About Adolescent Health Study
The Adolescent Health Study (AHS) is an ambitious new UKRI-funded initiative to establish a prospective, longitudinal population study that will generate a globally leading open science data platform and research resource. AHS aims to recruit at least 100,000 young people aged eight to 18 years from across the UK and to follow their mental and physical health and wellbeing over at least 10 years. It plans to collect data through questions and measures; to obtain bio-samples for a wide range of genomic and other high-throughput assays; and to capture linked data relevant to health and wellbeing from participants’ health, education and other administrative records. Recruitment will take place mainly through schools. There will be a strong emphasis on engaging with and involving young people, schools, parents and other relevant stakeholders in the design and delivery of the study, as well as on including young people that represent as wide as possible a range of backgrounds, experiences and characteristics. AHS will focus on enabling a wide range of research, including studies of the critical biological and social developments that occur during the transition from childhood to adulthood and the determinants of both mental and physical health and wellbeing in adolescents and young adults.
Purpose of the post
The Procurement Lead is responsible for developing and delivering a robust procurement and commercial strategy that ensures value for money, compliance with Procurement Act 2023 regulations in line with AHS being primarily public funded and supports AHS study and operational objectives. The role will lead on sourcing, contracting, supplier management, and commercial governance, ensuring ethical, transparent, and efficient use of public funds.
Main responsibilities
Procurement Strategy & Leadership
- Develop and implement a procurement and commercial strategy aligned with organisational goals and funding requirements.
- Lead procurement planning across research programmes, operations, and corporate services.
- Act as a subject matter expert on public procurement policy and best practice.
- Drive continuous improvement in procurement processes, systems, and capability.
Tendering and Contract Management
- Oversee end-to-end procurement processes including tendering, evaluation, and contract award.
- Ensure compliance with UK public procurement regulations (e.g., Procurement Act and associated guidance).
- Draft, review, and negotiate complex contracts, including research, clinical, and grant-related agreements.
- Manage contract lifecycle including performance monitoring, renewals, and extensions.
Commercial Governance & Compliance
- Establish and maintain procurement policies, procedures, and governance frameworks.
- Ensure all procurement activities meet audit, transparency, and reporting requirements for public funding.
- Identify and mitigate commercial risks across supplier engagements.
- Support internal and external audit processes.
Supplier & Stakeholder Management
- Build and maintain strategic supplier relationships, ensuring high performance and innovation.
- Collaborate with internal stakeholders (research teams, finance, legal) to understand needs and deliver value-driven procurement solutions.
- Work with external stakeholders including funders, partners and strategic advisors to develop optimum outcomes
- Provide commercial advice and guidance to senior leadership and project teams.
- Promote sustainable and ethical sourcing practices.
Financial & Value Management
- Deliver value for money through effective sourcing and negotiation strategies.
- Monitor procurement spend and identify cost-saving or efficiency opportunities.
- Contribute to budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning processes.
- Ensure funding is used appropriately, ethically and in line with public funding requirements.
Knowledge, skills and experience
Essential
Professional qualification in procurement or supply chain e.g., CIPS Level 5 or equivalent
Degree or comparable experience in business, finance, law, or related field.
Proven track record of managing complex procurement exercises and contracts.
Experience in procurement or commercial roles within regulated procurement environments, specifically those classed as a public authority
- Strong understanding of UK public procurement regulations and best practice.
- Commercial acumen with strong negotiation and contract management skills.
- Experience of drafting and reviewing heads of terms and commercial agreements.
- Knowledge of intellectual property (IP) considerations in research contracts.
- Strong experience in supplier and stakeholder management.
- Excellent analytical, financial, and problem-solving abilities.
- Strong communication and influencing skills across all levels of an organisation.
- Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities effectively.
Desirable
- CIPS Level 6 or equivalent
- Membership of a professional body (e.g., MCIPS or FCIPS).
- Experience managing high-value and complex contracts, including collaborative or partnership agreements
- Experience in procurement or commercial roles within charity and/or research sectors
- Detailed understanding of intellectual property (IP) considerations in research contracts.
- Detailed knowledge of the UK Procurement Act (or Public Contracts Regulations 2015 historically) and transitions between them.
- Experience of drafting and reviewing heads of terms and commercial agreements.
- Understanding of subsidy control, state aid, or funding compliance frameworks.
- Ability to analyse procurement data and generate insights using tools such as Excel, Power BI, or similar.
- Experience leading organisational change or transformation programmes in procurement.
- Ability to build procurement capability across a non-procurement stakeholder base.
Dimensions
- This is a full-time role, 37.5 hours per week, offered initially as an 18-month fixed-term contract with potential route to permanency.
- Flexible working across several geographical locations in the UK. Travel may be required to AHS locations and partner organisations.
- AHS is a national organisation, and our activities take place across the UK.
Application Process
All candidates are required to complete the application form which can be found when clicking 'Apply Now' via Charity Job.
Please refer to the ‘How to Apply’ section of the downloadable application form.
Please note that only applications submitted directly to Gravitate HR will be accepted for this position.
The closing date for applications is 11:00pm on Sunday 12th July 2026.
Interviews are currently expected to take place on Wednesday 20th and Thursday 21st August 2026.
Equal Opportunities Policy Statement
AHS is an equal opportunities employer, and as such aims to treat all employees, consultants and applicants fairly. It is our policy to provide employment equality to all, irrespective of:
- Gender, including gender reassignment
- Marital or civil partnership status
- Having or not having dependants
- Religion or belief
- Race (including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins)
- Disability
- Sexual orientation
- Age
We are opposed to all forms of unlawful and unfair discrimination. All job applicants and employees who work for us will be treated fairly and will not be unfairly discriminated against on any of the above grounds. Decisions about recruitment and selection, promotion, training or any other benefit will be made objectively and without unlawful discrimination.
Values
It is an exciting time for the Adolescent Health Study (AHS) as we establish our senior leadership team and begin to plan the pilot studies. As the senior executive team evolves, the AHS values will be grounded in inclusivity, integrity, accountability, and collaboration.
All candidates are required to complete the application form which can be found when clicking 'Apply Now' via Charity Job, within Supporting Documents.
Please refer to the ‘How to Apply’ section of the downloadable application form.
Please note that only applications submitted directly to Gravitate HR will be accepted for this position.
The closing date for applications is 11:00pm on Sunday 12 July 2026.
Interviews are currently expected to take place on Wednesday 20 and Thursday 21 August 2026.
Registered Charity 
Thank you!
Would you like to lead an organisation that makes a meaningful difference to the lives of millions of people? Tinnitus UK is looking for an experienced and values-driven Chief Executive Officer to guide the charity through an exciting period of growth and opportunity.
Tinnitus affects almost 8 million people in the UK, with many experiencing a significant impact on their wellbeing, relationships, work and quality of life. Tinnitus UK exists to improve the lives of people living with tinnitus through trusted information and support, education and professional development, research partnerships, and awareness and advocacy. Each year, we support more than 250,000 people through our services, resources, events and networks.
Following a period of significant organisational development, Tinnitus UK is entering an exciting new phase. We have strengthened our finances, enhanced our operations and services, expanded our influence, and launched an ambitious 10-year strategy that sets out our vision for the future. We are now seeking a part-time Chief Executive Officer to lead the next stage of our journey.
Reporting to the Chair of the Board of Trustees, the CEO will provide strategic leadership for the organisation, working closely with the Board, staff team, volunteers, funders and partners to deliver our mission and maximise our impact. You will lead a committed and talented team, ensuring Tinnitus UK remains financially sustainable, influential across the hearing health sector, and responsive to the needs of people living with tinnitus.
This is an opportunity for an experienced and values-driven leader who combines strategic thinking with practical delivery. You will be comfortable leading a small but ambitious organisation, building partnerships, driving income growth, supporting innovation and representing Tinnitus UK externally with credibility and passion.
While this role is initially being recruited on a part time basis, we envisage a planned progression to a full-time position as the charity grows and subject to financial sustainability. We believe that visible and collaborative leadership is essential and therefore ask candidates to commit to spending at least two days per week in our Sheffield office, working alongside the team.
If you share our commitment to improving understanding, treatment and support for people affected by tinnitus, and want to help shape the future of a growing national charity, we would love to hear from you.
For further information, including details of the role and person specification, please download the Candidate Pack or contact us to arrange an informal conversation.
To apply, please submit your CV and a supporting statement (maximum two pages) outlining how your skills and experience meet the requirements of the role and why you are interested in leading Tinnitus UK.
The deadline is 5pm Monday 6 July.
First interviews will be held online on 14 and 15 July while second interviews will be held in person at the Tinnitus UK offices in Sheffield during week commencing 20 July.
11 - 20
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
We are seeking an Assistant Director – Digital and Innovation to play a central role in shaping how Villiers Park delivers and develops its programmes at a pivotal point in the implementation of our 2025-30 strategy. This role represents an exciting opportunity to lead on the development of our digital education offer and innovation work, ensuring it enhances both the reach and depth of our programmes for young people across the UK.
Villiers Park is a national social mobility charity with a strong track record of delivering impactful programmes that support young people from under-represented backgrounds to fulfil their potential. As we continue to grow, digital provision and innovation are increasingly important in enabling us to reach more students, and to do so in engaging and inclusive ways.
Digital learning and programme innovation will be critical to the next phase in our strategy, building on the foundations we have already established, including the development of our learning platform and programme model. Alongside this, Leadership Challenge continues to expand as a key national outreach and social action programme, and this role will be instrumental in ensuring its quality and impact.
Our work is possible because of a brilliant team of staff, trustees and volunteers and committed funders and partners who believe in what we do and want to make the greatest possible difference. The Assistant Director – Digital and Innovation will work closely with colleagues across programmes, partnerships, communications and fundraising, as well as external partners, to ensure our digital and programme offer is coherent, forward-thinking and aligned with our mission.
This is a unique opportunity to combine strategic leadership with practical delivery, helping to translate ambition into impact for the young people we serve.
Sarah Chick
Head of Programmes
Job purpose
The Assistant Director - Digital and Innovation leads the development, implementation and ongoing improvement of Villiers Park’s digital education provision. This includes the design and delivery of online learning experiences, the development of digital and physical resources for use across programmes, and ensuring that digital delivery is accessible, safeguarded and aligned with the organisation’s mission.
The role also provides strategic and operational leadership for Leadership Challenge, Villiers Park’s national student outreach and social action programme. This includes programme design, partner engagement, monitoring and evaluation, and ensuring the programme is effectively resourced and financially sustainable.
Working closely with the Head of Programmes, Senior Leadership Team (SLT), Communications and Fundraising teams, and external partners, the postholder supports the development of digital innovation, programme resourcing and Leadership Challenge activity to enhance reach, impact and quality.
Key responsibilities:
- Provide strategic leadership for the development, implementation and continuous improvement of Villiers Park’s digital education provision, ensuring alignment with our Theory of Change, priorities and values
- Lead the design and evolution of high-quality digital learning experiences, content and pathways for students, schools, parents/carers and volunteers
- Oversee the adoption and integration of digital platforms and tools, ensuring accessibility, safeguarding, GDPR compliance and scalability
- Drive innovation in digital delivery by monitoring sector trends and embedding relevant approaches to enhance reach and impact
- Ensure digital provision complements and strengthens face-to-face delivery across programmes, working closely with the Head of Programmes and Assistant Directors
- Provide strategic oversight of the use of AI within programmes, ensuring its application enhances learning experiences while maintaining safeguarding and ethical standards
- Provide strategic oversight of the development and ongoing review of physical resources, ensuring consistency, quality and alignment across programmes
- Ensure all resources are inclusive, engaging, curriculum-aligned and reflect organisational standards and brand expectations
- Maintain a coherent approach to resource development, ensuring materials support programme delivery and learning outcomes effectively
- Lead the strategic and operational development of the Leadership Challenge programme, ensuring it is high-quality, sustainable and aligned with organisational priorities
- In collaboration with the Senior Leadership Team, develop and strengthen partnerships with charities, corporates and universities to support programme growth and delivery
- Oversee the development of an appropriate recognition or award framework for participants
- Establish and oversee robust quality assurance and evaluation processes for digital and physical content and delivery
- As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, contribute to strategic planning, budgeting and risk management, and provide quarterly updates to the Board of Trustees.
- Work collaboratively with Fundraising and Communications teams to support income generation, bid development and programme promotion
This list is not exhaustive, and the post-holder will be required to undertake other tasks relevant to the role and within their capability.
Skills and experience:
- Significant leadership experience in education, youth or social mobility sectors
- Knowledge of school and college curricula and the needs of learners aged 13–19
- Proven experience in designing and/or delivering digital learning
- Strong understanding of safeguarding, digital accessibility standards and inclusive design
- Experience developing high‑quality educational resources (digital and physical)
- Ability to lead programmes, manage projects and deliver to deadlines
- Ability to build relationships with colleagues and external stakeholders to further organisational aims and fundraising objectives
Personal attributes:
- A genuine commitment to and care for social mobility and young people’s futures
- Organised and proactive, effectively, prioritising workload and delivering outcomes independently
- Strategic and forward-thinking, with an ability to see the bigger picture
- Collaborative and able to work effectively with colleagues, partners and stakeholders across different functions
- Willingness to learn and develop your own practice and experience
Additional Information:
- The postholder will be required to travel regularly to schools, events and partner organisations
- An enhanced DBS check will be required
- The postholder will hold responsibility to be one of the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads
- The postholder will require a full UK driving licence
- Evening work and overnight stays may be required
- Hybrid – location local to our Cambridge office or near to one of our Regional Hubs
Employee Benefits
- 26 days annual leave plus bank holidays (pro rated) and additional leave over Christmas.
- A dedicated wellbeing day for you to take at any time and three days (pro-rated) paid leave for volunteering or study each year.
- Training and professional development, including termly staff development days.
- Support from our wellbeing working group and access to an employee assistance programme.
- Opportunity to join working groups with other colleagues from across the organisation as well as wider networks such as the Fair Education Alliance.
- Flexibility in working hours.
- Additional sick pay and compassionate leave policies.
Safeguarding
Villiers Park Educational Trust is committed to safeguarding and to providing a safe and supportive environment, which secures the well-being and best outcomes for the young people with whom we work.
Safeguarding is embedded in all aspects of Villiers Park's work and integral to the commitment we make to our schools, partners and the young people and communities we serve and work with. All employees and volunteers are expected to share this commitment by adhering to our organisational safeguarding procedures, attending regular in-house training and keeping up to date with developments in policies and legislation.
All employees and volunteers will also agree to undergo an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Services check and successfully complete our mandatory online training courses including NSPCC Safeguarding in Schools and PREVENT training.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.