Lead membership development officer jobs in Leeds, west yorkshire

Job Title: Freelance Programme Manager

Contract: Freelance / Self-employed. 12 months fixed term contract (with potential to extend)

Time Commitment: Approximately 4 to 6 hours per week. 

Location: Remote with occasional attendance at meetings and events 

Hourly Rate: £25

Reports to: Chair of the Board of Trustees

About Us

The Association of Teachers of Singing (AOTOS) is the UK’s leading organisation for singing teachers. As a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), we are dedicated to promoting excellence in singing teaching.

We support our members through professional development, training, networking, and advocacy, while working to strengthen engagement, visibility, and growth across the sector.

The Role

AOTOS is seeking an experienced programme manager to lead delivery and further development of our existing programme of training for its members and the wider singing teaching community. 

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver AOTOS’ programme of training and CPD in line with board strategy and member needs.

• Developing an annual programme plan and budget for approval by the board

• Be the face of AOTOS’ events and teacher development programme, including hosting online and in person events and conferences

• Review, develop and manage our Essentials teacher training course, including recruiting, training and managing course leaders

• Report against relevant KPIs for the programme, providing regular reports to the board of trustees

• Engage with AOTOS membership to understand training needs to feed into the board for future programme development

• Sourcing and booking venues and speakers for national conferences (currently two per year)

• Working with Operations Manager and Communications Officer to ensure programme operations and communications run effectively

• Other duties as required and agreed with the Chair of the board 

Person Specification

Essential

• Understanding of AOTOS and its mission

• Skilled and experienced singing teacher

• Experience in event planning and production

• Experience of course/learning pathway design

• Evidence of sustained commitment to maintaining personal CPD

• Evidence of ability to meet deadlines, plan in advance and manage a variety of different objectives and outputs

• Ability to monitor activities and collect data and other evaluation metrics

• Ability to work independently and in a team

• Ability to network and make contacts

• Confident presenter and ability to be the ‘face’ of AOTOS events

Desirable

• Knowledge of current voice pedagogy research

• Knowledge of a broad range of singing teaching styles, contexts and singing genres

• Experience managing a team

• Hands-on experience of teacher training

• Experience of reporting to a board of trustees

• Understanding the role and nature of a CIO

• A large network of connections within singing teaching practice and research

Hours and Working Pattern

• Approximately 4 to 6 hours per week (may vary seasonally depending on event workload)

• Flexible working pattern 

• Additional hours may be required to attend meetings and events. Any additional hours will be remunerated in addition to standard hours and at an agreed rate depending on nature of the work

For over 60 years the National Children’s Bureau (NCB) has been building a better childhood for all.

Research and Development Officer
Contract: Permanent
Work Pattern: Part Time, 28 hours per week (0.8 FTE)
Salary: £34,408 per annum, FTE (£27,526 per annum for 28 hours per week), with annual salary increments for the first three years
Location: Homebased – however NCB and RiP has offices in Sheffield, Newton Abbot, London and Belfast that staff can work from should they choose.

The Vacancy

We are looking for a talented Research and Development Officer to join our children and families team at Research in Practice. In this role you will develop and deliver accessible content and learning activities that promote evidence-informed practice and policy across child and family social care, youth and family justice as part of our annual delivery programme for our partners. You will also be involved in the delivery of commissioned project work.

The successful candidate will have experience designing and delivering resources, workshops, webinars, and events for a range of audiences, including senior leaders.

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone with strong written and editorial skills, excellent facilitation skills and who is confident distilling complex information into accessible learning materials. While the position requires engagement with and understanding of research, it is not a primary research role.

Key responsibilities are:

• Producing evidence-informed practice and policy resources in a range of formats (e.g. publications, videos, podcasts, animations). This includes evidence scoping, content development, commissioning, project management, editing, writing and quality assuring resources from inception to publication.
• Leading the development and delivery of concise, accessible content and learning activities to enable the development of evidence-informed practice and policy in the sector.
• Developing and facilitating learning sessions and events with a range of participants, including senior leaders across the sector.
• Working on a range of commissioned project work, from development/design through to analysis; presenting findings on completion and representing Research in Practice in project teams with academic and practice partners.
• Building strong relationships with sector experts and effectively managing relationships with authors, facilitators, people with lived experience and those working in research, policy and practice.

Research in Practice

Research in Practice is part of the National Children’s Bureau (NCB) family. For over 60 years, the NCB has been building a better childhood for all.

Research in Practice works with organisations across the adults and children’s social care, health and criminal justice sectors, supporting them to develop an evidence-informed approach to their work. Our focus is on using evidence from research, practice and lived experience, to provide resources that improve policy and services, in order to achieve positive outcomes for people of all ages.

About NCB

For more than 60 years, the National Children’s Bureau has championed the rights and amplified the voice of children and young people in the UK. We interrogate policy and uncover evidence, blending in lived and learnt experience to shape future legislation and develop more effective ways of supporting children and families.

Bringing people and organisations together is fundamental to how we improve the systems that babies, children, young people and their families rely on to thrive. We push boundaries, even looking beyond childhood itself to consider transitions into adulthood and the impact of childhood issues on an entire lifespan. We are united for better childhoods and brighter futures.

The Benefits

• 30 Days Annual Leave
• Generous Pension Scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Flexible Working
• Winter Holiday Closure & Break
• Employee Assistance Programme

Closing date: 8am, Wednesday 8th July 2026
Please note that we reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive a high volume of applications. We encourage interested candidates to submit their applications as soon as possible.

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

We are actively seeking to broaden the diversity of our staff group and warmly welcome applications from candidates underrepresented in the charity sector, including those from Black and Global Majority communities, disabled people, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people with lived experience of the issues NCB works on.

No agencies please.

The Sands Insights Network is an online community of bereaved parents who want to use their experience and knowledge to shape Sands work to make maternity and neonatal care safer.

The Network sits within the Saving Babies Lives team which focusses on using evidence, including from parents, to drive improvements in maternity and neonatal safety. The Network also facilitates parents’ involvement in Sands policy and campaigning work, as well as external projects seeking to include people with experience of baby loss.

Main Purpose of Job 

1. Undertake the day-to-day management of a successful network, building diverse membership and ensuring a safe environment for bereaved parents 

2. Ensure the diverse experiences and perspectives of bereaved parents are included in research, learning and improvement initiatives in a way that works for them 

3. Ensure the involvement activities are monitored, evaluated and impact is captured and shared

4. Help to build Sands’ reputation as a leader in partnership working, advocating for the inclusion of bereaved parents in research and decision making

Principle Tasks and Responsibilities 

1. Undertake the day-to-day management of a successful network, building diverse membership and ensuring a safe environment for bereaved parents 

• Grow the network. Engage potential new members and oversee screening and onboarding processes.

• Create a welcoming space with signposting to enable new and existing network members to navigate and make best use of the platform. 

• Maintain the network as a safe space for bereaved parents. 

• Promote the platform and its impact to Sands audiences. 

• Create and embed Equality, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EEDI) principles throughout the network and proactively ensure the membership is diverse in experience and background as the network grows.

• Work with Research Manager to ensure appropriate risk management and safeguarding protocols are in place and followed. 

• Work with the Research Manager to co-create governance policies/agreements with the network members.Moderate user activities and take actions where needed if policies are breached. 

2. Ensure the diverse experiences and perspectives of bereaved parents are included in research, learning and improvement initiatives in a way that works for them 

• Working with Sands teams and with external groups, identify opportunities for PPIE involvement, to provide a continuous range of options for parents to engage with. 

• Engage with network members to develop the community, and create activity based on their needs. 

• Share opportunities with the Network, encouraging and supporting involvement from members. 

• Create a dynamic and interactive atmosphere on the platform, building and maintain relationships with network members, and generating enthusiasm and a sense of purpose. 

• Encourage and facilitate activity within project groups on the network to ensure activities proceed and are constructive and inclusive. 

• Develop and share tools and resources to support parents with the skills and information they may need to be positively involved in research and improvement projects.

• Lead some involvement activities, including discussion groups, interviews and collaborative working. 

• Work with the Research Manager and the membership of the network to develop and implement a policy for reward and recognition for both internal and external opportunities. 

3. Ensure the involvement activities are monitored, evaluated and impact is captured

• In partnership with the Research Manager develop and embed a framework for monitoring and evaluating activities. 

• Summarise and share findings and outcomes of network projects, feeding into research, service and policy development. 

• Provide regular reports on impact and share those across Sands.

4. Help to build Sands’ reputation as a leader in partnership working, advocating for the inclusion of bereaved parents in research and decision making

• Build relationships with external stakeholders; support network members to influence people and organisations outside Sand directly, including decisionmakers, influencers, research groups or research funders.

• Represent network members externally and advocate for their involvement and inclusion in research and improvement programmes. 

• Represent Sands at external events, meetings and activities, helping to build Sands’ reputation as a leader in the field of working in partnership with bereaved parents.

General 

• Undertake any other duties commensurate with the role as required by the Research Manager, Head of Saving Babies Lives team and the CEO.

• Work flexibly and collaboratively with colleagues across the organisation to achieve shared goals. 

• Always maintain strict confidentiality. 

• Adhere to all Sands policies and procedures. 

• Undertake all mandatory training as required. 

• Participate actively in annual appraisals and personal development

We believe that change for people affected by ME won't just happen; it must be made. That's why action and impact are at the heart of everything we do. Whether that's helping people today with support, information, or care. Or working towards securing future change through our research and campaigning work. The intent of everything we do is to pursue positive impact for the lives, rights, and futures of people affected by ME.

As Communications Manager you will play a pivotal role in delivering strategic, impactful communications that advance Action for ME’s work, improve understanding and recognition of ME and support fundraising efforts

The Communications Manager will be responsible for the day-to-day delivery of the communications strategy, leading a team of two other communications staff. You will work closely with colleagues across the fundraising, policy, research and services departments, delivering clear and compelling storytelling, and maximising visibility across media, digital platforms and key stakeholder networks.

Key duties

Leadership and Management

• Work to ensure that people with ME are at the heart of everything we do through meaningful engagement and participation to influence all aspects of communications and marketing.

• Contribute to the development of, and then lead implementation of, the Communications Strategy, ensuring the appropriate involvement of key stakeholders, scoping, evaluating, and improving our practice.

• Maintain a data-insight led approach to the communications work providing regular management information and key performance indicator reports.

• Work as a member of the Extended Leadership Team.

• Line manage Communications Team members, supporting them to set and achieve performance objectives through regular one-to-ones and 12-monthly appraisals.

• Be responsible for Communications budget and the relationship with services providers required for the production of the charity’s digital and printed information and support resources.

Communications and Marketing

• Raise the profile of the impact of ME, and of Action for ME and its work, to enable the organisation to reach more people and better support need, by establishing a regular cadence of appropriate but innovative product across all main social media channels.

• Ensure fundraising is supported by embedding clear calls to action around donations and membership growth as a matter of course.

• Under the direction of the Director of Fundraising, develop all website, press and social media content for charity appeals.

• Market the charity’s Support and Healthcare services, including key digital and printed information and support resources, to the ME community and the professionals working with them, working closely with respective service leads.

• Contribute to income generation by working closely with the Director of Fundraising to develop the communication and marketing materials needed to implement the organisation’s Fundraising Strategy.

• Coordinate the charity’s response to any crisis communications, including developing appropriate crisis management plans and working outside of office hours as required.

• Establish effective systems/processes for gathering, supporting, maintaining, and managing case studies for a range of purposes (including press and media opportunities, public affairs and policy work, and fundraising).

• Draft and issue press releases and media statements and ensure appropriate follow-up by telephoning journalists, contacting picture desks etc. as appropriate.

• Alongside the CEO and any commissioned agency, develop relationships with key press, media and communications stakeholders to enhance the charity’s work.

• Oversee the production of the annual report, on budget, to schedule, taking overall editorial responsibility for content.

• Oversee the ongoing development of our digital engagement including our website and social media and being the point of contact on website issues.

• Fulfil the role of brand gateway keeper, ensuring all digital and printed communications, including information and support resources, adhere to brand guidelines, house style and organisational tone.

• Maintain an up-to-date knowledge and oversight of how ME and related key issues (e.g. Long Covid) are discussed in the media and wider ME community.

• Build networks to enhance the charity’s strategic communications and marketing work.

• Build and maintain an effective social media monitoring regime, ensuring fit for purpose rules of engagement are in place and applied consistently.

Other Key Accountabilities 

• Ensure that all relevant service standards are met including compliance with best practice, legal and regulatory frameworks and internal standards.

• Ensure best value in all our work.

• Undertake any other duty within your ability and within reason, as may be required, from time-to-time, at the discretion of your line manager.

• On occasions, provide management support and cover within the organisation, as needed.

• Act as an advocate for the charity and its work.

Person specification

Experience, Knowledge and Understanding 

• A minimum of 2 years’ experience working in a communications management role

• Experience of developing integrated, insight and audience-led communications plans including social media

• Experience of website and brand management

• Experience of delivering successful campaigns

• Experience of engaging with press and/or media including writing press releases and media briefings

• Experience of working collaboratively with different teams/departments

• Experience of working in charity communications (desirable)

• An understanding of ME and the impact on people affected by it (desirable)

• Experience of integrating fundraising with communications (desirable)

Skills, Behaviours and Values

• Adaptable and highly organised with an ability to work methodically, managing and prioritising a varied workload, use your own initiative, work independently, and work well in a team.

• Strong MS Office skills including the ability to use Word, Excel, databases and web-related programmes and software.