Research and policy officer jobs in Birmingham

Acorns Children’s Hospice provides specialist care and support for babies, children and young people who are life limited or life threatened. Supporting over 750 children and nearly 1,000 families annually, Acorns is a vital lifeline for families across the West Midlands and Gloucestershire during unimaginably difficult times.

Over the past three years, Acorns’ leadership has enhanced collaboration and innovation across the charity and embedded an organisation-wide fundraising culture. They are now seeking a senior corporate partnerships specialist to lead Acorns’ newly formed Partnerships Team, which combines corporate new business, account management and community income streams.

A member of the Fundraising Leadership Team, the role will be responsible for securing and managing high-value strategic partnerships with businesses while simultaneously driving engagement with local community groups, education partners, and faith groups, ensuring clear tiering, structured pipeline progression and robust income performance.

The role will also act as Partnerships lead for the upcoming £5m fundraising appeal, co-canvassing alongside the Head of Philanthropy and executive leadership, and mobilising corporate and community networks around key campaign moments.

As Head of Partnerships, you will:

• Report to the Associate Director of Fundraising and line manage a team of four (Senior Business Development Manager (Corporate), Senior Corporate Partnerships Manager Senior Community Partnerships Manager, Partnership Engagement Officer)
• Form part of the Fundraising Leadership Team, with shared accountability for strategic decision making, compliance and cross-directorate working
• Lead and integrate Corporate and Community fundraising into a cohesive partnerships strategy aligned to the wider Fundraising Strategy
• Design and implement a three-year corporate and community income plan, with full budget and forecasting responsibility
• Conduct an audit of current partnerships activity, pipeline and resource allocation to ensure effort aligns to regional and national potential
• Lead corporate new business acquisition, securing multi-year strategic partnerships, Charity of the Year agreements, cause-related marketing, sponsorship and stock generation partnership

Essential skills and experience:

• Strong corporate fundraising background within a charity setting
• Proven track record of securing six-figure corporate gifts
• Experience managing and motivating teams to deliver robust income targets
• Experience designing strategies, annual plans and budgets and adapting them as required
• Strong knowledge of the corporate landscape, regionally and ideally nationally
• Confidence leading high-value pitches, negotiations and senior stakeholder engagement
• Experience of forecasting, reporting and managing income performance
• Strong working knowledge of CRM systems and fundraising compliance

Desirable:

• Experience across both local AND national corporate partnerships
• Exposure to community fundraising or engagement programmes
• Experience working on appeal boards or high-value campaign activity

Employee benefits include: 

• 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• 5 days holiday buyback scheme starting from April 2026
• 7.5% employer pension contribution
• Life assurance scheme (2 x annual salary)
• Retail discounts (including the Blue Light card)
• Cycle to work scheme
• Discounted gym membership
• Access to expert financial health and wellbeing support

Hybrid working with 2dpw at preferred location (Birmingham, Worcester or Walsall). 

We’re looking for an experienced Head of IT and Digital Transformation with a track record in digital project management, of implementing IT and CRM systems, and of developing digital transformation strategies.

Help shape the future of income generation at Alopecia UK. This newly created role offers a rare opportunity to build and lead fundraising at a small but ambitious national charity.

We are looking for a strategic and hands-on Senior Fundraising Manager to lead our next phase of income growth. As our first dedicated fundraising leadership role, you will develop and deliver a multi-year income strategy, strengthen existing income streams, and identify new opportunities to diversify and grow our fundraising.

Working closely with the CEO and colleagues across the organisation, you will play a central role in helping Alopecia UK reach more people affected by alopecia and ensure the charity’s long-term sustainability. This role offers the chance to combine strategy with delivery, innovation with implementation, and to see the direct impact of your work.

If you enjoy building, testing and growing income in a collaborative and mission-driven environment, we would love to hear from you.

Why this role matters

This is more than a fundraising leadership role. It is about shaping the financial sustainability of Alopecia UK, embedding a confident and ambitious income culture, and ensuring our impact is communicated with clarity, integrity and inspiration.

The successful candidate will help ensure that more people can access support, that our voice grows stronger, and that our mission is sustained for the long term.

Role description: Senior Fundraising Manager  (Full recruitment pack and application process is attached below.)

• Salary: £45,000 per annum, pro rata.
• Hours: Part-time (22.5 hours per week, flexible, during normal UK working hours we would consider a contract with fewer hours for the right candidate.  All of our team work Monday mornings to ensure connectivity.)
• Contract type: Permanent
• Report to: Chief Executive
• Home-based: This role will include occasional national travel for team meetings.

Strategic leadership

• Lead the development and implementation of a multi-year income generation strategy aligned to Alopecia UK priorities.
• Work across the organisation to ensure fundraising activity is fully integrated with operational delivery, partnering closely with the finance, communications and delivery managers to align plans, resources and messaging, and to ensure shared initiatives are realistic, coordinated and achievable.
• Translate insight from your experience and our recent fundraising strategy review into clear, achievable plans.
• Set and monitor ambitious yet realistic income targets across income streams.
• Responsibility for achieving the fundraising targets and other fundraising-related performance indicators.
• Embed a positive fundraising culture across the organisation.
• Manage and review all fundraising income and expenditure budgets.

Income growth & diversification

As a part-time role within a small charity, the postholder will need to carefully prioritise income-generating opportunities alongside stewardship and relationship management. In year one, a key focus will be establishing effective donor pathways through the rollout of our new CRM, ensuring supporters experience clear and meaningful journeys with the charity. Alongside this, the Senior Fundraising Manager will assess and determine which early opportunities for growth should be prioritised. While areas such as community fundraising, digital campaigns and regular giving are likely to offer early potential, the postholder will lead decisions on where to focus effort and investment to generate the strongest returns.

• Leverage and optimise existing community and public fundraising activity to increase income and supporter numbers.
• Develop and grow new revenue streams, to potentially include digital fundraising campaigns, regular giving, trusts and grants, and legacy giving.
• Lead creatively and intellectually on compelling campaigning initiatives that drive engagement and income.
• Provide excellent stewardship to ensure funders and partners feel valued, engaged and motivated to continue their support.
•  Widen our existing corporate partnerships programme by building mutually beneficial partnerships to deliver income, awareness, and engagement opportunities.

CRM

• Support the design and rollout of our first CRM system, working closely with the Finance & Operations Manager to design fit-for-purpose donor journeys and pathways, establish meaningful reporting frameworks and ensure data supports excellent stewardship and strategic decision-making.
• Use CRM data and financial information to track performance, analyse trends and adjust strategy as required.

Data & impact

• Ensure compliance with all relevant regulations, including ICO guidance, GDPR and the Code of Fundraising Practice.
• Work closely with the Finance & Operations Manager to ensure our data meaningfully represents organisational outcomes.
• Translate impact data into powerful, succinct and persuasive communications or compelling cases for support.

You will play a key role in leading the day–to–day delivery of the service, providing effective management and leadership to a team of Early Help support workers and Early Help Development Workers. As the Service Manager, you will be required to work in partnership with the Operational Manager to support the strategic development of the integrated service offer for children and families living in the West of Birmingham. You will be required to work closely with a wide range of stakeholders and actively engage in local and district meetings and with Birmingham Childrens Trust. As the Service Manager, you will be working as a part of a management team and be accountable for the quality standards in the service, building and sustaining professional relationships with all stakeholders.You will play a key role in leading the day–to–day delivery of the service, providing effective management and leadership to a team of Early Help support workers and Early Help Development Workers. As the Service Manager, you will be required to work in partnership with the Operational Manager to support the strategic development of the integrated service offer for children and families living in the West of Birmingham. You will be required to work closely with a wide range of stakeholders and actively engage in local and district meetings and with Birmingham Childrens Trust. As the Service Manager, you will be working as a part of a management team and be accountable for the quality standards in the service, building and sustaining professional relationships with all stakeholders. 

We’re looking for a talented Salesforce Product Manager to cover a period of maternity leave.

This is a crucial and strategic role for our charity as we require an expert product manager to lead and manage our Salesforce platform, delivering configuration, insight, reporting and training.

The Salesforce Product Manager is responsible for leading the ongoing development, administration and improvement of our Salesforce ecosystem, ensuring it supports all areas of our charity, including fundraising, operations, finance and grant management.

The post holder is required to act as the trusted Salesforce partner for all users, translating needs into scalable solutions, managing change and delivering insight, training as well as data-driven improvements to help the charity achieve its strategic goals and objectives.  This role requires independent ownership, strong stakeholder partnership skills and the ability to translate business needs into practical solutions.

About GNDR

We are the Global Network of Civil Society Organisations for Disaster Reduction (GNDR), the largest global network of organisations committed to working together to improve the lives of people affected by disasters worldwide. Since being established in 2007, we have grown into a network of over 2,000 member organisations across 130+ countries, representing millions of people on the frontlines of hazards, climate change and mass displacement. Through transformative, evidence-led programming and powerful advocacy, we are driving climate action and disaster resilience alongside our members across the globe.

About the role

GNDR is seeking a motivated and strategic leader to join our Senior Leadership Team as our new Head of Operations. 

With the launch of our 2026–2030 Global Strategy, this is a defining moment to shape how GNDR functions and ensure our global network is equipped to deliver real impact.

In this role, you will set the operational vision that underpins our strategy, ensuring our systems, people, and resources are aligned, sustainable, and future‑ready. You will lead all core operational functions, building the strong operational foundation that enables GNDR to thrive. Working closely with teams across regions, you will ensure our operations are coherent, efficient, and responsive to the needs of our members and the communities we serve.

If you’re driven by the opportunity to shape organisational excellence, strengthen global operations, and create the conditions for meaningful change, we’d love to hear from you.

Overall scope of the role

The remit of this post will cover the following core responsibilities:

• Strategic financial oversight
• Funding, grants and partnerships
• People, culture and organisational development
• Systems, logistics and IT
• Legal, risk and compliance
• Governance and board support
• Strategic leadership
• Line management and team development

Candidate requirements

We are ideally seeking candidates with:

• Expert financial stewardship, including management of grant‑funded budgets, financial controls, reporting, procurement, and supplier partnerships
• Operational and governance leadership spanning finance, HR, IT, compliance, risk, and organisational systems
• Inclusive people and culture leadership, with HR expertise and experience supporting cross‑cultural, geographically dispersed teams
• Strong digital capability, from driving digital transformation to confidently using finance, HR, and IT systems
• Strategic and organisational development skills, including planning, project oversight, risk management, and guiding teams through change
• Senior‑level strategic leadership, contributing to organisational direction and fostering effective cross‑team collaboration
• A deep commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and alignment with GNDR’s mission and values

Eligibility

Eligible candidates must have the right to work in the UK.  Candidates will need to be able to travel internationally when necessary. 

This role is primarily remote. We’ll ensure you have a safe and appropriate remote working setup, and we’re open to discussing flexible working arrangements as part of the recruitment process. Our hybrid working approach is currently under review, so there may be occasional in‑person meetups in London in the future, subject to ongoing consultation.

Please note that all offers of employment at GNDR are conditional and subject to satisfactory background checks.

We encourage applications from people who meet most of the essential criteria listed in the job description below. You don’t need to tick every single box to be considered. We recognise that strong candidates may bring relevant strengths and experience in different ways, and we don’t want this to deter you from applying. If you can demonstrate a solid overall match with the role, we’d love to hear from you.

For a full job description and person specification please follow the link below.

Start date

We are ideally looking for candidates who are available to start as early as possible. However, we recognise that availability may vary due to individual notice periods, and we are happy to accommodate some flexibility where possible.

How to apply

Please submit an up to date copy of your CV (max. two A4 pages) and a cover letter (max. one A4 page) outlining skills and experience relevant to the role by email to our HR team. Please include in the subject of the email, the following: “Application for the Head of Operations role”.

Please note: we are unable to accept incomplete applications.

Contact information of our HR team are availble on our website, please follow the application link below.

Closing date

11 March 2026 at 12pm (GMT)

Due to the high volume of applications we expect to receive for this role, we may not be able to provide individual feedback. However, we will endeavour to contact all applicants to update them on the outcome of their application.

Interview

Week commencing 16 March 2026

Please note: The interview process usually consists of two online stages, which may include a role‑specific task. Candidates who are successful at the shortlisting stage will be invited to a first online interview. If you progress from there, you’ll be invited to a second‑stage interview, where we may also ask you to complete a task assessment. Interviews are typically conducted by a panel of two to three people, including the hiring manager. We encourage applicants to let us know about any adjustments needed to ensure the recruitment process is fully accessible and equitable.

Our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion 

We are dedicated to creating a team that embodies the rich diversity of the society and communities we serve. Our commitment lies in cultivating an inclusive environment, where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

We strongly encourage applications from individuals of diverse backgrounds, including those from underrepresented ethnicities, nationalities, socioeconomic circumstances, LGBTQIA+ and individuals with disabilities. We celebrate the unique experiences and perspectives that every candidate brings and are dedicated to ensuring fair and equitable opportunities for all.

We’re committed to making our recruitment process as accessible and inclusive as possible for individuals of all needs and abilities. If you require any adjustments at any stage of our recruitment process, please contact us. Contact information are available on our website, please visit our jobs pages.

Our benefits and wellbeing

At GNDR, we are committed to cultivating a happy and healthy working environment for all our staff. We provide a competitive salary and benefits package across all of our locations.  Find out more about our approach to wellbeing and our benefits on our website.

Flexible working

In order to support and encourage a healthy work-life balance for our staff, we are happy to consider flexible working requests as part of our recruitment process. As a global organisation, most staff work remotely depending on their role and location. 

If you have any questions on any of the above information or if you have any specific requirements that would enable you to participate more fully in the recruitment process,  please contact our recruitment team.

Kairos Women Working Together (Kairos) was founded in 1999 by a group of women in Coventry who recognised that those facing multiple disadvantages, and therefore most at risk of sexual exploitation, were falling through the cracks of existing services. From grassroots beginnings, Kairos has grown into a respected, feminist led, specialist women’s organisation rooted in the community it serves.

Over the next 5 years, Kairos will strengthen our new Women’s Hub as a safe, accessible, trauma-informed women’s centre delivering best practice responses, expand our services to meet women’s needs, strengthen partnerships, and influence systems so that no woman is left behind.

To do this, Kairos now seeks a strategic and experienced Finance & Impact Lead to join our Senior Leadership Team and drive the financial health and demonstrable impact of our charity.

Reporting to the Chief Executive, you will be the custodian of our financial strategy, compliance, and data integrity. The role involves leading the annual budgeting and forecasting cycles, managing all financial operations—including statutory accounts and audit—and ensuring strong financial controls. A key component is translating complex financial and performance data into clear, compelling impact reports for funders, trustees, and senior leadership.

If you are driven by both financial excellence and purpose-led impact, we encourage you to apply.

Overview of Role                               

Job Title: Finance & Impact Lead

Post Salary: £40,000 per annum

Working hours: 37 hours per week. Will attend quarterly evening meetings of the Board of Trustees.  

Reporting to: Chief Executive

Contract: Permanent 

Location: Kairos Women’s Hub, Old Grammar School, 31 Silver Street, Coventry, CV1 1HP. Hybrid working between office and home. 

*Due to the nature of our work, this post is restricted to female applicants only under Section 9 of the Equality Act 2010.  An enhanced DBS (Disclosure Barring Service) disclosure will be required for this role. 

Overview of Post

The Finance & Impact Lead is a strategic role responsible for ensuring the overall financial health and sustainability, compliance, and demonstrable impact of the charity. A member of the Senior Leadership Team and reporting to the Chief Executive, the role encompasses leading the financial strategy, overseeing the annual budgeting and forecasting cycles, managing all day-to-day financial operations (including statutory accounts, audit, and cashflow), and maintaining strong financial controls. Additionally, this position acts as the custodian of organisational data, focusing on developing systems for data collection, ensuring compliance, and translating complex financial and performance data into clear, compelling reports that demonstrate the charity’s effectiveness and impact to trustees, funders, and senior leadership.

Main Responsibilities

Financial Leadership & Strategy

• Lead the organisation’s financial strategy, ensuring sustainability and alignment with mission and organisational priorities.

• Provide clear, high-level financial insight and modelling to support strategic decision-making. 

• Monitor organisational performance against budget with variance analysis and recommendations.

Planning, Budgeting & Forecasting

• Oversee the annual budgeting cycle and produce accurate forecasts highlighting trends, risks and opportunities.

• Work with the Senior Leadership Team to produce robust budgets, forecasts and narrative insights.

Financial Management, Controls & Reporting

• Produce high-quality accounts and financial analysis to inform decision making.

• Ensure strong financial controls, compliance with statutory obligations and effective cashflow management.

• Lead all year-end processes, statutory accounts and the external audit/examination, ensuring compliance with the requirements of the Charity Commission, Companies House, HMRC and the Pensions Regulator.

• Oversee and manage day to day finance operations, including income processing, expenditure, payroll, banking and cash management. 

• Manage month-end processes, reconciliations and the preparation of quarterly management accounts for Trustees.

Grant, Contract & Fund Management

• Work with the Fundraising and Development Lead to formulate funding bids to maximize sustainable income and to ensure expenses are not double funded.

• Ensure all funders are invoiced promptly and in accordance with contract schedules to support timely receipt of funds and maintain healthy cash flow.

• Provide costings, financial models and value-for-money analysis for bids and contracts.

• Track expenditure against funder requirements, ensuring accurate, timely reporting.

• Oversee the procurement and management of key contracts such as IT, facilities, suppliers and insurance, to ensure efficiency and value. 

Data Stewardship & Evidence Generation

• Act as the custodian of organisational data, ensuring data integrity, completeness and GDPR-compliant processes.

• Develop and maintain data-collection systems that capture financial, operational, outcomes and impact information.

• Work with the services leads to gather high-quality quantitative and qualitative data that reflects women’s experiences.

Impact Reporting & Insight

• Produce clear, compelling financial, performance and impact reports for senior leadership, trustees, funders and commissioners.

• Translate complex data into meaningful insights that demonstrate organisational impact, effectiveness and growth.

• Support strategic planning and funding bids with evidence-based insight and scenario analysis.

Person Specification 

Qualifications

• Professionally qualified accountant (CCAB body such as CIPFA/ACCA/CIMA) or equivalent, with evidence of CPD.

• Additional training or experience in impact measurement, ESG, or sustainability reporting desirable.

Experience

• Significant experience in charity finance, including management accounting, budgeting, and SORP-compliant reporting.

• Demonstrable experience of KPI-based reporting and funding compliance.

• Experience in impact measurement and/or ESG reporting in the charity or social enterprise sector desirable

• Experience leading audits, preparing statutory accounts, and managing Gift Aid and VAT for charities.

• Track record of improving financial controls and processes.

• Experience with finance systems (e.g. Quickbooks) and data integration.

Knowledge & Skills

• In-depth knowledge of Charities SORP (FRS 102), fund accounting, and charity sector regulations.

• Strong understanding of impact measurement frameworks (e.g. Theory of Change, Social Return on Investment, ESG standards).

• Advanced analytical skills, including financial modelling and impact analysis.

• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to present complex information clearly to non-finance audiences.

• High proficiency in Excel and business intelligence tools such as Microsoft Power BI

Values & Behaviours

• Mission-driven, collaborative, and committed to Kairos’s values.

• High integrity, professional scepticism, and a continuous improvement mindset.

• Commitment to Kairos’s values and ethos.

Other

• Willingness to work flexibly.

• Unrestricted right to work in the UK

To apply, please complete an application form or if you prefer send your CV with a cover letter setting out how you meet our role requirements.

We're keen to interview great candidates as soon as possible. Interviews may be held as applications come in, and we reserve the right to close the advert early, so please don't wait - apply now!