ensure the smooth running of our programmes and services. In this role you will be part of a small and dynamic team which delivers a wide range of programmes and activities, both from Tulse Hill Adventure Playground and in conjunction with local schools. The work of the Children, Young People and Families team is diverse and varied. Our current services include open access adventure play and youth activities at our Adventure Playground, school holiday programmes with off-site trips and activities, mentoring, a Young Leaders programme offering paid work experience to young people, and working together with our youth partnerships Building Young Brixton and Lambeth Peer Action Collective.

We are in an exciting time of development for the team. To support our range of children and young people, our team will be made up of specialist Youth Workers and Play Practitioners bringing in relevant skills and experience. Whilst you will work across all of our Children, Young People and Families services you will have a specific focus:

As a Youth Worker you will:

• Focus on supporting our secondary age cohort
• Plan and run appropriate and engaging activities
• Provide structured interventions to support vulnerable young people
• Work with referral partners to provide additional support and activities
• Foster relationships with families and local schools

As a Play Worker you will:

• Focus on our primary age cohort
• Use your knowledge of Playwork Principles to plan and run appropriate and engaging
  activities
• Foster relationships with families and primary local schools

Both roles will include an element of mentoring, relevant training will be provided to give you the necessary skills to deliver this.

To be successful in this role, you will act as a trusted practitioner in all our service delivery, advocating for children’s right to play throughout our programmes. You will work as part of the team on the delivery and planning of all sessions, ensuring that the children’s and young people’s ideas are central to the construction of a varied and engaging play environment. You will understand the wide-ranging challenges facing young people and will be flexible in adjusting your practice to meet these needs. While practitioners may have a primary focus (primary or secondary age), all staff are expected to work flexibly across all age groups, programmes and delivery model including open access play, targeted youth work, mentoring and school link sessions.

At TLG, we’re passionate about building an exceptional team to help us bring fullness of life for every child, no matter what struggles they face. We’re excited to offer a unique opportunity for a motivated, mission-driven individual to join us as Therapeutic Hub Head of Service in Greenwich.

We’re looking for a skilled and innovative individual to lead one of our pioneering Therapeutic Hubs, developed in partnership with a local church. This role sits at the front line of responding to the growing mental and emotional health needs of children, young people and families, offering high-quality therapeutic support to intervene early and prevent crisis.

As Head of Service for the Hub, you will provide strong clinical leadership, delivering targeted therapeutic support for complex cases while overseeing referrals and therapeutic pathways within the Hub. You will lead and support a multidisciplinary team of volunteer counsellors, trainees and therapeutic coaches, modelling trauma‑informed, relational practice shaped by PACE values and reflective supervision.

Alongside direct delivery, you will play a key role in developing the Hub’s reach and effectiveness, working collaboratively with TLG, the partner church and local referrers. Safeguarding, quality and professional excellence are central to the role, with responsibility for ensuring the hub is a safe, welcoming and effective space for children and families from diverse backgrounds to find healing and hope.

Due to the pioneering nature of this role, its scope may initially feel broad, as a key focus in the Hub’s early stages will be on shaping and developing the service with the church and central TLG team. TLG has a clear and realistic understanding of time and capacity, allowing the role to grow at a manageable and sustainable pace. As the Hub becomes more established, you will have the opportunity to work collaboratively with the team to refine and focus the role in line with emerging needs and capacity. You will be supported throughout by a strong central team, working alongside you to ensure the role remains both manageable and impactful as it evolves.

If you are a skilled clinician with a heart for children, families and the local church, and you’re excited to help shape an innovative model of care, we would love to hear from you.

TLG is a Christian charity and, as a team, we want to bring our faith to the work we do; as such, we are recruiting an individual with a strong and vibrant Christian faith. We would welcome applications from candidates from diverse backgrounds to enable us to better reflect the needs of the communities we serve.

Hours: Part-time, 2.5 days (18.75 hrs) per week (0.5 FTE)

Closing Date: Thursday 18th June

Initial Interviews: Tuesday 23rd June – Online

Final Interviews: TBC – at Emmanuel Church London

The role of the People Partner is to work in partnership with directors and their managers, supporting and influencing the delivery of People Team services (including employees and volunteers), particularly in relation to people management. You will provide HR coaching and consulting that delivers People and Culture best practice and commercially focused HR/People advice.

You will proactively support leaders and managers to develop forward planning and good management practice with a focus on increased staff engagement and good performance from all staff. The People Partners will be expected to drive initiatives that not only attract top talent but also foster a culture where employees feel valued, engaged, and inspired by our unique Employee Value Proposition (EVP).

You will also help raise knowledge, capabilities and confidence of managers and support and drive initiatives and projects that add value to the area and are in line with the overall values of The Children’s Trust.

This role is not open to sponsorship.

Staff benefits include shuttle bus, and more… Read more below.

Role Requirements

• Work closely with the Senior Organisational Change Manager and the other People Partners to ensure that all employees, volunteers and trustees are supported and treated fairly
• Support the Senior Organisational Change Manager in ensuring that the People Team achieves its wider organisational goals
• Promote a positive, inclusive workplace that values diversity and supports the wellbeing of employees, volunteer and trustees
• Assist in the streamlining and automation of processes to improve operational efficiency
• Undertake other or additional duties that are within your skills and abilities, as the organisation may reasonably require from time to time.
• Provide expert advice and support on employee relations matters, including performance management, conduct and conflict resolution
• Manage disciplinary, grievance and attendance issues
• Support managers in navigating sickness management procedures, ensuring fair and consistent application of policies while prioritising employee well-being and a smooth return-to-work process, including conducting return-to-work interviews
• Work with the People Team Reward & People Insights Manager to analyse and support with the preparation of the annual Gender Pay Reporting and action planning.
• You will support with the development of the HR System / implementation and assist with any changes to HR processes linked to the system changes.
• You will be responsible for managing SelectHR (including OH) and all People Partnering responsibilities linked to the systems.

Interview date: 8th June

Interview date: 15th June

Terms and Conditions

Strictly no agencies, please.

As we often receive high levels of applicants for our roles, we regret that we will only be able to contact those applicants who are shortlisted for interviews. Therefore, if you have not heard from us within 2 weeks of the closing date, please assume you have not been shortlisted for an interview on this occasion.

About Us

The Children’s Trust is the UK’s leading charity for children with acquired brain injury, providing expert rehabilitation, education, therapy, and care at our national specialist centre in Tadworth, and to children and their families across the UK, via our Brain Injury Community Service.

Boasting a beautiful 24-acre site in Surrey, we are located just outside of London, close to the M25 (accessible via Junction 8, A217 to Tadworth) and easily accessible via National Rail, by way of: Clapham Junction, Sutton, and Epsom.

Staff Benefits

The work we do is highly rewarding, and in addition to an attractive salary, we offer a valuable range of benefits, including our staff flexible benefits platform, on-site nursery, free eye tests, enhanced Maternity and Paternity Pay, time out days for those experiencing menopause symptoms and time off for gender reassignment.

We also offer additional annual leave days for those with long service, with entitlements ranging from 35 to 41 days (including bank holidays) depending on your length of service.

Other benefits include free on-site parking; a staff shuttle service from Epsom and Sutton train stations to Tadworth Court, subsidised cafeteria, on-site staff accommodation (subject to availability), the ability to retain your NHS pension (where applicable), Teacher’s pension (where applicable) or the opportunity to join an alternative scheme, and the opportunity to develop your career in a supportive and collaborative environment.

Rehabilitation of Offenders

Many roles at The Children’s Trust are exempt from the provisions of Section 4 (2) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, by virtue of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013 and 2020) and as such, are subject to an Enhanced DBS check.  Successful applicants will be required to complete an Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check, which will disclose all unspent convictions and adult cautions and any spent convictions or adult cautions that would not be protected.  The exceptions to this are our retail roles within The Children’s Trust shops, which are subject to Basic DBS checks which will disclose unspent convictions or adult cautions.

Equal Opportunity Employer

To help us achieve our ambition to give children and young people with brain injury and neurodisability the opportunity to live the best life possible, we want to accurately reflect the UK’s diverse population. We want equity, diversity, and inclusion to be at the heart of everything we do, and our people, services, and culture to reflect the diverse needs of all. Through our diversity and inclusion strategy, we have made a commitment to increase the diversity of our charity and create an inclusive culture. We have networks across the organisation working to ensure that these aims are met - including an LGBTQIA2S+ group, Ethnic Diversity Group, and Spark – our broad EDI group. Read more about our EDI work here. We welcome applications from all who share our ambition regardless of background. We will strive to ensure that any reasonable adjustments are made in respect of interview and working arrangements.

Online Searches

In accordance with statutory safeguarding and child protection guidance, online searches will be conducted for shortlisted candidates before interview. The online searches will be conducted by a person who is independent of the interview and selection process and will focus on relevant information returned via searches of the candidate’s name (and variations thereof). Social media searches will be limited to professional platforms such as LinkedIn. Any concerns relating to suitability for work with children and young people will be forwarded to the interview panel, for discussion during the interview.

WORKING WITH US

The founder and sponsor of the Harris Federation, Lord Harris of Peckham, opened our first school in 1990. We have, over the past thirty years, implemented ideas and initiatives that have transformed the opportunities of pupils from working class and disadvantaged backgrounds. Harris academies are widely recognised as a force for social mobility. We are immensely proud of the role that our alumni are now beginning to play in the world and of what we believe our current generation of pupils will go on to achieve.

We now have over 50 schools educating more than 40,000 young people across London and Essex, and employ over 5,000 staff across our academies and head office. With the majority of our academies located in areas of high socioeconomic disadvantage, a high-quality education is key to the futures of the pupils we serve.

As a provider of employment and education, we value the diversity of our staff and students, and all our staff are equally valued and respected. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment for our students and staff.

Our work will impact many generations to come, and our staff come from all backgrounds and walks of life, coming together to inspire young minds. We promote an inclusive culture that embraces the valuable and enriching contribution that all of our community make. We continue to be proactive in uplifting and supporting all voices at Harris.

To discover more about our culture, ethos and what it is like to work here, visit the page.

ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY

A rare opportunity to lead communications and brand for one of the UK’s leading education trusts.

As Head of Communications and Brand at the Harris Federation, you will shape and protect our public profile, leading strategic communications, marketing and media activity across a network of 55 academies.

Reporting to the CEO, you will act as a trusted adviser to senior leaders, driving brand consistency, overseeing high impact campaigns, and leading digital, PR and internal communications to support pupil recruitment, staff attraction and organisational growth. You will also build and lead a high performing MarComms function and manage external agency partnerships.

This is a pivotal leadership role where you’ll bring the Harris story to life - showcasing our impact, strengthening our reputation, and helping us navigate sector challenges with clarity and credibility.

If you are a senior communications leader with a strong track record in brand, digital and stakeholder engagement, and are passionate about making a difference to young people’s futures - we’d love to hear from you.

MAIN AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

Your responsibilities will include:

Strategic Leadership & Executive Advisory

• Develop and lead the Federation’s external communications and brand strategy at the highest level, ensuring coherence across all academies and central services.
• Act as an adviser to the CEO and executive team on internal and external communications.

Brand Leadership

• Own and embed the Federation’s brand identity, values, and visual standards across all academies and external channels.
• Own and embed brand guidelines, tone of voice, and messaging across all channels to ensure consistency.

External Campaigns & Growth Marketing

• Create comprehensive marketing and communications strategies that align with the Federations aims and increase brand awareness.
• Own and develop high impact external campaigns to support pupil recruitment, reputation and trust building, staff recruitment (in collaboration with Talent Acquisition), and new academy expansions.

MarComms Directorate Leadership

• Build and lead a high performing Marketing & Communications Directorate.
• Set long-term capability requirements and lead workforce planning as the function scales.

For a full list of responsibilities, please download the Job Pack.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We would like to hear from you if you have:

• Degree in Marketing, Communications, Digital Media or related field.
• Professional Marketing qualification (CIM or equivalent)
• Evidence of CPD in digital marketing, SEO, or communications.
• Significant experience in marketing, communications, or digital strategy.
• Experience managing brand identity and external communications
• Experience in education, charity or public sector.
• Strong understanding of digital marketing, SEO, Analytics, and social media best practice.
• Excellent written and communication skills.
• Strong design awareness and understanding of visual identity.
• Proficiency with CMS platforms, social media tools, and analytics software.

For a full job specification, please download the Job Pack.

APPLYING FOR THIS POSITION

If you would like to discuss the opportunity further, or if you have any questions, please contact us via email to arrange a conversation.

Before applying please ensure you download the job pack from our careers website, this will help with completing your application. Please note that we only accept applications submitted online before the closing date.

When applying, you will have the option to import your CV or use a LinkedIn profile which will auto populate the online application. 

A reminder to check your junk mail for our email communications and add us to your safe senders list to ensure all future email communication is received.

OUR VISION & VALUES

Our vision, from the start, has been to provide the structure and services needed for our schools to amount to more than the sum of their parts, and to free-up our teachers and leaders to focus on one thing and one thing only: the outstanding education of all their pupils. Our young people and communities are at the heart of everything we do. Our core mission has always been to close the educational gap between young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and their peers. Our ambition is one where every child in London, no matter their background, has equal access to high quality education, giving them the same opportunities and potential to succeed.

We know there are many challenges facing our young people and the communities we serve, and that’s why we need determined people like you to help us tackle those inequalities. Whilst each of our academies has their own unique cultures and values; as a whole Federation, we have four core values which are central to successfully achieving our vision: Excellence, Collaboration, Support, and Innovation. We are proud of our values because they guide us in how we work allowing us to achieve the best possible outcomes for our young people, communities, and colleagues.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Safeguarding Notice

The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, references, an online search, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed.

Equal Opportunities

The Harris Federation is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates. We value the diversity of our staff and students, and everyone at the Harris Federation is equally valued and respected. We aim to be an inclusive employer that reflects the communities we serve. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

Harris has a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with support, coaching, mentoring, and a wide range of top-quality training programmes delivered at every level.

You will also have access to a variety of benefits, support programmes and initiatives including:

• Excellent opportunities for continuous professional development and career progression
• Annual performance and loyalty bonus
• Pension scheme (Teachers' Pension Scheme or Local Government Pension Scheme) with generous employer contribution
• 26 days' annual leave (inclusive of our Christmas Eve closure day) plus bank holidays, rising to 27 days after 2 years' service, or equivalent for staff on term time contracts
• Harris Wellbeing Cash Plan including cover for routine and specialist healthcare
• Employee Assistance Programme for free and confidential advice
• Cycle to work salary sacrifice scheme
• Wide range of shopping, leisure, and travel discounts
• 20% off at Tapi Carpets, exclusive to Harris employees
• Interest-free ICT and season ticket loans

For most non-teaching staff based at our Head Office in East Croydon, we also offer lifestyle friendly working arrangements including flexible start and end times, and hybrid working with two days from home and three days on site.

CHA is recruiting an experienced and values-driven Chief Operating Officer to lead our central operations and support the delivery of high-quality housing and care services.

As COO, you will provide strategic and operational leadership across residential and sheltered services along with the finance, estates, HR, and other central services—driving performance, ensuring compliance, and enabling sustainable growth. You will work closely with the CEO and Board while leading a diverse team of senior leaders.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading delivery of organisational strategy and continuous improvement
• Managing central teams and driving high performance
• Overseeing financial planning, budgeting, and resource management
• Ensuring compliance, risk management, and governance
• Leading estates strategy, capital projects, and IT/digital development

About you:

• Proven senior leadership experience (housing, social care, or related sectors)
• Strong financial, operational, and people management skills
• Inspiring leader with a collaborative and solution-focused approach

Additional requirement:
Due to our Christian ethos and heritage, there is an occupational requirement for the post holder to have a personal Christian faith.

Service Coordinator

Dot Dot Dot is a social enterprise which allows people who do brilliant voluntary work to live in buildings that would otherwise be empty. We provide good, inexpensive housing to people who make a difference, we protect buildings for their owners, and we contribute to communities. Everyone wins.

We are looking for an effective, organised and socially minded person to join our services team as a Service Coordinator. You will be at the heart of our business, directly coordinating and delivering our service to guardians and to property owners. Supported by experienced managers and, making use of a field team and other operational support, you will deliver work across our diverse portfolio. 

As well as the opportunity to see your work making a tangible difference, in this role you will benefit from a friendly work environment, a competitive salary and terms of employment which aim to support a good work-life balance.

The fundamentals of this role

Manage guardians

• Ensure guardians meet our criteria and ready for life as a guardian.
• Manage the guardian sign-up and move-in process.
• Be the main point of contact for guardians.
• Liaise with guardians to resolve any issues or concerns, e.g. poor conduct, licence breaches or vulnerability concerns.
• Work closely with guardians when they need to move on from Dot Dot Dot properties.
• Draw on data to gain insight into guardians and to guide support or interventions as required.
• Coordinate or assist with events, partnerships and other activities to promote volunteering and/or community engagement.
• Collaborate with colleagues to ensure repairs are properly reported and dealt with.
• Collaborate with colleagues to fill voids quickly with suitable guardians.

Manage properties

• Collaborate with colleagues ensure that properties are monitored, set up and managed in line with internal standards, client requirements and any relevant licensing or regulatory standards.
• Organise, monitor and manage the handback of properties to clients, ensuring guardian and client relationships are managed professionally and  effectively.
• Monitor budgets and spending on property issues, to make good choices about spending and to inform budget planning and risk management.
• Collaborate with clients on property repairs, major works or other issues.
• Provide clients with reports and information about their property as required.

Provide excellent client service

• Liaise closely with clients (building owners) to understand their needs and to keep them updated and informed about our work.
• Build strong day-to-day relationships with client contacts, working in a collaborative and service- focused way.
• Understand our client agreements and ensure that our service delivery meets the unique requirements of each contract.
• Identify opportunities to add value for our clients, encouraging the best social and financial value for all parties.

About you

• You’re likely to be able to demonstrate experience of, or aptitude for, much of the following:
• Interest in our mission and values as an organisation.
• Confidence in and enthusiasm for meeting people, with good interpersonal skills and a friendly, professional manner.
• Resourceful, proactive and hands-on approach - the service coordinator will experience new places, people and challenges and the ability to find practical solutions or seek out advice is critical. 
• Organisation and good attention to detail - someone who prepares in advance for tasks and ensures that every detail is properly addressed.
• Ability to prioritise workload and efficiently manage diary to achieve results and meet deadlines.
• Responsibility and trustworthiness - able to take responsibility for the safety and security of people and buildings.
• Self confident and practical, ready to make decisions and use judgement in a wide variety of contexts, places and situations.

Take a look at our website for further information about this role and the work we do.

Today, 12 children and young people will be diagnosed with cancer. We’ll stop at nothing to make sure they get the right care and support at the right time.  ​

• Directorate: Innovation, Policy & Systems Change
• Reporting into: Associate Director of Research, Learning and Systems Change
• Colleagues reporting into role: No direct reports at present. However, coaching and managing of volunteers and/or consultants is expected. 
• Location: You can be home-based anywhere in the UK, with travel for meetings. You can also choose to work from our Bristol or London offices.
• Closing date: Monday 8 June at 12 midday
• Interview dates: Monday 15 June and Tuesday 16 June (please tell us in your application if you cannot attend interview on one of these days)

Change lives in a life-changing career

When a child or young person is diagnosed with cancer, their whole world can feel like it’s falling apart. Independence is taken and confidence is stolen. Stability no longer exists. The future suddenly feels uncertain.

The impact of cancer on young lives is more than medical. And that impact can be felt by entire family. That’s why we exist. Our specialist social workers help children and young people with cancer and their families navigate the emotional and practical impact of cancer.

We remove barriers, solve problems and prioritise well-being. And we stop at nothing to make their voices heard and their unique needs understood, so they can get the right care and support at the right time.

About the role

We’re looking for a Head of Research & Evidence to join our ambitious Research, Learning & Systems Change Team. 

Young Lives vs Cancer has a strong and growing commitment to changing the system for children and young people with cancer, and their loved ones. Our North Star vision and Time is Now Strategy focus on influencing how the wider system works – from services and policy to practice on the ground – so that families get the support they need.

The Head of Research and Evidence sits in the Research, Learning & Systems Change team, within our Innovation, Policy & Systems Change Directorate. The role is responsible for ensuring our work is grounded in strong, credible and useful evidence, and that learning is actively used to shape decisions, practice and change across the system.

This is a leadership role within a small but ambitious team. You will set direction and provide thought leadership, but you will also be hands on – designing, commissioning, managing and using research alongside colleagues and partners.

Building trusted relationships and using evidence to influence thinking and action are central. You will work with colleagues, children and young people, families, and partner organisations (such as the North Star Cancer Collective) to learn, strengthen credibility and create change.

This role is subject to a Criminal Record Check. In the event of a successful application, a Basic Criminal Record Check will be completed. A previous conviction is not necessarily a barrier to employment. We encourage qualified applicants to apply, and we will consider each case individually.

What will I be doing?

No two days are the same at Young Lives vs Cancer. So, summarising your ‘day to day’ isn’t easy. You’ll work as part of a strong internal team, collaborating closely with colleagues across the organisation and with key external partners to generate, use and apply evidence that supports learning, influence and system change. Here are some of the main things you’ll be doing, but you’ll find more details in the job description and pack:

• You’ll be setting the direction for research and learning, leading a clear and purposeful research programme focused on the psychosocial experiences of children and young people with cancer. You’ll ensure research is high‑quality, ethical and impactful, including commissioning work with partners and contributing to research funding bids.

• You’ll be understanding needs and experiences to grow a strong, credible evidence base, building and using robust evidence on need, inequality, impact and progress to inform strategy, services, policy and system change. You’ll ensure children, young people and families meaningfully shape research and that insight is shared in clear, practical ways.

• You’ll be providing system insight and leadership, analysing how the system works, identifying trends and pressures, and using evidence to guide where change is most needed. You’ll build trusted relationships across the voluntary sector, NHS and research community, sharing learning and strengthening our credibility and influence.

• You’ll be turning learning into action and influence, helping teams apply research to real‑world practice and supporting testing, learning and improvement over time. You’ll put feedback and learning loops in place and assess how research‑informed change is affecting practice and outcomes.

What do I need? 

Diverse perspectives and unique skill sets are at the heart of Young Lives vs Cancer. If you're passionate about making a positive impact and eager to learn, we encourage you to apply, even if you don't meet the criteria and person specification fully. Your potential is what matters most to us, and we’re committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive work environment to help you develop.

The key skills we’re looking for in this role are:

• Experience leading and delivering research, including setting direction, choosing methods, commissioning or carrying out research, analysing data, and ensuring high quality and ethical practice.

• Strong research and analytical skills, with confidence working with both qualitative and quantitative data and evidence, and turning insight into practical action.

• Experience using evidence to support change, such as shaping strategy, influencing policy, improving services or supporting system change.

• Experience working across organisations, building trusted relationships with colleagues, partners, and where appropriate, children, young people and families.

• Ability to communicate complex research clearly and accessibly to different audiences, in writing and in conversation.

• A collaborative way of working, with strong people skills, curiosity and a learning mindset, and a clear commitment to equity, inclusion and anti‑oppressive practice.

What will I gain?

For people to reach their full potential, they need the right environment. As a member of Team Young Lives, you’ll be made to feel supported, valued and appreciated. Here’s how we do it:

• Flexible working: we’re open to working hours outside of 9 - 5 and we can talk through your flexibility requirements at interview stage
• Well-being, Thinking & Growth Days: four days a year to to step back from the day-to-day and focus on your own learning and development
• Generous annual leave allowance
• Great family/caring leave entitlements
• Enhanced pension
• Access to our employee savings scheme

To find out more about our benefits package, have a look on our website.

Our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging

At Young Lives vs Cancer, we recognise that opportunities for too many people remain a condition of their sex, ethnicity, class, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation – or a combination. This has never been acceptable to us as an organisation. We don’t just accept difference, we value it, celebrate it, nurture it and we thrive because of it.

We’re on a journey to be reflective of the diverse children, young people and families we support. We know we aren’t there yet, and we’re passionately committed to taking actions and making changes to be a truly diverse, inclusive and equitable organisation. This includes taking anti-oppressive action and removing barriers in our recruitment practices. Our Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Belonging strategy will tell you more.

To ensure fairness and consistency to select the best candidate for this role, all our applications are anonymised up until an interview has been confirmed. We recognise the benefits of AI, but if you're considering using it to submit your application, we encourage you to reflect on the value AI adds. AI tools often lack the personal touch and authenticity that set candidates apart. We want to hear your unique perspective, experiences, and skills, so we encourage you to tell us about your skills and experiences in your own voice.

Accessibility

We’re committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process and we’ll always aim to be as accommodating as possible. Please let us know in your application form of any adjustments or access requirements we could make to help you with the application process and interview.

To hear more about this role, please sign up to one of our informal drop in sessions taking place at 12:30pm on Tuesday 26th May and 17:30pm on Monday 01st June.

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