Operation officer jobs

Do you have fundraising experience and a passion for project management? Do you want to play a key role in helping supporters feel valued while enabling sustainable growth in individual giving? Join BMS World Mission as our Fundraising Officer.

As the Fundraising Officer, you’ll be part of the Individual Giving team delivering inspiring fundraising activity. From project managing quarterly direct mail appeals to shaping compelling supporter journeys, your work will help people engage generously with BMS’ mission. You’ll collaborate closely with communications colleagues to produce impactful fundraising materials, plan supporter events, and ensure excellent, personalised thanking that reflects our commitment to outstanding supporter care.

You’ll monitor performance, learn from data, and apply insights to continually improve our approach. If you enjoy juggling projects, working collaboratively, and combining creativity with analysis this role is ideal for you.

We’re looking for someone with project management experience, strong communication skills and a genuine passion for fundraising. You’ll be aligned with BMS’ Christian vision and values, committed to high standards, and motivated to keep learning and growing.

If you want your work to make a real difference - both to supporters and to communities around the world - we’d love to hear from you.

Key Information

Location: Didcot/hybrid

Hours: 35 hours per week/full time

Employment type: Permanent

Salary: £33,477 per annum

Closing date: 9am on Monday 1 June 2026

Interview date: Tuesday 9 June 2026

Q&A time: Thursday 21 May 12.30 – 13.30

The successful applicant will be a committed Christian. The nature of this role means that this is a specific occupational requirement.

About the role

If you are interested in keeping the UK's wonderful heritage of church buildings open and in use and want to take the next step in your finance career, then this is an exciting role for you. Come and join a small team at the National Churches Trust and work alongside the Head of Finance and the Finance and Governance Officer by managing the charity’s day-to-day financial operations, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and timely reporting.

We’re looking for someone who can work collaboratively, is detail-oriented and will enjoy being involved in our important work as we expand our reach across the UK. If you enjoy all aspects of financial operations and are keen to develop new skills - and would get satisfaction knowing your work supports the conservation of some of the nation’s most important buildings - we would love to hear from you.

About the National Churches Trust

We want to keep the UK’s wonderful collection of church buildings well maintained, valued and in use. Working on the ground in all four nations, we support churches of all denominations. Our vision is to see open churches thriving at the heart of communities.

Our mission:

We Speak Up: churches are valued and supported

We Build Up: churches are well maintained, adaptable and in good repair

We Open Up: churches are sustainable, open and welcoming support

Our values:

Being straightforward in responding to others’ needs

Providing support that makes a difference

Joining forces to achieve greater impact

Driving change that brings our vision closer

To find out more about this role, please visit our website via the ‘Apply’ button, where you can download the information pack, including the job description and person specification.

Closing date: Sunday, 17 May, midnight.

Interview date: Thursday, 4 June, in Westminster, London.

Chief Executive Officer – Resolve West

Resolve West is recruiting a Chief Executive Officer to lead our respected charity supporting people and communities to resolve conflict and repair harm.

This part‑time role offers strategic leadership at a pivotal moment, following the retirement of our long‑standing CEO. Working with a committed Board, staff team and volunteers, the CEO will strengthen financial sustainability, partnerships and organisational culture.

Key details

• Part‑time: 24–28 hours
• Location: Bristol / Hybrid
• Salary: from £45,000 FTE (pro rata)
• Closing date: 15 May 2026

Are you looking for a role that uses data to drive decision making and change?
We’re looking for a Business Insights Officer, who will work across Dogs Trust to gather and analyse data and information from every corner of our organisation to develop a deep understanding of performance and enable evidence-based planning.

What does this role do?
As Business Insights Officer, you will:

• build relationships with stakeholders in every division, not just gathering performance metrics, but using thoughtful enquiry to build trust and understand challenges, ensuring the ‘right’ information is being gathered and monitored,
• collate data into a regular management report, analysing findings to identify trends, risks, challenges and opportunities, and surfacing these to leadership,
• ensure findings are accessible and user-friendly, using your understanding of the organisation and its strategic goals to articulate findings in a meaningful and impactful way,
• continuously improve and critique findings and approaches, working curiously and inquisitively to challenge the status quo to help the organisation flourish,
• be passionate about our mission, and particularly the ability to use insights to optimise the work we do and improve performance.

Interviews for this role are provisionally scheduled for week commencing 1st June 2026, and will take place on Teams.

Could this be you?
To thrive in this role, you’ll fundamentally need strong data analysis skills, with the ability to interpret data, identify trends and generate and communicate actionable insights. While a background in technical BI skills isn’t essential, we’re looking for candidates who understand the importance of business insights and how data visualisation and dashboards can support this. You’ll be working towards some critical milestones and deadlines, so the ability to work calmly under pressure and stay organised is key. You’ll also be a confident communicator, who is able to establish trust, have meaningful conversations and convey the importance and impact of strong business insights on organisational performance. A commitment to the work we do is essential.

About Dogs Trust
We love dogs. That’s why we do whatever we can to make sure every four-legged friend gets the love they deserve. We’ll never put a healthy dog down, so our work is focused on helping dogs in need, supporting owners every step of the walk, and creating a better world for dogs in the future. It’s what we’ve been doing since 1891 and how we’ve grown to become the UK’s leading dog charity, helping 12,000 loyal friends find their forever homes every year.

To apply for this position please click the APPLY NOW button. Our application process requires you submit a personal statement explaining your interest and suitability for the role.
 
Dogs are incredibly diverse, much like the humans that love them! At Dogs Trust we value diversity, and we're committed to fostering an inclusive culture. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, abilities, and cultures and believe that a diverse workforce helps us to achieve our mission. Our colleague networks give our people a voice, acting as vehicles for real and meaningful change within Dogs Trust. We truly want to see every candidate shine throughout the entire job application process, interview stages, and during their time with us. If there's anything on your mind or any adjustments you may need, don't hesitate to reach out to us. We're here to support you every step of the way.

We're looking for a kind, compassionate and resilient Housing Operations Manager located at our Head Office in Islington.

£59,535.00 per annum, working 35 hours per week.

Want to feel valued? You'll feel at home here.

Our benefits include:

• Annual leave increasing up to 30 days with length of service
• A generous pension - we will contribute up to 8% and life assurance cover up to 3x pensionable salary (T&Cs apply)
• Free DBS

What you'll do:

This is not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of Look Ahead

Housing operations and tenancy management

• Lead the day-to-day landlord function across supported housing services, keeping standards consistent and addressing issues before they escalate.

Safeguarding and Risk Management

• Take responsibility for ensuring housing management activity actively identifies and responds to safeguarding risks, including where concerns emerge through non-engagement, property condition, or repeated enforcement action.

Property, Estates and Void Management

• Oversee a planned programme of estate inspections, tenancy audits, and housing-led health and safety checks, ensuring actions are clearly recorded, owned, and followed up where standards fall short.

Compliance and Resident Safety

• Take day-to-day responsibility for housing-led compliance activity, working closely with Property and Compliance teams to make sure statutory requirements are met in practice, not just on paper.

Leadership and Team Management

• Line manage Housing Officers, setting clear expectations around performance, accountability, and professional conduct, and addressing issues promptly where standards slip.

Cross-Departmental Coordination

• Act as the main operational link between Housing, Property, Compliance, Care and Support, and Income teams, ensuring issues are addressed collectively rather than passed between services.

Customer Involvement and Tenant Experience

• Promote meaningful resident involvement in housing services, ensuring opportunities for engagement are accessible and appropriate to the needs of supported housing residents.

Performance, Quality and Assurance

• Use performance data, case audits, complaints, and service insight to identify emerging risks, recurring issues, and gaps in housing management practice.

Key relationships

• Head of Housing
• Housing Officers
• Income Team
• Care & Support operational teams

About you:

• Enjoys social interaction and the company of others, networks in local business community.

What you'll bring:

Essential:

• Ideally educated to degree level or equivalent.
• Holds relevant CMI/NVQ Level 3 or other business/management qualification.

Desirable:

• Other relevant professional memberships and/or specialist qualifications are desirable.

About us:

Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed

An exciting and unique opportunity has arisen to join Your City & Metropolitan Hospitals Charity, working in partnership with Dudley Group NHS Charity, in a newly created role during a period of growth.

We are seeking a Legacy & In‑Memory Fundraising Officer to lead the day‑to‑day delivery of legacy and in‑memory fundraising across both charities. This is a vital role focused on growing sustainable long‑term income while providing compassionate, sensitive support to donors and bereaved families.

Where Next is a well-established charity supporting adults with learning disabilities to live fulfilling, independent lives. We are looking for a capable and reliable Finance Officer to lead our day-to-day financial operations and support the organisation as we continue to grow.

The Role

This is a hands-on role with responsibility for the smooth running of all core finance functions, including:

• Payroll, pensions, and statutory returns
• Purchase and sales ledger (including varied client income streams)
• Bank reconciliations and cashflow management
• VAT returns (including partial exemption) and Gift Aid
• Monthly management accounts and reporting

You will be the go-to person for finance, working closely with the CEO and senior team to ensure strong financial control and provide clear, practical financial information.

About You

You will:

• Have solid experience in a finance or bookkeeping role
• Be confident managing end-to-end finance processes
• Be highly organised, accurate, and reliable
• Be comfortable working independently and taking ownership
• Ideally have experience with Xero, payroll, and VAT

Experience in the charity sector or working with restricted funding is a bonus, but not essential.

Why Join Where Next?

• Flexible working – part-time or full-time considered
• Hybrid working available
• A varied role with real responsibility
• Opportunity to grow into broader financial and organisational responsibilities
• A supportive, values-driven organisation where your work has real impact

Apply

If you’re looking for a role where you can combine strong finance skills with meaningful work, we’d love to hear from you.

We are open to shaping the scope of this role around the successful candidate, depending on experience and working pattern.

Location: Home based within commuting distance of either Edinburgh, Cardiff or Belfast 

Salary: £32,750 per annum
Hours: 35 hours per week 

Closing date: Monday 19 May 2026 at midnight 

Interview date: week commencing 25 May 2026 over video with possible second stage in person week commencing 1 June 2026 

This is a full time fixed-term position for one year (with possible extension subject to funding). 

Who we are looking for  

Breakthrough T1D is the UK’s leading type 1 diabetes charity, dedicated to funding research, advocating for change, and supporting the T1D community. A year into our exciting rebrand from JDRF to Breakthrough T1D, we’re looking for a Senior Policy and Public Affairs Officer – Devolved Nations to help us build on this momentum. 

The role of the Senior Policy and Public Affairs Officer - Devolved Nations is vital to achieving our UK-wide advocacy mission: to reduce health inequalities in type 1 diabetes, to widen access to type 1 diabetes treatments and technologies and to ensure that people with type 1 get access to emerging new treatments and future cures in the devolved nations.  

You will lead on projects with key stakeholders and high-level Parliamentarians, such as our access to treatments and early detection work, as well as people with type 1 diabetes, policy makers and researchers. You will help to deliver Breakthrough T1D’s influencing plans, improving access to and choice of type 1 diabetes treatments and technology in the devolved nations.  

Experience required 

• Experience of working successfully with politicians, their offices, Government departments, and other public affairs audiences to influence policy and to influence public/stakeholder discourse  

• Experience of leading public affairs delivery in one of more of the devolved nations  

• Experience in analysing Government policy in-depth and creating policy briefings   

• Experience of drafting briefings, reports and policy submissions   

• Experience of communicating across a range of parliamentary and professional stakeholders at all levels  

• Demonstrable knowledge, interest and experience of working in a public affairs and policy-based environment  

• Experience of organising stakeholder events  

About Breakthrough T1D 

Breakthrough T1D is the world’s leading charitable research funder into type 1 diabetes, improving lives until we find the cure. We are dedicated to our 400,000 strong type 1 community in the UK and work closely with our international affiliates across the world, including the US, Canada and Australia. 

You will find a vibrant atmosphere and spirited team at Breakthrough T1D, always striving to make a difference to people living with type 1. 

Employee benefits 

As an employer we offer: 

• Hybrid working arrangements 

• Flexible working and will consider compressed hours 

• Generous annual leave entitlement – 25 days per year plus bank holidays for full-time staff with leave increasing after three and five years’ service 

• Health cash plan that allows you to claim for some treatments such as dental, optical and physiotherapy treatment 

• Season ticket and cycle loan 

• Pension scheme 

• Family-friendly policies – maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave at enhanced rates 

• Personalised training to suit your career aspirations and professional development 

Breakthrough T1D is an equal opportunity employer, we welcome applications from all individuals regardless of race, gender, disability, religious belief, sexual orientation or age. 

Help end avoidable blindness worldwide

Right now, 1.1 billion people are living with vision loss - yet the vast majority of this is preventable or treatable. Behind every statistic is a child missing out on education, a parent unable to work, a community held back.

At Orbis UK, we are part of a global organisation that trains eye care professionals, delivers life-changing treatments, and invests in innovative solutions - from our Flying Eye Hospital to global telehealth platform -so that no one is needlessly blind.

In 2025, the UK team raised £7.1m. These funds supported 18 projects across 8 countries. With these funds we delivered 9,908 training sessions for health workers, enabled 469,287 eye screenings, 37,378 treatments and delivered 2.5m doses of antibiotics to tackle trachoma. The organisation’s ambition is to grow our income to £10 million per year within the next five years.

To achieve our next phase of growth and impact, we are looking for a Director of Finance & Operations who shares their ambition to expand access to eye care in the countries where it is needed most.

Why this role matters

As part of the senior leadership team, you will ensure Orbis UK is financially strong, operationally effective, and ready to expand our reach. Your leadership will directly support programmes that restore sight, train clinicians, and strengthen health systems in the communities where we work.

Your impact

You will:

• Ensure every pound is used effectively to maximise Orbis UK’s life-changing impact
• Provide the financial insight that shapes strategic decisions
• Lead the teams that ensure the smooth running of the organisation - finance, HR, IT, and operations
• Strengthen governance, accountability, and sustainability as the organisation grows
• Partner with colleagues in the UK and internationally to deliver lasting change

Who we’re looking for

You are more than technically excellent - you are purpose-driven.

You’ll bring:

• A professional accounting qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or CIPFA)
• Experience leading finance in a complex organisation, ideally with charity or public sector exposure
• The ability to translate financial insight into clear, strategic direction
• A collaborative leadership style and confidence working with senior stakeholders
• A genuine commitment to global equity and social impact

Join us

Orbis is not a large organisation; it depends more than most on the value added by the individual. If you believe you can bring not only strong professional skills, but also the personal qualities, commitment to our charitable aims, and collaborative spirit that make a meaningful difference in a small team like ours, we would love to hear from you and strongly encourage you to apply.

Recruitment timetable

• Application deadline  Sunday 17th May, midnight
• Shortlisting  Wednesday 27th May 
• First stage interviews  w/c 1st June
• Final interviews  w/c 8th June

To apply, send your CV and cover letter via the link by Sunday 17th May, midnight.

For an informal conversation about the role, please reach out to our exclusive recruitment partner, Bryony Thomas, via the Allen Lane agency website.

We’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation, and particularly welcome applications from people currently underrepresented at senior levels, including those from Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic backgrounds, and disabled or neurodivergent candidates.

If you need any adjustments during the recruitment process or in the role itself, we’ll work with you to make that happen.

This role is focused on delivery across London and requires regular in-person work with community partners, retailers and stakeholders. Candidates will need to be able to travel frequently and efficiently across London to meet the requirements of the role. We anticipate this will be most practical for candidates based within Greater London. 

Main Purpose of the Role 

We are seeking a dedicated, delivery-driven Project Support Officer to join our team, with a specific focus on hands-on, community-based project coordination. The Project Support Officer will play a key role in supporting, developing and delivering our Rose Voucher Programmes directly within local communities across London. 

Working directly to ARC’s Operations Project Manager, the Project Support Officer will be responsible for supporting projects through engagement with our local delivery partners. This will include working closely with early years settings and community organisations to support project delivery. The post holder will also be responsible for the development and maintenance of local retailer relationships, including engaging with Market Management Teams, supporting individual traders and retailers who are members of the scheme, and helping to identify new retail opportunities as required. 

The post holder must be comfortable working collaboratively with a wide range of partners, stakeholders and diverse communities, and should possess strong communication and relationship management skills. An organised approach to work and keen attention to detail will be essential to help support the charity’s activities over the coming years. 

Job responsibilities  

• Project Support– actively assist with the development, delivery and implementation of Rose Vouchers Programmes across London, working directly within local communities 

• Problem solving – in close collaboration with the Operations Projects Manager, investigate and resolve a varied range of issues in an efficient and constructive way, to support projects to succeed in ways that suit the needs of our varied communities.

• Engage with local partners – build and maintain strong working relationships with partners and stakeholders at the community level to ensure sustained involvement and support. This includes community organisations, local retailers, and local authority and public health staff.

• Ensure project targets are met but not exceeded (e.g. numbers of families actively supported by Rose Vouchers in each area) to balance strong delivery with working within budgets

• Support local projects to host and coordinate regular steering group meetings 

• Work with the Impact & Evaluation Manager to embed processes and procedures for data management and evaluation of project impact 

• Coordinate and deliver training for local project partners on how to deliver, monitor and manage the project locally and provide with required resources 

•  Support project partners in accessing and successfully using the charity’s digital project systems, including troubleshooting common issues.

• Support the distribution of monthly project data to funders and project partners 

• Support the development and administration of project toolkits for delivery partners

• Work with local partners and local authority teams to support the identification of potential new retailers

• Recruit and train new retailers and provide them with required resources and on-going support 

• Further responsibilities relevant to & commensurate with the role of Project Support Officer 

Person Specification  

Knowledge and skills (essential):  

• Project coordination skills and / or an organised and methodical approach to work and attention to detail 

• Experience working within diverse communities

• Good communication skills – written & oral – with the ability to communicate with diverse audiences 

• Practical IT skills and ability to learn new systems – MS Outlook, Excel, Word, and bespoke charity project management and reporting systems. 

• Experience working with groups who may have time constraints or specific communication needs, such as families with young children, or individuals for whom English is a second language 

• Relevant experience within the community, health, or social support sector or with transferable skills

• A commitment to the vision, mission, and values of Alexandra Rose Charity in its efforts to create a more equitable food system 

Knowledge and skills (desirable):  

• Knowledge (or interest in developing knowledge) of food & health issues in particular how inequality affects access to a healthy diet 

• Background in public health, social care, or nutrition. 

• Knowledge of food sector nationally especially from work with other third sector organisations and campaigns

We’re looking for an organised, proactive and community-minded Project Officer to join our small and supportive team. This is a genuinely varied role, spanning project delivery and network development as well as operational support for our growing OxFarmToFork food hub. It’s a great opportunity for someone who enjoys working across different kinds of tasks and wants to contribute to real change in the Oxfordshire food system. 

The role is 0.8 FTE and can be worked flexibly across the week. Full-time is available if preferred. We encourage interested candidates to discuss working arrangements that suit their needs. The successful candidate will ideally be based within Oxfordshire and able to work from our Oxford office on a Wednesday, our team day.

What You’ll Be Doing 

Project Support (approx. 1.5 days/week) 

Working closely with the Project and Comms Leads, you’ll support the delivery of GFO’s local projects and public-facing campaigns. This includes contributing to initiatives such as the Great Big Green Lunch, and the WISH initiative with our partners at Cherwell Collective, a groundbreaking project that empowers the community to build more sustainable daily habits, including reducing food waste. You’ll help coordinate activity, track progress, and make sure things run smoothly from planning through to delivery. 

Organisational Development (approx. 1.5 days/week) 

You’ll steward GFO’s member network, nurturing robust community and connections. This means attending events, visiting network members and community food groups, and making sure GFO remains well-connected and able to support the people and organisations it works with. 

You’ll also work with the CEO on opportunity horizon scanning: helping to identify income prospects, partnerships, and strategic developments relevant to GFO’s mission, and keeping track of these in a structured and accessible way. 

OxFarmToFork Operations (approx. 1 day/week) 

GFO hosts OxFarmToFork, an exciting local food project and the UK’s first regenerative B2B online marketplace, connecting agroecological growers with buyers in local institutions such as Oxford University colleges. You’ll provide the weekly operational backbone that keeps it running: managing the online marketplace platform (Tream), coordinating with producers and buyers around weekly market cycles and deliveries and supporting the onboarding of new producers and buyers. It’s hands-on work that sits at the heart of a genuinely innovative local food project. 

What You’ll Bring 

• Experience of project coordination or support, in any sector – non-profit, community, food, or otherwise. 

• Strong organisational skills and the ability to juggle a range of tasks. 

• Confidence engaging with a wide variety of people, from community food groups to institutional procurement teams. 

• A methodical approach to admin and data – comfortable with spreadsheets, invoicing processes, and keeping accurate records. 

• Good written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to share updates clearly and promptly. 

• A proactive mindset: you spot what needs doing and get on with it. 

• Genuine interest in food sustainability, community development, or the local food economy. 

We’re a small team and we value warmth, reliability, and a willingness to muck in. If you don’t tick every box above but feel the role is a good fit for your skills and experience, we’d still love to hear from you – particularly from candidates with a range of lived experiences. 

Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Southwark

Chief Operating Officer

£125,000

Full-time, permanent

North Lambeth with travel in the Archdiocese and occasionally beyond with some home working possible.

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Southwark is one of the largest dioceses in the UK, but more than that it is a vibrant and diverse Diocese with ambitious plans for leading people to Christ.  This includes through spreading the Good News of the Gospel, delivering high-quality Catholic education and support for the vulnerable and marginalised.

The Archdiocese has 175 parishes and 162 schools across the whole of London south of the Thames, all of Kent and the eastern parts of Surrey. While parishes operate under individual canonical status, the Archdiocese has extensive operating procedures which govern areas of parish life, activity and operation. This means the Archdiocese supports parishes to flourish, while ensuring they comply with UK law.

Today, Southwark consists of range of diverse communities from inner London and suburban parishes to coastal and rural churches. Southwark’s rich history continues to evolve under the dynamic pastoral leadership of Archbishop John Wilson, who invites all to embrace social justice by putting their faith into action, to and become part of an evangelising and missionary Archdiocese that shares the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Centred on Jesus Christ, the Archdiocese of Southwark will evangelise by helping people to grow in faith and to live in hope. Collectively we can change our world for the better by imitating Christ in showing love, justice, and peace to all. Our mission is to invite people to know the Lord Jesus who offers us life in its fullness.

We are seeking to appoint a Chief Operating Officer who is passionate about this mission and who can provide the leadership that will drive us forward in our work to be a Missionary Diocese.

The Chief Operating Officer provides strategic and operational leadership across the Archdiocese.  You will hold responsibility for ensuring that Archdiocesan operations support the mission of the Church, are financially sustainable, and are compliant with legal and regulatory requirements. This role is pivotal in safeguarding and enhancing the Archdiocese’s Mission and the supporting physical estate for current and future generations.

We are seeking an exceptional leader to be our next chief executive, leading a respected and influential membership organisation at the heart of a thriving grassroots movement.

You’ll be working to build on the success we’ve seen and strong position and voice we have established for ourselves and our members, as a leading force for inclusive and sustainable transport and communities.

You’ll bring an impressive track record in values-based leadership, a proven ability to engage and inspire grassroots change-makers, strategic partners and policy-makers, and a deep belief in the importance of community-led change towards a sustainable, equitable future.

About us

Community Rail Network is a national not-for-profit organisation, which is in the process of applying for charitable status, supporting a growing ‘community rail’ movement, which helps communities get the most from their railways, promotes sustainable and inclusive travel, coordinates volunteering and place-making, and brings people together.

Community rail is made up of 77 community-based organisations, and around 1,300 station volunteer groups and other community-led initiatives around Britain. Their activities range from creative projects for young people, to advising train operators on service improvements, to building travel confidence among marginalised groups, to biodiversity projects at stations, to promoting greener tourism by rail.

Our enthusiastic team of 24 works from home in dispersed locations, but we come together regularly in person and online. We work collaboratively to support members, provide training, events and resources, run campaigns, and champion community rail and its insights. We believe in helping everyone reach their potential while having a good work-life balance.

About this role, and your main responsibilities

Our current CEO is moving on after nine years in role, leaving the organisation, team and wider movement in a strong and empowered position to deliver on the next phase of our development.

Your opportunity is to lead the organisation, and to deliver on our new five-year strategy setting an ambitious course for the future during a period of major transformation for our railways and the wider transport system. You will ensure that we are:

• clear in our identity and our independence, and seen as thought leaders in our field;
• are supporting our members and stakeholders to meet their changing and diverse needs; and
• ensuring the financial and operational resilience of the organisation in an environment that is undergoing a period of rapid change.

As CEO, you will lead a passionate and experienced senior leadership team with three direct reports, while working closely with and reporting into our Board, key partners and funders, and ensuing an engaging, empowering, tenacious approach across all we do.

Advocacy of community rail and its benefits will be high on your agenda, and you will be working closely across multiple stakeholders including UK and devolved national governments, regional and local authorities as well as forging collaborative partnerships with like-minded organisations.

Maintaining our community-centric ethos, you will need to ensure we're effective in enabling members to unlock greater value from the railways at a grassroots level, while drawing on their insights to affect wider change. With hundreds of member groups and organisations across Britain delivering life-changing, place-enhancing work, you will have a solid foundation to build on, to take community rail forward and expand our impact in the years ahead.

Last, but not least, you will be responsible for ensuring the strong and effective governance of the organisation, modelling our governing principles, values and behaviours, and ensuring that we have robust financial and resource management in place.

Skills, competencies and qualities

1. Exceptional leadership skills, including a proven ability to lead, develop and grow third sector organisations or multi-faceted teams delivering complex activities, projects and campaigns;
2. Excellent communication and external leadership skills: articulate, assertive, with the ability to work diplomatically and persuasively with stakeholders at all levels;
3. Experienced in acting as the public face of an organisation, such as through the media, public speaking and high-level meetings, and using evidence and storytelling to articulate and champion a cause;
4. Politically astute, with knowledge of and commitment to social inclusion, social justice and sustainability, and a sound grasp of the importance of public transport, sustainable travel, and community-led action;
5. A proven ability to influence policy and decision-makers, and to identify influencing opportunities, ideally in relation to community development, sustainability and/or transport, including sharing community insights;
6. A strong track record in income generation and development, building strong funder relationships and delivery partnerships, managing programme or organisational budgets and controlling expenditure;
7. Experience of working with and/or reporting to a board, ideally in a not-for-profit and/or membership context;
8. An empowering, engaging approach to leadership, management and change-making;
9. Resilient, pragmatic and determined, with the ability to work under pressure, seize emergent opportunities, manage risk, and support others dealing with competing priorities.

Other information

The role will involve extensive travel within Britain as part of building your profile and that of the organisation with central and devolved government in Scotland and Wales, and increasingly with the devolved regions of England.

There is flexibility on location given the requirement to travel and that your office will be home-based. You will need to travel to in-person quarterly team meetings (usually in London or West Yorkshire) and to Board meetings which alternate between online and London. It is expected that travel will be by public transport and easy access to the rail network is therefore required to ensure journeys can be made sustainably. 

This is a full-time position, 37 hours per week. We use a flexi-time system with core hours 10am-3pm, and are committed to being a flexible, supportive and understanding employer. This is a permanent position with a probationary period of six months. 

Benefits: 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays (rising up to 30 days, plus Bank Holidays, in line with long service); pension with employer contribution of 7%; and access to Employee Assistance Programme.

Successful applicants will need to provide proof that they have the right to work in the UK and provide two references.

Community Rail Network is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from disabled people and Black, Asian and other minoritised groups, who meet with the skills and competencies for this role. We will provide reasonable adjustments for interviews as required.

Science matters more than ever. At a moment of real opportunity, this is a chance to lead an organisation that sits at the heart of the scientific community.

Location: Hybrid - home and central London office.

Closing date: 9 a.m. Monday 11th May 2026

Who we are

The Science Council is a Royal Charter body and registered charity, connecting over 30 professional bodies and learned societies across science. Together, this community represents scientists, technicians and educators working across disciplines and sectors.

We connect the science professions and provide professional recognition that supports individuals, strengthens employers and benefits society. Through our registers, our partnerships and our convening role, we help raise standards, encourage innovation and support a workforce that is increasingly vital to public life.

About the role

With a new strategy in its early stages, growing policy engagement and a clear ambition to strengthen long term sustainability, this is a pivotal moment for the Science Council, as we seek our next Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Working closely with the Chair and Board, you will lead the organisation to deliver its strategy with clarity and momentum. You will bring together and work with more than 30 diverse member organisations, each with different sizes, structures and scientific focuses, ensuring their voices are heard and their needs understood. You will also help to align priorities and deepen collaboration across the wider science ecosystem, building strong relationships with partners and stakeholders.

The role balances strategic leadership with a hands-on approach. You will lead a skilled and committed team, ensuring the organisation is well run, financially sustainable and able to respond to opportunities as they emerge. At the same time, you will be an external voice for the Science Council, building relationships with government, employers and opinion formers, and strengthening the organisation’s visibility and influence.

Central to the role is a focus on growth and relevance. This includes expanding professional registration, developing new partnerships and identifying opportunities to diversify income while staying true to the organisation’s purpose.

What we are looking for

We are looking for a leader who is motivated by public benefit and the role science plays in society. You may come from within the science community, a professional or membership body, or a related sector. What matters most is your ability to lead in a complex, multi stakeholder environment and to bring people together around a shared purpose.

You will bring experience of leading an organisation or significant function through a period of growth or change and have the credibility to engage with senior stakeholders across policy, industry and the professions. We need someone with a strong understanding of governance and the ability to work closely with a Board and the ability to balance strategic thinking with delivery, in a relatively small and agile organisation.

A commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, and to creating environments where people can contribute and belong is crucial and we are particularly interested in leaders who listen carefully, build trust and are comfortable working across boundaries. Above all, you will be thoughtful and collaborative, with the confidence to make decisions and guide the organisation through its next phase.

Closing date: 9 a.m. Monday 11th May 2026.

For further information and details of how to apply, please click the link to be directed to the Peridot Partners page.