The Vacancies
We are seeking to appoint one registered medical practitioner and one business registrant (Companies Committee), one lay member (Education Committee) and one optometrist (Standards Committee) to our Advisory Panel Companies Committee.
About the GOC
We are the regulator for the optical professions in the UK. Our purpose is to protect the public by promoting high standards of education, performance, and conduct. For more information about us please visit our website.
About the Advisory Panel
The Advisory Panel is a meeting of the four Council’s committees (Companies, Education, Registration, and Standards) in plenary session. They are established by statute for the purpose of giving advice and assistance to Council (whether or not in response to a request from them) on:
- matters relating to business registrants other than matters required by the Opticians Act to be referred to the Investigation Committee, the Registration Appeals, Committee or the Fitness to Practise Committee;
- matters relating to optical training, education, and assessment;
- matters relating to registration, other than matters required by the Opticians Act to be considered by the Registration Appeals Committee; and
- matters relating to the standards of conduct and performance expected of registrants or those seeking admission to the register.
Time Commitment and Remuneration
This role is part time with a commitment of approximately 2-3 days per year, including time spent preparing for meetings. Meetings will usually take place via MS Teams but may on occasion be held at the GOC Offices in London or other suitable venues.
Members are paid up to £185 per meeting. This is taxable and subject to National Insurance (NI) contributions. This is in line with our member fees policy and member fee schedule.
How to apply
Please apply with the following:
- your CV outlining your employment history, any relevant voluntary work, public service, or other experience; together with any relevant professional, academic, or vocational qualifications (please keep this to two sides of A4);
- the application form (attached), stating how your experience matches the essential criteria for the vacancy you are applying for; and
- an EDI monitoring form (linked in the candidate pack)
Please email your completed application quoting reference GOC01/26 to appointment@optical. org.
We would welcome applications from individuals who are disabled and from diverse ethnic backgrounds, as these are currently under-represented on our Council and committees.
For more information about these roles please download the candidate information pack attached.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: midnight Sunday 29 March 2026.
Online interviews will be held on 14,15,18 and 19 May 2026.
If you have any questions, please email them to appointment@optical. org and we will aim to respond to you within 48 hours.
We strive to be as diverse as the public we protect and welcome applications from everyone, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy, maternity, and geographical locations outside of London.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Community Development & Health Programme Manager - to cover Maternity Leave
Full Time - 37 hrs per week (largely office/community based with some limited work at home permitted)
Salary range - £41,363 - £47,513 per annum, dependant on qualification, skills & previous experience
Fixed term for 12-months covering a period of maternity leave
Based Newhaven with some travel to outreach and delivery locations across E. Sussex
You will be an experienced people, project, and services manager with a track record and flair for developing and delivering community-based services to contract, and which meet identified community needs, in a consistently high quality way. With strong financial acumen and the ability to develop and monitor budgets, you will analyse and explain variances, manage complex and time-limited funding streams, and collaborate regularly with the finance team. The role also involves developing and supporting project staff in effective budget management.
With responsibility for the strategic development of the community development & health work area; which incorporates community infrastructure support & development, youth & families, environmental and active travel initiatives; you will lead, direct & support a multi-disciplinary team who manage the contracts, services and day-to-day delivery of this broad work area.
Skilled at managing relationships with existing funders and commissioners, you will broker new partnerships, write bids and collaborate on funding tenders, ensuring sustained funding for services which support people with complex challenges in our communities. With excellent organisation, communication, finance and project management skills, you will demonstrate sensitivity to the ambitions of this work area and to SCDA’s vision.
We are looking for people to join our team who have the qualities and skills we feel would most benefit our service users; professionalism, empathy, kindness and understanding. In return, we recognise people want to work in a supportive environment with friendly colleagues. We offer a flexible approach to delivery where possible, annual leave of 23 days per year pro rata plus bank holidays and sick pay from the start (increasing with service), additional sick pay for necessary operations and recovery, a pension scheme, bereavement leave, and managers who are available to you… plus a day off for your birthday!
Based Newhaven with travel across E. Sussex, car driver and owner preferred as many delivery locations are rural and not served well by public transport. Post subject to DBS check.
Closing date: 5pm Sunday 22nd March 2026
1st stage interviews: 1st April 2026 in Newhaven
For the job description and to apply, please visit our website.
You may think that you’re not a 100% match to what we’re looking for, but we recognise that some skills and experience may be transferable rather than an exact match. If you’re unsure about whether to apply, please do contact the HR team and we would be happy to arrange an informal discussion with the recruiting manager.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Certitude is a values-driven charity with over 30 years’ experience supporting people with learning disabilities, autistic people, and those with mental health needs.
We are now seeking a Finance Business Partner to join our Finance team and work closely with operational leaders across supported living, residential, and community-based services. This is a highly visible role, focused on turning financial data into meaningful insight that improves outcomes, strengthens services, and delivers value for money, while remaining aligned with our mission and Charities SORP.
The key responsibilities of the Finance Business Partner include:
- Act as the primary finance contact for defined service localities, providing proactive, trusted business partnering support.
- Produce monthly management accounts with clear variance analysis and insightful commentary on income, staffing, agency usage, sleep-ins, travel, and overhead recovery.
- Support Team Managers with budgeting, reforecasting, cost control, and financial planning aligned to safe staffing and support needs.
- Lead unit economics and service performance analysis, including rota efficiency, voids, empty rooms, and overall service sustainability.
- Work closely with the Development Accountant to ensure pricing models, service charges, and cost allocations accurately reflect the true cost of delivery.
- Build and maintain finance KPI dashboards in collaboration with Operations and the Senior Management Accountant.
- Support bids, retenders, and contract variations by providing robust costings, pricing models, and funding justifications.
- Analyse performance across block, spot, framework, and personal budget contracts, reconciling delivered versus commissioned activity.
- Support commissioner discussions around uplifts linked to inflation, National Living Wage, and changes in acuity.
- Work with the Financial Controller to ensure accurate and timely billing, with correct treatment of restricted, unrestricted, and deferred income.
About Certitude:
With a workforce of around 1,500 colleagues and a turnover of approximately £70m, Certitude combines strong financial foundations with a clear social purpose. While our roots are firmly in London, we are expanding beyond the capital, creating exciting opportunities to shape how financial insight supports sustainable growth and high-quality care.
We are proud of our values and the impact we make, and we are committed to equality, diversity, and creating a great place to work for our colleagues.
The successful candidate will:
- Be part-qualified and actively studying towards a recognised accountancy qualification such as ACCA or CIMA, or equivalent.
- Ideally bring experience from social care or another people-intensive, service-led environment, though strong candidates from other sectors are very much encouraged to apply.
- Have hands-on experience producing management accounts, with the ability to deliver clear, insightful commentary and demonstrate effective finance business partnering in support of budgets and performance.
- Be comfortable working across multiple cost centres and managing an expanding portfolio of services or departments, with the confidence to analyse trends, review financial performance, and present financial information to non-finance stakeholders.
- Be proactive, inquisitive, and willing to challenge the status quo, with the confidence to ask “why” and drive improvement.
This opportunity is being offered on a hybrid basis with the expectation you can visit their Balham High Road office a minimum of two days a week.
Applications will be under constant review before the closing date so please submit your application to our exclusive agent Robertson Bell. Apply now to be considered!
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Luton Town FC Community Trust is seeking to recruit a Community Operations Manager to play a key role in the coordination, delivery and development of its community programmes. This is a senior operational role, working closely with the Head of Community Trust to ensure programmes are well managed, aligned to organisational priorities and delivered to a high standard.
The role will combine operational leadership with a proportion of direct programme delivery, enabling the postholder to remain connected to communities, delivery teams and participant needs. The Community Operations Manager will also contribute to the development of new programmes and associated funding opportunities, support partnership working and act as a key decision maker for day-to-day operational matters.
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced community or sport for development professional who is motivated to make meaningful impact, strengthen organisational capacity and help reduce health inequalities across Luton and Bedfordshire.
Job Purpose
Reporting to the Head of Community Trust, the Community Operations Manager will provide operational leadership across the organisation, while maintaining a proportion of direct programme delivery to remain connected to communities, delivery teams and participant needs.
The role will coordinate and strengthen programme delivery; line manage designated staff and support the development of new programmes and associated funding opportunities aligned to organisational priorities.
The postholder will embed organisational strategy into effective day to day operations, acting as a key decision maker for operational matters and supporting senior leadership capacity.
Key Responsibilities
1. Community Engagement & Relationship Building
- Build strong relationships with funders, local authorities, key stakeholders, local schools, charities, grassroots clubs and other community organisations.
- Act as a liaison between the football club and the local community.
- Promote inclusion and diversity through outreach to underrepresented groups.
2. Programme Development & Delivery
- Contribute to and support funding applications, programme design, delivery and evaluation across community programmes within each department including, but not limited to:
- Education
- Health
- Inclusion
- Football Development
3. Staff and Volunteer Management
- Recruit, train and manage staff employees and volunteers who represent the Trust.
- Provide leadership and mentoring for delivery coaches, project workers, media team and match day staff.
4. Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting
- Track the impact of community programmes using required and appropriate metrics and key performance indicators.
- Prepare reports for stakeholders, funders (e.g. EFL in the Community, Premier League Foundation, local authorities), and Luton Town Community Trust Board of Trustees.
- Ensure compliance and governance with safeguarding, health and safety and data protection policies.
5. Marketing & Promotion
- Raise awareness of the Trust’s work through managing the organisations media output across various platforms e.g. web site, newsletters, social media and local media outlets.
- Represent the Trust at community events, matchdays, and public forums.
6. Fundraising & Grant Management
- Collaborate with the Head of Trust and Programme Managers to identify and apply for grants and funding opportunities.
- Build partnerships with sponsors, local businesses and charitable foundations.
7. Club Integration
- Work cosely with all football club departments, including first team players and staff, media and marketing, facilities and catering, and Academy to ensure alignment between Community Trust and Club.
- Manage the efficient coordination of player appearances and community involvement on behalf of the Club
MAIN JOB REQUIREMENTS AND PERSON SPECIFICATION
Education/Qualifications/Training:
Essentials
- Strong experience in community development, sport development and youth engagement.
- Strong project and operational management skills, with the ability to plan, deliver and evaluate initiatives – prioritising and managing multiple priorities
- Experience with grant funding processes
- Experience of developing organisational strategy within the sporting or charity sector
- Experience in partnership working with schools, councils, charities
- Leadership and staff supervision experience – managing coaches, volunteers or delivery staff
- Monitoring & evaluation skills – ability to track KPIs and write impact reports
- Budget management experience
- Confident IT skills, including use of Microsoft Office and database software
- Valid First Aid and Safeguarding qualifications (or willingness to obtain)
- Experience delivering health, inclusion, educational or behaviour-change programmesAbility to work to deadlines and meet project targets
- Understanding of health inequalities and barriers faced by children and families
- Understanding of equality, diversity and inclusion within community delivery
- A strong working knowledge of safeguarding legislation, statutory guidance and best practice within education and community settings.
- Strong commitment to high-quality, values led delivery
- A full valid driving licence and access to car to travel between sites throughout Bedfordshire.
- Willingness to work flexibly, including evenings and weekends
- Enhanced DBS clearance
- Degree or equivalent qualification, or demonstrable relevant professional experience.
Desirables
- Experience working in a football foundation or Trust
- Knowledge of EFL Trust or Premier League Foundation community programmes including Capability Code of Practice
- Valid First Aid and Safeguarding qualifications (or willingness to obtain)
- Event planning or matchday coordination experience
- Recognised sports coaching qualifications
- Youth Mental Health First Aid
- Leadership skills within a community or education setting
Abilities/Skills/Knowledge:
- Committed, enthusiastic and passionate about Luton Town Football Club.
- Must be pro-active, motivated, organised, responsible and able to work independently as well as in a team.
- Highly developed problem-solving skills, resilience, and the ability to perform well under pressure.
- Demonstrate good listening skills and have the ability to resolve issues where appropriate.
- Ability to multi-task whilst maintaining priority efficiencies.
- Focused on achieving Club, departmental and individual success.
- Willing to follow and promote the philosophy of the football club.
- Be an ambassador for the Club presenting the Club in a positive image at all times.
SAFEGUARDING STATEMENT
The Club is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
The Club has systems in place to ensure that the welfare of vulnerable groups is dealt with appropriately and sensitively. Everyone working at the Club has a duty of care to safeguard the welfare of children and young people by creating an environment that protects them from harm. Our standards of practice ensure all staff are fully aware and understand their responsibilities under safeguarding legislation and statutory guidance.
The Club ensures that all staff that have a direct responsibility for children, young people or vulnerable adults, have been subject to the most stringent of recruitment practices which include Criminal Record Checks and reference checks. These staff are alert to signs of abuse or maltreatment and will refer concerns to the relevant Designated Safeguarding Officers using the agreed safeguarding procedures.
EQUALITY STATEMENT
The individual must at all times, carry out their duties with due regard to the Clubs policies and procedures and in particular the Club’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy.
The individual must ensure a positive commitment towards equality and diversity by treating others fairly and not committing any form of direct or indirect discrimination, victimisation, or harassment of any description and to promote positive working relationships between all internal and external stakeholders. The individual must contribute to encouraging equality and respecting diversity by embedding such values in the workplace and challenging inappropriate behaviour and processes.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.