Policy researcher jobs in Cardiff

Team: Advocacy 

Location: Remote with regular travel. Approx. Once a month 

Work pattern: Monday-Friday, 35 hours per week. Flexible working options available 

Salary: Up to £38,918.33 per year 

Contract: Fixed-term contract until 30th April 2027 

We are the UK’s largest cat welfare charity. All over the country, our passionate employees, volunteers and supporters are using their kindness and expertise to make life better for millions of cats and the people who care for them. 

Will you join us and make life better for cats? 

Responsibilities of our Advocacy & Government Relations Officer - Westminster: 

- Support engagement with MPs, Government departments and key external stakeholders to influence policy and advocacy outcomes 

- Monitor parliamentary activity, legislation and policy developments, identifying risks and opportunities affecting cat welfare 

- Draft briefings, consultation responses, position statements and advocacy materials to support campaigning objectives 

- Conduct research and evidence gathering to inform policy development and charity campaigns 

- Develop strategic messaging and responses to legislative, regulatory and reputational issues 

- Coordinate and deliver Westminster-based events and stakeholder engagement activities 

- Work closely with teams such as Media, Digital and Web to maximise campaign impact 

- Build collaborative relationships across the sector to advance shared advocacy priorities and charity goals 

About the Advocacy team: 

The Advocacy & Government Relations team leads the charity in influencing decision-makers and those whose policies, practices and decisions affect cat welfare across the UK. The small, highly motivated team works to influence legislators (national and devolved governments), professional organisations and corporates. The team has successfully influenced the law on microchipping, pet theft and commercial kitten sales in England and worked with the Scottish Government to regulate cat breeding and rehoming activities. The team also runs digital campaigns as part of its strategy. 

What we’re looking for in our Advocacy & Government Relations Officer - Westminster: 

- Experience of advocacy, public affairs or influencing work, ideally in Westminster

- Experience of policy work and research

- Experience of dealing with high profile/ VIP individuals e.g. Ministers, MPs, MSPs, MLAs, MPs, Government Officials, Local Councillors and officers, etc. 

- Proven ability to multi-task and work independently on own initiative, accurately and under pressure

- Experience of effective use of social media and the internet in an advocacy/campaign context

- A confident communicator with good written and oral skills; and great people skills

- Excellent organisational skills with the ability to be flexible and adaptable

- A passion for cats and cat welfare 

What we can offer you: 

- 26 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing with service

- A competitive contributory pension scheme and life assurance for peace of mind 

- Health and wellbeing support to help you stay well while working remotely 

- Flexible working options to support a healthy work–life balance

- Ongoing learning and development to help you build your skills and grow your career

- Financial wellbeing support, including access to Salary Finance

- Access to discounted pet insurance to help care for your pet’s health

Learn more about our full reward package

Application closing date: 5th August 2026 

Virtual interview date: 20th & 21st August 2026 

Applications may close before the deadline, so please apply early to avoid disappointment. 

Homeless Link is the national membership charity for frontline homelessness services. We work to improve services through research, guidance and learning, and campaign for policy change that will ensure everyone has a place to call home and the support they need to keep it. Our social enterprise supports the homelessness sector through specialised software, engaging training, expert consultancy, and impactful events that also helps to fund our wider work to end homelessness for good.

Our small but effective Communications and Engagement team work across the organisation supporting teams to market their products and increase the impact of their work. Whether it is getting information to the member organisations about how to run a good day service, to Ministers on how homelessness services should be funded or to frontline workers advertising our training and conference, we support Homeless Link’s 110 staff to be as effective as possible. Our main platforms are mass email, website and linked in. We also make some use of video and podcasts. We are ambitious to expand our capacity, to try new communication methods but also to become more focussed and strategic in our approaches. Our aim is always to get the right information to the right people in the right format at the right time. 

We are now recruiting for a full time Communication Officer to work with our existing team across all channels to communicate with members and homelessness professionals, helping them to do their jobs more effectively, and marketing our products. The successful candidate will have at least 2 years experience of communication and/or marketing in a professional or semi-professional capacity, excellent communication skills, experience of creating website content, strong strategic and analytical skills and previous experience of using social media in a professional capacity.  If that sounds like you, and you share our vision of a country free from homelessness, we would love to hear from you. For full details follow the link to our website.

We are actively seeking to increase diversity within our organisation and would greatly welcome applications from people with lived experience of homelessness, from a black or minority ethnic background and/or with a disability. 

This role leads the development of evidence-based, equity-driven research, policy and legal interventions that advance a rapid and fair transition away from oil and gas production in the UK.

About us

Uplift supports efforts to create a rapid and fair transition away from oil and gas production in the UK. We urgently need to phase out oil and gas drilling to stay within safe climate limits. Yet, despite having renewable resources in abundance, the UK remains Europe’s second largest oil and gas producer. We can and must be ambitious about moving past oil and gas production, while empowering and supporting workers and communities who rely on the industry for their livelihoods. Working with everyone from policy-makers and Parliamentarians, to academics and campaigners, Uplift undertakes research, analysis and campaigning to support a rapid and fair transition away from oil and gas production in the UK.

Are you passionate about understanding people's needs and using research to create better digital experiences? Join Shelter as a User Researcher and help shape the digital products and services that support our fight for home.

About the role

The User Researchers play an integral role in delivering Shelter’s Digital Purpose:

Digital enables Shelter to meet its goals by creating engaging experiences which harness and amplify people power in the fight for home.

Working closely with the digital product teams you will use an iterative and user-centred approach to plan, design and facilitate research activities with users to help teams get a richer understanding of the people that are engaging with Shelter’s digital products and services so that we can design solutions to meet their needs or goals.

Role specifics

We’re looking for someone who can plan and deliver high-quality, inclusive user research that helps shape better digital products and services. You’ll work closely with designers, product managers and stakeholders to turn design challenges into research questions, design and facilitate research activities, and generate actionable insights from qualitative and quantitative data. You’ll champion user-centred design across the organisation, helping teams build confidence in research-led decision-making while promoting good practice in ethics, accessibility and safeguarding. Working collaboratively within agile teams, you’ll help ensure the voices and needs of our users remain at the heart of Shelter’s digital services.

Apply to be part of our team and be the change you want to see in society.

Benefits 

We offer a wide range of benefits, including 30 days of annual leave, enhanced family friendly policies, pension and interest free travel loans. Our employees also have access to a tenancy deposit loan, payroll giving, cycle to work scheme and an employee assistance programme.

We are happy to talk about flexible working, personal growth, and to promote a workplace where you can be yourself and achieve success based only on your merit.

About the team

This role sits in the 7-person Strategic Insight and Evaluation team which sits under in the Digital and Audience Engagement sub directorate, within the Campaigns, Policy and Communications (CPC) department.

The team is a keystone in shaping and delivering the work of Shelter and brings together strategic audience insight and user research and monitoring, evaluation and learning.

About Shelter

Home is a human right. It’s our foundation and where we thrive. Yet everyday millions of people are being devastated by the housing emergency.

We exist to defend the right to a safe home. Because home is everything.

We need ambitious, passionate people to join us. This is your chance to play a part in the fundamental change we are striving to achieve.

Our enemy is the social injustice at the core of the escalating housing emergency. To win this fight, we must be representative of the people we are here to help and those who support our movement. In all our people decisions, we take pride in being inclusive, equitable and transparent. We are committed to combating racism both within and outside Shelter. We welcome you on our journey to becoming truly anti-racist.

Safeguarding statement

Safeguarding is everyone's business. Shelter is committed to protecting the health, wellbeing and human rights of those we support, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. All our staff will be expected to observe professional standards of behaviour and conduct their work in line with our Safeguarding Policies. 

Shelter does not accept unsolicited CVs from external recruitment agencies nor accept the fees associated with them.

Are you passionate about translating complex scientific and medical information into clear, accessible content for non-specialist audiences? Could you create engaging narratives that showcase the impact of our work and inspire more people to support our mission to end the devastation caused by dementia?

About the role
We are recruiting for a Research Communications Manager to join on a full-time, permanent contract working 35 hours per week. This is a home-based role, with occasional travel required for conferences, events and in-person stakeholder or team meetings.

As Research Communications Manager you will champion our research. By making complex science accessible, engaging and meaningful you will ensure breakthroughs are widely understood and effectively communicated. You will translate evidence into inspiring stories, positioning Alzheimer’s Society as a trusted leader in dementia research and motivating more people to join us in driving change.

In this role, you will develop and implement creative, innovative and sustained communications plans relating to our key research activity and its outcomes for a range of external stakeholders. You will manage a team, creating an environment where people feel supported, empowered and able to contribute their best work.

You will own communications channels and work closely with other communications teams across the organisation such as media, social media, influencing and campaigns to support them to use research communications to achieve our organisational goals.

About you
Joining us, you’ll be a natural communicator able to work collaboratively with others effectively, with a genuine enthusiasm for scientific research. You will be able to translate complex scientific and medical information into clear, accessible content for a range of audiences, and you’ll be skilled at creating engaging narratives that engage and inspire people.

Crucially, you’ll have experience of leading, planning delivering and evaluating large scale communications campaigns. You’ll have experience line managing and developing a team, in addition to the possessing the skills required to lead and work collaboratively with a range of internal and external stakeholders.

What you’ll focus on:

- Co-ordinating and directing the management, delivery and evaluation of communications relating to research related organisation-wide strategic projects and initiatives.
- Developing and delivering communications plans to support our research objectives defined by our research strategy.
- Overseeing the development, delivery and evaluation of regular research content for priority audiences across channels and capturing impact of our communications supporting our research and organisational strategy
- Raising the profile of our research and its impact in the scientific and research community including highlighting our funding opportunities, research programmes and projects and their impact.
- Working in partnership with multiple external stakeholders (for instance, UK Dementia Research Institute, NIHR Dementia Researcher, a range of research institutes and initiatives etc) to deliver effective and collaborative communications plans.
- Leading in developing Alzheimer’s Society comment and reactive statements to research stories in the press and media.
- Ensuring that Alzheimer’s Society research programme is portrayed accurately across the organisation in its brand and high-level public facing messaging.

About Alzheimer's Society - who are we and what’s our mission?
Dementia is the UK’s biggest killer. One in three people born in the UK today will develop dementia in their lifetime.

At Alzheimer’s Society, we’re the UK’s leading dementia charity and the only one to tackle all aspects of dementia by giving help and hope to people living with dementia today and in the future. We give vital support to people facing the most frightening times of their lives, while also funding ground-breaking research and campaigning to make dementia the priority it should be.

Together with our supporters, we’re working towards a world where dementia no longer devastates lives.

Our values make sure that our focus is clear for the challenges and opportunities ahead and remind us of what we all stand for.

Our commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging 
We need to ensure the voices around our table better reflect and understand the communities we exist to serve. We strongly encourage individuals to apply who have a disability, impairment or health condition or individuals who identify as part of a minority ethnic background, as these groups are currently under-represented at Alzheimer's Society.

Our hiring process
We want you to bring your whole self to the process. Applications are anonymised until interview stage, and we’re happy to support any adjustments. Share your feedback via our candidate survey when applying to help us improve. We may close early if we receive high interest (with 48 hours’ notice). Some roles may require a DBS check as part of our safer recruitment commitment. Thinking about using AI during the recruitment process? we know this can be helpful in many ways but remember to include your personal and authentic self too. Your voice and experience are what really set you apart.

Giving back to you
At Alzheimer’s Society, we value our people and take a total reward approach to pay and benefits. You’ll enjoy a generous double-matched pension scheme, 27 days’ annual leave (plus bank holidays and wellbeing days), and access to a free Health Shield Cash Plan, 24/7 EAP, Thrive mental wellbeing support, and virtual GP services. Our Society Plus platform offers exclusive discounts, wellbeing resources, and recognition schemes, while our flexible working, family-friendly policies, and life assurance provide peace of mind and work/life balance. We also offer a free Will-writing service and long service awards to recognise your ongoing commitment.

About Us

We are an environmental charity with science at our heart. We help people to take action to protect the nature around them; by connecting them with it and giving them the tools they need to do so. We passionately believe in citizen science and are leaders in it. Our current focus areas include helping to create nature-friendly urban spaces, growing the impact of internationally known citizen science programmes such as Freshwater Watch, developing early career scientists and sharing learning internationally, and working with partners to advance the science, tools and thinking behind citizen science.

What we are looking for

Earthwatch Europe is recruiting a Director of Science and Impact. We are looking for someone with a deep understanding of the pressures facing our natural world and how citizen science and community action can help address these challenges, using high quality data, knowledge and practical demonstration to influence governments and corporations.

You will have a background in citizen science and an in depth understanding of current and future environmental policy trends and priorities.  You will be an experienced leader with excellent interpersonal skills and a track record of successful relationship and partnership development at all levels. You will have strong project and budget management experience, and you will be an exceptional strategic thinker with the ability to create and deliver effective strategies and action plans

Please see the full job description attached.

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK; Earthwatch is unable to support visa applications. 

Earthwatch is committed to making any adjustments we can for short-listed candidates, to facilitate participation in our interview process. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

The successful candidate will be required to undergo a DBS check and other due diligence checks, given the nature of this position within the charity.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible. 

Are you passionate about using research and insight to help organisations make better decisions and create greater impact? Join Shelter as our Audience Research and Insight Manager and play a key role in helping us better understand the people we support, engage and influence.

About the role

The role of Audience Research and Insight Manager is a vital role, working with teams across Shelter to develop valuable insights into our key and varied audiences, ensuring user needs are valued along with the needs of the organisation, and our work is underpinned by actionable insight. Our audiences include donors (regular givers, occasional donors, eventers, community fundraisers), retail audiences (online and high street shoppers and donors), campaigners, service users, volunteers and elite audiences (journalists, politicians, policy makers, housing professionals) and corporate partners.

Role specifics

We’re looking for someone who can lead and develop audience research and insight that helps Shelter better understand, engage and support the people we work with. You’ll manage a team of User Researchers, champion user-centred and inclusive research practices, and bring together evidence from research, analytics and audience data to generate clear, actionable insights. Working collaboratively across the organisation, you’ll help teams make informed decisions about audiences, messaging and channels, while promoting an insight-led culture, monitoring external trends and ensuring research continues to shape Shelter’s strategy and impact.

Apply to be part of our team and be the change you want to see in society.

Benefits 

We offer a wide range of benefits, including 30 days of annual leave, enhanced family friendly policies, pension and interest free travel loans. Our employees also have access to a tenancy deposit loan, payroll giving, cycle to work scheme and an employee assistance programme.

We are happy to talk about flexible working, personal growth, and to promote a workplace where you can be yourself and achieve success based only on your merit.

About the team

This role sits in the 7-person Strategic Evaluation and Insight team which sits in the Digital and Audience Engagement sub directorate, within the Campaigns, Policy and Communications (CPC) department.

The team is a keystone in shaping and delivering the work of Shelter bringing together Strategic Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning, Audience insight and User Research.

About Shelter

Home is a human right. It’s our foundation and where we thrive. Yet everyday millions of people are being devastated by the housing emergency.

We exist to defend the right to a safe home. Because home is everything.

We need ambitious, passionate people to join us. This is your chance to play a part in the fundamental change we are striving to achieve.

Our enemy is the social injustice at the core of the escalating housing emergency. To win this fight, we must be representative of the people we are here to help and those who support our movement. In all our people decisions, we take pride in being inclusive, equitable and transparent. We are committed to combating racism both within and outside Shelter. We welcome you on our journey to becoming truly anti-racist.

Safeguarding statement

Safeguarding is everyone's business. Shelter is committed to protecting the health, wellbeing and human rights of those we support, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. All our staff will be expected to observe professional standards of behaviour and conduct their work in line with our Safeguarding Policies. 

Shelter does not accept unsolicited CVs from external recruitment agencies nor accept the fees associated with them.

Do you understand how financial systems influence climate outcomes?

Are you excited by the prospect of using that knowledge to help accelerate the transition to more sustainable food and agricultural systems?

Prospectus are delighted to be supporting our client in the search for a Global Climate Manager (Financial Systems) to join its Protein Transition Team.

This role sits at the intersection of climate advocacy and financial systems change. Working across campaigns focused on agricultural methane, deforestation and nature, you engage with investors, financial institutions, regulators and corporate stakeholders to drive meaningful environmental progress.

You'll contribute to advocacy campaigns, develop partnerships, produce research and briefings, engage with shareholder and investor groups, and identify opportunities to influence policy and regulation.

Key Responsibilities:

• Deliver advocacy campaigns focused on climate, nature and financial accountability.
• Engage with investors, banks, asset managers and shareholder groups.
• Develop briefings, reports and campaign materials.
• Support research into corporate climate commitments and financial systems.
• Identify opportunities for regulatory and policy intervention.
• Support shareholder engagement and AGM activity.
• Build relationships with partners across finance, policy and civil society.

The successful candidate may come from sustainable finance, responsible investment, policy, public affairs, ESG, advocacy or financial regulation.  We're looking for someone who can demonstrate:

• An understanding of financial institutions and financial systems.
• Experience influencing decision-makers through advocacy, engagement or campaigning.
• Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building skills.
• Knowledge of climate, nature or sustainability issues.
• Excellent written communication skills and the ability to translate complex issues into compelling messages.
• A collaborative and adaptable approach.

Experience in sustainable finance, stewardship, corporate accountability or environmental campaigning would be particularly valuable.

At Prospectus we invest in your journey as a candidate and are committed to supporting you with your application. We welcome candidates from a diverse range of backgrounds. Please let us know if we can help you with the application process in any way. We are more than happy to make any reasonable adjustments to enable all interested candidates to apply. If you have any disability and would like assistance with completing an application please contact Catherine Bunting at Prospectus.

If you are interested in applying to this leadership position, please submit your CV and a covering letter in the first instance. Should your experience be suitable, we will arrange for a call and/or meeting to brief you on the role. You’ll then have all the information you need to formally apply. We are looking forward to connecting with you soon

Job Title: Programmes & Funding Officer

Location(s): Home-based with attendance in the AUK’s London office or at meetings as required

London office: AdviceUK, 83 Victoria Street, London SW1

Status: Permanent

Reporting to: Programmes & Funding Manager

Responsible for: N/A

Pay scale: £30,000 to £32,000 dependant on experience, full time equivalent. £24,000 to £25,600 actual salary, depending on experience.

Working hours: 28 hours per week (35 hours full time equivalent) within normal operating hours. (Normal operating hours are 8.00am - 6.30pm, Monday – Friday.) Lunch & other breaks are unpaid.

Special conditions: Some evening work may be required for which time off in lieu (TOIL) will be granted. Some travel will be required.

We are committed to diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from all backgrounds, particularly encouraging those from underrepresented groups. If you require any accessibility support or reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know. 

CHARITY OVERVIEW

 

Since 1979, AdviceUK has been supporting advice organisations by helping them to be efficient, competent and effective, and by campaigning for a policy environment that supports advice agencies and people needing advice.

We are both a membership body and charity. We support our 700+ members to provide advice to around 2 million people every year.

We are working towards a world in which every individual, regardless of means, is able to access the advice they need to exercise their rights and deal with any legal and social welfare challenges they may face.

JOB PURPOSE 

To assist the Programmes & Funding Manager in coordinating the day-to-day delivery of AdviceUK's funded programmes. The role will keep projects running smoothly, maintain accurate monitoring data, and be a reliable first point of contact for members and delivery partners. The Programmes & Funding Officer will also assist in maintaining stakeholder relationships and ensuring that AdviceUK members have the practical support needed to access and sustain advice services.

KEY TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

1.Programme & Project Support

 

·Assist the Programmes & Funding Manager in the delivery of AdviceUK's funded programmes and contribute to their design and development where required.

·Coordinate the day-to-day delivery of funded projects, keeping track of timelines, milestones and actions in line with agreed project plans.

·Support the coordination of AdviceUK staff and external associates/trainers involved in programme delivery.

·Maintain project governance processes and practical workflows to ensure funder requirements are met.

 

2.Development & Funding Support

 

·Conduct research on potential funders and commissioners at local and national levels to identify new opportunities.

·Provide administrative support during the drafting of funding bids, tenders, and proposals.

3.Relationship Management

 

·Liaise with members, stakeholders and partners to maintain positive working relationships.

·Support the Manager in organising meetings and events with key stakeholders in the advice sector.

·Ensure AdviceUK’s vision and values are reflected in all external communications and interactions.

4.Monitoring, Data & Evidence

 

·Maintain and update CRMs and other reporting tools to ensure accurate programme progress tracking.

·Collate monitoring data and project evaluations to help demonstrate performance against KPIs.

·Assist in the preparation of financial and non-financial reports for funders and stakeholders.

·Help identify and share impact studies and good practice case studies from projects with the wider membership and sector.

 

5.General Responsibilities

 

·Ensure you effectively communicate AdviceUK’s vision, mission and objectives to staff, members and external stakeholders.

·Ensure you demonstrate AdviceUK’s values and behaviours in all aspects of your work

·Build and maintain positive relationships with key stakeholders including staff trustees; members, partners and suppliers

·With support from your manager, deliver your agreed personal objectives and undertake any agreed development or training

·Maintain a strong understanding of our members and the advice sector more generally, by reading internal reports; accessing relevant data reports; following our social media channels and, where possible, attending member and other relevant events. With the agreement of you line manager, ensure you make time to speak to members and visit their           services.

·Adhere at all times to AdviceUK’s policies and procedures

·Carry out any reasonable duties compatible with the post assigned by your line manager

Job Purpose

Sequence ME & Long Covid is one of the most ambitious whole-genome sequencing studies ever undertaken into ME and Long Covid, co-led by Action for ME. Building on the success of DecodeME, this proposed £20 million study will use large-scale, long-read whole-genome sequencing to analyse the entire genetic code of 9,000 people with ME and 9,000 people with Long Covid - making it the world's largest 'long-read' whole-genome sequencing study of any disease.

Current funding supports project mobilisation, partnership development, and the development of the Long Covid arm of the study, including agreeing case definitions and gathering expressions of interest from people with Long Covid. Phase 2 has recently been confirmed, backed by £4.75m from the UK government and a further £174,414 from the WE&ME Foundation, and will focus on sequencing 6,000 ME/CFS samples previously collected through DecodeME using Oxford Nanopore's long-read sequencing technology, running alongside Phase 1.

You will play a pivotal role supporting the Sequence ME & Long Covid project in several different ways. Working closely with the project's management team and other team members, you will help ensure the smooth day-to-day running of this landmark study, providing administrative support to the various people and partners involved in delivering it.

As a self-starter, you will manage a range of tasks including meeting scheduling, taking meeting minutes, preparing governance documents, event administration, and broader project support - no two days will be the same.

You will need to maintain a high level of confidentiality at all times, particularly when supporting governance meetings and handling sensitive project documentation.

As a team player, you will provide comprehensive, confidential and organised administrative support, developing a deep understanding of the project and building strong, effective working relationships with colleagues, researchers and external partners.

Remote working at home can be challenging for some and works incredibly well for others. You will need to be able to work independently, use your own initiative, and remain proactive in maintaining good levels of communication with colleagues.

Key Duties

• Help monitor inboxes and respond to routine project enquiries in a timely and sensitive manner, escalating more complex matters as appropriate
• Assist the project's management team and other team members with meeting scheduling and diary coordination
• Take accurate minutes at project, management and other project-related meetings, and follow up and track resulting actions to completion
• Prepare, format and proof-read governance documents and papers
• Maintain and update project databases including the Teams channel, ensuring documents are saved correctly, other management information/recording systems to ensure accurate and timely record-keeping. Help with the tracking of expressions of interest from potential study participants.
• Provide administrative support for project events - from planning and logistics through to on-the-day support
• Help prepare presentations, slide decks and briefing materials for internal meetings, funders, partners and participant-facing communications
• Support the drafting, formatting and coordination of project communications, such as updates for partners, funders or the wider ME and Long Covid community
• Support coordination between internal teams and external partners, including research and funding partners
• Maintain project files and documentation in line with agreed communication operating procedures with internal and external partners ensuring information is well organised, up to date and easy for the team to access
• Maintain confidentiality at all times and in line with relevant policies and procedures, ensuring compliance with GDPR and that all data consent processes have been followed in relation to data protection
• Positively promote the work of the Sequence ME & Long Covid project and Action for ME at all times
• Undertake any other reasonable activity in line with the responsibilities of the post, as requested by the CEO, Business Development & Partnerships Manager, Senior Research Manager or the project's Management Team

 

Person Specification

Essential skills and experience

• Organisational skills - Highly organised with the ability to manage multiple tasks across a fast-moving research project, with attention to detail and accuracy maintained under pressure
• Communication - Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to interact effectively with diverse audiences including researchers, funders and people affected by ME and Long Covid
• IT literacy - Proficient with common office software, including Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, PowerPoint), and able to quickly learn relevant project management, database or communications systems as needed
• Problem-solving - A creative and solution-focused mindset to address challenges and find innovative ways to improve processes
• Adaptability - Capable of managing changing priorities, working flexibly, and adapting to the needs of a fast-paced, ambitious research programme
• Initiative - A proactive approach, with the ability to work independently and take initiative, while also following clear instructions when given
• Teamwork - A collaborative team player with a proven ability to work effectively as part of a team, including a remote-working team spanning multiple partners and stakeholders
• Interest in the sector - A genuine interest in health research, the Third Sector, and a desire to take action to improve the lives of people with ME and Long Covid
• Experience - Demonstrable ability to be an effective administrator, ideally within a charity, research, or project environment. Experience supporting governance processes, events, or communications would be an advantage but is not essential

Desirable skills and experience

• Experience providing administrative support for scientific or research-related projects
• Experience writing and communicating with non-specialist or general audiences

Child Bereavement UK is a digital first organisation leading the way in Digital Transformation across the Bereavement sector. This role will play a vital part in helping Child Bereavement UK turn up the dial across our Regional Fundraising team.

The Head of Regional Fundraising is responsible for overseeing our team of Regional Fundraising Managers and Challenge Events team to maximise income from community groups and associations, businesses and individuals as well as leading the growth and diversity of the challenge events portfolio.

Alongside leading the regional team, you will also be the main point of contact for our team of Community Ambassador Volunteers. You will work with them to keep them engaged, inspired and active with great training, communication, and by providing them with the tools, materials and resources they need to fulfil their roles across the country. 

You will develop outstanding supporter relationships and delivering long-term sustainable income through innovative, audience led fundraising. 

Main Responsibilities

Leadership 

· To lead and inspire the Regional Fundraising team fostering a collaborative and high performing culture that delivers against income and objectives 

· Provide clear and supportive leadership that motivates staff to achieve, develop and grow in their roles 

· Undertake quarterly reviews for all direct reports 

Regional Fundraising 

· Grow sustainable income by inspiring individuals, groups, schools, businesses and volunteers to support our work

· Build meaningful relationships and provide outstanding donor care from first contact through to long-term stewardship

· Lead on the strategy and development of Fundraising Committees across the country

· Lead the development of all fundraising products, propositions and community and events, to effectively acquire and engage our mass audience target markets 

· Working alongside the Volunteer Manager lead on the recruitment and retention of the Community Ambassadors programme

· Use innovation and donor and market research to help define and shape Child Bereavement UK Regional fundraising offer 

· Maximise income, by overseeing the development of key income sources, including community, challenge events and regional challenge events

· Drive an innovation-focused culture, constantly evolving our product offerings to expand the charity’s reach and impact 

· Maintain up-to-date knowledge on sector and market trends, the legal environment impacting on public fundraising and ensure compliance with standards determined by Fundraising Regulator 

Strategy, Planning and reporting  

· Develop and execute bold strategies to grow the charity’s Regional Fundraising portfolio, optimising supporter journey and maximising income generation 

· Develop case for support information and tools for effective ways of working, including approval processes

· Work with the Director of Income Generation to develop the annual budget, including leading on monthly performance reports and contributing to quarterly reforecasts and reporting against KPI’s and milestones 

· Oversee the development of supporter journeys and stewardship of all Regional audiences and key community relationships to maximise retention and ensure long-term income growth

· Identify and develop new income generating opportunities across Regional Fundraising 

· Ensure that we provide an excellent supporter experience to all our supporters, regardless of value 

· Proactively manage all aspects of Regional Fundraising to increase our supporter base and maximise income 

· Coach, train and inspire your colleagues across the organisation on the importance of excellent supporter care.

 Person Specification

Essential

· A proven track record in Regional or Community fundraising roles leading on the development of new, successful programmes

· Demonstratable strong strategic planning skills and the ability to develop and implement long-term strategies to achieve fundraising targets and enhance the charity's mission

· Proven leadership and people management skills, with experience in overseeing multi-disciplinary teams. Essential experience includes team leadership, staff motivation, setting clear objectives, and fostering a collaborative work environment

· Experience in effectively developing, managing and reporting complex income and expenditure budgets

· Exceptional communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to influence at senior levels and excellent written skills

· Excellent relationship-building and stakeholder management skills

· Excellent analytical skills, making informed and balanced decisions or recommendations, understanding the impact of

· decisions

· Understanding of the importance of delivering a positive supporter experience and experience in creating and delivering stewardship plans

· Experience of identifying and delivering innovative approaches

· A proactive and results-driven mindset.

 

Desirable

· Experience in managing, supporting, developing and motivating colleagues in a digital first organisation

· Experience of salesforce or other similar CRM systems

· Evidence of continued professional development 

Benefits

· 28 days’ holiday plus bank holidays (pro rata if applicable) with increase for long service.

· TOIL for our hours work.

· Contributory pension scheme.

· Company sick pay.

· Employee Assistance Programme.

· Life assurance.

· Training loans.

· Enhanced family friendly policies.

Recruitment Timetable

Application deadline: 12th August 2026 at midnight

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high number of applications for the role before the closing date.

The Southmead Project is seeking an experienced and motivated Fundraiser to support the charity’s long-term financial sustainability.

The postholder will identify, research and secure funding from trusts, foundations, charitable bodies, statutory funders and other appropriate sources. They will lead on developing high-quality, persuasive funding applications and reports that clearly communicate the impact of the Southmead Project’s work and the needs of the people it supports.

Working closely with the CEO, Head of Finance and trustees, the Fundraiser will develop and deliver an annual fundraising plan, maintain a strong funding pipeline, and support the organisation to diversify its income. The role will require excellent writing, research, relationship-building and organisational skills, alongside a strong commitment to the charity’s values and mission.

• Develop an annual fundraising plan, alongside the Head of Finance and CEO.

• Carry out ongoing prospect research to identify new sources of funding from trusts, foundations, charitable bodies, statutory funders and other appropriate sources.

• Maintain a fundraising pipeline, ensuring that opportunities, deadlines, applications and reporting requirements are monitored effectively.

• Build and maintain a database of prospective and current funders, including key contacts, deadlines, funding priorities and application requirements.

• Monitor relevant local, regional and national funding opportunities, including being a sponsored charity at community events.

• Produce funding applications for trusts, charities, foundations and statutory bodies as an ongoing part of the charity’s income generation.

• Analyse data and feedback collected through outcomes processes for report writing.

• Build and maintain positive relationships with funders, partners and relevant stakeholders, including the corporate sector as part of the charity’s income diversification strategy.

• Attend monthly meetings with the Senior Leadership Team and trustee meetings as required.

• To work within the framework, spirit and ethos of the Southmead Project’s Equal Opportunities Policy, and actively engage in promoting the policy within the charity and in all dealings with clients and other agencies.

• To follow the Southmead Project policies, procedures and professional code of conduct as outlined in the Team Handbook.

• All members of staff, paid and unpaid, are required to undergo the   enhanced level of Disclosure and Barring Service check.

Please see job description for full details.

Role Purpose

Child Bereavement UK is a digital first organisation leading the way in Digital Transformation across the Bereavement sector. This role will play a vital part in helping Child Bereavement UK turn up the dial across our corporate partnerships fundraising.

As our Corporate Officer, you will be responsible for supporting the Corporate & Commercial team to grow income from new and existing corporate partners, commercial collaborations and wider business development opportunities.

You will provide administrative and operational support across the team, helping to build and maintain successful partnerships, coordinate commercial activities, identify opportunities to maximise income, and ensure an excellent experience for partners and supporters at every stage of their journey with Child Bereavement UK.

The role is essential in ensuring excellent supporter stewardship, accurate record keeping, and the smooth delivery of fundraising campaigns, events, and partnership and commercial activities.

If you are incredible at communicating and have excellent organisational skills, along with the drive, passion and enthusiasm to help businesses support our work, then we look forward to hearing from you.

Main Responsibilities

· Provide day-to-day administrative support to the Corporate and Commercial Fundraising team

· Confidently manage a small portfolio of corporate supporters while providing proactive support to the Corporate Partnerships Managers in the stewardship and growth of their portfolios. Support the delivery of the corporate supporter activities, contributing to a team target.

· Ensure all supporter records are accurate, compliant, and up-to-date on our database, and document all corporate engagement activity.

· Execute and adapt bespoke campaigns

· Assist with the preparation of funding proposals, sponsorship packages, and partnership applications.

· Maintain an awareness of corporate giving trends, news, events, campaigns and legislation in the UK and pick up on opportunities or topical issues that will enhance the charity.

· Provide comprehensive stewardship for our corporate supporters.

· Prepare regular communications, rewards and incentives and feedback.

· Seek out value added benefits such as generating awareness of the charity, volunteering, gifts in kind, introductions, attendance at events and pro-bono work.

· Provide support, where appropriate, for wider fundraising activity to develop opportunities across different fundraising areas.

· Research and identify prospective corporate and commercial partners, maintaining an accurate pipeline of opportunities and supporting new business activity to help grow sustainable income.

· Prepare and coordinate high-quality corporate communications, including partnership proposals, impact reports, stewardship updates and marketing materials, ensuring supporters receive timely, engaging and personalised communications throughout their partnership journey.

· Support the development and delivery of Child Bereavement UK's emerging commercial offer, undertaking research, coordinating sales and business development activity, and providing flexible administrative support as new commercial opportunities are identified and brought to market.

· Continually raise the profile of Child Bereavement UK by networking and representing the charity at events as required.

Person Specification

Essential

· Ability to be passionate and inspiring when communicating the work of Child Bereavement UK

· Desire to deliver the highest level of experience to corporate supporters and partners

· Excellent organisational and administrative skills

· Strong written and verbal communication skills

· Good attention to detail and accuracy

· Experience of maintaining databases or CRM systems.

· Highly professional, flexible and committed to achieving and exceeding KPIs

· Excellent time-management skills, with the ability to prioritise work, handle conflicting demands and meet tight deadlines

· A creative thinker and quick to respond to opportunities

Desirable

· Understanding of child or parental bereavement.

· Evidence of continued professional development

· Experience of using Salesforce CRM System.

·        Experience of Corporate Fundraising 

Recruitment Timetable

Application deadline: 16th August 2026 at midnight

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high number of applications for the role before the closing date.

Location: Home based, ideally Glasgow area
Salary: £35,000 – £40,000 FTE depending on experience
Hours: Full time 37.5 hours per week (part time considered, minimum 30 hours per week)
Contract: Permanent
Benefits: We want all our employees to feel valued and engaged and are committed to offering a positive working culture along with a good work-life balance. As well as ensuring we pay our employees fairly, we offer the following benefits: Flexible working, Generous annual leave, Private Medical Insurance, including dental and optical, Pension Scheme, Sick Pay, Death in Service, Employee Assistance Programme, Bike Loan Scheme, Cycle2Work Scheme, Eyecare, Discount Portal.

About Us

Be a part of an energetic and vibrant team who are driven by the desire to improve the lives of people living with kidney disease. Our vision is the day when everyone lives free from kidney disease.

The Scotland fundraising manager role sits within our vibrant community and events team, reporting into the head of community and events. The team builds strong, long-term relationships regionally and nationally to maximise potential across all income streams. We deliver a diverse portfolio of in-person and virtual events, challenges and activities to engage networks and wider supporters in fundraising activity and tailored stewardship journeys to help us build a community of lifetime supporters.

2025/26 has been an exciting year of growth with a focus on developing flagship events, increasing participation in third-party challenges, delivering new virtual events and enhancing stewardship experiences. The budget is circa £1.8m across all income streams.

The Role

• Develop and exceed recruitment and fundraising targets with a strong understanding of supporter stewardship and fundraising best practice
• Build strong, long-term relationships with supporters, enabling them to achieve and raise more than they thought was possible
• Work both autonomously and as part of a team to deliver fundraising results
• Lead on regional and national relationship-building to maximise income potential

What We're Looking For

• Proven experience in successfully exceeding recruitment and fundraising targets
• Strong understanding of supporter stewardship and fundraising best practice
• Passion for developing relationships with supporters
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team

Why Join Us

We are committed to providing equal opportunities for everyone and encourage applications from all sections of the community. We want all our employees to feel valued and engaged, and are committed to offering a positive working culture along with a good work-life balance.

About Kidney Research UK:

Kidney Research UK is the leading charity in the UK focused on funding research into the prevention, treatment and management of kidney disease. Our vision is the day when everyone lives free from kidney disease and for more than 60 years the research, we fund has been making an impact. But kidney disease is increasing as are the factors contributing to it, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and obesity, making our work more essential than ever.

At Kidney Research UK we work with clinicians and scientists across the UK, funding and facilitating research into all areas of kidney disease. We collaborate with partners across the public, private and third sectors to prevent kidney disease and drive innovation to transform treatments.

Over the last ten years we have invested more than £71 million into research. We lobby governments and decision makers to change policy and practice to ensure that the estimated 7.2 million people living with all stages of kidney disease in the UK have access to the most effective care and treatment, and to make kidney disease a priority.

Most importantly, we also work closely with patients, ensuring their voice is heard and is at the centre of everything we do, from deciding which research to invest in to how we plan our priorities and our work across the charity.

Those patient contributions are vital, always helping us and our partners to understand what life is like with kidney disease, always ensuring we see the patient behind the treatment and always reminding us that behind every statistic and every number is a person – the patients and the carers who inspire our mission and push us forward to make a difference and change the future of kidney disease.

How to Apply

Please complete the online application form and submit together with your CV.

Closing date: Sunday 16 August 2026

Telephone interviews will be held on Wednesday 19 August and online interviews will be held on Monday 24 August 2026.

No agencies please.

You may have experience in the following: Fundraising Manager, Community Fundraiser, Events Manager, Charity Fundraiser, Development Manager, Relationship Manager, Campaign Manager, Community and Events Manager, Charity, Charities, Third Sector, Not for Profit, NFP, etc.

REF-229 897