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At Ambitious about Autism, we are looking for a Programme Director – Service Development to join our team. You'll develop Ambitious about Autism's and the Trust's education and care services for autistic children and young people.

You'll lead on key strategic projects to extend existing or develop new education and care services for autistic children and young people, providing strong project leadership, strategic integration and managing project-related governance. You'll identify and pursue new business opportunities to drive growth and expansion of our educational settings, including school bids.

You'll be involved in new service development, conducting thorough assessment to identify gaps and opportunities for new provisions or products, whilst developing innovative concepts for new services and seeking approval through business cases. You'll also provide leadership to the Service Development team, with line management of 3 direct reports, whilst upholding Ambitious about Autism's core values.

We are looking for someone who has:

• Extensive business development and project planning knowledge
• Working knowledge of the education, health or social care of children/young people with SEND
• Working knowledge of: The social, policy, regulatory issues affecting children and young people with special educational needs or Commissioning and service delivery for children, young people and their families
• Proven experience of leading the development and delivery of new services for children, young people and/or adults with special educational needs or disabilities either from a third sector, educational, health or local authority background
• Experience of developing strategic and business plans

In return, we offer great benefits including a generous holiday allowance and commitment to continued professional development (CPD), flexible, hybrid working and more!

This is a fantastic opportunity for an ambitious individual who would like to work for a forward-thinking, open and honest organisation and make a real impact to the young people we work with. Please find our full recruitment pack on the link below.

If you have any questions about the role or would like to have a confidential chat, please contact James Axford, Recruitment Officer.

Ambitious about Autism is committed to fostering equity, diversity, and inclusion at every level of our organisation. We warmly welcome applications from all qualified candidates, valuing the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives they bring. We encourage applications from individuals regardless of race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or parental status, disability, or age.

Our recruitment process promotes equal opportunities, and we are committed to providing reasonable adjustments for candidates with disabilities or additional needs throughout the recruitment process. Please contact our Recruitment Team for accommodations. We recognise disability as a physical or mental impairment that significantly and long-term affects a person's ability to perform day-to-day activities, as defined by the UK Equality Act 2010. All applications will be considered solely on merit, aligned with our mission to support autistic children and young people.

Ambitious about Autism is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and successful candidates will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check. As part of our Safer Recruitment checks, an online search maybe carried out in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education.

The Safeguarding responsibilities of the post as per the job description and personal specification.
Whether the post is exempt from the rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendment to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2021. This means that when applying for certain jobs and activities certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected', so they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. Further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS Filter Guidance.

CEO

• Salary for FTE: £62,000 - £75,000 dependant on experience
• 38 hours a week over 5 days (flexibility for right candidate)
• Home-based with travel for events and meetings

Reporting into the Board of Trustees, we are seeking an inspirational CEO for the PDA Society, who can lead with humility and curiosity, empowering and supporting our staff along the journey. They will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the charity and its staff and volunteers, and will oversee the development of our training products, research and support services, whilst ensuring sustainable growth in impact and income.

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a trusted enterprise within the PDA community with a strong mission and a committed, values driven team. The successful candidate will be passionate about improving the lives of PDAers and their families. You will be energetic, creative and bring new ideas for enhancing the charity’s reputation, through nurturing existing relationships and developing new ones to achieve the charities goals. Our ideal candidate will have lived experience of autism, PDA or other neurodivergence although this is not essential.

Closing date for applications: Midnight on 22nd April 2026

Interviews with Trustees:  April / May 2026

This role is vital to the growth of our charity and represents an exciting opportunity for the right candidate to join our small but dynamic team.

You will work closely with the Director of Fundraising and Events Manager on events, corporate, trusts and foundations, community, and individual fundraising efforts.

This is a fantastic opportunity to gain valuable experience in a fast-paced fundraising environment. 

The successful candidate will be motivated to improve life for autistic people - joining a team that is passionate about delivering impact. They will be a strong advocate for ensuring that all opinions are heard and respected and will have the ability to communicate with people of all backgrounds and with different communication styles and support needs.

Main duties and responsibilities

As Fundraising Officer, you will:

• Develop and maintain positive relationships internally with colleagues and externally with stakeholders, donors, and funders. 
• Create marketing materials, including content for social media and our website. 
• Work with the Director of Fundraising and Events Manager, to deliver a series of high-quality, high-profile fundraising events, including assisting with logistics and supporter engagement. 
• Take initiative to explore new areas of fundraising and contribute to innovation. 
• Own and manage delegated tasks or parts of projects, ensuring successful and timely delivery of work. 
• Provide administrative support to the fundraising team, including sending fundraising packs, processing donations and fulfilling orders from our e-shop. 
• Respond to supporter queries via phone, email, and web with professionalism and empathy. 
• Maintain accurate supporter data in the CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system. 
• Create quarterly Gift Aid claims reports via the CRM system and liaise with the finance team to ensure timely submission to HMRC.
• Prepare thank-you letters, certificates, and merchandise to support fundraisers and events. 
• Manage incoming post for fundraising and donors, process Gift Aid declarations, and maintain stock levels for shop and event materials. 
• Produce monthly reports on income, donor activity, and progress against target. 

Person specification (who are we looking for?)

Essential

Qualifications

• While there are no specific essential qualifications, the successful candidate will need to demonstrate a good standard of numeracy and literacy and proficiency in MS Office Suite.

Experience

• Knowledge of and/or personal interest in autism and current issues relating to autism and community preferences.
• At least one year’s experience in a similar role within a charity or nonprofit organisation.
• Experience in using CRM (Customer Relationship Management) systems.
• Track record of managing multiple tasks autonomously and meeting deadlines.
• Experience in building strong relationships, managing expectations and engaging confidently with a range of stakeholders.

Skills

• Organisational and administrative skills, including the ability to manage your own time and multiple priorities to achieve high-quality outcomes.
• Ability to maintain systems for data management and keep accurate records of fundraising activities and donor interactions.
• Confident communicator, able to explain ideas clearly in writing and in conversation.
• A reliable team player who can prioritise work effectively and manage tasks under pressure. 
• Good numeracy skills and the ability to work on simple budgets. 
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to contribute to team discussions and work collaboratively with colleagues.
• Demonstrate an awareness of, and commitment to, inclusion, equality, and diversity.
• A good working knowledge of MS Office 365 and ability and willingness to learn new IT systems (with support/training where needed).

Desirable (please still apply even if you do not have these)

Experience

• Knowledge of data protection and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) compliance for handling donor information. 
• Experience of process mapping and CRM migration projects.
• Experience of digital content creation and donor engagement.
• Experience of remote and/or hybrid working.

Skills

• Able to apply basic marketing skills across different channels, such as emails, social media posts, or printed materials.
• A proactive learner with a passion for exploring new areas of fundraising and developing professionally. 

We are aware that the skills required for this role may be interpreted differently by different people. Our selection process will focus on the desired outcomes, and we are open to different ways of achieving them.

Communications Assistant

• 15 hours per week at £15.00 an hour (Actual salary £11,700 - FTE £27,300)
• Hours may be worked flexibly over a minimum of 3 days a week
• Home based with occasional prearranged in person meetings

The Communications Assistant will provide hands-on support to the Communications Manager in the ideation, creation and delivery of our regular external communications. This includes helping to grow our social media following, creating and scheduling content, sourcing and designing images, providing copywriting support, and responding to comments across our channels. The role will also involve drafting and scheduling newsletters and providing administrative support with our databases.

This is a 15‑hour‑per‑week role, with the potential to grow in the future. Ideally, we are looking for someone who can spread their hours across the week to support consistent content delivery, but we are open to discussing alternative working patterns for the right candidate.

The successful candidate will have experience in a communications, marketing or social media role. They will be proficient in Adobe Illustrator and have basic video editing and/or animation skills. Strong copywriting skills and the ability to adapt tone of voice for different channels are essential, as is confidence using Mailchimp or similar email marketing platforms.

We are a busy remote team, and this role offers plenty of scope to work autonomously and flexibly. You’ll gain experience across a wide range of areas and develop your skills in a supportive, hands‑on environment, with opportunities to contribute to the creative direction of our communications.

Closing date: 19th April 2026

Interviews: 29th April 2026

As Director of External Affairs across the Bild Group of four small charities (with collective turnover of approx. £3m/yr), you will have a deep commitment to human rights and improving people’s lives.

You will provide strategic direction and leadership to the External Relations function across all four charities in the group, taking overall responsibility for and providing thought-leadership on our strategic approach to policy, influencing, public affairs, stakeholder engagement. 

You will play a lead role in planning, developing, and implementing the communication and external relations and wider engagement strategic plan to grow awareness and profile of Bild, Respond, Restraint Reduction Network (RRN) and ACT.

By sharing the impact of our work and programmes in improving the lives of people with learning disabilities, autism and /or mental health conditions, you will support Bild in becoming the sector leading provider of organisational and workforce development (and RRN in becoming the leading charity in reducing restrictive practices globally – and Respond as leaders in trauma informed therapy).

You will champion Bild and RRN’s brand, vision, mission and values acting as an ambassador for the organisation both internally and externally to partners, stakeholders and media.

Key Responsibilities and Duties: 

Strategic Leadership:  

• Develop and implement an integrated communications and external relations strategy across the four charities in the group to raise our profile and to influence change which positively impacts on our beneficiaries, aligning media, campaigning, and public affairs with the charity’s mission and strategic priorities 

• Lead and inspire a high-performing team including Membership and Events Officer, Resources Coordinator and comms team as required 

Comms & Marketing:

• Plan, develop and implement strategic communications and marketing plans to maximise awareness of the Bild Group of charities across the broad spectrum of communications disciplines including media relations, stakeholder management, influencer engagement, ethical (impact focused) marketing, social and new media and the production of new materials and resources 

• Write, develop and produce materials such as infographics, press releases, briefing documents, media statements and online information suitable for stakeholders, including people with lived experience

• Ensure effective marketing across all four charities focusing on impact and including ensuring we attend a range of external events and that all four websites are best practice. 

Influencing & Public Affairs:  

• Working with the CEO, you will drive policy change by developing strategies to influence key decision makers through building relationships with parliamentarians, government departments, and sector stakeholders to ensure the charity's policy agenda is impactful 

• Lead proactive and reactive media engagement, calls and requests for information in order to capitalise on suitable opportunities for maximising the reach and impact of all four charities

• Build our credibility as a thought leader in the sector 

Stakeholder Engagement & Partnerships:  

• Build and sustain strategic alliances with senior civil servants, civil society groups, and community partners to increase the organization's influence and impact 

• Develop effective stakeholder relationship management processes that ensure partnerships of all levels are provided with a rich, immersive engagement experience with the organisation and the work that we do 

• Identify, liaise with and ensure positive relationships with key stakeholders – internal and external including media, government departments, partners, charities, providers, customers, other relevant parties to secure maximum impact for all four charities and their beneficiaries

Reputation, Brand Management & Marketing:  

• Champion the Bild group brands, promoting the mission, values and impact of the organisation and ensuring consistent, engaging narratives and high-quality storytelling across all external channels

• Shaping the charity's profile and protecting its reputation through media relations, digital engagement, and consistent key messaging and building our credibility as thought leaders in sector. 

Membership, Events & Communities:  

• By ensuring appropriate, effective and engaging communications to all relevant audiences and stakeholders, your role will support the growth and development of our membership, Communities of Practice and the event programme (including webinars and conferences).

• Effectively plan, manage and lead a range of events for the Bild group of charities and associated marketing and communications

• Develop framework for Communities of Practice and strategy for engagement and growth 

• Supporting Bild and RRN spokespeople with PR and media outreach

• Keep abreast of communications and engagement activity within the sector and demonstrate an awareness of the impact these may have on existing and future communications activity

General Responsibilities 

• Contribute to evaluation and assessment of results against KPIs and tracking activity

• Allocate, manage and evaluate budget spend

• Identify resource requirements for activity across Bild group

• Develop and maintain systems, databases and procedures to support Bild group communication activities

• Plan, monitor, appraise and report progress of activity regularly with an innate understanding of how this supports activity across the Bild group

• Plan, manage and oversee budgetary spend related to outsourcing specialist activities such as video editing and design

• Ensure communications and marketing work complies with data protection and other legal, professional and agency requirements, standards and policies

• Support the senior leadership team on any activity as required. 

Personal Development  

• Be part of a culture of quality in all areas of communications, PR and marketing

• Participate and contribute to individual performance appraisal and supervision sessions

• Keep abreast of relevant initiatives and developments within the adult health and social care, education & disability sector and the wider communications / engagement profession

• Undertake relevant training, as necessary including accessing new systems and software as required to support the role.

Organisational Responsibilities: 

• Access and work within Bild’s policies and procedures.  

• Attend internal cycle of team meetings relevant to this role.  

• Engage with line management, supervision (where appropriate) and appraisal process.  

• Comply with data protection regulations, ensuring that information on clients, employees, volunteers and other stakeholders remains confidential.  

• Take responsibility for personal learning and development with support from line manager.  

• Work in a manner that facilitates equal opportunities and inclusion for all.  

• Remain professional and respectful at all times, promoting positive relations with all those we encounter in our work.  

• Maintain health and safety and risk awareness for self and others across the organisation.  

• Undertake any other duties that Bild may require within the remit of this role.  

This job description does not form part of the contract of employment. It is intended as a guide to the general scope of duties and is not definitive or restrictive. It is expected that some duties will change over time and this description will be subject to review with the postholder at their annual appraisal.  

Person Specification  

Job Title 

Director of External Relations 

• Exceptional copy writing and verbal communication skills

• Good presenting, negotiating and influencing skills

• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to build mutually beneficial relationships

• The ability to work effectively within a small team

• Ability to work under pressure, and plan, manage, and adapt own workload

• A flexible, proactive and problem-solving approach to work

• A motivated attitude and ability to work on own initiative 

• A commitment to human rights and modelling accessibility and inclusion throughout activity

• Willingness to travel and work flexible hours as demanded by the post

• Fit to undertake the duties of the post. 

Experience/Skills/Competencies 

Essential 

• Significant experience working in communications, policy and PR with demonstrable success

• PR and media management experience, including both online and traditional PR

• Experience of managing and implementing social media plans, including post development, scheduling, evaluation and monitoring feedback

• Experience of overseeing the design and production of print and electronic publications, including website management and development

• Experience of managing CRM systems and ensuring effective data capture and utilising data to inform decision making

• Ability to analyse data and shape results into reports that inform decision making

• Ability to build effective relationships and networks and establish credibility for Bild, RRN, Respond and Bild ACT 

• Ability to work collaboratively and develop positive relationships with colleagues, members and wider stakeholders

• Demonstrated digital comms / social media skills and understanding of emerging digital marketing tools and platforms

• Ability to use a variety of IT packages/databases including CRM systems.

• Experience managing budgets and associated reporting

• Ability to work remotely and regularly travel to in person events

• Time management skills and ability to prioritise workload under pressure as part of a small but vibrant team

• Strong awareness and interest in news/current affairs/politics and the broader third sector, social care and education sector. 

Desirable 

• Experience working in the not-for-profit sector, preferably in another disability and/or membership charity

• Strong understanding of education, health, social care, disability and not for profit environment

• Strong media contacts within relevant trade sector publications

• Ability to use externally managed media databases (such as Agility etc.)

• Experience with conferences, webinars and hybrid events. 

• Experience supporting and manging a remote team

Education and Qualifications: 

Other Requirements: 

• Commitment to anti-discriminatory practice and equal opportunities and able to apply awareness of diversity issues to all areas of work.  

• Regular travel to attend meetings and events. 

• Occasional evening meetings.  

Legal requirements: 

• Enhanced DBS check. 

The Mason Foundation is a national charity supporting neurodivergent young people into meaningful employment through our Propel mentorship programme. We work across England and Scotland, partnering with schools, colleges, community youth settings and employers to champion neuroinclusion and create opportunities for young people to thrive.

75% of our staff are neurodivergent, and we're proud to create an inclusive, supportive workplace where everyone can succeed.

The Opportunity

We are at an exciting growth phase with ambitions to scale nationally. To achieve this, we need to capture and share the positive impact we have on people's lives.

As the Impact and Fundraising Manager, you will work hands on with our delivery team to design data collection systems that feel manageable and purposeful, not burdensome. You understand that different people think, process, and work in different ways, so you will create multiple methods for collecting the same data to suit different styles.

You take a methodical approach to understanding what data we need to showcase impact, then build the frameworks and provide the practical support to make collection happen across multiple methods. You empower the team to grow their confidence in impact measurement through training, clear guidance, and being there alongside them.

You will translate the data we collect into compelling, heartfelt stories that position The Mason Foundation as best practice. You will engage with traditional media and sector publications to showcase our work and support the COO with fundraising by providing the impact evidence that inspires funders and commissioners to collaborate with us.

What We're Looking For

• Methodical approach to collecting data across multiple different methods, understanding what needs to be collected to showcase impact without being burdensome

• Hands on experience supporting frontline teams with data and impact collection, building their confidence and skills

• Ability to design multiple ways of collecting a uniform dataset, recognizing different thinking, processing, and working styles

• Strong storyteller who can make data heartfelt and human whilst maintaining evidence-based rigour

• Experience with traditional media engagement (press releases, media relations) and writing for sector publications

• Understanding of neuroinclusion, community development, or social impact landscapes

• Experience working with CRM systems and ability to lead exploration of accessible data tools

• Empathetic, supportive, highly organised, and self-motivated with ability to work part time hours efficiently in a remote environment

Why Join Us

In return, you get to work for an ambitious, values driven charity making a real difference in the lives of neurodivergent young people. You will have the flexibility of remote working with a flexible working pattern, 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays (pro rata), opportunities to shape our impact story and professional development, and the chance to be part of a neuroinclusive workplace culture where everyone's contributions matter.

The Latin American Women’s Rights Service (LAWRS) is a human rights and feminist
organisation led by and for Latin American migrant women in the UK. Our work is dedicated to
supporting the immediate and long-term needs of Latin American migrant women exposed to
violations of their fundamental human rights; facing violence against women and girls,
exploitation or trafficking; enduring difficult living and working conditions in low paid jobs, and
facing barriers to social protection.
The post holder will be responsible for leading the development and implementation of LAWRS’
policy, advocacy, and communications strategy to tackle the issues affecting migrant women in
the UK labour market, in particular those who are survivors of trafficking and exploitation, and
will work jointly with LAWRS’ policy team and the frontline teams.

This post is open to Latin American women only* in accordance with the Equality Act 2010. We
particularly welcome applications from disabled and LGBTQ+ candidates as they are currently
underrepresented within the team.

Please keep in mind that if you are shortlisted for an interview, you will be
required to complete an exercise beforehand.

*women who identify as Latin Americans (1st and 2nd generation) and speak Spanish and/or
Portuguese.

Please note that only applicants with the right to work in the UK covering the duration of
the contract will be considered for this position.

Deadline: Sunday 12th April
Interviews: the week commencing 11th May