Practice development lead jobs

This is an exciting opportunity to lead our approach to monitoring and evaluation at a key moment, ensuring that high-quality evidence underpins our programmes and future growth.

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. The ability to demonstrate impact clearly and credibly, both to inform our own learning and to evidence our effectiveness externally, will be critical to achieving our strategic ambitions.

As a core part of our 2025-30 strategy, the Data and Insights Manager will work to embed consistent and robust evaluation across the organisation. This will be achieved by approaches such as Stories of Change, which combines quantitative data with rich qualitative insight to build a compelling and nuanced understanding of the difference our programmes make.

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 Data and Insights Manager will work closely with colleagues across programmes, communications, fundraising and leadership, you will ensure that data and evidence are actively used to inform decision-making, improve delivery and demonstrate impact to funders, partners and the wider sector.

This is a highly collaborative role with organisation-wide impact, offering the opportunity to shape how Villiers Park learns delivers on its long-term strategic ambitions.

Alex Grant

Assistant Director

Job purpose

The Data and Insights Manager will play a key role in supporting Villiers Park through the collection, analysis and reporting of robust evaluation and monitoring. Working across teams and hubs, the postholder will support consistent data collection, lead analysis and synthesis, and help ensure evidence informs learning, decision-making and external communication. The role will focus on coordinating mixed-methods evaluation, with qualitative approaches, including Stories of Change, as a key way of understanding young people’s experiences of change, or clarity, and the impact of our programmes.

Key responsibilities:

• Working closely with the Assistant Director, develop, implement and review monitoring and evaluation approaches for all programmes, ensuring that the data outputs can be used in a range of ways.
• Collaborate with the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and wider staff team to develop, implement and review Theories of Change.
• Work with the Programmes team to design and deploy monitoring and evaluation methods to capture and store relevant quantitative and qualitative data from a range of sources, including individuals and via schools/colleges and partner organisations.
• Undertake data analysis and write reports for internal and external audiences on process and impact evaluations for all programmes, including annual school impact reports.
• Support the Communications and Fundraising Teams by providing regularly updated data and evaluation, regional contextual demographic data and comparative national datasets.
• Manage programmes and impact data storage to ensure relevant access is delivered for SLT, Programmes, Fundraising and Communications teams and compliance with GDPR.
• Keep up to date with changes in regulation and best practice in data management and data protection/consent, especially when data subjects are under 18.
• Ensure that all data management and evaluation practices are compliant with statutory safeguarding and GDPR regulations and Villiers Park’s safeguarding, data protection and privacy policies.
• Deliver evaluation training and evaluation review meetings to inform and engage the wider organisation with evaluation practices and the implementation of data and insights.
• Undertake other duties as required to support the mission and work of Villiers Park.

Knowledge, experience and abilities (essential)

• Experience of, and strong interest in, high quality evaluation methodologies, including programme theory, process evaluation, mixed-methods approaches.
• Strong experience of critically appraising data and evidence, and staying abreast of developments within evaluation of youth-based charities and university widening participation, using this to support proportionate, well-evidenced conclusions.
• A strong track record in planning, coordinating and delivering successful evaluation activity across programmes, sites or stakeholder groups, including managing complex workloads, setting priorities and working to agreed timelines and standards.
• Experience of effectively communicating evaluation findings, both written and verbal, to different audiences.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and decision-making ability, including using evidence, judgement and stakeholder input to resolve challenges in evaluation delivery.

Skills and competencies (essential)

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build effective relationships and influence stakeholders, articulating evaluation concepts and findings clearly and concisely.
• Skilled in planning, prioritising and managing multiple strands of work to deliver high quality evaluation outputs.
• Analytical and methodical, with the ability to interpret evidence carefully and proportionately.
• An effective manager of evaluation activity across teams, hubs and programme cycles.
• Strong qualitative and mixed-methods analysis skills, including interpretation and reporting.
• Ability to anticipate and identify challenges in evaluation delivery, and work with colleagues to resolve these productively.
• Demonstrate a curiosity about other evaluation methodologies and research from the wider evaluation sector.
• Strong IT and digital skills including Microsoft suite and data management systems.
• A collaborative team member who can also take initiative, work proactively and operate independently where needed, and who has excellent interpersonal skills to facilitate learning conversations and support and advise colleagues to use evidence confidently in practice.

Desirable

• Familiarity with longitudinal or progression tracking and/or data-sharing partnerships.
• Experience of contributing to fundraising proposals with ready evidence and an understanding of fundraising audiences.
• Proficiency in qualitative analysis software, such as NVivo, to support coding, thematic analysis and synthesis.
• Confidence using data management tools such as Dataverse, MS Forms and PowerAutomate, and Power BI for reporting or visualisation.
• Understanding of value-for-money or ROI-related analysis in a social context.

Additional Information:

• The postholder will have some travel to schools, events and partner organisations.
• An enhanced DBS check will be required.
• On occasion, 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.

Battersea is two years into an exciting phase of innovation and transformation as part of a five-year strategy to be here for every dog and cat. With increased investment in income generation, we have recently expanded our team to drive the growth necessary to achieve our organisational goals. Our fundraising team bridges the journey of the animals in our care with the wider public, demonstrating how their contributions enable us to support every dog and cat.

An opportunity has come up to play a pivotal role in the implementation of our new strategy. We are looking for a Direct Marketing Manager to lead our Cash and Raffle programme. This role is a jobshare with another Direct Marketing Manager also working 3 days a week.

What we can offer you:

In return for your commitment to our cause and to recognise the value of our employees, Battersea offers a range of benefits to support the wellbeing of our employees. These include:

• 28 days of annual leave (plus 8 days paid public holidays) per year.
• Discounted gym memberships and cycle to work schemes.
• Employee Assistance Programme and access to Wellbeing Resources.
• Generous pension contributions - up to 10% employer contribution.
• Free healthcare cash plan, where you can claim for a range of treatment including dental, optical, physiotherapy, chiropody and acupuncture every year.
• Annual interest-free season ticket loans.

We are also committed to providing learning and development to our employees. During your time with us, we provide support for your professional and career development, including access to digital and in-person training programmes, leadership and management training, mentoring and much more.

Our hybrid working model:

We operate a 50% onsite hybrid working model, with our office-based staff splitting their time between site based and home working. This enables our office-based staff to balance the benefits of home working with onsite collaboration and maintaining a connection to our cause.

Diversity and inclusion:

We are committed to providing a welcoming and inclusive experience for all staff, volunteers and trustees and those hoping to join us. We operate an anonymised shortlisting process and actively seek to ensure our process is fair and equitable for all.

We understand the value of diverse voices, perspectives, and experiences to help us deliver even more for our dogs and cats, and we welcome applicants from all sections of the community.

As a Disability Confident Committed Employer we will ask about any adjustments you may need at application and/or interview stage, and if you are offered a role with us, we’ll talk to you about any workplace adjustments you may need to help you perform at your best. If you would like to talk more about this, please contact us. Greyscale copies of the recruitment pack are also available on request.

More about us:

At Battersea, we aim to never turn away a dog or cat in need of help. We give each one lots of love, expert care and get to know their characters and quirks so we can find them a new home that’s just right for them. Join us and help us be here for every dog and cat, wherever they are, for as long as they need us.

Acceptable use of AI:

At Battersea, we value expertise. We recognise each candidate that applies to us will have a range of expertise they can offer us, so we want to hear about this in your own words. We understand the support that generative artificial intelligence (AI) software can offer but it can also lead to numerous applications presenting as generic and impersonal. This makes it difficult to gain understanding of your unique experience.

To best showcase yourself, we encourage you to write your responses without the assistance of AI. If you require the use of AI software to aid in completing your application, we ask you use the generative responses as a prompt for writing your answers and avoid copying and pasting. You must also ensure the information presented in your application accurately reflects your experience.

Closing date: Sunday 12th July 2026, 11:59pm

All applications must be submitted before the closing date advertised. We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of applications is received.

Interview date(s): w/c 20th July 2026

For more information about the role, please download our Recruitment pack.

The National Youth Orchestra is the UK’s leading organisation championing orchestral music as a powerful agent for teenage development. We activate teenagers’ confidence, optimism and skills to play their part in the world today, through performing and sharing extraordinary music.

We are looking for a Youth Support Manager to deliver outstanding pastoral care and safeguarding across NYO’s national programme. This role is central to ensuring that young people feel happy, listened to and secure while participating in NYO activities. 

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in supporting young people’s wellbeing and development through music. You will manage the year-round processes, people and routines that enable consistent safeguarding and welfare practice, champion NYO’s ethos and help young people thrive on every project. You will also be a visible and responsive point of contact for young people and staff during NYO activity, during residential courses and non-residential and online delivery.

You will line manage the Youth Support Co-ordinator and manage the freelance Support Team workforce. Working closely with colleagues across the Programmes team, you will ensure that pastoral needs are embedded into project planning, risk assessment, delivery and debrief processes.

The ideal candidate will combine strong team management skills with a rigorous approach to administration. You will be confident handling conversations with teenagers and their parents/carers, managing sensitive information, and co-ordinating practical logistics in a busy residential environment. You will also be a visible and responsive point of contact for young people and staff during NYO residentials and other activity.

At NYO, you’ll join a values-led, mission-driven organisation where people care deeply about the impact of their work. Our staff team is supportive, friendly and ambitious, united by a shared belief in the potential of young people and the power of orchestral music.

Our offices near Holborn in central London are a lively base for collaboration and creativity. NYO offers hybrid working, health cash plan, a cycle-to-work scheme, retail and entertainment discounts, and a 24/7 counselling and support helpline. Most NYO projects take place during school holidays or at weekends, and the postholder will be expected to attend the majority of residential activities. The role will include some weekend and statutory holiday working, for which a TOIL policy is in place. Outside project periods, the core office days are Tuesday and Wednesday.

Visit our website to find out more and apply.

Deadline for applications: 10am, Monday 29 June 2026
First round interviews: Monday 6 July 2026

Do you have significant HR experience, with an ability to build strong partner relationships, and a track record of resolving key people issues through advice to managers? Can you manage your own workload, taking personal responsibility for progressing people activities?

We are recruiting for an experienced HR Business Partner to partner with managers and heads of department on all people matters in specific areas of the charity.  

What does this role do?

Reporting to the Senior HR Business Partner, the successful candidate will:

• build and maintain strong working relationships with key stakeholders in specific areas within the charity, acting as a trusted partner for HR related advice.  
• develop a thorough understanding of partnered areas including departmental objectives, role and team structures, and key people issues. 
• provide tailored HR advice and guidance, using metrics and data to spot trends and identify risks and areas of opportunity. 
• manage informal and formal employee relations cases to successful resolution
• work closely with specialist teams in HR to improve people practices.

First stage interviews for this role are provisionally scheduled for week commencing 29th June 2026, followed by second stage interviews the following week. This role is a fixed term contract until June 2027.

Could this be you?

Ideally qualified to CIPD level 7 (or with equivalent experience), you will have previously worked in a similar role and will have a proven track record of resolving key people issues through a thorough understanding of departmental activities, and tailoring advice to managers.  You will have significant experience in successfully resolving a wide variety of complex ER issues with the ability to build and maintain strong partner relationships, as well as also the ability to communicate complex and sensitive information to diverse audiences.

About Dogs Trust

We love dogs. That’s why we do whatever we can to make sure every four-legged friend gets the love they deserve. We’ll never put a healthy dog down, so our work is focused on helping dogs in need, supporting owners every step of the walk, and creating a better world for dogs in the future. It’s what we’ve been doing since 1891 and how we’ve grown to become the UK’s leading dog charity, helping 12,000 loyal friends find their forever homes every year.

To apply for this position please click the APPLY NOW button. Our application process requires you submit a personal statement explaining your interest and suitability for the role.
 
Dogs are incredibly diverse, much like the humans that love them! At Dogs Trust we value diversity, and we're committed to fostering an inclusive culture. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, abilities, and cultures and believe that a diverse workforce helps us to achieve our mission. Our colleague networks give our people a voice, acting as vehicles for real and meaningful change within Dogs Trust. We truly want to see every candidate shine throughout the entire job application process, interview stages, and during their time with us. If there's anything on your mind or any adjustments you may need, don't hesitate to reach out to us. We're here to support you every step of the way.

Closing date:  25 June 2026

Interviews: We may arrange interviews as suitable applications are received
or following the closing date.

Location: Hybrid working with multi-site working
across both sites, Selly Park and Erdington

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Salary: £40,000

DBS: Basic

At Birmingham Hospice, our teams are united by a shared purpose: to improve the quality of life for people living with life-limiting conditions, and to support their families and loved ones during some of the most challenging times they will ever face.

We’re now looking for an experienced and enthusiastic People Partner to help strengthen and shape the way we support our people.

If you’re passionate about using your HR expertise to deliver people-focused solutions, drive forward effective people strategies, and collaborate across teams to create positive change, we’d love to hear from you.

In this generalist role, you’ll take the lead on:

• Providing high-quality, pragmatic employee relations advice
• Coaching managers through a wide range of people issues
• Using people analytics to inform decision-making
• Designing and delivering effective learning and development interventions
• Getting involved in a variety of meaningful and exciting people projects

You’ll partner with dedicated areas of the hospice, building strong relationships quickly and becoming a trusted advisor. You’ll bring confidence, credibility, excellent communication skills, and the ability to influence at all levels.

If this sounds like you, we’d be delighted to receive your application.

What We’re Looking For:

· Educated to CIPD Level 5 or equivalent, or specialist underpinning theoretical knowledge supported by considerable relevant practical experience and evidence of continuous professional development

· Significant experience of delivering a high-quality People customer service within a complex and diverse organisation

· Up to date knowledge of employment legislation, case law, HR best practice and its practical application, including  learning and development

What we offer in return:

· The opportunity to be part of an amazing growing charity

· Competitive salary, generous holiday entitlement

· Wellbeing programmes, Reward Gateway retail discounts & financial tools

· The opportunity to develop and grow your HR career within the charity sector

The hospice is committed to developing a dynamic and diverse team, representative of the communities it serves. We ask you, therefore, to complete the Equal Opportunities monitoring form to help us in this aim.

We value each person as an individual – whether they are colleagues, patients, family members, carers or supporters, every person matters. We embrace diversity of culture, background and environment knowing it enriches our workplace and our relationships with our local communities. We are committed to building a culture of inclusion and belonging. We would love to hear from you, about what makes you uniquely you and how this opportunity will support you to succeed.

Victim Support is seeking a confident, organised, and collaborative Team Leader to lead our Witness Service outreach team working in the community. You will play a pivotal role in ensuring that vulnerable intimidated witnesses receive high-quality, timely, and compassionate support at every stage of the justice process.

We are looking for someone who brings strong people-management experience, exceptional communication skills, and a commitment to building a supportive and high-performing team. You'll lead volunteers, oversee daily case allocations, manage service delivery within the community, strengthen partnerships, and ensure our Witness Service meets contractual and quality standards.

This role is part-time working 18.75 hours per week covering Norfolk, Suffolk & Cambridgeshire

Are you an organised, proactive individual with a passion for supporting victims and witnesses as they navigate the justice system? Do you enjoy working collaboratively, ensuring high-quality service delivery, and supporting others to perform at their best?

If you thrive in fast-paced environments, have strong communication and data-handling skills, and are motivated by service excellence, we'd love to hear from you.

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 HR Officer plays a key role in delivering an effective, professional, and compliant HR service across the organisation. Supporting both operational HR processes and employee experience, the post holder will contribute to attracting, developing, and retaining talent in a collaborative and values-driven research environment.

Main responsibilities

HR Operations & Administration Support

• Lead recruitment campaigns in consultation with hiring managers, including drafting job adverts, short-listing and coordinating interviews.
• Manage employee life cycle process, including background checks, onboarding and offboarding.
• Maintain accurate and confidential employee records in compliance with GDPR and organisational policies.
• Administer HR systems, contracts, and employment documentation.
• Manage relationship with 3rd party suppliers including HR consultancy and DBS check providers.
• Support payroll preparation including monthly absence reporting and ensuring accurate data submission and coordination with Finance/Payroll.
• Support the wider central administrative team as required.

 Employee Relations

• Provide first-line HR advice to managers and staff on policies, procedures, and employment matters.
• Support casework relating to absence, performance, disciplinary, and grievance processes.
• Support managers and the COO with complex people cases, working with the external HR partner as required.
• Promote a positive and inclusive working culture aligned with the organisation’s values.

Learning & Development

• Coordinate training activities and support professional development initiatives for research and support staff.
• Some delivery of internal people-related training
• Assist in identifying skills gaps and contributing to workforce development plans.

Policy & Compliance

• Ensure HR practices comply with employment legislation, charity sector regulations, and best practice.
• Monitor and assist with the development, review, and implementation of HR policies and procedures, including handbook updates.
• Support equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) initiatives across the organisation.

HR Projects & Continuous Improvement

• Contribute to HR projects such as staff engagement, wellbeing initiatives, and organisational development.
• Support the implementation of HR systems improvements and process efficiencies.
• Collect and analyse HR data to inform decision-making and reporting.

Knowledge, skills and experience 

Essential

1. Experience in an HR administrative or officer-level role.
2. Sound knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice.
3. CIPD Level 3 or equivalent.
4. Experience of supporting payroll and finance processes.
5. Proven ability to establish and evolve people processes in a growing organisation.
6. Proficiency in HR systems, such as BreatheHR or equivalent, and Microsoft Office applications.
7. Experience of working in organisations with multiple staffing arrangements i.e. direct employees, secondees, contractors etc.
8. Strong organisational and administrative skills with excellent attention to detail.
9. Ability to handle sensitive information with confidentiality and professionalism.
10. Strong interpersonal and communication skills.

Desirable

1. CIPD Level 5 qualification (or working towards).
2. Experience working in the charity, academic, or research sector.
3. Experience supporting EDI and wellbeing initiatives.
4. Familiarity with public funded and/or project-based staffing environments.
5. Experience supporting or negotiating secondment arrangements, particularly within academic, charity or research environments.

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 5 July 2026.

Interviews are currently expected to take place on Wednesday 5 and Thursday 6 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.

For over 60 years the National Children’s Bureau (NCB) has been building a better childhood for all.

Policy and Public Affairs Manager
Contract: Permanent
Work Pattern: Full Time, 35 hours per week (1.0 FTE) (We are open to flexible hours and working patterns, including accommodating part-time and compressed hours (0.8 FTE) where possible).
Salary: £44,167 per annum
Location: London Fields, E8. NCB promotes a hybrid, flexible way of working with 2 days working in the office.

The Vacancy

The Policy and Public Affairs Manager will act as a driving force behind our credibility and impact across key policy areas, working to influence national policy development and decision making and help enshrine good practice in law. It will also grow our presence in the sector as thought leaders, drawing on a range of evidence to take richer and deeper positions on the solutions needed to bring improvements.

This position will ensure that robust policy development is translated into effective public affairs and influencing strategies, ensuring that solutions to complex policy issues are understood and acted upon by decision-makers. The role will manage and deliver key elements of NCB’s core work across policy and public affairs, lead the delivery of funded projects and provide robust project management, and actively contribute to project proposals and income generation.

About NCB

For more than 60 years, the National Children’s Bureau has championed the rights and amplified the voice of children and young people in the UK. We interrogate policy and uncover evidence, blending in lived and learnt experience to shape future legislation and develop more effective ways of supporting children and families.

Bringing people and organisations together is fundamental to how we improve the systems that babies, children, young people and their families rely on to thrive. We push boundaries, even looking beyond childhood itself to consider transitions into adulthood and the impact of childhood issues on an entire lifespan. We are united for better childhoods and brighter futures.

The Benefits

• 30 Days Annual Leave
• Generous Pension Scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Flexible Working
• Winter Holiday Closure & Break
• Employee Assistance Programme

Closing date: 08:00am, Monday 6th July 2026
Please note that we reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive a high volume of applications. We encourage interested candidates to submit their applications as soon as possible

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

We are actively seeking to broaden the diversity of our staff group and warmly welcome applications from candidates underrepresented in the charity sector, including those from Black and Global Majority communities, disabled people, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people with lived experience of the issues NCB works on.

No agencies please.

Head of FP&A | Permanent | £63,000 - £67,000 | London | Hybrid

For a well-known charity in central London, we're recruiting a permanent FP&A Lead to join a high-performing finance team. This role will design and deliver accurate and timely financial information, supporting the decision-making process for stakeholders. The role will manage a Finance Business Partner and Systems Analyst and will lead on ensuring the financial systems and processes and fit for purpose, whilst collaborating across the organisation to build financial capacity. Finally, the FP&A Lead will integrate financial planning and drive improvements to enhance decision-making and long-term sustainability.

Main Duties:

• Lead annual budgeting and reforecasting - working with department to set KPIs and provide decision-making analysis
• Build the framework for collecting and communicating the organisational budget and forecast
• Develop and deliver regular financial MI to stakeholders
• Develop first-class financial analysis across income and expenditure, project and fund accounting, and cashflow
• Champion continual improvement in financial management across the organisation
• Lead the production of key financial reporting and analysis
• Lead engagement with all stakeholders, needing FP&A meets needs and good practice
• Manage restricted fund accounting, ensuring financial reporting enables robust grant applications and reporting
• Collaborate with senior leadership to provide insight, planning and analysis for major programmes
• Partner with the Head of Finance to review existing and new finance software to meet strategic planning needs
• Maintain workflows, chart-of-accounts, polices and procedures
• Lead and manage a team of 2
• Partner with senior budget holders to enable planning and budget decisions, and produce robust financial reports to inform decision-making

Person Specification:

• Qualified CCAB or substantial experience
• Experience leading a budget and reforecast process
• Experience developing financial reporting systems and MI
• Experience using tech to deliver financial planning and analysis
• Line management and supporting teams
• Experience evaluating and adapting financial systems to meeting organisational and technological demands
• Ideally experience of Charity SORP, fund and project accounting (restricted funding)
• Experience using AI tools to enhance forecasting, reporting and decision-making
• X-Ledger and Power BI experience

________

As an employer, we are committed to ensuring the representation of people from all backgrounds regardless of their gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, race, religion, ethnicity, age, neurodiversity, disability status, or any other aspect which makes them unique. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds to apply and would encourage you to let us know if there are steps, we can take to ensure that your recruitment process enables you to present yourself in a way that makes you comfortable.

We believe that change for people affected by ME won't just happen; it must be made. That's why action and impact are at the heart of everything we do. Whether that's helping people today with support, information, or care. Or working towards securing future change through our research and campaigning work. The intent of everything we do is to pursue positive impact for the lives, rights, and futures of people affected by ME.

As Communications Manager you will play a pivotal role in delivering strategic, impactful communications that advance Action for ME’s work, improve understanding and recognition of ME and support fundraising efforts

The Communications Manager will be responsible for the day-to-day delivery of the communications strategy, leading a team of two other communications staff. You will work closely with colleagues across the fundraising, policy, research and services departments, delivering clear and compelling storytelling, and maximising visibility across media, digital platforms and key stakeholder networks.

Key duties

Leadership and Management

• Work to ensure that people with ME are at the heart of everything we do through meaningful engagement and participation to influence all aspects of communications and marketing.

• Contribute to the development of, and then lead implementation of, the Communications Strategy, ensuring the appropriate involvement of key stakeholders, scoping, evaluating, and improving our practice.

• Maintain a data-insight led approach to the communications work providing regular management information and key performance indicator reports.

• Work as a member of the Extended Leadership Team.

• Line manage Communications Team members, supporting them to set and achieve performance objectives through regular one-to-ones and 12-monthly appraisals.

• Be responsible for Communications budget and the relationship with services providers required for the production of the charity’s digital and printed information and support resources.

Communications and Marketing

• Raise the profile of the impact of ME, and of Action for ME and its work, to enable the organisation to reach more people and better support need, by establishing a regular cadence of appropriate but innovative product across all main social media channels.

• Ensure fundraising is supported by embedding clear calls to action around donations and membership growth as a matter of course.

• Under the direction of the Director of Fundraising, develop all website, press and social media content for charity appeals.

• Market the charity’s Support and Healthcare services, including key digital and printed information and support resources, to the ME community and the professionals working with them, working closely with respective service leads.

• Contribute to income generation by working closely with the Director of Fundraising to develop the communication and marketing materials needed to implement the organisation’s Fundraising Strategy.

• Coordinate the charity’s response to any crisis communications, including developing appropriate crisis management plans and working outside of office hours as required.

• Establish effective systems/processes for gathering, supporting, maintaining, and managing case studies for a range of purposes (including press and media opportunities, public affairs and policy work, and fundraising).

• Draft and issue press releases and media statements and ensure appropriate follow-up by telephoning journalists, contacting picture desks etc. as appropriate.

• Alongside the CEO and any commissioned agency, develop relationships with key press, media and communications stakeholders to enhance the charity’s work.

• Oversee the production of the annual report, on budget, to schedule, taking overall editorial responsibility for content.

• Oversee the ongoing development of our digital engagement including our website and social media and being the point of contact on website issues.

• Fulfil the role of brand gateway keeper, ensuring all digital and printed communications, including information and support resources, adhere to brand guidelines, house style and organisational tone.

• Maintain an up-to-date knowledge and oversight of how ME and related key issues (e.g. Long Covid) are discussed in the media and wider ME community.

• Build networks to enhance the charity’s strategic communications and marketing work.

• Build and maintain an effective social media monitoring regime, ensuring fit for purpose rules of engagement are in place and applied consistently.

Other Key Accountabilities 

• Ensure that all relevant service standards are met including compliance with best practice, legal and regulatory frameworks and internal standards.

• Ensure best value in all our work.

• Undertake any other duty within your ability and within reason, as may be required, from time-to-time, at the discretion of your line manager.

• On occasions, provide management support and cover within the organisation, as needed.

• Act as an advocate for the charity and its work.

Person specification

Experience, Knowledge and Understanding 

• A minimum of 2 years’ experience working in a communications management role

• Experience of developing integrated, insight and audience-led communications plans including social media

• Experience of website and brand management

• Experience of delivering successful campaigns

• Experience of engaging with press and/or media including writing press releases and media briefings

• Experience of working collaboratively with different teams/departments

• Experience of working in charity communications (desirable)

• An understanding of ME and the impact on people affected by it (desirable)

• Experience of integrating fundraising with communications (desirable)

Skills, Behaviours and Values

• Adaptable and highly organised with an ability to work methodically, managing and prioritising a varied workload, use your own initiative, work independently, and work well in a team.

• Strong MS Office skills including the ability to use Word, Excel, databases and web-related programmes and software.

Platform Engineer

Remote (UK-based) | Full-time | Salary: £71,043 + benefits including 4.5-day week and 11% employer pension

Do your best work, for the right reasons.

Oak is a fully remote, mission-driven organisation offering high levels of flexibility, autonomy, and purpose. We’re a national not-for-profit working in partnership with teachers to create the highest-quality, sequenced curriculum and lesson resources for pupils across all subjects and age groups.

Our culture has been independently recognised through:

• Flexa verified (93% overall score, including 95% for working hours and 97% for role modelling)

• Escape the City's Top 1% Employers – based on anonymous colleague reviews of culture, development, and impact

• Investors in People Gold - through external accreditation and colleague feedback

�� About the Role

We've built a lot, fast. Now we want to make it last.

As a young organisation, we've used modern technology to move quickly and get remarkable products into teachers' hands. We've proven what's possible. Now we're maturing, making sure the foundations are as strong as what's built on top of them. We see this role as central to that change.

You'll work with engineering, product, and research colleagues to build confidence in using observability principles that deepen our understanding of how teachers and pupils use our products, and help us keep improving them. We work in product squads alongside designers, researchers, and education experts, regularly releasing new features and improvements so teachers and pupils get quick and easy access to the highest quality learning resources.

Alongside other members of the platform engineering group, you'll enable squads to move more quickly by optimising tooling and implementing automations, including the effective and safe use of AI. You'll drive the creation and adoption of engineering standards across code, deployment, security, observability, and monitoring. And you'll be a key driver of automation, working with the rest of the platform team to improve the overall developer experience.

You'll need a good understanding of platform engineering in a SaaS-heavy environment and the value it brings to an organisation. A solid grounding in development practices, security fundamentals, and infrastructure operation matters. But specific technical skills are less important to us than a passion for automation, an ability to understand complex systems, and a pragmatic engineering approach.

As part of the Oak team, you'll contribute to the wider success and culture of the organisation, and support and role model our five values: create the right environment, be a great colleague, own your role but work for the team, make things happen, and keep getting better.

��What you'll be doing:

• Leading continuous improvement of the observability, performance, and reliability of our web applications (Next.js, JavaScript, TypeScript, Node) and serverless functions (Google Cloud Functions, Cloudflare), deployed on Vercel and Cloudflare

• Helping teams maintain high service quality by promoting a culture of quality across engineering and product, and enabling squads to use SLOs and SLAs effectively

• Contributing to the strategy and evolution of our monitoring, logging, and reporting solutions so developers can resolve problems quickly and get meaningful insights into application behaviour

• Identifying and implementing automations that speed up development, improve security, or raise the quality of what we deliver

• Working in cross-functional, product-oriented squads with colleagues from across the organisation

• Deputising for other members of the platform team and taking on broader responsibilities as needed

�� What we're looking for

You'll have strong professional experience working with event-driven architectures using serverless technologies such as Google Cloud Run, AWS Lambda, or Azure Serverless.

Beyond that, you'll bring:

• Demonstrable experience collaboratively designing and implementing observability, monitoring, and reporting solutions for complex cloud infrastructures in a major cloud provider (GCP, AWS, or Azure), including solutions for squad-specific use cases

• Confidence reading and maintaining web application code, with the ability to design and build small apps, preferably in JavaScript or TypeScript

• Experience with cloud computing platforms and a working familiarity with Infrastructure as Code tools

• A collaborative approach, comfortable promoting and leading collaboration with both technical and non-technical stakeholders, and able to frame work in terms of impact.

You'll want to contribute in all areas, not just your own lane. You'll be comfortable working at pace across a range of digital systems, always looking for ways the team can keep getting better. And you'll be excellent at remote working, building relationships and managing your time effectively.

Specific technical skills matter less to us than a sound engineering mindset and the ability to bring others with you.

�� Our Benefits

• 25 days annual leave, plus one extra day for each year of service (up to 28)

• Additional Oak closure days over Christmas/New Year

• 11% employer pension contribution (with no minimum employee contribution)

• A 36-hour working week, with half-days on Fridays or every other Friday off

• Fully remote working — we’ll support your home set-up and offer coworking options if preferred

• Twice-yearly in-person offsites to collaborate, connect, and have fun

• A culture that genuinely supports flexibility, autonomy, and trust

�� Inclusion and Belonging

We believe diverse teams build better products. We warmly welcome applicants from all backgrounds, particularly those who are underrepresented in the tech and education sectors. 

If you're from an underrepresented group, there's a good chance you're discounting yourself before you've even started. That's more common than you'd think, and it means we may miss out on brilliant people. If you're excited by this role but don't meet every requirement, please apply anyway.

We use the Applied platform to help reduce bias in our hiring process. Answers are anonymised and reviewed by a panel of humans.

�� Key Info

• Location: Remote, but you must be based in the UK with the legal right to work here

• Sponsorship: Unfortunately, we’re unable to offer visa sponsorship at this time

• Closing date: We’ll be reviewing applications as they come in and may close the role early

If this sounds like the kind of role and team where you could do your life’s best work, we’d love to hear from you.

Next steps

You'll answer a few admin questions followed by three questions about your day-to-day work. Answers are anonymised, randomised, and reviewed by a panel, so it's your thinking that gets assessed, not your CV.

If you're shortlisted, we'll invite you to interview. We give everyone feedback at the end of the process.

Interview dates:

Interview 1: Monday 13 and Tuesday 14 July 2026

Final interview: Monday 20 and Tuesday 21 July 2026

If this sounds like somewhere you could do your life's best work, we'd love to hear from you.

We're getting strong responses to our roles and we may close applications early. If you're interested, don't leave it too long.

We are an equal opportunities employer.

We're an equal opportunities employer and committed to making sure everyone is treated fairly, regardless of gender, age, disability, religion, belief, sexual orientation, marital status, or race.

We are looking for a Weekenders Journey Guide to support prospective Weekend Foster Carers from their first conversations with Now Foster through to the next stages of the recruitment and assessment journey.

This is a highly relational, candidate-facing role. You will be one of the main people helping applicants understand what Weekenders is, explore whether it is right for them, stay motivated through the process, and feel supported to take the next step.

Introductory conversations (our ‘intro chats’) will be a core part of the role. You will speak with people who are curious about fostering, but who may also feel unsure, nervous or are still working out whether they can foster. Your role will be to bring warmth, clarity and momentum: helping people feel welcomed, informed and confident, while also making sure the right people progress at the right pace.

You will use Now Foster’s digital platform (a bespoke CRM system) to manage the candidate journey, track progress, record key information and help the team understand where applicants are getting stuck or moving forward. You will play an important role in making sure we are attracting the right leads, supporting them well, and learning how to improve the journey as we grow.

This role would particularly suit someone with experience of fostering or working in fostering. It could also suit someone from a related background who is deeply motivated by innovation in this area and excited by what fostering could look like if it were designed around children, carers and relationships.

You do not need to be a qualified social worker, but you do need to be emotionally mature, reflective, organised and comfortable working closely with a social work-led team. You will need to understand safeguarding, and be confident holding thoughtful conversations with prospective carers.

What You’ll Be Doing

Supporting candidates through the journey

• Acting as a consistent, warm and encouraging point of contact for prospective Weekend Foster Carers.

• Carrying out intro chats with people who have expressed interest in the Weekenders programme.

• Helping candidates understand the Weekenders programme, what the role involves, and what the journey looks like.

• Supporting candidates to reflect on whether Weekenders is right for them.

• Keeping candidates engaged, informed and motivated as they move through the process.

• Helping people overcome practical barriers where appropriate, while being honest and clear about expectations.

• Making sure candidate communication feels relational, timely and values-led.

Helping the right people progress

• Helping identify candidates who are ready to move forward, as well as those who may need more time, more information or a different route.

• Support candidates to progress, pause or close, as advised by our fostering service colleagues.

• Using strengths-based and motivational approaches to help candidates reflect on their motivations, support networks and capacity.

• Working closely with social work colleagues to escalate questions, concerns or safeguarding issues appropriately.

• Supporting candidates to prepare for training, home visits and assessment stages.

• Helping ensure the process is clear, efficient and supportive.

Supporting groups, events and community activity

• Supporting information events, training sessions and candidate-facing events.

• Co-delivering sessions with social workers and other colleagues.

• Helping create a welcoming community for people exploring Weekenders.

• Supporting socials and community-building activity for applicants and approved Weekend Foster Carers.

• Helping candidates connect with the mission and feel part of something meaningful.

Administration, data and follow-up

• Keeping candidate records, notes and next steps up to date on Now Foster’s digital platform.

• Using Google Workspace, Trello and other tools to access key documents and manage your workload. 

• Making sure no candidate falls through the cracks.

• Supporting data capture so the team can understand what is working and where candidates are getting stuck.

• Helping improve templates, messages, prompts and workflows for the candidate journey.

• Supporting home visit admin and logistics where needed.

Contributing to innovation and learning

• Gathering feedback from candidates to help improve the journey and bringing this insight from candidate conversations into team discussions.

• Helping the team understand what motivates people to become Weekend Foster Carers, what worries them, and what helps them move forward.

• Supporting testing and iteration of new candidate journey approaches.

• Helping us build a process that is warm, efficient, inclusive and effective.

• Contributing to a new model of fostering that is relational, ambitious and designed around children and young people.

You’ll Thrive in This Role If You Are

• Warm and relational – able to build trust quickly and make people feel welcome.

• Emotionally mature – able to have thoughtful conversations about motivation, care, family life and uncertainty.

• A strong communicator – clear, encouraging and confident across phone, video calls, emails and written updates.

• Motivational and strengths-based – skilled at helping people see their potential while also being honest about what fostering involves.

• Organised and proactive – able to manage a busy candidate journey, track next steps and keep people moving.

• Tech-savvy – comfortable using digital platforms, Google Workspace and Trello.

• Confident in your judgement – able to decide when someone should progress, pause or close, while knowing when to seek advice.

• Safeguarding-aware – able to recognise when something needs to be escalated and comfortable working within clear safeguarding processes.

• Reflective and curious – interested in learning what works and improving the candidate journey over time.

• Comfortable with ambiguity – happy working in a small, growing charity where things are evolving.

• Committed to better outcomes for children and young people – motivated by Now Foster’s mission and the potential of Weekenders.

Experience We’re Looking For

Fostering experience would be highly beneficial. For example, this could include experience as a foster carer, working in fostering, supporting foster carers, working with fostering services, or working in a closely related part of children’s social care.

We are also interested in people with experience in:

• Volunteer management

• Children’s social care or youth work

• Community work

• Social prescribing

• Mentoring or coaching

• Recruitment, onboarding or candidate support

• Relationship-based support roles

Most importantly, we are looking for someone who understands the importance of relationships, can guide people through a meaningful decision-making process, and is excited by the possibility of building a different kind of fostering journey.

Bonus Points For

• Lived experience of the care system or fostering.

• Experience working directly with prospective or approved foster carers.

• Experience using motivational interviewing, coaching or strengths-based approaches.

• Experience supporting people through an application, recruitment, assessment or onboarding journey.

• Experience delivering or supporting information sessions, preparation groups, training or community events.

• Experience working remotely or in a flexible, fast-moving team.

An interest in innovation, service design or changing how fostering works.
 

About Us

Now Foster is a team of innovative social workers, designers, and entrepreneurs on a mission to change fostering in the UK.

We bring together social work, service design, public sector transformation and lived experience to create better outcomes for children and young people. Our overarching vision is to transform the fostering system by bringing many more wonderful people into it as foster carers, so that children and young people have the relationships, stability and support they need to thrive.

You will be joining a small, ambitious and passionate team, alongside our trustees, freelancers and advisors, all of whom play an active part in shaping our work. We partner with local authorities and not-for-profits who share our values and are ready to embrace change. As a registered charity, everything we do is driven by purpose, not profit.

About Weekenders

Weekenders is Now Foster’s flagship programme. It pairs children and young people in foster care with inspiring adults who can offer guidance, stability and encouragement on a regular basis. It is about showing up, making a difference, and being that person a young person can count on.

The programme is growing quickly. We are scaling Weekenders across London and beyond, testing new ways to support applicants, local authorities and independent social workers, and building the operational foundations needed for long-term growth.

A core part of this growth is making sure that people who are interested in becoming Weekend Foster Carers receive the right balance of warmth, encouragement, information and challenge as they move through the journey. That is where the Journey Guide comes in.

Working Pattern and Location

This role is offered at 4 to 5 days per week, with a salary of £34,000 pro rata.

The role can be based anywhere in England, with occasional travel to our Weekender delivery areas. Our Weekenders team is currently based across London and Manchester, and our wider organisational team is based in Oxford. Most work will be home-based, but there will be some in-person meetings, events, training sessions or bi-monthly co-working days.

The role will involve some work outside standard office hours. This is likely to include:

• Around one weekend day per month, which you would take back as time off during the previous or following week.

• Some evening work, for example around one information event per month.

• Some evening intro chats with prospective foster carers, where this helps people engage with the process.

We work flexibly and will support the successful candidate to manage their time in a sustainable way.

Safeguarding

Now Foster is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.

This role will involve contact with prospective carers, rather than direct work with children and young people. However, you will need to understand safeguarding, work within Now Foster’s safeguarding processes, and escalate any concerns appropriately.

This role will require an enhanced DBS check.

What’s In It For You

Joining Now Foster means being part of something different. We are small, ambitious and innovative, and you will play a key role in helping Weekenders grow.

You will be close to the people exploring whether they could become Weekend Foster Carers, and your work will directly shape whether they feel supported, confident and ready to take the next step.

You will join a supportive, collaborative and values-led team. We work hard, care deeply about what we do, and are building something bold and lasting: a new way of fostering that blends social work, design, technology and relational practice.

We will provide the tools and technology you need, cover agreed travel and expenses, and support you to work flexibly within the rhythm of the programme.

How to Apply

Please send us your CV and a short cover letter explaining:

1. Why you are interested in Now Foster and the Weekenders programme.

2. The experience you would bring in supporting, guiding or motivating people.

3. Any experience you have of fostering, working in fostering, children’s social care, community work, volunteer management or similar.

4. What excites you about innovation in fostering and what fostering could look like.

5. Your availability, including whether you are looking for 4 or 5 days per week and when you could start.

You must have the right to work in the UK.

We recognise that some candidates may use generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT, to support the preparation of their application. While this is acceptable, applications must remain an authentic reflection of your own experiences and motivations. We ask candidates to let us know if and how they used AI as part of the recruitment process.

Our Commitment to Equality

Now Foster is committed to being an equal opportunities employer. We celebrate diversity and actively encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, identities and experiences.

Recruitment and selection decisions are made on the basis of fair, objective and transparent criteria. We will also make reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process to ensure accessibility for all candidates.

Please Note: We are hoping to appoint as soon as possible and will close recruitment once we find the right person so candidates are advised to submit an application as soon as they are able.

We are looking for someone who is angry at injustice, who really believes in the ability of ordinary people to make change, who cares deeply about the institutions that are dotted across our neighbourhoods – the churches, mosques, schools, charities, youth groups, etc. - and who is motivated to share the craft of Broad-Based Organising with others. If that is you, we’d love you to join our growing team of organisers across the South-East of England and, more broadly, across the UK! We hope to work with you to build on already existing work in Colchester, Chelmsford, and Southend and support the building of new work across Essex. 

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. 

Citizens Essex is a relatively-young Chapter of Citizens UK, covering 3 main geographical areas: Colchester, Chelmsford, and Southend. Our ideal candidate for the position of Senior Organiser has high emotional intelligence, is curious about other people, politically astute, and is fundamentally relational. They will have a track record of making things happen, be able to work with a high degree of independence, are comfortable with uncertainty, and able to think strategically as well as operationally.  They will be interested in understanding and working with different sectors and types of organisations, as well as engaging with people from a wide range of faiths and cultures which are different to their own. They are an excellent communicator. They will learn and teach the craft of broad-based organising and be interested in receiving feedback to support their own development and growth. They will build and maintain relationships with a large number of leaders across the County and coach them to take action together on a common agenda.

Our ideal candidate will have a strong track record in enabling leaders from schools/colleges/universities and faith institutions to deliver on issues of social justice. 

Community Organising 

Through our theory of social change, called community organising, we train thousands of everyday people to lead change in their communities, equipping them with the skills to hold politicians and other powerholders to account. We are made up of 500+ member organisations in powerful alliances throughout the UK. Our members include schools, universities, faith groups, parents’ groups, health practices, charities, trade unions and other civil society organisations.

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

A Senior Organiser is mastering the craft of community organising and taking increasing responsibility for developing major campaigns, managing budgets and managing staff. They operate with a high degree of independence and are significant contributors to CUK-wide functions such as training.  Senior Organisers model the broad-based community organising methodology in their work including the building of relational power, the recruitment and retention of dues-paying institutions, the development of leaders, the strengthening of member institutions, leader-led public actions, and the winning of systemic change.

You will bring communities together to drive change both locally, regionally, and nationally. This role will work closely with local civic institutions, such as churches, mosques, schools, universities, unions and other community groups to:

• develop the leadership of people within those organisations - our 'leaders' who lead the campaigns we work on

• help them identify the changes they want to see and create strategies to win those changes

• strengthen institutions’ own abilities to achieve their missions.

This includes listening to members of the community to find common issues, engaging local decision-makers through meetings, and planning in-person ‘actions’, where you might hold those in power to account. All of this work is underpinned by the knowledge that everyday people have the ability to shape the world around them. This work will be rooted locally, but you will be a part of a bigger national drive to make change alongside diverse local alliances across the UK. In Essex, the work is currently focusing on the first Mayoral Election for the County but you will also work on other campaign priorities that are developed through the institutions you work with.

Working as a Senior Organiser for Citizens UK, reporting to Sebastien Chapleau, Regional Supervisor for the South of England and Wales, your main responsibilities will include:

Build relational power to further the goals of CUK

• Develop a comprehensive power analysis for Essex, particularly as the County will elect its first Mayor in May 2028 

• Develop and grow strong working relationships with power players at a county-wide level or sector, including journalists; taking the initiative to establish new relationships as required

• Conduct one-to-one relational meetings in order to develop relationships with leaders; demonstrating timely and effective agitation to stimulate action

• Work effectively with local journalists and media outlets to further CUK’s goals

• Develop a strategic plan to enhance people’s participation in public life as well as enhance non-partisan political and democratic practices across Essex.

• Develop a strategy built on an acute sense of how communities and institutions behave within, and across, the cultures and contexts of Essex. 

• Develop a plan that enables clear and impactful cross-institutional collaboration across Essex.

• Develop a clear strategy to address the shared interests between TELCO and Citizens Essex Leaders (eg around the Lower Thames Valley, overlaps between RC and CoE Dioceses in East London and Essex, etc.). 

Identify and develop relational leaders prepared to act with others for the common good

• Work with and learn from the best veteran leaders on key actions 

• Play a central role in the development of primary leaders; creating plans with them that are carried out

• Nominate leaders for training on the core taster curriculum and for National Training

Strengthen institutions and develop BBOs

• Organise diverse alliances to work together locally but, most importantly, at chapter level

• Create/develop a leadership team of positional leaders and representatives from all institutions at chapter and local levels that are successful in combining action with growth. Work closely with the co-chairs to develop leader-led strategies. 

• Design organising strategies that combine internal & external action

• Ensure that core teams are developed across all institutions across the broad-based alliance to ensure that organising - rather than servicing - remains the top priority. 

Support leaders through the Cycle of Action to create change

• Take the staff lead on chapter-wide actions and campaigns; aiming to achieve significant wins at chapter/campaign level

• Facilitate Issues Workshops and Delegates Assemblies and, in the run up to May 2028, a Mayoral Accountability Assembly

• Develop strategies for significant impact; with comprehensive plans & tactics 

• Support actions, ensuring publicity, and facilitating high level negotiations 

• Evaluate the effectiveness of actions; demonstrating ability to incorporate lessons learned into future actions

Contribute to CUK’s financial viability through effective fundraising & financial management 

• Recruit new dues paying institutions; negotiating annual membership dues and letters of understanding as required

• Recruit and work with large organisations; ensuring that they invest into the alliance and not solely internal delivery 

• Contribute to fundraising by securing £75k-£90k per annum overall, at least half of which should be ‘hard money’ from retention and recruitment of member institutions and strategic partners.

Contribute to effective teamwork

• Line manage other Organisers in Essex

• Attract and help recruit new Organisers

• Lead other Organisers or Associates in a manner that supports high performance by providing clear expectations and providing proactive coaching, support and accountability. 

• Teach entire training curriculum on National Training successfully; acting as a ‘Track Captain’ by providing meaningful feedback and support to other trainers

• Deliver sessions at Guild Days

• Produce all required reports and follow CUK’s procedures on time and to the required standards

Contribute to the Craft of Community Organising

• Schedule an average of at least 4 to 5 1-2-1 relational meetings into your daily schedule as a core part of your professional practice

• Commit 10 working days pa (pro rata for part-time staff) to the preparation, delivery and evaluation of Citizens UK National Community Leadership Training;

• Contribute to the leadership of a Guild Team and help it develop as a Community of Practice that enables Organisers across the UK to develop their skills and experience.

Inclusion 

• Displays self-awareness of DEI issues and good practice. 

• Is alert to the impact on chapters and team members.

• Lead, support collaboration and acts within their area of responsibility and influence. 

• Support in the resourcing, evaluation, and reporting of DEI work, as relevant

Build relational power to further the goals of CUK

• Develop a comprehensive power analysis for Essex, particularly as the County will elect its first Mayor in May 2026 

• Develop and grow strong working relationships with power players at a county-wide level or sector, including journalists; taking the initiative to establish new relationships as required

• Conduct one-to-one relational meetings in order to develop relationships with leaders; demonstrating timely and effective agitation to stimulate action

• Work effectively with local journalists and media outlets to further CUK’s goals

• Develop a strategic plan to enhance people’s participation in public life as well as enhance non-partisan political and democratic practices across Essex.

• Develop a strategy built on an acute sense of how communities and institutions behave within, and across, the cultures and contexts of Essex. 

• Develop a plan that enables clear and impactful cross-institutional collaboration across Essex.

Personal Specification

(D) Desirable, (E) Essential

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in any subject or equivalent (D)

• Evidence of further and continuing study including a possible professional qualification (D)

Experience

• At least three-years employment track record of successful Organising (D)

• Demonstrated ability to lead a team; including motivating and developing more junior staff (E)

• Experience of risk taking to create a project/situation/event that illustrates your values (E)

• Experience of successful fundraising (E)

• Experience of successfully supporting young people in schools/colleges/universities to develop successful campaigns (E)

• Experience of successfully developing faith leaders across a range of denominations (E)

• Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects on time and to standard (E)

• Clear evidence of campaigns won and people developed (E)

Key skills and knowledge

• Ability to build and maintain relationships (E)

• Ability to inspire, motivate and lead (particularly people who are different than you) (E)

• Ability to organise yourself and others and to work responsibly in an unstructured environment (E)

• Financial management skills including ability to set and manage a budget (E) 

• Ability to use imaginative strategies to help improve disadvantaged communities (E)

• Ability to plan and organise under pressure (E)

• Ability to work with and relate to all types of people (E)

• Ability to teach and run workshops (E)

• Ability to develop the potential of others (E)

• Ability to communicate well verbally and in writing (E)

Personal qualities & values

• A passion for justice (E)

• A good sense of humour (E)

• A positive enthusiasm for working with faith congregations, trade unions, schools and other community organisations (E)

• Good judge of character (E)

• High levels of emotional intelligence (E)

• An interest in and experience of politics and public life (E)

• Able to work in a team (E)

• Willingness to work within accountable relationships (E)

• Self-motivated and adaptable (E)

Our Organisers and some project teams work closely with our member institutions and will be expected to attend member events that take place in the evenings and occasional weekends. We operate a Time Off in Lieu approach and have very flexible working arrangements to ensure a good work-life balance.

Please note that the role is Essex-wide and, as such, there is a practical expectation that the successful candidate will be able to drive between key locations across the county (with associated mileage costs being covered by Citizens UK). 

The successful applicant will be required to undertake a satisfactory Enhanced DBS check. DBS checks are renewed on a 3-year cycle.

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.

About the role

The Head of Buildings & Facilities is responsible for the effective, safe and compliant management of The Passage’s buildings and for ensuring that Facilities support the charity’s residential services, day services and offices. The role ensures compliance with statutory, regulatory and organisational requirements, maintains high standards of safety and sustainability as well as delivering value for money.

The role also helps develop and implement our Asset Management Strategy, ensuring our building stock remains in good condition in the medium and long term.

The Head of Buildings & Facilities is supported by a small but experienced Facilities Management team and a number of external contractors.

Main duties

 Strategic Asset Management

• Be a leading part of a team to develop and implement an Asset Management Strategy, including reporting on the condition of buildings, forward planning of major renovations and compliance works, making recommendations for investment planning and capital works programmes.
• Play a leading role in plans to acquire new property assets and to bring them into effective use.
• Ensure the work of the Facilities Management team dovetails with the requirements and regulatory requirements of our residential services.
• Implement and embed tools and systems to improve the efficiency and forward-planning of the team’s work.

Buildings and Facilities Management

• Manage the day-to-day operation of the Passage’s buildings ensuring they are safe, secure, accessible and fit for the services provided to our clients.
• Oversee the Facilities Management team to ensure the fabric and systems of all the charity’s buildings are maintained in line with statutory and regulatory standards.
• Work with the Facilities Management team to (i) oversee planned preventative maintenance and improvements to all of The Passage’s sites (ii) oversee and support the team to provide a quick, reliable response to maintenance and repair requests.
• Ensure colleagues and residents are engaged and informed in advance of any issues which may affect them, thereby minimising potential disruption.

Health and Safety

• Act as the lead and Responsible Person for Health & Safety (H&S) across the organisation including risk assessments, accurate and timely recording of health and safety issues, carrying out audits and investigations as necessary.
• Respond to any reported H&S risks, prioritising any reported risks with a significant potential for harm.
• Ensure The Passage is compliant with all relevant H&S statutory, regulatory and legislative requirements, including but not limited to: Fire safety; Gas, Electrical and Water safety; Asbestos management; RSH regulations.
• Formalise, develop and monitor the H&S framework and policies.
• Working with the Facilities Management team, ensure all work is carried out in full compliance with H&S requirements and best practice, whether that work is carried out by Passage staff or by third party contractors.
• Ensure robust record-keeping and compliance reporting to management and Board.

Relationship Management (Contractors and Suppliers)

• Ensure relationships with key services suppliers are well managed by the Facilities Management team. Work with the team to monitor the quality and timing of external contractors’ work and to address any shortcomings promptly.
• Ensure that all contracts for ongoing work and for one-off pieces of work are awarded in full accordance with The Passage’s procurement policy, ensuring best value for money and high-quality delivery.
• Together with the Facilities Management team, ensure contractors conduct themselves professionally and respectfully whilst attending any of the Passage’s locations and to ensure they follow our safeguarding policy at all times.

Teamwork and Line Management

• Line manage the Facilities Management Co-ordinator with an emphasis on supportive communication, skills development and progress towards personal objectives, including his line management of other members of the team.
• Develop positive relationships with all other teams at The Passage’s multiple sites and promote practices to reduce the need for repairs and replacements.
• Be a proactive and constructive member of The Passage’s Senior Management Group

Financial

• Develop and manage the Facilities Management budget, including capital spend, monitoring spending against budget and explaining variances.
• Support business planning through accurate forecasting and long-term planning of major financial spending.
• Ensure value for money and effective financial control across all areas of responsibility.

General Responsibilities

• Working with your Line Manager, develop your role to keep pace with The Passage’s plans and ambitions; participate in regular supervision and annual appraisal and to lead in identifying your own development and training needs.
• Represent The Passage in a professional manner at all times, carrying out your role to a high standard, and to always work in accordance with the aims, values and ethos of The Passage
• Make sure The Passage’s policies are followed within Buildings & Facilities Management, particularly those for Safeguarding, Health and Safety, Data Protection, anti-Harassment and Equality and Diversity.
• To participate in meetings, training and other events as required.
• Undertake any other duties which are commensurate with the role.

General Responsibilities 

• Working with your Line Manager, develop your role to keep pace with The Passage’s plans and ambitions; participate in regular supervision and annual appraisal and to lead in identifying your own development and training needs. 
• Represent The Passage in a professional manner at all times, carrying out your role to a high standard, and to always work in accordance with the aims, values and ethos of The Passage 
• Make sure The Passage’s policies are followed within Buildings & Facilities Management, particularly those for Safeguarding, Health and Safety, Data Protection and Equality and Diversity. 
• To participate in meetings, training and other events as required. 
• Undertake any other duties that may be required which are commensurate with the role. 

Desired Experience

• E1 – Proven experience in leading a complex Buildings and Facilities Management function, including effective management of external contractors.
• E2 – Experience of developing and/or implementing a buildings Asset Management Strategy.
• E3 – Experience of introducing a systematic approach to Facilities Management, covering Health & Safety, Regulatory compliance and Planned Preventative Maintenance.
• E4 – Experience of developing and getting the best from a small team.
• E5 – Experience of effectively managing budgets.
• E6 – Experience of playing leading role in major projects as well as day to day operations.
• E7 – Demonstrable experience of taking a long-term planning view at the same time as delivering on day-to-day priorities.

Desired Knowledge

• K1 – Strong understanding of Health and Safety and other legislative and regulatory requirements, ideally gained in an environment providing residential accommodation.  
• K2 – Professionally recognised Health & Safety and/or Buildings and Facilities Management qualification (eg IWFM, NEBOSH, IOSH).