Learning and behaviour specialist jobs in Newcastle
The Organisation
LawCare is the mental health charity for the legal sector, providing free, confidential emotional support and information to people working in law across the UK, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man. While our primary focus is on direct support services, we also play a leading role in advocating for improved mental health practices within legal workplaces and driving cultural transformation through education, training, and research.
Established in 1997, we have spent almost 30 years supporting legal professionals by offering a safe, confidential, and non-judgemental space to talk, whether individuals are experiencing day-to-day pressures or more complex, enduring challenges. Our team of Champions, over 100 volunteers, and staff bring lived experience of the legal sector, enabling us to provide informed, empathetic support grounded in a deep understanding of the profession’s unique demands.
We serve all branches of the legal community, including barristers, solicitors, in-house teams, chartered legal executives, and business and support staff. From early-career professionals facing bullying or imposter syndrome to senior leaders managing risk, regulatory pressures, or professional isolation, we are a trusted and independent source of support.
In addition to our direct support services - including helpline, live online chat, and email support - we provide peer support and maintain a substantial, regularly updated online library of resources, including articles, personal stories, research, and multimedia content designed to promote mental health awareness and resilience across the sector. We also deliver training on mental wellbeing, management and supervision, vicarious trauma, and the new SRA workplace behaviour standards, and offer online sessions for legal workplaces and organisations to explain the support we provide.
By combining frontline service delivery with sector-wide advocacy, LawCare is uniquely positioned at the intersection of individual wellbeing and organisational cultural change. We are supported by a strong, capable team and a committed Board of Trustees, enabling us to continue making a meaningful impact across the legal profession.
The Role
LawCare is seeking an inspiring and values-led Chief Executive to lead the charity into its next phase of development at a pivotal moment for the legal profession. As the public face and strategic leader of the organisation, the Chief Executive will champion LawCare’s mission - ensuring the continued delivery of high-quality, confidential support services while strengthening its voice and influence across a rapidly evolving and increasingly commercial mental health landscape.
This is an exciting opportunity to build on strong foundations, guiding a respected and independent charity through a period of significant sector change. Working closely with staff, volunteers, funders and partners, the Chief Executive will drive sustainable growth, deepen impact, and help shape a more compassionate and mentally healthy legal culture for the future.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Impact
- Lead delivery of LawCare’s forthcoming strategy (2026 onwards), translating vision into measurable impact.
- Ensure LawCare sharpens its positioning and messaging in a crowded mental health marketplace.
- Balance direct support services, research, education and influencing work to maximise impact.
- Identify what the charity should prioritise and where it should collaborate rather than deliver directly.
External Relations & Sector Influence
- Act as the primary ambassador and spokesperson for LawCare across the legal sector in the UK, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man.
- Build and maintain senior relationships with:
- Professional bodies
- Regulators
- Law firms and chambers
- Legal educators
- Funders and charitable trusts
- Speak regularly at conferences, sector events, roundtables and award ceremonies. These are primarily London based, however, there will be occasions where representation is required across England, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.
- Build alliances to influence policy, regulation and workplace practice around mental health and wellbeing.
- Position LawCare as the authoritative, evidence-informed voice on mental health in law.
Service Oversight & Quality
- Ensure the continued delivery of high-quality, confidential helpline and peer support services.
- Maintain robust safeguarding, confidentiality and data governance practices.
- Oversee volunteer recruitment, training and engagement.
- Ensure services evolve in response to emerging issues (e.g., stress, anxiety, workplace conflict, regulatory pressure, AI-related disruption).
Financial Sustainability & Governance
- Lead financial planning and sustainability, working closely with the Treasurer and Board.
- Manage relationships with core professional body funders and diversify income streams.
- Develop compelling funding cases and annual pitches to key stakeholders.
- Strengthen reserves and long-term financial resilience.
- Ensure strong governance, compliance and risk management.
- Support and work closely with the incoming Chair and a refreshed Board.
Research, Education & Prevention
- Build on the impact of the Life in the Law research programme.
- Promote preventative approaches for firms and educators.
- Strengthen LawCare’s role in vocational education and regulatory conversations.
- Ensure research informs policy influence and funding opportunities.
Organisational Leadership
- Lead, support and develop a small, experienced and fully remote team.
- Foster a culture of trust, collaboration, wellbeing and accountability.
- Provide clarity and reassurance during a period of leadership transition and financial strengthening.
- Ensure operational efficiency and effective use of technology in a remote environment.
The Person
LawCare is seeking a credible, strategic and values-driven leader with a deep understanding of the legal profession and the pressures shaping it today. You will bring senior leadership experience, strong commercial and financial acumen, and the ability to balance operational excellence with sector-wide influence.
An authentic and compelling ambassador for mental health and wellbeing, you will be an exceptional communicator who builds trust with ease. Emotionally intelligent, resilient and grounded, you will combine empathy with clarity and conviction, guiding the organisation confidently while remaining steadfast in your commitment to improving mental health across the legal community.
Essential
Professional Background
- Prior professional experience in the legal sector is required. Experience working in a qualified or regulated professional role is desirable.
- Deep, intrinsic understanding of the culture, pressures and structural dynamics of the profession.
- Senior leadership experience with responsibility for strategy, people and budgets.
Leadership & Influence
- Credible, visible and compelling leader with presence.
- Exceptional communicator - confident public speaker and strong writer.
- Knowledge of mental health systems, workplace wellbeing or addiction support.
- Able to influence senior stakeholders and bring sceptical audiences “on the journey.”
- A credible ambassador for mental health and wellbeing - knowledge of mental health systems, workplace wellbeing or addiction support.
- Comfortable operating at Board level.
Organisational Capacity
- Experience managing and motivating high-performing teams (ideally remote).
- Financial acumen, including budget oversight and income generation.
- Fundraising experience, particularly with trusts, foundations or membership bodies.
- Ability to balance operational delivery with strategic influence.
- Skilled at prioritisation in resource-constrained environments.
Personal Qualities
- Authentic commitment to mental health and wellbeing.
- Emotionally intelligent, empathetic and values-driven.
- Resilient and calm under pressure.
- Able to navigate sensitive conversations with discretion and diplomacy.
Desirable
- Experience within the charity or not-for-profit sector.
- Experience working with regulators or professional bodies.
- Understanding of research commissioning or evidence-led advocacy.
Further information
For further information about LawCare, the scope of the role and the person specification, please download the Candidate Briefing Pack.
How to Apply
If you are interested in this exciting opportunity, please provide the following with your application:
- An up to date CV, with the details of two referees (we will not contact them without your prior permission).
- A supporting statement outlining how you meet the criteria set out in the Person Specification, along with your motivation for applying for the role.
Closing date for applications: Monday 30th March 2026
Preliminary interviews with Russam: Wednesday 8th & Thursday 9th April 2026
Interviews with LawCare: Week commencing 20th April 2026
We look forward to receiving your application.
Thank you!
This is a home-based role, working Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Applications are welcome from candidates based outside Belfast, provided they are resident in Northern Ireland and able to commute to the Belfast office if required.
The External Affairs Manager plays a pivotal role in empowering people with sight loss to live the life they choose. This position leads the development of policy and campaigns within the country, aligning with Guide Dogs’ strategic objectives. Working collaboratively with the central policy, public affairs, and campaigns team, as well as the country leadership team, the role builds strategic partnerships with government bodies, local authorities, societies, and other key organisations. This ensures Guide Dogs remains informed and influential on all policy initiatives affecting the organisation and its stakeholders.
The post holder will be responsible for the day‑to‑day leadership, management and oversight of a team.
The post-holder is responsible for shaping policy positions, drafting responses to consultations from councils, combined authorities, and devolved governments, and driving impactful campaigns at a regional level. A key focus is increasing the involvement of blind and partially sighted people in advocacy and campaigning.
Additionally, the role leads the implementation of Guide Dogs’ regional marketing and communications strategy across the Devolved Nations. This includes raising brand awareness, engaging diverse audiences—service users, families, volunteers, donors, and the public—and delivering integrated communications plans that strengthen Guide Dogs’ presence and impact.
Key Responsibilities
Policy Development
- Lead the creation of country-specific policy and position papers, ensuring alignment with organisational strategy.
- Prepare responses to consultation papers from devolved administrations, local government, and regional bodies.
- Represent Guide Dogs on committees, working groups, and forums, staying informed on policy issues impacting the organisation and its service users.
Public Affairs
- Build and influence relationships with key stakeholders, including elected representatives and senior officials.
- Represent Guide Dogs at Government Scrutiny Committees and cross-party groups.
- Act as the primary liaison with local government and statutory agencies.
Campaigns & Influence
- Strategically lead and coordinate campaigns at a country level, ensuring alignment with devolved policy priorities.
- Develop and deliver campaigns addressing local needs of the visually impaired community.
- Foster partnerships within the Third Sector to build consensus and amplify Guide Dogs’ strategic aims.
Leadership & People Management
- Provide strong leadership to local staff and volunteers, promoting best practice and knowledge-sharing.
- Oversee recruitment, performance management, and compliance with safeguarding policies.
- Ensure high levels of engagement through effective communication and leadership.
Financial Accountability
- Support fundraising initiatives and monitor operational budgets to ensure efficiency and compliance.
Diversity & Inclusion
- Champion Guide Dogs’ diversity agenda, ensuring services are inclusive and accessible.
- Work with external partners to create a more inclusive environment for people with sight loss.
How to apply
Further details on the full role are attached below. When you are ready to apply, submit an online application form via this page.
If you would like to have an informal conversation about the role before applying, or require any accessibility support to apply, our friendly recruitment team is ready and waiting to help.
As part of your application ensure you provide evidence and examples of how your skills & experience meet the criteria as set out in the attached job description. You will also be asked to complete a few job-specific questions as part of this application process, so please be prepared to write your answers to these questions.
Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
Guide Dogs welcomes applications from all sections of the community and actively encourages diversity to maximise achievements, creativity and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment, regardless of age, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, disability or nationality.
As a Disability Confident Employer, we are proud, whenever possible, to offer an interview to all candidates that meet our selection criteria, and who indicate they wish their application to be considered under our Disability Confident interview commitment. For more details, visit our careers site.
If you are successful you will need to provide evidence of your right to work in the UK via our digital ID checking supplier; in addition, we cannot offer visa sponsorship at this time.
Safeguarding
Guide Dogs is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children, young people and adults at risk of harm with whom we work. We expect all our employees and volunteers to fully share this commitment.
At Guide Dogs, we believe in fair and equitable hiring practices. A criminal record will not automatically disqualify an applicant from consideration for a position. Each case will be evaluated individually, taking into account the nature of the offense, its relevance to the role, and the time that has passed since the incident. We encourage all candidates to disclose relevant information, and we assure you that it will be handled confidentially and fairly.
Guide Dogs follow Safer Recruitment practices to ensure we are safeguarding the vulnerable people we work with. As part of this, we require a full work history with any gaps accounted for & a minimum of 2 professional referee details fully covering the past 5 years. If you are applying for a disclosure role, please note that you will be required to undergo an enhanced DBS check and sign up to the DBS update service.
For high volumes of applications, we reserve the right to close adverts earlier than advertised.
Registered Charity
More than 1000
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.