Policy research officer jobs in London, greater london

Stories change lives and at the British Heart Foundation, they help save them. Every day, people affected by heart and circulatory diseases trust us with their experiences. Their stories inspire supporters, shape campaigns, influence policy and bring our research to life. We’re looking for a skilled storyteller with empathy, curiosity and editorial confidence to help us honour those voices and share them responsibly. 

As our Senior Heart Stories Officer, you’ll play a key role in gathering, shaping and safeguarding the reallife stories that sit at the heart of BHF’s mission. You’ll lead on complex briefs, support colleagues across the organisation and ensure every story is handled with care, accuracy and respect. This is a chance to use your craft to make a genuine difference, helping connect millions of people to the cause and keeping families together for longer. 

You’ll be managing a busy caseload, ensuring timely delivery of high-quality story products, whilst tailoring them for a range of platforms. You will also be maintaining the Heart Stories Management system, triaging story requests, support the Heart Story Operations Manager and collaborate across a wide range of BHF teams and stakeholders. 

​About you 

To succeed as our Senior Stories Officer. you will bring a combination of the following: 

• Experience as a journalist or in a communications role either in house or agency, with journalistic ability to ask the right questions and uncover the ‘real’ story.
• ​Strong understanding of what makes a compelling human-interest story and how to shape it for different audiences and platforms.
• Proven interviewing skills, with the ability to speak sensitively with people sharing difficult or personal experiences.
• Experience of identifying, writing and editing compelling stories. 
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with confidence working with colleagues and case studies at all levels.
• Highly organised, able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced service environment.
• Experience of copywriting for varied audiences whilst demonstrating sound judgement on tone, messaging, confidentiality, safeguarding and clinical accuracy.
• Emotional resilience and empathy when working with sensitive or challenging narratives.
• Understanding of safeguarding, informed consent, confidentiality and GDPR.   

Our ambition is to build, develop and empower a talented and diverse team. Join us at BHF and be part of a supportive environment where you can thrive both personally and professionally. 

Belonging at BHF 

We are committed to fostering a workplace where everyone feels valued and supported. Embracing different perspectives and backgrounds strengthens our organisation and empowers us to make a real difference together. 

To hear from our people, check out ​Belonging at BHF. 

Our people are at the heart of everything we do. By funding research across six decades, we’ve helped keep millions of hearts beating and millions of families together. We’re investing in ground-breaking research that will get us closer than ever to a world where everyone has a healthier heart for longer.

Working arrangements

This is a hybrid role, where your work will be split between your home and at least one day per week, on average, in our London Office. This may vary from time to time, so you will need to work in a flexible way to unlock your best work for our cause.

Some travel will be required for this role, typically once a month, to attend interviews, photography, filming, or case study meetings, as required.

Benefits and development 

At BHF, we offer a comprehensive range of benefits designed to support our colleagues’ wellbeing and professional growth.

To find out more about our benefits you can download the Benefits document at the bottom of this page or check out our Benefits and Development pages.

Need more help balancing your work and home life? Talk to us about what flexibility is available at the application or interview stage.

Interviews

We are looking to hold 1st Stage Interviews via MS Teams these will be held between 1st & 2nd April 2026. Successful candidates will be invited to a second stage interview following this.

HR Officer 

Grade 3 (29,340 – 32,430 FTE) 

12 months (with possibility of extension) 

 21 hours per week 

This is a great opportunity for an efficient, thoughtful person with a good eye for detail to get hands-on experience of HR practice and processes. We’re a medium sized charity with big ambition for older people in East London. To find out more about our services and our strategy please visit our website. 

Background to the role  

Our Head of People is currently on Maternity leave until February 2027. During this period, we are strengthening the People function and are seeking an HR Officer to support the interim Head of People to deliver effective support while we align our staff and volunteering processes; this role will support both areas with a focus on HR. 

Our Operations Coordinator carries out staff recruitment, onboarding and offboarding work. The HR Officer may help with this from time to time, but it won’t be a substantive part of the job. 

Job Purpose 

Support the Head of People to deliver the charity’s HR and Volunteering functions (People) in line with the organisation’s values and EDI objectives. 

This will include improving our ‘People’ processes and increasing the overall efficiency of this area of the organisation.

Equity Diversity and Inclusion 

At Age UK East London we are committed to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI), we recognise it as central both to our service delivery and to 'our people'.  We want to build a diverse and inclusive team where everyone feels that they belong. We are aiming for a staff team that, at every level, reflects the profile of our local community and for this reason particularly welcome applications from people who live in East London, disabled people and people from the Global Majority.   

Key Tasks 

People support 

Work with the Head of People to: 

• Respond to HR-related queries from across the organisation, escalating as necessary. 

• Maintain and update the staff handbook, policies, and procedures ensuring they remain accurate and compliant. 

• Support the implementation of Learning and Development (L&D) initiatives, including by booking internal/external training sessions and maintaining training records and mandatory training compliance. 

HR administration  

• Draft and issue job offers, contracts and contract variations. 

• Maintain accurate employee records within Sage HR 

• Manage changes to employment including hours, pay, role and line manager updates. 

• Manage employee benefits such as Employee Assistance Programme and cycle‑to‑work scheme. 

• Monitor completion of staff reviews and appraisals 

Absence management 

• Monitor sickness absence and ensure return‑to‑work documentation is completed. 

• Maintain accurate annual leave records. 

• Arrange Occupational Health assessments and ensure reports are received and shared as appropriate.

Employee relations administration 

• Maintain records of cases including grievances, disciplinaries, and investigations. 

• Take minutes in HR meetings. 

• Prepare letters, documentation and follow‑up actions relating to HR casework 

Volunteering 

• Work with the volunteering team to improve efficiency and help align volunteering processes with HR practices where appropriate. 

 General 

• Meet regularly with the Head of People for support and supervision 

• Attend team and staff meetings, as required. 

• Undertake any training required to fulfil the role. 

• Undertake any other duties within the competence of the post holder as may be required from time to time for the continued smooth running of Age UK East London. 

• Carry out the duties of the post in accordance with Age UK’s East London’s policies and procedures including Equal Opportunities, Health & Safety, Confidentiality, Complaints, GDPR, Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults. 

 Functional Links  

• Close working relationship is needed with the Operations Coordinator. 

Person Specification 

Research shows that while middle class white men tend to apply for job when they meet around 60% of the criteria, women, people from the global majority, and people from other marginalised groups that encounter systematic discrimination tend to apply only when they meet all criteria. So, if you think you have what it takes, but don’t meet every single aspect of the job description, please still apply. 

A= We want to see evidence that you meet this criterion as part of your application statement (we may also test at interview). 

I = We will test this at interview. 

Experience 

Essential:

• Of administrative work in a professional environment. A 

Desirable: 

• Working in a HR role. A 

• Working in the voluntary sector. A 

• Supporting volunteer programmes. A 

• Using HR systems (preferably Sage HR). A 

Knowledge & Understanding 

Essential: 

• Of diversity, equity, and inclusion principles and practice across People Functions. A 

• Of data protection. A 

Desirable:

• Knowledge and understanding of UK employment law. A 

Skills/ Attributes 

Essential:

• Excellent verbal and written communication. A 

• Ability to collect and analyse data. A 

• Intermediate IT skills including using of Microsoft excel, word, outlook and teams. I 

• Empathetic, with a strong commitment to employee and volunteer well-being. I 

• Can demonstrate AUKEL values (accountable, kind, flexible, inclusive, collaborative) in the way the service is delivered. I 

Additional Requirements  

• This post is subject to the relevant check through the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) 

• Flexibility in working hours to meet organisational needs. 

Employment Details 

Contract type 

This contracted post is for 21 hours per week (if part-time, working day pattern to be decided).We welcome application for flexible working including reduced hours and other flexible working arrangements. 

Location 

The post holder will be mostly based at 82 Russia Lane, Bethnal Green, E2 9LU. 

Salary   

Between £29,340 – 32,430 Plus 5% employer pension contribution. Organisational annual pay award pending 

Salaries are based on our salary bands system. This salary range refers to the lowest and top steps of the grade. Salary will progress every year until the top salary is reached. 

Holiday entitlement 

25 days (pro-rata for part time) of paid holiday per year plus bank holidays. This increases after two years of service to 27 days, and then a further one day per every year of service up to a maximum of 30 days after five years of service. In addition, all employees are entitled to one day off on (or around) their Birthday. 

Conditions of employment 

The job offer is subject to the receipt of two satisfactory Employment References, one of which from your current or most recent employer, a DBS Check, evidence of your right to work in the UK and evidence of relevant Qualification (if applicable). 

  

How We Value Our People 

Learning and development 

We are committed to supporting our staff through a variety of training, e-learning, workshop and shadowing. A training needs assessment is carried out annually. During the appraisal and reviewed during supervision. The majority of vacancies are advertised internally to encourage staff to progress their careers within the charity.

Flexible working policy 

We welcome flexible working requests from day one and anyone can make as many requests as they wish to. 

Family Friendly Policy 

We have a competitive Family Friendly Policy which includes maternity, paternity adoption, shared parental leave, dependency and carers leave. We have an enhanced maternity and paternity pay policy based on the length of service and we offer up to one week paid dependency leave and carer leave. 

Sick leave policy 

We also have a competitive sick pay policy which will give you up to 4 months full pay and 4 months half pay after 4 years of service. 

Death in service insurance  

We have a Death in service insurance which will help your family to cope financially should something happen to you while employed with us. 

Employee assistance programme 

We offer an Employee Assistance programme called WeCare which includes 24/7 online GP, Get fit programme, Mental health support, Financial and legal guidance. 

Duncan Robertson Award 

For the outstanding contribution to the wellbeing of older people. 

Cycle to work scheme 

The scheme allows employees to obtain commuter bikes and cycling accessories through their employer, whilst spreading the cost over 12 months and making unbeatable savings through a tax break 

Other benefits 

Through Age UK National we provide the BUPA Employee Assistance Programme, the Blue Light Discount Card, access to a discount portal provided by AON and Ticket for Good. 

Next Steps 

How to apply 

To apply, please complete the application form on our website. 

Recruitment Timetable 

Deadline to receive applications: 1st April 2026 at Midnight

Interviews: 10th April 2026 in-person.

Have any questions? If you want to find out more about the recruitment process or the role, please contact our HR department using the email on our website. 

About us

The King’s community is united by a commitment to serve society through academic excellence. King’s Strategy 2030 sets out our bold vision for the future, building on our strengths while responding to a rapidly changing world. The strategy focuses on delivering student success in and beyond the University; investing in research and education excellence that addresses global, national and local priorities; fostering innovation and entrepreneurship; and securing sustainable finances for a secure future. Through these priorities, and supported by a culture that values our people, services, campuses, partnerships and alumni, we will strengthen our impact and enable every student and member of our community to contribute meaningfully to society.

Within the Social Mobility & Widening Participation Department we believe all young people should be able to have high expectations for their future. This means equal access to education and career opportunities. We run programmes that aim to empower young people from under-represented backgrounds to access and succeed at university.

 We are part of the Students & Education Directorate, a collection of wide-ranging professional services in place to support King’s students and their education. As a directorate we manage the student lifecycle from application to graduation and beyond, to ensure a coherent and seamless student experience and effective administrative processes, working closely with King’s faculties to do so.

About the role

The Research and Evaluation Manager will work to position King’s College London as a sector leader on conducting institutional evaluation and research to understand how we can support students from underrepresented groups to access university and succeed at university. Our team aims to generate causal evidence, either through Randomised Controlled Trials or Quasi-experimental designs.

This is an exciting opportunity for candidates looking to work in research and evaluation in an applied context, and who wish to utilise their skills and expertise in quantitative and qualitative methods. This is an opportunity to grow your skills in generating and applying evidence to practice.

We encourage applications from candidates who have experience from both within and outside of the Higher Education sector where they can demonstrate the skills needed to succeed in this role as well as candidates from non-traditional backgrounds.

Key responsibilities

· Supervise and lead on a range of research & evaluation activities, including synthesis of secondary research; conducting qualitative, quantitative and/or survey designs; developing and delivering randomised controlled trials (and other experimental trials as appropriate), 

· Convey research findings, including complex quantitative information, in a clear and actionable way 

· Develop and maintain expertise in behavioural research and evaluation methodologies

· Work with academics and practitioners to test and trial new approaches to widening participation and student success 

· Line manage the Senior Research and Evaluation Adviser or Senior Data Officer

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.

This post will be offered on a fixed term basis.

This is a full-time post, but we welcome applications from candidates seeking a flexible work pattern within our necessary service operating hours of 10am-4pm.

Working Pattern

· This is a full-time (35 hours per week) post, and you will be offered an indefinite contract. The role works with a hybrid working pattern. While some on-site presence will be required for team collaboration, events, and programme activities, there is potential for a substantial proportion of working hours to be undertaken remotely.

About you

To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience

Essential criteria

· Relevant work experience and/or education: We think a wide range of different work and educational experiences could support you to be successful in this role. Relevant work experience might include work in any research or evaluation job.  Relevant educational experiences might include higher education in a related discipline, professional qualifications or other training 

· Ability to consider and select appropriate research designs and methodologies, using qualitative and quantitative methods including surveying, interviewing and running focus groups.  

· Experience establishing causal inference in research when evaluating projects or interventions with experimental methods (e.g. quasi-experimental methods, randomised controlled trials). 

· Experience in designing and running multiple social research and evaluation projects, managing competing demands and timescales and delivering to milestones. 

· Confident in conducting data analysis including handling large data sets and statistical testing using relevant software (such as Power BI, R, Stata, or SPSS) and presenting findings in various formats. 

· Confident and clear written and verbal communication, including report-writing, data visualisation and presentation skills. 

· Ability to give a team clear direction and guide it to the successful completion of a task. 

· Ability to identify and manage the objectives, performance, and development needs of others. 

Desirable criteria

· Postgraduate degree or qualification in research methods, statistics, analytics or a related field and/or relevant experience. 

· Experience using behavioural insights in a research or policy context to positively influence behaviour 

· Understanding of the widening participation agenda and/or the role of higher education in social mobility 

We pride ourselves on being inclusive and welcoming. We embrace diversity and want everyone to feel that they belong and are connected to others in our community.

We are committed to working with our staff and unions on these and other issues, to continue to support our people and to develop a diverse and inclusive culture at King's.

As part of this commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and through this appointment process, it is our aim to develop candidate pools that include applicants from all backgrounds and communities.

We ask all candidates to submit a copy of their CV, and a supporting statement, detailing how they meet the essential criteria listed in the advert. If we receive a strong field of candidates, we may use the desirable criteria to choose our final shortlist, so please include your evidence against these where possible.

To find out how our managers will review your application, please take a look at our ‘How we Recruit’ pages.

Closing date: 1 April 2026.

Interviews are due to be held on 9 - 10 April 2026.

Corporate New Business Officer

If you’re motivated by purpose, eager to make a tangible difference, and excited to help us reach ambitious fundraising goals, we’d love to hear from you.

Location: Hybrid with offices in London, Manchester & North East

Salary: £28,288 - £31,788 per annum

Closing Date: 5th April, 2026

Employment Type: Permanent

Hours per week: 37.5

About the Role

Depaul UK is on a mission to give every young person facing homelessness a safe place to call home, and as our Corporate New Business Officer, you’ll be at the forefront of building partnerships that make this possible. You’ll drive new corporate relationships, create engaging pitches, support high‑value bids and help shape standout supporter experiences that inspire organisations across the UK to get involved.

In this fast‑moving, relationship‑focused role, you’ll grow our corporate pipeline, spot opportunities, and confidently lead meetings with partners of all sizes. Your communication skills, fundraising experience and proactive approach will directly fuel our ability to reach ambitious goals and strengthen our impact nationwide.

This role offers a Hybrid work arrangement (Offices in London, Manchester & North East); hence, applicants in different UK locations are encouraged to apply.

Key deliverables:

• Grow new corporate partnerships through smart prospecting, confident networking and strong relationship‑building.

• Create compelling proposals, pitches and sponsorship packages that inspire businesses to support Depaul UK.

• Support high‑value partnership bids by preparing tailored materials and engaging senior stakeholders.

• Strengthen supporter journeys through excellent stewardship and innovative engagement approaches.

• Manage an active corporate pipeline using strong research, organisation and CRM reporting skills.

• Represent Depaul UK in meetings, events and project visits, communicating our mission with clarity and impact.

What we are looking for from you (Person Specification)

When completing your application form please address all the points set out below.

• Proven experience in corporate fundraising

• Understanding of income channels that could be utilised within a corporate and community fundraising setting.

• Strong networking and relationship-building skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

• Experience of researching potential donors and building a pipeline

• Confidence in presenting to senior stakeholders, briefing service staff and negotiating partnerships

• Excellent organisational skills, including ability to work on own initiative and to effectively manage and prioritise workload.

• Knowledge of CSR trends and how UN Sustainability Goals feed into corporate ESG objectives (Desirable)

• Experience of writing grant applications (Desirable)

• Knowledge of Code of Fundraising Practice and Data Protection legislation (Desirable)

• Previous experience of using Raisers Edge (Desirable)

Other requirements

• Willingness to work variable hours including evenings and weekends as needed.

• Flexibility to travel to meetings as required within the UK.

• A willingness to work within the ‘Vincentian Values’ of Depaul, for example, doing what we say and being innovative in our approach.

You believe in people — their strengths, their rights and their potential. You bring empathy, energy and a solution‑focused mindset to your work. You communicate clearly, stay organised and adapt well in a fast‑moving environment. You’re committed to inclusion, fairness and continuous learning, and you turn values into meaningful action, whatever your role.

What You’ll Receive

• Tailored training and development
• Flexible working options where suitable
• 26 days annual leave, rising with service
• Family‑friendly leave policies
• Pension scheme with employer contributions up to 7%
• Employee Assistance Programme with 24/7 GP access
• Discounts across retail, travel, food, fitness and more
• Cash health plan for you and your family
• Death‑in‑service benefit
• Access to legal and practical support

Safer Recruitment

Depaul UK is committed to fair and inclusive recruitment, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. If a role requires it under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975, we will carry out the appropriate Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check. We only look at information that is relevant to the role, and a criminal record will never be treated as an automatic barrier to employment. All DBS information is handled sensitively, confidentially and in line with the DBS Code of Practice, and we encourage applicants to discuss any concerns with us openly.

About Depaul UK

In the 1980s, high unemployment and steep inflation was contributing to a shocking rise in youth homelessness across London. Thousands of young people were sleeping rough every night, with many areas notoriously dubbed “cardboard cities” due to the visible rise in street homelessness. Appalled by the scenes playing out across the capital, a group of people came together to tackle the challenge head on. Led by Cardinal Basil Hume and Mark McGreevy OBE, in 1989 Depaul UK was born.

What began as a single housing project in North London soon expanded across London, Greater Manchester and the North East of England. Today, Depaul UK provides accommodation, prevention and support services to thousands of marginalised young people across the UK each year.

As our name suggests, the work of Depaul UK has been inspired by St. Vincent de Paul – a man who devoted his life to helping vast numbers of people throughout the 17th century. St. Vincent de Paul’s belief in the intrinsic worth of all people and his commitment to taking bold action remain central to our values today. Depaul UK now forms part of a family of Depaul charities around the world. We each focus on the specific challenges in our own countries, but we’re united by our shared values and mission to end homelessness.

Purpose of the Role

The Clinical & Research Lead role provides senior clinical leadership across Together for Short Lives’ most complex and high-profile programmes. The role leads the design and delivery of national clinical initiatives, strengthens clinical governance and safeguarding oversight, and builds the organisation’s research and evidence capability.

Working closely with the Head of Services & Impact, the postholder ensures programmes are credible, evidence-informed and deliver measurable impact for children, families and the wider sector. The role will lead work that strengthens professional practice, improves outcomes for families, and supports national sector development. The role involves significant external representation, national stakeholder engagement, programme planning, research and data oversight, and leadership of internal and external events.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Stakeholder Engagement

· Represent Together for Short Lives in national clinical, policy and professional forums, contributing to the organisation’s credibility and influence across the children’s palliative care sector.

· Lead the planning, coordination and delivery of internally hosted stakeholder meetings, including the Leaders of Care Forum and other professional engagement events.

· Provide professional and reflective input into complex organisational decisions relating to clinical practice, programme design and ethical engagement.

· Build strong relationships with practitioners across health, social care, education and voluntary-sector partners to support implementation of clinical programmes and foster collaboration.

· Engage with Integrated Care Boards, Strategic Clinical Networks, and children’s palliative care providers to ensure our work aligns with national priorities and regional needs.

Programme Leadership & Project Oversight

· Provide senior leadership for the planning, development and delivery of clinical and service-improvement projects, ensuring alignment with organisational strategy.

· Oversee the development of project briefs, initiation documents, outcome measures, risk registers, evaluation plans and implementation timelines.

· Hold responsibility for monitoring progress, quality assurance, and risk management, escalating concerns to the Head of Services & Impact as required.

· Coordinate cross-functional project teams and ensure effective collaboration with external organisations, hospices, NHS partners and charitable funders.

· Ensure projects are delivered within agreed scope, timelines and budgets.

· Support the development of robust programme models, theories of change and outcomes frameworks that strengthen the organisation’s ability to secure external funding.

· Contribute to the development of cases for support and programme proposals in collaboration with fundraising colleagues.

 

Research, Evidence & Insight

• Lead the organisation’s research prioritisation programme and support development of a national children’s palliative care research agenda.
• Build and maintain relationships with academic partners, research institutions and clinical leaders to strengthen the evidence base for children’s palliative care.
• Support development of evaluation frameworks that demonstrate impact, learning and outcomes across programmes.
• Contribute to the organisation’s longer-term ambition to develop a ‘Centre of Impact’, positioning Together for Short Lives as a national authority on evidence and insight in children’s palliative care.
• Ensure research and evaluation activity is ethically robust, appropriately governed and aligned with sector priorities.

Data, Impact & Reporting

· Provide oversight and leadership for data collection, monitoring and reporting processes across the Services & Impact portfolio.

· Line manage the Data & Impact Officer, ensuring robust reporting systems, high-quality data, and meaningful evaluation of programmes.

· Ensure outputs are translated into insights that demonstrate effectiveness, equity, reach and learning - supporting fundraising, influencing and strategic decision-making.

· Support development of improved feedback mechanisms from families and professionals to evidence the impact of support offers and clinical programmes.

Professional Support, Education & Sector Development

· Contribute to the development and dissemination of clinical resources, guidance, toolkits and training for professionals working with children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions.

· Support national programmes of work, including definitions of children’s palliative care, categories of need, standards, workforce development and professional education.

· Facilitate knowledge exchange and best-practice sharing across the sector through networks, events, workshops and targeted professional engagement.

· Deliver presentations, training sessions and clinical briefings to a wide range of audiences.

Family and Service Engagement

· Work with colleagues across the Services & Impact team and external partners to ensure projects reflect the lived experiences and priorities of children and families.

· Support co-production activities and ensure family voice is meaningfully incorporated into project design and evaluation.

· Promote and signpost to the Family Support Hub and relevant offers, ensuring clear and consistent messaging about available support.

Governance, Quality & Reporting

· Provide additional clinical oversight and challenge across the organisation’s work relating to safeguarding, ethical engagement and complex family situations.

· Contribute to strengthening organisational clinical governance processes and risk management.

· Provide expert advice to colleagues on safeguarding, ethical engagement with families, and complex clinical issues arising from programme work. Contribute to internal reporting cycles, board updates, quarterly programme reviews and funder reports.

· Maintain accurate project documentation, data dashboards and risk logs.

· Provide expert advice to colleagues and stakeholders on clinical considerations and best practice in children’s palliative care.

General Responsibilities

· Provide effective line management, supervision and support to allocated staff.

· Attend team meetings, leadership meetings and organisational events as required.

· Commit to continuous professional development and reflective practice.

· Undertake other duties relevant to the role as required by the Head of Services & Impact.

Salary: £32000-£36000 p.a DOE

Hours: 37.5 Full-time

Reports to: Research Manager

Location: Harlow, Essex. Easily commutable from London Liverpool Street or Tottenham Hale Station. We offer a free minibus service to/from Harlow Town Train Station as well as free parking and EV charging on site.

Extra Information: Open to conversation on hybrid, flexible and compressed working arrangements.

About the role:

At the Motability Foundation we fund, support, research and innovate so that all disabled people can make the journeys they choose. We oversee the Motability Scheme and provide grants to help people use it, providing access to transport to hundreds of thousands of people a year. We award grants to other charities and organisations who provide different types of transport, or work towards making transport accessible. We also carry out ongoing research, in partnership with disabled people and key stakeholders in the industry, to inspire innovations that continue to champion accessible transport for all.

As Insight Officer, you’ll support the day-to-day delivery of insight and evidence across the Insight Team, helping to ensure that research outputs are timely, accessible and well used across the organisation.

What you will be doing:

Working closely with your colleagues in the Insight Team, you’ll contribute to research delivery, rapid evidence reviews and executive-style insight summaries.  You’ll also support the coordination of research activity and help maintain shared evidence resources that underpin organisational learning and decision-making.

Key responsibilities will include:

· Producing clear and concise insight summaries and rapid evidence reviews to support policy, strategy and operational decision-making

· Analysing primary qualitative and quantitative research data (e.g. survey datasets, interviews and focus groups), under the guidance of Research Managers

· Accurately summarising research findings, identifying key themes and patterns, and drafting structured outputs for review

· Supporting the delivery of research projects across the Insight Team, including contributing to research tools, data collection and reporting

· Acting as a first point of contact for routine research queries and supporting the quality assurance of small-scale research activity

· Supporting the coordination and organisation of research activity across the Insight team, including maintaining process maps and research pipeline summaries, tracking outputs and maintaining documentation.

· Supporting research delivery across a portfolio of projects, including potential to support small to medium sized ad hoc research commissions

· Contributing to the development and upkeep of reference and evidence summaries

· Representing the Insight Team in cross-organisational working groups or projects where insight input is required

· Supporting good research practice by helping ensure outputs meet agreed quality, accessibility and ethical standards

This role offers a strong foundation in applied research and insight, with exposure across multiple projects and policy areas.

Your experience:

You are organised, curious and motivated by evidence. You enjoy working with data, both qualitative and quantitative and take pride in presenting findings clearly and accurately. You enjoy making sense of information and helping others use insight well, and you are also comfortable working across multiple priorities with support from more senior colleagues. You are detail-oriented without losing sight of the bigger picture, and you take pride in producing clear, reliable outputs.

You are likely to thrive in this role if you:

• Enjoy synthesising information into clear, structured summaries
• Are confident analysing both qualitative and quantitative data
• Are proactive and comfortable juggling different tasks and deadlines
• Communicate clearly in writing and are keen to build confidence presenting insight
• Work collaboratively and enjoy contributing to shared outputs
• Are interested in building a career in research, insight and/or policy

Requirements

We’re open to candidates from a range of backgrounds, including those early in their insight or research career who are keen to develop their skills.

Must haves:

• Experience working collaboratively with others to deliver shared outputs
• Experience supporting research, insight or analysis work in a professional, academic or applied setting
• Experience working with quantitative datasets using standard analysis tools (e.g. Excel or similar)
• Experience analysing qualitative and/or quantitative primary data (e.g. from survey datasets, interviews, focus groups)
• Experience identifying themes and patterns in qualitative data
• Ability to interpret findings accurately and translate them into clear written insight
• Experience producing concise, executive-style insight summaries distilling complex findings into key messages
• Understanding of basic research methods and principles, including sampling, bias and data quality
• Good organisational skills and attention to detail
• Confidence using standard office software to produce reports and manage information

Nice to haves:

• Experience producing rapid evidence reviews
• Experience supporting small research projects or ad hoc commissions
• Experience in disability, transport, social policy or public service research
• Experience organising or maintaining shared knowledge or reference resources
• Familiarity with qualitative analysis software (e.g. MAXQDA, NVivo or similar)
• Experience using statistical or survey tools (e.g. SPSS, R, Power BI, or equivalent)
• Experience creating simple and effective data visualisations to support insight summaries. This may include familiarity with Canva, Adobe, or other equivalent software packages.

Benefits

Who are we?

We are building a future where all disabled people have the transport options to make the journeys they choose.

We fund, support, research and innovate so that all disabled people can make the journeys they choose. We oversee the Motability Scheme and provide grants to help people use it, providing access to transport to hundreds of thousands of people a year. We award grants to charities and organisations who provide different types of transport, or work towards making transport accessible. We also carry out ongoing research, in partnership with disabled people and key stakeholders in the industry, to inspire innovations that continue to champion accessible transport for all.

Why choose us?

We want working for the Motability Foundation to be the best career move you’ve ever made. When you join the Motability Foundation you will join a group of people who are supportive, innovative and motivated to improve the lives of our beneficiaries.

We value everyone’s unique qualities and celebrate having a diverse, equitable and inclusive culture where everyone feels safe to be their authentic selves. This is embedded into our values, Collaborative, Respectful and Evolving.

We bring our people together through our People Forum, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Forum, Social Squad and our Wellbeing Champions and our employee Spotlight Awards help us recognise the excellence and dedication of our staff.

We are proud to be recognised as Disability Confident Leader, have attained Platinum Level Award for Investors in People and are members of the Business Disability Forum.

A career with Motability Foundation can offer you so much more than earning potential, we pride ourselves in offering some fantastic benefits. Some of these include:

• 26 days annual leave, plus the option to buy/ sell up to five days.
• One wellbeing day for extra flexibility.
• Pension scheme - Up to 20%, including a 10% non-contributory contribution and matched contributions up to 5%.
• Life Assurance of four times your salary.
• Private healthcare through BUPA for you and your family, along with a Medicash Health Plan.
• Employee assistance programme: GP appointments, eye tests, flu vaccinations, sick pay and free gym and yoga sessions.
• Enhanced Parental Leave, including Adoption Pay.
• Free parking, EV charge points and a minibus service to/from the town centre and train station.
• Fresh fruit, breakfast snacks, and a Dress for Your Day dress code.
• Learning and development opportunities to help you grow.

Our vision is to create a charity where everyone feels like they belong, benefits from and participates in, the work we do. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures, and we aim to be an employer of choice for candidates with disabilities.

As a Disability Confident Leader, we have committed to ensuring that disabled people and those with long term health conditions have the opportunities to fulfil their potential. We want to ensure everyone has the opportunity to perform their best when interviewing and when working with us, so if you require any reasonable adjustments that would make you more comfortable, please let us know so that we can do our best to support you.

To help us create an inclusive workplace we are committed to offering to interview every disabled applicant who meets the minimum criteria for the job. Some of our roles attract a high volume of applications and in some circumstances, we may need to limit the number of interviews offered to disabled and non-disabled candidates. 

ABOUT THE ROLE

We are looking for a part time governance and compliance officer to oversee our governance and risk framework as a non-profit regulated by the Charities Commission (England and Wales) and OSCR (Scotland).

You will identify, develop, maintain and implement policies and procedures to ensure compliance and risk mitigation with the various regulations that we must adhere to such as Charities Commission, OSCR, Fundraising Regulator, Companies House, UK Data Protection and Safeguarding.

As governance and compliance officer, you will deliver high quality, professional and compliant governance across the charity, nationally and in supporting our network of support groups (see About IA) ensuring we comply with statutory regulations, that protect our members and the charity itself while applying best practice principles.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Developing and documenting a detailed understanding of charity practices, paying specific attention to areas where IA is bound by statutory regulations
• Developing robust policies and procedures that ensure charity compliance and best practice
• Remaining up to date with current regulations that IA is bound by and ensuring any changes are implemented within any imposed deadlines
• Regularly review and maintain policies and procedures auditing your findings to ensure exemplary record keeping following up with implementing changes
• Implementing policies and procedures amongst staff, volunteers and the Board of Trustees with robust record keeping introducing governance cycles to keep everyone updated with current policy and communicating changes where necessary
• Identifying risks, recommending mitigating actions and reporting your findings to the management team and Board of Trustees
• Reviewing and updating IA’s risk register
• Recommending and monitoring recommended training among staff and volunteers especially where IA is bound by statutory regulations
• Liaise with third-party suppliers to IA who are responsible for providing services to the charity that support our governance and risk framework
• Supporting Trustee recruitment, induction, training, and evaluation processes

PERSON SPECIFICATION

ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE 

• Demonstrable experience of at least 12m in governance and risk management within a not for profit environment with working knowledge of UK charity regulations. Exceptional candidates from a commercial background would be considered
• A thorough working knowledge of risk management
• Development, implementation, monitoring and maintenance of governance and risk frameworks
• Documenting, reviewing and mitigating risk
• Demonstrable experience of regular reporting to management
• Strong working knowledge of UK data protection regulation
• Working knowledge of safeguarding requirements
• Exceptional record keeping skills to satisfy audit requirements
• Management of third-party relationships including suppliers to IA and volunteers who are carrying out their volunteering role in line with IA’s policies and procedures
• Team player

DESIRABLE EXPERIENCE

• Experience across the not-for-profit sector
• Working with volunteers
• Basic understanding of AI and the benefits of using it within the not-for-profit sector
• Experience supporting Boards or Trustees
• Regulations governing charity fundraising

SKILLS AND QUALITIES

• Highly organised
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Flexible, adaptable in approach, creative thinker to manage the balance between governance and continuing to provide a personal approach to vulnerable adults
• Commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.
• Proactive and solution-focused

APPLICATION SUBMISSION

To apply, please submit:

1. Your CV (up to 3 pages)
2. A covering letter outlining your suitability to the role (max 500 words)

Interviews will be two-stage for successful candidates. Initial interviews will be held via video conferencing (such as Zoom) discussing previous experience and role fit with successful candidates going through to a second round. This includes alignment to IA’s values. Please allow up to 1 hour for this stage.

Second round interviews are expected to be via video conference. Successful candidates will, in advance of the second round, be given a short brief and asked to present at interview their understanding of a governance issue  facing charities. Please allow up to 1 hour for this stage.

Applications should be submitted via the advertising platform including your CV and covering letter. See attached role profile for recruitment timetable and further details about us/the role, including contact details for an informal chat, if required, before applying. Applicants are encouraged to ensure availability in line with the recruitment timetable in the attached job specification.

While IA recognises the value of AI technology in the current climate, IA reserves the right to ignore applications where we have reason to believe that they have been wholly produced using generative AI tools.

Please let us know if you require any additional support to attend or undertake an interview or if there is anything we should consider as part of the interview process

Our vision is of a society where everyone has the opportunity to live a rewarding and fulfilled life.

Are you our next Chief Executive?

• Are you passionate about addressing issues around poverty and inequality?
• Do you have the experience and skills needed to lead this innovative place-based funder?
• Are you a creative thinker who thrives on working collaboratively and collegiately?

If so, then you might be the right person to lead Cripplegate Foundation and Islington Giving.

About Cripplegate Foundation and Islington Giving

Established over 500 years ago, Cripplegate Foundation has become a pioneering, place-based grantmaking foundation with a reputation for innovation and making a difference. It created Islington Giving, which was the first scheme of its kind, to work with residents and a coalition of funders, businesses and voluntary organisations to create better solutions to the challenges of poverty and inequality. We make grants of over £2 million a year and we have become a major influencer in the grant-giving sector, achieving significant progress, such as:

• Raising over £12 million since 2010.
• Partnering with Islington Council to promote community development and support residents
• Developing innovative and participatory grant programmes
• Pushing forward with ambitious Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) goals

It’s an exciting (and challenging) time to join us!

Given the challenges in Islington (and beyond), the next few years promise to be pivotal in shaping our future and there are many opportunities for the new Chief Executive to make a difference, including:

• Leading on considerations around the changing political landscape
• Working creatively and innovatively to explore the strategy for the coming years
• Building on our programme of Social Impact Investing and ethical Investing
• Leading a passionate, professional and committed team

About the role and person 

The new Chief Executive could be someone with senior management experience who is ready to lead an organisation for the first time, or they may already have experience of being a Chief Executive.

Whatever your background you will need to demonstrate, amongst other things:

• Experience of leading and managing in a collaborative and collegiate style
• Skill at creating and delivering cross-sector partnerships
• An entrepreneurial style and a record of income generation
• A deep understanding of the issues arising in inner city areas, gained through lived and/or professional experience
• A pioneering, creative and innovative style and a commitment to DEI

If you feel you fit the role and are motivated by our work then we’d be excited to hear from you. Please find out more by looking at the Candidate Information Pack. 

Support for and implementation of the Branch’s strategic and service delivery plans

• Supports the Branch Director and Board of Trustees to ensure that the charity meets its governance responsibilities.
• Supports the development and delivery of the Branch Management team’s strategic and service delivery plans in pursuit of the vision, mission, and values of Samaritans and to meet Central London Samaritan’s objectives.
• Supports the development and delivery of a successful fundraising strategy that supports the organisation’s goals and contributes to its sustainability.
• Supports the Treasurer in the management of Central London Samaritans budget to ensure financial resilience.
• Contributes to the development of external and internal relationships and communications, raising the profile and reputation of CLS in support of the organisation’s charitable aims.
•  Contributes to the overall effectiveness of the organisation in ensuring to 24/7 availability to callers.

Provides leadership and line management to the staff team including the following functions:

• External relations and outreach
• Fundraising
• Recruitment and training of new volunteers
• Volunteer rota and support
• Facilities and Office services
• Other areas of responsibility that may from time to time be established.

Main Responsibilities:

Governance

• Support the Director and Board of Trustees to ensure that the charity meets its governance responsibilities.
• Ensure appropriate presentation and reporting on the progress of the organisation and on all matters relevant to the discharge of its charitable responsibilities.
• Provide in a timely and appropriate manner information that will assist the Trustees in carrying out their responsibilities.
• Monitor changes to statutory requirements on behalf of and in consultation with the Trustees and working with the Trustees and Directors to ensure compliance.
• Lead on all areas of Data Protection across the branch including policy development, revision, and implementation.

Financial Management & Fundraising

• Support the Treasurer in the preparation of the annual operating budget for agreement by Trustees.
• Manage the budget on behalf of and in consultation with the Director, Treasurer and Trustees
• In consultation with the Treasurer and other trustees, set an annual fundraising target.
• Support the development and implementation of a strategy for raising income to meet the needs of the organisation.
• Manage project and area budgets with relevant staff and volunteer leads.

Support for and implementation of the Branch’s strategic and service delivery plans

Support the Director and wider Branch Leadership Team in setting the culture and vision for the organisation that will enable staff and volunteers to understand what is expected of them and perform to the highest standards.

• Work closely with the Director and Branch Leadership team to deliver branch strategy and specific services.
• In conjunction with volunteer leads, manage the delivery of the organisation’s restricted funded programmes ensuring project milestones, timescales and financial imperatives are fully met and supporting growth in line with the organisation’s charitable aims.
• Work with the Governance Working Group to implement and manage the organisation’s operational policies and procedures.
• Input into to research and planning of new branch initiatives.
• Monitor changes to national Samaritans policies and guidelines, alerting Directors, and Trustees as appropriate

Line Management

• Work with Trustees and Directors to support the Branch Team to deliver the branch’s volunteering, outreach and fund-raising strategies
• Provide effective line management and leadership to the staff team by managing all aspects of staffing, including recruitment, setting objectives and managing performance.
• Line manage the Business Support Officer, Volunteering Coordinator, Recruitment and Training Coordinator and Fundraising and Events Officer, Trusts and Foundatons Officer and other roles that may from time to time be established
• Act as a role model to staff and colleagues by demonstrating exemplary standards of behaviour, a positive attitude, and high levels of personal performance.
• Identify and develop talent within the team that can be fostered, offering opportunities for personal and career growth where appropriate.
• Work with the Branch Leadership Team to support all staff activities.

Communications

• Work with the Director and Deputy Director for Communications and relevant staff members to support delivery of the branch Communications Plan. This will include coordinating internal and external communications as well as maintaining good relationships with volunteers, partners and other Samaritans branches and the Samaritans Charity.
• Maintain relationships with the Samaritans Central Charity in relation to media activity.
• Work with Director to ensure the Branch is represented on suicide prevention partnerships and involved in strategies with local councils and other organisations within the seven boroughs covered by the branch.
• Work with Branch Leadership Team to ensure the Branch is appropriately represented the branch at external events.

Facilities and Office Management

• Oversees the management of the building on behalf of and in consultation with the Trustees and the Office Manager
• Take overall responsibility for the contracting of services to the organisation
• Take responsibility for compliance with Health and Safety Regulations

Hours of work

1. The basic hours of work are 35 hours per week, spread over five working days. There will be a need to work some evenings and weekend days, so flexibility is essential. The core responsibilities and duties should be carried out during weekdays.

2. The amount of out of hours work will be agreed with the Director on an on-going basis. Time off in lieu will be allowed in agreement with the Director and in line with the current European Working Time Directive.

Limitations

This job description is neither exclusive nor exhaustive and the duties and responsibilities may vary from time- to-time in the lights of changing circumstances and in consultation with the jobholder.

The jobholder will be required to work within the rules and regulations of Samaritans and accept the authority of the Director, who has discretion to delegate authority to the job-holder and to withdraw it.

Equal Opportunities Policy

Central London Samaritans is committed to eliminating any discrimination and promoting diversity and equality of opportunity in all it does. It is therefore Central London Samaritans' commitment to provide equal opportunities in employment and we will not unlawfully discriminate against job applicants, employees of the Company, volunteers, workers, or contract workers on the grounds of their age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race (which includes colour, nationality and ethnic or national origins), religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

Requirements

• Graduate or equivalent by experience
• Relevant postgraduate qualifications

Skills and abilities

1. Proven ability to manage a work programme, which involves managing, mentoring, and developing staff.

2. Ability to work to tight deadlines in managing a variety of tasks simultaneously in ways that ensure key objectives are met.

3. Work effectively with a range of different stakeholders, including paid staff, volunteer directors, volunteers engaged in service delivery, third party organisations and users of the services.

4. Strong communications skills, both oral and written, especially in matching style/language to audience being targeted.

5. Ability to research and develop reports at a senior level.

6. A self-starter who has the ability to develop and implement innovative solutions to both new and existing challenges.

7. Proven ability to assimilate/summarise complex information and to familiarise themself quickly and confidently with key issues.

8. Ability to build effective relationships, especially with organisations operating near people in distress, other helping agencies, and healthcare professionals.

9. Ability to enthuse and motivate paid staff and volunteers.

10.  Good financial management skills –evidence of leading and managing a budget.

11.  High level organisational delivery skills.

12.  Proven ability in managing staff who report to others for task management purposes, such as in a matrix structure.

Experience

• Experience of working with volunteers and paid staff
• Experience of financial planning and management, including budgetary control.
• Experience of implementing systems to comply with relevant legislation, including that on data protection, freedom of information, and health and safety.

Project management knowledge and skills.

1. Experience of working in a charity or not-for-profit helpline service, ideally like that of Samaritans

2. Experience of issues affecting London government

3. Experience of working with Boards of Trustees

Knowledge

• Sound general working knowledge of IT
• General knowledge of business management
• Experience and understanding of managing / developing teams.
• Knowledge of advanced IT and telephony, such as those required by Samaritans.
• Understanding of the policies and principles followed by Samaritans.
• Understanding of the rules and regulations, as overseen by the Charity Commissioners, by which Samaritans are bound.
• Knowledge of voluntary sector in terms of high-level policy decisions, structures and influences through government, small charities and local community organisations

Personal qualities

1. Intellectually strong, applying a structured approach to work.

2. A flexible and co-operative team approach, which is respectful of the ideas and expertise of others.

3. Adaptable to change, while being able to work unsupervised.

4. Able to use initiative, assessing and adjusting to changing work priorities.

5. Affinity with charity’s goals and values

Operations and Finance Officer

Pathfinders Neuromuscular Alliance
18 hours per week | £16–£17 per hour
12-month contract (with potential to extend)
Flexible / Remote working

Pathfinders Neuromuscular Alliance is a user-led national charity supporting people with muscle-weakening conditions. We provide peer support, advocacy, research and campaigning to improve quality of life and drive systemic change.

We are now recruiting an Operations and Finance Officer to strengthen our internal systems and help ensure the smooth and sustainable running of the organisation.

About the Role

This is a key Officer-level role supporting financial administration, governance processes, HR coordination and organisational systems. You will work closely with the CEO and support the trustee board.

You will not hold financial sign-off authority, but you will be responsible for ensuring processes are accurate, organised and compliant.

Key Responsibilities

• Setting up supplier payments for CEO approval

• Importing and reconciling bank statements in accounting software

• Supporting budget tracking and financial record keeping

• Inputting payroll data and liaising with payroll providers

• Collating and submitting DBS applications

• Tracking HR processes (supervisions, appraisals, probation reviews)

• Organising trustee and staff meetings

• Maintaining policy review schedules and compliance deadlines

• Improving and documenting internal systems and processes

About You

We particularly encourage applications from people with lived experience of neuromuscular conditions or other long-term disabilities. Reasonable adjustments will be provided throughout the recruitment process and in the role.

We are looking for someone who:

• Has experience in administration, finance or operations

• Is highly organised and detail-oriented

• Is comfortable using spreadsheets and digital systems

• Can manage multiple deadlines and confidential information

• Is confident escalating queries where needed

• Shares our commitment to equity, co-production and inclusion

Experience in the charity sector is welcome but not essential.

What We Offer

• Flexible working arrangements

• A supportive, values-driven team

• The opportunity to shape and strengthen a growing national charity

• A genuine commitment to lived experience leadership

To apply, please submit your CV and a short covering statement outlining why you are interested and how you meet each criteria.

Interviews will be held on Monday 13th April

Location: MSSC National Support Centre, London, SE1 7JY

Contract: Full-time, permanent

Salary: Up to £80,000 gross per annum, depending on experience

Closing Date: 22 March 2026

Are you looking for a new challenge where you can have a positive impact on the lives of young people? We’re looking for an exceptional leader with significant experience of youth, volunteering, safety and business support.

The Marine Society & Sea Cadets (MSSC) is the leading maritime charity for youth development and lifelong learning. We are a vibrant and growing charity inspiring young people to achieve their potential through challenge and nautical adventure, while also enabling seafarers and maritime professionals to realise their potential through learning and career development.

Thousands of young people take part in Sea Cadets activity every week. We want to reach thousands more. We have a strong vision and are on the cusp of rolling out a new multi-year growth strategy to meet the growing demand for what we provide for young people. We aim to equip them to achieve their potential and thrive in a rapidly changing world. We are immensely proud of the breadth, quality and safety of activities we offer to young people.

We are looking for an exceptional individual who wants to be at the heart of this project to reach more young people through our extraordinary, highly skilled volunteers. This individual will drive quality and consistency across everything we do.

About the role

The Director of Young People, Volunteer & Business Support is a full-time employee of Marine Society & Sea Cadets (MSSC) and reports to the Chief Executive Officer. The post holder is a member of the MSSC Senior Management Team. The post is based at the National Support Centre in London but will require some travel, mostly within the UK, in order to fulfil the responsibilities of the role. The nature of the role will also involve occasional evening and weekend work.

Responsibilities

• Growth, Development & Outreach
• Health, Safety & Environment
• Young People Support & Safeguarding
• Volunteer Support
• Business Support & Legal
• Policy & Impact

Requirements

Knowledge and understanding of health and safety

Knowledge and experience of managing youth safeguarding issues

Knowledge and experience of volunteering and volunteer management

Experience of leading management processes, compliance, assurance and driving change

Experience of leading a large team with strong people management capability and driving high performance including remote management

For further information, please download the . If you are interested in this role, please apply now!

Benefits

• 25 days annual leave per annum, increasing with length of service
• Hybrid working for many roles (minimum 2 days per week in the London office)
• Volunteering Leave
• Life assurance (4x salary)
• Private medical insurance
• Generous pension (employer contribution up to 10%)
• Cycle to work scheme
• Access to the Marine Society Digital Library
• Wellbeing portal and EAP with one-to-one counselling
• Employee development

Additional Information

MSSC positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates from all backgrounds. Equity, diversity, and inclusion really matters to us, so we can best serve our beneficiaries from every community. We work to ensure a fair and consistent recruitment process and aim to be a charity where diversity of experience, identity and skills are valued and welcomed. MSSC is an equal opportunities employer.

We recognise our responsibilities to safeguard and protect the young people and vulnerable adults with whom we work. We do all we can to promote their health, safety and wellbeing, and we expect our staff to share this commitment and work in line with safeguarding policy, the MSSC’s values and ethos of inclusivity. We adhere to safer recruitment practices and therefore employment is subject to detailed pre-employment checks for successful candidates, including references and criminal disclosure checks and the completion of a disclosure questionnaire. 

All successful applicants are required to attend safeguarding training and undergo pre-employment checks including a criminal record check.

About Adolescent Health Study

The Adolescent Health Study (AHS) (Registered Charity Number 1213337) is an ambitious new UKRI-funded initiative to establish a prospective, longitudinal population study that will generate a globally leading open science data platform and research resource. AHS aims to recruit at least 100,000 young people aged eight to 18 years from across the UK and to follow their mental and physical health and wellbeing over at least 10 years. It plans to collect data through questions and measures; to obtain bio-samples for a wide range of genomic and other high-throughput assays; and to capture linked data relevant to health and wellbeing from participants’ health, education and other administrative records.

There will be a strong emphasis on engaging with and involving young people, schools, parents and other relevant stakeholders in the design and delivery of the study, as well as on including young people that represent as wide as possible a range of backgrounds, experiences and characteristics. AHS will focus on enabling a wide range of research, including studies of the critical biological and social developments that occur during the transition from childhood to adulthood and the determinants of both mental and physical health and wellbeing in adolescents and young adults.

 

Purpose of the post

The Engagement and Involvement Officer will play a central role in supporting meaningful engagement and involvement of young people, families, schools and other interest-holders in the process of designing, delivering and ensuring the best outputs from the Adolescent Health Study.

Primarily, the postholder will be responsible for the stewardship and coordination of the AHS Young People’s Advisory Group (YPAG). The post-holder will provide ongoing support to YPAG members to ensure their active participation in opportunities to inform and shape the work of AHS. This will include working closely with the adults in the YPAG members’ lives, including parents/carers, teachers and other relevant adults or professionals. The postholder will also be required to build positive working relationships with other organisations and institutions that work directly with young people. They will support the Engagement and Involvement Lead to develop mechanisms to reach wider and more diverse groups of young people to take part in engagement and involvement activities at AHS.  

This is a role that requires confidence, autonomy, enthusiasm and skill. The post-holder will be a strong advocate for children’s rights, have a sound working knowledge and understanding of safeguarding practices, and demonstrate experience of co-ordinating youth advisory groups, youth councils or similar.

Main responsibilities

Coordination & facilitation

• Plan, organise, and deliver regular meetings, workshops, and consultation sessions with young people.
• Develop accessible, inclusive and engaging materials to support young people’s participation in activities and discussions.
• Ensure robust mechanisms are in place to facilitate a feedback loop, communicating to young people the impact of their input.
• Ensure safeguarding, wellbeing, and inclusion are embedded in all activities.
• Lead on and maintain communication with young people, parents/carers (where appropriate), and partner organisations.

Support for young people

• Provide guidance, pastoral support, and clear information to help young people take part confidently and safely.
• Facilitate training and development opportunities to build young people’s skills, knowledge, and confidence.
• Foster an environment where young people feel respected, valued, and listened to.
• Manage mechanisms for reward and recognition of young people’s input and contributions.

Strengthen and enable staff team

• Strengthen knowledge and understanding of youth engagement and involvement across the organisation.
• Enable the wider staff team to plan and conduct activities with the YPAG and wider groups of young people, supporting the design of involvement tasks that are age-appropriate, inclusive, and aligned with best practice.
• Provide feedback to colleagues on how to maximise the impact of youth involvement.

 

Administration & governance

• Manage recruitment and onboarding processes for YPAG members.
• Oversee consent processes, data handling, and safeguarding requirements.
• Coordinate payments, incentives, travel, and expenses for young people.
• Maintain accurate records, produce meeting notes, and ensure timely communication.
• Support the Engagement and Involvement Lead to track, document and report on outcomes and the influence of young people’s involvement on projects and workstreams.

 

Continuous learning and development

• Contribute to the development of the organisation’s engagement and involvement strategy.
• Contribute to the evaluation of engagement and involvement activities and gather feedback from young people, parents/carers and other relevant parties we work closely with.
• Maintain an interest and working knowledge of best practice in youth involvement, participation, and co‑production.
• Identify opportunities to share learning and reflections with the AHS team and wider colleagues to continuously improve practice and processes.

 

Interest-holder and partner engagement

• Build and maintain partnerships with schools, youth organisations, and community groups to recruit and support young people to engage in engagement and involvement activities.
• Provide verbal and written presentations of engagement and involvement work with young people to internal and external audiences.
• Represent AHS in meetings, workshops and events where appropriate.

Knowledge, skills and experience

Essential criteria

• Experience developing and delivering engagement and involvement activities with young people and other relevant interest-holders (such as parents, families, teachers and schools).
• A proven track record or professional background in working with young people – such as in youth work, counselling, mentoring, education, or a related setting.
• Strong facilitation and communication skills, especially with young audiences.
• Understanding and experience of good practice in youth engagement and involvement, including the principles and implementation of safeguarding, data protection, and inclusive practice.
• Experience of co-ordinating a youth advisory group, council, board or similar structure
• Ability to work autonomously, prioritising tasks and manage own workload.
• Ability to design and deliver workshops, focus groups or meetings that encourage open dialogue and collaboration.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills - able to communicate effectively and confidently with a range of stakeholders and to summarise and report key information clearly and accurately, both verbally and in writing.
• Demonstrated commitment to children’s rights, youth participation and the meaningful inclusion of young people’s views and perspectives.
• Confidence using online meeting tools (e.g. MS Teams, Zoom), and collaborative platforms (e.g. SharePoint, Microsoft 365).

Desirable criteria

• Relevant qualification in youth participation, youth work, community engagement or similar.
• Understanding of public involvement in research or willingness to develop expertise.
• Understanding of key concepts and challenges in young people’s health and wellbeing and the transition to adulthood.
• Understanding and knowledge of key potential partners across the UK for delivering youth engagement in the sector.
• Experience using digital engagement and facilitation tools for online sessions (e.g. Miro, Mural, Mentimeter, Canva, PowerPoint).

Dimensions

• This has been designed as a full-time role, although part-time work could be considered for the right candidate.
• Flexible working may be required across several geographical locations in the UK.  Travel may be necessary to various AHS locations and partner organisations.
• Willingness to work hours flexibly including some evenings/weekends.

Additional Information

• Enhanced DBS/PVG or equivalent safeguarding check will be required.

Application Process

This post is subject to receipt of satisfactory references, an enhanced DBS check and right to work in the UK (visa sponsorship is not available). Please apply with a CV and a covering letter (of no more than two pages) explaining what you can bring to this role, and including your current salary.

The closing date for this position is midnight on End of Day Sunday 29 March.

Interviews are currently expected to be held during the weeks commencing 27 April and 05 May.

Equal Opportunities Policy Statement

AHS is an equal opportunities employer, and as such aims to treat all employees, consultants and applicants fairly. AHS is an equal opportunities employer, and as such aims to treat all employees, consultants and applicants fairly. It is our policy to provide employment equality to all, irrespective of age, disability, gender identity or expression, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

Beyond these protected characteristics, we acknowledge the importance of socio-economic background, childcare and caring responsibilities, educational background, neurodiversity, and any other factors that shape an individual’s identity and opportunities. We strive to create an environment where all colleagues feel valued, supported, and able to contribute fully.

Values

It is an exciting time for the Adolescent Health Study (AHS) as we establish our senior leadership team and begin to plan the pilot studies. As the senior executive team evolves, the AHS values will be grounded in inclusivity, integrity, accountability, and collaboration.

We are seeking a forward‑thinking leader with a track record in changing organisations that have a good and loyal team in place with a commitment to our mission and values, and the imagination to explore new ways of meeting local needs. A track record of fundraising in the charity sector is needed. Whether you come with a background from the advice sector, the wider charity world, or another relevant field, if you have the vision and drive to steer CAEW into the future, we would love to hear from you.

Advert

Senior Direct Marketing OfficerPermanent 35 hours per week £35, 100 per annum Home based (with regular team days at our office in London, approximately once per month) Benefits include but not limited to:

-Flexible working hours: 8-4, 9-5, 10-6 or in between (to be agreed with your manager)

-28 days holiday, excluding bank holidays and going up with length of service

-Enhanced maternity/paternity leave

-Employee pension - stakeholder pension scheme with company-matched employee contributions of up to 8%

-Free counselling service

-Opportunities to develop and widen your skills

-2 days of paid volunteering time per annum to support another part of the organisation

About us:

The Children's Society has been helping children and young people in this country for over 140 years. We deliver essential local services that provide safe, trusted support to children and young people during times of significant need. Young people in the UK are experiencing the most significant decline in well-being in over a generation. But we don't believe it's inevitable that children's lives are getting harder every year and have a plan to turn this around. Our Major Appeal is the most ambitious investment in early help and mental health support we've ever made. This role is your chance to help lead that change. Our Social Impact domain is built on shared values, diverse perspectives, and a flexible, people-first approach. We work as one team, building strong relationships across the organisation to drive meaningful change for children and young people. With trust, wellbeing, and collaboration at the heart of how we work, you'll join a culture that supports you to make a real and lasting difference, helping us move closer to our mission of improving the lives of children and young people. About the role: This role sits within our Social Impact Domain, and you'll be a key member of our National Mobilisation (Individual Giving) Team, as we head towards the public launch of our Major Appeal. You'll lead the development of communications across a range of channels, both online and offline, to help audiences better understand the challenges young people face. You'll take ownership of projects from start to finish and commission insight work that supports the creation of compelling, youth-centred campaigns. Through your efforts, you'll inspire people to contribute their time, money, and voice to fund more impact for children and young people. Key Skills and Competencies

The required skills and competencies for this role are:

-Direct response marketing - experience delivering campaigns designed to drive measurable action.

-Multi-channel communication - able to create and deliver content across digital and offline channels.

-Project management - confidently leads campaigns from planning through to delivery.

-Written & digital communication - produces clear, engaging copy and audience focused messaging.

-Collaboration & people skills - works effectively with colleagues and builds positive relationships.

-Data & digital marketing literacy - uses insight and digital tools to guide decisions and improve performance.

It would also be an advantage if you have any of the following skills and competencies:

-External stakeholder management - able to coordinate and maintain productive agency or partner relationships.

-Supporter journey / campaign experience - familiarity with engagement campaigns such as mid value, doordrop or legacy.

Closing date: Midnight on Monday 30th March

Interviews: Week commencing 6th April and will be taking place via Teams. The Children's Society is committed to safeguarding and protection of the children and young people we work with. As such, our safer recruitment process includes a Basic or Enhanced DBS check, 2 years of references, and additional vetting checks relevant to the role. We have a comprehensive range of policies and procedures in place to promote safeguarding and safer working practices across all areas of our organisation. In support of our commitment to diversity and inclusion, shortlisting is carried out on an anonymised basis. Personal details are hidden from the shortlisting panel, and candidates are referenced by a candidate number only. As part of this process, we ask that your CV is anonymised before submission - this means removing personal information such as your name, contact details, age, and any other identifying details. AI tools can support your application but only when used appropriately. You're welcome to use them to improve clarity, structure, and research. However, overuse or misuse (e.g. inventing experience or using AI during assessments) may lead to rejection at any stage. We want to hear the real you - authenticity matters.