Political research officer jobs

Hosted by Results UK - The International Parliamentary Network for Education (IPNEd) works to mobilise the political leadership necessary to achieve the global promise of a quality education for all.

We are seeking a Communications Officer to oversee our internal and external communications, encompassing copywriting, storytelling, and content creation across all our communication channels. 

This is an exciting time to join the IPNEd secretariat, where you will have an unrivaled opportunity to support parliamentary action to drive educational progress.

The Political Studies Association (PSA) is seeking an enthusiastic and detail-oriented individual to join our team as Membership, Programmes & Events Assistant!

In this role, you will provide key administrative support across our membership services, events, and programmes - including the prestigioius PSA26 Annual Conference.

This is a fixed term contract for six months from October 2025 to April 2026.

Applications are open to all, including PhD students and Early Career Researchers.

For full details of the role, please review the job description.

To apply, please send your CV, a cover letter, and a completed Equal Opps Form by 5pm on Friday, 3 October 2025.

Support JRSST-CT and the UK Democracy Fund to achieve their aims of tackling political inequality and expanding democratic participation through developing and managing a portfolio of grants, and communication of our work to key stakeholders.

Responsibilities:

• Assess and manage the grant portfolio for the UK Democracy Fund and JRSST-CT, in support of the strategy.
• Lead development of JRSST-CT’s written communications, including website, newsletter copy, reporting to Board and funders, copy for fundraising, and case studies.
• Keep up to date with developments relevant to the Trust’s work and maintain and improve personal competence through continuous professional development.
• To work flexibly alongside other members of the team and take on reasonable tasks as appropriate over and above those set out above.
• Apply Trust policies as determined by charity, electoral and other legal requirements as well as good grant-making practice.
• To act as a focal point for dissemination of information and respond to enquiries about the Trust’s work.
• Represent, and be an effective ambassador for, the Trust externally.
• To develop and maintain partnerships with key stakeholders, including civil society organisations, academics, statutory bodies and civil servants.

Person specification:

• A demonstrable ability to turn strategy into a work plan and deliver it.
• Ability to design, develop, implement and manage a grant giving programme (which may or may not be demonstrated through grant management experience).
• Good project management skills, ability to manage multiple streams of activity simultaneously.
• Demonstrable understanding of how change is made through campaigns and policy influencing.
• Excellent writing skills with the ability to communicate clearly and effectively to internal and external audiences.
• Desk research skills and the ability to spot gaps in own knowledge and bring in the appropriate support or advice.
• Understanding barriers to participation or experience working with people often excluded from democracy, including young people, minoritised and racialised communities, migrants, disabled people and people on low income.
• A robust analytical approach combined with an instinct for a good campaign and when to take a risk on a new initiative.
• Ability to provide clear advice and support, while effectively managing and evaluating grantee performance.
• A track record of developing and maintaining relationships with a range of stakeholders, working flexibly and collaboratively with team members, Trustees, grantees and partners.
• Experience of organising meetings, seminars and public events.
• Ability and motivation to deliver high-quality work to deadline with minimum supervision.
• IT literate with good experience of MS Office and other relevant IT systems as appropriate for the role.
• A deep commitment to democratic reform, political inequality and an inclusive democracy and a sound grasp of UK political context, institutions, and processes including elections.

Diversity: The role involves outreach and engagement with politically under-represented demographic groups (including racialised and minoritised ethnicities, young people, migrants, people with disabilities or on low-income). Candidates with lived experience of, connections to, and understanding of barriers to participation are actively encouraged to apply.

Terms and conditions:

• Permanent contract
• Salary £45,000–50,000 depending on skills and experience. 
• We are open to discussing flexible working arrangements.
• Hybrid working either remote/home-based with an agreed frequency of travel to York or based in the York office. Occasional co-working with the Head of the UK Democracy Fund in London can be arranged.
• Leave 25 days plus bank holidays (and three days office closure at Christmas).
• Pension 10% employer contribution, 5% employee contribution, salary sacrifice option and life assurance.
• On-site parking in York.
• Professional subscription fees.
• The job may require some UK travel.

This role will play a key part in supporting MMHA’s successful campaigning, including supporting our maternal mental health councils project, and helping drive change so that women, birthing people, babies and families affected by maternal mental health problems can access the right care, at the right time, without discrimination.

Job purpose

Support planning, implementation, and evaluation of MMHA campaign and policy work to improve perinatal mental health care systems, policy and practice in the UK.

Main responsibilities

• Support policy activities relating to MMHA’s Maternal Mental Health Councils project.
• Assist with the production of campaign resources, including desk research, drafting copy, and proof reading.
• Read and summarise policy information, such as reports and carry out data analysis, to support MMHA’s evidence base.
• Lead political monitoring, keeping abreast of tracking relevant policy and political developments to identify opportunities and risks for MMHA’s campaigns and policy priorities.
• Support MMHA’s campaigning across the devolved nations, working with local stakeholders in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales to inform, amplify and facilitate campaign activities.
• Hold knowledge of parliamentary procedure and systems to ensure strategic and targeted influencing work, supporting relationships with parliamentarians, including providing clear communications.
• Ensure MMHA’s commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion runs throughout MMHA’s campaigning and policy work.
• Maintain relationships with range of stakeholders to support MMHA’s campaigning and influencing, including MMHA members, parliamentarians, champions and academics.
• Support campaigning communications activities, including media and social media support, website editing and writing copy for articles or newsletters.
• Keep a library of policy resources and an up-to-date bank of statistics and evidence to support internal and external use.
• Assist the Head of Campaigns and Policy and wider team with administrative and other tasks, including the organisation and facilitation of meetings and events and responding to routine enquiries.
• Help support MMHA projects as required. 
• Work with the team on campaign evaluation.
• Maintain a diary of key campaign dates and events.
• Represent the MMHA at events as required.

Please see the attached job pack for further details. 

How to apply

To apply for this role, please submit:

1. A CV (maximum 2 sides of A4)
2. A cover letter (maximum 2 sides of A4)

Please note: We are expecting a large number of applications for this role. Applications exceeding the page limits (2 sides of A4 per document) will not be considered. In addition, to help with anonymising applications, please only include your initials in your CV and cover letter – please do not include your full name or a photograph.

What to include in your cover letter

Please start your cover letter with:

• Please address how you meet the first six points of the essential skills and experience of the person specification.
• A brief summary of your experience working with civil servants, MPs and decision-makers.
• An example demonstrating your interpersonal skills and ability to engage with wide and diverse groups.

Feel free to then share your broader interest in the role and what additional qualities you would bring.

Where to send your application

• Please submit your CV and covering letter to the email address provided in the attached job pack.
• The deadline for applications is 10am on Thursday 16 October 2025.
• Applications submitted after this time or not following the outlined process will not be considered.

Interview details

First interviews are expected to take place online Thursday 6 November 2025.

Ref: PAL-251
Thursday, 9th October 2025 at 9.00am

Are you a proactive, motivated and influential individual with a deep understanding of UK policy-making and influencing processes, ideally in areas related to social justice?  Do you have proven experience of developing and delivering successful influencing strategies that led to policy change?

If so, join St Giles as our Policy and Advocacy Lead, where will lead the development and execution of our policy agenda and advocacy strategy.  As an integral part of our Communications team, you will see you play a central role in how St Giles shapes and participates in public debate, influences government policy, and ensures the voices of those with lived experience are at the heart of decision-making.

About St Giles Trust
An ambitious, well-established charity that helps people facing adversity to find jobs, homes and the right support they need.  Central to our ethos is our belief that people with first-hand experience of successfully overcoming issues such as an offending background, homelessness, addictions and gang involvement, hold the key to positive change in others.

About this key role
As Policy and Advocacy Lead, you will deliver a bold and evidence-based policy and advocacy plan aligned with St Giles’ three pillars of work: Poverty, Violence & Exploitation and Criminal Justice.  You will also provide strategic advice and support to leadership and executive teams on political and policy developments and ensure our influencing work is inclusive, grounded in lived experience and reflects the values and priorities of St Giles.

We will also count on you to lead the development of policy positions, briefings, consultation responses, and reports, oversee research projects and ensure robust evidence underpins all policy recommendations and to build and maintain relationships with policymakers, government departments, think tanks, and stakeholders.  Leading, managing and inspiring the Policy and Influencing team to deliver high-impact work is also a major aspect of this role, as is collaborating across departments, such as Programmes and Fundraising, to integrate policy work into wider organisational objectives.
 
What we are looking for

• Strong political acumen and the ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments
• Proven experience managing and motivating high-performing teams
• A commitment to anti-racism, equity, and working in solidarity with marginalised communities
• The ability to demonstrate knowledge and awareness of the issues faced by our client group, in particular barriers faced by people with lived in experience
• The ability to think creatively to secure funding
• A collaborative, approachable and professional approach to your work
• Excellent interpersonal, relationship-building and communication skills, verbal and written

In return, you can expect a competitive salary, generous leave allowance, staff pension, flexible working, a mentoring programme, an advice and counselling service, clinical therapist sessions, life insurance (4 x annual salary), duvet days, season ticket loan, employee perks programme, eye care voucher and much more.

We are an equity and inclusion confident employer. We welcome all applications, and we particularly encourage applications from people of the global majority (black, brown, multi- heritage) and those who identify as disabled, neuroexpansive, neurodiverse, with any protected characteristics and/or social barriers or challenges. We value the empowering and informative impact that all lived experiences and diversity of thought can offer the organisation.

St Giles will guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria set out in the Job Description for the vacancy.

We will be reviewing applications as they are received, and reserve the right to close this advert early if a suitable candidate is appointed. We therefore strongly encourage early applications to avoid any disappointment.

Closing date:  09 October 2025 at 9 a.m. Interview date: 17 October 2025

Governance & Rights Lead

Permanent. Full Time. Hybrid working (You will be required to attend the office for a minimum of 2 days per week with the option to work remotely for the remaining 3 days).

Location: Bogota, Colombia

Salary: 189,930,623 Colombian Pesos per year

Applications and CV to be submitted in English only

About us

Christian Aid exists to create a world where everyone can live a full life, free from poverty. We are a global movement of people, churches and local organisations who passionately champion dignity, equality and justice worldwide. We are the changemakers, the peacemakers, the mighty of heart.

We’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace, and recognise the value this brings in forming strong, creative and high performing teams. We welcome applications from all sections of the community, and from those with experience from outside of the voluntary sector. And no, you don’t have to be Christian to work here – we encourage people of all faiths and none to apply. We just ask that everyone lives out our values of dignity, equality, justice and love. We value a good work-life balance, so we’re open to part-time and flexible working. We also offer hybrid working for our office-based colleagues and the option of being a homeworker for most of our roles too. 

About the role

Reporting in to the Global Head of Programme Policy and Practice, the Governance & Rights Lead is a key role designated as the single point of accountability governance and rights leadership across the organisation, aligning with Christian Aid’s organisational values and goals.

The post-holder will be responsible for co-developing a thematic strategy, collaborating with the Strategy and Learning Manager in organisational effectiveness, and with the Policy and Advocacy Lead in the Policy and Influencing division within the Impact Department. 

The role is ultimately accountable for the delivery of the Thematic Strategy on Governance & Rights and for reporting progress towards this at regular intervals to measure success and maximise impact.

Some of the key responsibilities of the Governance & Rights Lead include:

• Co-develop, create and deliver a thematic strategy for the whole of the Governance & Rights thematic priority, including clear measures of progress and impact/success which are then reported against at regular intervals aligning with organisational values and goals.
• Lead as the organisational technical expert on governance and rights programming and collaborate with staff across the Impact and Fundraising departments so they are able to draw on governance and rights expertise – ours and our partners’ – in order to design, fundraise for and facilitate the delivery of strong signature programme work on governance and rights, maximising impact and income.
• Foster a culture of learning and improvement by identifying best practice among our partners and facilitating knowledge sharing across partners; by commissioning (or directly undertaking when appropriate) research and learning reviews to evidence good practice and course correct where needed.
• Build strong relationships with key policy and advocacy colleagues – particularly the Global Policy and Advocacy Lead for Governance and Rights –, focusing on ensuring insight and learning from programme practice feeds into, and influences public policy development, and provides evidence for advocacy materials.
• Collaborate with the Strategy and Learning Manager and the Impact and Evidence Manager to ensure appropriate evidence is being gathered and consolidated to measure and communicate the impact of our work on governance and rights and to adapt our signature programme approaches as necessary.
• Lead and build external networks so Christian Aid’s work on governance and rights is presented and promoted nationally and internationally, resulting in 1) an enhanced organisational profile within the sector to maximise our impact, 2) a portfolio of work that is innovative and in line with sector best-practice, 3) a pool of potential partners to engage and work with.
• Programme advisory and resource materials on governance and rights are developed on the basis of organisational values, goals, strategies, adaptive programming approaches, and informed by ongoing learning of Christian Aid

About you

Who we are looking for

Essential:

• Postgraduate or equivalent in International Development or relevant discipline.
• Must be fluent in English and Spanish (both written and spoken)
• Detailed understanding of current thinking/debates on governance and rights (all human rights, including social, economic, civil and political).
• Extensive experience of translating ‘rights’ concepts into practice within development programmes, across social, economic and civil/political issues.
• Detailed understanding and experience of governance programming, both on the ‘supply’ and ‘demand’ side (i.e. institutional strengthening/accountability, and empowerment and voice).
• Understanding the role of faith-based actors promoting good governance and defending human rights.
• Extensive experience of International Development, strategic planning and programme management.
• Detailed understanding of current thinking in sector specific M&E, including adaptive management.
• Developed ability to apply analysis of power/social exclusion to programme design and management.
• Highly developed negotiation, facilitation, influencing, stakeholder engagement skills, and ability to promote critical thinking and reflection.
• Significant experience of providing training, technical support and/or advice.
• Highly developed interpersonal skills, including the ability to discuss sensitive issues and inspire others to take up new challenges.

Further information

At Christian Aid we strive to be an inclusive and diverse employer and recognise the value that this brings in helping to build strong, creative and high performing teams.

We are actively encouraging racialised minorities, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities, returning parents or carers who are re-entering work after a career break, people with caring responsibilities, people from low socioeconomic backgrounds, women, and older workers to apply. This is because these groups are under-represented within our teams, especially at senior level, and we recognise and value the contributions members of these groups make to strong, creative and high performing teams. 

We have a strong Christian ethos and we encourage applications from all faiths. Applicants will be expected to demonstrate an understanding of and sympathy with Christian Aid’s faith identity. 

All successful candidates will require a DBS/police check appropriate to the role and location and a Counter Terrorism Sanction check as part of your clearance for commencing your role with us. We also participate in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.  In line with this Scheme, we will request information as part of the referencing process from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

This role requires applicants to have the right to live and work in the country where this position is based and undertake the role that you have been offered. If you are successful and we make you an offer for the role, we will be required to conduct a right to work check on your immigration status in the UK. We will contact you regarding the documentation you will need to provide to evidence this. 

Job Title: Senior Programme Officer, Active Fellows

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

Salary: £36,062

Start date: 1 November 2025

Contract type: Permanent

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

Benefits:

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

• Competitive salary

• Team and individual training opportunities

• Commitment to performance and personal development

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

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

• 25 days plus Bank Holidays annual leave entitlement

• 8% employer pension contribution

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

Role Purpose Statement

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

Organisational Background

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

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

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

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

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

Key Responsibilities

Fellowships

Casework

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

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

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

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

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

· Liaise with independent legal advisors where necessary.

Finance

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

· Promptly issue relevant invoices.

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

· Contribute to robust financial processes.

Support Mechanisms

Mentoring Scheme

· Project Lead for the Cara Mentoring Scheme.

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

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

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

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

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

Webinars and Workshops

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

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

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

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

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

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

Strategic Development

Alumni Engagement and Impact Reporting

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

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

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

Monitoring and Evaluation

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

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

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

Management Responsibilities

Deputise for Team Leader

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

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

· Approve the Active Fellows team’s working hours.

· Provide input on policy and process improvements.

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

Training/Inductions

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

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

Partnerships

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

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

Ad Hoc Responsibilities

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

· Support Fellowship Programme with ad hoc responsibilities.

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

Person Specification – Senior Programme Officer, Active Fellows:

Qualifications

Essential:

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

Desirable:

• Master’s degree or equivalent

Knowledge & Experience

Essential:

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

Desirable:

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

Skills & Attributes

Essential:

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

Desirable:

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

We’re recruiting a new Director to lead us into our 35th year and beyond.

The successful candidate will build on the organisation’s rich history and legacy of exposing and opposing state secrecy, surveillance, repression and violence; and supporting and resourcing struggles for rights, liberties, transparency, and democracy.

They will be strategic, cooperative and adaptable, and have strong organisational, coordination and communication skills.

Find out more in the full role description and application information, attached below.

On 19 September we hosted an information session for interested applicants via Zoom. If you would like access to the recording, please contact our Head of Communications (details on our website).

Please note: This is role is only open to applicants with the right to work in the UK. If you do not already have the right to work in the UK, we regret that we are unable to assist with obtaining a visa.

About the Role​

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

In this role, you’ll:​

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

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

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

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

Do you want to play a pivotal role in ending impunity for corruption and defending democracy? 

Spotlight on Corruption has an exciting opportunity for a passionate and creative individual with a flair for networking and a track record of bringing in funds for charitable causes to lead our fundraising programme. 

Now more than ever, powerful anti-corruption voices are needed in a fragmented world where democracy is under threat globally. Join our small, tenacious, driven and highly collaborative team, and be part of the anti-corruption movement creating a more hopeful future.

Deadline for applications is 23.30 on 18th October 2025.

About Spotlight

Spotlight on Corruption is a bold, brave voice that pushes forward the anti-corruption agenda in a pragmatic and credible way. We are agile and opportunistic, seizing political opportunities to push for reforms, while continually building the evidence base through our court monitoring, enforcement tracking and research. We punch above our weight in holding the government to account for taking action against corruption, cronyism, and dirty money in the UK.

Spotlight’s team consists of an Executive Director, Deputy Director, Head of Finance & Operations, Senior Policy & Campaign Lead, Senior Advocacy Adviser, Senior Communications Advisor, and Senior Policy Researcher. The Senior Philanthropy and Partnership Manager is a new role, bringing the staff team to eight. We are committed to maintaining our exceptional team working environment, flexible working arrangements, and ensuring that staff are recognised, respected and have opportunity to develop in their roles.

In the six years since it was established, Spotlight has had significant trust fundraising success and established strong relationships with institutional funders who understand our work and its impact. Under a new three year strategy we are seeking to sustainably grow and diversify our funding base - across trusts and foundations and by establishing a major donor programme to enable us to increase our impact.

We are looking for someone experienced, ambitious and creative to be our first Senior Philanthropy and Partnership Manager, to drive our fundraising strategy, create new opportunities and relationships, lead the cultivation and stewardship of new trust funders, and develop a new major donor fundraising programme.

In this role you will have strategic accountability for fundraising and overseeing progress towards fundraising targets, working with the team and the Board to generate ideas and deliver proposals for raising funds, and for highlighting our impact to potential donors. You will be a hands-on fundraiser, who builds relationships with donors, keeps on top of developments in the funding landscape, develops compelling and creative pitches and proposals for funders, and as a result delivers sustainable income generation to ensure Spotlight achieves our organisational goals.

Key responsibilities

• Lead on executing Spotlight’s fundraising strategy and donor management

• Identify, maintain and develop a robust pipeline of prospects and funders across high-net-worth individuals, trusts and foundations and other appropriate giving vehicles

• Nurture long-term relationships with existing and prospective trusts and foundations, high net-worth individuals and Donor-Advised Funds

• Work with the team to develop exciting ideas to pitch to funders and to highlight our impact, as well as identifying funding gaps and opportunities

• Prepare and submit high-quality, tailored grant applications to secure trust funding for specific projects and core activities

• Work effectively and collaboratively with the wider team, Executive Director and Board to deliver the fundraising strategy and embed fundraising confidence and process across the team

• Work with the team to develop Spotlight’s impact story and generate ideas about promoting Spotlight’s work, in line with our values 

• Track our fundraising efforts and maintain an effective overview of relationships through our Beacon CRM system

Person specification - essential criteria

• A creative and proactive mindset, with the ability to take initiative and generate new opportunities

• Proven ability to communicate effectively and persuasively, with strong oral, writing, presentation, relationship building and networking skills

• Proven track record in developing and nurturing productive and long-term relationships with potential funders

• Proven track record of meeting targets from a high-value fundraising programme (trusts and major donors) 

• Proven track record in researching and identifying new trust and major donor prospects, and developing effective cultivation, solicitation and stewardship plans

• Experience of developing exciting pitches and high-quality funding proposals with narrative and financial reports

• Collaborative and solutions-focused, with the ability to lead internal engagement in fundraising and grant management

• Highly organised, with the ability to prioritise and meet deadlines and excellent attention to detail

• IT proficiency, with the ability to maintain accurate and timely records using our Beacon CRM system

• An understanding of due diligence in relation to donors and donations

• A passion for fighting corruption

• Eligibility to live and work in the UK 

Person specification - desirable criteria

• Ability to think strategically about fundraising and how it interacts with the overall organisation strategy

• Experience of raising funds a field that is relevant or related to fighting corruption

• Good financial literacy and understanding of project budgets and restricted / unrestricted funding

• Experience of organising major donor cultivation events

Spotlight on Corruption is committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable environment where all staff feel respected and valued. We conduct anonymous long-listing to help promote fairness and diversity. We encourage candidates from different backgrounds and experiences to apply, especially those from underrepresented groups. If you don't meet 100% of the qualifications but are excited about the role, we'd love to hear from you.

Working arrangements:

Two year contract with a view to making this a permanent role. Four days (28 hours) per week - with flexibility depending on the right candidate. 24 days of annual leave (pro rated from 30 for full-time roles) plus pro rated public holidays. Remote working from home required, with regular meetings - sometimes at short notice - in London. Flexible working available.

Responsible to: Head of Finance & Operations

Start date: As soon as possible

The Public Affairs Lead at the Food Foundation provides expertise on building relationships with political stakeholders to deliver impact across all areas of our work aimed transforming food systems and shifting diets.

· Do you have knowledge of the UK’s political system and experience of how to influence policy-making?

· Do you care about what we eat and its impact on our health and planet?

· Do you want to work in a small, ambitious organisation and use your influencing skills to deliver real impact?

If the answers to these questions are yes, we would love to hear from you!

Hours: Full time, 37.5 hours per week (willing to consider part time hours, no less than 4 days)

Starting Salary: £39,960 (pro rata and London weighting included)

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: This is a London based role (our office is in London, Brixton) and you will be expected to work at least 2 days per week from the office. Whilst there will be a need to regularly attend in-person meetings in parliament and officer, there is flexible working options.

Job requirements: An enhanced clean DBS check, obtained through The Food Foundation plus two references

Job Purpose

The Public Affairs Lead sits within our Policy and Advocacy Team, working to build support for The Food Foundation’s work amongst Parliamentarians and to influence the government to help deliver policies that will transform the food system.  This is an exciting opportunity to join a small organisation delivering big impact on the political agenda around food. 

The Public Affairs Manager reports to our Head of Policy and Advocacy and will be responsible for planning and delivering our public affairs activity. You will spend considerable time meeting MPs and Peers in parliament and building relationships with their teams with a view to identifying potential new supporters and ensuring that The Food Foundation has a range of contacts that we can call on to support and amplify our policy asks and to raise issues when required. 

While this role is focused on political engagement, you will work closely with policy and research colleagues and with our communications team to share perspectives on which priorities it may be tactical to pursue at any given time and to understand what evidence is available to inform engagement.

You will also work closely with public affairs professionals in other organisations to deliver joint programmes of engagement work which leverage respective organisational strengths.

You will have excellent political instincts and a strong interest in policy developments, monitoring closely what is going on in Parliament and in Government, and keeping abreast of the latest developments in order to identify opportune moments to maximise political attention on the issues we work on and to galvanise support for policy change. 

You will work with our communications team to build compelling narratives targeted at different political stakeholders about the impacts of the food system on our diets, our health and our planet, and the need for evidence-based solutions.   In the current parliamentary term we expect a major focus of activity to be on securing a White Paper and then A Bill on food system change.

You will lead on developing and commissioning a range of briefing materials and reports for policy audiences and formulate responses on behalf of the organisation to policy development processes and Parliamentary inquiries.

You will think creatively about methods and opportunities for engagement in order to ensure that The Food Foundation’s messages and priorities are noticed and heard by policy-makers in a very crowded policy space, including by working closely with our events manager to deliver impactful parliamentary events.

You will bring a learning mindset to the role, assessing the impact of our policy engagement approaches in order to make continuous improvements.

The role will be a fulfilling blend of planning engagement campaigns, developing the materials and monitoring tools to enable delivery, and the practical task of developing personal relationships with key stakeholders.

A week in the job will look like: meeting with a Peer that is new to our work to brief them on evidence we have published and our current political priorities, completing a political stakeholder mapping exercise for a new campaign on sustainable diets to identify a shortlist of MPs to engage with, spending an afternoon in parliament to engage informally with passing MPs, pitching a new idea for a parliamentary inquiry to parliamentary staff from the Health and Social Care Committee, drafting an MP briefing for an upcoming debate on the Government’s obesity prevention priorities, reviewing next week’s parliamentary calendar to spot opportunities for engagement, attending a roundtable to share intelligence and discuss priorities for political party manifestos with other NGOs working on food issues, ringing round parliamentary offices to confirm attendance for an upcoming parliamentary reception, meeting with an MP that is closely involved with The Food Foundation’s work to refine messaging for an upcoming campaign.

The Centre for Progressive Change is looking for a full-time Operations Director that will be part of the newly formed Executive Team. This role will be responsible for running the operations of the organisation with a focus on our people, systems and processes. They will work closely with the Executive Team, ensuring the organisation runs smoothly and efficiently so that we can have impact.

The Centre for Progressive Change (CPC) is an organisation that builds campaigns for national policy change in the UK. Our focus is on making progressive gains that improve the lives of low- and middle-income communities. We want the UK to be a place where everyone has the financial resources they need, where people are treated as equals and are free to be who they are without persecution, and where we look after our environment.

To achieve this vision, our mission is to build proactive campaigns for progressive legislative change, do research on what works when campaigning for national policy change and offer training and consultancy to support other organisations to build effective campaigns. Our campaigns use an inter-disciplinary approach including community organising, mobilising, advocacy, business engagement, campaign research and press work.

North West Air Ambulance is a well-recognised, reputable and remarkable charity! They provide enhanced pre-hospital care crucial to saving lives. They quite simply bring the hospital to the patient, regardless of their location across the North West.

NWAA have completed 2,615 missions this year, 958 of those were critical care car missions. This year, they need to raise £18 million to continue their crucial services without and funding from the Government or the NHS, this comes entirely from generous donations.

Rob nearly died in June 2022, when he was badly injured in a freak DIY accident at home.

“They’ve given me time to grow a bit older, appreciate life a little bit more and enjoy it. Time to watch my kids grow up, time to be with my wife. They gave me the time to get to the hospital. I’ve been very lucky – I feel like a very lucky man.”

Rob, husband to Karen and a dad to three children.

Do you want to be part of the passionate, driven and talented Income and Engagement team who raise funds to fuel helicopters and critical care cars, putting specialist doctors where they’re needed most? If so, we would love to hear from you.

The Role

This is a unique opportunity to join the team as an Events Officer, reporting directly to the Events Manager. You will support participants who have their own place in challenge events such as runs, walks and cycles as well as other third-party organised events.

Main duties will include:

• Providing effective support to the events team, contributing towards the ambitious five-year Community and Events team strategy.
• Carrying out research, updating event collateral and supporting the team with event organisation and delivery including on-the-day support.
• Providing engaging stewardship to event participants and lapsed supporters.
• Recruiting participants and delivering excellent stewardship for a variety of third-party challenge events, including skydives, walks, cycle rides and runs whilst meeting set income targets.  

The Person

We are looking for someone who has excellent written and verbal communication skills, and experience in a customer service or client facing role. You must be confident with excellent attention to detail. We are also looking for a team player, who is experienced in working to targets and committed to delivering results. You will require the ability to juggle multiple projects, and be organised working on your own initiative. While experience in an events fundraising role would be advantageous, we are also keen to speak with people with events management experience and a sound knowledge of fundraising looking to develop a career in the charity sector.

Please note that this role will involve attending events in the evenings and weekends. You will be required to have a full UK driving license, and access to your own vehicle. 

If you are enthusiastic about events, and the work of NWAA, we would love to hear from you!

Why NWAA?

NWAA is a wonderful, reputable charity that has a huge impact on saving lives. This role offers the opportunity to be part of a creative, supportive, collaborative and fun team!

On top of this, the charity’s benefits include:

• Life Assurance
• Cash Back Scheme which includes cash back for dental treatment and a range of medical treatments as well as staff discounts with a range of retailers
• 24-hour confidential Employee Assistance helpline
• Salary Sacrifice Scheme for pension contributions
• On-site parking
• Cycle to work Scheme.
• Sick pay
• Holiday buy back scheme

If this sounds like the type of environment that would suit you for the next phase of your career, then please get in touch! The role permanent, full-time (although flexible working patterns will be considered) and offers the opportunity to work flexibly from the charity's offices based in Knowsley and Barton, as well as across the region, and from home.

If you think you could be the right person to fulfil the exciting responsibilities of this role, apply here, or get in contact with Charlie, Leanne or Jen at Charity Horizons for more information.

Please note: If you would like to submit an application or express your interest in an alternative format such as audio or video upload, or require any adaptations for your initial engagement with us, please contact either Charlie or Leanne who will be happy to advise on this.

Please also be aware that we use anonymous recruitment methods when submitting shortlists for all our roles and we only work with organisations that are happy to engage with us in this way.

Charity Horizons is an equal opportunities employer and as such actively promotes equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We welcome and encourage applications from all suitable candidates irrespective of age, disability, hidden disability, race or national origin, religion or belief, gender, gender expression, political view, sexual orientation, medical condition and pregnancy.

We’re looking for an experienced content officer to create and share our charity’s impact, stories and campaigns in new and compelling ways to help raise awareness, grow our audience and drive engagement. 

This is a hands-on role and requires someone with proven experience of creating high-quality, creative and engaging content across print and digital platforms, including video, email, web and social media.

If you’re excited by the opportunity to create and deliver a wide variety of content which makes a difference to women, sick kids and their families, we’d love to hear from you. 

Please see our job information pack for further details on this role and what we as a Charity have to offer!

Interviews will be held at our office at 5 Rowchester Court, Whittall Street, Birmingham, B4 6DH on Wednesday 22 October.