Policy research assistant jobs

Executive and Finance Officer

We’re looking for a proactive and highly organised Executive and Finance Officer to play a vital role in the operations of Centre for Mental Health.

This varied and interesting role supports our CEO and Board, managing day-to-day operations and taking on key finance and HR responsibilities. This will include financial support: reconciling accounts, processing invoices, supporting our Board by organising meetings and helping with many aspects of recruitment, onboarding and assisting our staff team. In this role, you will be at the heart of our team’s success.

You will need to bring outstanding organisational skills, strong IT ability, and experience in financial processes (with knowledge of Sage 50). Experience of working in a charity is desirable.

About us
We’re Centre for Mental Health. We take the lead in challenging policies, systems and society, so that everyone can have better mental health. We do this by building research evidence to create fairer mental health policy.

By joining our small, friendly and dedicated team, you’ll help us create a fairer society and drive forward sustainable policy change, pursue equality, social justice and good mental health for all. 

The closing date for applications is 7th October 23:59.

Interviews will be held in person at our office in Elephant and Castle, on Tuesday 21 October between 10am and 5pm.

This post will commence in November 2025 for the duration of a 5 month fixed-term contract subject to grant agreement signature.

Location: Hybrid - London WC1H (We operate hybrid, flexible working practices with 20% of your time per month being office based)

Join the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) as a Programme Manager and use your extensive project management experience to lead the delivery of the Commonwealth Sustainable Cities Coalition (CSCC), a flagship initiative responding to the Commonwealth Declaration on Sustainable Urbanisation.

The ACU offers a unique opportunity to make a real difference in the higher education sector. We are one of the largest, most diverse international university networks, bringing together over 440 universities in over 40 countries. We support Commonwealth Universities to collaborate and to work together to build a more equitable and sustainable world.

The ACU Programmes, Business Development and International Mobility Team look after a portfolio of research capacity strengthening and education mobility programmes. These programmes are externally funded and are often developed in collaboration with ACU member universities and other strategic partners

The team supports the ACU’s policy and advocacy work, aiming to benefit our members by fostering international research and education collaboration at both individual and organisational levels. Experience of managing such programmes has fed into to the commissioning and development of the ACU Equitable Research Partnership Toolkit.

The role

The Commonwealth Sustainable Cities Coalition (CSCC) is a transformative, multi-level, multi-sector coalition designed to address the intersecting challenges of rapid urbanisation and climate change across the Commonwealth. The CSCC is a collaboration between the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), the Commonwealth Association of Architects (CAA), the Commonwealth Association of Planners (CAP), the Commonwealth Engineers’ Council (CEC), and the Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF), working with The King’s Foundation (KF).

The CSCC Programme Manager will set up and oversee the CSCC Secretariat function, coordinate governance structures, and, in collaboration with the ACU Senior Policy and Networks Manager, lead the delivery of a cross-cutting skills agenda through the ACU’s newly launched Expert Group model. The role will also support CSCC partners in establishing three transdisciplinary Action Groups - focused on housing, integrated planning, and urban finance - and support delivery of three National Dialogues in selected Commonwealth countries. This role offers a unique opportunity to help establish the CSCC, a platform that will shape policy, strengthen capacity, and mobilise higher education expertise to support sustainable urban development across the Commonwealth.

Who are we looking for?

The ACU is seeking a highly organised Programme Manager to support the establishment of the Commonwealth Sustainable Cities Coalition (CSCC). You will set up and manage the CSCC Secretariat, coordinate governance and reporting, and ensure delivery partners meet their commitments across this multi-stakeholder initiative.

We’re looking for someone who can:

• Oversee project delivery, reporting, and financial management

• Support governance through the Project Management Committee

• Support the coordination of the ACU Expert Group on Skills 

• Help set up three Action Groups and support CSCC project partners to organise three National Dialogues

• Foster collaboration and maintain strong stakeholder relationships

What to expect:

We see equity, diversity and inclusion as fundamental to our mission and we value the many different perspectives that people from all backgrounds bring to our collective performance (you can find more about our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and safeguarding on our website). We believe in investing in all our people and creating cultures in which everyone can thrive.

We offer a fantastic package of benefits including:

• 27 days annual leave, 8 bank holidays (pro rata - part time employees) and 4 Christmas closure days

• Generous pension scheme – 5% employee contribution, 10% employer contribution 

• Enhanced maternity, paternity, and shared parental leave

• Significant investment into your personal and professional development

• Regular social activities

• Health and wellbeing programmes

• Give as you earn charitable donations scheme

• Cycle to work scheme

• Interest-free travel season ticket loan

How to apply:

Apply via our recruitment portal, submitting your CV (maximum 2 pages) and online application form (maximum 1000 words) outlining how your skills, knowledge and experience meet the criteria for the role. Please include your motivation for applying.

Closing date: 12 October 2025 @ 23:45

Interview date: 16 October 2025 (will take place virtually)

We encourage you to apply early as the application process may close early if we receive a sufficient number of strong candidates.

Early Learning and Childcare Advisor

We are looking for an Early Learning and Childcare Advisor to join the team based in Scotland, in this remote working role.

Position: Early Learning and Childcare Advisor

Location: Remote/Scotland

Hours: Part-time, 18.5 hours per week

Salary: £28,000 - £32,000 pro rata

Contract: Temporary contract until 31st March 2026

Benefits: Include 26 days’ holiday, rising to 30 after service increments plus 8 bank holiday, Personal Pension Scheme, Healthcare Cash Plan, Employee Assistance Programme, Staff Awards Scheme, Company Sick Pay Scheme, flexible working patterns

Closing Date: 10th October 2025. Interviews will be taking place on a rolling basis so this role may close earlier than advertised.

The Role

The Early Learning and Childcare Advisor supports the organisations contribution to policy development and guidance on the delivery of early learning and childcare. Ensuring an effective voice of the sector in Scotland is critical to success, as will strengthening support for and developing our membership base. The Early Learning and Childcare Advisor supports delivery of the Scottish Government contract ensuring achievement of targets.

The role also involves the development of training, publications and other products and services for Scotland members.

The Early Learning and Childcare Advisor will be supported by the National Operations Manager (Scotland) and the NDNA central team. 

Main duties include:

• Support the National Operations Manager (Scotland) to ensure Scottish Government contract is delivered to meet all agreed criteria 
• Support policy development and guidance on the delivery of early learning and childcare in Scotland, ensuring nurseries have access to appropriate information, support, guidance, and training to contribute to improved quality of delivery of early learning and childcare
• Track and report on sales and trends to inform the development of products and services
• Support the National Operations Manager (Scotland) in the completion of sector consultations
• Gather intelligence and research from nurseries and public and third sector partners/stakeholders to inform on national policy and representation work and Scottish Government national policy as related to private nurseries
• Ensure effective dissemination of information to members, colleagues, other agencies
• Develop and maintain effective partnerships and relationships with partners and other agencies at regional and national level to enhance and promote activities and ensure maximum benefit for long-term sustainability and our members
• Promote the benefits of membership and access to its products, services and support

About You

We are looking for someone with a degree level qualification or equivalent experience in childcare and also:

• First hand experience of working in an Early Learning and Childcare role
• Experience of managing a demand-led workload
• Business and strategic planning
• Strong customer service or related experience.

To apply please submit your CV along with a covering letter detailing how your skills, knowledge and experience meet the requirements of the role.

About the Organisation

The organisation is a national charity and membership association specifically for nurseries. They work in partnership with nurseries, local authorities, national government and a range of partners to develop an environment in which early learning and care can flourish.

The organisation is committed to a policy of equal opportunities and is actively opposed to discrimination in society.

You may also have experience in areas such as EYF, Childcare, Nursery, Teacher, Teaching Assistant, Early Years Advisor, Childcare Advisor, Early Years and Childcare Advisor, Early Years and Childcare Support. #INDNFP

PLEASE NOTE: This role is being advertised by NFP People on behalf of the organisation.

The Psychologist/Psychotherapist will deliver high-quality, evidence-based psychological interventions, providing psychological assessments, formulations, and therapeutic support to asylum seekers and refugees with complex trauma-related mental health needs. This role will focus on the delivery of trauma-informed care, including interventions such as Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT) and Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET).

The psychologist/psychotherapist will work within a multidisciplinary team, collaborating closely with caseworkers, assistant psychologists, and other stakeholders to ensure the integration of psychological services into broader psycho-social support. A key responsibility is supporting and supervising assistant psychologists in the delivery of interventions, ensuring adherence to evidence-based practices and the service’s ethical standards.

DEPARTMENT: Programmes Unit (UK Migration Project)

HOURS: Full time 37.5 hours a week

LENGTH OF CONTRACT: Fixed Term Contract, one year with possibility of three-year renewal, subject to project funding

LOCATION: A 5-day in-person role working in the project clinic in Birmingham/Sandwell.

SALARY: Salary: £46,784.49 - £ 57,181.04 per annum

Internal salary grade: 15

We're looking for a very capable Finance Manager to join us. This is a varied and rewarding finance role at the heart of a small, friendly and ambitious charity working to improve the lives of people with eczema. Please see the recruitment pack for more information, including full job description.

To be successful, you'lll need to be proactive and enjoy working in a small team. The role involves a high degree of delegated responsibility and autonomy, and you're expected to manage your workload effectively within your functional remit.

The post-holder is responsible for managing the day-to-day running of the Society’s finance and CRM operations, including the National Eczema Society membership scheme. This is a full-time sole-charge role, managing the processing side of charity’s finance function, including managing purchase and sales ledgers, preparing payment runs, managing supplier reconciliations and month-end tasks.

You would join our small team based at the charity’s offices near London Bridge. There is flexibility for some home-based working and you are expected to work in the office at least two days a week to facilitate effective team-working. National Eczema Society offers help for staff studying for accounting exams.

At National Eczema Society (NES) we are passionate about making life better for people with eczema in the UK and their families. As a small and agile charity, we punch above our weight and have big ambitions. In the UK, around 1 in 5 children and 1 in 10 adults live with eczema, so lots of people are looking to our charity for support and hope.

Our mission is to empower people to live well with eczema and bring about positive change for our eczema community. We do this by providing expert information and advice needed to manage eczema well. We also create a healthier future by raising awareness and understanding of eczema, campaigning to improve medical care, and supporting research into new treatments, prevention and ultimately a cure.

We rely on voluntary donations, legacies, membership fees and corporate sponsorship to fund our vital work. Managing the charity’s finance operations well is vital to our organisational effectiveness and our Finance & CRM Manager is a core member of the team. National Eczema Society is a membership charity and we have around 2,000 members.

How to apply

If this role sounds like it’s right for you and you’d like to apply, please send us:

• CV outlining your employment history, academic and professional accounting qualifications
• Supporting statement (no more than two A4 pages please), explaining how you meet the requirements described in the job description and why you’re interested in this role at National Eczema Society.

Please submit your CV and supporting statement by Monday 20 October 2026 (by 5pm).

If you’d like an informal and confidential conversation about this position, please email Andrew Proctor, Chief Executive.

NO AGENCIES PLEASE/DIRECT APPLICANTS ONLY.

Closing date: Monday 20 October 2026 (by 5pm)

In-person interviews in London: W/C Monday 3 November 2026

Programme Manager (Loneliness)

We are seeking a Programme Manager (Loneliness) to join the Astra Foundation. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering our growing grants portfolio tackling loneliness among young people in the UK and France.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a small but ambitious foundation. As Programme Manager, you will:

• Oversee and develop our portfolio of grants tackling loneliness across the UK and France
• Work with grantees and partners to generate learning, share best practice, and amplify effective approaches.
• Engage in local and global networks on loneliness, ranging from social-prescribing, funding and commissioning programmes, and research

The successful candidate will report to the Foundation Manager and work closely with our Board and Chair. You will combine rigour in grant making with the vision to influence systemic change – helping us explore what works, share best practice, and catalyse cross-sector collaboration.

This role is ideally suited to someone with experience in programme management or grant making, and with a passion for tackling one of society’s most pressing but often overlooked challenges.

Salary: £40,000–£45,000 (depending on experience, pro-rata if part-time)
Contract: Full-time  – we will also consider candidates wishing to work 0.8 FTE
Location: Hybrid – Victoria, London (two core office days per week)

Please download the full application pack below for further details.

Operations Director
Oasis Community Partnerships (Youth and Community)

Permanent, full-time post, 40 hours per week, inclusive of breaks 

Starting salary: £51,960 per annum (plus London Weighting for London based staff)

 At an exciting and key stage in our journey we have the opportunity for an Operations Director to join the Oasis Youth and Community national leadership team supporting local Oasis community charities across the country.

With accountability to the CEO the Operations Director will be responsible for three key areas of work:

1. Lead key elements of policy and systems ensuring the Youth and Community function remains safe and compliant, and that local leaders and other key staff are effectively supported (including line management of People Services).
2. Oversee the effective governance oversight for all local charities through a cycle of professional guidance and monitoring.
3. Lead the national framework for monitoring and evaluation across activities.

 ORGANISATIONAL CONTEXT

Oasis neighbourhoods are local places of activity that provide integrated, high quality and diverse services to benefit the whole person and the whole community. The Oasis ethos stems from our Christian roots and is an expression of our character - it is a declaration of who we are and therefore the lens through which we assess all we do. This is encapsulated by the following five statements:

a passion to include everyone

a desire to treat everyone equally, respecting differences

a commitment to healthy and open relationships

a deep sense of hope that things can change and be transformed

a sense of perseverance to keep going for the long haul

An Oasis neighbourhood is a community movement and the joining together of all the work Oasis does in any one place, which could include foodbanks, debt advice centres, family support and advice services, healthcare, youth work, children’s work, alongside other Oasis activities in that community, including formal education through Oasis Academies.

The Youth and Community function of Oasis is responsible for the wider community work that takes place within Oasis neighbourhoods, working closely with the wider Oasis family to outwork our vision. In relation to governance, Oasis Community Partnerships is the national charity, with each local team operating from their own local Oasis charity.

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a growing national organisation, making a difference to communities on a local level, whilst also influencing the national landscape.  As part of the package, Oasis offers:

• A pension scheme, currently offering 7% employer contribution
• A generous holiday allowance, starting at 25 days per year (plus 8 Bank Holidays)

Please contact us to arrange for an informal conversation to find out more about the role. If you are interested in this position, please send your CV and a covering letter (ensuring you refer to the job description and person spec).

The successful candidates must have the right to work in the UK.  Oasis cannot assist with sponsorship or visas.

We actively encourage applications from people of all ethnic backgrounds and minority and underrepresented groups. If you require any assistance to overcome potential barriers to application, please let us know.

Completed applications should be returned by 9am on Friday 24th October.

Interviews will take place week beginning Monday 3rd November. (Shorter more informal calls may be arranged the previous week to assist with shortlisting)

Oasis is committed to making a difference to the lives of the communities it works in, and as such you must show a willingness to demonstrate commitment to the values and behaviours which flow from the Oasis ethos.  We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We expect all staff to share this commitment and to undergo appropriate checks, including enhanced DBS checks.

Oasis supports Equal Opportunities.  Registered Charity No. 1163889

Job Title: Senior Programme Officer, Active Fellows

Line Manager: Team Leader, Active Fellows (Deputy Fellowship Programme Manager in Team Leader’s absence)

Salary: £36,062

Start date: 1 November 2025

Contract type: Permanent

Application deadline: 16 October 2025. Please note we will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis

Benefits:

• Challenging and rewarding work, always life-changing, sometimes lifesaving

• Competitive salary

• Team and individual training opportunities

• Commitment to performance and personal development

• Hybrid working, home and office (minimum 2 days each week in the office)

• Eight hours each day Monday – Friday, with flexible working by arrangement around core hours of 10am – 4pm

• 25 days plus Bank Holidays annual leave entitlement

• 8% employer pension contribution

• Convenient office location at Elephant and Castle, close to Tube (Bakerloo and Northern lines) and bus routes

Role Purpose Statement

The Senior Officer, Active Fellows plays a key role in delivering high-quality support to Cara Fellows. This includes leading casework, coordinating Cara’s mentoring scheme to support Fellows’ placements, and contributing to strategic improvements across the Fellowship Programme. The role combines direct support to Fellows, operational oversight and delivery of casework, and collaborative leadership to support Cara to uphold its mission.

Organisational Background

The Council for At-Risk Academics is a UK-registered charity founded in 1933 under the leadership of William Beveridge, to rescue academics suffering persecution under the rise of Nazism and facilitate their continued work in safety. Sixteen Cara Fellows from the 1930s and 1940s became Nobel Laureates, and many more innovators in their fields, including, Nikolaus Pevsner, Lise Meitner and Karl Popper. A number of Cara’s founders and Council members also personally provided places and/or funds to help individual academics; and Cara, known in the 1930s as the AAC, later the SPSL, was closely involved in the successful effort in 1933 to bring to London the Warburg Institute art library, which had been prohibited by the Nazis, and six of its staff. The Fellowship Programme is the continuation of the rescue mission operation started in 1933.

Cara has been a lifeline to academics at risk for over 90 years, as and when world events have placed them in the line of fire: Hungarian Uprising, Cold War, Apartheid South Africa, Iran, Latin American Juntas, Vietnam, Kosovo, DRC, Rwanda, Sudan, Zimbabwe etc. and, more recently Iraq, Turkey, Yemen, Palestine, Syria, Afghanistan and Ukraine. Cara support is typically framed as temporary sanctuary offered at times of heightened risk.

Cara Objectives ‘To assist academics who have been, or are, or are at risk of being, subject to discrimination, persecution, suffering or violence on account of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion, to relieve needs among them and their dependants and ensure that their specialist knowledge and abilities can continue to be used for the benefit of the public.’

‘To advance education by supporting academics and their educational institutions in countries where their continuing work is at risk or compromised, to ensure that such academics and institutions can continue to fulfil their critical role as educators for the public benefit.’

This is a critical time to join our dedicated and friendly Fellowship Programme team as we expand our capacity to support at-risk academics from the Middle East, Sudan, Myanmar, Afghanistan, Ukraine and Russia and many other countries.

Key Responsibilities

Fellowships

Casework

· Manage a caseload of up to 50 Cara Fellows, providing tailored support.

· Maintain accurate and GDPR-compliant records of casework activity.

· Liaise with Fellows to coordinate support and escalate complex cases to the Team Leader as required.

· Monitor, research and update visa guidance to reflect changes in complex immigration regulation.

· Keep up to date with relevant information regarding immigration laws, e.g. visas, legal procedures, etc.

· Liaise with independent legal advisors where necessary.

Finance

· Work with colleagues in finance to ensure accurate and timely payments to Cara Fellows and non-Fellowship related payments.

· Promptly issue relevant invoices.

· Understand financial processes – on Salesforce and Pleo – and update systems appropriately.

· Contribute to robust financial processes.

Support Mechanisms

Mentoring Scheme

· Project Lead for the Cara Mentoring Scheme.

· Coordinate rounds, delegate tasks to the team as required, and oversee delivery.

· Recruit mentors and mentees, and decide on a cap on number of participants if required.

· Lead on partnerships with organisations working in the mentoring world.

· Monitor the relevant budget and flag issues to the Team Leader.

· Lead on monitoring and evaluation (M&E) for the Scheme, suggesting improvements to this, and ensuring accurate data collection and reporting.

Webinars and Workshops

· Lead on developing ideas for webinar topics relevant to the needs of Cara Fellows.

· Organise these webinars, contacting speakers and attendees, all with the close support of the Programme Assistant.

· Monitor and evaluate the success of these events, through clear feedback mechanisms.

· Aim to deliver approximately three webinars per year, subject to team capacity.

· Lead on the delivery of workshops for Cara Fellows with external partners, managing Fellow participation.

· Contribute to the development of accessible resources to share openly within the Cara network.

Strategic Development

Alumni Engagement and Impact Reporting

· Play a key supporting role to the Team Leader in improving Cara’s alumni engagement.

· Contribute to developing Cara’s alumni network, with involvement in strategic discussions on interacting with alumni.

· Keep track of Cara Fellows’ media preferences and support the Team Leader in inviting relevant Fellows to participate in public events and media engagements.

Monitoring and Evaluation

· Support M&E activities across the Fellowship Programme, suggesting improvements to data quality and reporting.

· Ensure accurate data entry on Salesforce and flag inconsistencies to relevant team members.

· Assist with compilation of required information, statistics and reporting to Cara’s Council & F&GPC meetings.

Management Responsibilities

Deputise for Team Leader

· Cover for the Team Leader when required – lead team meetings, make decisions on cases for the team, provide general guidance and leadership.

· Assist the Team Leader with line management within the team, mentoring junior staff and contributing to continued team development.

· Approve the Active Fellows team’s working hours.

· Provide input on policy and process improvements.

· Show adaptability and willingness to take on additional work when needed.

Training/Inductions

· Play a leading role on inducting new staff to the Active Fellows and wider Cara team.

· Train new staff on key processes and offer continued guidance on difficult/complex cases and tasks.

Partnerships

· Support key strategic partnerships in Cara’s Universities and Research Network.

· Support the Team Leader in organising webinars and events for Cara’s network representatives at host institutions across the UK.

Ad Hoc Responsibilities

· Show adaptability and willingness to take on additional work when necessary.

· Support Fellowship Programme with ad hoc responsibilities.

Responsibilities also include related activities that might arise in relation to the Fellowship Programme as required by the Chief Executive and Deputy Chief Executive & Fellowship Programme Manager, Deputy Fellowship Programme Manager, or Team Leader, Active Fellows.

Person Specification – Senior Programme Officer, Active Fellows:

Qualifications

Essential:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent
• Strong analytical and numeracy skills

Desirable:

• Master’s degree or equivalent

Knowledge & Experience

Essential:

• Understanding of UK immigration options for displaced academics
• Experience managing sensitive casework and maintaining accurate records
• Experience coordinating projects, events, or support schemes
• Familiarity with basic financial processes (e.g. payments, budget tracking)
• Confident use of Microsoft Office and Salesforce or other CRM systems

Desirable:

• Awareness of global issues affecting at-risk academics
• Experience coordinating mentoring programmes or similar initiatives

Skills & Attributes

Essential:

• Cultural sensitivity and commitment to Cara’s mission
• Ability to supervise and mentor junior staff
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Strong attention to detail and time management
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively
• Adaptability, integrity, and problem-solving ability

Desirable:

• Foreign language skills (e.g. Arabic, Farsi/Dari, Pashto, Ukrainian, Russian)

About the role and you

This is a fantastic opportunity for a skilled and talented senior practitioner to join the management team for a thriving service area, whilst continuing to work directly with autistic adults. In this role:

· You will oversee the development, delivery, and evaluation of specialist services for autistic adults who have sexually offended or are at risk of doing so.

· You will support our skilled practitioners in delivering an evidence informed and quality service.

· You will passionately enable and uphold the team’s commitment to excellent practice in the prevention of child sexual abuse.

This role requires clinical expertise, leadership skills, and a deep understanding of autism, sexual offending behaviour, and safeguarding. The postholder provide expert consultation, and will ensure that all our interventions are neurodiversity-informed, trauma-sensitive, and evidence-based. The goal of the project is to ensure that autistic people across Scotland are empowered to make better choices about their behaviour online and offline.

The postholder will also contribute to strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and service innovation, supporting the Lucy Faithfull Foundation’s mission to prevent child sexual abuse.

This post needs someone who is confident in project management, professional, proactive and outcome-focused, with exceptional communication and engagement skills. You will have the vision and operational management capabilities to maintain and advance support for our clients.

The post is funded by the Support Autistic Adults fund until March 2028 and the post is offered on a fixed term contract until this date.

What you’ll get from us

We offer hybrid working, with 3 days in the office during the first month in the position, followed by a minimum of 2 days in the office, a NEST pension, 34 days annual leave rising to 39 days (inclusive of statutory bank holidays following qualifying period), up to 5 days’ learning and development per year, flu jabs, eye tests, season ticket loans, charity discounts, an employee assistance programme and the option of Benenden medical cover (taxable). We are proud to partner with the Living Wage Foundation and be an accredited employer of choice.

How to apply

We really welcome informal conversations with prospective candidates about the role and the charity in advance of the deadline.

An application form and equal opportunities form are included in this job pack. We look forward to receiving your completed documents by 13/10/2025. In person interviews are scheduled to take place on 27th October for shortlisted candidates.

If you have not been contacted within 2 weeks of the closing date you have been unsuccessful with your application. Please note the successful candidate will be required to undergo a PVG check for this position.

#practitioner #seniorpractitioner #autism #autisticadults

Borders Forest Trust (BFT) are recruiting for a new Chief Executive .

BFT is a charity established to restore native woodland habitats to Southern Scotland, an area with the lowest percentage of native woodlands in mainland Scotland. Since 1996, we have been working towards planting trees, restoring peatlands and other natural habitats, enriching the biological diversity of around 31 sq km in the Southern Uplands. They demonstrate large scale ecological restoration in action, and inspire landowners, statutory bodies, local communities and policy makers to embrace this alternative model for land use and conservation.

The charity’s previous Director has led the organisation for five years, and BFT are in a strong position, ready to develop a new organisational strategy and grow. This is a role of great strategic importance to the charity and the role is varied, with a broad remit.  

The Chief Executive role has organisational responsibility for 12 members of staff, some office based but most out and about across the countryside in which BFT works.  

As Chief Executive, you’ll bring proven senior leadership experience and the ability to get the best from staff and volunteers. A natural communicator, you’ll engage confidently with a wide range of people – from volunteers and donors to policymakers and conservation experts. 

You’ll have experience generating significant income in the not-for-profit sector, alongside strengths in strategic planning and programme development. Passionate about conservation, you’ll be an inspiring ambassador for Borders Forest Trust, able to share our impact and build lasting partnerships that help us achieve our vision. 

This role is hybrid based, with candidates being in the Head Office in Jedburgh (Scottish Borders) once or twice weekly, with other time spent out and about across the geography BFT covers. Applications are welcomed from candidates based across Scotland and the North East. Please note, travel costs to the Jedburgh office for office working days will not be reimbursed. 

To find out more, discuss any reasonable adjustments you may require and to progress an application, please download the Candidate Pack and email us to arrange a chat with our Recruitment team. 

Timeframes: 

Role closing: midnight Monday 13th October – please ensure you have allowed time for a screening conversation with the THINK Recruitment team before the closing date 

1st Stage interviews: 22nd or 23rd October 2025 

2nd Stage interviews: 29th October 2025 

About the Role​

Social Development Direct is looking for a Finance Director to join our Senior Leadership Team and help shape the future of our global social impact consultancy. SDDirect is a values-driven, dynamic international development consultancy with a 25-year track record of delivering high-quality, innovative research and advisory services worldwide. As a social enterprise subsidiary of Plan International UK, we combine commercial agility with a deep commitment to social change.​

In this role, you’ll:​

•  Lead financial and commercial management, act as Company Secretary, and advise on project finance, pricing, and risk.
•  Collaborate across teams, using financial information and data to contribute to strategic growth, sustainability, and innovation.
•  Manage a small, dedicated finance team and work closely with our MD and Board.​​

This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a medium-sized, fast-paced organisation, brings proven senior-level financial skills, and understands the dynamics of commercial consultancy. Flexible and part-time working arrangements are available (min. 80% FTE).​​

We welcome applications from all qualified candidates, and wish to particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates, who are underrepresented at this level.

Please click below for a full description of the role's responsibilities, duties, and person specification.​​

Are you passionate about making a difference in your local schools and colleges? This combined Programme Manager and Facilitator role will play a pivotal part in raising awareness and developing skills in schools across Wales.

About us:

Are you passionate about financial capability? Join us to help develop knowledge, resources and tools that are accessible to all!

At The London Foundation for Banking & Finance (LFBF), our story began in 1879 when a group of visionary bank workers set out to elevate professional standards and leadership in the industry. Over the past 145 years, we became a recognised leader in financial services education, offering industry-leading qualifications and setting the gold standard for professional competency.

In 2023 we entered an exciting new chapter as an independent charity, revitalising and refocusing our mission to improve financial capability and empower professionals in the sector. We are now  expanding our team to drive this transformation forward.

Our charitable objective is the advancement of knowledge and education in financial services, and to carry out research and publish useful results for the benefit of the public. In doing so, we seek to improve levels of financial literacy and skills, as well as support those working within or considering a career in the financial services industry.

Our objective is just as relevant, perhaps even more so, today as it has been in our long history. If you're inspired to make a real impact and contribute to the advancement of financial knowledge for the benefit of society, we want to hear from you.

About the role:

Do you have a passion for financial capability along with product development and project management skills?

We’re looking for a proactive and professional Financial Capability Manager to play a key role in our strategy.  

What you’ll be doing

As our Financial Capability Manager your responsibilities will include:

• Manage the implementation of the products and services outlined within our financial capability strategy.
• Design product briefs and develop content in line with user and stakeholder feedback.
• Manage the technical infrastructure that supports our financial capability products.
• Monitor and report on progress and identify any risks.
• Build working relationships with stakeholders.

 What we’re looking for

We’re seeking someone who is:

• Professional, approachable, and confident in communicating with people at all levels.
• Experienced in project management and administration.
• Knowledgeable about and able to use technical terminology in relevant scenarios.
• Organised, with excellent attention to detail and strong time-management skills.
• Competent in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Proactive, adaptable, and able to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Educated to degree level or equivalent.
• Aligned with our mission, collaborative culture and values.

It would be great if you also bring:

• Experience of managing products and services that are either B2B or B2C
• Risk management experience
• Project management training or qualification

What we offer:

• A collaborative, adaptable and supportive work environment where integrity and innovation are valued.
• Competitive compensation based on your experience and our sector
• Hybrid working – work from home and work from our London office based in the City: we’d like you to be in the office at least two fixed days a month and relevant events but otherwise we’re flexible.
• Flexible working days and times: This role involves events, some of which may be in the evening or breakfast briefings so the flexibility needs to go both ways.
• Development opportunities – this is a new role with the opportunity to learn new skills and develop your experience in events management, project management and administration.
• We recognise that physical, mental and financial wellbeing is important:
  • so enjoy our generous annual leave (27 days plus bank holidays for full time hours, pro rata for part time hours).
  • plan for your future pension with either 3 or 4% employee contributions and 6 or 8% employer contributions.
  • provision of generous life insurance cover, to provide financial security to your loved ones should the worst happen.

Please note that this role is a permanent position, but we would consider a Fixed Term Contract for an outstanding candidate. Although the closing date is 30th September, we are reviewing and shortlisting applications on a ongoing basis so do apply as soon as possible.
The role is hybrid, so for full time hours would mean 40-60 percent of the time worked from our Bradford offices (2-3 days).
 

CAP celebrates the value of diversity and our aim is for our workforce to be as inclusive as possible as well as representing the communities we serve. With this in mind, we welcome and encourage job applications from people of all backgrounds. We particularly welcome applications from candidates from black and ethnic minority backgrounds. We are committed to continue building an environment that embraces diversity and includes all.

Context:

CAP is a national charity that is driven to help release people from debt, poverty and their causes through partnering with local churches.  We do this by providing a variety of services: CAP Debt Help, CAP Job Clubs, CAP Release Groups and CAP Life Skills.  We also help churches teach basic budgeting and money management skills through our CAP Money course.  Our debt help service involves holding client assets. CAP is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The continued success of our work rests on a bedrock of vital background functions, which includes the finance department.

Purpose:

The finance department is going through an exciting period of transformation. Working alongside the Chief Financial Officer and the Head of Financial Planning & Analysis, this role will help shape the strategy and delivery of excellent forward-facing financial planning, statutory and regulatory reporting, costing and client asset management.

This role will be responsible for identifying opportunities for continuous improvement whilst driving efficiencies across the finance department. Taking ownership of providing potential solutions to enable us to strengthen our core financial processes, from both a systems and process perspective, whilst encouraging thought and challenge around our current ways of working.

This role will take accountability for the oversight and management control of the Finance Operations team, providing outstanding customer service to both our internal and external customers and stakeholders.

Personality:

We are dedicated, enthusiastic and take a professional approach to our work, within a relaxed, supportive environment. 

Reports to: Chief Financial Officer

Direct Reports: 1 x Assistant Financial Accountant, 5 x Finance Assistants

Passion:

We are extremely passionate about providing excellent service to our multitude of internal and external stakeholders. 

Role:

Accountabilities:

• Build and develop a strong finance operations function with robust internal and external controls through active line management and regular training

• Drive the annual statutory reporting process - developing a clear timeline, planning and negotiating with our internal communications team to deliver a high quality annual report for Trustee approval and sign off

• Lead the external audit process, negotiating fees, timetables and take the lead role in all meetings with the Audit Partner and their team. Use judgement to consider whether audit responses should be challenged or accepted. Prepare action plans and report audit findings to the Finance, Audit & Risk Committee.

• Oversee the CASS annual audit process, which includes negotiating fees, timetables and take the lead role in all meetings with the Audit Partner and their team. Use judgement to consider whether audit responses should be challenged or accepted. Prepare action plans and report audit findings to the Finance, Audit & Risk Committee. 

• Develop and deliver comprehensive and insightful regular balance sheet reporting and forecasting (capital expenditure, cashflow, liabilities and reserves) to support the financial sustainability of CAP, highlighting risks or opportunities to enable informed decision making by Executive Team and the Board

• Identify and implement process and system improvements, shaping and improving the effectiveness of the finance operations team. 

• Take the leading role in the finance ledger system replacement procurement, design & implementation

• Provide support to ensure key operational and financial targets are delivered

• Develop, recommend and implement cash and capital management systems and reporting

• Provide assessments of capital expenditure business cases and strategic opportunities to support and influence decision making

• Support the month end and annual accounting processes to ensure accurate reporting of the financial performance

• Advise the Chief Financial Officer on technical areas of expertise, undertaking research as required, in particular financial reporting, VAT and tax.

• Provide financial accounting advice and support to the Head of Financial Planning & Analysis in the preparation of budgets

• Submission of all mandatory external surveys and reports as required by deadlines (ONS, FCA etc)

Manager accountabilities: 

• Manager is proactive in creating a culture of personal development in the team, including but not limited to conducting Annual Appraisals and Development Reviews (AADs), and coaching style catch ups for every direct report

• Manager is a secure and honest leader, able to acknowledge mistakes, lead with vulnerability and build a high trust team

• Manager has excellent written and verbal communication skills and can tailor these to the audience and situation as needed

• Consistently and professionally articulates the needs of the team to wider stakeholders, whether as part of specific projects or business-as-usual tasks

• Manager is able to balance team workloads, boundaries and health using appropriate and effective strategic methods such as LEAN, problem definition and ideation tools

Senior Leadership accountabilities: 

• Strategy. Understands the organisation and industry context, knows how to set strategic plans and execute them well.

• Operational oversight. Delivers on the department’s goals and strategic priorities, knows how to lead the department through change and is constantly looking to improve processes.

• Developing and leading people. Able to lead managers and develop them to deliver on accountabilities. Highly skilled at appraisals and setting targets.

• Promoting healthy culture. Ensuring department work and behaviour exemplifies CAP’s values.

• Collaboration (across departments). Strong in organisational awareness and passionate about cross-collaborative working.

Measurable outputs:

• Budgets (capital and other items)  delivered on time and within budget

• Objectives agreed annually delivered as planned

• Monthly reporting pack delivered to the agreed timetable

• Finance transformation programme delivered successfully

• Successful completion of the annual statutory audit process

• Identification of further improvements needed to financial processes and controls as appropriate

• Delivery of new chart of accounts structure 

• Balance sheet & Cash Flow - annual, monthly and quarterly - including forecasts

• Statutory returns completed on time

• Effective regular 1:1 meetings held with direct reports

Culture:

• Clearly live out and embrace the cultural values of CAP.

• Clearly demonstrate a heart and passion for the charity.

• Sincere acceptance, understanding and practice of the Christian ethos and purpose of the charity.

Other responsibilities include:

• Being willing to pray with staff and fully engaged with our Christ-centred  culture.

• Encouraging friends, family and other contacts to support the charity through the Life Changer program, and other fundraising initiatives.

• Attendance at annual CAP staff conferences.

• Completing all compulsory CAP training within given timescales.

• This role falls within the scope of the FCA’s conduct rules, and you will be provided with training as to how these apply to the role.  It is your responsibility to ensure that you follow these conduct rules.

The above job profile is a guide to the work you may be required to undertake but does not form part of your contract of employment. It may change from time to time to reflect changing circumstances.

Person:

Education:

• Qualified Accountant (CCAB) with Post Qualification Experience

• Degree or professional level education

Experience:

Essential

• At least 3 years experience at a senior level within a finance/accountancy environment

• Senior level financial accounting experience

• Experience of reviewing controls & processes

• Experience of leading the annual accounts & audit process

• Experience of leading teams to meet key objectives or targets

Desirable

• Senior level financial accounting experience in a not-for-profit organisation

• Experience of installing/upgrading accounting systems

• Prior experience of working in a CASS 11 environment 

Skills/abilities:

• A strategic thinker, able to plan and forecast with an exceptional level of organisational awareness.

• Ability to interpret technical accounting regulations into everyday language

• Demonstrable effective influencing skills at a senior level

• Significant understanding of financial control and risk

• Excellent technical finance and accounting knowledge

• Demonstrate strong understanding of business needs and relevant application of accounting standards

• Good strategic insight and understanding of organisational aims.

• Possess a problem solving, analytical mindset with a high level of attention to detail

• Excellent communicator and presentation skills, both verbally and in writing

• Strong excel skills and use of data manipulation tools

• Ability to prioritise and manage own workloads, be organised, have a flexible working style and enjoy working to tight deadlines

• Ability to lead a team in actively promoting the cultural values of CAP

Christian commitment:

• The candidate must be able to give both verbal assent to and practical demonstration of Christians Against Poverty’s Statement of Faith and Core Values.

• Must be able to actively participate in prayer and worship, whether individual, small group or corporately, as an expression of their own personal faith and in line with CAP’s Statement of Faith.

All adults working in or on behalf of CAP have a responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and adults. This includes: 

• A responsibility to ensure a safe environment in which CAP services can be delivered. 

• Identifying children and adults where there may be safeguarding concerns.

• Following the CAP Safeguarding policy in addressing any concerns appropriately.