National director jobs

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.

ACCM (UK) is a Bedford-based charity working to improve the health, wellbeing and equality of Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic, disadvantaged and marginalised communities. We focus in particular on women, families and young people who experience social exclusion, health inequalities, or are affected by harmful traditional practices such as female genital mutilation (FGM), forced marriage (FM) and honour-based violence (HBV).

We provide:

• Health & wellbeing support — group activities, wellbeing sessions, one-to-one support, signposting
• Education & skills programmes — ESOL, digital skills, confidence building, employability
• Advocacy & safeguarding — support for victims/survivors of harmful practices and abuse
• Community engagement — outreach, awareness-raising, partnership development
• A community hub at the Cauldwell Community Centre — a welcoming, accessible space for activities, events and services Our vision is a society where harmful practices and abuse are not tolerated and where everyone - regardless of background - has equal opportunity to live in safety, dignity and good health.

Our values are:

• Inclusion and Respect
• Empowerment 
• Community Cohesion 
• Innovation and Partnership
• Accountability.

This is a rare opportunity to lead a respected organisation at a defining moment. The successful candidate will:

• Build on deep community trust and long-standing relationships 
• Shape the future of Cauldwell Community Centre 
• Strengthen services that support women, families and young people
• Lead the organisation into a sustainable, confident future 
• Put their own stamp on ACCM(UK)’s next phase of growth.

You will be joining a supportive Board and staff team committed to making this transition a success.

The closing date for applications for this position is Friday 30th January 2026 by 5pm.

Interviews will take place on 18th February 2026 (with the possibility of alternative arrangements being made dependent on your circumstance and availability).

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic is now seeking an exceptional and visionary Director of Development to lead its fundraising at a pivotal moment in its evolution. This newly created senior role reflects a step change in ambition as the organisation embarks on an exciting new chapter of growth, partnership and global profile. Reporting to the Chief Executive and sitting on the Executive Team, the Director of Development will inspire and lead a talented development team while playing a central role in shaping the organisation’s future direction. You will spearhead major fundraising initiatives, including a landmark capital campaign to realise plans for a new recording, rehearsal and creative centre — envisaged as an “Abbey Road of the North” — designed to support future talent, innovation and the wider creative economy of the Liverpool City Region. Alongside this, you will help secure the long-term success of Royal Liverpool Philharmonic’s award-winning artistic, learning and community programmes.

The successful candidate will be a dynamic, relationship-driven leader with a strong track record of securing transformational income within complex, mission-led organisations. You will bring strategic vision, deep knowledge of the philanthropic landscape, and the confidence to unlock new sources of support from individuals, trusts, foundations and corporate partners. Crucially, you will play a leading role in articulating a clear, compelling and cohesive external narrative for Royal Liverpool Philharmonic — one that brings together its heritage, ambition, social impact and future aspirations — and ensure this story resonates powerfully with funders, partners, civic leaders and audiences. Passionate about music and culture, you will be an inspiring leader, a trusted advisor to the Board and Executive, and a persuasive ambassador for an organisation that exists to enhance and transform lives through music.

Lead the growing national charity, Rackets Cubed, as their next Charity Director, helping children thrive through sport, education and nutrition.

Location: London with national travel

Applications close: 9 a.m. Monday 23rd February 2026

About Racket Cubed

Racket Cubed is a charity with momentum, purpose and heart. What began as a small local initiative has grown into a national charity supporting children and families in communities that need it most.

Founded in 2016, Rackets Cubed has grown steadily and purposefully. Today, it supports over 1,000 children every week, working across schools, community hubs and partnerships in multiple cities. The work is rooted in collaboration, with schools, universities, sports bodies, food charities and local organisations.

Looking ahead, Rackets Cubed is focused on controlled consolidation, strengthening systems, people and funding while continuing to grow responsibly.

Rackets Cubed creates happy, resilient learners by bringing together sport, education and nutrition in a simple but powerful way. 

About the role

Rackets Cubed is now seeking a Charity Director to lead the next stage of its journey. This is an opportunity to combine strategic leadership with real-world impact, working closely with an engaged Chair and Board, an experienced team and a wide network of partners.

You will help shape how Rackets Cubed consolidates its growth, strengthens financial sustainability and deepens impact, while staying true to what makes it distinctive: a practical, evidence-led approach and a belief in the potential of every child.

Who we are looking for

Rackets Cubed is looking for a values-driven leader who brings warmth, clarity and confidence — someone who enjoys building relationships as much as shaping strategy.

You will bring:

• Senior leadership experience (CEO, Director or similar)
• Experience working with a Board and supporting good governance
• Financial understanding and experience of income generation
• The ability to lead teams through growth, change or consolidation
• Strong communication skills and a natural, credible presence
• A genuine commitment to equity, inclusion and social impact

Experience in education, youth development, sport, health or food poverty is welcome but above all, you will share the charity’s belief in what children can achieve when given the right support.

Rackets Cubed is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all backgrounds.

Please click 'Redirect to recruiter’ to be redirected to the Peridot Partners website, where you can find full details of the candidate profile and register your interest to apply.

Applications for this role close at 9 a.m. Monday 23rd February 2026.

Are you ready to shape the future of young people at a national scale?

Join Young Enterprise at a pivotal moment of change. As our Assistant Director of Partnerships and Delivery, you’ll play a leading role in strengthening how we work, how we partner, and how we deliver life-changing opportunities for young people across the UK, working across regions to maximise impact.

This is a senior, strategic role with real influence, combining vision, collaboration, and operational excellence to ensure Young Enterprise is set up for long-term impact.

Who We Are

We’re Young Enterprise, a national charity with a bold mission: to give every young person the skills, confidence, and mindset to thrive in a changing world of work.

For over 60 years, we’ve reached more than 7 million young people through hands-on enterprise and financial education programmes. From launching student businesses to building financial confidence, our work helps young people develop essential life skills like teamwork, leadership, problem-solving, and resilience.

We’re a passionate, people-centred organisation made up of 90+ colleagues and 2,000+ volunteers, united by a belief that every young person, whatever their background, deserves a fair start in life.

Why Join Us?
We think Young Enterprise is a great place to work and we’re proud of our people-first culture. Here’s what you can expect:

• A friendly and supportive team where your voice is heard
• A strong commitment to diversity and inclusion—we want everyone to feel they belong
• Generous holiday allowance and flexible working
• Cycle-to-work scheme, life assurance, and NHS top-up plan
• Ongoing learning and mentoring opportunities
• A chance to directly impact the lives of young people every single day

About the Role

This is a senior, strategic role for a collaborative leader who enjoys turning insight into action. As Assistant Director of Partnerships and Delivery, you will:

• Work with the senior leadership team to design and embed a future-ready Target Operating Model (TOM) that supports high quality, impactful delivery across the UK.
• Lead Young Enterprise’s partnership and delivery activity during a key period of organisational change and renewal, helping to shape our future impact.
• Build strong, purposeful partnerships and delivery models that bring our Transforming Futures Strategy to life.
• Foster a strong “one team” culture across programmes, delivery, and volunteering.
• Champion safeguarding, inclusivity, and evidence-based practice across all areas of work.

You’ll Love This Role If You Are…

• a strategic systems-thinker who enjoys improving how organisations work and delivering impact at scale
• a collaborative and credible leader who brings people with them through change, building trust and momentum
• passionate about impact and using evidence to drive better outcomes for young people
• confident working with partners and stakeholders across sectors to create shared value
• values-led, with a strong commitment to safeguarding, inclusion, and high-quality delivery
• motivated by mission, and excited by the opportunity to shape the future of a national charity at a pivotal moment

Key Responsibilities

• Lead partnership and delivery activity aligned to the Transforming Futures Strategy.
• Co-design and implement a future-focused Target Operating Model (TOM) that supports effective, high quality delivery.
• Build, grow and manage strategic relationships with schools, funders, and partners to maximise impact and reach.
• Represent Young Enterprise externally and support partnership growth across sectors.
• Ensure programmes are delivered to a consistently high standard, with safeguarding, inclusion and quality at the core.
• Use data, evidence and insight to drive performance, learning and continuous improvement.
• Connect national strategy with regional delivery, ensuring local insight informs planning and decision making.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive culture and support the development of high performing teams.
• Contribute actively to organisational leadership as a member of the senior leadership team.

 A few practical things

• This role will require regular travel across the UK and monthly travel to London for leadership meetings and events.

Keeping Young People Safe 

We are committed to keeping young people safe. All successful applicants will undergo an enhanced DBS check and receive ongoing safeguarding training.

At Young Enterprise, safeguarding is at the core of everything we do. We are committed to promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults. All successful applicants will receive ongoing safeguarding training throughout their employment and be expected to uphold excellent safeguarding practice at all times.

How to Apply
If you’re ready to help shape the futures of young people, we want to hear from you!

Please send your CV and instead of a traditional cover letter, please send us a separate document answering the three questions below, up to 250 words per answer. Please note, applications without answers to the three questions will not be considered. Applications must be received by 23:30 on 4 February 2026.  

Interviews will be held in person at our London Office and shortlisted candidates will be invited to be interviewed either on 10 or 11 February 2026.

1. What are the top three strengths, skills, or experiences you bring to the Assistant Director of Partnerships and Delivery role?  

 2. If appointed, what would you most want to achieve within your first 12 months in the role, and why are these priorities important to you and to Young Enterprise? 

 3. Why does leading the delivery and partnerships at Young Enterprise matter to you personally? How does your motivation and approach align with our transforming Futures Strategy and our values of unlocking potential, one team, enterprising and resilient, and creating great impact? 

We understand that candidates may use AI tools to assist with their applications. While these can be a helpful resource, we want to hear about your personal skills, experiences and insights that highlight your unique strengths and perspective in your own words.

Full details can be found in the Job Description.

At YE we are passionate and committed to keeping your data safe and secure.  Full details can be found in the YE People’s Privacy Notice.

Join us – and help us give every young person the chance to thrive. Apply today!

The Programme Director, Media and Communications leads on the design, development and implementation of communication strategies and plans to advance Humane World for Animals UK’s strategic priorities with regard to campaigns, brand-building and fundraising. The role creates, implements and measures the success of a comprehensive communications programme that will aim to significantly enhance the organisation’s image and position within the UK animal protection space.

If you are results-oriented, organised and creative and have strong proven experience as a media and communications professional then we would like to hear from you.

Key areas of responsibility

1. Develop and execute communications strategies for Humane World for Animals UK’s key campaigns and fundraising requirements.

2. Measure and track communications impact, reach and effectiveness, reporting against agreed targets.

3. Manage, maintain and grow productive relationships with a range of journalists with a goal of securing prominent national media coverage.

4. Oversee the organisation’s social media channels to promote campaigns, support fundraising and engage meaningfully with UK supporters and political stakeholders.

5. Serve as chief content reviewer to ensure communications materials adhere to policy, factual accuracy and visual brand guidelines.

6. Lead on designing reputational risk management mitigation strategies.

7. Implement UK specific brand strategies with the aim of increasing and measuring brand awareness in the UK market.

8. Lead on celebrity recruitment and stewardship.

9. Manage sourcing and contracting relationships with communications / PR agencies and databases to ensure consistently high-quality and value for money communications outputs.

10. Manage the communications and media budget, including regular reporting.

About you

Our successful candidate will be confident, creative and positive with a proven track in media and communications roles at a senior level. A proactive self-starter, you will have demonstrable experience of managing and developing strong, focused and ambitious teams, and a solution-focused approach to overcoming obstacles. You will have experience of building high quality media and communication strategies and plans and delivering these in a fast-paced environment. You will have ambition and drive for creating positive change for animal welfare; a willingness to constantly learn and develop the most impactful, cost-effective communications for our target audiences; and your work will be solidly underpinned by regular evaluation of progress and impact with a view to further improving strategies.

We are searching for an experienced media and communications professional to make a difference and be part of our successful and friendly team. If that’s you, please get in touch!

London National Park City is looking for an organised and adaptable Administration Manager to join our small staff team. This permanent role is essential to strengthening the infrastructure that enables our volunteer Ranger community and partner groups to make neighbourhoods across London greener, healthier and wilder.

As our Administration Manager, you'll be the operational backbone of our organisation – managing our CRM and internal systems, maintaining policies and procedures, and ensuring our staff and 150+ volunteer Rangers have seamless access to the information and resources they need. You'll work across all areas of our operation, from supporting Ranger onboarding and events to assisting with Board meetings and partner communications.

London became the world's first National Park City in 2019, and we are a long-term grassroots movement connecting people and nature across the capital. This role offers the opportunity to help scale our impact, fixing what needs fixing and structuring our work so more communities can take the lead in transforming their local areas.

You'll be an experienced administrator who excels at managing multiple information sources, planning ahead, and making smart decisions about systems and processes. You'll be disciplined and organised with excellent communication skills, but also creative and willing to chip in wherever needed.

You do not need a university degree to apply for this role, and we'll provide you with additional training and mentoring as you develop your skills.

No recruiters please – direct applications only.

Responsibilities

You will be responsible for managing our internal systems, record keeping, data management, and will provide support for our Ranger and Communications team.

You will work directly with each of our staff, to ensure that they have access to the information and resources that they need to operate effectively, and will keep our policies and procedures up to date. 

You’ll provide additional support as part of the wider staff team for external events and communications, and support board and working group meetings.

• Managing our internal CRM, ensuring information is well structured, records are consistent, up to date and appropriately secure and accessible.

• Liaise with Rangers and other volunteers to ensure that their records are up to date and they have access to all the internal resources that require.

• Support our Community Director in organising Ranger recruitment, inductions, and onboarding.

• Support in organising external events for Rangers and volunteers as part of our seasonal Ranger programme, and Festival events through the year.

• Manage travel arrangements, ticket booking, and tracking attendance at organised Ranger events and Field Trips.

• Support our Executive Director and Community Director in external meetings and communications with partners and supporters.

• Assist in organising Board and Working Group meetings, preparing agendas, taking minutes, and tracking actions.

• Provide regular updates to our staff team and Ranger community on your projects and activities, and overall progress on our programme goals.

• Contribution to half yearly progress reports and final project reports for external stakeholders and funders.

You will report to the Executive Director and work closely with your colleagues in our staff team and with our wider group of volunteers.

Candidate Profile

We’re looking for an organised, thoughtful and considerate colleague who will help us better support our Ranger community, and extend the reach and effectiveness of our staff team.

You will have the following experience:

• Experience in an equivalent administration or operations role, or demonstrable experience of transferable skills.

• Experience working with an online CRM system, such as Monday or Hubspot, as well as proficiency with Google Drive or other office applications.

• Demonstrable experience of supporting a small distributed staff team, and working with volunteers will be a distinct advantage.

• An ability to communicate and coordinate with a wide range of people at all levels of a variety of organisations.

• Excellent oral and written communication in a clear, concise, accessible and effective manner.

• Fluency in English, both spoken and written, is essential.

• Ability to effectively plan and prioritise workload within deadlines, and to set and meet high standards of delivery.

• Commitment to the vision of London as a National Park City and the success of the Ranger Programme.

Not sure you tick all the boxes? Please apply anyway as we want to hear from a wide range of potential candidates.

Diversity and Inclusion

We actively welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, particularly those from underrepresented, disadvantaged, and marginalised communities. We believe diverse perspectives and lived experiences strengthen our ability to serve London's communities effectively. 

We are committed to making reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process and in the workplace to ensure everyone can participate fully and carry out their duties. If you have any access requirements or additional needs, please let us know at any stage so we can work with you to provide appropriate support.

Salary and benefits

You will be joining and fully participating in a unique and inspirational community of changemakers and storytellers, active across London and increasingly around the world. We pay all of our staff at least the London Living Wage.

This is a permanent role and the salary range is £30,000 to £34,000 dependent on experience. This may be a part or full-time role and we are open to applications for flexible working arrangements.

You will have 25 holiday days allowance per year (pro rata for part-time staff).

Following successful completion of a 3 month probationary period, we will enrol you in our Nest pension scheme, and will make additional payments of 4% as long as you contribute 4% of your salary each month.

This role will predominantly be carried out remotely from home and in person at our Visitor Centre in London, with regular meetings and site visits across London, so you must be based in the UK and be prepared for regular travel. 

You must have the right to work in the UK already in place. Unfortunately we cannot sponsor or support any visa applications.

Job Purpose

Are you a strategic HR professional passionate about people, culture, and inclusion? Centre 404 is seeking an experienced HR Business Partner to join our Central People and Culture team and support the Director of People in delivering Centre 404’s People Strategy and sector workforce priorities. The role focuses on embedding workforce planning, building management capability, and strengthening cultural development, ensuring the organisation is well placed to meet the challenges of the Adult Social Care Workforce Strategy and the new national pay deal.

About Us

Centre 404 is a vibrant north London based charity committed to empowering people with learning disabilities and their families. We champion inclusion, choice, and wellbeing, and we’re proud to be driving sector-leading change in social care.

Key Priorities

• Deliver a management development programme with measurable impact
• Provide workforce analytics to inform strategic decisions and reduce agency spend
• Coach managers to resolve employee relations issues proactively
• Drive improvements in staff engagement, inclusion, and fair treatment
• Lead on Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) initiatives and quality benchmarking
• Embed co-production principles across HR processes

What We’re Looking For

• CIPD Level 7 (or working towards) or equivalent
• Proven experience in workforce planning, leadership development, and cultural change
• Strong coaching, influencing, and analytical skills
• Commitment to inclusion, safeguarding, and the rights of people with learning disabilities
• Knowledge of CQC/Ofsted frameworks and sector reforms is a plus

 Why Join Us?

At Centre 404, you’ll be part of a values-driven organisation that prioritises people. We offer a collaborative environment, meaningful work, and the opportunity to make a real difference.

Centre 404 is dedicated to staff development and supervision and we will provide a detailed induction and on-going training and support. All offers of employment are subject to a DBS check, proof of eligibility to work in the UK and satisfactory references covering a five year period.

Centre 404 is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. Charity ref number 299889

The Bikeability Trust is entering a new exciting phase of our strategy to 2035 to ensure more children can cycle with confidence. A year into our strategy we have reviewed Executive Team roles and responsibilities and are now looking for a creative Communications and Fundraising Director to lead our mission driven communications, income generation and impact reporting functions.

You will be an experience senior leader in communications, who has the drive to take our strategy to the next level. A key member of the Executive Team, working across the home based diverse staff team to bring together the impact of our work through corporate communications and influencing. We recommend reading our annual reviews on the Bikeability website to see a flavour of the work you could be leading.

Our income generation work is focussed on small impactful corporate partnerships, we have tested some individual giving and are planning to host a fundraising Ball in 2026. Experience in fundraising is desirable, with communications experience as essential as this role will ensure strong relationships with Government. 

If you would like to have a short discussion with the CEO before applying please contact Emily Cherry CEO. We are looking to interview shortlisted candidates on the 23rd or 25th February. We are looking for a candidate to start from 1st April or sooner. 

Do you want to make a difference to local lives?

We are an independent local charity based in Bosham, Chichester offering exceptional end of life care to our patients and support to their loved ones. The work we do makes a real difference to the lives of local people and we support over 330 patients at any one time, in our In Patient, Community, Living Well and Family Services teams.  We generate the majority of our funding through fundraising and our eleven charity shops.

With operating resources of around £10.5 million per year and a workforce of around 270 employees and c.500 volunteers, we provide our services and seek to live our values of Compassion, Excellence, Integrity, Responsibility, and Collaboration in all that we do.

We believe that the best care is delivered when people work together with openness, respect, and shared purpose. As we look to the future, we are focused on sustainability, and effective, visible leadership across the organisation so that we can continue to provide our vital services for years to come.

The Role

We are seeking an experienced and values-driven Director of Finance  to join our Senior Management Team (SMT) and help lead the hospice as a whole. Click on redirect to recruiter to view full job details.

This is far more than a technical finance role. As a key member of the SMT, the Director of Finance will hold collective responsibility for the overall leadership, culture, performance, and strategic direction of the organisation, working collaboratively with fellow senior leaders to ensure our values shape decision-making at every level.

Alongside strategic financial leadership, the role includes senior oversight of Facilities and IT, recognising the vital role these services play in the provision of safe and effective services.  The role also operates as Company Secretary and takes responsibility for information governance.

Reporting to the Chief Executive, the Director of Finance will work closely with Trustees, senior colleagues, and external partners to ensure the hospice remains financially sustainable, well-governed, and resilient. 

About You

You will be a senior finance leader who combines professional expertise with strong interpersonal skills and a clear commitment to values-based leadership. You will bring:

• A recognised accounting qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA, or equivalent).
• Significant senior-level financial leadership experience, ideally within a charity, healthcare, public sector, or complex not-for-profit environment.
• Experience of working closely with Boards or Trustees and contributing at a strategic level.
• The ability to lead collaboratively beyond finance, with credibility and interest in areas such as Facilities and IT.
• A genuine commitment to leading with Compassion, Excellence, Integrity, Responsibility, and Collaboration.

We offer our employees:

• Generous annual leave starting at 27 days, rising to 33, plus Bank Holidays, and an opportunity to buy / sell annual leave days
• Continuation of NHS Pension Scheme membership or membership of our workplace pension with 7.5% employer contribution
• Life Assurance Scheme, Employee Assistance Programme, contributory Health Cash Plan, and a range of discounts.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at St Wilfrid's

We value diversity and are committed to being a place where people feel their differences are recognised and welcomed, and their needs are heard and respected. Creating an inclusive workplace is a core part of our aim to ensure St Wilfrid’s is a great place to work and a compassionate and caring place to be.

We want to hire talented people and to make sure our processes don’t exclude or disadvantage people with disabilities or different needs. Please let us know what would help you apply for our role – we’re happy to be flexible with our process to help you showcase your skills and abilities. 

We guarantee an interview for candidates with disabilities who meet the essential criteria for the role. As a signatory to the Armed Forces Covenant and member of the Defence Employer Recognitions Scheme, we’re also keen to support applications from members of the Armed Forces family. If your Armed Forces-related circumstances mean that a conventional application and interview process might be difficult, let us know.

Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich, Ipswich, IP1 1UQ

Diocesan Director of Education

£75k-£79k per annum

Full-time – 35 hours per week

Permanent appointment from September 2026

Our mission is to support the 87 Church of England schools throughout Suffolk. As a diocese, we work closely with our schools which, together, educate 14,000 pupils. We are looking for an experienced education professional with successful senior leadership experience to lead our team from September, following the retirement of the current postholder. Based in Ipswich, but with travel throughout Suffolk, this post is both rewarding and varied and involves:

· Providing a range of support, training and advice to Headteachers and Governors

· Leading a small and highly effective team

· Leading the work of the Diocesan Board of Education, developing policy as the national education landscape changes

· Promoting education in Suffolk and representing the diocese as the lead on education

· Working across the diocese more widely as a senior member of diocesan staff

· Working with the Department for Education and local authority on a range of school issues

· Working as part of a strong and supportive network of national and regional Directors of Education and with the Church of England’s National Society for Education on policy development and issues

If you love schools and can demonstrate the following criteria we would love to hear from you:

· Successful experience as a senior leader in education

· Collaborative leadership and management skills

· The ability to think strategically and solve problems creatively

· A deep commitment to Church of England schools

We are an equal opportunities employer and we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All post holders and volunteers are expected to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced DBS check.

Closing date: 9th February 2026 at 5pm

Interview date: 2nd March 2026

The Head of Advocacy, Awareness and External Relations is a senior leadership role within AtaLoss, working closely with and reporting directly to the CEO. The post-holder will lead work across the public, bereavement and commercial sectors to deliver AtaLoss’ strategic outcomes by:

• providing national leadership in bereavement awareness, advocacy and policy influence, including through Parliament, the APPG and the media
• strengthening the website as the UK’s trusted gateway for bereavement support, ensuring accessible, high-quality content and effective signposting
• enabling holistic bereavement support in communities and workplaces through partnership development, training and the growth of Bereavement Friendly Communities
• contributing to organisational sustainability through income-generating training, cross-sector partnerships and effective external engagement.

The role sits at the heart of AtaLoss’ mission to ensure that every bereaved person can access the right support at the right time, and to position bereavement as a public health issue requiring timely, coordinated and understanding response.

An exciting opportunity to help turn a new national initiative into reality as it moves from planning into delivery. Over the next year, we will be launching a new, national Foundation Degree while building the foundations of a wider programme of work. In the initial phase, this role will focus on working locally with partners and participants in the South West to support recruitment, onboarding and preparation for launch, while also contributing to the wider programme build-out alongside a national team. As delivery begins, the role will transition into ongoing programme management across a cluster of South West delivery centres, leading high-quality delivery, participant experience and programme quality, and helping to build strong, sustainable centres over time.

Remote (UK-based) | Full-time | £123,969 + benefits

Oak is a fully remote, mission-driven organisation offering high levels of flexibility, autonomy, and purpose. We’re a national not-for-profit organisation working in partnership with teachers to create high-quality, sequenced curriculum and lesson resources for pupils across all subjects and age groups.

Our culture has been independently recognised through:

• Flexa verified (93% overall score, including 95% for working hours and 97% for role modelling)

• Escape the City's Top 1% Employers – based on anonymous colleague reviews of culture, development, and impact

• Investors in People Gold - through external accreditation and colleague feedback

 About the Role

Oak is entering a critical new phase. Over the next three years, we will support the implementation of a revised national curriculum, deepen adoption of our digital products across schools, and play a leading role in shaping the safe and ethical use of AI in education.

We are now seeking a Director of Engineering to lead the technology that underpins this work.

This is a senior leadership role with responsibility for Oak’s engineering strategy, technical architecture and platform delivery. You will lead engineering teams to build and operate reliable, secure and scalable systems that support teachers at scale and enable innovation across the education sector.

You’ll work closely with product, design, data, teachers and content leaders to ensure our technology choices are grounded in real classroom needs, strong pedagogy and value for money, while also pushing forward what’s possible with the latest approaches and tools. You’ll empower teams to get solutions built and products and features shipped.

We welcome applications from candidates with senior engineering leadership experience across technology, digital or public service environments, including those who have not previously worked in education.

If you’re excited by the challenge of building dependable systems that quietly do the heavy lifting for teachers, and shaping how safe AI is used across the sector, we’d love to hear from you.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Develop and manage a high-performing Engineering department, leveraging internal and/or external relationships

• Manage the Engineering department budget (minimum of 6-figures)

• Accountable for the department's delivery against division and organisation-wide KPIs.

• Set and lead Oak’s technical direction, ensuring secure, scalable and high-performing platforms aligned with organisational and product priorities and public sector digital standards.

• Oversee software engineering, architecture, embedding engineering excellence, operational reliability, strong SDLC practice and continuous improvement, and ensuring compliance with relevant digital, security and data standards (including GDS and GDPR).

• Lead the implementation of data-intensive and emerging technologies (including AI/ML), ensuring production-ready systems and compliance with Oak’s technical and safety requirements.

• Member of the Senior Leadership Team.

• Lead the strategy and planning, and model the culture of the organisation.

• Work in cross-functional and product-oriented squads with colleagues from across the organisation, as required.

• Deputise for the CEO and take on other general responsibilities as required.

What We’re Looking For

• 3+ years’ experience overseeing engineering or technical capabilities of a department or division.

• Experience of being part of a senior or wider leadership team.

• Experience of recruiting, developing and managing a high-performing department

• Experience of managing a 6-figure budget and ensuring value for money.

• Extensive experience delivering secure, scalable, high-quality digital services in production environments.

• Experience implementing and operating data-intensive or emerging technologies (e.g., AI/ML), ensuring safe, reliable and responsible deployment.

• Experience leading the evolution of engineering systems over time, including evaluating new technologies, scaling cloud-based services, and ensuring high availability, CI/CD maturity and long-term platform resilience.

• Experience having deployed production ready AI technology (desirable).

• You will be comfortable working at pace, with a range of digital systems (including proprietary ones as required) and you will continuously look at ways that the team can keep getting better. You will be excellent at working as part of a remote team, building relationships and managing your time effectively.

Our Benefits

• 25 days annual leave, plus one extra day for each year of service (up to 28)

• Additional Oak closure days over Christmas/New Year

• 11% employer pension contribution (with no minimum employee contribution)

• A 36-hour working week, with half-days on Fridays or every other Friday off

• Fully remote working — we’ll support your home set-up and offer coworking options if preferred

• Twice-yearly in-person offsites to collaborate, connect, and have fun

• A culture that genuinely supports flexibility, autonomy, and trust

Inclusion and Belonging

We believe diverse teams build better products. We warmly welcome applicants from all backgrounds, particularly those who are underrepresented in the tech and education sectors.

We use the Applied recruitment platform to help reduce bias in our hiring process.

Key Info

• Location: Remote, but you must be based in the UK with the legal right to work here

• Sponsorship: Unfortunately, we’re unable to offer visa sponsorship at this time

• Closing date: 23:59 on Wednesday, 4 February 2026. We’ll be reviewing applications as they come in, and may close the role early

If this sounds like the kind of role and team where you could do your life’s best work, we’d love to hear from you.

Next Steps

We aim to run a fair, inclusive process that helps people show what they can really do.

Stage 1: Apply (via Applied)

You’ll apply through the Applied platform. Your application will be scored anonymously against the published criteria and reviewed by more than one assessor.

Stage 2: Short practical exercise (video)

If you progress, we’ll send you a short brief and a few suggested technologies you could use. You’ll then have time to go away, create a simple prototype or generate an insight in response to the brief, and record a short video walking us through what you have produced and why.

For this role, we will be looking for evidence of technical judgement and engineering thinking, for example, how you approach system design, reliability, security, data or AI safety, rather than production quality or polished demos. The exercise is designed to be accessible to candidates who lead engineering teams and may not code day to day.

Videos will be scored by a small group of assessors using clear criteria.

Stage 3: Interview

A shortlist of candidates will be invited to a competency-based interview, assessed against the criteria set out in the job description.

We’ll share full details, timelines and support as you progress. We’re happy to make reasonable adjustments at any stage.

Use of AI in applications

You can use AI to help draft your answers, but remember, we are looking for your experiences and insights, not generic or AI-generated responses.

We score for specific, real examples and your own judgement. If your answers read like AI output or could describe anyone’s experience, they will score poorly.

We are receiving excellent responses to our job advertisements. This may lead us to close the role early, so if you are considering applying, then please get your application in early to avoid missing out.