Policy and public affairs manager jobs

We are recruiting a Head of Income and Engagement to provide strategic leadership and vision for two critical functions—Fundraising and Marketing & Communications—bringing them together into a unified, high-performing team. This role focuses on shaping strategy, building external relationships, and driving organisational growth through income generation and brand engagement, rather than day-to-day operational management.

You will set the direction for attracting significant funding, particularly through corporate partnerships, while strengthening what PAPYRUS already does well:

• Securing grants and trusts funding
• Harnessing the passion of our large, committed supporter base - including bereaved families and others who raise voluntary income for us

In a challenging financial climate, you will lead efforts to grow these income streams and maintain a strong, values-driven presence across press, social media, and broadcast channels. The role requires influence, innovation, and the ability to inspire all managers and staff, as well as external stakeholders.

Please visit the careers site for the full job description and person specification for the role.

Salary: £58,523 per annum (Scale SCP 46) progressing by increments to £62,852 per annum (Scale SCP 49)

Hours: 36 hours per week Location: Remote with regular travel across the UK

Contract: Permanent 

Benefits: You will receive 28 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays (pro rata for part time workers), hybrid and flexible working arrangements, an attractive pension scheme, Simply Health membership, enhanced sick pay and enhanced parental pay. Please visit our website for more details.

Closing date: midnight on 22nd February 2026

We reserve the right to close the vacancy earlier if we receive sufficient applications so, please submit your application as soon as possible.

PAPYRUS is committed to the principle of equal opportunity in employment, and its recruitment policies are designed to ensure that no job applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, disability, gender re-assignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

PAPYRUS is committed to safeguarding all children, young people and adults at risk that interact with the organisation. The organisation recognises its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of these vulnerable groups by a commitment to procedures to protect them. The charity expects all staff and volunteers to fully support and promote these commitments.

We welcome applications from people who have significant legal aid experience in public law, housing law, and/or community care law, and who have undertaken strategic litigation. If this is you, and you meet the minimum criteria for the Legal Director role, we encourage you to apply.

Please note: We do not expect the postholder to generate legal aid income at a multiple of their salary. While we do aim to grow legal aid income across the team to an initial target of £25,000–£30,000 per annum, the focus of this role is on developing high‑quality legal aid practice and building sustainable income collectively, as part of a mixed‑income organisational model. We particularly welcome applications from people from Black and minoritised communities, disabled people, LGBTQ+ people, people from working-class backgrounds, and people with lived experience of the issues we work on. We are committed to building a team that reflects the communities we serve, and we know that lived experience and diverse perspectives strengthen our legal practice and our work for systemic change. 

The Legal Director is a newly created senior leadership role and will lead and shape Release’s legal services, setting the strategic direction and ensuring the delivery of high‑quality, client‑centred representation. The role will expand access to justice through strong legal aid provision, embed harm reduction principles across all legal work, and uphold rigorous regulatory and ethical standards. It will also play a key role in sustaining Release’s commitment to training and developing the next generation of social justice lawyers.

This pivotal post combines oversight of a multidisciplinary legal team with movement‑driven advocacy and strategic litigation. The Legal Director will identify and pursue high‑impact cases to challenge unlawful policies and drive systemic change, while building strong external relationships with affected communities, policymakers, and partners. Working collaboratively, the role will co‑create innovative models of legal support that respond to emerging needs and amplify the voices of people most affected by drug laws and wider structural injustice.

As Legal Director, you will:

Set Strategic Direction: Define and implement strategies to expand legal aid provision, improve access to justice, and embed harm reduction principles across all legal work.
Lead and Inspire: Oversee a multidisciplinary team of solicitors, legal advisers, and volunteers, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and innovation.
Ensure Excellence and Compliance: Maintain rigorous regulatory standards whilst driving forward progressive, client-centred approaches to legal practice.
Advance Systemic Change through Strategic Litigation: Identify and pursue high-impact cases to influence legislation, challenge unlawful policies, and dismantle barriers to justice for people who use drugs and other marginalised communities.
Engage Externally: Build powerful coalitions by engaging with affected communities, policymakers, stakeholders, and advocacy networks to drive legal and social reform.
Co-Create Innovative Service Solutions: Develop new models of legal support that respond to emerging needs, leverage technology, and amplify the voices of those most affected by drug policy and laws by working in partnership with them. 

This role is ideal for a visionary and inspiring leader who combines legal expertise with a commitment to social justice, harm reduction, and systemic transformation.

Person Specification

Essential

• Minimum 9 years + post qualified solicitor with a current practising certificate, and
• Minimum 7 years + significant experience in legal aid supervision and regulatory compliance, and
• Minimum 3 years + proven leadership and team management skills, and
• Minimum 3 years + strategic litigation or test cases, and
• Strong commitment to social justice, harm reduction, and trauma-informed practice.

Desirable

• Experience working in a charity or non‑profit organisation.
• Experience supporting, contributing to, or developing test case work, policy‑linked casework, or other legal work aimed at achieving wider systemic or community impact, including through indirect, collaborative, or emerging roles.
• Understanding of the impact of drug policy and criminalisation on marginalised communities.
• Experience in developing new services, partnerships, or funding‑linked delivery models.

Are you a campaigner who wants to make a real difference for companion animals?This is an exciting time to join Woodgreen as we develop our evidence-based campaigns function.

We’re looking for a Campaigns Officer to play a key role in shaping and delivering Woodgreen’s campaign and advocacy work; someone who will support the development, delivery and evaluation of regional and national campaigns aimed at improving companion animal welfare. Motivated by evidence, collaboration and a shared commitment to making life better for pets and the people who care for them, our successful applicant will work closely with the Senior Campaigns & Policy Lead and the rest of the policy and impact team to help translate Woodgreen’s evidence, experience and values into compelling campaigns. They will be pivotal to influencing public opinion, stakeholders, and decision-makers to drive systemic change and achieve positive outcomes for pets and their people.  If you have;

• Significant experience working in a campaigns or advocacy role, with experience in animal welfare, social policy or a related sectors an advantage.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to create engaging campaign materials for diverse audiences.
• A detailed understanding of the UK campaigning landscape, with the ability to identify opportunities and anticipate challenges.
• Experience building and maintaining relationships with a range of stakeholders.
• A proactive flexible approach, with the confidence to work independently and as part of a small, collaborative team.
• A passion for companion animal welfare and empathy for the challenges faced by pet owners.

we would love to hear from you!

The starting salary for this position is £28,873 - £32,081 per annum depending on experience.  This is complemented by;

• 36 days annual leave per year (inclusive of bank holidays) rising by 1 day each year to a maximum of 40 days after five years
• Up to 8% employer pension contributions
• Support towards healthcare costs (cashplan)
• Employee wellbeing package to include free access to Headspace
• Life assurance (4x salary)
• Enhanced parental leave (subject to qualifying period)
• Benefits hub – exclusive discounts on popular brands
• 25% discount in our charity shops

This is a full time, permanent, hybrid position with the expectation that our successful applicant will work approximately 1 - 2 days a month from our Godmanchester site.

Please note that this role is subject to a range of pre-employment checks to include a basic DBS check. You will also need to have existing Right to Work in the UK to apply for this opportunity as we are unable to provide visa sponsorship.

Woodgreen is committed to making our recruitment processes accessible to all and, as part of this, we are flexible in the ways we give and receive information. If you would like to apply using a different format, please contact the Recruitment Team and we will do our best to put any reasonable adjustments in place.

Early application is encouraged as this position may close sooner than the stated deadline if a suitable candidate is found.

Woodgreen is committed to safeguarding children and adults at risk and protecting anyone that comes into contact with us from harm. We expect all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

About Us: The Woodland Trust is the UK's leading woodland conservation charity and is dedicated to creating a world where trees and woods thrive for both people and nature. Our mission involves engaging and inspiring individuals to contribute toward tackling the nature and climate crisis through the protection, restoration, and creation of essential woodland habitats.

The Role:
• This is an exciting opportunity as we are looking for a Policy and Advocacy Manager who will be responsible for developing and directing the delivery of Coed Cadw programme of advocacy and campaigning work in Wales.
• You will be responsible for developing relationships across broad policy-influencing audiences to achieve key policy outcomes in line with the Woodland Trust’s goals and objectives.
• Responsible for ensuring the Trust have and are following integrated and focused influencing strategies to achieve our public policy goals.
• Lead the Wales Policy and Advocacy team whilst integrating our policy and campaigning work across the wider Wales team, providing clarity of direction, inspiring our employees and building capabilities and skills, upholding and actively promoting the values and behaviours of the Trust.
• Actively monitor, gather intelligence, understand and analyse relevant areas of Welsh policy and politics, acting on key opportunities. Collaborate with UK colleagues to ensure our policy and advocacy work is supported and aligned across the four nations and ensure consistent campaigning messages with the Trust’s wider communications and influencing strategies and plans.
• This is a hybrid role with travel to the Cardiff office and around the UK as required.

The Candidate:
• This is a key role in our Wales team and for candidates to stand out, we are looking for experience of working within a policy & advocacy or political context.
• Experience in shaping and implementing policy and advocacy or political strategies preferably in the environmental/voluntary sector, providing technical policy input and advice.
• Knowledge of the Welsh Government and Senedd with a strong understanding of current environmental policy, conservation and land management issues. You’ll have awareness of current affairs and processes through legislation, policy and grants in the Welsh context.
• Confident in building and developing partnerships with external and internal stakeholders, able to influence different audiences, to successfully change attitudes, behaviours and/or policy of key stakeholders.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to collaborate with a diverse range of teams and stakeholders to ensure the best development of strategies and policies.
• Ability to analyse complex information and be able to communicate in effective ways for diverse audiences.
• Understanding of different levers and approaches that can be used effectively to influence decision-makers.
• This role is based in Wales and will require the successful candidate to undertake travel across Wales and the UK. 

Our Organisational Nature enables us to better understand what it means to be part of the Woodland Trust, empowering us to make an impact, every day. We want you to be able to role model our values; ‘Grow Together’, ‘Focus’, ‘Explore’ and ‘Make it Count’ to ensure each of us plays our part in helping to protect, restore and create our woods and trees.

Benefits & Wellbeing: Joining our team means you'll be a big part of tackling environmental and climate issues. We take good care of our employees, offering support and training opportunities. We also offer:
• Enhanced Employer Pension
• Life Assurance
• Flexible & Hybrid Working Options
• Generous Annual Leave
• Enhanced Parental Pay
• Employee Assistance Programme

Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion: To achieve our vision of a world where woods and trees thrive for people and nature, we need to better reflect society and the communities we work in. All people, no matter their background, identity, ability, or circumstance, should benefit from trees. 
People of colour and disabled people are currently under-represented across the environment and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled, we particularly encourage you to apply.
Please contact us to discuss any additional support or adjustments you may need to complete your application. 

Application Advice: For fairness we keep our candidates’ personal details hidden from the hiring managers, we do not ask for your CV at application stage OR so they do not see your CV until shortlisting is completed. [Make sure that your Personal Statement clearly shows how your skills and knowledge link to the specifications in the job description and you share with us your passion for the role. 

Acceptable Use Policy - Artificial Intelligence (AI)
We understand that candidates may choose to use AI tools to support their job applications-for example, to help structure or edit written responses. We welcome the use of AI in this way, particularly where it helps improve accessibility, such as for neurodivergent applicants. However, we ask that any information submitted reflects your own experience, skills and understanding. During interviews, candidates are expected to respond independently without the use of AI tools.

First Stage Interviews will be held via Microsoft Teams

Ynglyn â Ni: Coed Cadw (y Woodland Trust) yw elusen cadwraeth coetiroedd fwyaf y DU sydd wedi ymroi i greu byd lle mae coed a choedwigoedd yn ffynnu ymhlith pobl a natur. Mae ein cenhadaeth yn cynnwys ysbrydoli ac ymgysylltu ag unigolion i gyfrannu at fynd i'r afael â'r argyfwng natur a hinsawdd drwy warchod, adfer a chreu cynefinoedd o goetiroedd hollbwysig.

Y RÔL
• Dyma gyfle cyffrous wrth i ni chwilio am Reolwr Polisi ac Eiriolaeth a fydd yn gyfrifol am ddatblygu ac arwain y gwaith o gyflawni rhaglen eiriolaeth ac ymgyrchu Coed Cadw yng Nghymru.
• Byddwch yn gyfrifol am ddatblygu perthnasoedd ar draws cynulleidfaoedd polisi eang i sicrhau canlyniadau polisi allweddol yn unol â nodau ac amcanion Coed Cadw.
• Yn gyfrifol am sicrhau bod yr Ymddiriedolaeth yn dilyn ac wedi dilyn strategaethau dylanwadu integredig â ffocws i gyflawni ein nodau polisi cyhoeddus.
• Arwain y tîm Polisi ac Eiriolaeth yng Nghymru tra'n integreiddio ein gwaith polisi ac ymgyrchu ar draws y tîm ehangach yng Nghymru, gan roi arweiniad clir, ysbrydoli ein gweithwyr a meithrin galluoedd a sgiliau, cynnal a hyrwyddo gwerthoedd ac ymddygiadau'r Ymddiriedolaeth.
• Ymroi i fonitro, casglu gwybodaeth, deall a dadansoddi meysydd perthnasol o bolisi a gwleidyddiaeth Cymru, gan weithredu ar gyfleoedd allweddol. Cydweithio â chydweithwyr yn y DU i sicrhau bod ein gwaith polisi ac eiriolaeth yn cael ei gefnogi ac yn gyson ar draws y pedair gwlad a sicrhau bod y negeseuon ymgyrchu yn gyson â strategaethau a chynlluniau cyfathrebu a dylanwadu ehangach yr Ymddiriedolaeth.
• Mae hon yn rôl hybrid gyda theithio i'r swyddfa yng Nghaerdydd a ledled y DU yn ôl yr angen.

YR YMGEISYDD
• Mae hon yn rôl allweddol yn ein tîm yng Nghymru, ac er mwyn i ymgeiswyr sefyll allan, rydyn ni’n chwilio am brofiad o weithio o fewn cyd-destun polisi ac eiriolaeth neu wleidyddol.
• Profiad o lunio a gweithredu polisïau ac eiriolaeth neu strategaethau gwleidyddol yn ddelfrydol yn y sector amgylcheddol/gwirfoddol, gan ddarparu mewnbwn a chyngor polisi technegol.
• Gwybodaeth am Lywodraeth Cymru a’r Senedd gyda dealltwriaeth gref o bolisïau amgylcheddol, cadwraeth a materion rheoli tir ar hyn o bryd. Bydd gennych ymwybyddiaeth o faterion cyfoes a phrosesau drwy ddeddfwriaeth, polisïau a grantiau yn y cyd-destun Cymreig.
• Hyderus wrth feithrin a datblygu partneriaethau gyda rhanddeiliaid allanol a mewnol, sy'n gallu dylanwadu ar wahanol gynulleidfaoedd, i newid agweddau, ymddygiadau a/neu bolisïau rhanddeiliaid allweddol yn llwyddiannus.
• Sgiliau arwain cryf gyda'r gallu i gydweithio ag ystod amrywiol o dimau a rhanddeiliaid i sicrhau'r datblygiad gorau o ran strategaethau a pholisïau.
• Y gallu i ddadansoddi gwybodaeth gymhleth a'r gallu i gyfathrebu mewn ffyrdd effeithiol ar gyfer cynulleidfaoedd amrywiol. 
• Dealltwriaeth o wahanol ysgogiadau a dulliau gweithredu y gellir eu defnyddio'n effeithiol i ddylanwadu ar y rhai sy'n gwneud penderfyniadau.
• Mae'r rôl hon wedi'i lleoli yng Nghymru a bydd angen i'r ymgeisydd llwyddiannus deithio ledled Cymru a'r DU.

Mae ein Natur Sefydliadol yn ein galluogi i ddeall yn well beth mae’n ei olygu i fod yn rhan o Coed Cadw, a’n grymuso i wneud argraff, bob dydd. Rydyn ni eisiau i chi fod yn fodel rôl ar gyfer ein gwerthoedd; ‘Tyfu Gyda’n Gilydd’, ‘Ffocws’, ‘Archwilio’ a ‘Gwneud iddo Gyfrif’ i sicrhau bod pob un ohonom yn chwarae ein rhan wrth helpu i warchod, adfer a chreu ein coedwigoedd a’n coed.
Buddion a Llesiant: Mae ymuno â'n tîm yn golygu y byddwch yn rhan fawr o fynd i'r afael â materion amgylcheddol a hinsawdd. Rydyn ni’n cymryd gofal da o'n gweithwyr, gan gynnig cymorth a chyfleoedd hyfforddi. Rydyn ni hefyd yn cynnig:

• Pensiwn Uwch i Gyflogwyr
• Yswiriant Bywyd
• Opsiynau Gweithio Hyblyg a Hybrid
• Gwyliau Blynyddol hael
• Tâl Rhiant Uwch
• Rhaglen Cymorth i Weithwyr

Ymrwymiad i Amrywiaeth a Chynhwysiant: Mae Coed Cadw yn cofleidio amrywiaeth a chynhwysiant. Rydyn ni eisiau i'n tîm adlewyrchu cymuned amrywiol y DU. Rydyn ni’n cefnogi pobl o bob cefndir i wneud cais, yn enwedig y rhai sydd heb gynrychiolaeth ddigonol.
 
Cyngor wrth Wneud Cais: Hyd yn oed os nad ydych yn bodloni holl ofynion y rôl, byddem yn eich annog i wneud cais. Eich brwdfrydedd dros yr amgylchedd a'n gwerthoedd craidd - Tyfu Gyda’n Gilydd, Archwilio, Ffocws a Gwneud iddo Gyfrif - sydd bwysicaf. Rydyn ni hefyd yn cadw manylion personol ein hymgeiswyr wrth y rheolwyr sy’n cyflogi, fel nad ydynt yn gweld eich CV nes bod y rhestr fer wedi'i chwblhau. Gwnewch yn siwr bod eich Datganiad Personol yn dangos yn glir eich profiad a’ch angerdd am y rôl.

Gwnewch gais nawr: Os ydych chi'n barod i wneud gwahaniaeth a thyfu gyda ni, anfonwch eich cais heddiw. Efallai y byddwn yn cau'r swydd yn gynnar os cawn lawer o geisiadau, felly mae'n syniad da gwneud cais yn fuan. Edrychwn ymlaen at glywed wrthych a chydweithio i gael effaith bositif ar ein planed.

Longer working lives and ongoing economic transitions are reshaping careers: how we start them, and how we move through them. But too many people remain paid in low-paid, low-quality work – with damaging consequences for them personally, and our economy as a whole. We’re seeking a senior, policy-oriented research leader to help us and our partners generate insights that enable more people to move into and progress through better work.

You’ll have a proven track record in scoping and securing funding for research and influencing activity, with significant autonomy to lead your own programme at L&W. You’ll be supported by committed researchers and managers whom you will coach, lead, and develop—alongside a peer group of Deputy Directors working across other key pillars. We welcome quantitative expertise, but most important are the skills to design and deliver high-quality, impactful research programmes.

You’ll join an organisation with a national reputation for driving policy change—and a friendly, highly capable, delivery-focused team. 

Location: Hybrid working: 40-60% in an L&W office. Our offices for this role are currently in Leicester and London, but if you are based elsewhere, please contact us to talk about how the role could work for you.

Team:Research and Development

Salary:£64,450 -£77,880 per annum (pro rata), dependent on experience and location

Duration:Permanent

Working hours:0.8 to 1 FTE, with flexible working supported (e.g. condensed hours, flexible start and finish times)

Main Purpose

The Deputy Director, Policy and Research (Better Work and Progression) will have overall ownership of the ‘Better Work’ pillar of our strategic plan at L&W: overseeing all projects and activity in this area and generating new work (including developing project ideas and securing funding).

While there is significant scope to shape the ongoing programme of research and impact work, we anticipate that key areas of focus in this area going forward will be: understanding & better supporting career change; understanding and improving policy to increase employer investment in skills; high quality and fair access apprenticeships and technical education; understanding how to better support progression from low pay.

They will be a senior leader for the organization – helping to continuously shape our strategy and the plans we are implementing to deliver it.

Duties and Responsibilities

Leadership and management

• Intellectual leadership of the Better Work pillar: developing and owning policy positions, messages, theory of change and research priorities, and supporting the wider team to feed into and understand them
• Line management of senior and mid-level staff
• Act as a senior leader at L&W – including taking on specific organization-level responsibilities where appropriate

Income

• Write and/or co-ordinate responses to reactive research and evaluation tenders in the areas of employment, better work and progression
• Develop pro-active proposals that will drive change in your area, and respond to the interests of funders and partners
• Build relationships with current and potential funders and research partners

Impact

• Act as an external expert on the issues of better work and progression: writing press quotes, articles and blogs;speaking on platforms
• Building relationships with practitioners, policymakers and partners to improve our insights, and get our recommendations implemented
• Develop appropriate means of tracking impact towards our better work goals, and monitor against them. 

Delivery

• Deputy Director/Project Director-level oversight of projects being delivered in your and related areas: supporting project team to shape research plans, deliver sharp insights and manage funder relationships
• Quality Assurance of research proposals and outputs
• Use your research skills and experience to support the wider development of the Learning and Work team

Person Specification

Experience

Experience of developing, overseeing and delivering programmes of policy-relevant research at a high level - Essential

Experience of business development in a policy/research context: developing ideas, writing bids and building relationships with funders- Essential

Experience of building senior-level relationships with external stakeholders for impact and influence -Essential

Track record of delivering national and/or local policy change - Essential

Experience of senior organisational leadership as part of a team - Desirable 

Experience of responding to tenders- Desirable 

Skills

Advanced research skills (qualitative of quantitative) -Essential

Quantitative skills: experience of using key national research and administrative data sets to generate insights into the labour market -Desirable 

Clear and direct written communication style - Essential

Knowledge

Knowledge of, and commitment to, L&W’s charitable aims and purpose.- Essential

Demonstrable knowledge of employment and/or skills policy in the UK - Essential

Demonstrable knowledge in the specific areas of Better Work and/or progression -Desirable 

Learning and Work Institute works across the UK. Our work in Wales is led by a Cardiff based team, but all staff are required to follow the guidance set out in our Welsh language scheme when working in Wales.

Right now, millions of people across the UK are living with financial insecurity. Parents are choosing between heating and food. People who fall ill find themselves unable to work and without support. Countless others lie awake at night worrying about bills they cannot pay. At Turn2us, we believe none of us should have to face these challenges alone - and we exist to change the systems that allow them to persist.

Turn2us is working towards a future where everyone in the UK has financial security so they can thrive. We combine direct support and innovative digital tools, such as our online Benefits Calculator and PIP Helper, with influencing, policy and systems change. Across our organisation, colleagues bring deep expertise, compassion and ambition, united by a shared belief that financial hardship is not a personal failing, but a systemic issue that can and must be changed.

The Income & External Affairs Directorate plays a critical role in making this vision a reality. Through relationship-led fundraising, commercial partnerships, communications, and policy and influencing work, the directorate ensures Turn2us has the resources, profile and voice needed to maximise our impact. It connects our work with the people, organisations and institutions that can help drive lasting change. While we have built strong momentum and significant partnerships in recent years, we know there is far more potential to realise.

As Director of Income & External Affairs, you will be a key member of our Leadership Team, working closely with colleagues across the charity and with our Board. You will lead the growth of sustainable income, develop powerful and values-led partnerships, strengthen our public voice, and help shape a policy and advocacy agenda grounded in the experiences of people facing financial hardship. You will also play a vital role in building trust, credibility and influence across sectors to help shift the systems that keep people locked in financial insecurity.

We are looking for an exceptional and values-driven leader with a strong track record in relationship-based income generation, partnerships and influence. This experience may come from the charity sector or a commercial environment. We are not seeking a specific career path or background; instead, we actively welcome applications from people who bring new perspectives, transferable skills and different ways of thinking. What matters most is a deep commitment to our purpose, a willingness to learn and the confidence to lead with curiosity and humility.

This role calls for persuasive leadership, emotional intelligence and the ability to build trust across diverse teams and stakeholders. You will thrive if you enjoy working collaboratively, sharing power and leading in a way that is inclusive, supportive and ambitious.

This is a genuinely exciting and critical role - for our staff, our partners, and most importantly, for the people we exist to serve. We are particularly keen to hear from people with lived experience of financial insecurity. If you share our values and feel inspired by our vision of a more just and financially secure society, we would love to hear from you.

To download a full copy of the candidate brief and learn more about the role, please click the ‘Apply’ button, where you will be redirected to the website of our recruitment partner, Tall Roots. Applications should include a CV and covering letter. If you would like an informal discussion about the role, please email Mark Crowley at Tall Roots.

Young Citizens is seeking a Business Development and Special Projects Lead to support a critical year of fundraising, income generation and partnership development. This role supports the special projects work with the CEO and will work with the senior team to lead on the income and visibility opportunities that unlock our delivery for our three-year strategy.

Your Role’s Purpose

Year 1 of this role will be focused on business model development, income generation and strategic partnerships. Working closely with the CEO and senior management team, you will help shape, test and secure new funding and commercial opportunities that position Young Citizens for long-term sustainability and impact. The special projects element includes supporting the developmental design of our future business model, charity strategy and public affairs work.

This role is ideal for someone who enjoys building, creating and working at pace to achieve great results within a small team. You will be rapidly developing propositions, forging partnerships and converting ideas into credible, funded initiatives. You will play a central role in strengthening our relationships with funders, institutions, corporates and sector partners, while supporting wider organisational development projects.

Young Citizens works at the intersection of education, democracy and civic life, and this role offers a unique opportunity to influence how active citizenship is funded, delivered and embedded across the UK.

In Year 1, your primary focus will be to:

• Develop and drive income/fundraising with existing channels, including grant funding, partnerships and commercial activity.
• Build a strong pipeline of income opportunities, working closely with the CEO to convert prospects into funding
• Produce high-quality business cases, funding bids, proposals and presentations of our work
• Design and execute new funding models and partnership opportunities alongside the CEO’s updated strategic plan
• Lead staff member for strategic engagement with funders, corporates, policymakers and sector stakeholders.

Alongside this, you will contribute to priority special projects that support Young Citizens’ organisational growth and external positioning.

Who We’re Looking For

This role is not just open to traditional fundraisers or partnership managers. As long as you have the seniority and expertise leading results, you might come from a charity, social enterprise, consultancy, policy or start-up background. What matters most is your ability to confidently progress a pipeline of opportunities, build partnerships, generate income and deliver results.

We are interested in a wider pool of candidates with 5+ years in the working world, possibly from other start-ups or programme design focus instead of 'trad' fundraising roles'. If you are a high-performer who wants to focus on corporate partnerships, external relations and business success, this role may be right for you—talk to us.

We’re looking for someone who is:

• Entrepreneurial and proactive, with a strong interest in business development and income generation
• Confidently able to design and deliver on their ideas, instilling confidence and get results with high-level stakeholders
• Highly professional writer and communicator, able to produce strong proposals and pitch deck materials
• Commercially aware, with an ability to spot and shape fundable opportunities
• Excels at working closely with senior stakeholders including the CEO, able to predict needs and are responsive to what gets the best results
• Organised and adaptable, able to own multiple priorities in a small, fast-moving organisation
• Technically capable, making data systems like Salesforce easily integrated into their workflow
• Distinctly motivated and/or experienced in social impact, education, democracy or civic participation

Please note the pay scale of this role is determined by the demonststrable strategic seniority the person brings in managing others and organisational outcomes alongside technical role skills above.

Success in the first six months of this role will look like:

• Immediate management and confidence securing existing income contracts with corporate and funding partners of £200,000+
• Tactical, high-volume stakeholder engagement campaigns to increase sponsorship and new income opportunities
• Leading the development of improved business modelling, pricing structures and income streams that create a more sustainable base
• Operating with professionalism, improving processes and keeping organisational priorities at the forefront

Why join us?

• Make a real difference by helping deliver inspiring citizenship experiences to young people nationwide.
• Shape and strengthen the delivery of our flagship national programmes.
• Join a supportive, purpose‑driven team that values collaboration, flexibility, and doing great work together.
• Grow with us as we deliver our new three‑year strategy and embed smarter, stronger delivery processes.

If you're excited about making a tangible impact through high‑quality programme delivery, and want to contribute to a mission‑driven organisation, we’d love to hear from you.

A few useful notes to apply:

This is a 12 month fixed contract starting as soon as possible. 

• The closing date for applications is 11pm on Sunday 22 February 2026. We encourage you to apply ahead of the deadline, as shortlisting will begin on Thursday 12 February. However, as long as this advert remains live, first‑round interviews have not yet been finalised.
• Please submit a covering letter of no more than two pages outlining your interest in this role. Applications without a covering letter cannot be reviewed. We are unable to progress applications that do not demonstrate direct or clearly transferable experience.
• If you have any questions before applying, please contact our HR team.

For a full overview of the role and responsibilities, please see the job pack for more details.

Company Description

Marie Curie is the UK’s leading end of life charity. We are the largest non-NHS provider of end of life care in the UK, the only provider across all 4 nations, delivering nursing and hospice care in the community and in hospital, while providing information and support on all aspects of dying, death, and bereavement. Our leading research pushes the boundaries of what we know about good end of life, and our campaigns fight for a world where everyone gets to have the best possible quality of life while living with an illness that cannot be cured. 

Job Description

The PR & Media team raises awareness of who we are, what we do, and the impact Marie Curie has through local and national broadcast, print and online media. This team also looks after our work with high profile supporters and celebrity ambassadors. 

The National PR Lead will be responsible for the successful delivery of Public Relations and Media strategies to support a designated portfolio of work. You will play a vital role in leading priority PR workstreams. Your expertise will ensure we use the most effective PR tactics to meet team and organisational goals. You will also leave your impact on major policy campaigns, including high-profile initiatives such as Dying in Poverty and Fix End of Life Care.

You will be responsible for: 

• Delivering PR and media strategies for specific portfolios, leading priority workstreams, and ensuring effective tactics to meet campaign and organisational goals.
• Leading PR strategy development, execution, and evaluation to increase brand recognition and media reach; managing campaign objectives and sharing insights for continuous improvement.
• Identifying, training, and briefing spokespeople including senior staff.
• Managing reactive news and news desk functions to stay ahead of media agendas.
• Maintaining strong media relationships, ensuring consistent key message delivery, and advising on reputational risks and issues.
• Line management and development for two National Media & PR Officers.

Key Criteria:

• Established experience in a similar PR position, managing a news desk or a press office.  
• Experience working in a large, complex, face paced environment.
• Excellent understanding and experience working with national media (broadcast, print, online, podcasts etc).
• Proven experience landing national news stories, broadcast coverage, features, op-eds and reactive media opportunities.
• Line management or mentoring experience and the ability to lead teams.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to work with stakeholders of all levels.
• Experience or familiarity with healthcare policy and public affairs and understanding of political landscape will be an asset.
• Ability to work unsociable hours.

Please see the full job description.

Additional Information

Application & Interview Process 

• As part of your online application, you will be asked for a CV and supplementary details. Please review both the advert and job description and outline your most relevant skills, experience and knowledge for the role.
• Close date for applications: 15 Feb 2026. We encourage early applications as we may close the job advert sooner, upon receiving a sufficient number of applications.

Salary: £36,900-41,000 per annum depending on experience (+3,500 London Weighting Allowance if applicable + out of hours allowance)

Contract: Permanent, full-time (35h per week)

Based: Hybrid role with 1-2 days per week from our London office in Embassy Gardens

Benefits you’ll LOVE:

• Flexible working. We’re happy to discuss flexible working at the interview stage.
• 25 days annual leave (exclusive of Bank Holidays)
• Marie Curie Group Personal Pension Scheme (we will match your contribution up to 7.5%)
• Loan schemes for bikes; computers and season tickets
• Continuous professional development opportunities.
• Industry-leading training programmes
• Wellbeing and Employee Assistance Programmes
• Enhanced bereavement, family friendly and sickness benefits
• Access to Blue Light Card membership
• Subsidised Eye Care

At Marie Curie, our values are central to everything we do. They guide how we care for people, how we work together, and how we make decisions every day. We are committed to creating a workplace that is safe for everyone — staff and volunteers alike — supportive, inclusive and rewarding.  We provide care for all, and that commitment extends beyond the people we serve. We actively consider our impact on the planet, embedding sustainability into everyday decisions to create a lasting, positive difference for the individuals we care for and the world we share.

We believe everyone should have the opportunity to thrive and fulfil their potential. Marie Curie is deeply committed to diversity, equity and inclusion, recognising both the social justice imperative and the strength a diverse workforce brings.  We actively encourage applications from people of all cultures, perspectives and lived experiences.

Every application we receive is personally reviewed by a member of our Talent Acquisition team, and in return, we ask that your application authentically reflects you — your experience, perspective and voice.

L&W is growing our research team and looking for a Head of Research to lead innovative, impactful research and evaluation projects across our focus areas of employment and skills.

This role will expand our capacity to win and deliver evaluation and qualitative research, while strengthening our methodological capability. We’re open-minded about what that means—but we want people who can go beyond standard process evaluations and basic qualitative approaches. You might have experience mapping and evaluating complex system-level change, applying realist evaluation methods, or developing co-design and participatory research projects. You will have have applied these while working alongside the practitioners and policymakers who need these insights to make decisions.

You will join a team that is enthusiastic about learning and improving, and a peer group of experienced qualitative and quantitative research leaders who you will work alongside.

If you have research consultancy experience and want to join a purpose-driven organisation that delivers real impact locally and nationally, we’d love to hear from you. But you might come from a different professional background and still meet our criteria. 

Location: Hybrid working: 40-60% in an L&W office. Our offices for this role are currently in Leicester and London, but if you are based elsewhere, please contact us to talk about how the role could work for you.

Team:Research and Development

Salary:£45,650-£59,080 per annum (pro rata), dependent on experience and location

Duration:Permanent

Working hours:0.6 to 1 FTE, with flexible working supported (eg, condensed hours, flexible start and finish times

Main Purpose

The Head of Research: Evaluation and Qualitative Methods is a new post for L&W – as we seek to deepen our capability and expand our capacity.

The post-holder will direct research projects across all of our areas of work, providing specific leadership and expertise in programme and system-level evaluations, and projects mobilising innovative or advanced qualitative methods (such as system mapping, co-design methods, ethnographic methods, creative methods and/or theory-based/realist evaluation).

They will work with the Head of Research: Employment and Better Work to develop the wider qualitative and evaluative skills of the wider research team.

They will also play a key role in leading and writing responding to tenders and working with colleagues to develop pro-active research proposals that fill key evidence gaps and respond to the interests of our funders. They will be a good relationship manager – who can understand what commissioners are interested in, and shape projects to deliver meaningful insights that solve the problems practitioners and policymakers face across employment and skills.

Duties and Responsibilities

Leadership and management

• Line manage members of the R&D team
• Co-lead the qualitative methods group at L&W: supporting the wider research team to develop their skills. 

Income

• Write and contribute to reactive and proactive funding proposals across L&W’s areas of work, with a specific focus on process and theory-based evaluations, and proposals using advanced/innovative qualitative methods
• Build relationships with current and potential funders
• Identify and build relationships with research partners

Impact

• Ensure that all projects under their direction generate meaningful insights and recommendations that respond to the real-world concerns and challenges faced by practitioners and policymakers
• Communicate insights clearly and effectively to funders and other stakeholders

Delivery

• Act as Project Director for research and evaluation projects: liaising with funders; shaping research proposals and plans; supporting project managers; leading project meetings; ensuring project margins are delivered effectively; carrying out research directly where appropriate
• Work with External Affairs team to develop appropriate comms and influencing plans for projects under your direction
• Use your research skills and experience to support the wider development of the Learning and Work team

Person Specification 

Expericence 

Experience of delivering and directing high-quality programmes evaluation and policy-relevant research: shaping research plans, working with funders and delivering meaningful insights -Essential 

Experience of responding to research and evaluation tenders and writing proposals. -Essential 

Experience of managing, supporting and developing researchers and research managers -Essential 

Experience of carrying out research and evaluation in the areas of employment and skills -Desirable

Skills

Advanced qualitative evaluation and research skills, eg. One or more of theory-based evaluation, ethnographic methods, creative/art-based methods, co-design methods, system-level evaluation -Essential 

Effective and efficient relationship management -Essential 

Clear and direct written communication style -Essential 

Knowledge

Knowledge of, and commitment to, L&W’s charitable aims and purpose -Essential 

Demonstrable knowledge in the areas of employment and skills policy and practice -Desirable

Learning and Work Institute works across the UK. Our work in Wales is led by a Cardiff based team, but all staff are required to follow the guidance set out in our Welsh language scheme when working in Wales.

About Woman’s Trust

The charity was established in 1996 to meet the gap in specialist mental health services. Woman’s Trust is led by and for women and aims to ensure that women affected by domestic abuse can live a life free from further harm and abuse. Our approach is trauma-informed and person-centred, empowering survivors on their journey to recovery from the trauma. We are committed to a positive, inclusive and equitable environment for our staff, service users and volunteers.

Alongside delivering our existing 1-1 counselling, self-development workshops and therapeutic support groups for women who have experienced domestic abuse, we are focused on developing our innovative mental health services for young women and girls, delivering new peer-led support groups and providing therapeutic groups to children and their mothers. We are also committed to developing further awareness-raising workshops and training for professionals, building on our research and policy to improve systems nationally.

Background

The lack of recognition of domestic abuse as a mental health issue within the NHS leads to delayed and inadequate support for survivors. This gap in understanding and response often result in survivors only being able to access and receive appropriate care when their mental health deteriorates to the point of requiring secondary mental health services (Women’s Aid 2021).  Meta analysis suggests that CBT, one of the NHS’s most prescribed approaches for mental ill-health, is not the best approach for domestic abuse survivors as it does not recognise and take into account the external factors and dynamics of abuse, specifically power and control, the role of the perpetrator and the resulting trauma for the survivor.

In March 2025, WT published its first major report, ‘Living Without Hope’ which consolidates existing and increasing academic, government and sector research demonstrating the significant impact of domestic abuse on women’s mental health. Outlining the current agency responses at national, regional and local levels and the gaps in provision; the report also makes recommendations for change and improvement across the VAWG and health sectors.

Building on the research highlighted in our ‘Living Without Hope’ report, WT has secured funding to work with key stakeholders in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea to examine the links between domestic abuse and mental health, the specific experiences of Arab and Moroccan women and their access to safe, appropriate services that meet their needs.

Purpose

This is an exciting new role and will be focused on developing Woman’s Trust’s (WT) response to addressing the systemic issues female survivors of domestic abuse face when trying to access support.

Working with key stakeholders in the London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (LBKC) and specifically Al-Hasniya to ensure that professionals have a clearer understanding of the link between domestic abuse and mental health and its impact on survivors.

Contract & hours: Part-time, 22.5 hours per week (0.6 FTE). Fixed term as dependant on funding.

Location: Woman’s Trust premises including co-location with statutory partners and community partnership locations.

Closing date: 10 February 2026.

Interviews: 18 February 2026.

Please note, this post is open to female applicants only – Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, Part 1 applies.

We are looking for a Mission Communications Lead

About Nesta

We are Nesta, the UK’s innovation agency for social good. We design, test and scale solutions to society’s biggest problems. Our three missions are to give every child a fair start, help people live healthy lives, and create a sustainable future where the economy works for both people and the planet.

For over 20 yeas, we have worked to support, encourage and inspire innovation. We work in three roles: as an innovation partner working with frontline organisations to design and test new solutions, as a venture builder supporting new and early stage businesses, and as a system shaper creating the conditions for innovation.

Harnessing the rigour of science and the creativity of design, we work relentlessly to change millions of lives for the better.  

Summary

The purpose of this role is to use communications to contribute to the success of Nesta’s healthy life mission, which aims to halve obesity by 2030. The post holder will lead on strategic communications for the healthy life mission, seeking and securing opportunities for Nesta to advance its policy agenda and build its public profile.

This includes proposing and planning communications, partnership development and management, public affairs activities; being the strategic lead for stakeholder relationships across the mission; and owning the mission narrative and messaging, ensuring salience and consistency of key messages and communications outputs.

The role will:

• Lead on strategic communications: translating and applying communications skills to a health context, providing tailored communications advice that is specific to the domain area to deliver high-impact communications activity for the mission. This will include the development and delivery of influencing strategies for our policy priorities and related public affairs activity.
• Draft and edit a variety of communications content, driving through from conception to delivery and evaluation.
• Act as strategic lead on healthy life mission stakeholder relationships: identifying target stakeholders, having an overview of engagement with them across the mission, planning and supporting engagement activities.
• Manage partnership communications with partners, from high profile industry partners to NGOs, identifying and mitigating risks to protect Nesta’s reputation and spotting and delivering on opportunities to enhance it
• Use excellent project and people management skills to coordinate the smooth, efficient delivery and evaluation of a number of high-impact communications campaigns at any one time.
• Lead on discrete communications projects such as commissioning creative content, audience research or narrative development and testing.

This role sits as part of both the communications team (made up of specialists across media, marketing, events and content production), and healthy life mission team (including experts across policy, research, behavioural science, data science and design).

The role does not have direct line management responsibility, but all communications and mission team members are expected to play a role in supporting the learning and development of more junior members of the team.

Please note this is a 12 month parental leave cover

The person

You should have the following skills and/or experience:

• Professional communications experience (essential): You will have proven experience of working in a communications or public affairs role. A creative thinker and experienced writer and editor, you will have experience of working on a variety of communications outputs designed to inform and influence different audiences and stakeholders, such as blogs, briefings and pitch decks.
• Managing integrated communications campaigns (essential): You will have proven experience of driving and delivering successful communications campaigns to achieve policy impact and influence.
• Project delivery skills (essential): You will have proven experience of delivering high-impact communications campaigns from conception to delivery and evaluation. You can proactively plan and deliver work, and identify and act on risks and find solutions.
• Strong interpersonal and networking skills (essential): You will have experience of applying these effectively to collaborate well with colleagues, build stakeholder relationships and develop partnerships.
• Knowledge of the UK health and/or food sector (essential): You will have knowledge of how the UK health and/or food sector works from experience gained in a heath and/or food-related communications role, either in the NHS, local or national government or the third sector. If you don’t have relevant professional professional experience, you will have a proven interest.
• Knowledge of political systems and government in the UK (desirable): You will have knowledge and understanding of how policy is made and developed, and of the wider political system, including central and devolved governments and parliaments, ideally gained in a professional context.

As with all members of the Nesta Group communications team, the postholder will also be at their best working in a collaborative, fast-paced environment, have a flexible approach and an appetite for taking on new tasks and challenges. They will also have excellent written and verbal communication skills and a proven ability to write for a range of different audiences.

What we offer

Salary: £58,000 plus an array of benefits.

Location: This role is based in London, with a hybrid working arrangement and a minimum of two days in the office

Term: 12-month parental leave cover

Hours: This is a full-time role, but we offer a range of flexible working arrangements and encourage our people to take advantage of them. Many do.

Reports to: Group Exec. Director of Communications

Making an application

To apply for this role, please submit your application before 8:00am on the 11th February 2026.

Interviews will take place w/c 23rd February 2026.

At Nesta, we believe that a diverse workforce leads to an organisation that is more innovative, more creative and gets better results.

We want our workforce to represent the diversity of the people and communities we serve. We also want our workplace to be one where different experiences, expertise and perspectives are valued, and where everyone is encouraged to grow and develop.

This means that when we are recruiting, we actively seek to reach a diverse pool of candidates. It also means that we are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that potential employees may need to in order to be successful.

We recognise the importance of a good balance between work and home life, so we do everything we can to accommodate flexible working, including working from home, compressed or part-time hours, job shares and other arrangements.

Please just let us know in your application or at any stage throughout the process (and beyond) if these are options you’d like to explore.

This is an exciting opportunity to get experience with a large and growing charity with an engaged and fun team. You will be a key part of our mission to ​find a cure for all types of brain tumours.​

​Our Systems Manager is being seconded to an internal project for the next 6-9 months and so we are seeking an experienced IT professional to join our team for an interim basis for six months with the possibility of a three month extension.​​​​

In this role you will you lead a team of three people in supporting our staff team of 70 by providing reliable, effective and efficient IT systems and equipment. This include ​the monitoring and maintenance of our IT software and, with external support, our IT hardware. ​​

You will line manage the Database Assistant ​and Data Processing Assistant.

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​If you are excited to learn more about this position, please take a read through our recruitment pack provided in the advert.

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If you have the skills and ambition that we are looking for we welcome your application. ​ We are really looking forward to welcoming a new member to our team!​​​

We are asking for a CV as the first step but applicants may be asked to provide a targeted covering letter as part of the selection process. ​

Interviews will be conducted during the application window as appropriate, and will consist of a first interview via MS Teams, progressing, if successful to a face to face second interview, held at our offices in Milton Keynes.​

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We reserve the right to close the application window early and advise candidates to apply in good time to avoid disappointment.​

We are looking for people who share our passion for finding a cure for brain tumours and who have the skills and experience to make a difference. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, cultures, genders, sexual orientations, abilities, and ages. We believe that diversity enriches our organisation and helps us achieve our mission. We are committed to providing an inclusive and supportive environment where everyone can be themselves and contribute to our vision.

This is a rewarding and varied part-time role at the heart of a national organisation working to improve life for the one in six people in England affected by a neurological condition.

As Administration and Membership Officer, you will play a key role in ensuring the Neurological Alliance runs smoothly, efficiently and professionally. You will support strong governance, effective membership engagement and well-run meetings and events, helping to ensure that lived experience, evidence and collective expertise shape health and care policy.

This is a practical, admin-led role with real responsibility and autonomy. You will manage day-to-day administration, support the Board and members, maintain accurate records and systems, and ensure financial and membership processes run effectively. In doing so, you will help amplify the voices of people affected by neurological conditions and our member organisations.

This role would suit someone looking for a meaningful, flexible part-time position where their work directly supports collaboration, influence and change. The role is home-based, with occasional travel for team meetings (around once every two months) and infrequent external meetings.

About you

You will be an experienced administrator who is highly organised, reliable and detail-focused, and who enjoys keeping things running well behind the scenes.

You will be comfortable working independently, juggling multiple tasks, and supporting colleagues, trustees and members. You’ll be confident using IT systems and databases, open to learning new digital tools, and interested in improving administrative processes over time.

You will bring a friendly, professional and collaborative approach, and share our commitment to inclusion, partnership working and improving outcomes for people affected by neurological conditions.

About us

The Neurological Alliance is the only collective national voice for more than 100 organisations working together to improve treatment, care and support for people affected by neurological conditions across England.

Our vision is a world where everyone affected by a neurological condition is supported to live life to the fullest.

Our mission is to unite and empower people affected by neurological conditions and our member organisations to influence health and care policy in England, so it reflects real-life experiences and ensures everyone can access the support they need.

We are a small, collaborative organisation with a strong focus on evidence, lived experience and impact. We are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion, and to supporting staff wellbeing through flexible working, regular 1:1s, and opportunities for learning and development.

Our values

• Inclusive – we listen deeply, value every voice and welcome diversity
• Bold – we speak truth to power, grounded in lived experience
• Together – we achieve more through collaboration
• Leading – we champion the rights and needs of people affected by neurological conditions
• Insightful – we connect voices, data and evidence to guide better decisions

Key responsibilities

The role includes:

• Day-to-day administration and office management
• Supporting Board, committee and member meetings (scheduling, papers, minutes)
• Membership administration, renewals and fee collection
• Financial administration, including invoicing and use of Xero
• Managing shared inboxes and responding to routine enquiries
• Supporting the AGM, member meetings and events
• Maintaining accurate records, databases and systems
• Supporting website updates, communications and surveys

The salary for this role is £28,000 per year, pro rata.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

We are a Disability Confident employer and are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible workplace. We actively encourage applications from disabled people and from people with lived experience of neurological conditions.

We will make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process and in the workplace to support you to do your best work.

We may close the application window early if we receive a high volume of quality applications.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone with excellent strategic, analytical and leadership skills to join Impetus as an Investment Director and support us in our mission to transform the lives of young people.

The Investment Director (ID) is a key member of the Investment Team, playing a leading role in identifying, assessing, and supporting portfolio partner charities and other non-profit organisations to deepen their impact and scale their outcomes. This role works closely with other Investment Directors and Investment Managers to deliver external facing support to portfolio partners as well as internal projects to support the development of the investment model and portfolio strategy.

Investment Directors use strategic thinking, analytical rigour, and senior relationship skills to support a portfolio of amazing organisations that, together, will help shift the life chances and outcomes of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds in the UK.

About the Investment Team

The Investment Team is responsible for selecting portfolio partners, managing our charity investments and supporting our portfolio partners to improve and scale their impact.

The Investment Team also leads the Impetus Leadership Academy, a leadership development programme to support talent from ethnic minority backgrounds in the UK youth sector to progress into senior leadership roles.

The team is made up of 18 people, including former teachers, charity chief executives, charity impact leads, management consultants, social investment portfolio managers and impact consultants.  

The team is led by a Portfolio Director who sits on the Senior Management Team. The Portfolio Director has 5 direct reports: a Deputy Portfolio Director, three Sector Leads (who lead our work in School engagement, School attainment and Employment Sectors) and an Impact Lead. Sector Leads line manage 6 Investment Directors. Investment Directors line manage Investment Managers (currently 5). Investment Directors and Investment Managers tend to primarily focus on a sector but might have mixed portfolios, depending on need, experience and interest.

The Investment Team has a good track record of role progression. All four Leads and a number of our Investment Directors were promoted from within the team.

The team is passionate, rigorous, determined, creative and warm. We come from a range of backgrounds and bring a broad mix of perspectives.  We care deeply for our colleagues, our portfolio partners and the young people we serve.

About this role

We believe that all young people deserve to succeed in school and in work, whatever their background. As we enter a challenging time with rising inflation and a likely recession, our work feels more vital than ever before. We are pleased to be able to expand our team to support our growing portfolio of charity and non-profit partners, in order to reach and impact more lives. The role of Investment Director presents an exciting opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the charities we serve, the team itself and the whole of Impetus.  

Key responsibilities

Finding high potential charities and non-profit partners for our portfolio

• Identifying potential charitable organisations for investment 
• Leading in-depth due diligence process within the scope of a grant round, to assess and build partnership foundations with potential partners – covering leadership and governance, and their impact, scale, and partnership potential; 
• Modelling from first contact of origination, our approach to engaged and trust-based investment management support;
• Developing and presenting high quality investment propositions to our Investment Committee.

Managing partnerships with portfolio partners

• Managing relationships with partner Chairs and CEOs 
• Agreeing Service Funding Agreements, including appropriate annual investment milestones to allow for a clear assessment of re-investment potential at end of phase 
• Regularly monitoring and assessing partner progress / risks against milestones and making evidence-based recommendations on progression or exit to Leads, Portfolio Director and the Investment Committee
• Escalating key risks on performance, leadership and safeguarding 
• Conducting annual partnership review with Sector Leads and partner CEOs
• Working with Impetus Finance colleagues to ensure timely distribution of grant payments, in line with Service Funding Agreements. 

Supporting portfolio partners 

• Providing direct support to CEOs and senior colleagues on key strategic topics, using a mix of at least monthly one-to-one meetings and group facilitation to:
  • clarify theory of change,
  • define long term ambition,
  • develop growth strategy
  • achieve a step change in the delivery and performance management of outcomes,
  • strengthen leadership (individual and collective) and governance capabilities,
  • develop path to scale,
  • build financial resilience;
• Scoping and project managing pro bono capacity-building projects (in addition to providing direct management support). Ensure projects are delivered to a high standard and contribute to charity progression;
• Identifying engagement opportunities for our donors and supporters with portfolio partners that are aligned with the partner’s activities and do not distract or undermine their core work;
• Collaborating with the Impetus Philanthropy team to support the development of additional funding opportunities for portfolio partners, enhancing their ability to deliver impact at scale;
• Effectively leveraging the support of investment managers to advance the objectives developed for each portfolio partner that is managed by an Investment Director.

Support to Impetus

• Developing expertise about “what works” in the sector through cultivation and use of expert input and engagement as well as investigation into key research and evaluative literature;
• Contributing insights and learning from portfolio work to inform Impetus’ strategy, model and delivery;
• Contributing to internal priorities and working groups (e.g. team strategy discussions, digital improvement initiatives, or equity, diversity, and inclusion)
• Contribute towards Impetus’ public affairs and philanthropy objectives through input into case studies, research and policy campaigns, donor reports and fundraising events
• Sharing the learning from our work across the team, across the organisation and externally working within Impetus strategy and agreed forums
• Engaging in Impetus pro bono, communications, and advocacy events, and engage portfolio partners appropriately in these events.
• Where appropriate, line-managing and supporting Investment Managers on the team to grow and develop, and achieve their project, role and team objectives.

Person specification

Essential

• A commitment to Impetus’ mission.
• Senior level responsibility and a strong track record of building trust-based relationships with senior stakeholders, advising them on key strategic decisions, and challenging them in a respectful and collaborative manner.
• A talent for strategic thinking around complex issues.
• Strong financial acumen and analytical skills.
• Understanding of impact measurement and evaluation fundamentals.
• Tenacity and initiative.
• Ability to flex personal style to needs of charity and leadership.
• Growth mind-set to seek out and act on feedback.
• Proven ability to work independently, and to exercise good judgment.
• Strong planning and time management skills.
• Interest in partnering closely with charities that are doing what it takes to get better.
• A commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.

If you don't tick all these boxes, but still feel that you fit the profile, please apply anyway.

Desirable

• Experience in the non-profit (charity or social enterprise) sector, through work, as a pro-bono volunteer or Trustee capacity.
• Experience in consulting, investment management, senior charity management, or other in-depth grant making and advisory work.
• Knowledge and expertise in UK education or youth employability sectors.
• Board experience in private, public or third sector.
• Understanding of or experience with commissioning impact evaluations.