Role outline and purpose
The Organising and Local Mobilisation (OLM) Manager is responsible for managing ongoing support to food banks as they organise and campaign for change. This varied, proactive, and fast-paced role will involve working closely with grant funded Local Organisers as part of Trussell’s Organising Programme, frequently visiting food banks and delivering online and in person training.
You will hold responsibility for providing direct support as food banks develop effective campaign strategies – covering local and Trussell priorities – and ensuring they have the capacity, skills, and resources to deliver them. You will also work closely with other departments at Trussell and external partners to support food banks outside of the Organising Programme to influence locally and play a leading role in mobilising them to campaign for change.
This role is part of Trussell’s Supportive Communities programme, the goal of which is to enable local communities to become places where people at risk of needing to use a food bank are supported and are using their agency to bring about meaningful changes that prevent anybody from needing emergency food. This role is focused on the successful delivery of the overall programme outcomes, contributing to the fulfilment of our long term vision of a UK without the need for food banks.
Role responsibilities
· Network area-wide delivery of the Organising Programme: Lead and manage the delivery of OLM’s Organising Programme in your network area, recruiting food banks to join, providing in person and online training and ongoing relational support to Local Organisers to ensure campaign strategies are developed and delivered. Organise and lead area-wide training, clusters, or events for food bank staff and volunteers to promote co-operation and sharing of good practice around local influencing.
· Training, learning and programme development: Play a key role in the design and delivery of a programme of training and other learning for food banks covering organising, mobilising, and influencing. Contributing to impact and process evaluations and assisting food banks involved to explore future sources of funding, as required.
· Supporting food banks to influence locally: Empower food banks to develop their local influencing work, triaging influencing issues and managing input from other relevant Trussell Trust experts to provide ongoing support that enables the food bank to progress their influencing work.
· Mobilising food banks in Trussell’s campaigns: Support the development and promotion of national Trussell policy campaigns, working with other teams and external partners to engage the food banks you support in taking action - including how they might take ownership of campaigns locally and help shape those priorities.
· Internal stakeholder engagement: Project manage OLM’s involvement in assigned cross-organisational projects – e.g. a policy campaign or strategic project, ensuring the OLM team are consulted, negotiating with other teams and making decisions accordingly. As part of an area-based matrix team you’ll work closely with other food bank facing staff to ensure a joined up approach to food bank support, effective communication, as well as sharing learning and best practice.
· External stakeholder engagement: Build and maintain strong relationships with food bank leaders, staff, volunteers, and trustees, as well as establishing effective partnerships with a range of stakeholders such as local authorities, community organisations, and churches.
Person Specification
Technical skills and minimum knowledge:
· Experience of delivering organising work and/or campaigning for change at a grassroots, local and/or national level.
· Excellent knowledge and understanding of the political landscape of your assigned area.
· A confident communicator with the ability to successfully influence and negotiate with a wide range of stakeholders, including food bank staff and volunteers, local authorities, community organisations, and churches.
· Knowledge and experience of a wide range of campaigning tactics, campaign planning and developing theories of change.
· Ability to develop and deliver training for organisers, trustees, staff and volunteers from food banks, including event management.
Behaviours and competencies:
· Demonstrate a commitment to the values of Trussell.
· Role models inclusive behaviour and values, including demonstrating empathy for people from disadvantaged, marginalised or socially- excluded backgrounds.
· Able to build effective relationships with people from diverse backgrounds and with differing life experience, including in contexts where Christian faith plays a major part, and in which people of all faiths and none collaborate to make a difference together.
· Effective project management ensuring alignment with the Trussell vision and strategy and collaborative working to maximise integration and effectiveness of activities
· Is tenacious, proactive, creative and propositional, and makes things happen.
· Able to solve complex problems; with a self-motivated and solutions-focused outlook
Key Stakeholders
· Food banks, including local organisers, project managers, volunteers, and people they support.
· The wider OLM team.
· Network Area Teams, who support food banks in their day-to-day work
· Grants team
· Participation team
· Making Social Security Work programme team
· Others TBC
Registered Charity 
101 - 500
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
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Release Counselling and Therapy for Women is entering an exciting new chapter.
Founded in Brighton and Hove in 2013, Release has grown from a small local charity into a financially robust organisation with a growing national reach. Under the leadership of our outgoing CEO, the charity has been transformed—moving from a challenging financial position to one with strong reserves, clear sustainability, and ambitious plans for growth.
We now provide affordable 1:1 online counselling to women across the UK, alongside specialist group programmes supporting maternal mental health and key life transitions. One-to-one counselling is a core offer and a vital income stream, enabling us to extend our reach while staying true to our values.
This period has also seen Release grow to working with over 20 dedicated volunteer counsellors, strengthening our capacity and community impact.
As our CEO steps down, Release is ready for its next phase—building on strong foundations, amplifying our national impact, and remaining firmly rooted in our purpose: being a charity that supports women’s mental health, run by women, for women.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
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JOB TITLE: Northern Partnership & Dog Training Manger
LOCATION: Northern Region (Including Scotland, Northern England and parts of the Midlands)
SALARY: £37,000 - £45,000 p/a
JOB TYPE: Permanent, Full-Time and Part-Time applications considered
Medical Detection Dogs trains dogs to save lives.
We train specialist dogs to detect the odour of human disease, providing life-saving Medical Alert Assistance Dogs to people with complex health problems across the UK and collaborating with NHS Trusts and other researchers and Universities both in the UK and internationally to advance the early diagnosis of disease. We have an exciting new opportunity to join this small, but ambitious charity that is a world leader in its specialist, innovative field.
MAIN PURPOSE & SCOPE OF THE ROLE:
The Northern Partnership & Training Manager is responsible for the operational leadership, coordination and quality assurance of Partnership and Dog Training Instructor roles operating within the Northern region.
Partnership and Dog Training Instructor roles within the Medical Alert Assistance Dog department combine elements of dog training, client instructing, partnership placement and aftercare, depending on programme need. This role provides direct line management and oversight of Northern region staff working in these hybrid capacities.
The postholder ensures consistent, high‑quality delivery of MAAD partnerships, working collaboratively with training, welfare and senior management colleagues to support dog progression, client outcomes and compliance with ADUK and ADI standards.
WHAT YOU’LL DO:
Provide operational leadership for Northern region Partnership and Dog Training Instructor roles, ensuring staff who work across training, instructing and partnership delivery are effectively supported, coordinated and developed.
You will act as the regional lead for instructor‑delivered partnership work, maintaining oversight of workloads, partnership progression, accreditation readiness and aftercare delivery, while contributing to continuous service improvement under senior management guidance.
Reports to: Interim Head of Partnership Services
ABOUT THE ROLE
You will oversee and coordinate the Northern Medical Alert Assistance Dog function, managing staff in Partnership and Dog Training Instructor roles who support MAAD partnerships from allocation through placement and ongoing aftercare.
You will provide clear leadership, supervision and quality assurance, ensuring consistent delivery standards, balanced workloads and clarity of expectations for staff whose roles span multiple functions.
You will maintain oversight of partnership pipelines, regional capacity and accreditation timelines, ensuring accurate reporting and timely escalation of risks or concerns.
This is a senior operational role requiring strong people management, excellent dog training and instructing expertise, and a calm, organised approach to managing complex client‑facing services.
Responsibilities of the Role
Hybrid Role Leadership & Management (Northern Region)
- Line manage and support Northern region‑based Partnership and Dog Training Instructor roles
- Conduct regular 1:1s, supervision and appraisals
- Chair Northern regional team meetings and provide updates to the Interim Head of Assistance Dog Programme
- Approve annual leave and expenses, ensuring appropriate regional cover
- Support senior Partnership and Dog Training Instructor staff in mentoring or supporting less experienced colleagues
- Ensure staff adhere to departmental standards, methods and policies
Partnerships, Training & Client Delivery
- Oversee the progression of puppies within the Northern region and where required, carry out relevant assessments
- Oversee the progression of MAAD partnerships across training, placement and aftercare within the Northern region
- Ensure client learning styles, family dynamics and individual needs are identified and supported
- Support or directly deliver Partnership and Dog Training Instructor role activity where required, including: Scent and odour training, Client‑specific training, Placement training, Aftercare and refresher support
- Maintain oversight of partnerships requiring remedial training or additional intervention
- Carry out or support final accreditation assessments where appropriate
- Ensure qualified partnerships continue to meet ADUK standards
Planning, Oversight & Reporting
- Maintain oversight of Northern region partnership activity, including: Applicants, Dogs approaching match, Partnerships in training, Accredited partnerships receiving aftercare
- Escalate risks, delays or welfare concerns to the ADPM with recommended solutions
- Contribute to departmental reports and inspection readiness
Governance, Welfare & Compliance
- Ensure all Partnership and Dog Training Instructor role activity complies with ADUK and ADI regulations
- Liaise with the Health & Welfare Manager regarding health or welfare concerns
- Support rehoming outcomes for withdrawn dogs in conjunction with relevant teams
- Ensure accurate and timely record‑keeping within the Harlequin CRM system
- Occasional handling of the emergency phone, liaising with clients and volunteers to manage emergency situations
Stakeholder & Cross‑Departmental Working
- To ensure volunteers and Dog training contractors based within the Northern region are well supported by regional staff.
- Act as the primary Northern region contact for partnership‑related matters
- Work closely with Applications and Welfare teams
- Support fundraising, communications and volunteering activities when required
- Promote best practice and learning across the charity
PERSON SPECIFICATION:
Experience & Qualifications
Essential
- Minimum 2years’ experience managing or leading staff in the Assistance Dog roles within an ADUK‑affiliated organisation
- Extensive experience delivering assistance dog partnerships, including training, placement and aftercarProven experience mentoring, supporting and performance‑managing staff
- Sound knowledge of ADUK and ADI regulations
- Strong organisational and caseload‑management abilities
- Confident working independently and managing competing priorities
- Comfortable working in the presence of dogs
Desirable
- Experience working with medical alert assistance dogs
- Knowledge of medical conditions affecting adult and child clients
- Experience supporting accreditation reviews or inspection processes
Knowledge & Skills
DESIRABLE
- Strong practical dog handling, scent training and knowledge of dog behaviour and development
- Excellent coaching, assessment and quality‑assurance skills
- Calm, clear and empathetic communication style
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to exercise sound judgement in complex, client‑facing situations
- High level of IT literacy including Microsoft 365 and CRM systems
Other Requirements
- Full UK driving licence
- Willingness and ability to travel across the Northern region
- Willingness to stay away from home and have dogs reside in the home when required
DIVERITY, EQUALITY & INCLUSION
We are a welcoming, diverse and inclusive charity. Medical Detection Dogs thrives when everyone feels comfortable bringing their best self to work. We celebrate difference, whilst striving to create an environment where colleagues feel respected and valued for their unique potential. We are committed to our values on equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Values & Behaviours
Working at Medical Detection Dogs will be a richly rewarding experience.
Our Values & Behaviours encapsulate who we are, what we stand for and what it will feel like to be part of our team:
- We are respectful
- We stay positive
- We strive for excellence
- We communicate and listen
- We are ambassadors
- We are one team
And of course, we advocate for Medical Detection Dogs whenever we get the chance, and we pride ourselves on our role as ambassadors for the charity.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.