People and change lead jobs in Manchester

About This Job

Are you passionate about shaping modern digital platforms and delivering secure and reliable services at scale? As the M365 Support Engineer within Cadet Digital Services, you will play a role in designing, developing and improving the CadetNET Microsoft 365 environment that supports tens of thousands of cadets and volunteers across the United Kingdom.

You will work under the direction of the M365 Engineering Lead, the post holder implements and supports the platform configuration set by the Lead, carries out root-cause analysis, and helps maintain the ongoing health of the services that underpin CadetNET.

If you enjoy leading technical teams, solving complex challenges and delivering a robust cloud platform that enables real collaboration, this role offers an exciting opportunity to influence the future of digital services across the Cadet Forces.

Essential Skills

· Demonstrable third-line experience administering and supporting M365 (SharePoint, Teams, Exchange, OneDrive) in a production environment.

· Working knowledge of Microsoft Entra ID, MFA and Conditional Access, and the ability to diagnose sign-in issues.

· Hands-on experience of Mobile Device Management (MDM): device enrolment, compliance and configuration (e.g. Intune).

· Hands-on experience of PowerShell scripting and automation for M365 and Entra administration.

Please refer to the attached Job Description for further information.

Our charity

ACCT UK is a national youth charity dedicated to improving the life chances of young people. The Combined Cadet Force Association (CCFA) is a charity dedicated to the promotion of the ideals and activities of the Combined Cadet Force in schools. Together we want to ensure that every young person has the opportunity to learn new skills, build confidence and be inspired through their cadet experience.

We want to develop the youth leadership and training abilities of adult volunteers whilst also helping young people to access cadet activities through fundraising, grant-making, developing new resources and direct support.

We strongly believe that everyone benefits when you help young people to develop their character and values through activities that stretch and mature them. We also know that when young people engage with others at a range of levels in their communities it builds confidence and improves empathy for other’s lives.

Who we are

By joining ACCT UK you will help us to reach more young people and make a greater difference and we look forward to working with you. We actively promote and encourage you to explore ideas that improve all aspects of the charity’s work in pursuit of its charitable aims.

The charities are proud of our diverse teams, with people on different working patterns, from different backgrounds and at different life-stages. Our experience has taught us that having people with different perspectives and different lived experiences leads to better outcomes for our beneficiaries. If you are wondering if our organisation is for someone like you, the answer is yes! Please apply and explain how you, your experience, your talent and your potential are the right fit for this role.

What we can offer you

In addition to your salary, we offer all staff:

· Flexible working arrangements (you agree a working pattern with your line manager).

· The ability to work both from home and from our Aldershot office.

· Personal Accident Insurance, including loss of earnings cover and death benefit.

· 15 days of sick pay in any 12-month period (after 12 months employment - pro-rata for part time staff).

· A contributory pension scheme (you contribute at least 5% and we will contribute 10%).

· Good leave allowances (which are offered pro-rata for part time staff):

o 20 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays.

o Discretionary additional privilege leave, usually making up the following:

- Maundy Thursday - 1 day

- Following the August bank holiday – 2 days

- Christmas closedown – 6 days

o An additional five days of paid volunteering leave.

· Support for qualifications and personal development.

· Employee Assistance Programme.

· Season ticket loan.

· Railcard (if you are eligible)

· A caring and supportive team environment.

How to apply

Please send a CV and Cover letter that details how you meet the requirements of the job description by 2359hrs by Wednesday 2nd September 2026.

Interviews will be held in person during the week commencing 21st September 2026.

While AI tools can be beneficial, we value the personal touch and authenticity in job applications. We encourage you to highlight your unique experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, ensuring all information is accurate. Please use AI tools responsibly and with integrity throughout the application and selection process.

Please note that as a charity dedicated to improving the lives of young people, we require staff to make a declaration about any relevant convictions, undergo both a Disclosure and Barring Service check and a Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) check (one of the requirements being that applicants must have been resident in the UK for 3 years). In addition, we will follow up references.

Please be advised that this position may close earlier than the stated deadline if a sufficient number of high-quality applications are received. To ensure your application is considered, we strongly recommend submitting it as soon as possible. Candidates will be notified of the next stage in the recruitment process if they are shortlisted.

Job Title:  Head of Finance

Reports to:                        Chief Executive

Direct Reports:                 Finance and Business Administrator

Location: Remote – With some travel to attend meetings and events (mainly  in London but also other project areas elsewhere in the UK)

Salary: £46,542 Pro Rata

Hours: 3-4 Days per week

 About Alexandra Rose Charity 

We should all be able to eat healthy food. But right now, healthy options cost more than twice as much as junk food. It’s getting harder and harder for people to put good food on the table. In fact, the poorest fifth of UK households would need to spend 50% of their disposable income to eat the UK Government’s recommended healthy diet. Access to a choice of high quality, culturally appropriate fruit & veg is an essential building block for our mental and physical health. We need to put this right. 

We’re on a mission to give people access to their choice of fresh fruit & veg, in the heart of their community. At Alexandra Rose, we are proud to deliver a mix of practical, place-based projects and national advocacy to shape a fairer future, where everyone can afford and enjoy fresh fruit & veg with dignity. 

If this aligns with how you see the world, and you want to use your skills and experience to help us build towards it, you’ll feel at home here. 

About the role  

We are looking for an experienced Head of Finance to help deliver our mission and support the growth and consolidation of the charity. As a member of our Senior Management Team, you will play a key role in implementing our new strategy as well as managing risk.

You will take overall responsibility for the organisation’s financial management, working closely with the Chief Executive and the Treasurer.

You will provide effective finance partner support to other functions within the charity to support its fundraising, operations and development.

You will also be responsible for the line management of the Finance & Business Administrator, working with the Chief Executive to both oversee and support the governance and compliance services function of the charity.

We want our organisation to reflect the diversity of the communities we work in, and we welcome applications from people from all backgrounds.

Interview Process: The selection process may include two interviews:

Natural Capital Assessment Partnership

The Natural Capital Assessment Partnership (NCAP) has operated for over 30 years. Formerly the Habitat Biodiversity Audit, a key remit of NCAP has been to survey and gather habitat data across Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull, combining ecological field surveys with pioneering satellite imagery and remote sensing analysis. A second key aspect of NCAP’s work is managing the Local Wildlife Sites programme for the region.

Data acquired and produced by the team supports Local Wildlife Site designations, Local Nature Recovery Strategy development and monitoring, and creates baseline habitat reports and statistics.  This localised yet UK-leading dataset provides robust evidence for decision-making and monitoring, plus a unique record of land-use change over the past two decades. Combined with Biological Records Centre species data, it offers an unrivalled picture of the local state of nature.

NCAP is funded by local authorities, managed by Warwickshire Wildlife Trust and hosted by Warwickshire County Council.

For almost 50 years, Animal Aid has been one of the UK's leading animal rights organisations. As we embark on an ambitious strategy to 2030, we're looking for an exceptional Head of People and Operations to help us build the organisation that will deliver our next stage of growth. 

This is a new and critical senior leadership role. While our mission is to create lasting change for animals, it is our people who make that possible every day. You'll help ensure Animal Aid is a supportive, high-performing and values-led organisation where staff can do their very best work for animals. 

Reporting to the General Manager and working closely with the CEO and Senior Leadership Team, you'll lead our people function, oversee HR strategy and operations, support organisational development, and play a key role in finance, governance and organisational effectiveness. 

We're looking for someone who combines strong HR leadership with excellent operational skills, strategic thinking and a genuine commitment to building positive workplace cultures. 

You'll bring: 

• Significant senior-level HR and people management experience 

• Strong knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice 

• Experience developing policies, processes and organisational systems 

• Excellent relationship-building, communication and leadership skills 

• The ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on delivery 

• CIPD Level 5+ (or equivalent experience) 

• Commitment to Animal Aid's aims and values, and sympathy with our ethical vegan position. 

This is a rare opportunity to help shape the future of a respected and influential not-for-profit at a pivotal moment in its development. 

Join us and help build the organisation that will power the next generation of progress for animals. 

Please note: Animal Aid cannot provide visa sponsorship, so applicants must have the legal right to live and work in the UK to be considered for this role. You must live in the UK and we are unable to pay any relocation costs.

First-round interviews will be held online the week commencing 14th September, with the second round held in person on 21st and 23rd September.

Women's experiences of gambling harm are still poorly understood across the sector. GamCare's Women's Pathway is changing that, and we're looking for a Training Lead to help lead the way. You'll design and deliver engaging CPD-accredited training to professionals, volunteers, community organisations and women's groups, building strong partnerships that increase awareness, early identification and access to support.

Working closely with stakeholders across the sector, you'll combine training delivery, partnership development and content design to help ensure the Women's Pathway reaches the women who need it most. As an independent charity and the leading provider of support for anyone affected by gambling harms, the work you do will help GamCare improve outcomes for women across the UK.

About you

We're looking for an experienced and engaging trainer who is passionate about empowering women and supporting behaviour change through high-quality learning experiences. You'll have experience designing and delivering training to a range of audiences and be confident adapting your approach to meet different learning needs. Importantly, you'll bring experience of working directly with professionals and/or women's groups, ideally within community, support, recovery, health, social care or voluntary sector settings.

You'll understand how to create inclusive and trauma-informed learning environments and be skilled at building relationships with both professional stakeholders and community-based organisations. Strong facilitation, communication and organisational skills, along with a commitment to safeguarding and confidentiality, will enable you to deliver impactful training that increases awareness, builds confidence and improves pathways into support. 

Working at GamCare

Founded in 1997, GamCare is one of the leading providers of information, advice and support for anyone affected by gambling harms. We operate the National Gambling Helpline, provide treatment for anyone who is harmed by gambling, create awareness about safer gambling and treatment, and encourage an effective approach to safer gambling within the gambling industry. 

Staff Benefits we can offer you:

• 33 days basic annual leave entitlement per annum (pro-rated for part-time colleagues) including bank holidays, which increases with service
• A generous Pension Scheme – we contribute 6% and you contribute 2%
• Discretionary company sick pay after 6 months' service
• Employee Assistance Programme – 24-hour support
• Premium access to the CALM app for you and up to 5 dependents

Closing date for applications: Sunday 23rd August 2026 (23:59)

Interviews will take place: In person at GamCare's London HQ (online interview available if required) – week commencing 31st August 2026.

GamCare is committed to offering the best support to people affected by gambling harms, as such we welcome applications from candidates with lived experience.

GamCare is an equal opportunities employer and doesn’t discriminate based on race, religion, gender, age, sexuality, gender identification, or physical ability. We are only able to facilitate visa sponsorship in very limited circumstances, so candidates outside of the UK or who don’t have the right to work in the UK need not apply.

Location: Any of our King's Trust offices (flexible with a minimum of 2 days in the office)

Interviews: 9th September 2026

We are looking for an experienced and enthusiastic Procurement Manager to join our Procurement team, to support the Head of Procurement to take the department to the next level.

You will use your commercial focus and expertise to drive best practices in our projects, managing various aspects of spending from RfQs for tail-end to tendering on our eProcurement portal for large project procurements.  You will find yourself constantly challenged to come up with innovative ways of thinking and working closely with stakeholders to lead on procurement understanding, driving value for money, strategic projects and managing the supply chain.

You will get involved in a huge variety of projects, from ICT equipment to Marketing and Events, and everything in-between – this means you’ll need to be dynamic and flexible and able to manage your own time well. Sustainability, Social Value and EDI are important to the Trust as a Charity, and so you will strive to embed this in our supply chain with the key suppliers that we work with.

This is an exciting role that the ideal applicant can really make their own and would suit someone who is a self-starter with energy and drive, and a good background in procurement.

Although this role is based in Manchester, you will be expected to travel to our centres across the U.K. with the requirement to stay away from home one or two nights a week if you’re working on key projects in certain areas. Primary locations for this work are Birmingham, Glasgow and London.

What happens next?  

Please submit a CV, and Cover Letter that includes your experience, transferrable skills and motivation to work for The King's Trust! The Team will be in touch about the next steps shortly after the closing date. 

Why do we need Procurement Managers? 

Last year, we helped more than 40,000 Young People, with three in four young people on our programmes moving into a positive outcome in work, education or training.The young people we help face a range of challenges, such as unemployment, mental health issues or some who have been in trouble with the law. We believe all young people should have the chance to succeed, and that young people are the key to a positive and prosperous future for all of us. We want to continue having a positive impact on young people’s lives and we couldn’t do this without the important work of Procurement Managers! 

Perks for working at The Trust! 

• Great holiday package! 30 days annual leave entitlement, plus bank holidays. Office closure on the days between Christmas and New Year 
• Flexible working! Where operationally possible, our roles require a combination of office days and working from home (please speak to the hiring manager about this particular role)
• You can volunteer for and/or attend events – The King's Trust Awards, Pride, active events etc. 
• In-house learning platform! Develop your skills for your career and your role 
• Benefits platform! Everything from health and financial well-being support to discounts on your favourite restaurants, shops and cinemas. 
• Personal development opportunities through our Networks – KT CAN (Cultural Awareness Network), KT GEN (Gender Equality Network), KT DAWN (Disability & Wellbeing Network), and PULSE (LGBTQIA+ Network). 
• Fantastic Family leave! Receive 13 weeks of full pay and 13 weeks of half pay for maternity and adoption leave. Receive 8 weeks of full pay for paternity leave. 
• Interest-free season ticket loans 
• The Trust will contribute 5% of your salary to the Trust Pension Scheme 
• Generous life assurance cover (4 x annual salary) 

Contract Type: Fixed Term 24 months

Location: Flexible - any of our King's Trust offices (a minimum of 2 days in the office) 

Interviews: 9th & 10th September 2026

Use your technical skills to help young people build brighter futures.

 

At The King's Trust, technology has the power to change lives. Our digital products help thousands of young people access opportunities, connect with mentors and take the next step towards their future. We're looking for a talented Digital Developer to join our Digital Team and help shape the future of MyKT,  our online portal for young people and mentors.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced front-end developer who enjoys building modern, accessible digital products, solving technical challenges and working as part of a collaborative multidisciplinary team. You'll take ownership of technical delivery, helping us create high-quality digital experiences that make a real difference.

What you'll do

 

As a Digital Developer, you'll play a key role in developing and enhancing MyKT, working closely with product, design and content colleagues to deliver secure, scalable and user-focused digital solutions.

You'll:

• Build and maintain our MyKT portal using React, Next.js and Contentful, delivering high-quality, responsive and accessible digital experiences.
• Take ownership of technical delivery for assigned products, estimating work, resolving complex issues and delivering enhancements from design through to release.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to shape technical solutions that meet the needs of young people, mentors and colleagues across the Trust.
• Support quality throughout the development lifecycle by carrying out code reviews, maintaining technical documentation and working closely with testers during releases.
• Share your knowledge by supporting and mentoring our Junior Developer while contributing to a collaborative, inclusive and high-performing team.

What we're looking for

 

We're looking for someone who combines excellent technical expertise with a passion for creating digital products that have a genuine social impact.

You'll bring:

• Strong JavaScript, React and Next.js development experience.
• Experience building content-managed or component-based digital products, ideally using a headless CMS such as Contentful.
• A good understanding of secure, scalable application architecture, APIs and modern CI/CD development practices using Git and Jira.
• Knowledge of accessibility standards (WCAG), GDPR, OWASP security principles and age-appropriate design.
• Experience working collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams, with the confidence to communicate technical ideas clearly and effectively.

 

Why join The King's Trust?

 

For almost 50 years, we've helped millions of young people build the confidence and skills they need to live, learn and earn. As a Digital Developer, your work will directly improve the digital services that support young people on that journey.

If you're passionate about building modern digital products that make a real difference, we'd love to hear from you.

What happens next?  

Please submit a CV, and Cover Letter that includes your experience, transferrable skills and motivation to work for The King's Trust! The Team will be in touch about the next steps shortly after the closing date. 

Why do we need Developer - Digitals? 

Last year, we helped more than 40,000 Young People, with three in four young people on our programmes moving into a positive outcome in work, education or training.The young people we help face a range of challenges, such as unemployment, mental health issues or some who have been in trouble with the law. We believe all young people should have the chance to succeed, and that young people are the key to a positive and prosperous future for all of us. We want to continue having a positive impact on young people’s lives and we couldn’t do this without the important work of Developer - Digitals! 

Perks for working at The Trust! 

• Great holiday package! 30 days annual leave entitlement, plus bank holidays. Office closure on the days between Christmas and New Year 
• Flexible working! Where operationally possible, our roles require a combination of office days and working from home (please speak to the hiring manager about this particular role)
• You can volunteer for and/or attend events – The King's Trust Awards, Pride, active events etc. 
• In-house learning platform! Develop your skills for your career and your role 
• Benefits platform! Everything from health and financial well-being support to discounts on your favourite restaurants, shops and cinemas. 
• Personal development opportunities through our Networks – KT CAN (Cultural Awareness Network), KT GEN (Gender Equality Network), KT DAWN (Disability & Wellbeing Network), and PULSE (LGBTQIA+ Network). 
• Fantastic Family leave! Receive 13 weeks of full pay and 13 weeks of half pay for maternity and adoption leave. Receive 8 weeks of full pay for paternity leave. 
• Interest-free season ticket loans 
• The Trust will contribute 5% of your salary to the Trust Pension Scheme 
• Generous life assurance cover (4 x annual salary) 

Fixed term 2 years from starting date with potential to extend

Shape services that change lives.

The Limbless Association is seeking a passionate and experienced Services Development Lead to help shape the future of community support for amputees across the UK.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in developing high quality, user-led services that support people through rehabilitation, recovery and life beyond limb loss.

You’ll lead service improvement, impact development and innovation across the organisation, ensuring services remain responsive, inclusive and evidence based.

We’re looking for someone who:

• Is passionate about service quality and impact 
• Enjoys turning ideas into meaningful actions and services 
• Can think strategically whilst remaining practical
• Ability to scope and scale 
• Understands the importance of lived experience and co-production 
• Wants to make a genuine difference

If you are motivated by improving lives and developing services with purpose and compassion, we would love to hear from you.

We are looking for an experienced Change Analyst to play a key role in delivering successful organisational change across a diverse portfolio of transformation and continuous improvement initiatives.

This is an exciting time to join RBL as we deliver our new 10-year strategy. Our Change & Transformation function plays a key role in helping the organisation prioritise, deliver and embed change that improves how we support the Armed Forces community.

As part of our ongoing transformation, the Change & Transformation team has recently transitioned to a capability-led model built around Change, Delivery and Reporting. Together, these capabilities provide the leadership, governance, delivery expertise, change support and portfolio insight needed to successfully drive and sustain organisational change.

This is an great opportunity for a Change professional who combines strong analytical capability with a passion for helping organisations and people adapt, adopt and thrive through change. You will support change from inception through to implementation, ensuring initiatives are effectively planned, understood and embedded across the organisation.

You will work closely with sponsors, project teams and stakeholders to assess readiness, understand impacts, shape change approaches and maximise adoption, helping to deliver meaningful and sustainable outcomes.

Come and be part of the leading Armed Forces charity, making a difference to the lives of those who have served to keep us safe and protect our way of life.

Reporting to our Head of Change Analysis & Adoption, key responsibilities will include:

- Assess organisational readiness for change, identifying impacts, risks, dependencies and opportunities across people, processes and systems
- Support the development of cases for change, change plans and adoption strategies to ensure successful implementation
- Engage with stakeholders across the organisation, facilitating workshops, gathering insights and building commitment to change
- Analyse business processes and change data to provide recommendations that support decision-making and continuous improvement
- Support training, user adoption and post-implementation reviews to maximise the benefits and long-term success of change initiatives

You will be contracted to your home address, and you will perform most of your work remotely there, with occasional travel (incl. for monthly team meetings).

Employee benefits include –

- 28 day’s paid holiday (plus bank holidays) increasing with service, with optional annual leave purchase scheme of up to 5 working days
- Enhanced paid maternity, paternity and adoption leave
- Generous pension scheme with employer contributions ranging from 6% to 14%, depending on length of service
- Range of flexible working options may be available, depending on your role
- Employee Assistance Programme providing confidential counselling, financial and legal advice
- Range of courses delivered by learning specialists to support your development goals and objectives
- Opportunities to volunteer
- Travel loans, Cycle to Work, and more!

For more detailed information about the role, please see the Job Description attached to our direct advert. Our teams take a personalised approach to shortlisting, which is carried out without the use of AI and is based on the evidence provided in your application against the essential and desirable criteria in the Person Specification.

RBL is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive organisation, reflecting the diversity of the armed forces community and of wider society. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and personal characteristics.

As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer interview schemes for candidates who declare an Armed Forces connection and/or a disability. However, candidates are only eligible for this scheme if their application clearly demonstrates that they meet all of the essential criteria listed in the Person Specification for the role.

Interview Dates: 3rd and 4th September

We may close this vacancy early if we believe we have enough strong applications to be able to successfully fill the role. Interested candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

Do you believe communities are central to preventing violence and creating safer neighbourhoods? Salford CVS is looking for a Development Worker (Violence Reduction) to support a community-led programme in Little Hulton, working alongside young people, residents and local organisations to identify priorities, shape solutions and drive positive change. 

You'll build relationships, facilitate community engagement and co-design activities, amplify youth and community voices, and help local partners deliver initiatives that address the root causes of violence. If you're passionate about working with young people, strengthening communities and making a lasting impact, we'd love to hear from you. 

Main purposes of the post

To support the delivery of the community-led violence reduction programme in Salford, working with young people, communities and VCSE partners in Little Hulton. 

The Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Greater Manchester Violence Reduction Unit worked with 10GM, other VCSE providers and local communities to co-design our approach to a community-led violence reduction programme. The programme is one of the Violence Reduction Unit’s flagship projects across Greater Manchester and is in line with the ambitions of the Greater Manchester Violence Reduction Strategy and Public Service Reform programme to involve communities to identify priorities, problem solve and direct investment and interventions accordingly. In Salford, the programme will be delivered within Little Hulton.

Hours: Part-time, 18.75 hours per week.

Days: To be confirmed (core hours are worked between 8am – 6pm, Monday to Friday).

Contract: 1-year fixed-term contract, subject to the successful completion of a 3-month probationary period.

Place of work: Salford CVS’ offices in Eccles and within Little Hulton.

The Benefits of Working for Salford CVS:

• 28 days’ holiday - rising to 30 days (after five years), plus Bank Holidays (pro rata for part-time)
• Enhanced company sick and maternity pay, subject to terms and conditions of service
• Pension scheme - with 7% employer contribution (and 1% mandatory employee contribution)
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Membership of the Hospital Saturday Fund via an employer subsidised scheme (optional and non-contractual)
• RHS family membership (optional and non-contractual)
• Development opportunities - we support and encourage our staff to progress in their careers (including formal training)
• A supportive working culture - we respect and support one another to do the best we can

We are an accredited Living Wage Employer, Living Hours Employer and Living Wage Funder, ensuring not just our staff are paid the ‘real’ Living Wage but also that any projects we fund can do the same.

For further information and to apply, please visit our website via the ‘apply’ button.

Closing date: Noon on Wednesday, 26th August 2026.

Interviews: Tuesday, 8th September 2026 - in person at Salford CVS’ offices.

The young people, children and families that we support are at the heart of everything we do at Mermaids. We have ambitious plans to expand the reach and impact of our youth work. To support this growth, we are recruiting an Interim Youth Officer who will play a key role in overseeing our youth programmes and activities. The successful candidate will help increase our capacity to engage with more young people, provide high-quality support, and ensure the continued delivery of our core youth services while contributing to the development of new opportunities for young people. This role is fully remote, full time with a four day working week (32 hours).

Mermaids is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications from those with lived experiences (directly or indirectly) and/or close ties to the LGBTQ+ community. We actively support and encourage people from a variety of backgrounds and experiences to join us and shape what we do. We are particularly keen to receive applications from BPOC (black and people of colour) and/or disabled and trans candidates.

We are looking for a Safeguarding Lead to provide dedicated safeguarding leadership as our flagship Drive Project working with high-harm, high-risk perpetrators of domestic abuse, scales across England and Wales. Acting as a Safeguarding Lead, you'll hold oversight of safeguarding governance across our network, lead a shift from compliance towards collaborative, relational learning, and support delivery partners as a trusted peer and source of expertise. This is a pivotal, newly created role for someone energised by culture change, skilled at holding both accountability and compassion, and comfortable working in complexity.

Closing date: Tuesday 25th August, 9am. Please refer to the job description for further details.

To apply, please visit Respect UK website 

For nearly 20 years, Lively Minds has been proving that parents are the sleeping giants of early childhood development. With strong evidence and a national scale proof point in Ghana, we have shown that parent powered approaches delivered through government systems can transform children's lives at scale.

We are now at a pivotal moment. We have the evidence, the model and the momentum, and we need the funding, profile and influence to match our ambition. This is a rare opportunity to lead income generation and external voice for an award winning NGO entering an exciting new phase of growth. You will lead our fundraising strategy and direct engagement with Funders ensuring that we maximise all funding opportunities as we continue our strategic evolution. You will also shape a compelling external narrative that will help position Lively Minds as the definitive partner for governments strengthening their early childhood development systems.

If you are an exceptional fundraiser and communicator who is equally comfortable in a strategic conversation and writing a winning proposal, we would love to hear from you.

Read the full advert and apply below. Closing date: 3rd September 2026.

About Lively Minds

Lively Minds is an award-winning NGO with nearly 20 years of experience designing, testing and scaling early childhood development (ECD) solutions across the Global South. Our core idea is simple but radical: parents are the sleeping giants of ECD. Governments and donors have long overlooked parents, assuming that poverty and low literacy make them unable or unwilling to support their childrenʼs development. We have spent two decades proving otherwise. With RCT-backed evidence and a national-scale proof point in Ghana, we have demonstrated that parent-powered approaches, delivered through government systems, can achieve meaningful child development outcomes at scale.

Our 2026–2028 strategy marks a pivotal shift. Having demonstrated what is possible, we are now helping pioneer an innovative model of country-led sustainable scale. Rather than delivering programmes ourselves, we provide lean, time-limited technical advisory support to governments to help them integrate parent-powered ECD into their own systems, budgets and institutions. We are currently working with the governments of Ghana, Uganda, Oromia state (Ethiopia) and The Gambia in 2026, growing to six or more country engagements by 2028. Our ambition is to catalyse a sector-wide shift, positioning Lively Minds as the definitive partner for governments seeking to strengthen their ECD systems.

Our scale strategy rests on three interdependent pillars: fixed-term Technical Advisory partnerships with governments; the development of a modular radio model simple and affordable enough for governments to adopt and fund independently; and an advocacy and sector influence agenda designed to make parent-powered ECD the norm globally.

Purpose of the Role

Lively Minds is at a critical inflection point. We have the evidence, the model and the momentum. We now need the funding, profile and sector influence to match our ambition. The Director of Fundraising and Communications is a priority hire, created to provide the dedicated, experienced leadership that this moment demands.

The Director will own and drive Lively Mindsʼ income generation, building new funder relationships, managing and deepening existing ones, and ensuring the organisation has the pipeline, discipline and quality of engagement to meet and exceed its fundraising targets. Working in close partnership with the Founding CEO, who retains ownership of a small number of long-standing strategic relationships, the Director will take primary responsibility for securing the funding that makes the 2026–2028 strategy deliverable, and that opens the door to greater scale beyond it. We need to raise approximately £3.4m over the next 3 years to deliver our strategy. But our ambition is to exceed that target so we can support additional governments.

Alongside fundraising, the Director will provide strategic leadership to Lively Mindsʼ communications and advocacy work, ensuring that the organisationʼs external voice is compelling and that we are building credibility in the spaces where funding decisions are made. The Director will lead and provide strategic coherence to a small but outward-facing team, including Head of Partnerships and Advocacy Lead who are active on the international stage. Lively Minds is committed to thought-leadership and active external engagement, but equally committed to ensuring that communications resource is deployed with discipline and rigour. The Director will set a clear strategic filter for where the organisation shows up, what it publishes and who it engages: prioritising focus and quality over volume, and always asking whether external activity is building the relationships and reputation that ultimately drive income and/or systems change.

Lively Minds is a dispersed, remote organisation. The Directorʼs team the Advocacy Lead, Development Manager and Communications Officer - are internationally distributed. The ability to lead, develop and maintain high standards across a dispersed team is essential. The role requires regular travel to international conferences and events.

Key Responsibilities

Fundraising Strategy & Income Generation

• Own and deliver the multi-year fundraising strategy with clear priorities, targets, income streams and a disciplined pipeline to support the 2026–2028 strategy and future scale
• Steward existing funder relationships, turning strong partnerships into long-term supporters, advocates and connectors to new funding opportunities.
• Lead the shift towards Big Bet and catalytic funding, personally cultivating and negotiating high-value, multi-year partnerships and positioning Lively Minds for system-level scale
• Maintain a high standard of fundraising quality, pipeline management and forecasting, while coaching the team to produce compelling, sophisticated fundraising materials
•  Build and continuously strengthen a diverse funding pipeline, identifying emerging opportunities, new funding markets and strategic partnerships that reduce concentration risk and support long-term financial sustainability

Communications, Brand & Advocacy

• Own and deliver Lively Mindsʼ communications and marketing strategy, balancing visibility and sector influence with the need to strengthen fundraising and systems-change objectives
• Partner closely with the CEO to shape and steward a coherent external narrative, brand and messaging framework across all audiences and channels
• Oversee high-quality core communications and fundraising materials, including cases for support, pitch decks, website content, proposals and donor reports
• Provide strategic communications expertise to Advocacy, Partnerships and MEL, ensuring evidence and learning are translated into compelling narratives and consistent external messaging
• Lead efforts to strengthen Lively Mindsʼ profile and thought leadership in the ECD sector, identifying opportunities for strategic media, events, publications and external platforms that reinforce its positioning and influence

Organizational Leadership&TeamDevelopment

 

• Contribute actively to SMT and organisational strategy, bringing funder intelligence, external perspective and communications expertise to strategic decision-making.
• Work closely with Finance and MEL to align fundraising targets, forecasting, budgets and evidence, ensuring proposals are credible, accurately costed and evidence-led
• Act as the organisationʼs communications subject matter expert, providing guidance and challenge to ensure high-quality, consistent external communications
• Lead and develop the Advocacy Lead, Development Manager and Communications Officer, fostering a team culture of quality, accountability, strategic clarity and continuous improvement
• Build strong cross-organisational collaboration, ensuring teams understand how fundraising, communications, advocacy and evidence work together to advance Lively Mindsʼ strategic priorities

Person Specification

Essential Experience & Skills

• 10+ years of significant senior-level fundraising experience within international development, education, philanthropy or a comparable sector
• Proven track record of securing major grants from foundations, institutional donors and high-net-worth individuals, alongside demonstrated experience securing or meaningfully progressing large-scale, catalytic funding from Big Bet philanthropy programmes such as the Audacious Project, Skoll Foundation or comparable funders. A strong understanding of what these funders look for and how to position an organisation compellingly within their processes is essential
• Exceptional fundraising writing skills, with the ability to personally develop compelling cases for support, funding proposals, award applications and pitch decks tailored to sophisticated impact funders. This is a hands-on role requiring both strong writing capability and the ability to coach others to consistently produce high-quality fundraising content
• Experienced in developing and owning a marketing and communications strategy, with a strong understanding of how to balance organisational visibility, thought leadership and sector influence with coherence, strategic focus and income generation
• Demonstrated ability to work closely with a Founding CEO to shape and steward the organisationʼs external narrative and brand. Comfortable working in a founder-led environment, providing expertise and constructive challenge while ensuring the organisation maintains a clear, consistent and coherent external voice

Desirable Experience

• Experienced fundraising for a technical advisory, systems change or government-facing organisation
• Knowledge of the ECD, education or early childhood sector and its funding landscape
• Familiarity with the Big Bang Philanthropy network or equivalent impact-focused funder communities
• Experience working alongside advocacy and partnerships teams, providing communications expertise and strategic coherence to their external activity
• Familiarity with the funding landscape for organisations operating in Sub-Saharan Africa
• Experience working remotely across multiple countries and effectively collaborating with cross-cultural teams

Behaviours & Ways of Working

• A doer, equally comfortable in strategic conversations and writing a funding proposal
• Sets a high bar for quality and clarity in all external communications and holds it consistently
• Builds a strong, trust-based partnership with the Founding CEO, provides honest challenge and operates effectively within a founder-led dynamic without losing their own voice or judgement
• Collaborative and cross-organisational. Invests in strong relationships with programme, MEL and finance colleagues, understanding that the best fundraising is grounded in organisational reality
• Calm and focused under pressure - able to manage competing priorities and maintain quality when the stakes are high

What We Offer

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience
• 25 days annual leave
• Health insurance
• Pension contribution
• Generous learning and development budget
• Flexible, remote working

Application Instruction

Interested candidates are encouraged to read the Job Description carefully before applying to ensure they understand the role and meet the required criteria.

To apply, please complete the pre-screening questions and submit your updated CV

PLEASE NOTE - Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Timeline

Closing Date: 3rd September 2026

Our Stance

Lively Minds operates a strict Safeguarding Policy and is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of children and vulnerable people. As part of our recruitment process, the suitability of successful candidates will be verified through appropriate background checks including professional references and police checks.

Lively Minds is fully committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and to providing equal opportunities throughout our recruitment process. We want this commitment to be reflected in the diversity of the people who work for us, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities, experiences and perspectives.

We are committed to ensuring that recruitment decisions are based on merit, skills, experience and suitability for the role, and that all candidates are treated fairly and with respect throughout the recruitment process.

Lead Advocate- Cheshire West and Chester

Permanent with Funding until 31st March 2028

28 hours per week

£30,600 per annum FTE (£24,480 per annum pro rata for 28 hours per week).

Location: Office base: Wythenshawe, Manchester, with regular travel across Cheshire West and Chester and to out-of-area placements as required.

Benefits include but not limited to:

-36 days' annual leave [full time roles only], inclusive of flexible bank holidays, increasing with length of service

-Enhanced maternity/paternity leave

-We match up to 8% pension

-Free counselling service

-Opportunities to develop and widen your skills

-2 days of paid volunteering time per annum to support another part of the organisation

About us:The Children's Society has been helping children and young people in this country for over 140 years. We deliver essential local services that provide safe, trusted support to children and young people during times of significant need.

Our Youth Impact domain creates impact for children and young people. With highly skilled and experienced staff working across England and Wales, we provide direct support to children, young people, parents and carers, as well as conduct research and influence Government to make changes. We also provide training for professionals. Our value driven team change the lives of children in this country for the better — and with your help and expertise, tomorrow we can support even more.

About the role:

You'll play a key part in our Cheshire West and Chester Advocacy Service, delivering independent advocacy support to children and young people who are cared for by the local authority, subject to Child in Need and Child Protection Plans, children and young people with disabilities, and those requiring non-instructed advocacy.

We're looking for a dedicated and experienced Lead Advocate with the ability to manage a complex caseload whilst providing leadership, supervision and practice support to Advocates, making a real impact in the lives of children and young people.

Key skills and experience:

The required skills and competencies for this role are:

-Experience of advocating for children and young people and ensuring their voices, wishes and feelings are heard in decisions affecting their lives.

-Ability to supervise, coach and support colleagues whilst promoting high standards of safeguarding and advocacy practice.

-Experience of risk assessment, referral triage and partnership working with social care, education, health and other agencies.

It would also be an advantage if you have any of the following skills and competencies:

-Experience of working with children and young people who are cared for, subject to CIN or CP Plans, or have disabilities and additional needs.

-Experience of undertaking case audits, quality assurance activities or service improvement work.

-Knowledge of instructed and non-instructed advocacy approaches and children's rights legislation.

Closing date: Midnight on 23rd AugustInterviews: To be confirmed

The Children's Society is committed to safeguarding and protection of the children and young people we work with. As such, our safer recruitment process includes a Basic or Enhanced DBS check, 5 years of references, and additional vetting checks relevant to the role. We have a comprehensive range of policies and procedures in place to promote safeguarding and safer working practices across all areas of our organisation.In support of our commitment to diversity and inclusion, shortlisting is carried out on an anonymised basis. Personal details are hidden from the shortlisting panel, and candidates are referenced by a candidate number only. As part of this process, we ask that your CV is anonymised before submission - this means removing personal information such as your name, contact details, age, and any other identifying details.

AI tools can support your application but only when used appropriately. You're welcome to use them to improve clarity, structure, and research. However, overuse or misuse (e.g. inventing experience or using AI during assessments) may lead to rejection at any stage. We want to hear the real you - authenticity matters.

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