86 Strategic communications manager jobs in Manchester

The National Biodiversity Network Trust is the UK charity dedicated to making biodiversity data accessible and useful. We co-ordinate the National Biodiversity Network, develop the NBN Atlas, support iNaturalistUK and are developing the NBN Record Manager. Our work connects biological recording, digital infrastructure and better decisions for nature across the UK. 

Our vision is Nature thriving everywhere, in all its diversity.
Our mission is Making data work for nature.

We are looking for an experienced leader to undertake a newly-created Head of Data & Digital role reporting to the Chief Executive Officer on a full-time fixed-term contract of 24 months.
 

Purpose of Job
 

• Lead the NBN Trust’s data and digital function, providing strategic and functional leadership across the NBN Atlas, related digital products and services, and the Trust’s wider data and digital portfolio.

• Line manages the Trust’s data and technical team managers, ensuring clear priorities, strong performance, proportionate governance, and effective delivery across business as usual, funded projects, and strategic development.

• Ensure the Trust’s data and digital work is led in a way that is inclusive, accessible, and supportive of a diverse range of staff, partners, and users.

• Deliver the Trust’s 2-year National Lottery Heritage Fund’s organisational sustainability project, “Building a Sustainable Future for the UK’s Biodiversity Data Heritage”, including the development and testing of value-added data and digital services, hosted products, and support offers that strengthen financial resilience without compromising the Trust’s public good role.

• Support the strategic direction, stewardship, and future sustainability of the NBN Atlas, related digital products and services, and the Trust’s wider technical delivery, ensuring that risks, opportunities, and investment choices are well managed.

•  Play an active role in the NBN Trust’s Executive Team, contributing to organisational planning, funding development, cross Trust collaboration, and external engagement where this supports delivery and the Trust’s wider strategic objectives.

• The role provides strategic and functional leadership across the Trust’s data and digital work, working closely with the Principal Software Engineer as the Trust’s senior software engineering lead. 

Main Responsibilities
 

Strategic Leadership and Function Management
 

·   Lead the Trust’s data and digital function, aligning work with organisational priorities, the NBN Atlas strategy, and the wider Operating Plan.

·   Provide strategic advice to the CEO and senior colleagues on delivery priorities, service development, digital risk, technical resilience, and future investment needs.

·   Translate complex technical, delivery, and service development issues into clear options, trade-offs, and recommendations for the CEO, Executive Team, Board, and relevant committees.

·   Lead, line manage, and develop the Trust’s data and technical managers, and relevant technical project staff, ensuring clear objectives, strong management practice, accountability, wellbeing support, and effective performance management.

·   Build leadership capacity within the function, supporting managers to develop their teams, handle performance issues well, and contribute positively to the Trust’s culture and ways of working.

·   Assess capacity, sequencing, and resource pressures across the data and digital portfolio, working with team managers to identify priorities, trade-offs, and resourcing needs and advise the CEO accordingly.

·   Work across the Trust to improve prioritisation, sequencing, decision making, and resource allocation across data and digital activity.

·      Champion inclusive leadership and equality, diversity and inclusion in team management, service design, recruitment, and ways of working, helping ensure the Trust’s data and digital function is accessible, supportive, and well-led.

Data Infrastructure, Services, and Innovation
 

·    Provide strategic leadership for the stewardship, prioritisation, development, and continuous improvement of the NBN Atlas and related data and digital products and services, working with the relevant data, technical, and programme leads.

·    Ensure data and digital activity support the long-term accessibility, usability, quality, and public value of biodiversity records and related digital services.

·    Lead diagnostic work, market testing, and service development to identify viable value-added data and digital offers, working with relevant data, technical, programme, and commercial colleagues to shape propositions.

·    Oversee the selection, development, and testing of pilot services, hosted products, training, or support offers, working with the relevant delivery leads and refining propositions in light of evidence, demand, legal advice, licensing constraints, and delivery capacity.

Governance, Risk and Project Delivery
 

·    Lead delivery of the organisational resilience project within agreed scope, time, and budget, with support from colleagues and external consultants as required.

·    Ensure major data and digital programmes have proportionate project governance, reporting, stakeholder, and advisory arrangements in place, working with relevant programme and project leads and identifying additional project support where required.

·     Commission and manage consultants and contractors, ensuring briefs are clear, outputs are practical, and learning is embedded in delivery, working with relevant technical or data leads where specialist assessment or oversight is required.

·     Act as the senior staff lead for the Data and Technology Committee, working in partnership with its Trustee Chair and relevant data and technical leads to support effective oversight of the Trust’s data and digital infrastructure, strategic development, risk, and associated governance.

·     Oversee function-level risks relating to data and digital resilience, data governance, licensing, delivery capacity, and service sustainability, working with the relevant technical and data leads to ensure specialist risks are identified, managed, and escalated appropriately.

·     Balance governance, assurance, and innovation so that data and digital systems support delivery, resilience, and public value without creating unnecessary burden.

·      Work with finance and programme colleagues to ensure accurate budgeting, reporting, monitoring, and evidence of impact.

Partnerships, Income Development and External Engagement
 

·   Build and manage relationships with key partners, data providers, heritage and conservation organisations, public bodies, consultancies, funders, and prospective service users.

·   Help shape and test future income opportunities, including service offers, hosted portals, training, funded programmes, and strategic partnerships.

·    Develop and support fundable and deliverable future propositions arising from the work, ensuring the Trust is better positioned for long term resilience.

·    Act as the Trust’s UK Node Manager for GBIF, leading relationships, coordination, and representation linked to the UK Node function, and ensuring this role supports the Trust’s wider strategic, technical, and partnership objectives.

·    Represent the Trust externally on biodiversity data infrastructure, digital leadership, service development, standards, and innovation, working alongside relevant technical and data leads where specialist expertise is required

Trust Wide Contribution
 

·    Play an active role in the Executive Team, contributing to organisational planning, business improvement, and wider strategic discussions.

·    Keep the wider NBN Trust team up to date with, and involved in, relevant data and digital activity as appropriate.

·    Contribute to Trust wide initiatives, events, business planning, and other activities as needed.

·    Share ideas, lessons learned, and opportunities openly to improve organisational performance.

General Responsibilities  
 

• Attend any required learning and development opportunities. 
• Collaborate effectively with other departments.  
• Contribute to a respectful and inclusive working environment. 
• Ensure commitment to continuous professional development. 
• Follow organisational policies including Health & Safety, Cybersecurity, IT, Finance, and EDI.  

The ability to travel occasionally is required, including international travel. Candidates must also be based in and have the right to work in the UK, and be able to work effectively from home. 

These are the criteria we will be looking for in your application. If you don't meet all of them in full, but can offer something else that would help you excel in the role, we'd still encourage you to apply.

Essential Experience and Qualities
 

·   Strong leadership experience in data, digital, technical, product, or programme roles, ideally with responsibility for teams, delivery, and strategic planning.

·   Ability to operate at both strategic and practical levels, moving between organisational leadership, service design, risk management, and delivery oversight.
·   Experience of commissioning and managing consultants, contractors, or specialist external support to deliver clear and practical outputs.
·   Experience of developing partnerships, shaping propositions, or securing income through funded programmes, service offers, or strategic collaboration.
·   Good judgement, with the ability to assess trade-offs, challenge assumptions, and make proportionate decisions in a resource-constrained environment.
·   Strong communication and relationship management skills, including confidence with senior stakeholders, funders, partners, and technical specialists.

·   Knowledge of biodiversity data infrastructure, environmental data, heritage data, or closely related fields would be beneficial, but is not essential if the candidate can learn quickly and lead credibly.

·   Experience of working with Boards, committees, or governance groups, including presenting complex issues clearly and supporting effective decision-making.

 

Use your fundraising expertise to help create lasting impact. Join us to grow and engage our supporter community across global markets, inspiring more people to connect with our mission and support our work.

Role Responsibilities:
1. To engage, convert, acquire and onboard new and warm audiences using multi-channel such as direct dialogue, digital (e.g. journey planning and mapping, email/SMS), and telemarketing aligned to reflect VSO’s Purpose.
2. Manage VSO’s direct dialogue fundraising programmes, making choices and decisions on a commercial basis to deliver accelerated income growth.
3. Project management and overview of direct dialogue fundraising in the UK and US (new market) and introducing one other new market in 2027.
4. Providing clear visibility of relationships and performance, alongside managing and monitoring the performance of suppliers.
5. Ongoing attrition and KPI monitoring, evaluation, and improvement planning to maximise new donor acquisition and growth VSO’s donor files.
6. Initiate and proactively help identify new (market appropriate) audiences, campaigns, and acquisition products to engage and acquire new donors and income for VSO. 

Self-Employed Associate – National Project Manager

Key details

• Salary: £250 per day
• Start date: By mutual agreement
• Location: Home-based, with travel for site visits as required
• Working hours: Flexible, subject to agreed project deadlines
• Reporting to: Head of Property Consultancy
• Qualification: RICS-qualified Chartered Surveyor

• Professional indemnity insurance:  The post holder falls within the definition of ‘Person Employed’ and is therefore included within our PI insurance.

• DBS clearance: Provided by the Ethical Property Foundation

About the Ethical Property Foundation

The Ethical Property Foundation is the UK’s only dedicated property advice charity for the voluntary sector. We provide expert, independent property advice and education to more than 900 organisations each year.

We are seeking an experienced self-employed Chartered Surveyor to join our team and lead development and project management work.

The role

As Associate – National Project Manager, you will lead development projects from inception to completion, provide strategic advice to clients and oversee project teams and consultants.

This role would suit an experienced Chartered Surveyor with strong project management expertise, commercial awareness and a proven record of delivering development projects.

Skills and experience

You will have:

• Chartered Surveyor status and at least 10 years’ professional experience.
• Significant project and development management experience.
• A proven record of delivering projects from inception to completion.
• Experience managing design teams and external consultants.
• Experience leading development project teams.
• The ability to prepare and interpret development appraisals.
• Strong knowledge of planning and its impact on development projects.
• Commercial understanding of development costs, programmes, risk and viability.
• Experience advising on specifications and occupier requirements.
• Excellent communication, leadership and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong organisation and problem-solving abilities.
• The ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities.

What we offer

• A senior role with significant responsibility and autonomy.
• The opportunity to work on varied national development projects.
• Strong client-facing and leadership opportunities.
• A collaborative and supportive working environment.
• Flexible, home-based working with travel as required.
• Opportunities for professional development and progression.

Deadline for Applications:

Thursday 1st October with Interviews being held remotely on Teams on Thursday 15th October.

Your covering letter should explain:

• Why you would like to work with the Ethical Property Foundation.
• What you can offer our clients.
• Your voluntary sector and professional experience.

The Ethical Property Foundation is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates.

Volunteer It Yourself (VIY), a UK-wide not-for-profit organisation linked to youth skills and employment, volunteering and construction, is looking for a passionate fundraising manager to drive our income streams and play a crucial role in helping to grow our income.

VIY combines volunteering and DIY by challenging young people aged 14-24 to learn trade and building skills, on the job, by helping to renovate and retrofit community buildings (e.g. youth clubs, community centres, sports clubs, and arts, music and cultural venues).

Importantly, the majority of young people we work with are outside of, or at risk of being outside of employment, education or training. Young people participating in VIY are mentored by professional tradespeople and gain vocational skills accreditations as well as access to further training, work placement and apprenticeship opportunities with local providers and employers beyond the project.

VIY launched in 2011 and now operates UK‑wide with £2.6 million annual income and 25 full time employees. To date, over 1,000 youth and community buildings across the UK have been renovated, involving 18,000 young people and 1,200 trade skills mentors. You can read more about our work in our impact report.

As the Fundraising Manager you will be responsible for identifying and securing new funding opportunities, developing existing opportunities and funding streams, writing and submitting funding applications and proposals and managing the ‘income’ pipeline.

We’re seeking someone ambitious who has proven experience in securing grant funding and bid writing preferably across multiple sectors/income streams, ideally including the public sector and local authorities and corporate CSR and sponsorship programmes. You will identify, cultivate, apply to and steward funders , securing both restricted and unrestricted income to support VIY’s vital work.

You will play a pivotal role in delivering sustainable income growth and supporting VIY’s ambitious plans for the future. Please read our attached Application Pack for the full job description and person specification for this role before applying.

World Physiotherapy (formerly known as the World Confederation for Physical Therapy) is the sole international organisation for physiotherapy, representing more than 600,000 physiotherapists worldwide through its 128 national/country member organisations. Founded 1951, World Physiotherapy is a registered charitable incorporated organisation in England and Wales (number: 1207425).  We have been in official relations with the World Health Organization (WHO) since 1956 and we are committed to advancing the science, standards and practice of physiotherapy and promoting the important contribution of the physiotherapy profession globally in improving health and wellbeing through policy advocacy, education and training, leadership development, health systems and capacity strengthening, research, standard-setting, quality assurance and accreditation.

World Physiotherapy is also a member of the World Rehabilitation Alliance (WRA), a WHO global network of stakeholders whose mission is to support the implementation of the Rehabilitation 2030 Initiative through advocacy activities. It focuses on promoting rehabilitation as an essential health service that is integral to Universal Health Coverage and to the realization of Sustainable Development Goal 3 (“Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages”).  Further information about World Physiotherapy can be found on our website.

Consultant opportunity: developing our long-term vision and strategy

Now in its 75th anniversary year, World Physiotherapy is seeking an experienced consultant(s) to co-ordinate the development of its Physio 2040 long-term aspirational vision and a five-year strategic plan (2027-32) that operationalises it.

This is a two-part but interlinked assignment.  Working closely with World Physiotherapy’s member organisations, global leadership, key stakeholders and staff, the successful consultant(s) will deliver an inclusive, evidence-based horizon-scanning and strategy development process, ensuring that our 2040 vision statement and strategic plan are completed ahead of the World Physiotherapy Congress in Guadalajara, Mexico in May 2027.

We are looking for a consultant or team of consultants who can:

• Coordinate and deliver the agreed vision and strategy development process, managing timelines, governance, stakeholder engagement and delivery milestones to ensure that both are completed on time and within budget.
• Facilitate workshops and engagement activities, develop the new strategic framework, support the approval process and help translate our new strategy into organisational priorities and work plans with appropriate reporting, monitoring, evaluation and learning embedded.

Budget

The total budget available for this evaluation is £20k, including all expenses and exclusive of all taxes.  All agreed activities and outputs must be delivered within this budget.

Further details regarding the payment schedule can be found in the World Physiotherapy - Request for Proposals Brief (below).

How to apply

Suitably qualified and experienced consultants interested in submitting a proposal should:

1. Review and consider the World Physiotherapy – Request for Proposals Brief (below).
2. Submit/ upload their proposal, fee/ pricing schedule and any supporting documentation, such as CVs and reference letters in the required format (submission link is included in the brief)
3. The deadline for proposals is on Monday 21 September 2026, 23:59 (UTC) 

Strategic Community Development Lead

Based in Oldham

Full-time (40 hours per week, 1 FTE)

Contract: Permanent

Salary: £40,444 per annum

Opportunity

Oasis is looking for a Strategic Community Development Lead who can combine an entrepreneurial flair and excellent leadership skills to lead Oasis Hub Oldham through the next phase of its growth.

We are seeking an experienced Strategic Community Development Lead who will bring fresh vision, take the community on the next stage of its journey together as a movement and bring innovation as well as stability to the charity.

About us

Oasis Hub Oldham is a local charity that is embedded in two communities in Oldham – Hollinwood and Leesbrook, where there are also four Oasis Academies.  Our vision is for communities where everyone is included and no one is left out.

Key responsibilities

This is a key role as you will be responsible for strategic oversight of the local charity, ensuring the youth and community work is aligned to the the work of the academy, working alongside other local Oasis leaders such as the Academy Principal, volunteers and members of the local community to develop a joined up local vision for the community.

Some of the specific duties of this role include:

· Establishment and coordination of a range of provision such as family support, youth work, holiday clubs, volunteering and community empowerment projects.

· Maintaining and building supportive working partnerships across the community and various groups.

· Leading policy and process oversight.

· Planning, resourcing and coordinating the community plan, measuring impact.

· Strengthening the local Oasis Movement.

About you

This is very much a relational and project management role. As such, the successful applicant will need to demonstrate:

· A strategic mindset, and experience of leading community delivery and growing projects.

· Innovative use of resources and budget management to maximise funding, with a track record of securing income.

· A thorough knowledge and understanding community work.

· An education to degree level or equivalent and /or relevant professional qualification.

This is a unique opportunity for a self-reliant and results-focused individual, who is looking to make a difference in this complex and high-profile field of work.

What we offer

· Flexible working practices which encourage innovation and fresh ideas.

· A supportive network and friendly team in a motivating working environment.

· A non-contributory defined benefit pension scheme with 7% employer contributions.

· 25 days holiday per year (plus Bank Holidays), rising to 30 days after 2 years of service.

· Employee wellbeing schemes such as Cycle to Work and an employee funded health cash plan.

Application process

For full details please go the Oasis UK charity website. 

Closing date for completed applications is 12 noon Monday 5th October 2026. Interviews will take place shortly after, with the date to be confirmed. (Shorter more informal calls may be arranged the previous week to assist with shortlisting).

Please send your CV and a covering letter (ensuring you refer to the job description and person spec).

To arrange a visit or an informal conversation about the role, please contact us via the Oasis charity website.

We actively encourage applications from people of all ethnic backgrounds and minority and underrepresented groups. Oasis is committed to making a difference to the lives of the communities it works in, and as such you must show a willingness to demonstrate commitment to the values and behaviours which flow from the Oasis ethos. 

The successful candidates must have the right to work in the UK.  Oasis cannot assist with sponsorship or visas. If you require assistance or adjustments to overcome potential barriers during the recruitment process, please let us know.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We expect all staff to share this commitment and to undergo appropriate checks, including enhanced DBS checks.

Oasis supports Equal Opportunities.  Registered Charity No. 1163889

Could you be the next Chief Officer of Just Drop-In?

We're looking for an inspiring, values-driven leader to guide our much-loved charity in Macclesfield into its next chapter.

For 25 years, Just Drop-In has been a lifeline for young people 11–24yrs old across the north of Cheshire East. Every year, we support more than 1,000 children and young people through our Counselling, Mentoring, Wellbeing, and Parent Support Services — and the need has never been greater.

We're looking for someone who brings:

✅ Strong leadership experience

✅ Business awareness

✅ Safeguarding knowledge and experience

✅ Experience of working with children and young people and a genuine passion for helping them thrive

This is a rare opportunity to lead an organisation with deep roots in its community and a team that truly believes in its mission.

If this sounds like you — or someone you know — we'd love to hear from you.

Please see further information and how to apply by downloading the attached document or clicking redirect to recruiter. 

#Hiring #ChiefOfficer #Charity #YouthWork #Macclesfield #NonProfit #Leadership #JobOpportunity

Farm Discovery Programme Manager

Salary: £40,170 | Home-based | 35 hours per week | Permanent

This is a varied senior role combining programme leadership, team and contract management, quality assurance, safeguarding, data and financial oversight, partnership development and programme improvement.

You’ll ensure our Farm Discovery team has the clarity, support and resources they need to deliver consistently high-quality educational experiences for children from disadvantaged communities. You’ll also use data, feedback and evaluation to improve the programme, develop partnerships and contribute to its future growth and development.

We’re looking for someone who:

• Has a strong track record in programme management and leading complex delivery
• Is outstanding at enabling and leading educators and dispersed teams
• Understands the primary education context in England
• Can build strong relationships with schools, farmers, funders and partners
• Has experience of quality, safeguarding, health and safety and risk management
• Is confident using data, managing budgets and improving systems and processes
• Can communicate effectively and work collaboratively across an organisation
• Shares our commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for children experiencing disadvantage

The role is home-based, with regular travel across England and North Wales, including overnight stays, an essential part of the role. Reasonable travel and accommodation expenses are covered.

Hours: 35 hours per week, with flexible working arrangements considered, including slightly reduced or compressed hours for the right candidate.

Closing date: Thursday 8 October 2026, midday.
CVs not accepted for this role. Please see our website for more information.

Every grant you win becomes someone's first conversation in English, their first step into a job interview, their first time speaking up at a housing tribunal.

English for Action (EFA) is looking for a Partnerships Manager to grow the funding that powers our free, participatory ESOL classes for around 400 migrants across London. Our classes don't just teach English, they build the confidence and collective power people need to organise around housing and employment rights.

About the role

Working closely with our Fundraising Lead, you'll take real ownership of relationships with trusts, foundations and corporate funders, while helping shape how we diversify our income going forward. This is a role with genuine scope to bring your own ideas and see them through, not just execute someone else's plan.

You will:
- Write compelling grant applications, funding proposals and reports that win and retain funding
- Research and build a realistic pipeline of trusts, liveries and corporate foundations
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with existing donors and prospects
- Contribute to EFA's fundraising strategy, including newer income streams such as statutory, corporate, individual giving, membership and events
- Liaise with our Executive Team, Hub Leads and Project Managers so funding proposals stay grounded in what's actually happening in our classrooms and communities
- Maintain accurate donor and grant records on Donorfy, and support monitoring and evaluation of project outcomes

About you

You don't need a degree, and you're not expected to tick every box, nobody does. We're looking for someone with a track record of successful grant writing, strong research and relationship-building skills, and the organisation to manage multiple funding deadlines at once. Knowledge of the UK charity sector and UK trusts and foundations is essential; experience with public sector or EU education funding is a bonus.

If you have lived experience of migration and/or learning English as an additional language, we'd love to hear from you and how you'd like to draw on it in this role.

About EFA

English for Action provides free, participatory, empowering ESOL classes for migrants in London, spaces where students build community and organise collectively around issues like employment and housing rights. We're a national centre of good practice for a radical, participatory approach to ESOL, and we share this approach through training, research and partnerships. We're a team of 11 staff, a wider team of volunteers, and 7 trustees, run through shared leadership rather than a CEO, decisions are made collaboratively, and we aim for our structure to reflect that.

What we offer

- 22.5 hours (3 days) a week, mostly remote, with just monthly in-person meetings in London
- 28 days' annual leave (pro rata) after probation, plus bank holidays, plus a full week's paid closure over Christmas
- 6% matched pension contribution
- Enhanced sick pay, and enhanced maternity/paternity/adoption/shared parental leave
- Wellbeing allowance and full entitlement to leave for sickness, including mental ill-health
- A genuinely flat, non-hierarchical culture with collaborative decision-making on strategy and practice
- Tech and cycle scheme, and actively encouraged continuous personal development

Equal opportunities

EFA particularly encourages applications from people of colour, who are currently underrepresented at EFA and across the charity sector, and from people who have experienced moving to the UK or have English as an additional language. Where two or more candidates are of equal merit, priority may be given to a candidate from a less well-represented group. Please let us know about any access or other requirements we can accommodate.

Closing date: 11.59pm, Wednesday 30th September 2026
Skills test: w/c 5th October 2026 (writing and budgeting)
Interviews: Friday 9th / 16th October 2026

Questions before applying? Email Gina Rodriguez (HR Lead)

Harris Hill is delighted to be working on behalf of National Parks Partnerships (NPP) to recruit a People Manager. NPP is a small and entrepreneurial organisation that identifies, secures and manages commercial and strategic partnerships for the UK’s 15 National Parks, helping to grow their impact, resources and influence while supporting action on the climate and biodiversity crises. As NPP continues to grow, this is an exciting opportunity to take ownership of its people function and play a key role in supporting the organisation’s development.

The role is offered on a salary of £40,135 FTE (non-negotiable) and is available on a full-time basis, with the possibility of working four days per week. This is a one-year fixed-term contract, with the possibility of extension, and is fully remote, with occasional UK travel required.

Sitting within the Operations team and reporting to the Head of Operations, the People Manager will lead NPP’s day-to-day HR function as a largely standalone HR professional. You will develop and implement HR strategies, policies and processes across the employee lifecycle, providing trusted advice to the CEO, Head of Operations, SLT and line managers. You will lead recruitment activity, support managers with performance, probation and employee relations processes, oversee annual leave and absence, payroll administration and pay awards, and ensure NPP continues to meet its employment, health and safety and data protection obligations. You will also play an important role in developing organisational culture, embedding NPP’s Manifesto, competency framework and behaviours, and ensuring equality, diversity and inclusion remain central to its people practices. Alongside the core HR remit, you will support the wider Operations team with external agencies, suppliers and procurement activity, including maintaining supplier relationships, supporting purchasing processes and ensuring compliance with relevant procurement requirements.

We are looking for an experienced People & Culture professional with a strong track record of developing and implementing HR policies and strategies, managing HR projects, and supporting organisational change, as well as experience leading recruitment processes from job design through to shortlisting and interviewing. You will be a clear thinker, confident decision-maker and excellent communicator who can build strong relationships across an organisation and with external partners. Experience of payroll, EDI, health and safety, procurement or working within a purpose-led organisation or public authority would be advantageous.

To apply, please submit your up-to-date CV by 27 September at 23:59. Shortlisted candidates will be asked to submit a tailored cover letter after reviewing the full job description.

Please note that only applicants with an unrestricted right to work in the UK will be considered for this position.

Please note, only successful applicants will be contacted with further information.

As a leading charity recruitment specialist and a certified B Corp™, Harris Hill is committed to high and ever-improving standards of equitable and inclusive recruitment. We actively welcome applications from all sections of the community regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexuality and other protected characteristics.

Summary of Main Duties and Objectives of the Job:

· Assist in managing crisis response and advocacy teams.

· Provide case oversight and ensure adherence to advocacy standards.

· Support safeguarding and risk management processes.

· Monitor service performance and prepare reports.

· Deputise for the Group Manager when required.

Support the Group Manager to :

· Ensure services meet contractual, legal, and quality standards, including safeguarding, GDPR, and clinical governance.

· Monitor and evaluate service performance, using data and feedback to inform improvements.

· Ensure services are delivered within budget and collaborate with the Finance Manager on financial planning and reporting.

· Contribute to the strategic development of Advocacy & Crisis Prevention services, identifying opportunities for innovation and growth.

· Support tendering and funding applications, working with colleagues to develop compelling proposals.

· Build and maintain relationships with commissioners, funders, and community partners.

· Support the professional development of staff and volunteers through supervision, appraisal, and training.

· Work with HR and senior colleagues to identify training needs and promote wellbeing in the workplace.

· Lead safeguarding practice within the group, ensuring robust policies and procedures are in place.

• Identify and manage risks, reporting to senior leadership as required.
• Ensure service users are meaningfully involved in the design and delivery of services.
• Promote services through outreach, networking, and partnership working to reach underserved communities.
• Prepare reports for internal and external stakeholders, including the Board of Trustees.
• Represent Rochdale and District Mind at external meetings, forums, and events.

General principles for all Mind staff:

1. To promote the empowerment of people who experience mental health and emotional wellbeing issues and to help them speak out.

2. To support the active participation of mental health and emotional wellbeing service users in the services they receive.

3. To practice anti-discriminatory behaviour and to adhere to Rochdale and District Mind’s objectives and policies in the delivery of all its services.

These responsibilities are subject to annual review and may need to be adjusted in line with service developments.

Person Specification

Experience

· Experience in crisis intervention or advocacy services.

· Supervisory experience.

Skills & Abilities-

· Strong leadership and team management skills.

· Strong organisational and interpersonal skills.

· Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

· Ability to work strategically and operationally.

· Skilled in safeguarding and risk management

· Ability to design and implement outreach strategies

Knowledge

· Knowledge of relevant legislation (Mental Health Act, Care Act).

· Understanding of mental health and wellbeing issues.

· Knowledge of clinical governance and therapeutic frameworks.

· Awareness of equality, diversity, and inclusion in service delivery.

· Familiarity with GDPR and other compliance requirements.

Values & Approach

· Commitment to Rochdale and District Mind’s values.

· Person-centred and trauma-informed approach.

· Commitment to anti-discriminatory practice and service user empowerment.

Qualifications-

· Relevant qualification in advocacy , psychotherapy, psychology, social work, or related field (or equivalent experience).

Summary of Main Duties and Objectives of the Job:

· Assist in planning and delivering outreach activities.

· Supervise outreach staff and volunteers.

· Build relationships with community partners.

· Monitor and report on outreach performance.

· Deputise for the Group Manager when required.

· Promote a culture of empowerment, trauma-informed practice, and continuous improvement.

Support the Group Manager to :

· Design and implement outreach strategies to engage diverse communities.

· Develop community-led projects and initiatives that promote mental health and wellbeing.

· Ensure service user voices shape outreach and development activities.

· Ensure services meet contractual, legal, and quality standards, including safeguarding, GDPR, and clinical governance.

· Monitor and evaluate service performance, using data and feedback to inform improvements.

· Ensure services are delivered within budget and collaborate with the Finance Manager on financial planning and reporting.

· Contribute to the strategic development of community services, identifying opportunities for innovation and growth.

· Support tendering and funding applications, working with colleagues to develop compelling proposals.

· Build and maintain relationships with commissioners, funders, and community partners.

· Support the professional development of staff and volunteers through supervision, appraisal, and training.

· Work with HR and senior colleagues to identify training needs and promote wellbeing in the workplace.

· Lead safeguarding practice within therapeutic services, ensuring robust policies and procedures are in place.

• Identify and manage risks, reporting to senior leadership as required.
• Ensure service users are meaningfully involved in the design and delivery of services.
• Promote services through outreach, networking, and partnership working to reach underserved communities.
• Prepare reports for internal and external stakeholders, including the Board of Trustees.
• Represent Rochdale and District Mind at external meetings, forums, and events.

General principles for all Mind staff:

1. To promote the empowerment of people who experience mental health and emotional wellbeing issues and to help them speak out.

2. To support the active participation of mental health and emotional wellbeing service users in the services they receive.

3. To practice anti-discriminatory behaviour and to adhere to Rochdale and District Mind’s objectives and policies in the delivery of all its services.

These responsibilities are subject to annual review and may need to be adjusted in line with service developments.

Salary: £44,075 starting salary (salary range will increase to max £47,181 via the length of service) per annum, Plus £4,324 Inner London Weighting if based in London. (pro rata where applicable). 

Contract: Full-time fixed term basis for 12 months, to cover maternity leave. The substantive postholder can return at any time before the end of 12-month fixed term contract with sufficient notice.

Hours: Full-Time 35 hours per week (excluding lunch breaks)

Location: Any Refugee Action office – London, Manchester or Bradford. We will consider a UK-based hybrid working option.  

About Refugee Action

Refugee Action exists to work with refugees and people seeking asylum who’ve survived some of the world’s worst regimes. We are a national charity with more than 40 years’ experience of empowering people to secure the protection and support that they need to live with dignity and respect and build a new life in the UK. We do this by providing expert advice and casework, building the capacity of partner organisations and campaigning on the policies that affect them.

To succeed in the role you will need to demonstrate:

· Proven ability to lead strategic digital content creation and understanding of the importance of emotional storytelling to successful fundraising and campaigning.

· Strong creative content development and strategy skills, including experience with Adobe Creative Software or similar (demonstrable video and image editing skills).

· Knowledge and experience of developing, delivering and managing specialised digital activism plans for campaigning.

· Knowledge and experience of campaigning and activism: knowledge of campaigning methods and tactics and a good understanding of what motivates people to take action.

· Commitment to removing barriers to power for people with lived experience, and commitment to anti-racist practices.

· Understanding of how the UK’s hostile refugee protection and asylum system impacts those affected by it. 

· Strong understanding of how campaigning can achieve change and shift power.

· Strong understanding of the role of digital tactics in the development and execution of campaign and fundraising strategies.

· Extensive experience of developing strategic digital communications within a charity or not-for-profit organisation with the aim of digital mobilisation.

· Experience of developing and implementing digital acquisition strategies across various channels, with a view to increasing donations.

· Thorough understanding of the digital landscape, and emerging trends in web and social technology.

· Good knowledge of website content management systems and Engaging Networks or a similar platform.

· Understanding of branding and core design principles.

· Experience of leadership skills and understanding of how to motivate a team and support the development of direct reports.

· Ability to build good working relationships across teams within a culture of generous collaboration.

· Understanding of cultural diversity and the ability to work with people from a range of different cultures.

Those with lived experience as a refugee are particularly encouraged to apply 

Closing date: 23:59 on 4th October 2026

Interviews: 14th October 2026 (on Zoom)

Refugee Action only operates in the UK, so all roles are UK-based, and you must have the right to work in the UK.

This role is not on the Shortage Occupation List.  If you have permission to work that is restricted to the Shortage Occupation List, we will be unable to appoint you to this role.

You can find out which roles are on the shortage occupation list via these two links:

· Skilled Worker visa: shortage occupations 

· Skilled Worker visa: shortage occupations for healthcare and education

We are currently campaigning for people seeking asylum to have the right to work in the UK, see our Lift the Ban campaign here.

This is a unique opportunity to lead fundraising for a charity at the cusp of substantial growth, with an exceptional track record of recent fundraising success, an engaged base of supporters and significant untapped potential across multiple channels.

Overview
As Director of Fundraising and Development for Plum Village UK, you will provide strategic leadership of the charity’s fundraising at this critical juncture. Building on the successful campaigns that brought our new Being Peace Practice Centre into being, you will lead the development of a sustainable, diversified fundraising operation across donor stewardship, trusts and foundations, regular giving, legacies, and partnerships, to deepen relationships of trust and gratitude with our supporters.

This role is ideal for a fundraising leader, whether from a career fundraising background or another field, who brings strategic capability alongside deep alignment with the Plum Village tradition, where fundraising itself becomes a form of engaged practice in service of mindfulness and community transformation.

Fundraising in the Plum Village tradition is fundamentally relational. It is not a matter of extracting income from a base of supporters, but of deepening the relationships of trust, gratitude and shared purpose with those who make our work possible, in ways that embody the values of the tradition. Done well, fundraising is itself a form of engaged practice. The Director will be expected to lead the function in this spirit.

The role comes with a high level of strategic ownership. An initial fundraising strategy has been developed and shared with trustees, providing a framework of priority channels, governance arrangements and resourcing for the next phase. The new Director will inherit this as a starting frame, and will then be empowered and expected to develop, refine and bring forward a fundraising strategy on their own authority, working closely with the Lead Trustee for Fundraising and presenting proposals to the board as appropriate. The role also carries operational ownership of the fundraising mechanics, including the choice and management of supporting systems, databases and tools.
 

Key Responsibilities

Strategic leadership of fundraising

• Lead PVUK's fundraising strategy, developing and refining the strategic direction, and presenting proposals to the Board for approval and resourcing.

• Set, monitor, and report on fundraising targets across all income channels, in agreement with the Lead Trustee for Fundraising and the Board.

• Provide regular substantive updates on fundraising at quarterly board meetings, working with the Lead Trustee on the preparation of board-level reporting.

• Bring forward analysis and proposals to support the Board in setting wider strategic priorities, including realistic income potential by channel and the investment required to secure it.

• Identify and manage risk in the fundraising portfolio, including channel concentration, donor over-reliance, and the sustainability of resourcing.

Donor stewardship and relationship development

• Lead the stewardship of PVUK’s existing donors, lenders, and supporters with the depth of care that this base deserves, recognising it as the most precious resource of the fundraising function.

• Cultivate and deepen relationships with major donors, including through personal contact, site visits, and tailored communication of impact.

• Work with the Chair of Trustees, the Centre Director, and other senior figures on key relationships that require their involvement.

• Steward the friendly lender base throughout the lifetime of their loans, maintaining trust and keeping them informed of the charity’s progress.

• Build and maintain a culture of gratitude and recognition that appropriately honours the contributions of all supporters.

Income channel development

• Lead delivery and growth across PVUK’s priority fundraising channels: donor stewardship, trust and foundation fundraising, regular giving, legacies and Gifts in Wills, and partnerships with values-aligned organisations and networks.

• Develop trust and foundation fundraising as a substantial new income stream, including scoping aligned funders, building peer-to-peer introductions, constructing tailored funding propositions, and overseeing high-quality application writing and reporting.

• Design and grow a regular giving programme that converts members, retreatants and supporters into ongoing monthly donors.

• Develop a structured legacy and Gifts in Wills programme that normalises legacy giving across PVUK’s communications and supports those who wish to leave a Gift in their Will.

• Develop partnerships with values-aligned organisations and networks where these support both income generation and the wider reach of PVUK’s work, in close consultation with monastics and trustees.

Operations, systems and budget ownership

• Own the operational mechanics of fundraising for PVUK, including the choice, configuration and ongoing management of databases, donor management systems, online giving platforms, and integration with communications tools.

• Manage the fundraising budget, including a discretionary supplementary budget for consultancy, training, materials creation, contracted support and light administrative resource, deployed at the Director’s judgement to develop the function effectively.

• Maintain accurate, GDPR-compliant supporter records and ensure sound data practices throughout the fundraising operation.

• Provide accurate financial reporting on fundraising performance, working with PVUK’s finance function and external accountants as required.

• Make the case for additional resourcing where evidence of need supports it, including the possible recruitment of a Fundraising Officer in due course.

Communications and storytelling

• Lead the development of compelling fundraising narratives that authentically convey the work of PVUK and the Being Peace Centre to multiple audiences, including major donors, institutional funders, individual supporters and the wider public.

• Work closely with the PVUK Communications team on the integration of fundraising communications with the wider communications strategy.

• Commission and oversee the production of fundraising materials, including written content, graphic design, video and digital assets, drawing on contracted specialists where appropriate.

• Ensure that all fundraising messaging about the Being Peace Practice Centre is agreed with the Centre Director before publication.

Working partnerships across PVUK

• Work in close partnership with the Centre Director on all matters relating to Being Peace, with agreed ways of working on messaging, external representation, and any programming commitments made to funders.

• Work with the Lead Trustee for Fundraising as primary day-to-day point of contact at board level, supporting the Lead Trustee to hold strategic oversight of fundraising on behalf of the Board.

• Work with colleagues across PVUK’s communications, dharma programming, sangha-building and partnership functions, with these working relationships developing naturally in the first months of the role.

• Draw on external advisors and specialists as needed for support and assurance, both in technical fundraising disciplines and in sector-specific knowledge.

• Engage volunteer capacity from within the community where this can valuably supplement the fundraising operation.