Operations support manager jobs in cambridge, cambridgeshire
Could this be your next role? We are looking for a new Head of Finance to lead financial strategy at scale and influence decisions at the highest level at one of the UK's most respected conservation charities.
Head of Finance
Reference: AUG20259208
Location: Flexible in UK – With regular Travel to HQ in Sandy, Bedfordshire
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full-Time, 37.5 hours per week
Salary: £70,490.00 - £80,025.00 Per Annum
Benefits: Pension Scheme, Life Assurance, 26 days annual leave
This is an exciting opportunity for a finance leader reporting to the Director of Finance, who can balance strategic vision with operational delivery, ensuring the finance function operates with agility and remains fit for purpose, providing well-informed financial decisions, transparency that are aligned with effective corporate governance. Striking this balance will be key to your success as Head of Finance.
What's the role about?
You will be accountable for a functional specialism covering the main RSPB charity, its subsidiary companies, and connected entities. This high-impact role is responsible for leading the development and coordination, of our financial controls and compliance across the RSPB, providing detailed, insightful financial analysis that supports the delivery of the RSPB’s strategic objectives.
With income and expenditure of around £200m annually, and a new finance system covering financial operations and systems integrations, you will bring proven expertise in managing large volumes of transactions, managing financial controls, running audits, and dealing with complex tax and contracts issues, leading the Financial Operations, Financial Control and Finance systems teams.
You will be a finance professional who not only brings strong technical expertise and experience but also demonstrates a clear commitment to our values and a collaborative approach to leadership. You will have the credibility and emotional intelligence to influence, engage and build trusted relationships both across the organisation and with external partners.
Essential skills, knowledge and experience:
- Qualified accountant, with at least 5 years post qualified experience.
- Outstanding analytical skills to understand complex financial performance, see the underlying major issues and strong communication skills to convey this in a simple and powerful
- Excellent knowledge of financial standards ,UK GAAP (FRS102), IFRS.
- Proven leadership and people management skills, able to develop team members for high performance and build a positive culture
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills to present, influence and represent the functional specialism at all levels
- Collaboration skills to build partnerships, navigate politics and manage conflicts
- Business management skills to understand strategy, business functions and decision-making
- Ability to evaluate incomplete, complex and large volumes of financial information, to develop and consider a range of options and make a recommended course of action
- Proven ability to translate strategy into action, developing programmes, prioritising and leading change
- Highly competent user of Microsoft office in particular Excel
Desirable skills, knowledge and experience:
- Knowledge of the charity sector and the frameworks within which we work, including Charities Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP)
Additional Information:
- This role is home based with the requirement to regularly travel to our UKHQ in Sandy, Bedfordshire (expected to be once per month) plus occasional travel to other locations as required (overnight stays may be necessary).
Closing date: 23:59, Friday 19th September 2025
We are looking to conduct interviews for this position from week commencing 29th September 2025.
Interested?
If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.
This role will require completion of the standard pre-employment checks.
We are committed to developing an inclusive and diverse RSPB, in which everyone feels supported, valued, and able to be their full selves. To achieve our vision of creating a world richer in nature, we need more people, and more diverse people, on nature’s side. People of colour and disabled people are currently underrepresented across the environment, climate, sustainability, and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled, we are particularly interested in receiving your application.
The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
As part of this application you will be asked to provide a copy of your CV and complete a short form. In the cover letter section of the form you will have the opportunity to explain how you meet the criteria set above. Contact us to discuss any additional support you may need to complete your application.
No agencies please.
The RSPB brings people together – people like you – to protect the things that matter to us all.



Financial Controller
We are seeking a qualified or part-qualified accountant for an exciting Financial Controller position with a growing international charity working at the intersection of cultural heritage and community development.
Position: Financial Controller
Location: Remote (UK-based) – may require occasional international travel
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full-time
Salary: £50,000 - £60,000 per annum, depending on experience
Closing Date: 21st September 2025 at 11.59pm
About the Role
Reporting to the Group Finance Director, this is a varied and hands-on role leading on the consolidation of accounts and supporting the organisation’s finance operations across multiple countries. You will play a key role in ensuring financial transparency, compliance, and robust reporting, working closely with both the central finance team and in-country colleagues.
As part of a close-knit and collaborative team, the Financial Controller will need a flexible, practical approach and a willingness to partner with stakeholders across different cultures and geographies.
Key responsibilities include:
- Financial Planning and Budgeting
- Book-keeping and Accounting
- Preparation of Monthly Consolidated Accounts
- Annual Statutory Audit and Compliance
- Grants and Funding Management
- Payroll & Employee Benefits
- Bank and Cash Management
- Group Accounting Oversight
About You
The successful candidate will be a resourceful, detail-oriented problem solver with excellent communication and collaboration skills. You will have strong technical accounting knowledge, experience working with international NGOs, and the ability to manage complex, multi-currency, multi-entity finances.
Key skills and experience required:
- Recognised accounting qualification (ACCA/CIMA) or part-qualified in final stages of completion
- Strong financial analysis and reporting skills, with the ability to produce and present concise financial reports
- Experience of managing and developing teams in dispersed or matrix settings
- Proven experience in the International NGO sector
- Experience producing consolidated statutory accounts under Charity UK SORP and managing multi-site international audits
- Experience with multi-currency and grant accounting
- Excellent understanding of financial processes, procedures, and related systems
- Experience of leading a month-end process, including preparation of management accounts
- Experience using cloud-based accounting systems (QuickBooks and/or Xero preferred)
- Understanding of commercial accounting and Gift Aid
Desirable:
- Experience mentoring colleagues remotely
- Experience working in a fully remote role
- Experience in a similar field (e.g. artisan communities or cultural heritage)
How to Apply
To apply, please send a CV and a statement (no longer than 2 pages) outlining why you are the right person for this role.
About the Organisation
The employer is a British charity founded in 2006 that believes artisanal heritage matters and has the power to transform lives. The charity supports artisans to thrive, revitalise endangered traditions, and connect people across the world through heritage.
The organisation is fast-growing, with offices in Afghanistan, Myanmar, Saudi Arabia, and the Levant, and employs over 400 staff worldwide. With both charitable and trading operations, they deliver an ambitious, wide-ranging programme of work in complex and sometimes conflict-affected regions.
You may have experience in areas such as: Group Financial Controller, Financial Controller/Senior Manager, Management Accountant, ACCA, ACA, CIMA, Accountant, Chartered Accountant, Divisional Financial Controller, Assistant Group Financial Controller, International NGO Finance Lead.
PLEASE NOTE: This role is being advertised by NFP People on behalf of the organisation.
About the role
At the heart of our operations, our exceptional Regional Casework Coordinators serve as the primary point of contact for members of the armed forces community reaching out to our Regional Offices for support.
In this dynamic role, no two days are the same. You may be supporting individuals in distress over the phone, managing email and voicemail communications, collaborating with volunteers on complex casework, building strong relationships with local authorities and charitable organisations, or working closely with internal services to secure the best possible outcomes for our clients.
You will sometimes handle complex problems from individuals who may be distressed, identifying the presenting and potential underlying needs to determine the best way to support them. You will have ownership of cases from beginning to end, coordinating the casework process in a timely manner and ensuring that the beneficiary journey is at the centre of the Service.
Whilst the post is homebased, to be eligible for this role you are required to live in the East of England region in Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, or Essex.
You will occasionally be required to travel around the region or further afield, to attend face to face meetings or training events.
To help you establish yourself in this new post you will receive excellent training and induction to SSAFA. You will initially be required to attend an in-person caseworkers’ course which may require an overnight stay.
About the team
Reporting to the Regional Casework Manager our Casework Coordinators, together with our Volunteer Caseworkers, work remotely within the regional office area. With beneficiaries at the heart of everything we do, team members pride themselves in building and maintaining close working relationships to ensure the smooth operation of the office. The wider regional support team includes a Regional Manager, Volunteer Development Manager and a Community Engagement Manager.
About you
To thrive in this role, you'll demonstrate composure and resilience, paired with genuine empathy and a strong commitment to supporting those in need.
Our beneficiaries are at the heart of everything we do. To support them effectively, you’ll need to be an attentive listener and a clear, compassionate communicator.
You will have experience of providing welfare support, especially on the telephone and an understanding of benefits, debt management, disability, homelessness, local authority provision or mobility would be a real benefit. Understanding the way of life of today’s Armed Forces, veterans and their families and experience of working with volunteers would be a real advantage.
Knowledge of Safeguarding and GDPR is essential in this sensitive role as team members are responsible for recording and protecting personal data and reporting safeguarding concerns.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office 365 applications is essential, and prior experience using a case management system would be highly advantageous. It is important that you have experience of planning and managing your own workload, with minimal supervision.
About SSAFA
SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity is a trusted source of support for the Armed Forces community in their time of need. In 2024 our trained teams of volunteers and employees helped more than 54,000 people, including veterans, serving personnel (regulars and reserves) and their families.
SSAFA understands that behind every uniform is a person. And we are here for that person and their family, any time they need us and in any way they need us.
Diversity and Inclusion at SSAFA
SSAFA exists to support a diverse range of beneficiaries within the armed forces community, and we believe diversity within our teams is key to ensuring we can deliver our services effectively. We thrive on differences and believe it is critical to our success as a worldwide charity. SSAFA is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace that seeks to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We therefore encourage applications from all genders, races, religions, ages and sexual orientations, as well as parents, veterans, people living with disabilities, and any other groups that could bring diverse perspectives to our business.
SSAFA is committed to using the Disclosure & Barring Service to ensure we, as an employer, safeguard those we serve.
No agencies please. Any unsolicited submissions from agencies will be accepted as a direct application from the candidate and no fees will be payable.
Recently unsuccessful candidates need not reapply
Closing date: Midnight of 21 September 2025. SSAFA reserves the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.
Interviews: Week commencing 29 September 2025.
As part of the selection process, you will be required to complete an assessment.
Our vision A society in which the Armed Forces, veterans and their families can thrive.

Having adopted a new and ambitious strategy, and embarked on a period of transformational change, Two Saints are now looking to ensure they are in the strongest position to deliver their vision in what are difficult times. This vision is ‘to be a safety net for people in tough times and the springboard to a brighter future.’ The organisation delivers a full range of services to clients across Hampshire, Dorset, Berkshire and the Isle of Wight, and the role of the Two Saints Board is to guide, direct and challenge the plans and strategic decisions relating to these services.
So we’re looking for people who can help Two Saints deliver their vision, with a background and experience in either:
- Asset management, perhaps with experience of the net-zero agenda
- Supported housing services or social care
We’re interested in hearing from talented people who may be looking for their first governance role, and you may have had lived experience.
If you’re interested in what Two Saints do and feel you can make a contribution, we’d like to hear from you so take a look at the candidate pack here https://bit.ly/45U1yDX.
As the UK’s leading dementia research charity, we’re determined to stop this from becoming a reality. We’re working to revolutionise the way we treat, diagnose and prevent dementia. But we will not stop there. With your support, we will keep going until every person is free from the heartbreak of dementia. We exist for a cure.
The Senior Executive Assistant will play a pivotal role in the Chief Executive’s Office, working closely with the Deputy Chief Executive and members of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) to ensure the smooth and effective execution of strategic, operational, and governance priorities. Acting as a trusted partner and first point of contact, the Senior Executive Assistant will proactively manage high-level administrative functions, facilitate internal and external stakeholder engagement, and contribute to organisation-wide planning and coordination. The role requires a high level of discretion, organisational acumen, and an ability to anticipate the needs of senior leaders in a dynamic and mission-driven environment.
In addition to supporting the Deputy Chief Executive, this role also provides specific project support to the Directors within the Fundraising and Marketing Directorate and contributes to the governance, internal communications, and strategic coordination across Alzheimer’s Research UK (ARUK).
Main duties and responsibilities of the role:
Executive Support
· Serve as the primary point of contact and trusted liaison for the Deputy Chief Executive, managing their calendar, commitments, and priorities with discretion and strategic foresight.
· Proactively coordinate complex diaries, internal and external meetings, and briefings, ensuring effective time management and optimal scheduling across teams and stakeholders.
· Prepare agendas, compile and distribute papers, attend meetings as needed, and record minutes and action points with professionalism and accuracy.
· Manage comprehensive travel arrangements (domestic and international), including bookings, itineraries, visa requirements, and expenses in line with organisational policy.
· Screen incoming correspondence (emails, calls, invitations), handle or redirect enquiries, and ensure timely and appropriate follow-up.
· Provide responsive and high-quality administrative support across the Senior Leadership Team as needed, in coordination with the Executive Support Manager.
Governance, Project and Strategic Support
· Coordinate and manage key organisational meetings including: Monthly Heads meetings across ARUK and Fundraising and Marketing Leadership Team (FMLT) meetings
· Ensure the smooth delivery of these meetings by preparing documentation, recording actions, and driving follow-through with relevant stakeholders.
· Support cross-organisational strategic initiatives, such as ARUK’s Stakeholder Engagement programme and other priority activities led by the Deputy Chief Executive.
· Proactively use ARUK’s CRM system (Salesforce) to support relationship management and strategic engagement by Executive Directors.
· Assist in the planning and delivery of internal communications activities and events that build alignment and engagement across the organisation to include the annual Fundraising and Marketing away day and monthly Fundraising and Marketing meeting.
· Take on discrete projects on behalf of the Deputy Chief Executive
· Work closely with the Executive Support Manager and Head of Governance to support Board and trustee-related activities, including the preparation of papers, coordination of logistics, and accurate record-keeping.
· Help ensure the delivery of effective governance arrangements and contribute to continuous improvement in the support of ARUK’s leadership and oversight functions.
Team and Leadership Contribution
· Act as a senior member of the Executive Support team, sharing best practices and supporting colleagues with guidance, training, and mentoring where appropriate and deputising for the Executive Support Manager where appropriate
· Contribute to process improvement initiatives that increase the efficiency and impact of the Chief Executive’s Office.
· Stay informed of sector developments, best practices in executive support, and opportunities for innovation within the charity’s operations.
What we are looking for:
· Extensive experience providing high-level executive support to senior leaders
· Discretion, integrity, and sound judgement in handling confidential and sensitive information.
· Experience coordinating meetings, travel, and logistics for senior leaders.
· Exceptional organisational and time-management skills, with proven ability to manage complex and competing priorities.
· Strong written and verbal communication skills, with attention to detail and professional presentation.
· Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and experience with CRM systems such as Salesforce.
· Proven ability to build relationships and work collaboratively across teams and with external stakeholders.
Additional Information:
Ways of working: As part of our Agile ways of working you will be required to work approximately 2 days a week from the office, which is subject to the requirements of the role and the business needs. Flexibility on where you work can be split between working from home and our office.
Roles that are classed as part of the Agile ways of working are not able to claim any costs for Mileage/Travel on Public Transport, Accommodation and/or Meals. This includes when attending the office for various meetings/events.
Our Office: Our office is at 3 Riverside, Granta Park, Great Abington, Cambridge, CB21 6AD.
Salary: Circa £35,000 per annum, plus benefits
Please download the Vacancy Pack on our website for more information.
The closing date for applications is the 21st September 2025, with interviews being arrange once shortlisting has been completed. Please indicate in your covering letter if you are unable to attend an interview on a certain date. We would encourage you to submit your application at the earliest opportunity, as on occasion we may have to bring forward the interview date and/or the closing date based on the needs of the business. Although a possibility, this will only happen in exceptional circumstances. Please indicate in your covering letter if you are unable to attend an interview on a certain date.
We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures, in particular those from ethnic minority backgrounds who are currently under-represented. Any offer of employment is however subject to you having the right to work in the UK.
As part of our commitment to being an inclusive employer and ensuring fairness and consistency in our selection process, we will handle your CV and application with the utmost confidentiality. While we strive to anonymise your CV where possible, there are certain sections, such as the application question, that cannot be fully anonymised. We kindly ask that you remove any personal information, including your name, when answering the application question. The hiring panel will not have access to your personal details, such as your name and address, until you are invited for an interview. Should you require any adjustments at either the application or interview stage, please contact us via our website.
How to apply: Please create an online account using our Online Recruitment Platform which can be accessed through our Job Vacancies page. You will be able to attach your CV to your application and track the status of your application.
About Alzheimer’s Research UK: Alzheimer's Research UK is the UK's leading dementia research charity. Our mission is to accelerate progress towards a cure. Today 1 in 2 people will be impacted by dementia, either through caring for a loved one, developing it themselves or tragically both. But there is hope.
There has never been a more important and exciting time in dementia research. With promising new drugs in clinical trials that slow the progression of the diseases that cause it, and revolutionary new ways to diagnose them on the horizon, we are now at a tipping point. Working with the smartest minds globally and across the UK, with industry and academia, Alzheimer’s Research UK is uniquely placed to invest in the very best research identifying barriers to a cure and knocking them down so that there are more and better treatments for everyone with dementia. For the first time in history, we can see a future where people with dementia can get a swift and accurate diagnosis, and effective treatments that could slow or even stop their disease. We stand for everyone affected by dementia. We stand for a cure.
In 2024, we were incredibly proud to be awarded a 3-star accreditation by Best Companies which recognises ‘World Class’ levels of workplace engagement. This is the second consecutive time; we have been awarded a Best Companies 3-star accreditation.
We were also listed in the prestigious Best Companies lists:
· 18th in the 100 Best Large Companies to Work For in the UK.
· 10th in the 50 Best Companies to Work For in the East of England.
· 2nd in the 30 Best Companies to Work For in the Charity Sector.
ARUK really does look after its people, where you will be able to add value and make a difference.
To view further details about working for us and the benefits we offer, please visit Alzheimer’s Research UK
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Why work for Kids Matter?
- Generous annual leave – 25 days (plus bank holidays) per year pro rata, with time off between Christmas and New Year's additional to this allowance.
- Remote working contribution – receive £26/month pro rata towards the costs of working from home and/or using a co-working space.
- Access to coaching sessions, training opportunities and our Employee Assistance Programme (a confidential support service for staff).
- Flexible working across weekdays to suit your schedule.
About us
Kids Matter is one of the UK’s fastest growing children’s charities.
Our vision is to see every child in need raised in a strong family. Our mission is to reduce the impact of poverty on children through community-based parenting programmes.
Research shows that group-based early intervention parenting groups are the most effective way to support children in need. We train peer facilitators in local churches - the largest voluntary body in the country - to run our affordable, accessible and highly effective parenting programmes, written by Clinical Psychologists. They come alongside parents and carers, building long-lasting community in addition to encouraging confidence and learning positive parenting skills.
We value difference and diversity, and we want our workplace to be built on shared values of equality and mutual trust, with team members representing the wide range of backgrounds and experiences that exist within the UK. We therefore actively encourage applications from people of diverse backgrounds and varied experiences, particularly those who are African, Afro-Caribbean, Asian or part of other minority ethnic communities, who have lived experience of the impact of low-income/low-support circumstances, and who are living with a disability or identify as being neurodivergent.
About the role
The Research and Programmes Coordinator role involves:
- Overseeing administrative tasks for all research projects
- Supporting the Programme Development Team Lead in management of all research projects
- Liaising with the Support Coach team to connect with facilitators/parents for data collection e.g. supporting with the running of focus groups
- Using Kids Matter’s CRM to confidently record communication with consultants and Research Assistants
- Supporting the data gathering process for all our evaluation data including maintaining data integrity by performing regular data audits and cleaning parent data ready for the Research Assistants to analyse
About you
Are you organised with good attention to detail? Do you enjoy supporting others and having a varied workload? Can you prioritise and manage your time effectively? Are you a Christian with an active faith in Jesus? Do you have a passion for Kids Matter’s vision of seeing every child in need raised in a strong family?
Then we would love to hear from you!
How to apply
You can apply for the Research and Programmes Coordinator position by clicking ‘Apply via Website’ and completing a copy of our online application form.
The deadline for applications is 4pm on Monday 29th September 2025. All successful and unsuccessful applicants will be notified by email.
We also ask for all applicants to submit an Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form, which will be sent to you to complete following the submission of your application. This form will be used for anonymous analysis to ensure our overall recruitment procedures are fair and transparent. It will never be viewed or used as part of the selection process. It is optional to submit this form.
If you would like any application/interview support or you need any reasonable adjustments throughout the application process, or if you would like an informal phone call to ask questions or discuss the role, please contact Katie Washington (HR & Systems Manager).
Please see the job pack for more details on the role and application process.
We exist to reduce the impact of poverty on children in need across the UK.



The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Finance Business Partner - UKC
Reference: AUG20259219
Location: Flexible in UK
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full Time, 37.5 hours per week
Salary: £47,313.00 - £50,309.00 Per Annum
Benefits: Pension Scheme, Life Assurance Scheme, 26 days' Annual Leave
Please note: The role is a hybrid position that will require travel in the UK including to the UKHQ Finance Department in Sandy Bedfordshire, and to attend meetings in the support of your team, department and directorate.
The RSPB is one of the UK’s most respected conservation charities for the conservation of birds and nature. As an RSPB employee, you will be helping to save nature every time you come to work. There’s never been a more important time toprotect our wildlife and wild places.
We are seeking an excellent qualified accountant to join our Financial Planning and Reporting team, as a Finance Business Partner, supporting colleagues in the UK Countries Directorate more specifically for England. This is a key role working directly with our conservation delivery and our reserves network areas, all with individual characteristics and skills requirements.
What's the role about?
As a Finance Business Partner you will work proactively with senior colleagues to provide an added-value service of financial support to our UKC Directorate. In addition to a strong management accounting background, you will understand the difference that can be made through strong business partnering relationships and be confident in building those relationships. You will gain the respect and confidence of the colleagues you support through strong communication skills (written and oral) and your ability to constructively challenge ideas and plans. You will add value through gaining an intimate understanding of the Directorate that you partner, together with contributing to business performance and the requirements of the finance function with the charity's need.
You will be a fully qualified accountant with up-to-date technical knowledge and a desire to progress in your profession. We will want the successful candidate to influence change and use their skill set to further drive the organisation's objectives forward. You will also be comfortable working under pressure, to tight deadlines, and interacting with people at all levels within the RSPB.
Essential skills, knowledge and experience:
- CIMA or equivalent financial qualification
- Sound knowledge of technical accounting legislation
- Ability to act as a critical-friend to senior management balancing challenge and support. Develop effective working relationships that influence and challenge senior management teams, so that the role of the Finance Business Partner is an integral and valued part of the organisation
- Ability to influence decision makers through sound logic, diplomacy and assertiveness, with the ability to convey appropriate financial messages to various audiences
- Ability to evaluate incomplete and complex financial information, to develop and consider a range of possible options and make a judgement as to the recommended course of action
- Excellent communication (written and oral), coaching, mentoring, presentation and training skills
- Ability to ascertain financial trends and calculate the impact of them on the organisation under various scenarios
- Working in cross-functional teams to provide transformational advice on new initiatives, investment appraisals/organisational restructures/matters of risk and control design effective mitigation strategies, in order to support effective decision making
- Build capability and knowledge in managers so that they can effectively manage their budgets through effective financial information, support and advice
- Working with the all finance teams, to implement new Finance initiatives, ensuring the highest level of customer service and procedures are continuously reviewed so that the service is business focused in the delivery of objectives with an expert knowledge of your client area.
Desirable skills, knowledge and experience:
- Experience of forecasting and planning in a dynamic environment
- Experience of delivering transformation change
- Delivery of coaching and training of financial matters to non financial colleagues
- Experience of annual accounts preparation
- Knowledge of charity finance matters
Closing date: 23:59, Fri, 19th Sep 2025
We are looking to conduct interviews for this position from week commencing 29th September.
Interested?
If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.
We are committed to developing an inclusive and diverse RSPB, in which everyone feels supported, valued, and able to be their full selves. To achieve our vision of creating a world richer in nature, we need more people, and more diverse people, on nature’s side. People of colour and disabled people are currently underrepresented across the environment, climate, sustainability, and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled, we are particularly interested in receiving your application.
The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
The RSPB is a licenced sponsor. This role is not eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship - the successful applicant will need to have a pre-existing Right to Work in the UK in order to be offered an employment contract.
As part of this application you will be asked to provide a copy of your CV and complete a short form with cover letter. Please use the cover letter section to explain how you meet the criteria set above. Contact us to discuss any additional support you may need to complete your application.
No agencies please.
The RSPB brings people together – people like you – to protect the things that matter to us all.



Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Join Beacon to drive projects that place patients at the heart of translational research, shaping progress and improving outcomes with and for rare disease communities.
OVERVIEW OF THE ROLE
Beacon, now in its second decade of operation, has experienced substantial growth over the last three years, including an organisational rebrand and expansion into international projects. We are now recruiting a Senior Patient and Scientific Engagement Officer to play a central role in delivering ambitious projects that put patients at the heart of translational research.
This role sits at the crossroads of patient involvement and scientific communication, building meaningful collaborations between patients, researchers, and other stakeholders. You’ll provide essential operational support and subject expertise to ensure projects run smoothly and reflect the real-world needs of the rare disease community.
You will contribute primarily to two of Beacon’s major collaborative initiatives: REMEDi4ALL, a European-wide drug repurposing platform with over 25 partner organisations, and the LifeArc Translational Research Centres for Rare Disease (LifeArc TrC4RD), a UK-wide partnership. In this role, you will work directly and regularly with partners across these consortia, encompassing patient group leaders, patient representatives, academic researchers, clinical trialists, and beyond. You will act as a vital interface between patients and researchers in both projects, coordinating activities, facilitating collaboration, and embedding patient perspectives throughout the work. While these will be your main focus, you will also support other initiatives across the charity, particularly those aimed at advancing scientific understanding of rare diseases and strengthening patient involvement in research.
This is a varied position offering the chance to apply and further develop your expertise across areas such as patient and public involvement, scientific content development, training, and stakeholder engagement. We are looking for someone with a strong grasp of both the scientific and patient landscapes, who can balance attention to detail with big-picture awareness and work confidently in highly collaborative settings with multiple partner organisations. This role offers a unique opportunity to make a tangible contribution to advancing rare disease research and ensuring patients’ voices drive progress across the UK and Europe.
See our full job description for more information on REMEDi4ALL and The LifeArc TrC4RD
MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Your main responsibilities will span aspects of project delivery, stakeholder engagement, and patient-centred scientific support. In this role, you will:
- Support the delivery of Beacon’s work within REMEDi4ALL and the LifeArc TrC4RD, collaborating directly with partners across these consortia to coordinate activities and ensure timely delivery of shared goals.
- Assist in the preparation of project materials, reports, and updates for consortium meetings and communications.
- Write, review, and refine accessible, patient-facing materials that explain complex scientific concepts and research projects clearly.
- Help design and deliver patient engagement strategies for major collaborative projects, ensuring patient perspectives are embedded throughout.
- Support and liaise with REMEDi4ALL Patient Champions and the LifeArc Patient Engagement Group, including coordinating mentorship, facilitating input into project teams, and managing communications.
- Build and maintain strong working relationships with patient advocates, researchers, funders, and partner organisations, ensuring clear communication and effective collaboration.
- Contribute to the planning and delivery of multi-stakeholder meetings, workshops, and webinars that bring together patients, researchers, and other partners to discuss research priorities and approaches.
- Support the creation and delivery of training materials, sessions, and talks for patient groups, researchers, and other stakeholders on topics such as patient and public involvement (PPIE) and rare disease research.
- Participate in project discussions to understand current patient engagement and provide input or signposting to improve engagement and support.
- Represent Beacon and its work at consortium meetings, external conferences, and events – both as a delegate and, where appropriate, as a speaker.
- Support other Beacon-led projects as required, particularly those focused on advancing patient knowledge, engagement, and scientific understanding.
- Provide hands-on support for the on-the-day delivery of Beacon events, training programmes, and other charity activities.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
This is a mid-to-senior level role. Candidates should have professional experience in scientific engagement, patient involvement, or research coordination, and be ready to contribute confidently to collaborative consortium projects with external partners.
We are looking for someone with a strong commitment to patient-centric approaches, who is willing to advocate for patients’ perspectives and priorities, while also navigating the need for compromise and collaboration across multiple organisations.
Essential
- Relevant professional experience (e.g., life sciences, medical communication, translational research, or patient engagement), ideally accompanied by a scientific qualification.
- Experience in patient and public involvement or patient engagement within research, ideally in health contexts.
- Strong understanding of scientific processes, translational research, or clinical research, with the ability to communicate complex concepts clearly to non-specialist audiences.
- Ability to work effectively within multi-partner or consortium projects, collaborating with external organisations.
- Confidence in liaising with a wide range of stakeholders, including patients, researchers, funders, and partner organisations.
- Experience developing accessible, patient-centred materials, training, or communications.
- Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines while maintaining attention to detail.
- Strong interpersonal skills and confidence in building relationships across diverse groups.
- Ability to work independently and proactively, while contributing effectively as part of a team.
- Commitment to patient-centred research and improving outcomes for the rare disease community.
- Flexibility to travel for in-person meetings, workshops, and events within the UK and internationally multiple times a year.
Desirable
- Experience supporting or delivering training sessions, workshops, or webinars for patient or professional audiences.
- Familiarity with drug repurposing, translational research, or rare disease research environments.
- Experience managing or contributing to multi-stakeholder research projects.
- Experience working or volunteering in the charity or not-for-profit sector.
- An understanding of rare diseases, health charities, or small-organisation dynamics
WORKING AT BEACON
Beacon is a small, tight-knit team, with a friendly atmosphere and strong commitment to our beneficiaries. We aim to give all employees opportunities to pursue their interests, develop their skills, and shape their career path.
We offer flexible working practices to help our staff balance their personal and professional lives, including hybrid working (50% split between home and office working) and flexible hours. We also recognise the substantial benefits of in-person collaboration and communication for the organisation, team morale, and for individual staff development, and are committed to maintaining this as a core part of how we work.
After the initial in-person onboarding period, we’d like this role to be based in the office for around 2–3 days a week on average (though not necessarily every single week) to support effective teamwork, strong communication, and smooth daily operations.
BENEFITS
- 25 days holiday, plus bank holidays and Christmas to New Year closure
- Flexible working practices including hybrid working and flexitime
- Time off in lieu to support appropriate work/life balance
- 5% pension contribution
- Annual training budget to support personal and professional development
- A close knit and friendly small team environment
- Frequent opportunities to meet with beneficiaries and expand your professional network
- Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) including access to mental health support, 24/7 GP service, discounted gym membership, shopping savings and more
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Prison Facilitator - HMP Bedford & HMP Littlehey
Location: HMP Bedford and HMP Littlehey
Department: Prison delivery
Salary: £28,274 per annum
Hours: 35 hours
Job Type: Full time
Contract Type: Contract
Do you want to join an organisation committed to addressing low literacy levels amongst people in prison?
Shannon Trust are delighted to be working with His Majesty’s Prison & Probation Service (HMPPS) to provide peer-led learning programmes at HMP Littlehey & HMP Bedford. Working closely with the prison and their staff, people in prison, Shannon Trust volunteers and mentors, this post will lead the delivery and development of our prison-based reading and numeracy programme, maximising opportunities for people in prison to learn to read.
Ideally you will have some experience of prison settings underpinned by the ability to build relationships and personal qualities that include resilience, determination and a problem-solving approach.
This role will be prison based. Employee benefits include a company contribution to pension scheme of up to 5%, 30 days holiday plus bank holidays, life insurance, paid volunteering days, discounts via Reward Gateway and an Employee Assistance Programme. The biggest benefit though is our culture – our people really want to work for the organisation.
We welcome job applications from people with lived experience of the criminal justice system and do not routinely ask for details of any criminal convictions. These roles do require prison security clearance, so we will need to ask for details of any relevant criminal convictions before an offer of employment is finalised.
Interviews are planned for: 30th September 2025
Benefits: Standard Shannon Trust: Employee benefits include a company contribution to pension scheme of up to 5%, 30 days holiday plus bank holidays, life insurance, paid volunteering days, discounts via Reward Gateway and an Employee Assistance Programme.
REF-223590
Using Anonymous Recruitment
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Step into a transformative journey with Working Options
We're on a mission to empower young people aged 14-19 across England and Wales, and you can help make a real difference.
Following our successful Wales pilot supporting 15,000 young people since launching in 2024, we're scaling regionally. In 2025 we're focusing on Bedfordshire, and that is where we need you, while also responding to needs across England and Wales, aiming to reach 90,000+ young people in-person and 2.5 million+ online across both nations.
As a Project Coordinator you'll connect volunteers with schools and foster impactful relationships within our dynamic, entrepreneurial environment. We believe in inclusivity, trying new things, setting high expectations, and creating real opportunities for young people.
Working from home with occasional team meet-ups, events, and school visits, you'll join a dedicated team that values high expectations and individual contributions to help young people achieve positive outcomes.
If you're passionate, self-motivated, and eager to contribute to a great mission, this is your chance to join a team that's helping young people to transform their career and life chances.
Don't just take our word for it, here's what one of our young people had to say: "My personal experience has been exceptional. There is a collaborative atmosphere, and it is truly empowering to be part of a charity that values student input and involves us in decisions that directly affect our lives." – Working Options Alumnae.
Find out more about the role, and hear from our Chief Executive about our charity's ambitions, via the applicant pack linked below.
Person specification
We are looking for someone who:
• Has a genuine interest in our work and in the greater Bedfordshire area and/or South of England in easy reach of Bedfordshire.
• Is fully committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion.
• Is self-motivated.
• Has excellent attention to detail.
• Can juggle multiple priorities, sticking to deadlines and flagging when priorities need reviewing.
• Has a flair for developing great relationships, particularly with schools and colleges.
• Is proactive and tenacious, able to seek out new opportunities and remain resilient.
• Is creative and likes coming up with new ideas.
• Is ambitious for themselves and for the charity.
• Has high computer literacy.
While we don't specify this in our person specification, we are particularly interested to hear from applicants who have experienced some of the challenges that young people across England and Wales face today.
If you like the sound of this environment, we would love to hear from you.
Good luck with your application!
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
The Talent Set are delighted to partner with The Talent Foundry in their search for a Head of Fundraising role. The Talent Foundry is dedicated to helping young people from under-served communities unlock their potential and prepare for the world of work or higher education.They are looking to increase unrestricted income from fundraising outside of corporate partnerships. This senior position involves leading strategic fundraising efforts to secure vital income, leading a small team across fundraising and marketing.
Key Responsibilities
- Responsible for all of fundraising income and to develop structure of fundraising to diversify income streams
- Design and implement effective fundraising strategies
- Cultivate and maintain relationships with current and prospective donors and partners
- Lead and support fundraising and marketing teams, fostering an inclusive and collaborative environment
- Plan, coordinate, and deliver fundraising campaigns and events
- Track, analyse, and report on fundraising performance metrics
- Identify new funding opportunities and stay updated on sector trends
- Represent the organisation at external engagements to build awareness and support
Person Specification
- Experience in leading successful fundraising programmes within the charity sector with experience from one of the following areas: Trust and Foundations, Major Gifts, Corporate Partnership
- Ability to be strategic and also hands as fundraising on to meet the needs of a smaller charity
- Would suit an ambitious experienced manager looking to develop their career
- Strong relationship-building skills with diverse stakeholder groups
- Strategic thinker with excellent organisational abilities
- Effective communicator capable of engaging a wide audience
- Leadership qualities to motivate teams and volunteers
- Analytical and results-focused with attention to detail
- Budget management and resource allocation skills
What’s on Offer
Salary: £45,000
Role is home based but with commitment to travel to London for meetings 1-3 times a month.
Part time options available
How to Apply
To apply, please submit your CV demonstrating your suitability for this role by clicking the 'apply now' button (please do not apply via email). We aim to get back to all successful candidates within 48 working hours.
Interviews to be held via teams on the 22nd/23rd September with 2nd stage in person on the 6th October.
Commitment to Diversity
The Talent Set are committed to diverse and inclusive recruitment practices, ensuring equal opportunities for all applicants regardless of race, sexual orientation, disability, age, or gender. We actively encourage applications from a wide range of backgrounds and are always happy to make reasonable adjustments to ensure a fair recruitment process.
Talent is everywhere, opportunity is not. The Talent Foundry, a UK education charity, bridges this gap and improves social mobility for young people.





Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
We are looking for an experienced Finance Director to join our team of nearly 100 staff, ideally before the end of 2025.
This is a full-time, home-based, permanent position. You can be based anywhere in mainland UK or Ireland, with some travel and occasional overnight stays to meeting and conferences mainly in England and Wales.
We offer flexibility around working hours, including the option of a 9 day fortnight - time off in lieu is also available. We offer 25 days holiday pro rata (rising to 28 days) plus statutory public holidays. We are happy to make adjustments for people with disabilities and/or caring responsibilities, and we welcome applications from all communities.
The role is a grade 7 position with a starting salary circa £75,000 plus benefits including 9% employer pension contribution.
The Finance Director (“FD”) works alongside the Chief Executive and Operations Director to manage the finances and governance of The Rivers Trust, a leading conservation charity with three associated trading subsidiaries operating across the UK and Ireland, with a collective annual income approaching £10m.
Given the prospective retirement of the current postholder at the end of 2025, we are seeking a well-qualified and experienced individual to take on this senior leadership role as soon as possible to enable handover to occur.
The role is very varied and wide-ranging, including presenting financial information to the Trustees and senior management on a quarterly basis, reviewing monthly management accounts, leading on annual budgeting, appraising internal project concepts and contracts, statutory compliance administration and liaising with auditors.
The postholder will lead a team of eight in the Finance department and join a very welcoming team of 95 highly engaged and passionate staff at The Rivers Trust.
Main duties and responsibilities:
Working alongside the CEO, the Finance Director will provide commercial, financial and governance management and leadership for The Rivers Trust ("the Charity") and its associated subsidiaries (“The Companies”). The FD will not only be an exceptional accountant, with executive oversight of the finance function, but will be commercially astute and have the confidence to represent robustly the best interests of The Companies. The FD will also be an experienced manager of people.
Key Accountabilities:
- Act as a business partner to support and constructively challenge the CEO in the general management of the Charity and the Companies, reporting to the board.
- Lead all aspects of the finance function (including maintaining and developing the financial control environment; robust financial accounting; cashflow management; incisive management information; clear and concise reporting to Board) to ensure that the Charity and the Companies’ assets are secured, risks are managed, and the Board of Trustees, subsidiary boards and committees can make well-informed decisions.
- Manage relationships with auditors, funders, IT specialists, banks, investment platforms and other external organisations.
- Provide support to project bids and the development of other commercial opportunities to ensure that bids/opportunities are optimised for the Charity and the Companies as a whole.
- Provide input to project and programme delivery from time to time, to ensure that performance is maximised for the Charity and the Companies.
- Attend Board meetings and Business Audit and Risk Committee meetings to guide the Board and the Senior Management Team on financial, commercial and governance issues.
- Ensure compliance with the requirements of the Charity Commission and Companies House and, from time to time, provide guidance to members of the Rivers Trust movement on good governance practice.
- Maintain the finance department operational manual for business continuity.
- Serve as the Company Secretary for the Charity and Companies.
Staff Management:
- Lead, manage and develop the finance team (who work remotely) and ensure the team understands their respective and collective contribution to achieving the Charity's and the Companies’ objectives.
- Support the team in their professional development.
- Ensure the team delivers a high-quality service focused on internal and external customers and funders.
Knowledge, skills, experience, and personal qualities:
Essential
- Significant experience in financial management and senior leadership roles, ideally gained in a range of organisations.
- A strategic thinker, able to see the big-picture, shape long-term direction and balance this with attention to detail.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills combined with creativity and openness to innovate.
- Strong IT and digital skills, with experience of using technology to improve efficiency and automate processes.
- Proven people leadership experience, with a track record of managing, developing, and inspiring teams and creating a supportive, inclusive, and collaborative culture.
- Excellent relationship builder, with the interpersonal skills to influence, collaborate, and provide constructive challenge while maintaining positive relationships across the organisation, including with trustees and senior stakeholders.
- Experience reporting to boards of trustees and/or directors, with the confidence to contribute to board-level discussions as a trusted adviser.
- Strong written and verbal communications skills, able to distil complexity into pertinent, concise and understandable messages tailored to diverse audiences.
- The courage to make and communicate tough decisions and be open about risks and setbacks.
- Resilient and calm under pressure, with the ability to maintain focus and steady leadership in challenging circumstances.
- Impeccable standards of integrity and personal ethics, acting as a role model for the organisation values.
- Knowledge of Sage financial software packages.
- Work to a good standard in Microsoft 365, especially Excel, Word, Outlook and Teams.
Desirable
- Experience of working in the charitable sector.
- Experience of being a Company Secretary.
- Understanding of the environmental sector or a passion for making a positive impact.
- Familiarity in using Sharepoint, Sage and Slack.
- Knowledge of Partial Exemption VAT rules.
- A basic understanding of Irish tax law, Irish and UK payroll taxes and corporate governance.
Qualifications/ Education
- Qualified Accountant, preferably ICAEW or ACCA.
Additional information
Everyone who works for us is expected to contribute to a respectful and inclusive working culture and follow our policies and procedures including Health & Safety, EDI, Cybersecurity and GDPR.
Please note we can only accept applications made through this site, and not sent by email or other methods.
We are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible. We warmly welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. If you would benefit from any adjustments to support you through the process, please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate your needs.
To apply please send your CV and a covering letter.
Closing date: Wednesday 24th September 2025
We may close this vacancy early if we receive a strong pool of applications, so we encourage early submission
A leading environmental charity, and umbrella body for the Rivers Trust Movement, our vision is for wild, healthy, natural rivers, valued by all.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Business Analyst - Finance Systems Replacement
Reference: SEP20250742
Location: Flexible in England. This role will be primarily home based but with regular travel (at least fortnightly) to RSPB HQ at The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire, SG19 2DL. We anticipate that the successful applicant will be based within one hour's travel time from The Lodge
Contract: Fixed-Term, 18 months
Hours: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week
Salary: £33,027.00 - £35,259.00 Per Annum
Benefits: Holidays, Pension and Life Assurance
The RSPB is seeking a Business Analyst to support the Finance Systems Replacement project, a Board priority and a major digital change project. The Finance Systems Replacement project seeks to replace several systems that are over 20 years old.
The RSPB is one of the UK’s most respected conservation charities for the conservation of birds and nature. We bring people together who love birds and other wildlife, and who want to take action to restore the health and diversity of the natural world. As an RSPB employee, you will be helping to save nature every time you come to work. There’s never been a more important time to protect our wildlife and wild places.
This role will ensure that Finance requirements are translated and configured correctly in our new finance system. You will work closely with our Transactional Accounting, Financial Accounting and Finance Business Partner Teams to gather requirements and understand current ways of working. Through Technical Workshops with our new provider, you will assist in translating requirements and documenting our new ways of working. You will assist in capturing requirements for the data migration and ensuring accuracy of the data migrated.
To capture these requirements and work effectively with the Finance and DT Teams regular travel will be required to The Lodge. This will be initially fortnightly on Thursdays but may increase based on workshop deliverables. The role will be mainly home based with regular Teams catch-ups with the wider Project Team.
You will help teams to:
- Analyse and understand the business processes, problems or opportunities.
- Undertake research and analysis to understand how a business or business area works, considering the people, organisation, processes, information, data and technology.
- Identify areas for improvement, explore feasible options, analyse the effects of change and define success measures.
- Identify and elaborate user and business needs to enable effective design, development and testing of services and business change.
- Make decisions related to prioritisation and minimum viable product by using analysis led insights.
- Ensure new products and services meet business and user needs, and are aligned with organisational goals as well as liaising with the technical and non- technical teams within the business.
- Understand any business and policy constraints that need to be considered, and assess the implications.
Essential skills, knowledge and experience:
- Competent IT user (e.g. MS packages, Outlook etc).
- Attention to detail and ability to understand accounting systems.
- An ability to produce clear written communications and good interpersonal skills.
- An ability to persuade and influence a wide range of people, both internally and externally.
- Excellent problem solving skills and ability to find creative solutions.
- Able to work under pressure and adapt to changing circumstances.
- Experience of working to a standard project management approach (eg RSPB Project Management Framework, Prince II).
- Experience of analysing complex business processes and recommendation of areas of improvement.
- Good workshop/meetings facilitations skills as well as experience in requirements gathering, analysis and documentation.
- Experience of providing effective support and assistance to project team as well as to testers, by helping in developing test scripts and help in preparing and conducting UAT.
Desirable skills, knowledge and experience:
- Experience of working with external stakeholders such as agencies and contractors.
- Demonstrable experience of developing and working in hybrid teams to achieve shared outcomes.
- Experience of delivering complex projects.
- Part qualified Accountant - CIMA, ACCA, or at least 5 years' experience in an Assistant Accountant Role.
- Experience of acting as a liaison between the business and technical areas during the design and development phases to ensure requirements are understood by all and all risks mitigated appropriately.
- Demonstration of good knowledge of usability methodology and framework for system development and a good understanding of the full software development lifecycle (SDLC).
Closing date: 23:59, Fri, 26th Sep 2025
We are looking to conduct interviews for this position from 1 October 2025.
Interested?
If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.
The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
This role is not eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship - the successful applicant will need to have a pre-existing Right to Work in the UK in order to be offered an employment contract.
We are committed to developing an inclusive and diverse RSPB, in which everyone feels supported, valued, and able to be their full selves. To achieve our vision of creating a world richer in nature, we need more people, and more diverse people, on nature’s side. People of colour and disabled people are currently underrepresented across the environment, climate, sustainability, and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled, we are particularly interested in receiving your application.
No agencies please.
The RSPB brings people together – people like you – to protect the things that matter to us all.



Banana Link is a UK based NGO established in 1996. We have been advocating for a fair and sustainable banana industry for thirty years, based on environmental, social and economic sustainability. Our approach is underpinned by a firm commitment to defending workers’ rights, at the core of these rights is the right to a fair and decent income that affords a dignified life for men and women banana plantation workers. We work at a strategic level and through research, advocacy and dialogue with all actors along the chain to bring about change.
This role will support the management and delivery our current work stream on Living Wages in the African Banana Export Industry. Initial activities will be delivered in Ghana and Cameroon, in collaboration with our local and international trade union partners, local producing companies, and European retailers. Key project activities include:
- Facilitation of capacity building activities on Living Wages and Decent Work in Cameroon and Ghana, with company staff and trade union representatives.
- Communication and dialogue between all project partners and other industry stakeholders towards fair remuneration and decent work in the banana industry.
- Monitoring, evaluation, and reporting on all project activities to funders Ghana, with company staff and trade union representatives.
- Communication and dialogue between all project partners and other industry stakeholders towards fair remuneration and decent work in the banana industry
- Monitoring, evaluation, and reporting on all project activities to funders
The role will provide an important opportunity to work alongside Banana Link’s International Coordinator, and in collaboration with other key staff and partner organisations, on the important issues of Living Wages, Decent Work, Social Dialogue and Sustainability.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
The National Youth Agency is looking for a new Chief Operating Officer to join our Executive Leadership Team.
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full-time - 37 hours per week
Salary: £85,000 per annum
Remote: This role is homebased (within the UK) with occasional to meetings, events and conferences.
What we do
As the national body for youth work, the NYA has a dual function. We are the professional statutory and regulatory body (PSRB) responsible for qualifications, quality standards, and safeguarding for youth work and services in England. In line with our charity mission and aims, we also champion youth work through research, advocacy, campaigns, and programmes.
We work in partnership and believe in collaborative leadership, listening to youth workers and the youth work sector so that we can understand their needs and respond to the challenges they face. We are ambitious for youth work and for young people and integrate youth voice and influence across our work
About the Role
Responsibilities will include:
- The COO leads the day-to-day functioning of the organisation to ensure smooth, efficient, and effective delivery of services. This is vital for maintaining operational stability and achieving strategic outcomes.
- They design and execute strategies that align with the organisation’s mission and long-term goals ensuring resources are used effectively and priorities are clear.
- They promote a culture of excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement through supporting employee engagement, productivity, and organisational success.
- The COO collaborates closely with the CEO/CFO and other senior leaders to drive strategic initiatives and business growth, ensuring unified leadership and coherent decision-making.
- They partner with the CFO to manage budgets, forecasts, and resource allocation. Financial oversight ensures sustainability and supports informed investment in strategic priorities.
- Strengthen governance and risk management frameworks, aligned to regulatory expectations and best practice while proactively managing reputational and operational risks.
- The COO cultivates strong relationships with partners, clients, and stakeholders to enhance service delivery and reputation. These relationships are key to influence, collaboration, and impact.
- They lead efforts to improve processes and adopt best practices across the charity to enhance efficiency and keeps the organisation competitive and responsive.
- They ensure that daily activities support the charities long-term objectives.
- The COO mentors other directors and departmental heads and fosters leadership capabilities across teams.
- They establish and track KPIs to identify inefficiencies and guide improvements through data-driven decision-making to enhance accountability and results.
- They evaluate and refine workflows to boost productivity developing efficient processes to reduce waste and improve service quality.
- They act as a bridge between departments and the CEO to ensure cohesive execution of strategic plans preventing silos and promoting organisational synergy.
- The COO serves as a senior figure in national and cross-sector forums, conferences, and strategic partnerships to strengthens the organisation’s voice and influence.
- They demonstrate commitment to Equality, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging in both internal culture and external programmes to foster a fair and inclusive organisation.
- They work with the CEO, CFO and Director of Growth to identify and pursue new revenue streams and strategic partnerships. This expands the organisation’s reach and sustainability.
- They engage in public speaking, media interactions, and external representation demonstrating clear communication, credibility, and stakeholder engagement.
- They develop and embed evaluation frameworks to assess progress against strategic goals. The measuring of our impact ensures accountability and informs future planning.
- They promote the organisation’s brand at events and through networking.
The COO takes on other responsibilities as needed to support the organisation’s mission.
About You
Essential competencies of the Chief Operating Officer:
- Extensive experience in senior leadership with a proven track record in operations, financial and risk management, and delivering high-performing teams, ideally in the charity sector.
- Strong understanding of business functions such as HR, Finance, Marketing, etc.
- Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to think strategically and execute effectively.
- Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities. Commercially astute, process-driven, and highly pragmatic in approach.
- Experience in driving performance and fostering a collaborative culture.
- Bachelor’s degree in business administration or related field; MBA preferred
Why Work for NYA?
- NYA operates as a people-first organisation, prioritising the well-being and needs of its employees.
- NYA offers an exceptional flexible working approach which encourages our team to balance professional responsibilities with their personal life.
- A remote based team, spread across England, fostering inclusivity and diverse talent. Despite geographical distances between team members, NYA maintains a highly motivated and connected team through the optimisation of digital tools.
- NYA is committed to supporting the continual personal and professional development of our team and helping them achieve their ambitions.
- We provide 25 days leave plus 8 days, life assurance scheme, 5% employer pension contribution and a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme via Spectrum.life with unlimited specialist support available to all NYA employees.
How to Apply:
To apply, please submit the following via our online application platform by 11:59pm on Monday 29th September 2025:
A detailed CV setting out your career history, with responsibilities and achievements in line with the person specification in the About You section.
A covering letter highlighting your suitability for the role and how you meet the requirements in the About You section.
We will request data for our EEDI monitoring purposes, providing this is optional.
Please note: The covering letter is an essential part of the application process and will be assessed as part of your full application. We use AI detector software, so cover letters or CV’s with over 80% AI generated content will be disregarded. We understand that AI tools can offer support to candidates who have learning differences, which is why we will accept applications with some AI assistance. CV’s will not be accepted without a cover letter.
The National Youth Agency is an equal opportunities employer.
At NYA our inclusive culture means that we embrace individual differences and understand that we need a diverse team to achieve our organisations mission.
We wish to recruit candidates from all backgrounds to ensure our team reflects the rich diversity of the communities we serve. We encourage applications from anyone regardless of disability, ethnicity, heritage, gender, sexuality, religion, socio-economic background and political beliefs but we particularly welcome applications from global majority candidates and those from other minoritised ethnic groups in the UK as they are currently underrepresented in our team.
Youth Work changes lives
Which is why we’re committed to ensuring that as many young people as possible get to benefit from it.As the national body for youth work in England, the National Youth Agency (NYA) exists to champion its transformative power. We believe all young people should have the opportunity to benefit from the life-changing impact of extraordinary youth workers and trained volunteers.
We help to grow youth work provision in ways that keep it effective, relevant, safe and engaging, to help millions of young people reach their potential and thrive. We do this by providing guidance, support, advice, training and staff development opportunities for youth workers and youth work organisations. At the heart of everything we do are young people themselves. We work hard to ensure their voices are integrated into all our work, to develop provision that truly meets their needs.
REF-223747