Information and advice volunteers volunteer jobs in Edinburgh

Age Scotland is the national charity for older people.

Our vision is that no one in Scotland faces the challenges of older age alone.

We provide older people, their families and carers with high quality information and advice services and we tackle loneliness through our dedicated friendship programmes.

We campaign and influence on the issues older people tell us they care about. We support and fund hundreds of older people’s groups and community initiatives across the country and deliver workshops to improve people’s quality of life.

We involve and empower people affected by dementia and host national forums for older people from ethnic minorities and the LGBTQ+ community to help address the inequalities they face.

We're looking for a passionate and talented Trusts, Foundations & Philanthropy Officer to join our Fundraising team.

In this key role, you'll secure funding from a diverse portfolio of charitable trusts, foundations, statutory and lottery funders, and mid to high value donors. You'll identify new funding opportunities, build strong relationships with supporters, develop compelling funding applications and reports, and help demonstrate the impact of our work across Scotland.

Working closely with colleagues throughout the Charity, you'll create persuasive cases for support and ensure funders and donors see the difference their contributions make. Your work will play a vital role in growing sustainable income, strengthening supporter relationships with professionalism and integrity, and helping Age Scotland deliver its ambitious plans for the future.

If you're an excellent communicator with strong relationship-building skills and experience of securing income through trusts, foundations or philanthropy, we'd love to hear from you.

The post will be Scotland-based, with a blend of office (Edinburgh-based) and home working. As a hybrid role the intention is that office-based and external facing work will constitute 40% of working time over each month. Age Scotland is a flexible employer, and flexible work patterns are available.

In return for your hard work, enthusiasm and commitment to our values you’ll receive a generous benefits package:

· Generous holiday allowance of 39 days (FTE)

· A range of learning and development opportunities

· Company sick pay

· Healthcare benefit through BHSF

· Discounted gym membership

· Discounts from major retailers

· Contributory pension scheme with employer contributions of 9%

· A comprehensive package of support though our Employee Assistance Programme

· Group life cover up to three times your annual salary

· Cycle to work scheme

· Paid carers leave and dependents’ support

· Enhanced family life policies.

Full details of the role are available from our website: www.age.scot/workforus.

Closing date: 5pm on Wednesday 2nd September 2026

Interviews will take place in person in Edinburgh on Wednesday 16th September.

Community Fundraiser – East Midlands

Are you ready to take on a new challenge with a leading charity making a real difference in brain tumour research?

Brain Tumour Research is an exciting, innovative, and ambitious charity. We are passionate about finding a cure for brain tumours through the establishment of dedicated Brain Tumour Research Centres of Excellence around the UK.

After a successful 2025, we’re building on our momentum and looking ahead with ambition. As our work continues to expand, so does our impact. We are now looking for passionate people to join us on the next stage of our journey!

It is a fantastic time to be joining us and we are keen to share this with likeminded and talented individuals. We currently have an opening for a Community Fundraiser – East Midlands, to join our Income Generation and Development team.

• Do you want to make a difference in one of the most innovative and exciting medical research fundraising charities in the UK?
• Are you able to provide friendly and professional support to fundraisers and supporters?   
• Do you have experience in supporting events or community activities?
• Do you live in our East Midlands region (Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire or Rutland)?

Have you answered Yes to these questions?

Does this sound like the opportunity to really take the next step in your career?

Excited to learn more about this position? Then please take a read through our recruitment pack attached below. 

If you have the skills and ambition that we are looking for we are excited to receive your application.  We are really looking forward to welcoming a new member to our team!

We are asking for a CV as the first step but applicants may be asked to provide a targeted covering letter as part of the selection process.  Interviews will be conducted during the application window as appropriate, and will consist of a first interview via MS Teams, progressing, if successful to a face to face second interview, held at our offices in Milton Keynes.

We reserve the right to close the application window early and advise candidates to apply in good time to avoid disappointment.

Closing Date: 06th September 2026

We are looking for people who share our passion for finding a cure for brain tumours and who have the skills and experience to make a difference. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, cultures, genders, sexual orientations, abilities, and ages. We believe that diversity enriches our organisation and helps us achieve our mission. We are committed to providing an inclusive and supportive environment where everyone can be themselves and contribute to our vision.

The Woodland Trust is looking for a Site Manager - North to join us. This role will be responsible for approximately 30 Woodland Trust Sites in the Eastern part of North Yorkshire. This includes Scar and Castlebeck, a large SSSI woodland in the heart of the North York Moors and Robson Spring- a Plantation Ancient Woodland Site close to Helmsley, and a well distributed portfolio of Woodland Trust sites across the rest of the county.

The Role:

• Lead the sustainable management of a diverse portfolio of high-profile woodland sites, including ancient woodland, designated habitats, veteran trees and secondary woodland, ensuring compliance with the UK Woodland Assurance Standard.
• Develop, implement and review long-term woodland management plans, using woodland condition assessments and monitoring data to drive conservation and operational outcomes.
• Plan, procure and manage woodland works programmes, including preparing specifications, tendering contracts and monitoring contractor performance on site.
• Create safe, welcoming woodland environments by carrying out tree safety inspections, risk assessments and ensuring compliance with health and safety standards.
• Deliver annual work programmes and budgets across multiple sites, overseeing woodland management activities, financial performance and grant funding opportunities.
• Build strong relationships with local communities, stakeholders, partners and public bodies, promoting positive engagement and supporting the Trust's reputation and objectives.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across forestry, engagement, communications and fundraising teams to deliver projects, secure funding and achieve strategic goals.
• Recruit, support and inspire volunteers, while acting as an ambassador for the organisation through events, site visits and public engagement activities that raise awareness of woodland conservation.
• This is a homebased role, requiring regular travel to locations across the North, sometimes to remote locations. You would be expected to live within reasonable travelling distance of your area of responsibility. Occasional travel to regional offices and overnight stays will be required.
• A company vehicle will be provided for this role. Please note that our Company Vehicle Policy is under review as part of our Job Families and Contract Review project, so eligibility criteria may change.

The Candidate:

• Proven experience in forestry, conservation, land management or a related sector, with responsibility for managing woodlands and sites of high conservation value.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex projects, managing multiple workstreams, budgets, resources and reporting requirements to achieve successful outcomes.
• Experience procuring, managing and monitoring contracts and contractors, including developing specifications, tendering works and overseeing delivery on site.
• Strong knowledge of woodland ecology, forestry legislation and best-practice woodland management, including dealing with tree pests, diseases and invasive non-native species.
• Experience working with deer management programmes, government agencies and regulatory bodies to deliver conservation objectives, secure grants and obtain statutory consents.
• Sound understanding of health and safety management in outdoor and remote working environments, including tree safety inspections, risk assessments and safe systems of work.
• Effective people leadership and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to work collaboratively with colleagues, contractors, volunteers and external partners.
• Relevant qualification in forestry, land management or a related discipline (HND, degree or equivalent experience)
• Full UK Driving License and willingness to travel around the required region.

Benefits and Wellbeing:

Joining our team means you’ll be part of our fight for a greener, healthier planet for people and wildlife. We take good care of our staff, offering support and training opportunities. We also offer:

• Enhanced Employer Pension
• Life Assurance
• Flexible and hybrid working options (7am - 7pm)
• Generous annual leave - 25 Days plus Bank Holidays (pro rata for part-time)
• Buy and sell holiday scheme
• Enhanced parental pay 
• Employee assistance programme

To support inclusivity and remove barriers for candidates, we publish all salaries upfront and proudly follow the We Show the Salary pledge. The salary listed is the set salary for this role, and we don’t ask applicants to state their current pay or expectations. If you choose to apply, we’ll take that as confirmation that the advertised salary meets your expectations.

About Us:

The Woodland Trust is the UK’s largest woodland conservation charity.  We want to see a world where woods and trees thrive for people and nature. The Trust engages and inspires people to make a difference by protecting, restoring and creating woodland and getting more trees in the ground.

Our commitment to Diversity and Inclusion:

To achieve our mission, we need to better reflect society and the communities we work in. People of colour and disabled people are currently under-represented across the environment and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled, we particularly encourage you to apply.

Application information and advice:

For fairness we keep our candidates’ personal details hidden from the hiring managers, and we do not ask for your CV at application.

Make sure that your personal statement clearly shows how your skills and knowledge link to the specifications in the job description and you share with us your passion for the role.

Completed applications will be reviewed by a hiring manager and/or a member of the recruitment team, and you will receive an update on the outcome of your application via email.

Acceptable Use - Artificial Intelligence (AI):

We understand that candidates may choose to use AI tools to support their job applications. However, we ask that any information submitted reflects your own experience, skills and understanding. During interviews, candidates are expected to respond independently without the use of AI tools.

Apply now:

If you're ready to make a difference and grow with us, apply today. We might close advertising early if we get a lot of applications, so it's a good idea to apply soon. If we do close the advert early, and you have an application in progress, we will email you prior to closing to give you time to complete.

Interviews will take place via teams on the afternoon of the 16th and 17th of September 2026. Interview questions will be provided before the interview to help you prepare.

If you are committed to providing holistic and person-centred support to your clients, and making a real difference in people’s lives, we may be the perfect fit for you!
We have an exciting opportunity to join our fantastic ACN team, as an Advocacy and Complex Needs AdvisorcoveringStaffordshire and Shropshire.

The Royal British Legion’s Advocacy and Complex Needs Service operates across the UK, offering holistic support to veterans facing complex and often isolating challenges.
Our Advisors directly support beneficiaries experiencing homelessness, mental health challenges, issues relating to alcohol and substance use, behavioural addictions, domestic abuse, involvement with the criminal justice system, and other circumstances that may affect the safety and wellbeing of adults, children and their families.

Your work will empower the Armed Forces community to achieve their potential and lead more fulfilling lives.

We have a number of vacancies across our Advisor team as we are delighted to be enhancing our service offering by increasing the size of our team and adding additional Advisor posts to provide more responsive support to our beneficiaries. If you are interested in this role in a different location, please do take a look at our Careers page for more vacancies.

Come and be part of the leading Armed Forces charity, making a difference to the lives of those who have served to keep us safe and protect our way of life.

Reporting to the Advocacy and Complex Needs Manager for the region, key responsibilities will include:

- Complete effective and efficient case management of circa 20 complex beneficiary cases; ensuring case records are maintained, accurate and up to date.

- Complete visits with beneficiaries in their homes to assess need, build and maintain positive, professional relationships, build engagement, review progress and provide practical, person-centred support.

- Work holistically with beneficiaries to explore their full range of needs, identify and agree their priorities, and develop a clear, person-centred support and action plan.
- Provide specialist advice and advocacy, identify appropriate statutory and external services, including mental health, addiction and substance misuse, and housing services, and support beneficiaries with referrals.
- Work collaboratively with beneficiaries and partner agencies to overcome barriers, coordinate support around agreed priorities, and provide practical and motivational support throughout.

Face to face work with beneficiaries is an important part of the role, and the successful candidate will need to be able to travel across the designated area to meet beneficiaries in their homes or other appropriate community locations (travelling within working hours). You must live within the Staffordshire or Shropshire area. Other periodic travel will be required for team meetings.

The successful applicant will require a DBS check at Enhanced level to be undertaken as part of pre-employment checks.

Employee benefits include –

- 28 day’s paid holiday (plus bank holidays) increasing with service, with optional annual leave purchase scheme of up to 5 working days
- Enhanced paid maternity, paternity and adoption leave
- Generous pension scheme with employer contributions ranging from 6% to 14%, depending on length of service
- Range of flexible working options may be available, depending on your role
- Employee Assistance Programme providing confidential counselling, financial and legal advice
- Range of courses delivered by learning specialists to support your development goals and objectives
- Opportunities to volunteer
- Travel loans, Cycle to Work, and more!

For more detailed information about the role, please see the Job Description attached to our direct advert. Our teams take a personalised approach to shortlisting, which is carried out without the use of AI and is based on the evidence provided in your application against the essential and desirable criteria in the Person Specification.

RBL is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive organisation, reflecting the diversity of the armed forces community and of wider society. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and personal characteristics.

As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer interview schemes for candidates who declare an Armed Forces connection and/or a disability. However, candidates are only eligible for this scheme if their application clearly demonstrates that they meet all of the essential criteria listed in the Person Specification for the role.

We may close this vacancy early if we believe we have enough strong applications to be able to successfully fill the role. Interested candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

About The Company
Since 1921, the Royal British Legion has been dedicated to supporting members of the Armed Forces community, and we will continue to be there for as long as we are needed, ensuring their unique contribution is never forgotten.
As the UK's largest Armed Forces charity, we are proud to have over 180,000 members, 110,000 volunteers, 1,900 employees, and a wide network of partners and charities working together to provide lifelong support, whatever the need and whenever it is required.
We are committed to supporting our people through flexible and hybrid working where possible, a strong focus on wellbeing, and opportunities to develop skills and grow careers while making a meaningful impact.
Visit ourCareers Pageto discover more about the Royal British Legion, including our departments, employee benefits, values, candidate guidance, and the strategy that underpins our work and impact.

About The Role
If you are committed to providing holistic and person-centred support to your clients, and making a real difference in people’s lives, we may be the perfect fit for you!
We have an exciting opportunity to join our fantastic ACN team, as anAdvocacy and Complex Needs Advisor covering Northumberland & Northern Ireland.
The Royal British Legion’s Advocacy and Complex Needs Service operates across the UK, offering holistic support to veterans facing complex and often isolating challenges.
Our Advisors directly support beneficiaries experiencinghomelessness, mental health challenges, issues relating to alcohol and substance use, behavioural addictions, domestic abuse, involvement with the criminal justice system, and other circumstances that may affect the safety and wellbeing of adults, children and their families.
Your work will empower the Armed Forces community to achieve their potential and lead more fulfilling lives.
We have a number of vacancies across our Advisor team as we are delighted to be enhancing our service offering by increasing the size of our team and adding additional Advisor posts to provide more responsive support to our beneficiaries. If you are interested in this role in a different location, please do take a look at our Careers page for more vacancies.
Come and be part of the leading Armed Forces charity, making a difference to the lives of those who have served to keep us safe and protect our way of life.
Reporting to the Advocacy and Complex Needs Manager for the region, key responsibilities will include:

- Complete effective and efficient case management of circa 20 complex beneficiary cases; ensuring case records are maintained, accurate and up to date.

- Complete visits with beneficiaries in their homes to assess need, build and maintain positive, professional relationships, build engagement, review progress and provide practical, person-centred support.

- Work holistically with beneficiaries to explore their full range of needs, identify and agree their priorities, and develop a clear, person-centred support and action plan.
- Provide specialist advice and advocacy, identify appropriate statutory and external services, including mental health, addiction and substance misuse, and housing services, and support beneficiaries with referrals.
- Work collaboratively with beneficiaries and partner agencies to overcome barriers, coordinate support around agreed priorities, and provide practical and motivational support throughout.

Face to face work with beneficiaries is an important part of the role, and the successful candidate will need to be able to travel across the designated area to meet beneficiaries in their homes or other appropriate community locations (travelling within working hours).You must live within the Northumberland & Northern Ireland.Other periodic travel will be required for team meetings.
The successful applicant will require a DBS check at Enhanced level to be undertaken as part of pre-employment checks.
Employee benefits include –

- 28 day’s paid holiday (plus bank holidays) increasing with service, with optional annual leave purchase scheme of up to 5 working days
- Enhanced paid maternity, paternity and adoption leave
- Generous pension scheme with employer contributions ranging from 6% to 14%, depending on length of service
- Range of flexible working options may be available, depending on your role
- Employee Assistance Programme providing confidential counselling, financial and legal advice
- Range of courses delivered by learning specialists to support your development goals and objectives
- Opportunities to volunteer
- Travel loans, Cycle to Work, and more!

For more detailed information about the role, please see the Job Description attached to our direct advert. Our teams take a personalised approach to shortlisting, which is carried out without the use of AI and is based on the evidence provided in your application against the essential and desirable criteria in the Person Specification.
RBL is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive organisation, reflecting the diversity of the armed forces community and of wider society. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and personal characteristics.
As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer interview schemes for candidates who declare an Armed Forces connection and/or a disability. However, candidates are only eligible for this scheme if their application clearly demonstrates that they meet all of the essential criteria listed in the Person Specification for the role.
We may close this vacancy early if we believe we have enough strong applications to be able to successfully fill the role. Interested candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

Citizens UK 

Citizens UK is the UK’s biggest, most diverse and most effective people-powered alliance. We bring communities and local organisations together to work on issues that matter; from campaigning for zebra crossings on dangerous roads, to reforming the immigration system, to the Living Wage campaign. We have a track record of winning change through hundreds of local and national campaigns. We know everyday people have the ability to shape the world around them. We believe that through developing local leaders, we can drive nationwide change and create community-led solutions to big and small problems.

Living Wage Foundation 

The Living Wage movement began in 2001, after Citizens UK brought together communities in East London to discuss poverty and low pay. The campaign grew in momentum and soon required a mechanism to recognise employers who wanted to join the movement, which saw the establishment of the Living Wage Foundation in 2011.

Still part of Citizens UK today, the Living Wage Foundation continues to work with community organisations to make sure the voices of both workers and businesses are part of the Living Wage movement. We now work with over 16,000 employers, benefitting over 475,000 people and winning over £3bn of better wages for people who need it most.

Citizens UK works with a broad base of institutions across the political spectrum. At the Living Wage Foundation, we take the same deliberately broad-based approach and accredit all organisations who pay the real Living Wage to their directly and indirectly employed staff and are committed to tackling in work poverty.  As a team we work across a range of industries and sectors to achieve this mission. We seek pragmatic coalitions in order to progress specific campaigns, and partnership around a particular issue such as Living Wage, does not imply an endorsement of broader purpose and policies.

Purpose 

At Citizens UK, our organisers and project staff work within communities to develop leaders, strengthen organisations, campaign for change and organise across difference. There are various project roles and operational, communication, finance and HR roles that support the organisation and project staff and organisers to deliver on this mission and work. This work is rewarding and can be challenging; it requires a personal commitment to inclusion, a willingness to listen and disagree respectfully, and an interest in working in an organisation where our staff, member institutions and leaders will come from a diversity of backgrounds and often hold views that may be very different from our own. More information about how we operate within this context and build trusted relationships across difference can be found on our website and is covered in induction. Onboarding and navigating this relational culture, and type of work, is supported by line managers and further training. 

Main Responsibilities 

We are looking for highly motivated and organised individual to coordinate our accreditation scheme. The role will work with our network of employers, and support new organisations through the accreditation process. 

The Programme Officer will lead our work across the South West and support our managers to grow and deepen engagement with Living Wage Employers through our associated schemes. You will help to ensure our resources and publicity materials are well written and up-to-date, and to coordinate events to grow our employer network. 

Working as the Programme Officer for Citizens UK, reporting to a Programme Manager, your main responsibilities will include: 

Contribute towards the achievement of CUK and LWF’s strategic objectives

Understand how the role contributes to LWF’s purpose and the core mission of CUK

Reliably implement CUK’s and LWF’s policies, procedures, and values in own work

Work with CUK community organisers and leaders to promote civic engagement with and ownership of the Living Wage campaign 

Feed into the LWF strategy and objectives development 

Living Wage Accreditation 

• Support key contacts at potential LW Employers through the accreditation process, from dealing with initial enquiries to guiding them through the employer journey, to checking and processing their accreditation 

• Develop rewarding relationships with key employers, industry, and campaign partners within our networks to build interest in the Living Wage and deliver a high-quality experience to our accredited employers 

• With support from the wider team, develop plans and strategies to grow the number of accreditations in specific regions or industries 

• Collate and disseminate Living Wage criteria and policy issues through both internal and external facing guidance, whilst reviewing and monitoring its suitability 

• Support the development and implementation of projects to promote and grow Living Wage accreditations and develop the quality of service offered 

Build and manage projects and achieve work targets effectively

Successfully progress projects and tasks incl. tracking performance and expenditure 

Deliver agreed areas of the LWF’s work plan and leading on agenda items to report into team meetings.

Support the growth and development of new and existing Living Wage schemes incl.  Recognised Service Providers, LW Funders, LW Places, Living Hours, Global Living Wage and Living Work Consultancy 

Deliver personal work targets on time and to standard: 

• Respond to telephone and web-based enquiries by providing advice and support to employers and supporters 

• Provide administrative support for all aspects of the accreditation journey, incl. processing accreditations, recognitions, and renewals 

• Maintain LWF data on systems, incl. Salesforce employer database

• Support the maintenance of our systems to ensure efficient processes and develop reporting mechanisms for effective monitoring and evaluation of our impact and progress against plans 

• Coordinate and administrate Steering, Advisory or Leadership Groups as required, incl. coordinating agendas, sending out timely papers, taking minutes and following up on actions 

Learning & expertise

Keep abreast of new developments in the accreditation space

Apply new learning to work and respond effectively to feedback 

Work collaboratively with the LWF and franchise teams to share learnings and experience and ensure that we are meeting the expectations of our network and stakeholders 

Develop and manage external relationships 

Effectively develop and support a range of external relationships 

Respond effectively to queries or requests from stakeholders 

Engage with a diverse range of external stakeholders to support and develop projects as required 

Communications 

Communicate effectively within the LWF; ensuring that messages are reliably passed to those who need to know 

Represent the LWF coherently in writing and verbally 

Events and Communications 

• Plan and organise events to celebrate and grow our network of LW Employers, incl. playing an active role in the delivery of LW Week and assisting colleagues with event logistics 

• Represent and speak on behalf of the LWF at internal and external meetings and events 

• Develop or feed into employer resources incl. marketing materials, blogs, reports, templates, and guides 

Develop and manage internal relationships 

Work effectively with colleagues across Citizens UK 

Work collaboratively within the LWF team and actively participate in the team to ensure we meet the expectations of our network and stakeholders 

Generate income and resources

Contribute to plans and proposals to grow sources of income/resource.

Take personal responsibility for the careful stewardship of LWF’s resources 

Personal Specification 

(D) Desirable, (E) Essential 

Qualifications 

Bachelor’s degree in any subject (D) 

Subject of relevance to community work or community organising (D) 

Experience 

• Comprehensive experience in an administrative role (E) 

• Experience of building positive relationships (E) 

• Experience of managing and updating Salesforce or similar databases (D) 

• Experience of delivering a range of high quality communications materials, including websites, reports, newsletters (D) 

Key skills and knowledge 

• Excellent time management skills with the ability to juggle a wide range of competing demands (E) 

• Understanding of database and systems management (E) 

• Ability to take in and interpret information and present in a succinct manner(E) 

• Excellent communication skills, both verbally and written, combined with the ability to liaise with senior stakeholders, both online and in-person (E) 

• Ability to act on own initiative to introduce and develop new systems as appropriate (E) 

• Strong attention to detail (E) 

• Strong IT skills to include MS Office and database software (E) 

• Understanding of the policy and campaign landscape in the UK (D) 

Personal qualities & values 

• A proactive approach to all areas of work with a ‘can do’ attitude and a flexible approach to work demands (E) 

• A strong commitment to the Living Wage campaign and principles of Citizens UK (E) 

About the application process 

We work within diverse communities bringing people together. In line with our Inclusion value, we would love to see applications from LGBTQIA+ people, people from racialised communities, people living with disabilities and people of faith, all to better represent the communities we work in. We want our employees to have the working conditions that allows them to fully participate, be able to be their best authentic selves and thrive doing so, and we have employee networks to support staff. Even if you don’t quite meet all the required criteria still consider applying, as we invest in our employees and support them to develop the skills and knowledge required to deliver their role. 

For questions and reasonable adjustments regarding your application including information in a different format, or our recruitment process, please email us.

Interviews will be in person in the South West region, week commencing 28th September 2026.

Citizens UK 

Citizens UK is the UK’s biggest, most diverse and most effective people-powered alliance. We bring communities and local organisations together to work on issues that matter; from campaigning for zebra crossings on dangerous roads, to reforming the immigration system, to the Living Wage campaign. We have a track record of winning change through hundreds of local and national campaigns. We know everyday people have the ability to shape the world around them. We believe that through developing local leaders, we can drive nationwide change and create community-led solutions to big and small problems.

Living Wage Foundation 

The Living Wage movement began in 2001, after Citizens UK brought together communities in East London to discuss poverty and low pay. The campaign grew in momentum and soon required a mechanism to recognise employers who wanted to join the movement, which saw the establishment of the Living Wage Foundation in 2011.

Still part of Citizens UK today, the Living Wage Foundation continues to work with community organisations to make sure the voices of both workers and businesses are part of the Living Wage movement. We now work with over 16,000 employers, benefitting over 475,000 people and winning over £3bn of better wages for people who need it most.

Citizens UK works with a broad base of institutions across the political spectrum. At the Living Wage Foundation, we take the same deliberately broad-based approach and accredit all organisations who pay the real Living Wage to their directly and indirectly employed staff and are committed to tackling in work poverty.  As a team we work across a range of industries and sectors to achieve this mission. We seek pragmatic coalitions in order to progress specific campaigns, and partnership around a particular issue such as Living Wage, does not imply an endorsement of broader purpose and policies.

Purpose 

At Citizens UK, our organisers and project staff work within communities to develop leaders, strengthen organisations, campaign for change and organise across difference. There are various project roles and operational, communication, finance and HR roles that support the organisation and project staff and organisers to deliver on this mission and work. This work is rewarding and can be challenging; it requires a personal commitment to inclusion, a willingness to listen and disagree respectfully, and an interest in working in an organisation where our staff, member institutions and leaders will come from a diversity of backgrounds and often hold views that may be very different from our own. More information about how we operate within this context and build trusted relationships across difference can be found on our website and is covered in induction. Onboarding and navigating this relational culture, and type of work, is supported by line managers and further training. 

Main Responsibilities 

We are looking for a highly motivated and organised individual to coordinate our accreditation scheme. The role will work with our network of employers, and support new organisations through the accreditation process. 

The Programme Officer will support our work across the South East and support our managers to grow and deepen engagement with Living Wage Employers through our associated schemes. You will help to ensure our resources and publicity materials are well written and up-to-date, and to coordinate events to grow our employer network. 

Working as the Programme Officer for Citizens UK, reporting to a Programme Manager, your main responsibilities will include: 

Contribute towards the achievement of CUK and LWF’s strategic objectives

Understand how the role contributes to LWF’s purpose and the core mission of CUK

Reliably implement CUK’s and LWF’s policies, procedures, and values in own work

Work with CUK community organisers and leaders to promote civic engagement with and ownership of the Living Wage campaign 

Feed into the LWF strategy and objectives development 

Living Wage Accreditation 

• Support key contacts at potential LW Employers through the accreditation process, from dealing with initial enquiries to guiding them through the employer journey, to checking and processing their accreditation 

• Develop rewarding relationships with key employers, industry, and campaign partners within our networks to build interest in the Living Wage and deliver a high-quality experience to our accredited employers 

• With support from the wider team, develop plans and strategies to grow the number of accreditations in specific regions or industries 

• Collate and disseminate Living Wage criteria and policy issues through both internal and external facing guidance, whilst reviewing and monitoring its suitability 

• Support the development and implementation of projects to promote and grow Living Wage accreditations and develop the quality of service offered 

Build and manage projects and achieve work targets effectively

Successfully progress projects and tasks incl. tracking performance and expenditure 

Deliver agreed areas of the LWF’s work plan and leading on agenda items to report into team meetings.

Support the growth and development of new and existing Living Wage schemes incl.  Recognised Service Providers, LW Funders, LW Places, Living Hours, Global Living Wage and Living Work Consultancy 

Deliver personal work targets on time and to standard: 

• Respond to telephone and web-based enquiries by providing advice and support to employers and supporters 

• Provide administrative support for all aspects of the accreditation journey, incl. processing accreditations, recognitions, and renewals 

• Maintain LWF data on systems, incl. Salesforce employer database

• Support the maintenance of our systems to ensure efficient processes and develop reporting mechanisms for effective monitoring and evaluation of our impact and progress against plans 

• Coordinate and administrate Steering, Advisory or Leadership Groups as required, incl. coordinating agendas, sending out timely papers, taking minutes and following up on actions 

Learning &expertise

Keep abreast of new developments in the accreditation space

Apply new learning to work and respond effectively to feedback 

Work collaboratively with the LWF and franchise teams to share learnings and experience and ensure that we are meeting the expectations of our network and stakeholders 

Develop and manage external relationships 

Effectively develop and support a range of external relationships 

Respond effectively to queries or requests from stakeholders 

Engage with a diverse range of external stakeholders to support and develop projects as required 

Communications 

Communicate effectively within the LWF; ensuring that messages are reliably passed to those who need to know 

Represent the LWF coherently in writing and verbally 

Events and Communications 

• Plan and organise events to celebrate and grow our network of LW Employers, incl. playing an active role in the delivery of LW Week and assisting colleagues with event logistics 

• Represent and speak on behalf of the LWF at internal and external meetings and events 

• Develop or feed into employer resources incl. marketing materials, blogs, reports, templates, and guides 

Develop and manage internal relationships 

Work effectively with colleagues across Citizens UK 

Work collaboratively within the LWF team and actively participate in the team to ensure we meet the expectations of our network and stakeholders 

Generate income and resources

Contribute to plans and proposals to grow sources of income/resource.

Take personal responsibility for the careful stewardship of LWF’s resources 

 Personal Specification 

(D) Desirable, (E) Essential 

 Experience 

• Comprehensive experience in an administrative role (E) 

• Experience of building positive relationships (E) 

• Experience of learning, managing and updating Salesforce or similar databases (D) 

 Key skills and knowledge 

• Excellent time management skills with the ability to juggle a wide range of competing demands (E) 

• Understanding of database and systems management (E) 

• Ability to take in and interpret information and present in a succinct manner(E) 

• Excellent communication skills, both verbally and written, combined with the ability to liaise with senior stakeholders, both online and in-person (E) 

• Ability to act on own initiative to introduce and develop new systems as appropriate (E) 

• Strong attention to detail (E) 

• Strong IT skills to include MS Office and database software (E) 

• Understanding of the policy and campaign landscape in the UK (D) 

Personal qualities & values 

• A strong commitment to social justice and alignment with the Living Wage Foundation’s mission and Citizens UK’s values (E). 

• A proactive approach to all areas of work with a ‘can do’ attitude and a flexible approach to work demands (E) 

About the application process 

We work within diverse communities bringing people together. In line with our Inclusion value, we would love to see applications from LGBTQIA+ people, people from racialised communities, people living with disabilities and people of faith, all to better represent the communities we work in. We want our employees to have the working conditions that allows them to fully participate, be able to be their best authentic selves and thrive doing so, and we have employee networks to support staff. Even if you don’t quite meet all the required criteria still consider applying, as we invest in our employees and support them to develop the skills and knowledge required to deliver their role. 

For questions and reasonable adjustments regarding your application including information in a different format, or our recruitment process, please email us.

Interviews will be in person in the South of England region, week commencing 5th October – in person most likely at Head Office in Whitechapel.