People and culture manager jobs in bilston, west midlands

Join us and help create opportunities that change young lives.

Career Ready is a UK-wide social mobility charity, working to empower young people with the skills, confidence, and networks they need to succeed. We’re looking for a proactive and strategic Corporate New Business Development Lead to drive growth in our corporate and partnerships income, unlocking innovative collaborations that deliver real impact.

In this pivotal role, you’ll identify and secure high-value corporate partnerships, craft compelling proposals, and lead pitches to senior decision-makers. You’ll work closely with colleagues across Communications, Programmes, and Operations to create multi-year partnerships that combine funding, programme support, and brand alignment—helping us reach more young people than ever before. The role is home-based, but you’ll have opportunities to travel across the UK (primarily London, Manchester, and Edinburgh) for meetings, events, and networking opportunities (expenses covered), giving you variety and the chance to build relationships face-to-face.

We’re seeking someone with a proven track record of winning significant corporate partnerships (five-figure or ideally six-figure), excellent communication and influencing skills, and a strong understanding of CSR/ESG trends. If you’re entrepreneurial, creative, and thrive on building relationships from scratch, we’d love to hear from you.

For full information view our candidate pack, which is available when you click on Apply.

Closing date for applications: 9am on Monday 12 January 2026

First stage interviews: expected to take place w/c 19 January 2026 

Job Summary:

This involves assessing, allocating and supporting our tenants on their journey with Stay and assisting successful move on. Teamwork is also a key part of this role to work alongside the wider housing team towards team and organisational objectives.

 

Role Specific Responsibilities:

· Deliver pro-active engagement with tenants to increase the potential for income collection by education, support and other interventions with customers as appropriate and in line with Stay’s policies.

· Provide advice to tenants on tenant and landlord roles and responsibilities in accordance with tenancy/licence conditions in face-to-face sessions or via the telephone/email/letter/text.

· Advice and guidance on issues such as tenancies at risk, whether through rent arrears, anti-social behaviour, property maintenance, unemployment, mental health issues and finance.

· Identify any/all factors that may be contributing to rent arrears: money mismanagement, budgeting issues etc.

· Give advice and assistance with housing problems including information on housing options.

· Take responsibility for a designated caseload of tenants requiring housing support including the identification of prospective tenants. Assist new tenants, particularly vulnerable and young tenants to set up and maintain a tenancy and be able to access support needed. Together with the customer draw up a personal housing plan.

· Assist tenants with security and safety matters within their home including door/window security, advice regarding household appliances and controls for heating, providing details of the repairs service and how to report and arrange repairs.

· Actively work with the tenants and colleagues around issues placing the tenancy at risk including breaches of the tenancy agreement: arrears, harassment, nuisance and other disputes when required.

· Build effective relationships with external agencies (both statutory and voluntary) and maintain a knowledge base of these to signpost customers as required.  Share information, where appropriate and in line with data protection and confidentiality, to meet the needs of the tenants.

· Ensure the maximisation of rent collection in line with targets and reduce rent arrears on a continuing basis through the effective enforcement of the rent arrears policy, procedure and systems working alongside the rents officer.

· Work in a performance target-led environment and have a commitment to attaining those targets.

· Prepare timely and accurate reports.

· Identify and implement good administrative practices and procedures.

· Maximise income collection by providing advice on welfare benefits and make referrals to specialist services and agencies where appropriate.

· Maintain up to date knowledge of best practice in respect of all relevant administrative, legal and financial procedures.

· Respond promptly and effectively to enquiries or complaints with regards to rent or associated housing matters in accordance with Stay’s policies.

· Maintain appropriate and accurate records to comply with statutory and service-wide reporting requirements. Proactively monitor and report to the Housing Team Leader in respect of service delivery, performance indicators and targets.

· Maintain up to date knowledge of housing management practice and all relevant Stay and Housing Team procedures in to ensure the processes, systems, policies and procedures are adhered to and to contribute to the development of any reviews.

· Integrate tenant care into working practices through a ‘Tenant First’ approach, ensuring tenants are treated with respect and courtesy and experience a ‘seamless’ service. Adhere to Stay’s standards of tenant care in respect of answering correspondence, telephones and complaints.

· Maximise the use of information and communications technology to support the service and deliver efficiency improvements. Maintain up to date knowledge of systems and applications.

· Work collaboratively with the referral and assessments officer to evaluate applicants, conduct thorough needs and risk assessments, and perform reference checks before extending accommodation offers.

· Carry out an appropriate induction to the allocated Stay property once an offer has been made to an applicant.

· Liaise with The Rent Officer and Housing Benefit to ensure the customer’s account is active and the customer is aware of their responsibility of providing any information to ensure the housing benefit is paid and reduce all arrears.

· Liaise with Housing Benefit, Employment Services, Social Services, Probation Services and other authorities as necessary in relation to housing management.

· Ensure that tenants are compliant with and kept fully informed and consulted on matters affecting their Licence or Tenancy Agreements and they understand their rights and responsibilities: respecting other tenants, non-use of drugs etc.

· Ensure incidents/Safeguarding are fully reported and investigated and act to resolve the problem or take holding action until a permanent solution is found.

· Work with the Voids and Maintenance Team to undertake regular visits to the housing properties to inspect the accommodation and get customer feedback to ensure that repairs and cleaning of the buildings are carried out promptly to a high standard and that safety and security is maintained.

· Adhere to Stay’s Safeguarding Policies and take responsibility for making Safeguarding referrals to the relevant services and report any concerns to Stay’s Designated Safeguarding Officers.

· To address issues of social isolation and exclusion, facilitating client’s involvement in the community.

· To deliver person centred support through one-to-one sessions, group work and ad-hoc support.

· To record all contacts with tenants appropriately and in line with Stay’s policies and procedures and maintaining all relevant files and recording systems, ensuring information is updated.

· To produce appropriate written reports in a variety of formats to meet the requirements of managers, service providers and board of trustees.

· To assist tenants in acquiring the budgeting and social skills necessary to sustain accommodation effectively.

· To, where customers are at risk of eviction, provide advice and support and where necessary help them to seek legal advice.

· To actively promote tenants knowledge of and participation in Stay’s Client Involvement activity by promoting available opportunities such as membership of working groups, service evaluation, service changes and Stay’s Complaint’s, Comments and Suggestion policy.

· To ensure that clients understand their rights and responsibilities of the licence/tenancy to enable informed choices.

· To input and extract information from Stay’s IT systems, including client information.

· To undertake, as required, any other duties compatible with the level and nature of the post and/or reasonably required by the Team Leader, Service Manager and Operations Manager.

· Provide advice and guidance on issues such as tenancies at risk, whether through rent arrears, anti-social behaviour, property maintenance, unemployment, mental health issues and finance.

· Assist tenants with security and safety matters within their home including door/window security, advice regarding household appliances and controls for heating, providing details of the repairs service and how to report and arrange repairs.

· Ensure incidents/Safeguarding are fully reported and investigated and act to resolve the problem or take holding action until a permanent solution is found.

· Engaging with clients and the local community to co-produce a programme of activities and sessions.

· Encourage and motivate clients to engage and participate in activities and sessions.

· Other duties commensurate with the post as may be determined from time to time.

 

Staff Expectations – how we do things

Administration Duties

· Maintain accurate records, both paper and electronic.

· Assist in the production of management information related to key performance indicators.

Financial Management

· Work within departmental budgets and aim to achieve value for money in all areas.

· Ensure compliance with all financial policies and procedures.

Relationships and Partnerships

· Maintain and enhance working relationships internally with support colleagues and central services, externally with referral agencies, landlords, the Local Authority etc.

· Assure compliance with Management Agreements and Leases and report as required to partner landlords on housing management performance.

Client Involvement

· Encourage and support meaningful client involvement in all aspects of the service delivery and embed Involvement at the core of the service provision.

· To make a difference to clients through support which everyday impacts on their lives for the better.

Quality Assurance

· Report on performance monthly to line manager within deadline.

· Assist in addressing any improvements required from internal or external audits.

· Ensure that Equality & Diversity is actively promoted in all areas of work and that the services are relevant and accessible to all.

· To undertake development and training opportunities and have responsibility for obtaining maximum benefit through review, reflection and practice.

· To continuously review own working practices in line with client feedback and current best practice.

· To review and evaluate own performance to identify strengths and areas for development. Identify own learning/development needs and opportunities by attending and contributing to regular support, supervision and appraisal sessions.

Culture, Values and Behaviour

· To articulate and personally demonstrate Stay’s values both internally and externally.

· Where possible work to alleviate feelings of prejudice and stigma experienced by homeless or marginalised groups.

· To contribute to the building of a staff culture where every person feels empowered and valued.

· To always be professional and demonstrate a great positive attitude, be empathetic and adopt a person-centred way of working.

· To commit to learning and being the best through continual learning and development.

· To show consistent integrity, trust and fairness that embraces equality, diversity and inclusion.

· To deliver time after time to a consistent standard of service in line with Stay’s policies and procedures.

· To use good judgment and initiative to find solutions.

Health and Safety

· To be aware of Stay’s policies and procedures, ensure they are carried out and that good practice is maintained.

· You have a duty to take care of your own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by your actions at work.  You must co-operate with Stay and co-workers to help everyone meet their legal requirements.

The responsibilities of this post may vary from time to time without changing the general character of the post or level of responsibility entailed.

Applicants must be located within 2 hours travelling distance of Cambridge City.

The Charity and Our Vision.

For over 15 years, Scotty's Little Soldiers has been supporting children and young people who have been bereaved of a parent who served in the British Armed Forces.  We are about to embark on an exciting journey which will see the charity evolve to support anyone affected by a military-connected bereavement and ultimately empower a community of more than 25,000 bereaved individuals and their families by 2035.

Founded in 2010 by Nikki Scott following the death of her husband, Corporal Lee Scott, the charity currently offers a unique blend of emotional, practical, and educational support to over 750 young people.

We are proud of our vibrant, non-traditional culture, which puts the needs of bereaved children and young people at the heart of everything we do. We embrace innovative approaches, are committed to creating smiles and believe in the power of community, resilience, and connection.

Role Mission.

To ensure Scotty’s delivers high-quality, consistent, and scalable support to those affected by military-connected bereavement, by leading all aspects of service delivery. 

You’ll own the structure, systems, standards, and team needed to deliver support across all four Family Programmes (SMILES, SUPPORT, STRIDES, and the planned START programme) and help ensure our support reaches the growing number of families who need us. 

The key responsibilities of this role are:

Programme Operations & Service Infrastructure 

• Overall accountability for the service provided to the bereaved military community. 

• Leading, and working closely with, the Head of each delivery Programme to ensure all activities are impactful and meeting the needs of our community. 

• Mapping and maintaining the full beneficiary journey across all programmes and cohorts (CYP and adult). 

• Developing our first adult focused services and building them in line with the charity’s long-term vision to be supporting more than 25k bereaved people by 2035. 

• Being the link between our service delivery and both internal and external technology partners to ensure our systems match, and meet the needs of, our processes. 

• Alongside our Operations Team, lead the scoping of a full future CRM (Salesforce) rebuild and related beneficiary tech interfaces such as websites, future app development etc. 

• Oversee the design of a 2026 ‘light’ CRM phase to support individual adult service delivery. 

• Ensure that lived experience remains at the heart of our services. 

• Accountability for Safeguarding within the organisation. 

Team Leadership  

• Support Programme Leads (e.g. Heads of START, SMILES, SUPPORT), providing direction and support as well as ensuring clarity of ownership and goals. 

• Create a strong, empowering culture within the service (Families) team, aligned with The Scotty’s Way and shared leadership philosophy. 

• Work with our Head of People to oversee service recruitment and onboarding.

Quality, Measurement & Improvement 

• Define and embed service-level Success Measures (KPIs) across all activities ensuring we know what success looks like for all our activities. 

• Collaborate with the Head of Research & Impact to ensure data collection is usable and meaningful. 

External Partnerships & Collaborations 

• Proactively develop senior-level partnerships with other military and bereavement charities, Armed Forces support organisations, and relevant service providers and stakeholders. 

• Explore and propose strategic collaborations where they strengthen the support we offer to families. 

• Ensure the new START (single point of contact) Programme becomes an active network-builder in the space. 

• Represent Scotty’s externally at events, conferences, meetings etc within the sector.

Cross-Functional Collaboration 

• Act as a key link to Outreach and Fundraising — providing insight and service stories to fuel content. 

• Work with the Ops team to align delivery processes with systems, IT, and compliance. 

• Support bid development and reporting for funders by sharing service insight and outcomes. 

The 30-day goals for this role are:

• Build a deep understanding of Scotty’s mission, our audience, the services we provide, and strategic direction.
• Spending time with the Families Team and understanding everyone’s role within the charity.
• Understands the ‘as-is’ current situation for the charity’s service delivery. 
• Start to document gaps, delivery inconsistencies, opportunities, risks etc. 
• Understand the landscape we operate in, particularly the military and bereavement charitable environment. 
• Fully align with the operating rhythm of the charity, leading team meetings, holding 1:1s, ownership of relevant OKRs, etc. 

The 60-day goals for this role are:

• Has met with counterparts at key partner organisations. 

• Has highlighted key organisations not currently partnered with to meet. 

• Created a stakeholder holder engagement map for our service delivery.

• Visually mapped existing beneficiary journeys across our four Programmes. 

• Began work (with Ops) on requirements for initial-phase CRM for adult services. 

• Fully aligned plans and goals with existing Programme Heads, incoming Head of START Programme, and incoming Head of Research & Impact. 

• Held one in-person session with Families team. 

The 90-day goals for this role are:

• Visually mapped year one of adult services plus any proposed changes to existing services to create a final 2026/27 service ‘to-be’. 

• Planned the launch of our new START navigating entitlements casework Programme

• Development underway of ‘Light’ CRM to launch adult services having supplied detailed brief. 

• Taken full accountability for the success of our Family Programmes and associated impact. 

• Attended 2-3 sector group meetings representing Scotty’s solo. 

• Developed a stakeholder holder engagement plan with Head of PR & Comms.

About You

Must-Have 

Senior experience in service delivery, operations, or programme leadership 

Strong skills in team leadership and service system design 

Ability to turn strategy into operational structure and rhythm 

Confident working cross-functionally and building external partnerships 

Nice-to-Have

Experience working with or supporting Armed Forces families 

Familiarity with CRM system scoping and procurement 

Experience launching new services or scaling delivery teams 

Background in bereavement or mental health support 

Additional Information

· The role may require occasional evening or weekend work

· Enhanced DBS check required

· Travel will be required to events and team training days

The Scotty’s Way

At Scotty’s, our personal performance is only 50% of what success looks like. Our culture is equally important. When you join our team, you sign up to The Scotty’s Way, rooted in our four core values:  

1. Families Come First

2. Everyone a Supporter, Every Supporter a VIP

3. Love What You Do

4. Remember, Every Day

Our values are further supported by our four non-negotiable behaviours of Show Respect, Speak Up, Take Ownership and Actively Collaborate. We are looking for an individual who embodies these values and behaviours.

When Applying:

Please submit your CV, along with a covering letter detailing your experience and what excites you about this role. Please ensure you clearly annotate which role you are applying for in the email title. Closing date: Friday 16th January. Due to resource and time constraints, we are unfortunately unable to provide feedback for every application received and will only contact candidates shortlisted for interview.

Thank you for your interest in joining our team, we are an equal opportunities employer, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where all employees are treated with respect and given equal opportunities for employment and advancement.  

We do not discriminate based on race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability or any other protected characteristic.  

We encourage all qualified individuals to apply for employment within our charity, and we provide a fair and inclusive recruitment process for all candidates.

 

This is a fantastic opportunity to build and grow Molly Rose Foundation's lived engagement and youth programmes, and to push for a safer online world driven by the needs and perspectives of lived experience.

Working at the intersect of tech accountability, online safety and suicide prevention, Molly Rose Foundation was founded following the death of 14-year old Molly Russell.

Today we’re committed to building and amplifying the voices of those with lived experiences of online harm – and to challenging government, regulators and tech firms to listen to and act decisively on what they have to say.

MRF is grounded in youth and lived experience, and we will always ensure the lessons of Molly's death act as a catalyst for positive change. You’ll help us maintain and grow our networks to build and amplify the voices of youth, bereaved parents and young people directly impacted by harms, and have a track record in working in partnership across the sector.

As Lived Engagement and Youth Manager you'll build strong internal and external relationships and ensure lived experience and youth runs through everything we do.

You'll manage day-to-day relationships with youth and lived experience advocates and have a strong focus on safeguarding and trauma-informed practice.

This is a rare opportunity to build a lived experience programme that really counts. We’re looking for an exceptional individual who’s motivated by the chance to really make a difference. Your work will help to ensure that tomorrow’s young people live long and stay strong.

MRF is committed to flexible working and we know that a diverse team makes us stronger. While we are recruiting for a full-time position, we will actively consider part-time and flexible working requests.

Please submit your CV and a cover letter, no more than two sides each, to apply for this role. Please refrain from overly relying on AI in your application. 

Are you a talented People Business Partner looking for a new challenge working for a fantastic national charity? 

I am excited to be partnering with the UK’s leading domestic abuse charity, to recruit an experienced and values driven People Business Partner. This is a fantastic opportunity to contribute to a mission led organisation and support the development of a high performing, inclusive workplace.

This position is mainly remote with very occasional attendance to their Head Office in central London. You will be part of a small but friendly and supportive HR team. This is an operational HR opportunity paying a salary of £40,080.The role will report into the Senior People Business Partner, who is fantastic at developing their direct reports and allowing them to grow in their role. The successful candidate will act as a trusted HR advisor to designated teams, supporting a wide range of employee relations issues, recruitment activity, organisational change, and policy development.

Some of the key responsibilities of this People Business Partner role include:

• Business partnering with key directorates, understanding their unique needs and delivering tailored people solutions
• Providing expert support across employee relations cases, including disciplinary, grievance, absence and performance
• Managing and supporting recruitment processes in line with safer recruitment practices
• Advising on and implementing organisational change processes, including TUPE transfers
• Coaching and supporting managers in day-to-day HR matters and long-term people development
• Supporting onboarding, induction and HR project delivery
• Contributing to policy reviews, system improvements, and reporting processes
• Championing the organisations values, including equity, diversity, and inclusion

The ideal candidate will be a proven HR generalist, ideally with experience from working in the charity sector, along with a strong understanding of UK employment law and HR best practice. You will have excellent interpersonal skills, a proactive, solutions-focused approach, and experience in managing or mentoring others. A values driven mindset and a strong commitment EDI is essential. It would be very advantageous for the People Business Partner tobe CIPD qualified (or have the equivalent experience). 

This is a unique opportunity to work for a sector leading organisation with a powerful social mission. You’ll be part of a collaborative, forward thinking People & Culture team, where your work directly contributes to improving the lives of women and children experiencing domestic abuse.

The interview process will involve a two-stages, with both interviews being held over MS Teams.

If you’re an experienced HR professional looking to make a meaningful impact in the not-for-profit sector, please get in touch.

Closing Date: 7 January 2026
Location: Hybrid working with multi-site working
across both Hospice sites, Selly Park and Erdington
Hours:  37.5 hours per week
Salary:  £37,627 - £41,363 per annum
DBS Requirement:  Basic Check

Are you a visionary events professional who thrives on creativity, connection, and community? Do you want your work to make a real difference in people’s lives?

Birmingham Hospice is seeking an Events Manager to lead our talented team in delivering unforgettable experiences that raise vital funds and celebrate the compassionate care we provide across Birmingham.

At Birmingham Hospice, we’re united by a powerful mission:
To ensure everyone in our community can access the care of their choice at the end of life.

We’re a values-driven charity where people come first – whether it’s our patients, supporters, or colleagues. With exciting growth plans ahead, now is the perfect time to join us and shape the future of fundraising events in a role that blends purpose with professional development.

About the Role

As Events Manager, you’ll be at the heart of our fundraising strategy – leading a passionate team to deliver a diverse and engaging calendar of events that:

· Captivate our community

· Raise essential income

· Elevate our public profile

From flagship fundraising events to bespoke challenge experiences, you’ll bring innovation and strategic thinking to every project. You’ll work closely with the Senior Fundraising Project Manager to grow our events portfolio and explore new opportunities for income generation and supporter engagement.

What you will bring:

We’re looking for someone who is:

· Experienced in managing successful fundraising or mass participation events

· Experienced in people management

· Driven by targets and thrives on exceeding expectations

· Inspirational in leading and motivating teams

· Creative in developing new ideas and opportunities

· Skilled in stakeholder engagement and relationship building

Why Birmingham Hospice?

· Be part of a supportive, inclusive values-driven, charity where your ideas are valued

· Enjoy a generous benefit package

· Make a real difference in people’s lives

To find out more about this exciting opportunity, please visit the jobs portal on our website.

A UK driver’s licence, business insurance cover, and access to a car for work purposes is essential to this role.

 

Apply now and lead events that truly matter.

The hospice is committed to developing a dynamic and diverse team, representative of the communities it serves. We ask you, therefore, to complete the Equal Opportunities monitoring form to help us in this aim. We value each person as an individual – whether they are colleagues, patients, family members, carers or supporters, every person matters.

We embrace diversity of culture, background and environment knowing it enriches our workplace and our relationships with our local communities. We are committed to building a culture of inclusion and belonging. We would love to hear from you, about what makes you uniquely you and how this opportunity will support you to succeed.

About us

Our purpose is simple: to save lives at sea. 24 hours a day, every day, RNLI lifesavers are ready to launch to the rescue.

We’re looking for a Senior Face to Face (F2F) Fundraising Manager to join our Face to Face Fundraising team. This is a fantastic opportunity within the RNLI to play a vital role in developing and growing the RNLI in-house F2F Fundraising team to reach the ambitious targets we have ahead. This role manages a team of F2F Managers who each lead a team of F2F fundraisers signing up regular supporters within a defined geographical area and raise vital long-term funding for the charity, as well as delivering lifesaving water safety messaging. The role is part of the F2F Senior Management Team, supporting the team’s development through leading projects that drive forwards team performance.

Your role

As a Senior F2F Fundraising Manager, you will be tasked with focus on the following areas:

• Recruit, train and manage a geographically diverse group of direct reports. Develop and motivate direct reports to deliver key messages, campaigns and products within the F2F strategy.
• As a senior manager in the F2F fundraising team (200+ staff), continue to develop and maintain a positive high-performing culture to ensure the team are performing at their best and developing. Drive continuous improvement across all KPIs.
• Construct and monitor financial and performance reports to ensure budget & KPIs are met, reforecasting where necessary.
• Develop a positive safety culture by identifying and managing risks to health and safety and safeguarding.
• Oversee compliance & complaints to ensure RNLI F2F fundraising adheres to best practice.
• Lead the delivery of selected team projects from initiation to completion, working with colleagues both within the F2F team and the wider organisation to provide the plans, processes and tools needed for the team to achieve their objectives. Develop solid relationships and partnerships with internal and external stakeholders across the UK and Ireland.

About you

Leading a frontline team, you’ll have excellent communication skills and people management capabilities, with a proven track record of achieving fundraising targets. You will be a strategic thinker, with the ability to use your networks to ensure that plans are executed well and future opportunities are maximised to drive both the volume and value of new supporters.

You’ll be a role model to others, displaying behaviours that inspire respect. You’ll look after your people so they in turn can look after our donors, by displaying a passion to lead, manage and motivate a diverse team who engage with the public. You’ll be positive, confident, determined resilient and naturally outgoing. You’ll be a self-starter who can lead an energetic and innovative team to success.

You’ll be a team player with a pragmatic and solution-focused approach to problem solving and a calm attitude to prioritising a busy workload. Your strengths in planning and critical thinking will help you strike the balance between taking calculated risks where required and maintaining compliance to policies and sector regulations.

You’ll be flexible and prepared to work out-of-office hours with travel throughout the year. Substantial annual leave during the summer would not be practical for this role. This post requires a valid driving licence.

To be considered as the Senior F2F Fundraising Manager, you will need:

• Proven experience and success in leading a remote face-to-face fundraising team. This will either have been gained working for a charity or a fundraising agency
• Evidence of managing and motivating a team of paid staff or volunteers to achieve goals/targets
• Demonstrable experience of delivering projects that provide improvement to process
• Excellent communication skills and teamworking ethos
• Self-motivation and ability to create and prioritise own workload
• Knowledge of F2F charity sector, compliance and regulation
• This post requires a valid driving licence

For more information and to apply, please visit our jobs page.

Closing date: 4 January 2026.

Interview date: 12 January 2026.

The RNLI is committed to safeguarding; protecting a person’s health, wellbeing, and human rights, enabling them to live free from harm, abuse, and neglect. We expect all employees and volunteers to share this commitment and have a zero-tolerance approach. The suitability of all prospective employees and volunteers will be assessed during the recruitment process in line with this commitment. This will include relevant criminal record checks being carried out dependent on the eligibility of the role. (England & Wales; DBS check, Scotland; Disclosure Scotland PVG, Northern Ireland; Access NI, Republic of Ireland; Garda Vetting; International, International Child Protection Certificate process).

Our staff and volunteers have been saving lives at sea without prejudice for 200 years. We respect and value diversity of background, skills and perspectives within our teams, and consider it essential to help us deliver a world-class lifesaving service. We are an inclusive organisation and welcome applications from everyone. In addition to having the skills needed for the role, we also look for applicants who share our commitment to living our RNLI values (trustworthy, courageous, selfless, and dependable), and helping us work towards Our Vision: To save Every One.

About us

GSG Impact is a UK-registered charity with a global footprint. We work with a network of National Partners and collaborators across multiple countries to help build “impact economies”, strengthening the systems, relationships and market infrastructure that enable capital and policy to deliver better social and environmental outcomes. Our work brings together evidence, convening power and practical support, partnering with leaders across public, private and civil society to accelerate progress and share what works globally. 

The role

We are seeking an experienced Chief Operating Officer (COO) to lead our organisational operations, including finance, HR, governance, compliance and risk. You will ensure strong systems, controls and processes that enable excellent delivery across an international organisation. 

Key responsibilities

• Lead organisational operations across finance, HR, IT, legal, admin and key systems

• Own budgeting, forecasting, reporting, audit and treasury/controls

• Strengthen UK charity governance, policies, compliance and risk management

• Oversee contracts, procurement, supplier management and external advisers

• Lead people operations across multiple jurisdictions (including Employer of Record arrangements) 

About you

• Track record in UK charity governance/compliance and international operations

• Senior operational leader with strong financial and people management experience

• Confident working across complex stakeholder environments and multi-country teams

• Clear communicator, pragmatic problem-solver, calm under pressure 

How to apply

Please send CV (max 2 pages) and a cover letter (max 1 page) explaining your suitability.

GSG Impact is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all backgrounds. We are committed to safeguarding and will carry out appropriate pre-employment checks.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications or appoint a suitable candidate before the advertised closing date.

We are recruiting three Funding Strategy Development Managers, two Permanent roles and one Fixed-term for 12 months. Please state clearly in your supporting statement if you wish to be considered for the Fixed Term or Permanent role

This is an exciting opportunity to join the National Lottery Community Fund’s, Funding Strategy, Innovation and UK Directorate at a key moment in the delivery of our strategy. If you are up for playing a central role in a new team, which will be vital in enabling the Fund to deliver for communities in the years ahead, then this role could be for you.

We are approaching the midpoint of implementation of our strategy “It starts with community”. Over the last few years our funding portfolios in each of the nations of the UK and corporate functions have worked hard to embed the strategic ambitions we set ourselves. We are looking to take stock of our progress, understand how a changing world may impact our work and explore how we can grow our ambition to address the issues that will impact communities over the years ahead. Building on what we have achieved so far, we want to make greater progress including:

• Ensuring the fund has a thorough and live understanding of its collective response to the strategy, where our successes are and where there are opportunities to go further.
• Supporting our senior management team to come together to understand and explore our progress and shape the strategic direction for the organisation together
• Supporting greater engagement and collaboration between funding portfolios to enable sharing and learning, to build a better collective understanding of our missions and commitments and grow our impact
• ​Delivering ambitious and impactful projects to address common opportunities and challenges, for example to support the embedding of partnership working across the Fund, or to respond to the challenges and opportunities presented by new technologies.
• Supporting ongoing strategy development, including horizon scanning to maintain a collective picture of key developments related to our missions, cross cutting commitments and wider factors impacting communities.

Your day will be a blend of strategic thinking, stakeholder engagement, and practical execution, with plenty of opportunities to collaborate, influence, and drive change across the Fund. You will be one of two permanent managers in a small new team led by the Head of Strategy Development.

As this is a new team roles and responsibilities will be defined as the Team comes together. However, responsibilities may include:

• Drafting Senior Management Team (SMT) and Board reports on strategy implementation to update on progress and promote discussions on areas for development.
• Monitoring of funding portfolio strategy development and delivery activity, including maintaining regular engagement with portfolio representatives.
• Reviewing progress reports, identifying risks and issues and shaping recommendations to meet challenges and opportunities to go further in meeting strategic ambitions.
• Working closely with the Fund’s Governance Team to ensure the appropriate use of governance fora to provide oversight of strategy implementation and development work and maintaining an effective forward look of key priorities.
• Leading on engagement with key corporate functions, such as analytical, communications, legal and Human Resources, to support alignment with strategic ambitions.
• Engaging with funding teams across the Fund to support strong alignment between strategic ambition and operational realities.
• Leading discreet projects to explore emerging shared opportunities and challenges, undertaking desk research, engaging internal and external stakeholders and shaping proposals.
• Identifying opportunities for further alignment, internal partnerships and new ways of working.

Interview Details:

• Interview Date: TBC - 22 and 23 of January
• Format: Virtual
• Location: UK-Wide

Location: We have a hybrid approach to working, work pattern and location will be agreed with the successful candidate. The role can be based at any of our UK offices, these are Belfast, Birmingham, Cardiff, Exeter, Glasgow, Leeds, London, Newcastle and Newtown.

Briefing session: We will be hosting a briefing session to further outline the role and answer questions on the following date: 15 December 2025, 3:15- 4:00pm. To register or ask any questions about the recruitment process, please contact the recruitment team.

​How to apply:

Upload your CV in word format and write a supporting statement (1000 words) with the following criteria, we will use this to score your application.

Essential criteria:

• Experience of working with civil society, either working in a civil society organisation or in a supporting function (e.g. in a funding, consultancy or policy making body) with a strong understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the sector.
• Experience of managing competing priorities to ensure successful delivery of key pieces of work.
• Strong collaboration skills, able to work with a range of people at different levels within an organisation to shape plans and projects that reflect the interests of the organisation.
• Strong external engagement skills, able to proactively identify a range of relevant stakeholders, build and maintain relationships, and draw on knowledge and expertise to inform proposals and projects.
• Excellent analytical skills, with the ability to draw on data and qualitative evidence to understand complex topics and shape evidence led proposals. 
• Strong communication skills, able to present complex topics clearly using a range of communication tools, in particular, able to write clear and succinct formal papers for senior leaders. 
• Strong project management skills, able to use a range of tools to set out clear and timely delivery plans, identifying appropriate milestones, risks and issues.

Desirable criteria:

• Experience of working in a policy or strategy team, helping to set direction for an organisation or major programme of work

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion 

Communities in the UK come in all shapes and sizes. National Lottery funding is for everyone – therefore, we are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and we work hard to ensure our funding reaches where it is needed.  

We also believe our people should represent the communities, organisations and individuals we work with. That’s why The National Lottery Community Fund is committed to being an inclusive employer and a great place to work. We recognise and celebrate the fact that our people come from diverse backgrounds. We positively welcome applications from people from ethnic minority backgrounds, people with disabilities or longstanding health conditions, people who are LGBTQ+, and people from different socio-economic and educational backgrounds, as well as people of all ages. 

As a Disability Confident Employer, we take a proactive approach in making reasonable adjustments, if needed, throughout the recruitment process and during employment. (This can be related to a physical and mental health condition).

Are you a compassionate Case Manager who thrives on making a real difference? Do you want a Case Manager role where your work genuinely changes lives every single day?

Work setting: Remote working with travel into London once a month.
Contract: 12–18-month maternity contract
Benefits: Flexible working • Ongoing training & development • Supportive team culture • Meaningful, purpose-led work

TPP Recruitment is proud to be recruiting for an experienced and empathetic Case Manager on behalf of a highly respected, long-established industry charity. This organisation has supported working people for over 100 years and is widely recognised for delivering high-impact wellbeing and welfare services across the UK.

This Case Manager position offers far more than a standard support role. You will play a central part in delivering personalised, life-changing support to individuals facing challenges such as mental health concerns, financial hardship, employment issues, housing instability, family pressures and access to welfare benefits.

In this rewarding Case Manager role, you will:

• Manage a varied caseload, developing tailored support plans that focus on long-term, sustainable solutions
• Use your empathy, listening skills and professional insight to support individuals in distress
• Regularly review client progress and adapt support as circumstances change
• Liaise with external agencies, service providers and specialist organisations
• Facilitate mental health and wellbeing training, including Mental Health First Aid
• Support the grants process to ensure practical outcomes for clients
• Maintain accurate, confidential records in line with data protection requirements
• Contribute to service development and continuous improvement
• Participate in rota-based helpline support and welfare meetings

What you’ll bring as a Case Manager

TPP Recruitment would be delighted to hear from you if you have:

• Experience working in a mental health or social care support role
• Strong empathy, resilience and emotional intelligence
• The ability to organise, prioritise and work under pressure
• Confident IT skills including Word, Outlook and online systems
• A flexible, solutions-focused mindset
• A genuine desire to build a long-term career within the charity sector

Experience in crisis support, case management databases, training delivery and Mental Health First Aid is highly desirable.

Why apply ?

You’ll be joining a charity with a powerful mission, strong values and a genuinely supportive culture. Staff are invested in, developed and encouraged to grow. This Case Manager role offers the opportunity to build a meaningful career where your work will have visible impact every single day.

Inclusion & Diversity

TPP Recruitment and our client are proud to be equal opportunity employers. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds and identities and are committed to creating inclusive, diverse workplaces. Reasonable adjustments are available throughout the recruitment process.

How to apply
To apply for this Case Manager vacancy, please submit your CV to [email protected]  

If you are an experienced Case Manager ready to take the next meaningful step in your career, do not delay in applying – TPP Recruitment is reviewing applications as they are received.

We want you to have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills, ability and potential; please contact us if you require any assistance or adjustment so that we can help with making the application process work for you.

Do you want to make a difference to the lives of others? Do you want to work with like-minded professionals in a great team?

Rees seeks to support those who have, at some stage in their lives, been in foster care or residential care, including those with custodial experience. The charity understands the importance of having a lifelong support network. Our aim is to help care experienced people thrive in all aspects of their lives at any age. We seek to listen; offer help and advice about any aspect they may have. Rees delivers its services and products to public and voluntary sector commissioners, businesses, other agencies, and professionals.

We are seeking a dedicated Project Delivery Manager to lead, coordinate, and quality-assure the delivery of Rees Foundation projects.

The post holder will manage the project coordination team, strengthen delivery systems, and ensure programme activity is delivered to a high standard, meets funder expectations, and reflects Rees Foundation values. The role will enhance operational resilience, support effective reporting and insight, and contribute to the ongoing growth and development of the charity.

Key Responsibilities

1. Leadership and Line Management

• Provide day to day line management, supervision, and pastoral support to Project Coordinators
• Support staff to plan and manage workloads, set priorities, and meet delivery requirements
• Lead regular one to ones, appraisals, performance reviews, and development plans
• Build a positive, collaborative and supportive team culture
• Encourage continuous improvement and the adoption of new ways of working, including effective use of internal data systems

2. Project Delivery Oversight

• Maintain programme plans, timelines, milestones, risk logs, and delivery frameworks
• Monitor progress against agreed outputs, outcomes, and reporting expectations
• Ensure delivery is consistent, compliant, safe, and well documented
• Lead project start-up and close-down processes, capturing learning for improvement
• Support coordinators to resolve delivery challenges and escalate risks appropriately
• Produce high-quality project reports, delivery plans, and performance updates for internal and external audiences
• Support coordinators to develop creative and engaging approaches to involving care-experienced people in programme activities

3. Cross-Organisational Coordination

• Work closely with Income & Development to ensure smooth transition from funding to delivery and to provide delivery-related insight for funding bids
• Liaise with Marketing to support communications, case studies, and programme visibility
• Collaborate with Finance on monitoring spend, forecasting, and assessing financial viability
• Ensure project delivery aligns with safeguarding, HR, systems and wider operational processes
• Provide project outcome data, evidence, and budget updates to the Service Development and Income & Development teams to enable funder reporting
• Ensure the Head of Service Delivery is fully sighted on all delivery information shared with other teams

4. Quality, Compliance and Risk

• Promote consistent delivery standards across all programmes
• Ensure projects comply with safeguarding, GDPR, data security, and health and safety requirements
• Support evaluation processes and the collection, interpretation, and communication of impact data
• Identify risks early, implement mitigation plans, and escalate concerns appropriately
• Use data and insights to inform planning, improvement activity, and decision making

5. Strategic Contribution

• Provide analysis and insight to support organisational planning, business cases, and development work
• Contribute to the design of new programmes and improvements to existing delivery models
• Help embed scalable systems and contribute to shaping the future of the Service Delivery function
• Support organisational resilience and act as a secondary lead when the Head of Service Delivery is unavailable
• Apply strategic thinking when assessing financial viability, reviewing delivery plans, and identifying operational or outcome-related risks escalating to the Head of Service Delivery where appropriate

Person Specification

Essential

• Significant experience overseeing multiple projects within a charity or similar environment
• Experience of leading a team and overseeing project delivery at an equivalent level
• Strong organisational and planning skills, including development of delivery systems including data management and communication systems
• Ability to analyse data and information to draw insight and inform decisions
• Strong written skills with experience producing high-quality reports and presenting to varied audiences
• Ability to coach and support staff to manage caseloads and competing priorities
• Understanding of safeguarding and data protection in a charity context
• Ability to work collaboratively and maintain positive relationships with colleagues and partners
• Good judgement, problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and ability to work through ambiguity
• Commitment to continuous improvement and willingness to challenge constructively
• Commitment to the aims and values of Rees Foundation

• Self-motivated, proactive, and comfortable working independently, with the confidence to move work forward, solve problems and make sound decisions within the scope of funding projects.
• Bring creativity and an entrepreneurial mindset, able to spot opportunities, test new approaches, and drive fresh ideas that help funded projects flourish.

Desirable

• Experience growing or scaling operational teams
• Experience with budget monitoring or supporting financial forecasting
• Experience with evaluation, monitoring, or reporting to funders
• Understanding of issues affecting care-experienced people
• Experience in change management or developing new systems of work

Benefits

• Hybrid working arrangements
• CPD and training opportunities
• Pension scheme and generous annual leave
• Wellbeing support
• Opportunity to shape and strengthen a growing area of Rees Foundation’s work

Application Closing Date: 16 January 2026 

Location: Remote or hybrid working within the UK; individuals will be required to attend episodic in-person office days in London as needed and prescribed by the organisation. This role requires applicants to be able to show that they have the right to work in the UK. 

Term: full time - 35 hours a week

Organisation: Global Greengrants Fund UK 

Salary: Salaries at Global Greengrants Fund UK (GGF UK) are dependent on applicable salary scales, internal pay policies including equity considerations and budget. Due to the ways in which salary negotiations perpetuate existing structural inequities, GGF UK has moved away from salary negotiation processes for any candidate. Our best offer for this position is £42,000 per annum. 

Benefits: We have improved our benefits package and we now offer 10% employer’s pension contribution, remote and flexible remote working, generous family and sick leave, employee assistance programme, health and life insurances, 28 days annual leave plus all UK bank holidays. 

About Global Greengrants Fund: 

Global Greengrants Fund (GGF) supports grassroots activists and civil society organisations around the world working to address environmental and social justice in over 160 countries.GGF applies a participatory and decentralised model in making grants to grassroots groups through regional and thematic boards of advisors, global partner networks and independent funds, to support grassroots environmental and social justice action. 

Global Greengrants Fund comprises two organisations located in the USA, Global Greengrants Fund Inc (established in 1993), and Global Greengrants Fund UK (established in 2012). The two organisations work closely together with a shared grantmaking programme and strategic collaboration at the senior leadership level. GGF UK consists of thirteen staff members working on fundraising and influencing philanthropy; finance; communications; and operations, with all of these functions operating autonomously but in close collaboration with their US counterpart functions. 

In 2025, Global Greengrants Fund is amid a strategic journey in which we collectively centre our values, including diversity, equity and inclusion, and organisational care in our work, and to rediscover our identity and potential after 30+ years of work. We have experienced tremendous growth over the past two years and we are thoughtfully, yet rapidly, growing our annual grantmaking, our philanthropic advocacy, and our global partnerships and collaborations to new levels. This includes creating a globally networked learning organisation and transforming our organisational culture to be more collaborative and self-steering – we call this our transformational journey. The Senior Finance and Operations Administrator needs to understand the challenges and opportunities that come with these transformations and can remain flexible, steady, and adaptable. 

The Role 

The Senior Finance and Operations Administrator is a critical, multi-functional role supporting the financial, operational and administrative systems of GGF UK. The role will report to the Head of Finance with a dotted line to the Operations Manager on all operational tasks.

Acting as a key liaison between grants management, operations and finance, this role requires taking ownership of specific financial processes – particularly those intersecting with grants payments, forex providers and internal systems. The ability to clarify issues and relay technical information across functions will be essential and hence demand high attention to detail, initiative, and the ability to navigate and communicate complex financial and grant-related processes to non-financial colleagues.

Coordinating closely with the Director of Finance and Operations, the postholder will provide proactive administrative support including diary management. 

The candidate profile. 

The successful applicant will have significant relevant experience in a similar role in a charitable, environmental, development, social justice, feminist, gender, human rights organisation, and/or grant-making organisation. They demonstrate knowledge and experience in charity/nonprofit grant accounting/financial issues and dealing with both financial and grant information and processes, understand accounting principles, and have knowledge of accounting, and grantmaking processes. They have experience of using banking services and payment experiences (including international payments). They demonstrate excellent administrative and organisational skills, and the ability to ensure the accuracy of work and demonstrate precise attention to detail. They will have the skills to give, receive, and work with feedback constructively. They also thrive in a virtual environment, motivated to take on challenges and collaboratively find innovative and creative solutions. Multiple language skills would be ideal, while English fluency is a must. 

The right candidate will understand Global Greengrants Fund’s core values and be committed to the guiding principles and mission of Global Greengrants Fund and ensure they uphold them in the way they take up the responsibilities of the role. They will value transparency and accountability, demonstrating strong critical thinking, strategic risk management, and the ability to influence and resolve differences across boundaries. With a high degree of self-awareness and insight, the candidate will excel in building strong interpersonal relationships, both within and outside the organisation, and possess outstanding communication and collaboration skills. 

How to apply: 

Applications need to be submitted through GGF UK’s job platform by 16 January 2026 date at 23:00 GMT. To apply via the job platform and to see the detailed Job Description, please click on the 'Apply' button and you will be redirected to our recruitment platform. You will be required to complete a set of screening questions and upload a current CV. You will need to submit these in English. If you’re intrigued by this position but feel like you don’t fit the profile precisely, please still apply. 

We thank all those who apply, but only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. 

Global Greengrants Fund UK is an equal opportunities employer. We strongly encourage applicants from all backgrounds and walks of life. We believe that diversity and inclusion among our team is critical to our success. We seek to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool and welcome applications from all qualified candidates. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, religion, ethnicity, gender, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity. 

Employee Relations Adviser x2
Reference: NOV20255778
Location: Flexible in UK
Duration: Fixed Term until the 31st of March, 2027
Hours:

• Role 1: 0.8 FTE (30 hours per week)
• Role 2: 0.6 FTE (22.5 hours per week)

Salary: £33,027.00 - £35,259.00 Per Annum
Benefits: Pension Scheme, Life Assurance Scheme, 26 days' Annual Leave

About the Roles

This is a rare opportunity to put your HR skills into practice within a dynamic and agile environment that has fully embraced flexible and hybrid working. You will also enjoy the added satisfaction of helping us create a world richer in nature for future generations.

As an Employee Relations Adviser, you will provide advice and guidance to managers on a wide range of HR issues, including performance management, conduct, absence, capability, grievance, and structural changes. You will support named business areas, enabling you to build strong working relationships and gain a clear understanding of business demands and pressures.

Collaboration is central to the role: you will work closely with colleagues within the ERA team, as well as with Resourcing, People Business Partners, Finance, Safeguarding and HR Admin teams.

Essential Skills and Criteria:

• Solutions-focused approach, with the ability to adapt your style to suit varied situations and provide pragmatic, relevant advice and options to managers.
• Excellent communication skills, with experience coaching managers considered advantageous.
• CIPD Level 5 qualification, or working towards this, or equivalent knowledge gained through experience.
• Strong, up to date, knowledge of UK employment law.
• Proficiency in Office 365 and confidence in managing virtual meetings.
• Ability to facilitate and lead virtual HR meetings, ensuring discussions run smoothly and professionally.
• Ability to take accurate notes during HR meetings and maintain up-to-date case files and documentation throughout the life cycle of each case.
• Effective team-working skills, collaborating across multiple departments and building productive relationships in your assigned business areas.

Additional Information:

• You will be home based but may be dual located if you live near a suitable RSPB office.
• Some travel within the UK may be needed occasionally, but this is not regular.
• Both roles are Fixed-Term contracts until the 31st of March 2027, with slight variations in hours and area of influence.
• Role 1: 0.8 FTE (30 hours per week) - primarily supporting our Face-to-Face Membership Recruitment Teams
• Role 2: 0.6 FTE (22.5 hours per week)

Closing date: 23:59, Sunday 4th January 2026
Please note that we reserve the right to close before this date if suitable candidate is found, we encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as possible.
Interview date: We anticipate conducting interviews the week of Monday, the 19th of January, 2026.

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 covered by 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 process you will be asked to complete an application form including evidence on how you meet the skills, knowledge, and experience listed above. We recommend reading through the Candidate Information pack attached to the top of this advert.  Contact us to discuss any additional support you may need to complete your application.

No agencies please.

Harris Hill is proud to be partnering with the Community Land Trust Network to recruit a New Business, Partnerships and Innovation Manager — an exciting opportunity to join a highly respected national charity championing land justice, community ownership and social equity.

About the Role

Accountable to: Chief Executive Officer

Salary: £45,200–£55,200 (depending on skills and experience)

Contract: 12-month fixed-term contract, with potential to become permanent

Working Hours:

· 3 days / 21 hours per week (with reduced duties), or

· 4 days / 28 hours per week
Working pattern negotiable

Location: Remote/home-based

This newly created role will play a pivotal part in expanding the charity’s income and influence. You will:

• Lead on new business development, nurturing existing supporters and securing new partnerships with developers, housing associations, local authorities, funders and other stakeholders.
• Shape and grow their consultancy and service offer, helping reduce reliance on grant funding.
• Support the roll-out of their Growth Lab, working with practitioners and community groups to develop innovative models, products and services for Community Land Trusts.
• Capture insights, impact and learning to strengthen the case for scaling these innovations.
• Work closely with the CEO on funding proposals, partnership development and strategic initiatives.

This role offers variety, influence and the chance to help shape a major area of the charity’s future work. The team operates fully remotely, with a warm, collaborative culture and a strong focus on wellbeing.

About You

They are looking for someone who:

• Has experience in partnerships, business development, philanthropy or account management — and enjoys turning opportunities into long-term relationships.
• Communicates with clarity, confidence and professionalism across sectors including business, charity, local government and community groups.
• Is entrepreneurial, proactive and excited by innovation and co-creation.
• Shares a commitment to social justice, equity and community-led change.

Key Dates

• Closing date: Monday 5th January 2026
• Interviews: Week commencing 12th January 2026

How to Apply

Please email Hannah Laking at Harris Hill to request the full job pack, or you can download it directly from this advert. If you’d like to learn more about the role, you’re welcome to book a call with Hannah. Alternatively, you can simply send your CV and supporting statement which must follow the structure outlined in the job pack before the closing date, and Hannah will get in touch.

As leading charity recruitment specialists and a certified B Corp™, Harris Hill is committed to high and ever-improving standards of equitable and inclusive recruitment. We actively welcome applications from all sections of the community regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexuality and other protected characteristics.