Policy and research director jobs in south ockendon, thurrock

Goodman Masson are delighted to be partnered with the Black Researcher Consortium to recruit for their Chair of the Board.

The Black Researcher Consortium is a newly formed community interest company (C.I.C.), designed, developed and built by people with Black heritage, for people with Black heritage. The Consortium objects are to address the systemic under-representation of Black researchers across educational institutions, research organisations, government, and industry environments in collaboration with Black researchers, Black-led community initiatives and all those bridging the systemic gap, connecting Black researchers.

As the Chair, you will be responsible for overseeing appraisal process for board members and consortium director.

Main Responsibilities Include:

• Lead the Board in ensuring it fulfils its responsibilities for the governance of the Consortium
• Work in partnership with any executive directors
• Carry out an annual appraisal of the Executive Directors
• Chair the Board meetings and Annual General Meeting
• Represent the Consortium at events and on other related boards or working parties

Essentials:

• Prior experience as a Chair
• Ability to adopt an inclusive chairing style

Monthly working pattern: 4 board meetings, 1-2 strategy days, and committee meetings, amounting to 3 days a month.

Salary: £4,680 per annum

Application Process:

To apply for the role please submit an updated CV along with your response (no more than 300 words to each question) to the following questions to Dan Kelner at Goodman Masson:

Video submissions are accepted as answers to these questions as well. Please do try to limit to around a minute long due to file size restrictions, please send these to also.

Questions:

• Culture, community, and collaboration have been key in the background to BRC thus far, can you tell us what actions you have undertaken in any arena that will help us to achieve a welcoming and inclusive panel, committee, or board.
• As a new organisation, the BRC will face numerous strategic challenges including navigating a complex external political environment, but also internal challenges in navigating and defining our own mission. Can you identify some of the challenges you anticipate for us and any experience you have had in addressing challenges in other arenas.
• In addressing the underrepresentation of Black researchers, a big part of the role of Chair will be in representing the Consortium in a public arena which does not always shine a positive light on initiatives like the BRC. Can you tell us about an experience of facing adversity when acting in a professional capacity in a public arena on a highly scrutinised topic?
• Please feel free to add any other comments that you think might be useful in understand what you will contribute to the role of Chair of the Board

Timelines:

• Q&A session on Thursday evening the 30^th of April Via Microsoft Teams (contact for an invite)
• Application deadline is 5^th of May
• First interviews are on 19^th of May
• Second interviews are on 2^nd of June

In our company values we aim for equity at all stages of the recruitment process, please let us know if we can do anything to make the process more accessible to you.

Goodman Masson are delighted to be partnered with the Black Researcher Consortium to recruit for their Chair of the Board.

The Black Researcher Consortium is a newly formed community interest company (C.I.C.), designed, developed and built by people with Black heritage, for people with Black heritage. The Consortium objects are to address the systemic under-representation of Black researchers across educational institutions, research organisations, government, and industry environments in collaboration with Black researchers, Black-led community initiatives and all those bridging the systemic gap, connecting Black researchers.

As the Chair, you will be responsible for overseeing appraisal process for board members and consortium director.

Main Responsibilities Include:

• Lead the Board in ensuring it fulfils its responsibilities for the governance of the Consortium
• Work in partnership with any executive directors
• Carry out an annual appraisal of the Executive Directors
• Chair the Board meetings and Annual General Meeting
• Represent the Consortium at events and on other related boards or working parties

Essentials:

• Prior experience as a Chair
• Ability to adopt an inclusive chairing style

Monthly working pattern: 4 board meetings, 1-2 strategy days, and committee meetings, amounting to 3 days a month.

Salary: £4,680 per annum

Application Process:

To apply for the role please submit an updated CV along with your response (no more than 300 words to each question) to the following questions to Dan Kelner at Goodman Masson:

Video submissions are accepted as answers to these questions as well. Please do try to limit to around a minute long due to file size restrictions, please send these to also.

Questions:

• Culture, community, and collaboration have been key in the background to BRC thus far, can you tell us what actions you have undertaken in any arena that will help us to achieve a welcoming and inclusive panel, committee, or board.
• As a new organisation, the BRC will face numerous strategic challenges including navigating a complex external political environment, but also internal challenges in navigating and defining our own mission. Can you identify some of the challenges you anticipate for us and any experience you have had in addressing challenges in other arenas.
• In addressing the under-representation of Black researchers, a big part of the role of Chair will be in representing the Consortium in a public arena which does not always shine a positive light on initiatives like the BRC. Can you tell us about an experience of facing adversity when acting in a professional capacity in a public arena on a highly scrutinised topic?
• Please feel free to add any other comments that you think might be useful in understand what you will contribute to the role of Chair of the Board

Timelines:

• Q&A session on Thursday evening the 30^th of April Via Microsoft Teams (contact for an invite)
• Application deadline is 5^th of May
• First interviews are on 19^th of May
• Second interviews are on 2^nd of June

In our company values we aim for equity at all stages of the recruitment process, please let us know if we can do anything to make the process more accessible to you.

About the role

As a Foundation we are committed to learning together with others and reflecting and acting on what we learn. We learn to improve our understanding about how to approach the complex issues we are trying to address, to examine how our funding relates to the social change we want to see, and to improve how we work and fund.

The Learning & Insight Officer will play a key part in delivering our learning, monitoring and research activities, and we want the successful candidate to be able to develop their skills and interest within the role. They will work closely with the Head of Learning & Insight, wider Grants team colleagues and others across the Foundation to gather insights from our grants and wider work. These insights will inform our strategic direction and contribute to wider sector learning and understanding.

This is a permanent, full time role (35 hours) but we will also consider a part time role at 4 days/ 28 hours equivalent.

We are committed to best practice and accountability in equity, diversity and inclusion. We value, welcome and respect all the differences that make us who we are including: age, disability and mental health, neurodiversity, cultural background, ethnicity and race, sex, gender identity and expression and sexual orientation including LGBTQIA+ identities, religion and socioeconomic background.

Main Responsibilities

• Work with colleagues to design and implement systems for the LEF to collect data and to capture and share learning in a systematic way that reflects our values and our commitment to Power, Cuture and Inclusion.

• Coordinate a timetable of activities for LEF to learn from its grants and direct work (such as regular feedback surveys and internal reflection sessions).

• Work with colleagues to collate and analyse evidence from organisations we fund to identify key insights and learning (such as reports and notes from grant management calls).

• Work with the Head of Learning & Insight and wider grants team colleagues to prepare our grants data for publication (for example through 360Giving and as part of the Funders for Racial Equality Alliance (FREA) Audit)

• Support the LEF to communicate insights in accessible and engaging ways.

• Work with colleagues to prepare key insight reports and data for a range of audiences such as colleagues, trustees or other funders.

• Work with colleagues to run internal sessions with staff and trustees to reflect on our processes (what is working well, less well and what we can improve about how we work) and understand the progress the LEF is making towards its strategic objectives.

• Work with colleagues to run online and in-person events to bring together the organisations and people we fund to reflect and learn from one another.

• Support the development of a ‘culture of learning’ within the LEF and with grantees and 

• Work with the Head of Learning & Insight to commission and manage external contractors for particular pieces of work (for example, research briefs or learning partnerships).

• Provide administrative support on tasks, such as scheduling meetings.

• Carry out such tasks as the Director of Grants & Learning or Head of Learning & Insight may from time to time deem necessary for the effective and efficient functioning of the Foundation.

To see a full description of the role and what we are looking for, download the candidate recruitment pack.

The role of the Young Carers Programme Manager is to lead on the delivery of our employability and aspirations programming for young adult carers, to support positive transitions from education into employment. The role works in partnership with our network of local carer organisation, employers and wider sector stakeholders, to deliver an engaging and diverse programme of opportunities for young adult careers to meet with employers, experience work environments, and broaden opportunities to access careers of choice.

Our ideal candidate:

• We are looking for someone with strong organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities, regardless of the industry you've worked in.
• Skills such as project coordination, gained through professional roles, volunteering, or other responsibilities, will be highly valued.
• Excellent presentation skills and ability to speak engagingly in public to a range of audiences will be key.
• Knowledge and understanding of young carers issues would be beneficial, whether gained in a personal or professional capacity, such as policy and legislation affecting young carers, children, and young people generally.
• Familiarity of monitoring and evaluation processes.
• Competency in digital tools and social media which can be used to engage, promote activities and events for young people.
• Experience of delivering employability and/or skills development programmes would be beneficial.
• Demonstrated experience working with volunteers and coordinating volunteering programmes.

If this sounds like you, download the recruitment pack below to find out more about the role.

RLS Caseworker / Solicitor

As a RLS Caseworker / Solicitor you will conduct a small strategic caseload of asylum and refugee family reunion cases and assist on litigation (where eligible) under our legal aid contract to push for better decision-making, secure results for individuals and pursue improvements in the relevant law, policy and practices. 

You will also act as the supervising caseworker/lawyer for the Afghan Pro Bono Initiative (APBI), which is a specialist casework project delivered by RLS with funding and pro bono assistance from 11 leading commercial law firms. As part of this role, you will supervise pro bono lawyers to provide high quality legal representation for Afghans on matters including family reunion, the ARAP scheme, the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme and others. The project is now in its 3rd year and won the Most Effective Pro Bono Partnership Award at the Law Works Pro Bono Awards in 2022 as well as being nominated and commended for numerous other awards in 2022 and 2023. Please note that RLS recognise that pro bono legal work is always an adjunct to, and not a substitute for, an adequate system of publicly funded legal services. 

Key responsibilities

• Have conduct of a small strategic caseload and provide high quality legal advice and representation to clients
• Supervise the work of volunteer pro bono commercial lawyers on cases
• Deliver training to pro bono commercial lawyers
• Ensure that all legal work is promptly and accurate recorded on RLS’s case management system and keep relevant time recording
• Develop and disseminate relevant information on legal developments in this area for relevant stakeholders, including both the Afghan Community and building the capacity of other practitioners
• Work in close collaboration with the other project Lawyer/s to develop and share experiences and best practice in relation to all aspects of casework (legal, evidential and procedural) and relevant internal processes
• Work in close collaboration with the Legal Director and Casework Supervisorto ensure that appropriate steps to achieve the aims and objectives of the project are taken, including ensuring that relevant data is obtained and assisting with the timely completion of the project Operational Plan/s
• Work in close collaboration with the APBI Coordinator to contribute to the production of materials such as project periodic reports, information on emerging and strategic issues in relation to ‘safe’ routes for use in advocacy, content for newsletters, social media posts and articles to raise awareness of the project and its aims and outputs
• Participate in, and contribute to, RLS’s monitoring, evaluation and learning framework
• Be an active member of the RLS team participating in team meetings at both the UK and International level: engaging in a collegiate and collaborative environment that includes participating in the development of a new and exciting legal organisation
• Work in close collaboration with the Community Engagement and Research Lead to contribute to the production of information sheets and other materials to disseminate to the Afghan community/ies
• Maintain accurate and confidential records in line with GDPR
• Adhere to RLS safeguarding policies and procedures at all times. 

Person specification: 

Essential

• Be either a member of the Bar, a solicitor and accredited to IAAS Senior caseworker level, accredited to IAAS Senior caseworker level, or OISC accredited to Level 3
• Experience of asylum casework
• Experience of refugee family reunion procedures and applications, including applications outside of the Immigration Rules reliant on Article 8 ECHR and other human rights provisions
• Experience of online immigration applications
• Demonstrable knowledge of legal aid provision and ECF applications
• Experience of and commitment to working in a collaborative way on legal cases
• Good verbal and written communication skills in English
• Strong organisational skills, including the ability to prioritise work and meet deadlines
• Strong attention to detail, responsiveness, reliability and dependability
• Strong interpersonal and relationship management skills and an ability to deal professionally and collaboratively with both legal and not-for-profit stakeholders
• Computer literacy
• Right to reside and work in the UK
• Enjoy working with a small team in a flexible and fast-paced environment, as well as being an independent self-starter able to work with a high degree of autonomy
• Have a strong commitment to upholding the human rights of asylum seekers, migrants, and refugees
• Commitment to the aims of the project and the values of RLS
• The successful candidate will be required to obtain an enhanced DBS certificate (we cover the cost). However, a criminal record is not a barrier to the role. 

Desirable

• Demonstrable supervision experience strongly preferred
• Those with lived experience of navigating immigration systems are strongly encouraged to apply and will be favourably considered
• Experience of legal aid casework
• Experience of conducting immigration appeals and/or public law litigation
• Experience of supervising commercial lawyers in a pro bono project setting
• Experience of preparing and delivering training

Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer, yet historically just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease. Brain Tumour Research is determined to change this. 

Their vision is to find a cure for all types of brain tumours. To achieve their mission, they are looking for a Community Fundraiser who will proactively engage with supporters, community groups and volunteers across the West Midlands to join their team of 12 Community Fundraisers across the UK.

The Community Fundraiser (West Midlands) is responsible for providing support and guidance to fundraisers within their communities to achieve their ambitions and ultimately raise vital funds for Brain Tumour Research. This is achieved through a wide variety of activities such as helping supporters to make the most of their own fundraising, engaging participants with externally organised events such as the Great Birmingham Run, and encouraging communities to get involved in events organised by Brain Tumour Research such as Wear a Hat Day and Walk for Hope. The Community Fundraiser will be the face of Brain Tumour Research in the area, providing excellent stewardship to existing supporters, and building great relationships with new supporters.

This post has been vacant since Autumn, and as such needs a fundraiser with confidence and capability in fundraising to join the team, provide donor love to the loyal supporters in the area, and approach developing the areas potential with energy and enthusiasm. If you have fundraising experience and are keen to join a charity with ambition and an amazing supporter base, then this could be the role for you.

Please note the successful candidate will need to live within the region (Warwickshire, Staffordshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Shropshire and Gloucestershire), have access to a car and be willing to travel around their region. If you are not currently based in this area, please clarify if you have plans to relocate.  

Application notes 

Please download the Candidate Info Pack provided for further information about the role, timelines and next steps.

To progress your application, please follow instructions in the pack to organise an informal screening call. Please note, we cannot shortlist candidates who have not had a screening call. 

As this role has been vacant for some time, we are running rolling interview to see suitable candidates as they apply. Interviews will be kept to one stage, and organised to suit the candidate, where possible. Don’t delay – apply today! 

Turn2us is a national charity tackling financial insecurity and its structural causes. We work with co-producers and partners to provide people in financial crisis with the means and agency to get back on their feet, build resilience, move forward with their lives and thrive.

Turn2us and its partners have secured £1.5 million from The National Lottery Community Fund to deliver an ambitious and innovative new programme that will support charities in England and Scotland to empower diverse and marginalised communities to respond to climate change and to get their voices heard in environmental policy and media debates.It will focus on Disabled people, those facing financial insecurity and people from ethnic minority communities. These voices are often the least heard from in national and local debates on our environment. This new work aims to change that.

As part of this programme, The National Lottery Community Fund have funded the creation of an Engagement Manager post at Turn2us to work with those facing financial insecurity. The Engagement Manager employed by Turn2us will deliver activity with smaller charities and grassroots organisations supporting those facing financial insecurity that:

• Increases awareness of the impact of environmental change and related policy on different communities 
• Listens to people in these communities to find out what actions they want charities and local government to take
• Develops shared local environmental policy priorities and empowers these organisations to advocate directly to local and national policy makers
• Identifies actions that these organisations can take to support communities to respond to climate change, and helps organisations to implement them
• Identifies people with lived experience to receive hands on training in order to act as diverse champions to media and policy makers

They will work closely with Community Engagement Managers employed by Disability Rights UK, and Race Equality Foundation, focussed on reaching organisations supporting Disabled people and people from ethnic minority communities. 

We offer flexible working patterns, both in terms of hours and remote working. Please note that all employees are required to work from the office a minimum of 4 days a month on a weekly basis.

Some roles may be required to be in the office more often than others and this will be agreed with the hiring manager upon starting at Turn2us.

Please note that all job offers are subject to 2 – 3 satisfactory references and a disclosure satisfactory to Turn2us from the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS).

As an equal opportunities employer, we are committed to equity, inclusion and diversity and the value people from different backgrounds bring to a team. If, like us, you believe everyone has the right to have enough to live on, and you are ambitious about eradicating financial insecurity, join us and build your career with a charity dedicated to ensuring dignity and equity for all.

Closing date: 06/05/2025, 23:59

Interview date: w/c 19/05/25

Prostate Cancer Research aims to develop and deliver breakthrough medicines and treatments to achieve a world where people are free from the impact of prostate cancer. The organisation believes that it is only through research that we can build a future in which no family will have to fear losing a loved one to prostate cancer. In the last four years, we have expanded the amount of research it funds by four times. 

Prostate Cancer Research is seeking a an experienced, dynamic and driven Trusts & Statutory Executive. The role will take a lead on identifying and securing collaboration and funding opportunities with both existing and prospective partners, developing and managing a pipeline of funding partners that align with PCR’s mission and core programmes of work. 

Since 2018, PCR has significantly increased income from Trusts & Foundations and Statutory sources, as well as working in collaboration with other medical research charities and non-profits. This is a newly created and integral role within the Partnership Fundraising team to build on this work and will be key to identifying and nurturing relationships with prospective partners and funders, as well as developing and implementing comprehensive partnership strategies to engage existing and prospective partners. 

The ideal candidate will have demonstrable experience of developing and nurturing relationships with funding partners (with experience of identifying and securing at least five-figure income), understanding complex issues and working with others to identify solutions, and producing compelling funding proposals in support of this work. They will also have excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the proven ability to build and manage strong, impactful relationships. 

Finally, candidates must have a passion for securing funding that will help improve the lives of people with prostate cancer and a commitment to advancing healthcare through strategic partnerships and collaboration. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Conduct proactive prospecting and qualification of Trusts & Statutory funding opportunities to build a robust pipeline of potential funders. 

• Identify and nurture relationships with prospective Trust & Foundations and Statutory funding partners aligned with the mission and values of PCR. 

• Develop and implement comprehensive partnership strategies to engage existing and prospective funding partners. 

• Stay informed about PCR’s current and future work and translate larger, complex programmes of work into relevant, compelling funding asks.

• Work closely with PCR's delivery departments and other income streams to identify, develop and maximise income generation opportunities. 

• Lead the preparation and submission of funding applications and reports for both existing and prospective funders. 

• Develop compelling, high-quality proposals for new and existing programmes, ensuring they are tailored to each funder’s priorities and aligned with organisational objectives.

• Lead negotiations and secure funding support from funding partners for activities aligned with PCR’s programmes of work. 

• Effectively manage project monitoring and reporting for PCR’s existing funded activities with identified funding partners, including regular communication, reporting, and public recognition of contributions (as appropriate), working closely with PCR’s delivery and communications teams.

• Stay informed of industry trends, giving initiatives, and relevant developments to inform partnership strategies and opportunities. 

• Represent PCR at external events, conferences, and meetings to promote partnership opportunities and expand our network, as required. 

• Database management to record pipeline and enable strategic planning against established KPIs and income targets. 

• Support Director of Partnerships to monitor and report income performance to PCR’s Board of Trustees. 

For a full list of desirable candidate experience, please see the attached job description. 

How to apply 

Please apply by submitting a copy of your CV and a supporting statement (no more than 2 pages) highlighting your suitability for the position and why you are interested in the position. 

There will be a two-stage interview process. The first interview will be online (via Teams), and the second will be an in-person interview at our offices in Holborn, London. 

 PCR is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals regardless of their race, gender, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation, or age. 

We're recruiting for a new role for someone to lead on People and Culture at Involve.

Involve has grown in terms of both its turnover and staffing headcount in recent years. In 2024, we marked our 20th anniversary and the need for this new role reflects the growth and maturity of the organisation as we build the infrastructure to support the larger, more established organisation of around 30 people.

The People and Culture lead will report to the Director of Finance and Support Services and be responsible for developing our HR policy and practice taking a holistic approach and embedding our values into HR policy, leading consultation with our union on policy development. They will work closely with the management team to support the development and implementation of strategies to foster a positive organisational culture and provide HR generalist support to our team.

The People and Culture lead will be a CIPD qualified HR professional with strong HR generalist experience allied with a participatory approach that supports us in developing an inclusive environment in which everyone is supported to grow, develop and contribute to achieving our mission. 

We work across the UK, with offices in Belfast and London. Many of our staff work from home across the UK or in a hybrid pattern, rather than being based at one of our offices, though we meet up regularly as a team.

Join Us in Shaping Better Places

The Urban Design Group (UDG) is a small, dynamic charity and professional membership organisation dedicated to promoting excellence in urban design. With a vibrant network of nearly 1,500 members—ranging from professionals and educators to advocates and enthusiasts—we work to ensure towns and cities are designed for the people who live, work and thrive in them.

As we enter an exciting new phase with a 5-year strategy in development, we are looking for a Fundraising and Communications Manager to drive our income generation and communications efforts. This is a fantastic opportunity to help shape the future of a respected organisation at the heart of urban design in the UK.

About the Role

Fundraising & Membership Development

● Develop and implement strategies to grow our membership and diversify income.

● Secure new revenue through sponsorships, grants, and fundraising campaigns.

● Build strong relationships with stakeholders and funders.
 

Communications

● Raise UDG’s profile across the built environment sector, government, media and public.

● Manage all communication channels: email newsletters, social media, website.

● Lead media engagement and develop high-quality content and messaging.
 

Events

● Support the delivery of our flagship events, including the National Urban Design Conference and Urban Design Awards.

● Lead on planning, promotion, and delivery of both in-person and online events.
 

What We’re Looking For

Essential Experience

● Minimum 3 years in fundraising, marketing, or communications in a relevant sector.

● Track record of developing and delivering successful income-generation and engagement strategies.

● Strong communications experience across digital platforms and media engagement.
 

Essential Skills

● Excellent verbal and written communication, networking, and presentation skills.

● Website and CMS management; confident with tools like Mailchimp, Eventbrite, and Zoom.

● Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects.
 

Personal Attributes

● Friendly, enthusiastic, and collaborative.

● A proactive self-starter with a solution-focused mindset.

● Passionate about making a difference through your work.
 

Desirable

● Experience delivering high-profile events.

● Knowledge of, or interest in, urban design, the built environment or sustainability.

● Experience working in a small or charitable organisation.

What We Offer

● Flexible Hybrid Working: One day in the office, the rest remote. Some UK travel and occasional evening/weekend work.

● Generous Holiday: 28 days pro-rata + bank holidays + Christmas closure.

● Supportive Team: Work with a close-knit, creative, and purpose-driven team

● Competitive Salary: £40,000 pro-rata.

ARMA (UK) is the professional association for research management in the UK. We represent research leaders, managers and administrators, offering professional development and opportunities to build networks, knowledge and skills.

We are looking for a Conference and Major Events Manager to lead on the delivery of our successful annual conference and other major events.

The role includes, but is not limited to, project management, budgeting and financial management, marketing and promotion, sponsorship and exhibition sales/ coordination, venue selection and contracting, supplier management, speaker liaison, abstract management and delegate administration.

This role will work closely with our Head of Membership Engagement, the chair of Conference and Conference Working Group to deliver an excellent programme and outstanding delegate experience. The role holder is also responsible for managing the relationship with our appointed Professional Conference Organiser (PCO).

For full details about this role, our work and the skills required please refer to our role profile.

Bring your charismatic drive and passion for environmental issues to lead CPRE London towards its vision and manage its strategic direction and delivery. This is a rare opportunity to lead an organisation at the cutting edge of policy regarding green spaces and the environment, housing and planning. You will manage a small but motivated team of staff and dedicated volunteers. We are looking for candidates with the confidence to pitch for new funding, coupled with achievements in lobbying and liaison work across the environmental space.

CPRE London is a leading environmental charity in the capital, an independent charity and the London regional branch (1 of 42) of the national CPRE organisation, ‘The Countryside Charity’.

The focus of our campaigning is to make London a well-planned, greener, climate-resilient and nature rich city, which benefits everyone.

Skills in leadership, communication, negotiation, and project management are needed to run our operations. In addition to leading CPRE London you will run our London-based urban projects with allies in the environmental sector.  You will also work closely with a supportive board of trustees. 

Currently at the exciting stage of developing the London Tree Ring project, additionally we are involved in many more initiatives such as Healthy Streets Scorecard and GoParks London.

Following the return of our co-founder Becca Dean MBE as CEO, we're excited to be recruiting for several new roles as we move into the next chapter of our journey. Having recently celebrated our 12th birthday, we're more determined than ever to reach even more girls and young women, and we’re building a brilliant team to help us do just that. If you're passionate about empowering the next generation, we’d love to hear from you.

THE ROLE

The Deputy CEO will play a pivotal leadership role, working closely with the CEO to drive the organisation’s strategic vision, operational excellence, programme leadership, and financial sustainability. As a key leader, you will oversee critical functions, ensure high-impact programme delivery, and strengthen partnerships that expand our reach and influence. You will also act as a key external representative of The Girls’ Network, advocating for our mission and developing relationships with funders, partners, and stakeholders. Additionally, you will deputise for the CEO as required, ensuring continuity of leadership and decision-making in their absence.

Key Responsibilities

Deputy CEO Leadership

• Deputise for the CEO as required, leading key meetings, making strategic decisions, and ensuring seamless leadership continuity.
• Support the CEO in monitoring and reporting against The Girls’ Network’s operational performance, ensuring KPIs are being delivered in line with Trustees’ expectations.
• Support on budget planning and cost control, ensuring financial sustainability.
• Build positive Board relationships and act as an ambassador for The Girls’ Network.
• Ensure a crisis communications strategy is in place and manage risk monitoring and mitigation.
• Lead, support, and motivate staff, fostering a culture of high performance.
• Oversee internal communications, ensuring staff are informed and engaged.

Strategic Leadership & Organisational Growth

• Develop and deliver strategy and operational plans in collaboration with the CEO.
• Work with the Head of Fundraising to ensure sufficient income to sustain and grow programmes.
• Act as joint lead for organisational safeguarding (with the Head of Programme Delivery & Development), ensuring policies and procedures are in place and followed.
• Represent The Girls’ Network externally, speaking at events and strengthening strategic partnerships.
• Stay up-to-date on national and regional policy developments affecting girls, mentoring, and education.
• Embed a girl-centred approach to organisational development and ensure programme impact is maximised through innovation and the use of technology.
• Report to the CEO and Board on programmes and safeguarding.

Programme Leadership & Delivery

• Provide strategic leadership for programmes, ensuring stability and growth in existing regions and identifying opportunities for expansion.
• Lead on innovation, piloting new programme elements, systems, and processes to enhance efficiency, impact, and revenue generation.
• Ensure programme decisions are informed by data, research, and organisational learning.
• Oversee quality assurance and impact measurement, ensuring consistency across regions and effective reporting on mentee outcomes.
• Oversee programme pipeline, targets, and income generation from schools, reporting to the Board.
• Maximise relationships with key stakeholder groups (mentees, schools, partners, ambassadors, and mentors) to enhance engagement, experience, and retention.
• Lead, support, and motivate the Programme Delivery Directorate, aligning OKRs with organisational goals.

Programme Delivery & Reporting

• Stay informed about best practices in mentoring, gender equality, and social mobility to ensure maximum programme impact.
• Use data and feedback to continuously develop and refine programmes.
• Ensure robust processes and procedures are in place to optimise resources and impact.
• Oversee the mentor network, ensuring engagement, retention, and a high-quality experience for both mentors and mentees.
• Support the Ambassador Programme Lead in integrating the Ambassador Programme with the mentoring programme.
• Report quarterly to the CEO on programme KPIs, including participant numbers, impact metrics, stakeholder perceptions, and regional variations.
• Prepare quarterly reports for the CEO and Trustees.

Management & Training

• Manage the Senior Programme Team, overseeing performance, development, and wellbeing.
• Support programme teams to deliver growth and impact targets with consistency.
• Ensure the Ambassador Programme is successfully implemented and contributes to an engaged network of former mentees.

Safeguarding Leadership

• Serve as Joint Safeguarding Lead, with accountability for safeguarding decisions.
• Oversee Designated Safeguarding Officers and ensure all policies and procedures reflect best practice.
• Review and approve key training materials, particularly those shared externally.
• Maintain oversight of safeguarding systems, including managing the safeguarding phone and any related rota.

WHAT YOU WILL BRING TO THE ROLE

Essential skills, knowledge and attributes

• Proven senior leadership experience, ideally within a non-profit, education, or youth-focused organisation.
• Strong strategic thinking skills with the ability to drive organisational growth and impact.
• Experience managing programmes, operations, and teams at a senior level.
• Track record of securing and managing funding, including corporate, trusts, and foundations.
• Exceptional relationship-building skills, with experience in stakeholder engagement and external representation.
• Strong financial acumen and experience overseeing budgets and financial planning.
• Passionate about social mobility and gender equality, with a deep commitment to The Girls’ Network’s mission.

Desirable

• Experience of working with mentoring programmes or youth-focused initiatives.
• Knowledge of policy and advocacy related to education, social mobility, or gender equality.
• Experience working with Boards of Trustees or governance structures.

WHY JOIN US?

• Opportunity to play a crucial leadership role in a high-impact, mission-driven organisation.
• Collaborative, ambitious, and values-led culture.
• Flexible working environment with a commitment to staff wellbeing.
• The chance to make a real difference in the lives of thousands of girls across the UK.

HOW TO APPLY

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so early application is encouraged. If a high number of applications are received, this advert will be closed early (with a minimum of 24 hours’ notice). We regret that due to time constraints, we will not contact you if you are not selected for interview.

Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we are unable to respond to individual requests for further information about the role.

Visit our website for the candidate pack and further details on how to apply.

The Volunteer Engagement Manager will manage a range of volunteers and support groups, and support staff across the charity to ensure volunteers are recruited, trained and managed effectively

About us:

Muscular Dystrophy UK is the charity bringing individuals, families and professionals together to fight muscle-wasting conditions. We bring together more than 60 rare and very rare progressive muscle-weakening and wasting conditions, affecting around 110,000 children and adults in the UK. 

We share expert advice and support to live well now; fund groundbreaking research to understand the different conditions better and lead us to new treatments; work with the NHS towards universal access to specialist health; and together, campaign for people’s rights, better understanding, accessibility, and access to treatments.

Benefits:

We appreciate the range of skills and experience our staff have to offer. In return for your enthusiasm and commitment we commit to actively developing and supporting you. We also offer a range of benefits including pension, life assurance, cycle scheme, health cash plan, financial wellbeing and an employee assistance programme.

Please download the job description to see full role responsibilities.

Location: We operate a hybrid model (home and office, London SE1). 

Closing date: 15 May 2025