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Circa £70,000 per annum
Permanent
Part home/Part office (London) based
UNICEF ensures more of the world’s children are vaccinated, educated and protected than any other organisation. We have done more to influence laws and policies to help protect children than anyone else. We get things done. And we’re not going to stop until the world is a safe place for all our children.
This is a great opportunity to join the UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK) as Head of the Portfolio Management Office (PMO).
In this pivotal leadership role, you will provide strategic direction, governance and oversight of UNICEF UK’s portfolio, ensuring our most important initiatives are prioritised, sequenced and delivered effectively. Sitting within the Strategy Directorate, the PMO acts as the organisation’s centre of excellence for portfolio management, strategic delivery, governance, assurance and financial oversight, working closely with Directors and senior leaders to enable informed decision making and successful delivery of our strategy.
We are looking for an experienced portfolio or PMO leader with a strong track record of operating at senior level in complex organisations, bringing confidence in governance, prioritisation, delivery oversight and change leadership. You will be an excellent relationship builder, comfortable influencing executive stakeholders, and able to balance strategic thinking with pragmatic delivery discipline. Experience of leading teams, embedding standards, and improving confidence, visibility and accountability across a portfolio is essential.
Act now and visit the website via the apply button to apply online.
Closing date: 5pm, Monday 4 May 2026.
Interview dates: Week commencing 18 May 2026 via video conferencing (MS Teams).
In return, we offer:
· excellent pay and benefits (including flexible working, generous annual leave and pension, big brand discounts and wellbeing tools)
· outstanding training and learning opportunities and the support to flourish in your role
· impressive open plan office space and facilities on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
· an open culture and workplace with colleagues who share our values, enjoy their work and are motivated to do their utmost for children.
· the opportunity to work in a leading children’s organisation making a difference to children around the world
Our application process: We use a system called "Applied" that anonymises your responses and focuses on your actual skills that are relevant to this role. This benefits you by giving you a greater chance of expressing your skills in this objective selection process.
We anticipate most colleagues will work one or two days a week in the office on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford, East London and the rest of the time from home. We will happily discuss other flexible options to suit your circumstances.
We particularly welcome applications from black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates, LGBTQ+ candidates, disabled candidates, and from men, because we would like to increase the representation of these groups at this level at UNICEF UK. We want to do this because we know greater diversity will lead to even greater results for children.
UNICEF UK promotes equality, diversity and inclusion in our workplace. We make employment decisions by matching business needs with skills and experience of candidates, irrespective of age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation.
We welcome a conversation about your flexible working requirements, personal growth, and promoting a workplace where you can be yourself and achieve success based only on your merit.
The successful candidate will be required to apply for a criminal records check. A criminal record will not necessarily bar you from working with us. This will depend on the nature of the role and the circumstances of your offences.
We only accept online applications as this saves us money, making more funds available for us to help ensure children’s rights.
If you require support in completing the online form or an application form in an alternative format, please contact the Supporter Care line during office hours.
If you do not hear from us within 14 days of the closing date, please assume your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion. Please note that we only provide feedback to shortlisted candidates.
Registered Charity Nos. 1072612 (England and Wales) SC043677 (Scotland)
Registered Charity
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The UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK), a charity funded by supporters, raising funds for UNICEF’s work for children.
Thank you!
About the role
We are recruiting for a Research Participation Manager to join on a full-time, permanent contract working 35 hours per week. This is a home-based role, with occasional travel required for in-person stakeholder or team meetings.
As Research Participation Manager you will lead the operational delivery and support the strategic development of the Society’s research participation team. You will line manage and develop the Research Participation team and associated staff, overseeing programme performance and reporting, and ensuring all activity aligns with UK clinical research regulations, data governance requirements, and organisational priorities.
In this role, you will work collaboratively across the Society and with external partners. You will strengthen cross sector relationships, drive inclusive and culturally competent engagement, and enhance awareness of, and participation in, vital dementia research, particularly among underserved communities. Your role will also help to ensure the provision of high quality, safe, and compliant support for people accessing dementia clinical research opportunities.
You will provide leadership, expert guidance and robust programme management to maximise the reach, impact, and visibility of the Society’s research participation initiatives, increasing opportunities for people to become aware of, and participate in research; bringing forward the day when a dementia diagnosis no longer devastates lives.
About you
Joining us, you’ll have experience of working in clinical research, science or health sectors, with a good understanding of the processes and challenges facing the NHS. You’ll have experience of shaping and/or leading significant programmes of work with high exposure, with the ability to remain organised, prioritise effectively and meet deadlines.
Crucially, you’ll have good communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence others and build and maintain positive relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders. You’ll be able to use your experience of leading and managing a team to inspire and motivate others, creating a positive and proactive work culture.
This position will play a vital role in helping us to end the devastation caused by dementia. To be successful you’ll need to be motivated by our cause and values, and you’ll be able to speak to people affected by dementia with emotional intelligence, empathy and compassion.
What you’ll focus on:
- Leading, line managing and developing the Research Participation team, in addition to managing allocated staff, resources and any assigned budget to ensure all agreed internal and external targets are met.
- Assessing and managing of interdependencies between internal and external stakeholders involved in the Research Participation programme.
- Ensuring all participation support plans and / or awareness raising initiatives comply with the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) rules and codes of practice.
- Developing and delivering inclusive and culturally informed initiatives that raise awareness of, and improve equitable access to, clinical research opportunities, with a particular focus on underserved and diverse communities.
- Collaborating with Communications colleagues across the Society to support wider communication activities related to research participation and public research awareness.
- Working with the Lead Research Nurse, Research and Innovation Business Manager, and Project Management Office to ensure robust programme and risk management, and to evaluate the impact of research participation activities.
- Building impactful and sustainable relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders across the dementia clinical trials landscape, seeking opportunities to collaborate on initiatives to drive increased awareness of, and participation in, dementia clinical research.
About Alzheimer's Society - who are we and what’s our mission?
Dementia is the UK’s biggest killer. One in three people born in the UK today will develop dementia in their lifetime.
At Alzheimer’s Society, we’re the UK’s leading dementia charity and the only one to tackle all aspects of dementia by giving help and hope to people living with dementia today and in the future. We give vital support to people facing the most frightening times of their lives, while also funding ground-breaking research and campaigning to make dementia the priority it should be.
Together with our supporters, we’re working towards a world where dementia no longer devastates lives. Our values make sure that our focus is clear for the challenges and opportunities ahead and remind us of what we all stand for.
Our commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging
We need to ensure the voices around our table better reflect and understand the communities we exist to serve. We strongly encourage individuals to apply who have a disability, impairment or health condition or individuals who identify as part of a minority ethnic background, as these groups are currently under-represented at Alzheimer's Society.
Our hiring process
We want you to bring your whole self to the process. Applications are anonymised until interview stage, and we’re happy to support any adjustments. Share your feedback via our candidate survey when applying to help us improve. We may close early if we receive high interest (with 48 hours’ notice). Some roles may require a DBS check as part of our safer recruitment commitment. Thinking about using AI during the recruitment process? We know this can be helpful in many ways but remember to include your personal and authentic self too. Your voice and experience are what really set you apart.
Giving back to you
At Alzheimer’s Society, we value our people and take a total reward approach to pay and benefits. You’ll enjoy a generous double-matched pension scheme, 27 days’ annual leave (plus bank holidays and wellbeing days), and access to a free Health Shield Cash Plan, 24/7 EAP, Thrive mental wellbeing support, and virtual GP services. Our Society Plus platform offers exclusive discounts, wellbeing resources, and recognition schemes, while our flexible working, family-friendly policies, and life assurance provide peace of mind and work/life balance. We also offer a free Will-writing service and long service awards to recognise your ongoing commitment.