Key relationships officer jobs

As Policy and Public Affairs Manager, you will help ensure London Youth is a credible, influential voice on issues affecting young people and the organisations that support them. Sitting within the Fundraising and Communications Directorate, you will work closely with the CEO, senior leadership, and youth participation, communciations, fundraising and delivery colleagues to deliver demonstrable external influence and impact. 

You will craft clear, evidence-based policy positions that shape debate and influence decision-making at London and national level, ensuring the policymakers understand and respond to the realities facing young people in London. Through effective internal engagement, you will also ensure colelagues and our members are well-informed and equipped to respond to key policy developments. 

You will successfully represent the voice of London Youth's members and the young people they support, helping to secure greater recognition, investment, and support for youth services. By building strong relationships with policymakers, parliamentarians, and sector partners working to address the issues affecting young people inthe capital, you will help position London Youth as a trusted and respected contributor to relevant policy discussions. 

At a time of significant change across the youth sector, you will play a central role in campaigning for systematic change and in building the profile of London Youth and the wider voluntary sector as the Government's 10-year National Youth Strategy, Youth Matters, is implemented. You will help ensure commitments translate into meaningful outcomes for young people, particularly in relation to youth services, enrichment opportunities, and support for young people not in education, employment, or training, and strengthen long-term investment in youth provision. 

What you will be doing 

You will lead the development and delivery of London Youth's policy and public affairs work, building a clear and consistent understanding of the London and national context for young people and youth organisations. Working closely with colleagues across the organisation, including communications, fundraising, delivery, and MEL, you will help develop a clear and compelling case for support and influence. 

You will work in close partnership with the CEO and CEO's office, acting as a trusted policy adviser, supporting the CEO's external policy engagements, positioning, and relationships with senior policymakers and influencers. 

You will monitor emerging political and policy developments and relevant funding announcements, providing insight and analysis to identify opportunities for engagement. You will draft swift organisational responses to key policy announcements, in collaboration with the CEO and communications team, and ensure relevant intelligence and opportunties inform the work of the fundraising team. 

You will develop, maintain, and communicate evidence-based policy positions, insights, and priorities, convening our members regularly to inform clear policy asks and advocacy. You will shape briefings and consultation responses that reflect the needs of London Youth's members and the young people they support. You will shape policy positions and provide high-quality briefings ahead of key senior-level engagements. 

You will oversee and track our policy influencing activity, identifying emerging policy developments, coordinating internal input, engaging stakeholders and representing London Youth in external policy and public affairs forums, and reporting on the impact of our policy work. 

You will strengthen policy work through insight and engagement, analysig relevant data and research from our membership and working with the Learning and Impact Lead to ensure insights from London Youth's network inform policy development. You will also identify opportunities for members and young people from our Youth Board to engage in policy work, including through consultations, networks, and events. 

You will build and maintain strong relationships with key London and national stakeholders, identifying opportunities for partnership working with other organisations and ensuring London Youth has a visible, credible voice in debates affecting young people. 

You will contribute to London Youth's communications, campaigns, and profile, working with colleagues to shape policy activity across digital channels, produce engaging written content including articles and speeches, craft organisational messaging, support youth-led engagement, and contribute to London Youth's thematic networks, influencing events and media opportunities. 

What you bring to the role 

Knowledge and Experience: 

• Strong understanding of how policy is developed in the London and national context, and experience of engaging with political agendas on behalf of a charitable or membership organisation. 
• Experience in developing robust policy positions, responses, and solutions, and influencing politicians and decision-makers. 
• Up-to-date, proven experience in public affairs, parliamentary engagement or a related policy-influencing role, with a clear track record of driving meaningful change. 
• Good understanding of UK parliamentary and government processes, and of current policy areas impacting young people in London and across the UK. 
• Experience of producing a range of briefings and written materials, including research findings, public statements, consultation responses, and briefings for senior colelagues. 
• Proven ability to build and maintain collaborative relationships with opinion-formers and other key stakeholders. 

Attributes and Behaviours: 

• Demonstrate excellent interpersonal and communication skills, especially when it comes to policy partners. 
• Demonstrate confidence to engage and build productive relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including those at senior level. 
• A confidence verbal communicator and presenter able to represent London Youth within policy forums, consortia, and networking events. 
• Demonstrate ability to work on your own initiative and as part of a team, with proven ability to innovate and deliver change. 
• Demonstrate ability to analyse, summarise, and present evidence to different audiences. 
• Demonstrate a commitment to ensuring young people have prominent platforms to voice their views directly on the issues that affect them. 
• Demonstrate a commitment to strengthening London's Youth sector. 
• Be willing to work some evenings and the occasional weekend. 
• Understanding and supporting the vision, mission, and aims of London Youth. 

Demonstrate living our values of being: 

• Ambitious
• Collaborative 
• Inclusive 
• Accountable 

Why work at London Youth 

• Generous holiday allowance - 39 days paid holiday each year (including bank holidays and closure days). Pro-rata if you work part time. 
• Employer 4% pension contribution
• Additional leave granted to support voluntary activity 
• Free Health Care Cash Plan 
• Free access for you and your family to the Employee Assistance Programme 
• Free access to the 'Headspace' app for you and your family
• Flexible working opportunities considered 
• You'll be working with a fantastic team of passionate colleagues across London Youth 
• You will be making a difference to the lives of young people

This is a senior, trusted role at the heart of the organisation, responsible for the smooth running of the CEO and Executive Office and for providing high quality governance and administrative support to our Boards and committees. Working closely with the Co Chief Executives, the role supports strategic delivery, organisational planning and cross organisational projects, while also playing an important part in shaping how we work together as a values led organisation.

Based in Covent Garden, the role would suit someone with experience of working within a senior executive or private office environment who brings sound judgement, discretion and a collaborative approach. A background in theatre is not essential, but an appreciation of the social and cultural value of the arts and a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion are important.

For full details of the role, please see the job pack. 

As our Senior Information and Compliance Officer you’ll be at the forefront of a team developing, implementing and maintaining robust legal and compliance programmes to help ensure we comply with our regulatory and fundraising obligations.

We’re looking for someone who will support our delivery and income generation to ensure proportionate compliance vs industry regulation and legal requirements.

Your ability to influence and work together with others will help us promote a culture of quality and regulatory compliance.

Join us and be a part of something truly transformative. Together, we can change the narrative around diabetes and create a more inclusive world.

Our Time Charity is seeking an experienced Corporate Fundraiser to help grow vital income through meaningful, long-term partnerships with businesses and corporate supporters.

This role plays a key part in delivering our fundraising strategy by connecting purpose-driven organisations with our mission to support children and families affected by parental mental illness. You will build and steward corporate relationships, develop partnership and sponsorship proposals, and represent Our Time Charity to external audiences.

Working closely with the CEO and wider team, you’ll help secure funding that directly supports our KidsTime Workshops and wider programmes – enabling children to feel supported, understood and less alone.

This role is ideal for someone with experience in corporate fundraising, relationship management or partnerships, who enjoys building connections, telling compelling stories, and turning shared values into lasting impact.

To learn more about the role, responsibilities and how to apply, please download the full recruitment pack.

This role will work as part of the Operations team to ensure that all Ogden Trust programmes are delivered to a high standard. The post holder will work with the Subject Knowledge for Physics Teaching (SKPT) team in particular to administer the SKPT programme in line with agreed systems and processes.

The Ogden Trust is a family charitable trust which supports the teaching and learning of physics. The Trust delivers professional development programmes for teachers of physics across England, supports schools and multi-academy trusts to improve their physics provision and works with universities to support highquality physics enrichment.

The role is responsible for managing programme applications and participation, as well as organising logistics of events and supporting the administrative processes of the programme. We are seeking someone with strong communication and problem solving skills, and basic skills in programme management.

Are you a Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM expert looking for a role where your skills make a real difference? We’re on an exciting journey to implement a brand-new Dynamics 365 CRM system and are seeking an experienced CRM Manager to support and maintain the system which will transform how we connect with our supporters and deliver impactful fundraising campaigns.

About the role:
This is a pivotal role in shaping the future of our supporter engagement. You’ll take ownership of our CRM strategy and management, ensuring data quality and seamless processes that empower our fundraising and communications teams. Through your proven Dynamics 365 CRM skills and experience, you will also lead the charity’s CRM business processes and data quality, collaborating with the key stakeholders across the charity.

This position is based remotely, but there is also an option to work on a hybrid basis at our head office in Norfolk. Where working remotely, you will be required to attend the charity’s head office located in Norfolk a minimum of 6 times per year and this will be at your own expense for travel and accommodation.

About you:
You’ll have advanced knowledge of Microsoft Dynamics 365 and experience configuring and optimising CRM systems. Skilled in the Power Platform (Power Automate, Power Apps, Power BI), you combine strong technical ability with excellent communication skills, making complex information clear for non-technical colleagues. Highly organised and detail-oriented, you manage workloads effectively under pressure and build positive relationships across teams. A good understanding of data protection and compliance is essential, and experience in a fundraising or charity environment is desirable.

What we offer:
Benefits include a generous pension scheme and cash health plan, paid employee sickness absence scheme, a minimum of 31 days’ holiday (including bank/public holidays and mandatory shutdown between Christmas and New Year) and death in service.

World Horse Welfare is committed to championing equality and diversity in all aspects of employment and in the services that it provides. We encourage applications for all of our vacancies from under-represented groups, particularly ethnically diverse communities, LGBTQ+, and people with disabilities. 

World Horse Welfare takes great pride in being realistic, compassionate and forward-thinking and the successful applicant for any of our vacancies will be expected to share these values.

Closing date: Friday 30th of January
Interview date: Tuesday 10th of February

What You will be doing

The role is responsible for managing social media channels, delivering impactful digital campaigns, coordinating external advertising across print and digital platforms, and producing high-quality marketing materials. By creating consistent, compelling communications and supporting the promotion of key initiatives, the postholder will help strengthen awareness, broaden reach, and support the charities’ aims.

Social Media (both charities)

• Plan, create, and schedule content across social media platforms for both charities.
• Ensure content aligns with campaigns, awareness events, and strategic priorities.
• Monitor performance, engage with audiences, and track analytics to inform growth.
• Work with colleagues across the charity to source stories, visuals, and updates for posts.

Our events team is bold and innovative, working across a wide portfolio of fundraising and engagement events including our annual flagship fundraising walk, The Twilight Walk, an exciting challenge event portfolio and a growing special events programme. It’s an exciting time to join the Events Fundraising Team. We have a new five-year strategy and are a team with big ambitions! As the Challenge Events Officer, you will play a huge part in making these ambitions a reality and paving the way for our future.

You will play a pivotal role in delivering a high-performing portfolio of challenge and third-party fundraising events, including flagship opportunities such as the London Marathon, Great North Run, Royal Parks Half Marathon, and other national challenge events. You will be responsible for leading on a number of third party events and offering fundraisers an exceptional level of support through stewardship.

WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR:

With fundraising and events experience, you will be a motivated, organised professional who communicates confidently across all channels and engages well with a range of stakeholders.

Conscientious and relationship-focused, you will bring a personal touch to deliver excellent fundraiser experiences and maintain and grow relationships.

The Brain Tumour Charity is moving at a fast pace so we are looking for someone that has an enthusiasm and passion for our work and a conviction to deliver positive outcomes for those that are affected by this devastating disease.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:

  With support from the Events Manager, lead and deliver a portfolio of third-party and challenge events

· Act as the main liaison with event providers

· Provide personalised, high-quality stewardship to participants, supporting fundraising, training and event preparation

· Develop and implement recruitment plans to maximise participation and meet targets

· Attend key challenge events as required, coordinating on the-day logistics and managing volunteers

· Build and maintain strong relationships that encourage repeat engagement and long-term commitment to The Charity

· Maintain accurate records within the CRM

· Support event reporting, performance tracking and trend analysis

· Use insights to inform improvements in stewardship and event planning

· Ensure all activity complies with fundraising regulations, health and safety requirements and GDPR

· Manage suppliers to ensure excellent, cost-effective delivery

· Undertake additional duties as required to support the wider team and organisation

We are looking for ambitious and strategic Development Manager – Corporate and Philanthropy to lead the growth of our corporate fundraising, build high-value partnerships, and work with our network of senior supporters to unlock transformational opportunities.

With a strong foundation of mid-level corporate partners (typically £5k-£25k) and a skilled Senior Officer in place to manage and grow those relationships, you’ll be free to focus on securing new, higher-value partnerships and support.

The Role:

You’ll lead our corporate new business development identifying and approaching companies aligned with our mission, and converting them into long-term, mutually beneficial partnerships.

You’ll work closely with the Director of Fundraising to cultivate high-net worth individuals and senior volunteers who can introduce us to the right people and help get us in the room.

Working with colleagues across communications, marketing and services, you’ll create professional, pitch-ready presentations and proposals that inspire companies to partner with us – and then deliver those pitches at a senior level, with confidence and clarity.

Key responsibilities:

· Research, Identify and approach new corporate prospects, building a strong pipeline of potential six-figure partners

· Lead on creating bespoke, compelling pitch decks and proposals, working with the communications and Marketing Team to ensure quality and impact.

· Deliver high-level presentations and pitches to senior stakeholders across a range of industries.

· Work with the Director of Fundraising to identify and engage major donors and key contacts who can help unlock introductions and strategic support

· Manage Senior Officer who leads on existing mid-level corporate partnerships.

· Support the growth of the mid-level portfolio and ensure excellent stewardship and reporting for all corporate partners.

· Collaborate with marketing, communications, and service delivery teams to ensure partnerships are meaningful, on-brand, and mutually beneficial.

· Monitor income and pipeline progress, ensuring accurate forecasting and tracking.

What we’re looking for:

· A track record of securing new business or corporate partnerships, ideally in a fundraising CSR setting

· Confident writing and presenting skills, with experience creating professional pitch decks and delivering high-level presentations

· A strategic thinker who can spot opportunities, plan a compelling approach, and close the deal

· Experience collaborating across teams (e.g. Marketing design, service delivery) to shape proposals and deliver joint objectives

· A strong relationship-builder with the credibility to work with senior executives, philanthropists and decision-makers

· Organised, self-starting and passionate about helping families when they need it most

· Line management experience desirable, but not essential

We welcome applications from the commercial sector and those working in CSR, partnerships or business development roles

We will be reviewing applications ongoing so early applications are advised. We may close the advert earlier than advertised.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Please submit your CV along with a covering letter(max 2 pages) explaining how your experience fits the role. More details can be found in the recruitment pack attached. 

Closing date: 6 February 2026

The Fixery Workshop Officer supports the daily operations of the Fixery and supporting in its promotion and development. You will be helping to deliver a welcoming, community-centred service that promotes repair, reuse and waste reduction. The role involves working alongside volunteers and community members to create an inviting space where people want to spend time, while enabling residents to access circular activities through managing the Fixery stalls and ensuring a smooth running of the hub’s operations.

Help us build a culture of repair, reuse and community skill‑sharing! We’re looking for a friendly, practical, hands‑on Fixery Workshop Officer. If you love problem‑solving, enjoy working with people, and care about reducing waste and sustainable consumption, this is the role for you.

This role would suit someone passionate about sustainability or looking to pursue a career in sustainability and looking for a step in the door. We’ll support you to develop new skills while helping your community keep valuable items in use and out of landfill. If you’re curious, adaptable, and keen to learn, we’d love to hear from you.

Key Responsibilities and Tasks

1. Welcoming people into the space, explaining how the repair process works, and creating a friendly, inclusive atmosphere.

2. Operating stalls and services within the Fixery, including transactions.

3. Logging repair data and capturing the impact of the items we save from landfill.

4. Supporting community events, workshops, and outreach activities.

Please ensure that you send a covering letter explaining why you are suitable for this role when submitting your CV.

Please note, that we reserve the right to interview and appoint before the advertised closing date.

Overview

Race Against Dementia is a global charity founded by three-time Formula 1 World Champion Sir Jackie Stewart OBE to find preventions, treatments and cures for dementia – faster.

We fund and support pioneering early-career scientists around the world, giving them the tools, mentoring and Formula 1-inspired mindset to accelerate breakthroughs. From the UK to the USA, Australia to South Africa, our researchers are rethinking how dementia research is done – applying data science, AI and engineering to neuroscience in bold, collaborative ways.

This role sits within Race Against Dementia’s small, dynamic Operations team, who oversee the charity’s research programmes and internal processes. The team is responsible for managing Race Against Dementia’s research portfolio – from coordinating funding calls and supporting the selection of the projects we fund, to delivering the training and development programme for our researchers.

Purpose of the role

The Research Officer plays a central role in delivering Race Against Dementia’s research activity, helping to strengthen our research programmes and support the researchers we fund. The role combines strong organisational skills with clear science communication: coordinating processes, systems and partnerships to ensure smooth delivery, while translating research progress into accessible updates for internal and external audiences.

Duties and Responsibilities

Research administration:

• Manage the administration of all grant calls and related processes.
• Coordinate all incoming communications regarding research matters, ensuring timely, professional responses.
• Maintain team calendars and shared resources to support smooth team operations.
• Set up review sessions with Race Against Dementia Fellows to monitor progress.
• Support preparation of updates and progress reports for charity Trustees, funders and supporters.
• Work with the Research Manager to coordinate training activities for Race Against Dementia researchers.
• Support the planning and delivery of the annual in-person training event for Race Against Dementia researchers.
• Work closely with Race Against Dementia’s research partners and training partners to coordinate joint activities, communication, and ensure smooth delivery of collaborative projects and training activities.
• Undertake research to identify new organisations aligned with our mission.

Science communications

• Track key developments in dementia research and emerging trends in the field.
• Support the creation of research related social media content for the charity’s social media channels.
• Support the development of press materials to announce research updates and milestones.
• Contribute to copywriting and content development for the Race Against Dementia’s website.
• Work with the Research Manager to ensure the wider team is kept up to date with research developments across our network and the wider field.
• Help build and maintain a network of key dementia research stakeholders across academia and charities. 

Other duties

Carry out any other duties as required by the Research Manager, CEO and Board of Trustees including:

• To attend, where appropriate, local, regional and national meetings/events.
• To maintain a good knowledge of national and local initiatives which are of benefit to Race Against Dementia.
• To administer your own workload, including meeting targets and deadlines in line with the Race Against Dementia appraisal system.
• To attend relevant CPD training events as required.
• To undertake responsibility, as part of the team, for all Health and Safety work related matters.
• To work within the guidelines of Race Against Dementia’s policies and procedures.

All team members are expected to uphold and actively demonstrate Race Against Dementia’s values and purpose, fostering a culture of integrity, innovation, and shared ambition to accelerate progress in the race against dementia.

Join Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders (MSF) as our Senior Trusts and Foundations Officer, and play a vital role in our fundraising team. This position manages a portfolio of high-value Trust and Foundation (T&Fs) donors with complex and varying requirements. They will work closely with the Trusts and Foundations Lead to drive transformational new business, directly generating essential revenue for MSF’s medical humanitarian operations worldwide. We are looking for exceptional candidates with specialised experience working with T&Fs and high-value donors, and a record of building strong, long-term relationships. The ideal candidate will be a highly organised and results-driven professional, with the ability to work both autonomously, and as part of a fantastic and supportive team.

Hours: 37.5 hours per week, Mon Fri

Duration: Permanent

Location: London - hybrid, 2 days per week in London office (Including Wednesdays)

Salary:£46,784.49 - £57,181.04 per annum

Salary is offered in line with our pay framework and typically starts at the entry point of the band. Salary increases are considered annually and are subject to our appraisal and performance review process.

Job Purpose:

The Senior Trusts and Foundations Officer is an integral part of the Philanthropy team, responsible for supporting with the implementation of the Trusts and Foundations Strategy.

They are responsible for managing a portfolio of key T&F relationships, typically giving at the £50,000 - £250,000 level. In addition, they will drive new business from prospective T&Fs capable of giving between £100,000 - £250,000 and will work closely with the Trusts and Foundations Lead on new business activity above this level

Please download the full job and person specification below for further details.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience:

• Experience of T&F fundraising including, report writing, application and proposal writing, and knowledge of restricted funding models.
• Experience managing a portfolio of high value major donors with a range of requirements.
• Proven track record of developing new business relationships and delivering income from prospective major donors.
• Proven experience of planning and delivering strategic activities.
• Excellent and engaging written communication skills and ability to adapt style to suit a wide range of supporters.
• Confident interpersonal and verbal communication skills, including diplomacy and negotiating and influencing skills.
• Experience of presenting to senior decision makers.
• Proven ability to negotiate, influence and communicate with people at all levels and from a wide range of backgrounds.
• Accuracy and excellent attention to detail.
• Proven organisational skills with experience of managing multiple tasks and deadlines with the ability to prioritise effectively.
• Experience of working in an office environment, maintaining effective administrative systems and procedures.
• Flexible, can-do attitude and good team player – this role involves working very closely and collaboratively with colleagues in the UK and internationally.
• Ability to work independently to general guidelines, with capability to use initiative and seize opportunities.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.
• Interest in international, humanitarian work.
• Commitment to the aims and values of MSF.
• Willingness to travel within the UK and internationally.
• Experience in the practical use of personal IT equipment and Microsoft Office 365 suite. The ability to effectively collaborate and communicate within a hybrid working environment utilising Teams, SharePoint, One Drive and Yammer.

HOW TO APPLY

Please apply on our website by submitting a copy of your CV together with a letter of motivation by the closing date.

Please apply as soon as possible as MSF reserves the right to close the vacancy early, or on the appointment of a candidate.

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Recruitment timetable:

• Closing Date for applications: Sunday 8 February 2026, 11.59pm (GMT)
• First round interviews: Wednesday 18 February 2026 - Thursday 19 February 2026
• Second round interviews: Monday 23 February 2026 - Wednesday 25 February 2026
• Projected Start Date: Dependent on applicant availability

MSF UK is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to diversity and creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We encourage applications from all sections of our diverse community. 

Safeguarding

MSF UK/IE is dedicated to safeguarding everyone who comes into contact with the organisation, for whatever reason and however brief. All posts are subject to safer recruitment process which include robust reference requests, scrutiny of employment history and where applicable criminal record and barring checks.

Our safeguarding commitment is underpinned by policies and procedures which encourage and promote safe working practice across the organisation. On joining MSF UK/IE you will be required to attend safeguarding training to ensure responsibility for and maintaining safe working practice and to safeguard our teams, beneficiaries, and communities.

• Salary: €4.521,21 gross per month (Brussels) / £50,331 gross per annum (London)

• Location: Brussels or London

• Contract Type: Indefinite

• Hours: Full Time

• Closing Date: 9 February 2026

• First Interview Dates: 16 & 17 February 2026

About the role

Are you interested in an impactful fundraising role with global reach? At ClientEarth we are hiring a Philanthropy Manager to join our team in either Brussels or London. The Philanthropy team is key to securing unrestricted income and supporting the organisation to achieve financial resilience. You will represent the Philanthropy team internally and externally and provide key support across the philanthropy portfolio as well as manage their own portfolio of supporters and multi-year donors. This role will help lead on our prospecting plan and work across teams to implement fundraising initiatives.

Meet your Manager

In this role you will be managed by Clea Fergusson. Clea joined ClientEarth in March 2023 and is based in Berlin. Prior to joining ClientEarth, Clea worked as a fundraiser and marketing specialist for a number of humanitarian and development non-governmental organisations (NGOs), both nationally and internationally. She has led fundraising teams and strategies in countries such as the UK, France and Germany. Through her humanitarian and development work, she has had the opportunity to hear first-hand from many communities directly affected by the climate crisis around the world. Clea graduated with honours in French and Italian from the University of Manchester and obtained her Masters in Marketing from the University of Strathclyde in Scotland. She holds a Certificate in Fundraising Management from the British Institute of Fundraising and speaks English, French, German and Italian.

Main Duties

• Actively solicit and manage donor relationships across assigned portfolio to contribute to the global philanthropy income target with a focus on building new income and unrestricted income
• Build a resilient donor pipeline and manage prospects and donors through each stage of the pipeline, ensure annual renewals, uplifts and secure new income
• Develop compelling proposals and reports that engage prospect and meet donor priorities and requirements
• Build relationships with internal senior stakeholders including the CEO, Chief Impact and Programmes Officer, Trustees and the Development Board to achieve outcomes of the development strategy

See the job description (below) for a full list of duties for this role.

Role requirements

• Significant fundraising management experience working in the development or philanthropy fields (essential)
• Demonstrable experience of securing five or six figure gifts as well as multi-year commitments including unrestricted income (essential);
• Experience in writing, coordinating and submitting successful funding proposals (essential);
• Line management experience (essential);

See the job description (below) for a full list of requirements for this role.

Note to candidates: We know that long lists of criteria can be daunting and that some candidates will not apply for a role unless they feel they are 100% qualified. If you feel you meet at least some of the essential criteria, we still encourage you to apply.

Further Information

Have a question about this job? Please visit our Careers site for advice on applying, FAQs, and more.

Flexible working:  We are proud to be a Flexa accredited Employer. Visit our Flexa Employer page for more information on our approach to flexible working. Our flexible working policy allows our people the choice to decide to work from home/another location in the country where their contract of employment is issued for 80% of their month, with the other 20% of their month being office-based  See our Benefits page for more as well as our flexible working FAQ.

ClientEarth values diversity and inclusion and the benefits this brings. We aim to appoint the most suitable candidate at all times and welcome applications from people from all different backgrounds. See our equity, diversity and inclusion journey page for more.

Please note that ClientEarth is only able to employ those who have the pre-existing legal right to work in Belgium or the UK.

ClientEarth is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice or legal services to third parties.

Longer working lives and ongoing economic transitions are reshaping careers: how we start them, and how we move through them. But too many people remain paid in low-paid, low-quality work – with damaging consequences for them personally, and our economy as a whole. We’re seeking a senior, policy-oriented research leader to help us and our partners generate insights that enable more people to move into and progress through better work.

You’ll have a proven track record in scoping and securing funding for research and influencing activity, with significant autonomy to lead your own programme at L&W. You’ll be supported by committed researchers and managers whom you will coach, lead, and develop—alongside a peer group of Deputy Directors working across other key pillars. We welcome quantitative expertise, but most important are the skills to design and deliver high-quality, impactful research programmes.

You’ll join an organisation with a national reputation for driving policy change—and a friendly, highly capable, delivery-focused team. 

Location: Hybrid working: 40-60% in an L&W office. Our offices for this role are currently in Leicester and London, but if you are based elsewhere, please contact us to talk about how the role could work for you.

Team:Research and Development

Salary:£64,450 -£77,880 per annum (pro rata), dependent on experience and location

Duration:Permanent

Working hours:0.8 to 1 FTE, with flexible working supported (e.g. condensed hours, flexible start and finish times)

Main Purpose

The Deputy Director, Policy and Research (Better Work and Progression) will have overall ownership of the ‘Better Work’ pillar of our strategic plan at L&W: overseeing all projects and activity in this area and generating new work (including developing project ideas and securing funding).

While there is significant scope to shape the ongoing programme of research and impact work, we anticipate that key areas of focus in this area going forward will be: understanding & better supporting career change; understanding and improving policy to increase employer investment in skills; high quality and fair access apprenticeships and technical education; understanding how to better support progression from low pay.

They will be a senior leader for the organization – helping to continuously shape our strategy and the plans we are implementing to deliver it.

Duties and Responsibilities

Leadership and management

• Intellectual leadership of the Better Work pillar: developing and owning policy positions, messages, theory of change and research priorities, and supporting the wider team to feed into and understand them
• Line management of senior and mid-level staff
• Act as a senior leader at L&W – including taking on specific organization-level responsibilities where appropriate

Income

• Write and/or co-ordinate responses to reactive research and evaluation tenders in the areas of employment, better work and progression
• Develop pro-active proposals that will drive change in your area, and respond to the interests of funders and partners
• Build relationships with current and potential funders and research partners

Impact

• Act as an external expert on the issues of better work and progression: writing press quotes, articles and blogs;speaking on platforms
• Building relationships with practitioners, policymakers and partners to improve our insights, and get our recommendations implemented
• Develop appropriate means of tracking impact towards our better work goals, and monitor against them. 

Delivery

• Deputy Director/Project Director-level oversight of projects being delivered in your and related areas: supporting project team to shape research plans, deliver sharp insights and manage funder relationships
• Quality Assurance of research proposals and outputs
• Use your research skills and experience to support the wider development of the Learning and Work team

Person Specification

Experience

Experience of developing, overseeing and delivering programmes of policy-relevant research at a high level - Essential

Experience of business development in a policy/research context: developing ideas, writing bids and building relationships with funders- Essential

Experience of building senior-level relationships with external stakeholders for impact and influence -Essential

Track record of delivering national and/or local policy change - Essential

Experience of senior organisational leadership as part of a team - Desirable 

Experience of responding to tenders- Desirable 

Skills

Advanced research skills (qualitative of quantitative) -Essential

Quantitative skills: experience of using key national research and administrative data sets to generate insights into the labour market -Desirable 

Clear and direct written communication style - Essential

Knowledge

Knowledge of, and commitment to, L&W’s charitable aims and purpose.- Essential

Demonstrable knowledge of employment and/or skills policy in the UK - Essential

Demonstrable knowledge in the specific areas of Better Work and/or progression -Desirable 

Learning and Work Institute works across the UK. Our work in Wales is led by a Cardiff based team, but all staff are required to follow the guidance set out in our Welsh language scheme when working in Wales.