Policy project officer jobs in edinburgh

We are seeking a Programme Officer

The National Society for Education (NSE) is both a National Church Institution (NCI) and a charity established by Royal Charter. Its mission is to support Church schools and the broader education sector by nurturing leadership, influencing policy, and fostering faith.

NSE leads the Church of England's national education initiatives in collaboration with 41 Diocesan Boards of Education and approximately 4,700 Church of England schools.

One of the Church of England's strategic priorities for the 2020s is to become a younger and more diverse church. In support of this, the House of Bishops is committed to ensuring that vibrant ministries for children, youth, and families are accessible to every young person across England.

To help realise this vision, NSE is partnering with the Vision and Strategy team to deliver a series of initiatives under our 'Growing Faith' pillar. These projects explore the vital connection between church, home, and school, aiming to enrich the spiritual lives of children and young people while cultivating the next generation of leaders.

We are a dynamic, dispersed team working remotely from across the country. We meet regularly online and come together in person throughout the year for team days that strengthen our collaboration and shared purpose.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensuring high quality stakeholder engagement this including supporting and communicatign effectively the delivery of events to local, regional and national leaders in relation to all programmes and activities, placing children and young people at the heart of our work.
• Implement robust administrative, financial, communications, and evaluation processes; whilst adhering to established NSE operational procedures and standards.
• Maintain accurate, GDPR-compliant data to support analysis and decision-makingl whilst working closely with the NSE finance team to ensure accuracy and consistency.

Key role requirements

• This is a fully remote role.

We are looking for someone with:

• Proven ability to handle sensitive communications with tact and professionalism.
• Excellent digital literacy, confident across Microsoft 365 and web-based applications (such as Teams, Zoom), as well as using the functionality of the software to support the setup and delivery of on-line webinars.
• Able to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• High attention to detail, strong communication skills, and a collaborative team player approach.
• Willingness to work within the ethos of a Christian organisation, and sympathy with the aims and goals of the Church of England Education
• Passionate about making a difference to the lives of children and young people.
• Strong administrative and organisational experience.

• A salary of £34,801 per annum, plus age-related pension contributions between 8-15% of salary. We will also match any pension contributions you make up to an additional 3% of your salary.

• 25 days annual leave (increasing to 30 days within 5 years) plus eight bank holidays and three additional days (pro-rated if working part-time).
• We welcome all flexible working arrangement requests. This is looked at in a case-by-case scenario, and if this fits within the department's needs. We try to be as flexible as we can in your work pattern to support you with other commitments, and to give a good work-life balance.
• We offer many services and initiatives under our Family Friendly Programme, some of these include enhanced Maternity Leave initiative, Adoption Leave, Paternity Leave, & Shared Parental Leave. Structured induction programme and access to a range of development opportunities including apprenticeships.
• Automatic enrolment and access to Medicash (one of the UK's leading health cash plan providers), providing you with many services including reimbursements of routine dental treatment, optical, specialist consultations, and therapy treatments. Unlimited access to virtual GP & Private prescription service and health & Stress related helplines.
• Access to Occupational Health, and an Employee Assistance Programme 
• Access to the Department of Education Restaurant and Westminster Abbey with a plus-one guest.
• Apply for eligibility for an Eyecare voucher.
• Opportunity to join the Civil Service Sports & Social Club, and get involved in a range of staff networks, groups and societies.

Location: Home-based (Scotland)
Job Type: Full time, 37.5 hours
Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract
Salary: £33,256 - £36,951 per annum
Benefits:27 days holiday bank holidays (pro rata for part time roles), perk scheme access, life assurance, paid compassionate leave, enhanced sick pay, Cycling UK membership plus many more staff benefits.

There’s never been a better time to join the team at Cycling UK! We have launched an ambitious new strategy – and we want you to be part of it. There are loads of reasons to love cycling, even if you’re not someone who cycles. From cutting pollution, to making us healthier and happier, cycling can help us all thrive.

The Cycle Access Fund (CAF) provides capital grant funding to organisations in Scotland to support the purchase and repair of cycles for use by individuals who would not otherwise have access to a bike. We’re looking for a highly organised and motivated Senior Project Officer to help manage this impactful project and ensure the effective dispersal of funding.

This is a collaborative role that will suit an organised, proactive individual with solid experience of using Microsoft Dynamics 365 to monitor and manage projects. Managing external stakeholders and multiple grant applications is a key part of ensuring the continued success of this programme, so strong prioritisation skills are essential.

If you are enthusiastic about supporting communities and improving access to cycling, we want to hear from you!

Explore the attached job description for full details on this exciting opportunity. Complete the application form expressing why you are the right candidate for this opening. Focus on gearing your supporting statement to exemplify how your skills and experience match the requirements of the role, directly referring to the person specification. This enables the selection panel to assess your relative strengths against the specified criteria.

This a 12-month maternity cover fixed term contract. The role is home based in Scotland.

Applications close at 9:00am on the closing date shown

You may also have experience in the following: Project Officer, Programme Management, Project Manager, Policy Manager, Project Management, Development Manager, Project Delivery, Event Management, Marketing, Fundraising, Health, Sport, Fitness, Cycling, Charity, Charities, NFP, Not for Profit, etc.

REF-224 039

About you

Do you want to use your skills to make it possible for people with myeloma, an incurable blood cancer, to live longer and better lives?

Myeloma UK is looking for a motivated and highly proactive Senior Policy Officer to join our Patient Advocacy team within the wider Research and Advocacy directorate. 

You will have experience in analysing, developing, and communicating complex policy issues, strong communication skills, and the ability to prioritise a fast-moving and wide-ranging workload.

You will also have experience working collaboratively and building relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders. 

You will have the ability to present findings and recommendations to a range of audiences and produce high-quality succinct briefings in a timely fashion, underpinned by evidence.

Empathy and sensitivity are required to work closely with patients and their families and friends.

Experience in the health charity sector, public/patient engagement work, and working on the National Institute of Health Care Excellence (NICE) and Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) consultation processes would be beneficial but not essential.

About the role

As Senior Policy Officer you will be part of the Patient Advocacy team who work to ensure that the patient voice is heard and acted upon by UK and devolved nations healthcare policy decision makers. You will represent the charity externally including national meetings with senior healthcare decision makers.

Your role is vital to developing strategic approaches to health technology appraisals (HTA), regulatory pathways (MHRA), clinical development programmes (academic and industry clinical trials) and commissioning routes to broaden access to new myeloma drug therapies and diagnostic technologies.

You will apply your skills flexibly across key policy areas including access to treatment, patient voice, stakeholder engagement and general healthcare policy and work with colleagues in communications and fundraising to make sure our supporters and the wider myeloma community understand the positive impact we make.

About us

Myeloma UK is the only UK charity focused on myeloma and its related conditions.  We provide support and influence access to treatments, while researching a cure.  Thanks to life-extending treatments and support, today many people affected by myeloma are able to live longer and to live well.  Together, we support, so no one faces myeloma alone. 

We are committed to bringing together the best and brightest people to help us ensure that every patient has an empowered present and a hopeful future.

Our ultimate goal is to find a cure and make myeloma history. Until then, our mission is to help every patient live well with myeloma for as long as possible. We are committed to diagnosing myeloma earlier, discovering and sharing knowledge, transforming the patient experience and influencing positive change in care.

Our culture

Wellbeing and staff engagement are at the heart of our culture.  We offer our employees a range of benefits including a pension salary exchange scheme, flexitime, flexible working from home with hub-based office working, health plan, employee assistance plan and holiday purchase scheme and we are committed to providing learning and development opportunities for all our employees.

How to apply

If you think you would be a great fit for this role, get in touch and tell us more about yourself by sending the following:

1. A cover letter telling us more about you and what you think makes you a good fit for this role

2. A CV that sets out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements

Applications close 9am on 6 October 2025 and interviews will be held w/c 27 October 2025.

Myeloma UK is an equal opportunities employer and always welcomes applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of:

· sex

· race

· disability

· age

· sexual orientation

· gender reassignment

· religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity

Please note, you will be asked to provide evidence of your eligibility to work in the UK prior to interview selection.

Job Title: Policy and Impact Officer

Location: Home working with some travel 

Contract Type: Permanent

Hours: 35 hours per week

Salary: £24,000pa 

DBS/PVG: Not required

Job Family: 3

Line Manager: Head of Policy and Impact

Closing Date:  30th September 2025 We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications

Start Date: asap

Interview Dates: 23 October 2025

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications

Who we are

At Volunteering Matters, we believe people have the power to create change. Whether through volunteering by helping others and giving time, or through social action such as speaking up, campaigning, or leading change, everyone can make a difference. We bring people together to build stronger communities across England, Scotland and Wales, making sure everyone has the chance to get involved and create real change.

What we do

We help people of all ages and backgrounds get involved in volunteering and social action. We focus on making sure that everyone, no matter their situation, has the chance to take part. 

How we do this

We support people to share their time and skills to help others and tackle big challenges in their communities.

• We remove barriers to volunteering and social action, making it easier for people who don’t always get the chance to take part.

• We listen to and amplify voices that aren’t always heard, helping volunteers and communities influence change.

• We help volunteers beyond their first experience, offering training, support, and pathways to new opportunities.

• We connect businesses with communities, creating meaningful employee volunteering projects.

• We show the impact of volunteering and social action, proving how it changes lives for the better.

Our promise to volunteers

We are always looking for new ways for volunteers to make a difference. We bring people together across generations and backgrounds to learn from each other and create change. At the same time, we make sure that all our volunteers are trained, supported, and valued, so they feel confident in what they do.

Role Purpose

The Policy and Impact Team sits at the heart of Volunteering Matters. We play a vital role in demonstrating the impact of our work connecting data, qualitative insight, and lived experience to the policy agendas shaping communities across the UK. Through storytelling, analysis, and evidence, we make sure volunteering is recognised as a driving force for social change.

We are a small, hands-on team. You will be involved in every aspect of our work from desk-based research and writing briefings to organising external meetings and working directly in communities alongside our volunteers. This variety allows you to connect national policy with local realities and help volunteers share their voices where it matters most.

 You will help bring our five-year strategy to life by linking project outcomes to broader societal developments and showcasing the impact of volunteers and communities.

Key Duties Responsibilities

· Support the Head of Policy and Impact to coordinate Volunteering Matters’ policy and public affairs work.

· Support people involved with our volunteering projects to engage with local politicians, e.g. by organising visits to projects or meetings with volunteers. 

· Monitor and respond to opportunities (e.g. relevant government consultations, All-Party Parliamentary Group inquiries or Select Committee inquiries) that are relevant to Volunteering Matters’ priorities.

· Support mapping and research exercises to inform our policy positioning. Writing summary reports as needed.

· Collaborate with the National Volunteer Engagement Manager to support the inclusion of volunteer and community voices in our policy and public affairs work.

· Assist with collecting impact and activity data from across the charity and work with the Data Analyst to undertake analysis.

· Support with routine collection of quarterly data from projects - ensuring responses are timely and accurate, providing guidance to project managers as needed.

· Work with project staff to help create impactful and engaging reports.

· Represent Volunteering Matters at charity and volunteering policy-related groups. 

 Essential Skills

· Understanding of UK political systems and policy-making processes across national, devolved, and local levels.

· Understanding of policy, public affairs, or influencing, ideally within the voluntary or community sector.

· Confident communicator, able to engage with policymakers, sector partners, and community representatives.

· Familiarity with both qualitative and quantitative data analysis to inform narrative reporting and strategic insight.

· Excellent writing skills, with the ability to craft clear, persuasive documents based on data and lived experience.

· Alignment with Volunteering Matters’ values and a commitment to amplifying community voice.

· Must adhere to the organisation’s Code of Conduct and uphold its values at all times.

· Proficient in Microsoft 365, particularly Outlook, Teams, Word, and Excel, with the ability to manage email communications and collaborate digitally.

· Able to work effectively both independently and as part of a team, managing time and priorities in a busy environment.

· For remote roles, candidates must be self-starters who can work with minimal supervision, stay organised, and remain motivated to meet deadlines and deliver quality outcomes.

· Attention to detail and a proactive approach to problem-solving and information sharing.

Experience Required

No specific experience is required.

Qualifications

Relevant skills and values alignment is more important for this role than specific qualifications.

Our Values & Way of Working

In all that we do we are guided by our values: Empowering, Inclusive, Compassionate, Positive & Straightforward.

Disability Confident & Reasonable Adjustments

We guarantee to interview anyone with a disability whose application meets the essential criteria for the role. Please provide evidence in your application, which demonstrates that you meet the level of competence required in the Job Description under skill and experience. To be considered for a guaranteed interview or to discuss any reasonable adjustments during the process, please state this in your cover letter.

GDPR Statement

If you apply for a role with us, we will retain your contact details including your name, address, email address and phone number to help us manage your application for up to six months.  We will not use your personal data for any other purpose or share it with any third party. You can contact us at any point to update your personal information or ask us to delete it from our records.

Policy on AI-Generated Applications 

Applications are accepted on trust, and we expect all submissions to reflect the applicant’s own words, experiences, and motivations. While tools such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) may support the application process, applications should not be generated wholly by AI. 

To Apply

Please send an updated, complete CV and cover letter via the Charity Job Apply button above. In your application clearly state which role you are applying for. In the cover letter please demonstrate how you would fulfil the role requirements, what previous relevant achievements you have (both in life and at work), what skills & experience you can offer, and what you believe you can contribute to Volunteering Matters.

Please note that all applicants must have the right to work in the UK. Unfortunately, we’re unable to progress applications that don’t meet this requirement. 

If you have any questions about current vacancies, the recruitment process, or need support, our team is here to help. Whether you're a candidate looking for more information or with an HR query, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

The Methodist Church is committed to ensuring its churches are safe spaces for all. We work hard to ensure compliance with legal requirements, develop good practice, provide effective training and give professional advice on individual cases. 

We have an exciting opportunity to join our new safeguarding regional team operating in the southwest region and take this forward supporting Methodist churches and work. The post holder will join a team of safeguarding officers who will carry specific responsibility for individual cases, undertake risk assessments, lead training and advise churches. The post will be aligned to the Bristol Methodist District and provide support to colleagues across the regional area requiring regular travel.
 

The successful candidate will hold a relevant professional qualification and relevant experience and expertise in child and/or adult protection.

Closing date: Tuesday 30 September 2025

Interview (in person) will take place on: Monday 6 October 2025 (venue TBC in Bristol)

For more information about us visit our website.

Together, the charities Sands and Tommy’s have formed a Joint Policy Unit (JPU) focussed on achieving policy change that will save more babies’ lives during pregnancy and the neonatal period and on tackling inequalities in loss, so that everyone can benefit from the best possible outcomes.

The JPU’s mission is to secure policy change that will reduce rates of miscarriage, stillbirth, pre-term birth and neonatal death, and to work to eliminate inequalities in these outcomes.

While there is widespread agreement on the need for change to improve the safety of maternity and neonatal services, what that change looks like is not clear.  To save more babies’ lives we believe that a continued focus is required, and that governments should set new commitments to reduce perinatal mortality and preterm births, focused on matching the best-performing countries in Europe.

This role will be crucial to the continued success of the JPU unit; leading, shaping and coordinating all the unit’s work. 

We are looking for an independent and assertive problem-solver, a policy expert who can manage multiple priorities, take the initiative, lead the national conversation and is as excited as we are about taking the helm of this venture for both of our organisations.

The successful candidate will need to have a substantial track record of effectively leading and implementing national policy and influencing programmes, driving change and achieving the desired impact.

You will have considerable experience across research, data analysis, policy development, public affairs and communications.  Additionally, you will be well-versed in research and data management, including analysing complex data and evaluating policy developments.

Experience of being a member of a senior management team with successful, significant and relevant management and leadership experience is also essential.

The role

The children and young people’s bereavement programme in Wales is looking to increase and improve its current services. We are looking for people to take this team forward over the next few years. Working closely with the rest of the Wales team and line managed by the Head of Wales, this is an exciting opportunity for people with empathy, motivation and team working. Please note this role will require travel across North Wales.

How to apply

Your application must consist of a CV and covering letter, which outlines your suitability for the role with reference to the Job Description and Person Specification and should be no longer than two pages.

Closing date for applications is 9am on 30 September 2025. We reserve the right to close the advert early, as interviews will be held as suitable candidates apply.

Please be advised that we will only contact success applicants for interview. If you do not hear from us, unfortunately on this occasion you have not been shortlisted.

Cruse welcomes and encourages applications from all protected groups as defined by the Equality Act 2010. Appointment will be made on merit.

Criminal Record Checks

All staff are required to complete a Criminal Record check. Staff working directly with clients will be required to complete an enhanced check. We comply with the relevant codes of practice and they can be viewed online: 

· Applicants in England and Wales: DBS Code of Practice

· Applicants in Northern Ireland: AccessNI Code of Practice

Previous convictions will not prevent full consideration of your application to work with Cruse. Our Recruitment of Ex-offenders' Policy & Handling Criminal Record Check Data Policy are available on request by email.

We comply with all relevant data protection legislation and process your data fairly.

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Y rôl

Mae’r rhaglen brofedigaeth plant a phobl ifanc yng Nghymru eisiau cynyddu a gwella ei gwasanaethau presennol. Mae’n adeg gyffrous i newid a datblygu. Rydym yn chwilio am ddau unigolyn i ddatblygu’r tîm hwn yn ystod y blynyddoedd nesaf. Bydd yr unigolion hyn yn gweithio’n agos â gweddill y tîm yng Nghymru ac yn cael eu rheoli gan Bennaeth Cymru. Mae hwn yn gyfle cyffrous i bobl ag empathi a phenderfyniad sy’n mwynhau gweithio mewn tîm.

Sut i wneud cais

Mae rhaid i’ch cais gynnwys CV a llythyr eglurhaol yn amlinellu eich addasrwydd ar gyfer y swydd ac yn cyfeirio at y Swydd-ddisgrifiad a Manyleb y Person. Ni ddylai fod yn fwy na dwy dudalen o hyd. 

Y dyddiad cau ar gyfer ceisiadau yw 9am ar 30 Medi 2025. Rydym yn cadw’r hawl i gau’r hysbyseb yn fuan gan y byddwn yn cynnal cyfweliadau wrth i ymgeiswyr addas gyflwyno cais.

Noder: byddwn ond yn cysylltu ag ymgeiswyr llwyddiannus i drefnu cyfweliad. Os na fyddwch yn clywed gennym, yn anffodus nid ydych wedi cyrraedd y rhestr fer y tro hwn.

Mae Cruse yn croesawu ac yn annog ceisiadau gan bob grŵp gwarchodedig fel y diffinnir gan Ddeddf Cydraddoldeb 2010. Byddwn yn penodi ar sail teilyngdod.

Gwiriadau Cofnod Troseddol

Disgwylir i’r holl staff gwblhau gwiriad Cofnod Troseddol. Bydd angen i staff sy’n gweithio’n uniongyrchol â chleientiaid gwblhau gwiriad manylach. Rydym yn cydymffurfio â’r codau ymarfer perthnasol. Gellir eu gweld ar-lein: 

· Ymgeiswyr yng Nghymru a Lloegr: Cod Ymarfer DBS

· Ymgeiswyr yng Ngogledd Iwerddon: Cod Ymarfer AccessNI

Ni fydd euogfarnau blaenorol yn atal eich cais i weithio gyda Cruse rhag cael ei ystyried yn llawn. Mae ein Polisi Recriwtio Cyn-droseddwyr a’n Polisi Trin Data Gwirio Cofnodion Troseddol ar gael ar gais trwy e-bost.

Rydym yn cydymffurfio â’r holl ddeddfwriaeth diogelu data berthnasol ac yn prosesu eich data’n deg.

Salary: £27,007.50 FTE (£10,803 pro-rata) per annum (London Living Wage)​

Hours: Part-time, 15 hours per week (0.4 FTE), preferably worked over 3 afternoons/evenings (Tue – Thu)​

Location: On site at London Projects, and remote working as needed​

Contract: Fixed-term Employee contract for 6 months​

Do you want to work with multiple-award winning charity, FoodCycle? Our vision is to make food poverty, loneliness and food waste a thing of the past for every community – including our school communities!​

We’ve partnered with 4 schools across London to bring our free community meal to their families after school hours, with the additional goal of helping connect families with each other and the school and introducing kids to new healthy food.​

We’re looking for some additional help over the next 6 months to support the volunteer teams on site and make these meals happen. You’ll need to have an interest and experience in working with kids and families!​

By joining us you’ll gain an understanding of different aspects of local project delivery for a national charity. You’ll be hands-on and have an immediate impact each day, leading small teams of volunteers who cook in the kitchen and host our guests to create a positive and welcoming environment and a nutritious vegetarian meal.​

Our school meals happen on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings, and we would ideally like you to work your hours across these three afternoons/evenings. You’ll be supporting 2 meals per week on average, with around 5 hours required per meal. That leaves 5 additional hours to join team meetings and complete other duties.​

You’ll be supported by our experienced operational team, and we will equip you with a package of training and shadowing, including specific training around food safety, safeguarding and working within the lively environment of schools!​

Benefits: We offer 26.5 days holiday plus bank holidays for full-time employees (pro-rata for part-time). Our healthcare package allows staff to claim money back on healthcare bills and includes access to telephone counselling and online GP appointments.​

How to apply:Please upload a CV of no more than two sides, and a covering note/letter of no more than two sides explaining why you are suitable for the role, via our vacancy website.​

Deadline for your application:11.59pm on Tuesday 30th September​

Inclusivity: FoodCycle is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from individuals of all backgrounds. We are committed to creating an inclusive and diverse workplace where everyone feels valued and respected.​

Safeguarding: Safeguarding is Everyone’s business – FoodCycle is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare / wellbeing of children, young people and adults at risk. This role will therefore require a satisfactory Enhanced DBS check.​

Please note that you will need to have existing Right to Work in the UK to apply for this role. We are unable to provide visa sponsorship.

This is a critical and exciting leadership role for the Bumblebee Conservation Trust which will take the Trust forward to the next phase of organisational growth, building on the superb achievements to date of our retiring CEO. 

You’ll need passion and energy to work on some of the most profound challenges of our time. Nature needs its champions, and you’ll need to harness all of your skills, all of your personality, and your network to grow our influence, our impact, and our outcomes. You’ll excel at galvanising others to take action  enabling  us to achieve our aims and ensure bumblebees are thriving and valued by everyone.

This is an incredible opportunity to join a very special organisation with passionate and high-performing teams who are truly dedicated to our vital purpose. 

Please refer to the CEO pack for further information.

The Trust is an Equal Opportunities employer.  This means that whilst seeking employment or during such employment with the Trust, we will seek to ensure equality of treatment for all persons regardless of sex, race, age, marital or civil partnership status, disability, religion or belief, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, pregnancy or maternity status. 

At the Trust, we have a clear goal: to be the place where a diverse mix of talented people want to come, to stay and do their best work. We pride ourselves on reaching for our vision, through the hard work and dedication of our passionate and creative employees. 

National Rural Touring Forum (NRTF) is looking for a new Director to lead our national network and champion rural arts across the UK. We’re seeking an inspiring leader with a collaborative approach to advocate for our members and sector, to strengthen partnerships and support a vibrant network that ensures creativity and culture thrive in every community.

About NRTF

NRTF is an Investment Principles Support Organisation (IPSO) within Arts Council England’s (ACE) National Portfolio. As a national membership and strategic organisation, we unite and champion the diverse parts of the rural touring sector. We advocate on behalf of our members, offering up-to-date information, advice, guidance, professional development and networking opportunities. By sharing news, stories and opportunities, supporting rural touring-focused projects and initiatives, and through our Annual National Rural Touring Conference, we raise the profile of rural touring, embedding its value in the wider cultural landscape. We celebrate the work and achievements of the volunteer promoters, professional artists and organisations who make culture accessible for rural communities. This is an exciting moment to join NRTF as we enter our third decade as an organisation and continue building the profile and impact of rural touring across the UK, while supporting the passionate and committed members at the heart of our network.

Main Purpose of the Role

The Director is the strategic and operational lead of NRTF, responsible for the organisation’s vision, management, performance, and long-term sustainability. They ensure delivery against NRTF’s mission and business plan, champion rural touring at a national level, and act as the primary liaison with Arts Council England, stakeholders, and the wider sector. Working closely with a proactive Board of Trustees, the Director provides leadership on governance and compliance in line with UK Charity Law and NRTF’s Articles of Association, ensuring the organisation operates with transparency, accountability and good practice. The Director is a visible ambassador for rural touring, building strong relationships across the cultural sector, advocating for members, and promoting the role of rural touring in ensuring that creativity and culture thrive in every community.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

● Lead and implement NRTF’s Business Plan and strategic objectives.

● Oversee the delivery and evaluation of all funded programmes and initiatives.

● Develop and sustain relationships with our members, including the rural touring schemes, national and regional stakeholders, funders, and policy-makers.

● Ensure alignment with ACE’s Investment Principles and “Let’s Create” strategy.

● Ensure long-term sustainability through innovation, partnerships, and appropriate diversification, ensuring the organisation remains relevant and forward-thinking.

Finance and Fundraising

● Lead financial planning, budgeting, and reporting in collaboration with the Finance Officer and Treasurer.

● Ensure ACE and funder reporting is accurate and timely.

● Lead on developing new funding opportunities, working with colleagues and freelance support to secure income from trusts, foundations and diversification streams.

Membership and Sector Support

● Foster strong relationships with membership, particularly scheme members.

● Understand and respond to member needs, ensuring services and benefits are relevant.

● Foster a strong member community through events, forums, and networking opportunities.

● Together with the NRTF team, design and deliver initiatives to grow, engage, and retain members.

● Represent NRTF and advocate for member interests at national and international events, conferences, and sector forums.

Project and Event Delivery

● Provide strategic oversight of all NRTF projects, ensuring they are well-managed, impactful and aligned with the business plan.

● Lead and represent NRTF at the Annual National Rural Touring Conference and other national events, with project managers and freelance teams responsible for delivery.

● Foster partnerships with schemes and sector organisations to co-create and deliver events and projects that serve members and raise the profile of rural touring.

Communications and Advocacy

● Provide strategic leadership for NRTF’s communications and advocacy, ensuring consistency of voice and alignment with the business plan.

● Lead sector advocacy and act as spokesperson and ambassador for rural touring.

● Maintain and develop national visibility for rural touring through partnerships, media opportunities and press engagement (with support from NRTF’s freelance press agency).

● Oversee delivery of marketing and communications, working with the Marketing & Digital Coordinator to manage campaigns, content and social media.

● Build strategic partnerships with other organisations, funders, and influencers.

HR and Operations

● Lead on recruitment, contracting, staff management, and HR policy implementation.

● Line-manage employed staff, ensuring fair and effective working conditions.

● Manage Contracts for Services for freelance teams and contractors

● Maintain organisational infrastructure, including IT, office resources.

Governance and Legal

● Support and develop the Board of Trustees, ensuring sound governance practices.

● Organise and service Board meetings, the AGM, and working groups.

● Act as Company Secretary: ensure compliance with charity and company law, maintain registers, and submit returns.

Person Specification

Essential

● Proven senior leadership within arts or cultural organisations.

● Commitment to rural/community engagement.

● Strong understanding of the UK arts funding landscape, especially ACE.

● Demonstrable experience in finance, HR, governance, and fundraising.

● Experience in project delivery.

● Strategic thinker with exceptional communication skills.

● Experience of working and engaging with key stakeholders.

● Experience working with or supporting a Board of Trustees.

● Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

● Evidence of original thinking, idea making and bold ambition.

● Caring and positive leadership style.

Desirable

● Awareness of the ethos, principles and practice of rural touring.

● Knowledge of community arts and engagement, and/or cultural networks.

● Experience in legal compliance and company secretary responsibilities.

● Understanding of contemporary cultural policy and advocacy.

● Experience in digital communications, social media, and PR.

● Experience in event management and programming.

If you are excited by this role but are not sure if you fully meet the person specification, we encourage you to reach out to our Interim Head of Operations, Jo Purseglove to discuss further.

This is a new role at Befriending Networks, as we seek someone who is up for the challenge of fundraising to support the continuation of our work in supporting the network of befriending organisations and ensuring that meaningful social connection is available to all.

The role will work closely with the CEO to deliver a fundraising strategy, which will focus on trusts, grant-givers, and corporate collaborations across the UK.  

You will be a skilled communicator, and you will be influential in how you present our work. You will be a self-starter and someone who takes pride in producing high-quality work. You will be courageous and curious as you work to position Befriending Networks as an investable charity. 

The key focus of this role

1. Generate income from small grants from trusts and foundations for specific projects and activities over the short to medium term.  

2. Assist the CEO in the preparation of strategic grant applications for work across the UK, with an initial focus on England, Scotland and Wales to deliver key priorities of our Strategic Plan over the longer term.

3. Development of potential corporate partnerships and collaborations. 

We’re looking for a Science Communications Officer (Fixed term) to join our team

Salary: £35,000

Base: Central Edinburgh/hybrid

Hours: Full time and fixed term for one year.  35 hours a week over core working hours of 10am - 3pm, Monday to Friday, with a one-hour lunch break. The office is open 8am – 7pm daily and our hybrid working policy requires all full-time employees to work at least two days a week in the Edinburgh office. 

Benefits: 10% employer pension contribution; private medical insurance; employee assistance programme and counselling service; enhanced maternity/paternity/adoption pay; enhanced sick pay; 31 days’ paid holiday/year plus four paid winter public holidays; 2-weeks fully remote working/year; three paid carer days/year; death in service benefit; cycle to work and travel season ticket schemes.

To support the Team’s work-life balance, we work a nine-day fortnight where the charity is closed every second Friday.  

About the role and why we need you

You can make an impact every day using your passion for science and your excellent communication skills. Our Science Communications team have a key role at Worldwide Cancer Research, engaging the wider team and our supporters (known as Curestarters) about the incredible research we fund.

We are looking for a creative, multi-skilled Science Communications Officer to champion our research and our global researchers through compelling storytelling. This involves collaborating across the charity to ensure content is accurate and audience appropriate. You’ll also be interacting with everyone in the organisation to help them understand how cancer behaves and how our research is helping to find new cures.

Our values are curious, united, real, entrepreneurial and spirited, all of which you’ll have the opportunity to demonstrate in your work. You’ll be curious about our research and be innovative in how you present it. Your strong interpersonal skills will help you to work well with other teams, particularly Marketing and Fundraising, to help us provide the best supporter experience and grow our Curestarter community.

We need someone who shares our enthusiasm for discovery cancer research and who has experience of breaking down complex science into easy-to-understand content and fascinating stories. From presenting to colleagues to creating social media posts, you’ll be required to balance different tasks efficiently and to manage your own time effectively.

We are looking for an experienced Finance Director to join our team of nearly 100 staff, ideally before the end of 2025.

This is a full-time, home-based, permanent position. You can be based anywhere in mainland UK or Ireland, with some travel and occasional overnight stays to meeting and conferences mainly in England and Wales.

We offer flexibility around working hours, including the option of a 9 day fortnight - time off in lieu is also available. We offer 25 days holiday pro rata (rising to 28 days) plus statutory public holidays. We are happy to make adjustments for people with disabilities and/or caring responsibilities, and we welcome applications from all communities.

The role is a grade 7 position with a starting salary circa £75,000 plus benefits including 9% employer pension contribution.

The Finance Director (“FD”) works alongside the Chief Executive and Operations Director to manage the finances and governance of The Rivers Trust, a leading conservation charity with three associated trading subsidiaries operating across the UK and Ireland, with a collective annual income approaching £10m.

Given the prospective retirement of the current postholder at the end of 2025, we are seeking a well-qualified and experienced individual to take on this senior leadership role as soon as possible to enable handover to occur.

The role is very varied and wide-ranging, including presenting financial information to the Trustees and senior management on a quarterly basis, reviewing monthly management accounts, leading on annual budgeting, appraising internal project concepts and contracts, statutory compliance administration and liaising with auditors.

The postholder will lead a team of eight in the Finance department and join a very welcoming team of 95 highly engaged and passionate staff at The Rivers Trust.

Main duties and responsibilities:

Working alongside the CEO, the Finance Director will provide commercial, financial and governance management and leadership for The Rivers Trust ("the Charity") and its associated subsidiaries (“The Companies”). The FD will not only be an exceptional accountant, with executive oversight of the finance function, but will be commercially astute and have the confidence to represent robustly the best interests of The Companies. The FD will also be an experienced manager of people.

Key Accountabilities:

1. Act as a business partner to support and constructively challenge the CEO in the general management of the Charity and the Companies, reporting to the board.
2. Lead all aspects of the finance function (including maintaining and developing the financial control environment; robust financial accounting; cashflow management; incisive management information; clear and concise reporting to Board) to ensure that the Charity and the Companies’ assets are secured, risks are managed, and the Board of Trustees, subsidiary boards and committees can make well-informed decisions.
3. Manage relationships with auditors, funders, IT specialists, banks, investment platforms and other external organisations.
4. Provide support to project bids and the development of other commercial opportunities to ensure that bids/opportunities are optimised for the Charity and the Companies as a whole.
5. Provide input to project and programme delivery from time to time, to ensure that performance is maximised for the Charity and the Companies.
6. Attend Board meetings and Business Audit and Risk Committee meetings to guide the Board and the Senior Management Team on financial, commercial and governance issues.
7. Ensure compliance with the requirements of the Charity Commission and Companies House and, from time to time, provide guidance to members of the Rivers Trust movement on good governance practice.
8. Maintain the finance department operational manual for business continuity.
9. Serve as the Company Secretary for the Charity and Companies.

Staff Management:

1. Lead, manage and develop the finance team (who work remotely) and ensure the team understands their respective and collective contribution to achieving the Charity's and the Companies’ objectives.
2. Support the team in their professional development.
3. Ensure the team delivers a high-quality service focused on internal and external customers and funders.

Knowledge, skills, experience, and personal qualities:

Essential

• Significant experience in financial management and senior leadership roles, ideally gained in a range of organisations.
• A strategic thinker, able to see the big-picture, shape long-term direction and balance this with attention to detail.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills combined with creativity and openness to innovate.
• Strong IT and digital skills, with experience of using technology to improve efficiency and automate processes.
• Proven people leadership experience, with a track record of managing, developing, and inspiring teams and creating a supportive, inclusive, and collaborative culture.
• Excellent relationship builder, with the interpersonal skills to influence, collaborate, and provide constructive challenge while maintaining positive relationships across the organisation, including with trustees and senior stakeholders.
• Experience reporting to boards of trustees and/or directors, with the confidence to contribute to board-level discussions as a trusted adviser.
• Strong written and verbal communications skills, able to distil complexity into pertinent, concise and understandable messages tailored to diverse audiences.
• The courage to make and communicate tough decisions and be open about risks and setbacks.
• Resilient and calm under pressure, with the ability to maintain focus and steady leadership in challenging circumstances.
• Impeccable standards of integrity and personal ethics, acting as a role model for the organisation values.
• Knowledge of Sage financial software packages.
• Work to a good standard in Microsoft 365, especially Excel, Word, Outlook and Teams.

Desirable

• Experience of working in the charitable sector.
• Experience of being a Company Secretary.
• Understanding of the environmental sector or a passion for making a positive impact.
• Familiarity in using Sharepoint, Sage and Slack.
• Knowledge of Partial Exemption VAT rules.
• A basic understanding of Irish tax law, Irish and UK payroll taxes and corporate governance.

Qualifications/ Education

• Qualified Accountant, preferably ICAEW or ACCA.

Additional information

Everyone who works for us is expected to contribute to a respectful and inclusive working culture and follow our policies and procedures including Health & Safety, EDI, Cybersecurity and GDPR.

Please note we can only accept applications made through this site, and not sent by email or other methods.

We are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible. We warmly welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. If you would benefit from any adjustments to support you through the process, please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate your needs.

To apply please send your CV and a covering letter.

Closing date: Wednesday 24th September 2025

We may close this vacancy early if we receive a strong pool of applications, so we encourage early submission

Head of People and Culture

Salary:  £48,000 - £51,000 - depending on experience (pro-rata)

Contract Type: Permanent 

Hours: Part Time - 3 days a week (typical example of hours 09.30-17.30 but with flexibility)

Location: Remote with periodic travel to London (to our Elephant & Castle, central London office) and external meetings as required to meet the needs of the role

Responsible To: CEO

Application Deadline: 22nd September 2025

Responsibilities

Strategic HR Leadership

• Develop and execute the overall people and culture strategy aligned with Hatch’s overall vision, values and organisational strategy.

Organisational Culture & Employee Experience

• Work with the CEO to champion a values-driven, inclusive, and purpose-led culture that supports employee engagement and well-being.

• Design and oversee initiatives to enhance employee satisfaction, psychological safety, and workplace trust.

• Lead initiatives that reinforce cultural norms and behaviours aligned with organisational values.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) Leadership

• Develop and lead the Hatch’s DE&I strategy

• Set DE&I KPIs; monitor progress and report to leadership in the quarterly board papers.

• Set up and work with an internal DE&I working group to implement DE&I Strategy 

• Organise training and education programmes on unconscious bias, inclusive leadership, and anti-discrimination.

• Oversee equitable hiring, compensation, promotion, and development practices.

Employee Relations & Engagement

• Act as a senior point of contact for complex employee relations matters.

• Build systems for transparent communication, feedback, and conflict resolution.

• Analyse quarterly engagement surveys and eNPS score data and develop action plans for improvement.

Governance, Compliance & Reporting

• Deliver reports on key people and culture metrics to the Senior Leadership Group (SLG) and Board, ensuring data-driven insights support strategic decision-making.

• Ensure all people-related policies, procedures, and contracts are regularly reviewed and updated, aligning with organisational needs, values, and current employment legislation.

• Maintain compliance with employment laws and regulatory requirements, minimising organisational risk and promoting ethical practices.

• Support the organisation in responding to emerging workforce-related risks.

• Develop and manage the people and culture budget annually

Compensation and Benefits

• Ensure our pay, benefits and progression framework support employee well-being and align with DE&I principles.

Learning and Development

• Identify skill gaps and oversee the creation of learning strategies to support upskilling and reskilling.

• Promote a continuous learning culture and leadership development at all levels.

Talent Attraction, Management and Succession Planning

• Lead the design and execution of robust talent acquisition, development, and retention strategies.

• Oversee performance management frameworks to drive growth and accountability.

• Continually develop Hatch’s employee value proposition to build Hatch’s brand as an employer of choice 

• Further develop our performance management framework to encourage high performance, professional development and values alignment

• Support and enhance our approach to leadership development and succession planning and providing support and advice to the team and managers to navigate these

HR Operations

• Act as owner of the Factorial HR system, ensuring data accuracy, functionality, and ongoing optimisation.

• Review and approve staff expenses in line with Hatch’s policy.

• Oversee all onboarding and offboarding processes, ensuring a smooth employee experience across the lifecycle.

• Manage changes to staff working hours, salaries, and contractual terms.

• Lead and coordinate recruitment processes, including job postings, candidate management, interviews, and offers.

Person Specification 

Skills

• An all rounder, able to develop a big picture vision and deliver on the details

• A keen eye for identifying talent and passion for developing people (in both their professional and personal growth)

• A focus on diversity and inclusion as a competitive business advantage

• Ability to build authentic relationships across a diverse group of stakeholders 

• Excellent communicator on all levels with demonstrated empathy and strong interpersonal skills

• Analytical skills and and ability to make, and support others to make, data-informed decisions

• Project management skills

• Problem-solving skills

Experience

• Proven experience in a similar leadership role, preferably within the social enterprise or nonprofit sector

• Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing people and culture strategies, talent management, and performance management programmes

• Leadership of end to end employee life cycle

• Partnering with business stakeholders across a whole organisation, especially senior stakeholders

• Leading people & culture project rollouts

• Developing a positive performance culture

• Experience with recruitment and HR systems advantageous