Policy and programme manager jobs

This is a critical role that is responsible for managing the charity's day-to-day people management and development, ensuring appropriate processes are in place and in line with current and relevant legislation. The People Manager will help develop a high-performance culture where all colleagues feel a sense of belonging and are able to fulfil their potential.

RESPONSIBILITIES & ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Provide proactive coaching on values alignment and desired behaviours, with support and advice to managers and team members        on    all matters relating to people.
• Support managers to create an inclusive culture and workplace that gets the best out of our people.
• Promote and advocate for early resolution when issues arise, including Performance Improvement guided by organisational values         and policies.
• Effectively manage employee relations (ER) issues alongside line managers including, but not limited to absences, performance             management, disciplinary, grievances and dismissals, escalating to the Director of People as required.
• Support the Director of People to deliver change management programmes including TUPE transfers, redundancy and service re-       organisations.
• Develop an understanding of challenges, opportunities and people priorities in each team and work with managers to develop long term resource plans and succession planning.
• Support the Director of People in the development of information, reports and analysis for managers, the Strategic Management Team and the Board, to deliver insights and take action.
• Work with the Finance Manager to ensure the accurate processing of payroll.
• Support the end-to-end recruitment process, including attraction, supporting with job descriptions, shortlisting, interviews and the induction process.
• Build and implement engagement processes and activities including surveys, focus groups, conferences/away days and exit interviews, ensuring they deliver continuous improvement and enhance our reputation as a great place to work.

ROLE

• Support the implementation of Belonging, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (BDE&I) and wellbeing strategies and programmes
• Support the Director of People with the development of reward and recognition programmes
• Support the Director of People in creating learning and development programmes
• Support with the management of the L&D budget and programme, ensuring effective return on investment and value for money.
• Manage the organisation’s people information systems and identify opportunities for enhanced digital services.
• Analyse data e.g., from engagement surveys, exit interviews and turnover to inform the People Strategy and implement improvements.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Experience

• Experience in managing, coaching and developing employees
• Degree in Organisational Psychology, HR, CIPD level 5 qualified or equivalent knowledge gained through experience
• Proven experience in managing the employee lifecycle (recruitment to exit)
• Adept at stakeholder management and relationship building across multiple teams
• Proven track record in managing varied, complex employee relations (ER) issues and capable of managing several issues at once
• Experience of planning and delivering L&D projects
• Experience of working successfully in a changing organisation where flexibility, agility and adaptability are essential.

Skills & knowledge

• Strong relationship building skills, you are equally comfortable having informal positive conversations as you are holding people to account and providing direct challenge
• Working knowledge of employment law, and able to use sound judgement on when we can be flexible and when we need to be rigid in our approach
• Confident in both written and spoken communication with the ability to present to internal audiences both virtually and in person
• High in emotional intelligence, psychological agility and a coaching mindset
• Highly numerate with strong analytical and problem-solving

Personal qualities

• Track record of delivering to tight deadlines and overcoming setbacks
• A focus on continuous process improvements through measurement, analysis and progress of actions in order to deliver service improvements
• Requirement to work at pace to respond to customer requirements whilst balancing key priorities
•  A focus on outstanding customer service excellence, high standards of attention to detail, quality, accuracy and responsiveness

Desirable criteria

• Experience in managing TUPE and redundancies

Before starting this position, you’ll need to undergo a criminal record check by the Disclosure and Barring Service. You must be entitled to work in the UK.

Ashinaga UK is recruiting a Programme Coordinator (Maternity Cover) to support the delivery of the Ashinaga Africa Initiative (AAI) leadership scholarship programme for African Scholars studying in the UK. As part of a mission-driven global organisation, the coordinator will play a key role in ensuring smooth programme operations, student support, and administrative excellence throughout the annual Scholar cycle. This role is ideal for someone who is organised, proactive, and passionate about helping young leaders thrive. The coordinator will work closely with the Programme Manager to streamline processes, support events, maintain essential systems, and strengthen the overall Scholar experience across the year. 

The Ashinaga movement was founded in Japan in the 1960s and has since expanded across the globe, empowering over 120,000 orphaned youth with access to education and support to achieve their full potential. The Ashinaga Africa Initiative was launched 11 years ago with the aim of equipping future leaders for Africa through undergraduate scholarships and leadership development opportunities. Ashinaga UK is proud to be part of this global movement, contributing to the mission of transforming lives and communities through education. Our work is primarily in the UK through collaboration with university partners and donors.  

This role is offered on a 12-month fixed-term contract to provide maternity cover.

Programme Coordinator

• Location: Hybrid. Candidates must be willing to travel regularly for programme activities and team meetings.
• Contract: Full-time, Monday to Friday with occasional work on weekends or evenings. 
• Hiring Date: mid to end August 2026 (fixed term 12-month contract, Maternity Cover). 
• Salary: £30,000 - £32,000 dependent on candidate’s experience. 
• Pension: You will be enrolled in our Personal Pension Scheme and Ashinaga UK will match your contributions by up to 8% of your basic salary. 
• Holiday allowance: 24 days per annum (pro rata - in addition to public holidays). 
• Probation: The postholder will be subject to a three-month probation period. 
• Right to Work: Ashinaga UK does not sponsor work visas. Applicants must already have the right to work in the UK. 
• Deadline for applications: July 10th. Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis. 

Key Responsibilities

Programme Coordination & Operations 

• Support the end-to-end delivery of Ashinaga UK’s annual programme cycle (including university preparation camps, inductions, monthly calls, workshops, summits, and graduation activities). 
• Deliver administrative logistics, schedules, venues, travel arrangements, and programme communications. 
• Coordinate event speaker invitations, facilitator briefs, and session materials. 
• Track Scholar attendance, progress and compliance across the year. 
• Draft Scholar-facing policies to support effective delivery of the programme. 
• Supporting with university admission processes and student visa applications.

Scholar Support 

• Support Scholars in their academic, personal and professional development through the AAI leadership framework, including check-ins, coaching and progress tracking. 
• Assist in the development, organisation, and delivery of student support programming such as leadership events, workshops, and one-on-one coaching call logistics.
• Support Scholars as they develop their Ashinaga Proposal social impact projects. 

Data & Systems Management 

• Maintain programme records, databases, and reporting tools (including through our Scholar App, CRM, and internal systems). 
• Support line-manager in monitoring programme KPIs and documenting insights. 

Communication 

• Write articles, Scholar profiles, and programme updates for use on the Ashinaga UK website, newsletters, and external reports. 
• Create multimedia content (photos, short videos, social media material) to showcase Scholar stories and impact 

Essential qualifications, experience and skills: 

• A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience 
• Right to work in the UK 
• Strong organisational and administrative skills 
• Excellent attention to detail 
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines 
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills 
• Knowledge of the UK higher education system
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively 
• Adaptable and comfortable in a fast-paced environment 
• Values aligned with Ashinaga’s ethos, vision, and mission 
• Ability to travel regularly in the UK.

Desired skills and experience: 

• Experience working with university students or international students, particularly from sub-Saharan Africa 
• Experience working with or volunteering in charities or NGOs 
• Experience using data management systems
• Understanding of UK university admissions processes as well as UK student visa application processes
• Understanding of global development and current affairs 
• Passion for social impact, leadership, and African development 
• French or Portuguese language efficiency is a bonus. 

Competencies and mindset: 

• Proactive, self-driven mindset 
• Strong problem-solving skills 
• Comfort with logistics and project management 
• Ability to build trust and supportive relationships with Scholars 
• Passion for widening access to education

Date posted: 12 June 2026

Salary: Up to £81,869 plus excellent benefits

Contract type: Permanent, full time or part time

Hours per week: 37.5 hours per week. All staff are required to work in person for a minimum of two days per week, in line with our hybrid working policy. The post-holder may be required to undertake some work outside normal working hours.

About the Health Foundation

Health is our most precious asset. Good health enables us to live happy, fulfilling lives, fuels our prosperity and helps build a stronger society. Yet good health remains out of reach for too many people in the UK, and health and care services are struggling to provide access to timely, high-quality care.

The Health Foundation is an independent charitable organisation with a mission to build a healthier UK. We work to achieve this by generating high quality research and analysis; developing practical solutions to the biggest problems in health and health services; engaging, convening and building coalitions to build understanding, inform debate and drive action; and developing the long-term capability needed to transform health and care.

Our values

We expect everyone who works with us to be committed to our values and to share our commitment to becoming a more diverse and inclusive organisation. Our values are impact, evidence, integrity, and collaboration. You can read more about them in our five-year strategy. We also expect everyone to share our commitment to becoming a more diverse and inclusive organisation and to help deliver our EDI strategy.

About the role

This role is one of three Senior Analytical Manager roles in the Analysis and Modelling team. You will work closely with the other Senior Analytical Managers, and other senior staff across the Foundation. You will be responsible for leading a team of four analysts, developing and maintaining our modelling and simulation capability, and ensuring that the team deliver modelling and simulation products to thematic programme teams to agreed timescales and quality.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Ensuring that your team are well led and motivated, share learning across projects, and receive appropriate learning and development opportunities.
• Overseeing the development of simulation models, forecasting tools, and predictive analytics to explore future scenarios in health system performance and population health.
• Ensuring modelling approaches are transparent, high-quality, robust, and appropriate for informing policy and service design.
• Working with other Senior Analytical Managers, Deputy Directors and Director to develop an impactful, rigorous and respected programme of innovative work that is aligned with our Strategy and will deliver impact to our Thematic Programmes.
• Collaborating with colleagues across the Foundation to embed modelling and simulation into our thematic programmes to demonstrate solutions for health and health and social care

How to apply

Our priority is to find the right individual for each opportunity. We are dedicated to building an inclusive workplace that values diversity and invite you to find out more.

If you would like to apply, please submit your CV, and a supporting statement that answers the following application questions:

• Why would you be well suited to this role? What skills, knowledge and experience would you bring to it? (max. 300 words)
• How would you go about developing a work programme that aligns with the overall strategic priorities of the organisation and achieves impact, especially when setting up a new modelling and simulation function? How would you balance competing demands and ensure you can meet stakeholder needs? Please include relevant examples from your experience where possible. (max. 400 words)
• Please describe how you would work as part of a wider analytical team to build modelling and simulation capability, ensure appropriate approaches and work collaboratively on projects. Please include relevant examples from your experience where possible. (max. 300 words)

Our commitment to equality, inclusion and diversity

We are committed to an inclusive hiring process, where every candidate has the chance to showcase their unique skills and experience in an accessible and supported environment, to ensure that we can make the best appointment for each opportunity on merit.

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and encourage those from underrepresented groups in this field to apply to us.

We have identified three key areas to improving diversity. Our aim to achieve a more balanced representation across our organisation, with a particular focus on increasing the number of women in leadership, enhancing the representation of people from Black and ethnic minority backgrounds and welcoming more people with disabilities. As part of this commitment, we strongly encourage applications from these groups.

Apply to join our team and let's work towards building a more diverse and inclusive workplace together.

If you require any support through this process, please contact us. Help us work together to make the recruitment process and potential future employment more accessible and enjoyable for you.

Closing date: Sunday 28th June 2026, 23.59

Interview date: Thursday 9th July 2026, in-person

For over 60 years the National Children’s Bureau (NCB) has been building a better childhood for all.

Policy and Public Affairs Manager
Contract: Permanent
Work Pattern: Full Time, 35 hours per week (1.0 FTE) (We are open to flexible hours and working patterns, including accommodating part-time and compressed hours (0.8 FTE) where possible).
Salary: £44,167 per annum
Location: London Fields, E8. NCB promotes a hybrid, flexible way of working with 2 days working in the office.

The Vacancy

The Policy and Public Affairs Manager will act as a driving force behind our credibility and impact across key policy areas, working to influence national policy development and decision making and help enshrine good practice in law. It will also grow our presence in the sector as thought leaders, drawing on a range of evidence to take richer and deeper positions on the solutions needed to bring improvements.

This position will ensure that robust policy development is translated into effective public affairs and influencing strategies, ensuring that solutions to complex policy issues are understood and acted upon by decision-makers. The role will manage and deliver key elements of NCB’s core work across policy and public affairs, lead the delivery of funded projects and provide robust project management, and actively contribute to project proposals and income generation.

About NCB

For more than 60 years, the National Children’s Bureau has championed the rights and amplified the voice of children and young people in the UK. We interrogate policy and uncover evidence, blending in lived and learnt experience to shape future legislation and develop more effective ways of supporting children and families.

Bringing people and organisations together is fundamental to how we improve the systems that babies, children, young people and their families rely on to thrive. We push boundaries, even looking beyond childhood itself to consider transitions into adulthood and the impact of childhood issues on an entire lifespan. We are united for better childhoods and brighter futures.

The Benefits

• 30 Days Annual Leave
• Generous Pension Scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Flexible Working
• Winter Holiday Closure & Break
• Employee Assistance Programme

Closing date: 08:00am, Monday 6th July 2026
Please note that we reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive a high volume of applications. We encourage interested candidates to submit their applications as soon as possible

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 actively seeking to broaden the diversity of our staff group and warmly welcome applications from candidates underrepresented in the charity sector, including those from Black and Global Majority communities, disabled people, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people with lived experience of the issues NCB works on.

No agencies please.

For over 60 years the National Children’s Bureau (NCB) has been building a better childhood for all.

Research and Policy Manager
Contract: Permanent
Work Pattern: Full Time, 35 hours per week (1.0 FTE) (We are open to flexible hours and working patterns, including accommodating part-time and compressed hours (0.8 FTE) where possible).
Salary: £44,167 per annum
Location: London Fields, E8. NCB promotes a hybrid, flexible way of working with 2 days working in the office.

The Vacancy

The Policy and Communications Manager will act as a driving force behind our visibility and impact across key policy areas, bringing lived and learned experiences to the heart of our influencing. This role will work to elevate our profile, transforming our evidence and expertise into impactful communications and influencing strategies to build a momentum for meaningful policy, legislative and social change.

This position will bridge the gap between NCB’s evidence-based policy development and national advocacy, translating complex policy issues into powerful narratives that resonate with decision-makers and galvanise wider support. The role will manage and deliver key elements of NCB’s core work across policy and communications, lead the delivery of funded projects and provide robust project management, and actively contribute to project proposals and income generation.

About NCB

For more than 60 years, the National Children’s Bureau has championed the rights and amplified the voice of children and young people in the UK. We interrogate policy and uncover evidence, blending in lived and learnt experience to shape future legislation and develop more effective ways of supporting children and families.

Bringing people and organisations together is fundamental to how we improve the systems that babies, children, young people and their families rely on to thrive. We push boundaries, even looking beyond childhood itself to consider transitions into adulthood and the impact of childhood issues on an entire lifespan. We are united for better childhoods and brighter futures.

The Benefits

• 30 Days Annual Leave
• Generous Pension Scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Flexible Working
• Winter Holiday Closure & Break
• Employee Assistance Programme

Closing date: 08:00am, Monday 6th July 2026
Please note that we reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive a high volume of applications. We encourage interested candidates to submit their applications as soon as possible

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 actively seeking to broaden the diversity of our staff group and warmly welcome applications from candidates underrepresented in the charity sector, including those from Black and Global Majority communities, disabled people, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people with lived experience of the issues NCB works on.

No agencies please.

Reporting to: Associate Director, Policy and Impact

Location: Central London / Hybrid working (twice a week in the office)

Salary Range: £56,500 - £58,500

Length of Contract: 12 Months

We are the national body for careers education in England, delivering support to schools and colleges to deliver modern, 21st century careers education.

The Careers & Enterprise Company (CEC) is a great place to work. We operate within a fast-paced and collaborative environment. We are brought together by one thing: our passion to ensure young people get the best possible start in life and are supported to find their best next step.

Do you want to be part of a mission-driven team focused on transforming young people’s lives? If so, we’d love to hear from you!

Role Summary

The relationship between careers education and broader education, skills and socio-economic policy remains vitally important. The Senior Policy Manager will report to the Associate Director, Policy and Impact and play a key role in: 

• Leading and contributing to policy and strategy that support CEC’s strategic objective to influence on behalf of careers education to help every young person find their best next step.

• Influencing CEC’s policy response to government priorities related CEC’s agenda including in education reform, NEET prevention, raising awareness and supporting take-up of vocational and technical options, and supporting young people with additional needs. 

The post holder will:

• Bring together evidence from a range of sources and turn complex information into clear, structured advice and options to create evidence-based policy positions.

• Offer knowledge and experience of areas related to CEC’s work, including intersection with education, skills and youth employment.

• Be a highly effective writer with experience of leading on high impact reports and responses to inquiries and consultations.

• Confidently develop strong, supportive relationships with Whitehall policy makers and peers across the sector.

• Help connect policy development to corporate affairs and strategic communications to ensure that CEC can amplify great practice and insight to drive impact for young people.

The post sits within the Policy & Impact team as part of CEC’s Strategy & Communications directorate.

Key Responsibilities:

Support CEC representation at senior levels externally.

Develop CEC’s policy and impact positions, ensuring accuracy and fair representation of progress and opportunities within the careers system, with a focus on:

• Evidence – Filling evidence gaps and understanding of what works, working closely with impact and insight colleagues to analyse and present evidence.

• Influence – Shaping coherent, innovative, high quality and connected solutions to government priorities which amplify and embed the infrastructure and role of CEC.

• Proactive coordination – Leading internal and external efforts to identify opportunities and connect programmes and projects to amplify CEC’s mission, for example on NEET prevention or skills pipelines.

Essential Criteria (see job description):

1. Demonstrable skills at converting policy to impact including proven experience of working on strategic implementation of skills policy and good practice in education engagement.

1. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills including building effective relationships and excellent writing skills.

1. Sound programme and project management skills: proactive, organised and able to run effective policy development processes, with clear outcomes.

TO APPLY: Please complete the online application form, on our website, including a copy of your most recent CV, removing any personal details (i.e. name, DOB, address) and a report or publication you have led on, highlighting how you used evidence to inform policy.

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

Closing date: 28th June 2026

*PLEASE NOTE THAT WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO CLOSE THIS ADVERT EARLY SHOULD WE RECEIVE SUITABLE APPLICATIONS* 

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion 

At the Careers and Enterprise Company (CEC) we are committed to fostering a culture of belonging. We know that engagement at work relies on feeling included and valued. Inclusion is both a choice and a practice, for us as an organisation and for individuals within our team. We aim to drive inclusion through every aspect of our work and we understand that diverse teams are essential for innovative careers education and are central to our mission and impact. CEC values the visible and invisible qualities that makes each member of our team who they are. We are a disability confident employer and if you need any help or support through the application process, please contact the HR team and details can be found on our website.

Living Wage Places

The Living Wage Places scheme is pioneering a collaborative, place-based approach to tackling in-work poverty. Local action groups made up of public and private sector Living Wage Employers, work together with charities, unions and civil society on a three-year action plan to tackle local in-work poverty and grow the number of employers committed to the Living Wage, Living Hours and Living Pensions.

Since the scheme launched in 2019, we have recognised 20 cities, boroughs and city-regions for Making Living Wage Places.

Living Wage Places taps into the power of place, recognising and developing local champions within our network and supporting them to engage and influence their community’s employers. It feeds into broader local economic plans such as community wealth building and local anchor institution work.

Living Wage Foundation

The Living Wage movement began in 2001, after Citizens UK brought together communities in East London to discuss poverty and low pay. The campaign grew in momentum and soon required a mechanism to recognise employers who wanted to join the movement, which saw the establishment of the Living Wage Foundation in 2011.

Still part of Citizens UK today, the Living Wage Foundation continues to work with community organisations to make sure the voices of both workers and businesses are part of the Living Wage movement. We now work with over 16,000 employers, benefitting over 475,000 people and winning over £3bn of better wages for people who need it most.

Citizens UK works with a broad base of institutions across the political spectrum. At the Living Wage Foundation, we take the same deliberately broad-based approach and accredit all organisations who pay the real Living Wage to their directly and indirectly employed staff and are committed to tackling in work poverty. As a team we work across a range of industries and sectors to achieve this mission. We seek pragmatic coalitions in order to progress specific campaigns, and partnership around a particular issue such as Living Wage, does not imply an endorsement of broader purpose and policies.

Main Responsibilities

The Programme Manager for Living Wage Places plays a central role in delivering and growing a pioneering, place-based approach to tackling in-work poverty. The role is responsible for managing and developing the Living Wage Places programme, supporting local action groups to deliver ambitious action plans, and embedding wider standards including Living Hours and Living Pensions. They will be the first point of contact for regional leads seeking guidance in their work/regions. Working across a broad range of internal teams and external stakeholders, the Programme Manager will build strategic partnerships, strengthen regional networks, and ensure effective monitoring, evaluation and learning across the programme. The role combines strong

project management with relationship building, strategic thinking and a commitment to increasing the scale and impact of the Living Wage movement.

Working as the Programme Manager, reporting to the Senior Programme Manager for Living Wage Places, ,

your main responsibilities will include:

Contribute to CUK and Project strategic objectives

· Support and grow the Living Wage Places project and ensure it is embedded in CUK’s overall strategy

· Collate and share good practice across teams to ensure strong collaboration and that civil society remains at the heart of Living Wage Places

· Support strategy development around local and general elections, identifying opportunities to grow the scheme and influence stakeholders

Build and manage projects and achieve work targets effectively

· Monitor, evaluate and draw out learning from across the Living Wage Places project

· Lead the development of systems for monitoring and evaluating impact and progress

· Support action groups to design and deliver Action Plans including Living Hours and Living Pensions

· Facilitate roundtables, meetings, and milestone activities

· Identify opportunities to expand Living Wage Buildings and Zones

· Deliver project milestones and reporting

· Deliver additional projects aligned to team business plan

Learning & Expertise

· Develop expertise in local economic policy including community wealth building and devolution

· Support internal teams to understand Living Wage Places principles · Build knowledge of priority sectors and apply to strategy

· Lead internal learning sessions

· Provide guidance on Living Hours and Living Pensions

· Continue personal professional development

Develop and manage external relationships

· Build and manage relationships with regional stakeholders

· Support development of new partnerships

· Represent the organisation at meetings and events

· Co-deliver the Living Wage Places network

· Develop relationships that support long-term impact

Communications

· Support development and delivery of communications strategy

· Gather and share case studies

· Maintain communications channels

· Support local action groups with communications

Develop and manage internal relationships

· Build capacity of organisers and programme staff

· Lead delivery of learning strategy

· Support collaboration across teams

Generate income and manage resources

· Support development of funding proposals

· Collate evidence for funder reporting

· Contribute to budget development

· Support sustainable growth of programme

Personal Specification

(D) Desirable, (E) Essential

Key skills and knowledge

· Excellent project management skills with the ability to manage a wide range of competing demands (E)

· Outstanding communication skills, both verbally and written, combined with the ability to liaise with senior stakeholders (E)

· Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships, lead, influence and motivate others (E)

· Ability to take in and interpret information and present in a succinct manner (E)

· Understanding of the policy and campaign landscape around inclusive local economic strategies and devolution deals (E)

· Ability to support monitoring and evaluation reports for external funders and internal impact monitoring (E)

· Strong IT skills to include MS Office and CRM software (E)

· Understanding of database and systems management (D)

Personal qualities & values

· A proactive approach to all areas of work with a ‘can do’ attitude and a flexible approach to work demands (E)

· Able to work within a team, responding to needs and achieving results collaboratively (E)

· Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and the mission of the Living Wage Foundation. (E)

About the application process

We work within diverse communities bringing people together. In line with our Inclusion value, we would love to see applications from LGBTQIA+ people, people from racialised communities, people living with disabilities and people of faith, all to better represent the communities we work in. We want our employees to have the working conditions that allows them to fully participate, be able to be their best authentic selves and thrive doing so, and we have employee networks to support staff. Even if you don’t quite meet all the required criteria still consider

applying, as we invest in our employees and support them to develop the skills and knowledge required to deliver their role.

For questions and reasonable adjustments regarding your application including information in a different format, or our recruitment process, please email us.

Turn insight into impact for autistic children and young people as Ambitious about Autism's first Director of National Programmes.

Applications close at 9 a.m. Monday 29th June.

Location: Hybrid working with at least two days in the London office and able to travel on a regular basis throughout the UK as necessary.

About the organisation

Ambitious about Autism stands with autistic children and young people, championing their rights and creating opportunities across education, employment, health and community life. We educate and support hundreds of autistic children and young people directly and reach thousands more through our national programmes, employability initiatives, participation work and policy influence.

With our Ambitious Together strategy launching later this summer, we are building on our strong foundations as a service delivery organisation, and seek to play a greater role in shaping the systems that affect autistic children and young people. To deliver on this vision, we have created a new executive leadership team role: Director of National Programmes.

About the role

Reporting to the Chief Executive and sitting on the executive leadership team, the Director of National Programmes will lead the strategy, design and evolution of our national portfolio, helping Ambitious about Autism strengthen its role as a catalyst for systems change. Working at the intersection of education, policy, evidence and lived experience, you will identify opportunities to improve outcomes for autistic children and young people, influencing practice far beyond our own organisation.

You will develop innovative and scalable programme models, creating partnerships that enable successful approaches to be tested, evidenced and adopted by others. Working closely with colleagues across fundraising, external affairs and education, you will help secure the investment, partnerships and evidence needed to influence lasting change.

Who we are looking for

We are seeking a collaborative, values-led leader with a deep understanding of education systems and a passion for improving outcomes for autistic children and young people, who can turn strategic insight into practical solutions that influence policy and practice. You will have a proven track record of developing evidence-led programmes, building partnerships and driving impact, while being commercially astute, politically aware and effective in complex environments.

As a strong people leader, you will inspire teams and champion co-production, and you will be motivated by our mission to help Ambitious about Autism lead a more inclusive education system within a values-driven organisation.

Applications for this role close at 9 a.m. Monday 29th June.

For further information about the role and to register your interest, please visit the Peridot Partners page and contact our advising consultants.

About the role:

This role is key to our new partnership programme influencing practice and policy on climate resilience and emergency preparedness at local and national levels. It presents a fantastic opportunity to effect real change in how our government responds to the needs of people most affected by climate change.

We are looking for someone who can be a bridge between the statutory and voluntary resilience communities and equality groups. You’ll have a thorough understanding of emergency preparedness and response systems, and a commitment to transform how they operate for the benefit of everyone, by working collaboratively with a rights based approach.

About the programme:

Hosted and supported by Equally Ours, this role exists as part of an innovative, collaborative team that brings together five roles from three different organisations: Equally Ours, Communities Prepared (Groundwork South) and the VCS Emergencies Partnership (VCSEP). This brand new programme has received £2,052,488.00 over five years from the Climate Action Fund, a long-term commitment from The National Lottery Community Fund to support communities across the UK to act on climate change and involve more people in positive environmental action. 

About the organisation:

Equally Ours is the UK charity that brings together people and organisations working across equality, human rights and social justice to make a reality of these in everyone’s lives. Our vision is a just and compassionate society, where we are free from harm and can all contribute and flourish, whoever we are, whatever we believe in, and whatever we do and don’t have. A society that is equally ours.

Main duties and responsibilities:

Programme Leadership

• Lead Equally Ours’ contribution to the programme. Shaping and delivering the programme’s policy, influencing and systems change objectives.
• Work closely with programme partners Communities Prepared (Groundwork South) and the VCS Emergencies Partnership (VCSEP) to ensure joined-up co-design and delivery across community engagement, resilience training, strategic communications and influencing activity.
• Facilitate and enable the co-design process and provide a pan-equality analysis on thought leadership.
• Lead for the programme on liaison and knowledge exchange with initiatives in the devolved nations.

Policy Influencing

• Drive systems change: Support efforts to redesign climate resilience policy and practice at local, regional and national levels, ensuring it better reflects the needs and rights, experiences and expertise of communities experiencing discrimination and disadvantage.
• Build strategic relationships: Develop and maintain strong relationships with equality organisations, government departments, voluntary and statutory sector partners and resilience stakeholders.
• Support influencing activity: Coordinate and contribute to consultations, policy submissions, roundtables, events and stakeholder engagement opportunities that strengthen the programme’s influence and impact.
• Promote a rights-based approach: Champion intersectional, pan-equality and human rights based approaches across climate resilience policy, practice and partnership working. 

Person Specification (Essential Skills and Experience):

1. Demonstrable experience or understanding of statutory and voluntary sector duties and action on climate resilience in relation to extreme weather event preparedness and response.
2. Policy and influencing experience: Demonstrable experience of creating policy or practice change, ideally linked to equality, social justice, climate resilience or related areas.
3. Partnership and stakeholder engagement: Experience of building positive working relationships with a range of stakeholders, including community organisations, networks, public bodies or voluntary sector partners.
4. Community engagement: Experience of engaging with communities experiencing discrimination and disadvantage in meaningful, inclusive and accessible ways.
5. Understanding of equality and human rights: Professional or lived experience combined with a strong understanding of equality, intersectionality and human rights principles, and the ability to apply them in practice. 
6. Communication and collaboration skills: Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate and facilitate confidently with a range of audiences and work collaboratively as part of a partnership programme.
7. Organisation and programme coordination: Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities, coordinate activity and work effectively across multiple projects and stakeholders.
8. Anti-Racism, intersectionality and a human rights approach: Commitment to embed these principles across all aspects of our work.

Please read the full application pack attached before applying. You must be signed into your CharityJob candidate account to access and view this document.

Please note we will only accept applications that include a cover letter.

Prospectus is delighted to be supporting our client - the UK’s national body for the humanities and social sciences - in seeking a Policy Programmes Lead to join the Public Policy Team, providing key support in the strategy and delivery of the organisation'spublic policy programmes.

The Policy Programmes Lead works closely with the Head of Public Policy and members of the Public Policy Team building strong working relationships with colleagues across the organisation, its fellowship, and its wider network of stakeholders and strategic partners. The Public Policy Team is a growing team, with strong ambitions to improve the UK policy ecosystem in a way that is championing its SHAPE disciplines, knowledge and expertise.

Joining a collaborative team and working on the basis of mutual trust and responsibility you will be a key component on driving evidence-based policy across environment and sustainability including the organisation's Sustainable Futures work programme.  The successful candidate will be a strategic thinker, able to plan and deliver complex projects across a range of challenging policy areas, being able to manage people and resources within them carefully and effectively.

You will bring a strong understanding of the landscape of UK public policy, ideally with a specific knowledge and interest in policy on environment, climate, and sustainability. You will be able to apply your knowledge to engage and influence a range of stakeholders within the policy ecosystem. You will thrive in a fast-paced and creative working culture, where professionalism and innovation work hand-in-hand.

Please apply in the first instance and we will contact suitable candidates for further conversations.  Interviews will take place in person on 7th and 8th July.  If you are not going to be available for an in person interview on these dates, please make this clear within your application.

Our client welcomes applications from people of all backgrounds, in line with a commitment to create a diverse and inclusive working environment, promote equal opportunity, and address under-representation. They make reasonable adjustments to support disabled job applicants and offer an interview to those meeting the selection criteria.

At Prospectus we invest in your journey as a candidate and are committed to supporting you with your application. We welcome all candidates to apply, regardless of age, sex/gender, disability, race, religion, sexual orientation, marital status or pregnancy/maternity. If you have any disability and require reasonable adjustment/s to any part of the process, then please contact Catherine Bunting at Prospectus.

Job description

Contract: 6-month fixed term

Salary: £34K

Location: Oxford, office based or hybrid

Responsible to: Hannah Worker, Regional Programme Manager, Oxon-Bucks Region.

Background

Freshwater Habitats Trust (FHT) is the UK’s leading conservation charity concerned with the protection of freshwater habitats. We are a friendly, evidence-based organisation that works to protect UK and European freshwater wildlife through practical and innovative nature conservation projects. Our organisation is well respected nationally and internationally, and we work with a network of statutory, NGO and private partners both in the UK and the rest of Europe. Freshwater Habitats Trust was originally founded in 1988 (as Pond Conservation) and has a substantial track-record of originating new ideas through research in freshwater biodiversity conservation to inform and drive our practical conservation and policy work.

FHT has a central office in Oxford, and regional hubs in the north of England and the New Forest and out-posted staff in Cornwall and Wales. We run a range of practical projects throughout the Midlands and work with partners on research and policy projects throughout the UK and internationally. Since 2017 we have seconded staff to the Newt Conservation Partnership (NCP), a new community-benefit society established by NatureSpace, Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (ARC) and FHT, to create and manage habitats for the NatureSpace District Licensing scheme for great crested newts.

Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire are key areas for Freshwater Habitats Trust’s work. Building on the Trust’s historic work in the county and starting in 2021, Oxfordshire was the first region where we began the implementation of the organisation’s new strategic approach to freshwater conservation, the Freshwater Network. The Freshwater Network is the network of high quality freshwater and wetland habitats, and terrestrial habitats generating clean water across the landscape, that together support our most important freshwater wildlife.

Role

This is a strategically important role within the organisation, offering substantial responsibility and an opportunity for the successful candidate to play a leading role in delivering one of the UK's most ambitious freshwater restoration programmes.

The role will primarily focus on the Ock and Thame Farmers: Floodplains and Freshwaters Project, Ock and Thame Farmers: Freshwaters and Floodplain Restoration, one of Defra's pilot Landscape Recovery projects. Having recently completed its two-year development phase, the project is now entering a critical stage of assurance and negotiations with Defra ahead of implementation.

Key areas of work will include ongoing engagement with land managers, supporting informed decision-making and participation, supporting the establishment of governance and legal structures required for delivery, developing agreements and ecosystem service contracts, undertaking land assessments, and refining habitat designs where required. The project currently involves more than 80 land managers across approximately 7,100 hectares of land in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire.

In addition to the Landscape Recovery project, the role will involve managing a portfolio of smaller projects across the region. This will include supporting staff delivering catchment monitoring programmes and helping to develop a pipeline of habitat creation and Natural Flood Management opportunities.

You will be responsible for the day-to-day management and coordination of project delivery, working closely with the Programme Manager, Finance Manager, Senior Management Team, project partners, consultants, contractors, and participating land managers.

Key responsibilities

Project management:

· Responsible for work planning, defining tasks and allocating resources.

· Resource, manage and support the project team.

· Responsible for the projects’ budgeting and financial management including: (i) regular reporting to the Project Director and Regional Programme Manager; and (ii) implementation of all financial processes for the projects including regular claiming and reporting funder.

· Responsible for all contract and logistics management

· Responsible for ensuring health and safety procedures are followed, implemented and reported on.

· Track and monitor project progress.

· Present to stakeholders, as required.

· Implement and manage change when necessary to meet project outputs.

· Update all internal management information data systems

Project communications:

· Working with the Freshwater Habitats Trust Communications Team to deliver the communication plans for the projects.

Project development:

· Working with other members of Freshwater Habitats Trust staff and landowner networks to develop future projects to continue our work on the Freshwater Network in the region.

In the longer term there will be opportunities to influence the development of the Freshwater Network concept as it builds and develops in Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and adjacent counties.

Additional general responsibilities for the post holder

· Help to build a positive relationship between Freshwater Habitats Trust and its partners.

· Understand and follow Freshwater Habitats Trust’s internal procedures including Health and Safety, information management systems, site protocols etc.

· Work closely and constructively with your manager and colleagues in all areas of your responsibility.

· Undertake other duties as the Senior Management Team may from time to time require.

Knowledge and experience

· Degree or equivalent in a relevant subject (at least a 2:1)

· Full current driving licence

· Proven project and budget management skills

· Proven experience of managing multi-partner projects in the field of practical habitat creation and management, including on the ground delivery to deliver practical conservation outcomes

· Experience of staff management

· Good knowledge of restoration ecology for both freshwater and wetland habitats

· Experience of contractor management

· Knowledge of land management stakeholders and policy

· Computer literate: Word and Excel are essential, GIS is desirable

· Proven ability to communicate effectively with a range of stakeholders, including landowners and the public

· General interest in wildlife

Personal qualities

· Ability to manage workload and competing priorities effectively and meet internal deadlines through effective forward planning

· Good verbal and written communication skills

· Good interpersonal skills - approachable, professional and courteous

· Attention to detail and able to deliver on time

· Ability to work independently and as part of a team

What we have to offer

At Freshwater Habitats Trust we value employees' unique views and encourage them to develop their interests. We also offer the following benefits:

• Flexible working

• 35-hour week

• 25 days of annual leave plus bank holidays

• Pension with 6% employer contribution

• Mobile phone allowance

• Free eye tests

• Free Employee Assistance Program

• Mileage pay

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced manager who enjoys working creatively to bring people together to achieve shared goals. As VCSE Alliance Partnerships Manager, you will lead a high-profile programme of work that supports collaboration across the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector and strengthens its impact and influence within the Bristol, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) health and care system.

If you are a confident relationship builder, comfortable working in complex and changing environments and motivated by improving outcomes for communities, we would love to hear from you.
 

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced manager who enjoys working creatively to bring people together to achieve shared goals. As VCSE Alliance Partnerships Manager, you will lead a high-profile programme of work that supports collaboration across the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector and strengthens its impact and influence within the Bristol, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) health and care system.

If you are a confident relationship builder, comfortable working in complex and changing environments and motivated by improving outcomes for communities, we would love to hear from you.

About the VCSE Alliance

Voscur is a co-founder and host of the BNSSG VCSE Alliance and plays a key leadership role through the Alliance Steering Group.

The VCSE Alliance is a collaborative network of VCSE organisations working across BNSSG. Its mission is to improve the health and wellbeing of people and communities by enabling the VCSE sector to influence decisions and work alongside the BNSSG Integrated Care System.

Launched in 2024, the Alliance has grown to include more than 200 participating organisations, with a wider reach of over 5,000 VCSE organisations across the region.

Funded by the Assura Community Foundation, this programme of work will build on the Alliance’s early successes by strengthening partnership working, developing evidence of the sector’s impact, and increasing VCSE engagement and influence across the health and care system.

About working at Voscur
Our strength is in bringing together people with a diversity of thought, experience, and backgrounds, who work together as an effective team. Who we are changes over time, but our culture remains open, positive, and collaborative.

We believe it's important to be empathetic and respectful in our work with colleagues, clients, partners, and the public. Our staff are engaged in and passionate about their communities, trusted and knowledgeable, and take the time to listen to and consider the perspectives of others.

The environment we work in is warm and welcoming. We have regular (optional!) social activities and celebrate our successes together.

Our main office space is in central Bristol, just on the corner of Queen Square - with easy access to the harbourside, the city centre, and public transport. Our staff also work flexibly across the city - with a regular presence at Knowle West Health Park, Easton Community Centre, and the Greenway Centre - as well as working from other community centres and operating flexible and hybrid working policies that allow staff to work from home when they need to.

You'll also get:
• Employer pension contributions at 7%
• 25 days pro rata of annual leave entitlement to use throughout the year…
• …plus all bank holidays, and an additional three days (pro rata) paid leave during our End of Year closure (25th December – 1st January)
• Flexitime – our standard meeting hours are 10:00 – 16:00. Some of our staff work compressed hours, arrange their schedule around childcare needs, or simply choose to start work at 10am each day.
• Access to a cycle to work scheme and a home and tech discount scheme
• Access to an Employee Assistance Programme.A

Voscur is a co-founder and host of the BNSSG VCSE Alliance and plays a key leadership role through the Alliance Steering Group.

The VCSE Alliance is a collaborative network of VCSE organisations working across BNSSG. Its mission is to improve the health and wellbeing of people and communities by enabling the VCSE sector to influence decisions and work alongside the BNSSG Integrated Care System.

Launched in 2024, the Alliance has grown to include more than 200 participating organisations, with a wider reach of over 5,000 VCSE organisations across the region.

Funded by the Assura Community Foundation, this programme of work will build on the Alliance’s early successes by strengthening partnership working, developing evidence of the sector’s impact, and increasing VCSE engagement and influence across the health and care system.

ABOUT WORKING AT VOSCUR
Our strength is in bringing together people with a diversity of thought, experience, and backgrounds, who work together as an effective team. Who we are changes over time, but our culture remains open, positive, and collaborative.

We believe it's important to be empathetic and respectful in our work with colleagues, clients, partners, and the public. Our staff are engaged in and passionate about their communities, trusted and knowledgeable, and take the time to listen to and consider the perspectives of others.

The environment we work in is warm and welcoming. We have regular (optional!) social activities and celebrate our successes together.

Our main office space is in central Bristol, just on the corner of Queen Square - with easy access to the harbourside, the city centre, and public transport. Our staff also work flexibly across the city - with a regular presence at Knowle West Health Park, Easton Community Centre, and the Greenway Centre - as well as working from other community centres and operating flexible and hybrid working policies that allow staff to work from home when they need to.

You'll also get
• Employer pension contributions at 7%
• 25 days pro rata of annual leave entitlement to use throughout the year…
• …plus all bank holidays, and an additional three days (pro rata) paid leave during our End of Year closure (25th December – 1st January)
• Flexitime – our standard meeting hours are 10:00 – 16:00. Some of our staff work compressed hours, arrange their schedule around childcare needs, or simply choose to start work at 10am each day.
• Access to a cycle to work scheme and a home and tech discount scheme
• Access to an Employee Assistance Programme.

The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) are seeking an External Affairs Manager to promote and protect the interests of the speech and language therapy profession in the Welsh Parliament and government departments.

Who we are

The RCSLT is the professional body for speech and language therapists across the UK. The RCSLT has over 24,000 members and employs around 65 staff predominately based in a London office. The RCSLT has offices in London, Belfast, Edinburgh, and Cardiff.

Our mission is to improve the lives of people with communication and swallowing needs by facilitating and promoting research, producing guidance, holding events, and influencing government. We aim to promote better education and training for speech and language therapists and provide information to our members and the public about speech and language therapy.

The role

We are seeking a policy and public affairs leader to drive influence, advocacy and campaigning in Wales. This high-profile role will represent the organisation at senior levels, engaging with Ministers, Members of the Senedd (MSs), officials and the media to champion speech and language therapy and those with communication and swallowing needs. 

You will lead the development and delivery of policy and campaigning strategy, building cross-party relationships, shaping national campaigns and supporting members to influence both locally and nationally in English and Welsh. The role also involves planning impactful events, strengthening partnerships and acting as a key spokesperson on policy and legislative issues. 

Working closely with colleagues and stakeholders, you will oversee policy development and responses, ensuring emerging legislation and policy are effectively analysed, influenced and communicated. You will also play a central role in promoting the profession, supporting members and networks across Wales and representing the organisation at a senior level to advance its strategic goals.

What we are looking for

We’re looking for a confident policy professional with strong political awareness and a passion for influencing change. Welsh speaking is desirable however not essential. The successful candidate will bring a strong understanding of health, social care and education policy, alongside knowledge of political processes, particularly within the Welsh Parliament and Government and an appreciation of the role of a professional body. 

The ideal candidate will have experience of influencing policy in health, education or social care, with a proven track record in lobbying or campaigning at local or national level. You will be skilled in developing policy initiatives from research, evidence and practice, and communicating complex findings to a wide range of audiences. The successful candidate will be an effective communicator and influencer, confident in advising civil servants and politicians on sensitive matters and capable of leading or contributing to projects across a complex organisation. 
 

What we can offer you

• A competitive starting salary
• Generous annual leave entitlement 
• Excellent staff training and development opportunities
• Supportive and flexible working environment including, hybrid working arrangements
• Generous Pension scheme
• Life insurance cover 
• Season Ticket Loan scheme
• Eye care voucher scheme 
• Family friendly employer including enhanced maternity and paternity leave 
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Access to an Employee Assistance Programme and more!

How to apply

Should you wish to discuss the role in strict confidence, or for more details about the role, please contact the HR Team by email.

For more information and to apply, please visit our vacancies page. Applications must be written in English. 

Closing date: 9.00am on Thursday, 18 June 2026.

Interview date: Tuesday, 30 June 2026 (in our Cardiff Office - CF11 9SD).

There will be a task that will be needed to be completed prior to the interview which will be shared with shortlisted candidates. Some interview questions will need to be answered in Welsh. 

Please note, we can only accept applications from those who have working rights in the UK, we cannot offer sponsorship for this role.  

We are committed to a fair, transparent, and inclusive recruitment process. All applications are handled with strict confidentiality to protect your privacy and encourage openness throughout the process. 
 
The RCSLT is committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. We aim to embed equity, diversity, and belonging practices throughout our recruitment and selection procedures. We strive to ensure everyone is valued equally for their contribution, experience, knowledge, and skills. We welcome applications from candidates of all different backgrounds.

Headstart is transforming how we restore and manage headwater catchments — bringing together water companies, conservation experts, researchers and policymakers to help the water sector to capitalise on the special benefits of working with small waters.

We’re looking for a dynamic and collaborative Technical Programme Manager to drive delivery across a complex, multi-partner programme. You’ll sit at the heart of the programme — coordinating people, science and delivery — turning innovative ideas into real-world impact.

Why this role?

• Lead a nationally significant programme influencing policy and practice

• Work with a diverse partnership across the water and environmental sectors

• Play a key role in tackling the climate and biodiversity crises

• Help shape future investment and decision-making in water management

About you

You’ll be a confident programme leader with strong organisational skills, a collaborative mindset, and the ability to navigate complexity. Experience in environmental or catchment-based work is a plus — but just as important is your ability to connect people, manage delivery and drive progress.

Freshwater Habitats Trust is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds and experiences.

Please send a covering letter and application form as well as a copy of your CV. 

No agencies, please.

Closing date for applications: Friday 26th June 2026 at 5pm

Interview date: 7th & 8th July 2026