Practice leader jobs in Birmingham

What does it take to lead the national voice for special schools at a time of real change?

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – National Association of Special Schools (NASS)

National – home-based, with regular travel across England and Wales, particularly London

£90,000–£110,000 per annum

Full-time, permanent.

About NASS 

The National Association of Special Schools (NASS) is the membership association for special schools in England and Wales. We bring together independent special schools, non-maintained special schools, special academies, maintained special schools and multi-academy trusts with specialist provision.

We exist to inform, support and represent our members, helping specialist schools improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND and secure the place of specialist provision within the wider education system. NASS is known for being accessible, responsive and personal, combining national influence with practical support that members value as timely, human and trustworthy.

This is a pivotal moment for the organisation. In February this year, the Department for Education published a major white paper on SEND reform which will require NASS to both influence national policy on behalf of our members and children and young people, as well as support them to navigate the changes. Our new CEO will need to review our strategy while building on our strong platform and momentum to further deepen our influence and strengthen our internal capacity.

As our next Chief Executive, you will:

• Strategy & Impact: Lead NASS through a period of policy and structural change, ensuring the organisation remains clear on purpose, responsive to members and influential in the SEND landscape.
• Governance & Finance: Work closely with the Board of Trustees to provide strong governance, prudent financial stewardship, robust risk management and clear strategic oversight.
• Operational Leadership: Provide confident leadership to a small, remote team, strengthening collaboration, accountability, resilience and a positive, high-trust culture.
• Income Generation: Oversee budgeting, planning and reporting while developing thoughtful opportunities to diversify income through membership, partnerships, events and related activity.
• Community & Partnerships: Build and sustain trusted relationships with government, parliament, regulators, sector bodies and member schools, ensuring NASS remains relevant and well connected.
• Member Services: Protect and enhance the practical offer to members, from briefings and special interest groups to conferences, webinars, training and peer-to-peer learning.
• Brand & Profile: Act as a credible public ambassador for NASS, helping to modernise communications and broaden the organisation’s voice beyond a founder-shaped model.
• Future Growth: Shape a distributed leadership profile and support a more varied, accessible and engaging approach to membership, advocacy and communications.
• A seasoned senior leader with experience in a charity, membership body, education or public sector setting, and a clear track record of leading through change.
• A strong strategic thinker, able to absorb complex information quickly and translate it into clear, practical direction.
• A confident communicator with the gravitas to represent NASS with members, staff, trustees, MPs, peers, media and national partners.
• A politically astute relationship-builder, comfortable navigating a complex and fast-moving external environment.
• Experienced in governance, with a sound understanding of working with boards or trustees and supporting effective decision-making.
• Numerate and commercially minded, with experience of budgets, financial planning, income generation or partnership development.
• Credible, approachable and resilient, with the emotional intelligence to lead well in a high-profile, remote and sometimes uncertain context.
• Direct SEND experience would be a significant advantage, alongside understanding of specialist education or similarly complex stakeholder environments.

Why NASS?

• This is a chance to lead a respected, member-led organisation with a strong national reputation and a clear public purpose.
• You will help shape the future of specialist education at a time when SEND reform is high on the agenda.
• NASS has a loyal, experienced and collegiate remote staff team, supported by an active Board of Trustees.
• The organisation offers a genuinely influential platform, with strong connections across the sector and with government.

Application

For full details of the role including how to apply, please download the full appointment brief. For an informal and confidential conversation about this position, please contact Jenny Hills at Harris Hill via apply button with times to speak and (optional but appreciated) a CV or professional profile which will be treated with the strictest confidence.

Closing date for applications: 9am, Monday 8th June 2026

As leading charity recruitment specialists and a certified B Corp, Harris Hill is committed to high and ever-improving standards of equitable and inclusive recruitment. We actively welcome applications from all sections of the community regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexuality and other protected characteristics.

Hybrid - within commuting distance of one of our campuses in London, Birmingham, Blackburn, Doncaster, Bradford, Redcar or Bristol

We are seeking a motivated and enthusiastic Senior Data Engineer to join our TED team and play an important role in building and maintaining the technical infrastructure that supports the NIoT and TED.

The National Institute of Teaching (NIoT) has an unswerving commitment to high-quality, evidence-informed teacher education, and is on a mission to improve teacher and leader development across the education system.

A key part of that mission is our Teacher Education Dataset (TED), an ambitious data and research initiative focused on building better evidence about teacher development and what makes teaching impactful. By bringing together education, research and digital infrastructure, TED will support new insight into how teachers develop, improve and thrive across their careers.

About the role

We are seeking a motivated and enthusiastic Senior Data Engineer to join our TED team and play an important role in building and maintaining the technical infrastructure that supports the NIoT and TED. Working at the intersection of data engineering, data and research, the postholder will help develop secure, reliable and scalable systems that enable robust analysis and contribute to high-quality, evidence-informed improvement across the sector.

Corporate responsibilities

• To ensure that the responsibilities of the role are carried out in a way which reflects the mission and the values of the NIoT.

• To be aware of and observe all policies, procedures, working practices and regulations, and in particular to comply with policies relating to Equal Opportunities, Health and Safety, Confidentiality, Data Protection and Financial Regulations, reporting any concerns to an appropriate person.

• To comply with all reasonable management requests.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, build and maintain Azure-based data pipelines to support the ingestion, transformation and curation of TED datasets.

• Develop and maintain Azure SQL databases and research-facing schemas across raw, transformed and curated data layers.

• Write efficient, secure and well-structured T-SQL to support ingestion, validation, transformation and optimisation.

• Contribute to the development and ongoing refinement of a Common Data Model across multiple education data providers.

• Integrate and harmonise data from school MIS and EdTech platforms, including Bromcom, Arbor and Wonde.

• Build and maintain robust validation, logging, auditing and reconciliation processes to improve data quality and trust.

• Support secure data handling, including pseudonymisation, access control and compliance with data-sharing agreements and security requirements.

• Work closely with analysts, researchers, architects and partners to deliver scalable, analytics-ready data solutions.

• Contribute to agile planning, technical design, documentation and operational handover.

Essential criteria

• Proven experience in data engineering, including building and maintaining production-grade data pipelines.

• Strong experience with Azure Data Factory and Azure SQL Server.

• Strong T-SQL skills, including schema design, stored procedures and query optimisation.

• Experience implementing validation, monitoring, logging and reconciliation controls within data pipelines.

• Strong understanding of secure data architecture and the handling of sensitive personal data.

• Experience with Azure DevOps, version control and CI/CD practices.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with excellent attention to detail.

• Ability to communicate effectively and work successfully in a multidisciplinary team.

Desirable criteria

• Experience with education datasets, school MIS systems or EdTech platforms.

• Experience with common data models, longitudinal datasets or research-oriented data infrastructure.

• Experience with Power BI, Fabric or related analytics technologies.

• Experience in a public sector, education or high-governance data environment.

• Interest in applying data engineering to improve education and teacher development.

Key benefits

• Generous Annual Leave – 27 days’ holiday a year (plus 8 bank holidays).

• Flexible Working – we offer flexible start and end working times, with hybrid working in place for all roles.

• Pension - Entry to the Local Government Pension Scheme.

• Salary Sacrifice Schemes – we offer salary sacrifice schemes for bikes, cars and tech!

• Lifestyle Benefits – We offer discounts on gyms, cinema, retail and much more!

• Parenthood Leave – We offer above the statutory minimum for maternity, adoption and paternity leave.

• Working Environment – We have a stimulating, supportive and rewarding working environment with a dedicated team of likeminded professionals.

• Support: Our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) provides confidential support for employees on personal or work-related matters.

• Development: We fully support the development of our staff and ensure that you have high level of continuous professional development.

We think a wide range of different work and educational experiences could support you to be successful in this role. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, communities and industries, and are committed to employing a team that has diverse skills, experiences and abilities.

If you have any queries about this role, please contact our recruitment team.

For more information and to apply, please visit our vacancies page.

Closing date: 10.00am on Monday, 1 June 2026.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications.

This post requires a satisfactory enhanced disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) with a Children’s Barred List Check and Occupational Health Check is required as a condition of employment.

Age UK Solihull is looking for a proactive and relationship‑driven Partnerships Officer to help grow our income and impact across the Solihull borough through corporate partnerships and high‑value giving. You’ll identify and cultivate relationships with businesses and supporters, negotiate mutually beneficial partnerships, and deliver excellent stewardship, securing significant support that helps improve later life for older people.

This is a varied and outward‑facing role, ideal for someone confident engaging senior decision‑makers, building long‑term partnerships and representing the charity within the local business community. With flexible hours, hybrid working and the chance to see the direct impact of your work, this role offers a rewarding opportunity to make a real difference.

You’ll be comfortable working independently, managing a pipeline of prospects and representing Age UK Solihull at meetings and networking events. In return, we offer flexible working (up to 30 hours per week), hybrid working, and the opportunity to play a key role in strengthening our local presence and impact.​

We look forward to hearing from you!

Regional Development Officer (RDO) - Midlands 

Location: Midlands (home-based with travel and use of hot desk office in Midlands) 
Salary: £35,100 FTE (£18/hour £21,060) 
Contract: 2-year fixed term (22.5 hours/week) 
Reports to: National Fundraising & Development Manager 

This is not an administrative role. It is comparable to: 

• Regional Development Officer (charity sector)

• Community Development Officer

• Partnerships / Outreach Officer

• Network Growth or Membership Development roles

The role combines business development, community engagement, and programme delivery, with clear responsibility for growing Phab’s national footprint and reputation. 

Why this role matters  

This is a rare opportunity to build something meaningful from the ground up. 

You’ll be the person who brings Phab to new communities—connecting disabled and non-disabled people, creating life-changing social opportunities, and building a network of clubs that transform lives. 

We’re looking for someone who thrives on meeting people, spotting opportunities, and making things happen—someone who can walk into a room, inspire others, and leave with new partners, volunteers, and future club leaders excited to get involved. 

If you’re energised by purpose and disability-inclusion, love being out in the community, and want to play a key role in growing a national charity’s reach—this role is for you. 

Role Purpose  

To grow and strengthen the Phab network by: 

• Launching new Phab Clubs in underserved areas in the Midlands 

• Supporting and energising existing clubs

• Building strong regional relationships that drive participation, partnerships, and sustainability

A critical part of this role is identifying and supporting outstanding Club Leaders—the individuals who make clubs thrive. 

What success looks like (2-year targets) 

Year 1: Establish & Build Momentum 

• Launch 3–5 new Phab Clubs in priority areas

• Identify and develop a pipeline of future club leaders and volunteers

• Build relationships with local authorities, schools, disability organisations, and community groups

• Visit and engage with existing clubs in the region to strengthen relationships and identify growth opportunities

• Generate local funding or in-kind support for new and existing clubs

• Represent Phab at key regional events and networks

Year 2: Grow & Sustain 

• Support Year 1 clubs to become fully sustainable and independently run

• Launch an additional 3–5 new clubs or affiliate groups

• Increase membership and engagement across existing clubs

• Develop regional partnerships that provide ongoing referral pathways (e.g. professionals, services, schools)

• Contribute to income generation (grants, partnerships, training opportunities)

• Establish a strong regional identity and presence for Phab

Key Responsibilities  

1. Network Growth & Club Development 

• Identify areas of need and actively develop new Phab Clubs

• Recruit, mentor, and support Club Leaders and volunteer teams

• Set up clubs alongside the club leaders (venue, structure, governance, initial membership)

• Build relationships with professionals (e.g. SEND services, social workers, educators) who can refer members

• Reconnect with former Phab participants and supporters to re-engage them

2. Supporting Existing Clubs  

• Regularly visit and engage with existing clubs

• Identify challenges and opportunities, offering practical support

• Encourage growth in membership, activity quality, and sustainability

• Share best practice and connect clubs to wider opportunities (training, funding, events)

3. Community Engagement & Partnerships 

• Act as a visible, energetic ambassador for Phab

• Attend networking events and build strong regional relationships

• Develop partnerships with community organisations, corporates, and funders

• Promote Phab’s wider offer (Phab ACTS training, Phab Adventures, events)

4. Income & Sustainability 

• Identify and secure local funding opportunities

• Support clubs to access grants and sponsorship

• Contribute to Phab’s broader income generation strategy

5. Internal Collaboration & Delivery 

• Work closely with Marketing, Fundraising & Development, and Charity Support teams

• Use CRM (Beacon) to track engagement, contacts, and progress

• Contribute to planning and delivery of regional and national initiatives

Experience & Background  

We are looking for someone who has done this kind of work before, not just worked “in charity or business”. 

Essential experience: 

• Experience in community development, outreach, or network growth

• Proven track record of starting or growing initiatives, projects, or groups

• Experience building partnerships and engaging external stakeholders

• Experience recruiting, supporting, or managing volunteers or community leaders

• Experience working in or alongside disability, inclusion, or community services

• Knowledge of UK charity landscape and safeguarding/good practice

Desirable: 

• Experience setting up or running community groups, clubs, or programmes

Experience securing local funding or sponsorship

Equal Opportunities, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

Phab is committed to creating an inclusive organisation where disabled and non-disabled people can thrive together as equals. We actively welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, lived experiences and identities, particularly disabled people and those who are underrepresented within the charity sector.

We believe diversity strengthens our organisation and helps us better support the communities we work alongside. Recruitment decisions are made based on skills, experience, values and potential, and we are committed to ensuring a fair and accessible recruitment process for all applicants. 

Reasonable adjustments will be offered throughout the recruitment process and during employment. If you require any adjustments to support your application or interview, please let us know. 

As a Regional Development Officer, you will play an important role in promoting inclusion, accessibility and equality across our network of clubs, projects and partnerships. 

Safeguarding Statement 

Phab is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk. We expect all staff, volunteers and partners to share this commitment and to uphold a culture of safety, dignity and respect. 

The successful candidate will be required to work in line with Phab’s safeguarding policies and procedures and may be subject to an enhanced DBS check, depending on the nature of the role and responsibilities. 

We are looking for someone who shares our values of inclusion, respect, integrity and participation, and who is committed to helping create safe and welcoming environments for everyone involved in Phab activities.

Who we are, what we do

Father Hudson’s Caritas (FHC) is a social and community care charity working across the Catholic Archdiocese of Birmingham.  For over 124 years we have responded to need, helping people to lead fulfilled lives through our range of services and partnerships. Our work is rooted in a Catholic ethos and we welcome and support people of all faiths and none.  As an organisation we have continued to adapt our services to the changing needs of those who are most vulnerable; it is an exciting time to join our organisation as we deliver our new 3-year strategy.

The Role

As our Head of Finance, you will be a key member of FHC’s Senior Management Team, providing strategic and operational leadership across finance and the wider resources portfolio (Finance, IT, Estates and Facilities). Working closely with the CEO and Trustees, you will ensure strong financial planning, robust controls, clear reporting and regulatory compliance. 

As part of this senior role you will line manage the Finance, IT and Facilities Manager.  We’re looking for a values-led leader who will model FHC’s organisational values, including compassion, respect, collaboration and excellence. 

What we are looking for

You will be CCAB qualified and bring senior-level financial leadership experience with the ability to operate confidently in a complex, mission-driven social care environment.  We’re particularly keen to hear from candidates who can combine strong technical skills, a thirst for digital transformation and effective use of resources, alongside collaborative, person-centred leadership.

Location

The role is based at our modern, purpose-built Head Office in Coleshill – St George’s House, Gerards Way, Coleshill, B46 3FG.

Closing Date: Monday 1st June 2026

Interview Date: Thursday 11th June 2026

Release Counselling and Therapy for Women is entering an exciting new chapter. 

Founded in Brighton and Hove in 2013, Release has grown from a small local charity into a financially robust organisation with a growing national reach. Under the leadership of our outgoing CEO, the charity has been transformed—moving from a challenging financial position to one with strong reserves, clear sustainability, and ambitious plans for growth. 

We now provide affordable 1:1 online counselling to women across the UK, alongside specialist group programmes supporting maternal mental health and key life transitions. One-to-one counselling is a core offer and a vital income stream, enabling us to extend our reach while staying true to our values. 

This period has also seen Release grow to working with over 20 dedicated volunteer counsellors, strengthening our capacity and community impact. 

As our CEO steps down, Release is ready for its next phase—building on strong foundations, amplifying our national impact, and remaining firmly rooted in our purpose: being a charity that supports women’s mental health, run by women, for women.

Salary:  £49,282 starting salary (salary range will increase to max £52,413 via the length of service) per annum pro rata plus £4,324 Inner London Weighting if based in London per annum pro rata. 

Contract:  This post is offered on a part time 12 month fixed-term maternity cover basis.  The substantive post-holder is entitled to 12 months of maternity leave but may return at any point during this period with appropriate notice. Your employment will end on their return.

Hours: Part-time 21 hours per week (excluding lunch breaks) – flexible working requests will be considered.

Location: Any Refugee Action office: London, Manchester, Bradford.  We will consider UK-based hybrid working option.

About Refugee Action

Refugee Action exists to defend the right to safety that we all share. We’re fighting the hostility that has a devastating, daily impact on refugees and our communities. We do this with life changing support and system changing campaigns that bring us all closer to safety, dignity and hope. 

We do this work because we believe in taking action. But fighting for a fair asylum system for people seeking safety is no longer enough. Decades of degrading rhetoric and policies have created a hostile environment that has systematically dehumanised refugees. We’re building a future where people forced to flee the homes they loved have their rights upheld, receive a fair decision, essential support and help to thrive here, not just survive. Our vision is that every refugee seeking safety in the UK can thrive as part of a welcoming, anti-racist society.

It's an exciting time to be part of Refugee Action as we embark on a new Theory of Change as part of our seven-year strategy. We believe the best hope for real change will come from strong, connected movements that are skilled, united, and influential, with lived experience meaningfully at the centre. Our future role as a national charity will increasingly be to support, convene, and strengthen this movement while continuing to deliver services where they have the greatest strategic impact.

About the role

You will lead Refugee Action's Major Partnerships team, building and delivering a sustainable programme that raises significant income from major donors, trusts, corporates, statutory and foundation funders.

We're looking for a hands-on leader who can hit the ground running. The organisation has been through a period of change, and this role is central to leading the team through the transition by creating clarity, stability and shared purpose – restoring confidence, establishing clear ways of working, and embedding a culture of proactive new business development.

You will take ownership of rebuilding the team's foundations – setting direction, defining processes, and creating the conditions for high performance. Alongside this, you'll actively champion a new business mindset, working with the team to identify, cultivate and convert prospective donors and funders.

Finally, you'll ensure that Refugee Action's commitment to removing barriers to power, centring lived experience and anti-racist practice is embedded across all activity.

 About you

You are a self-starter and a builder – someone who takes pride in leaving teams stronger than you found them. You'll be energised rather than daunted by stepping into a team that needs direction and renewed momentum.

You will bring significant leadership experience across at least two areas of Major Donor, Corporate, Trust or Statutory fundraising, with a track record of securing and stewarding gifts of £100k+. You'll be equally confident driving new business as you are managing existing relationships – and you'll be comfortable influencing senior stakeholders internally and externally.

A proactive problem solver, you'll be skilled at bringing colleagues together, navigating complexity, and turning challenges into opportunities. You won't need the path to be clear to move forward — you'll help create it.

To succeed in the role, you will need to demonstrate:

• Leadership experience in at least two areas from Corporate, Major Donor, Trust or Statutory fundraising, delivering gifts with a value of £100k+.
• Experience of leading a team to achieve results and managing staff to ensure they are supported and challenged in their work.
• A strong track record in growing income streams, with success securing multi-year funding at the level of five or six figures+.
• Experience of managing and growing a prospect pipeline.
• Experience of working with multiple stakeholders in a complex, multi-cultural environment.
• Excellent networking skills with the ability to engage and inspire funders.
• Excellent presentation and verbal communication skills, with the ability to represent Refugee Action effectively externally, including making pitches to funders.
• Experience of developing compelling funding proposals, reports, and presentations for a variety of audiences and the ability to work with complex data and materials.
• Experience of applying effective problem-solving when the situation demands.
• Excellent financial and budgetary skills with proven ability to develop budgets, monitor management accounts and understand funder finance reports.
• Commitment to removing barriers to power for people with lived experience, and commitment to anti-racist practices.
• Understanding of how the UK’s hostile refugee protection and asylum system impacts those affected by it. 

Those with lived experience as a refugee are particularly encouraged to apply

Closing date: 23:59 on 31st May 2026

Interviews:  11 June 2026 (on Zoom)

Lloyds Bank Foundation 

Head of Programme Design and Organisational Development 

Starting Salary: £66,438 (if London-based); £61,872 (if not London-based) 

Contract: Full-time, permanent contract (we are open to conversations about flexibility - so please ask) 

Location: Remote role - can be based anywhere in England or Wales with an expectation of frequent travel across England and Wales 

About Lloyds Bank Foundation 

Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales is an independent charitable foundation, backed by Lloyds Banking Group and the people within it. We want everyone to be in a good place - personally, in a home that’s a good place to live, and in a community that’s a good place to belong. 

We play our role by connecting and catalysing community-led change, providing the money, time, tools and connections that build organisations’ capacity and capability, to make people’s lives better and their communities stronger. 

We back people and communities across England and Wales, to make that happen, because when you back brilliant people, brilliant things happen. Our communities are full of ambitious, energetic and determined people stepping up to make their neighbours’ lives better and their communities grow stronger. Day in, day out. 

About the Role 

This is a leadership opportunity to shape how the Foundation designs, delivers and strengthens its programmes across England and Wales. 

As Head of Programme Design and Organisational Development, you will lead the Foundation’s approach to programme design, organisational development and volunteering, ensuring everything we do is high quality, evidence-informed and grounded in lived experience. 

You will set the standards, frameworks and tools that underpin programme design across the organisation, working closely with Programme Leads to design new programmes and strengthen existing ones. You will also lead our organisational development offer, ensuring charities and partners are supported to become stronger, more resilient and better connected. 

Alongside this, you will shape how volunteering contributes to our work, embedding it across programmes and ensuring it supports both community capacity and connection. 

You will work across teams and directorates to ensure programme design, organisational development and volunteering are fully aligned and working together to deliver meaningful community-led change. 

About You 

We’re looking for an experienced and credible leader with a strong background in programme or service design, ideally in complex or multi-partner environments. 

You will bring a deep understanding of how organisational development builds capacity and resilience, alongside experience of using evidence and insight to improve programmes and outcomes. 

You will be confident developing frameworks, standards and approaches that ensure quality and consistency, while also enabling innovation and learning. 

You will be a collaborative and relational leader, with strong partnership skills and the ability to work across internal teams and external organisations. A commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging is essential. 

How to Apply 

Please click ‘Apply’ to be redirected to our website, where you can download the Candidate Information Pack and find details of how to apply. 

For an informal conversation about the role and application process, please contact our recruitment partner, Atkinson HR via the information in the candidate pack.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion 

We hold Disability Confident Employer status (Level 2) and are working towards full status by 2027. This means that if you're a disabled applicant and your CV and application answers clearly demonstrate that you meet the essential criteria for the role, we will invite you to interview. 

More broadly, we are committed to building a diverse team that reflects the communities and people we work with. We believe that diversity of background, experience and perspective makes us stronger and helps us make better decisions. We actively welcome applications from people who are under-represented in the charity sector, including people from Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic communities, disabled people, and those with experience of the issues our funded charities work to address. 

Key Dates 

Closing Date: Thursday 28th May 2026 

Optional Q&A Session: Wednesday 6th May 2026 at 09:00-10:00 

First Interview: Tuesday 9th June 2026 

Second Interview: Thursday 18th June 2026 

Associate Director

Do you have senior-level experience in advocacy/influencing; service delivery or community engagement and development?

We’re looking for an exceptional systems leader to drive the work across the East of England and ensure people affected by stroke have the support they need to rebuild their lives.

Position: S11367 Associate Director – East of England

Location: Home-based, East of England. However, travel and overnight stays within the UK will be required as part of this role.

Hours: Full-time, 35 hours per week

Salary: Circa £64,700 per annum (Inner London weighting £3,950 per annum or Outer London weighting £2,457per annum may be applied in accordance to where you live)

Contract: Permanent

Benefits: 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays (this will increase with service up to 30 days, full time equivalent) cashback and discount scheme, employee assistance programme, learning and development, pension scheme, Life Assurance, Eye Care vouchers, Long Service Award, Tax-free childcare, Health Cash Plan, Working Pattern Agreement, flexible working opportunities available.

Closing Date: 31 May 2026

First interview Date (online): 9 June 2026

Second interview Date and discussion with team (face to face, London): 17 June 2026

The Role

You’ll lead the Association’s work in East of England, focusing on what matters most to stroke survivors and ensuring this work has real, measurable impact. In this influential role, you’ll build strong relationships across health and social care, Local Government, and the wider stroke community. Influencing local policy and practice, and overseeing the effective delivery of high-quality stroke support.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Lead the Association’s strategic direction and impact in the East of England, ensuring people affected by stroke receive high quality support.
• Build and manage relationships with key health, social care and political stakeholders, acting as a credible and respected systems leader.
• Increase the reach and impact of the locality delivered services to ensure all new stroke survivors in the East of England receive the support they need.
• Lead and develop the East of England team, addressing capacity needs and building volunteer capability to meet local priorities.
• Strengthen partnerships across the stroke community to improve access to support and tackle health inequalities.
• Lead engagement in local policy and pathway development, influencing improvements at health board level.

About You

You’ll have:

• Senior-level experience in advocacy/influencing; service delivery or community engagement and development.
• Senior level experience influencing policy change, ideally in health and social care, at a regional or national level.
• Substantial experience of holding senior-level relationships with partner organisations, ideally in health and social care / the NHS using strong negotiation skills and political judgement.
• Proven experience of leading high performing teams and large geographically distributed teams of paid staff and volunteers, with a strong track record of growing and developing staff and teams.
• Inspiring leadership approach, balancing strategic and operational demands with sound judgement, and strong knowledge of influencing and systems leadership.

The East of England comprises of the areas within the NHS Integrated Care Boards of: Central East (Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes), Norfolk and Suffolk and NHS Essex.

This role requires extensive travel across a large geographical locality. Candidates must be able to demonstrate how they can meet this requirement of the role. To fulfil the role, you must be a resident of the UK and have the right to work in the UK.

Applications

As part of the process you will be asked to submit your CV and a covering letter demonstrating how you meet the person specification set out in the Role Profile and what you bring to the role in terms of your skills and experience.

Please state any preferences for flexible options in your application. Applications from individuals who are seeking flexible working options, including reduced hours or job shares are welcomed.

You will be able to view the role profile when you apply.

Finding strength through support

The organisation is the only charity in the UK providing lifelong support for all stroke survivors and their families. Providing tailored support to tens of thousands of stroke survivors each year. This support includes one-to-one and group support, funding vital scientific research into stroke prevention, acute treatment, recovery and long-term care, and campaigning to secure the best care for everyone affected by stroke. 

They are here for stroke survivors and their loved ones, from the moment they enter the new and frightening post-stroke world, supporting them every step of the way as they find their strength and their way back to life.

It’s only thanks to the generosity of supporters and donors that they can provide vital support. 

The Association is driven by an ambition to improve the lives of everyone affected by stroke. This means they’re determined to create an equitable and inclusive workplace that benefits from the difference, and thrives on the diversity, of our people. Guided by an approach to solving inequity in stroke, the team are prioritising listening to, and learning from, lived experience across the charity.

The charity are working to improve the representation of this lived experience at all levels within the Association and are eager to recruit applicants from a variety of communities and backgrounds. We are keen to receive applications from people affected by stroke, people of colour, members of LGBT+ communities, and disabled people because these identities and experiences are underrepresented and would add enormous value to how the organisation work.

A Disability Confident employer, the organisation is making great progress focusing on flexible working, reasonable adjustments and access to work. The charity has a variety of staff network groups and are committed to continuously improving diversity and inclusion efforts. If you have questions, or access needs, we’re happy to discuss any support and adjustments we can make throughout the recruitment process so that you’re able to contribute your best in a way that meets your needs.

You may also have experience in areas such as Advocacy, Influencing, Service Delivery, Community Engagement, Community Development, Policy, Health and Social Care, Health. #INDNFP

Please note this role is advertised by the recruitment agency acting for the client – Not For Profit People.

Bowel Cancer UK is the UK’s leading bowel cancer charity. We’re determined to save lives and improve the quality of life of everyone affected by bowel cancer. We support and fund targeted research, provide expert information and support to patients and their families, educate the public and professionals about the disease and campaign for early diagnosis and access to best treatment and care.

We currently have employees working across four nations in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Thanks to the generosity of our community, we’re in a privileged position to be able to deliver our ambitious new strategy, On a Mission. There are huge challenges facing bowel cancer patients across the UK and our community needs us now more than ever. We’re building a strong and united team to bring us closer to a world where nobody dies of bowel cancer.

Job Summary

This role forms a key part of a new Strategy & Insight Team at Bowel Cancer UK, which seeks to build core capabilities to enable us to be as effective as we can be for people affected by bowel cancer. The Audience Insight Specialist will be an internal leader, building our capability to understand our core audiences and the people we need to reach to achieve our strategic goals. You will support a cultural shift in how the charity takes an audience-led approach to planning, decision-making, and communications, as our CRM, data infrastructure, and Strategy & Insight functions continue to develop. Making best use of internal and external sources, you will distil data into meaningful insight, tailored to different audiences. You will support a consistent approach to audiences across the organisation, while flexing to meet the needs of different teams, ensuring that any understanding of audience is rooted in evidence.

Safeguarding

Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and at Bowel Cancer UK we are committed to safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults and we expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Successful candidates may be subject to either a satisfactory basic, standard or enhanced DBS check from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) dependent upon the role.

What if your planning expertise could help one of the UK's largest charities turn ambitious strategy into measurable progress for people affected by dementia?

About the opportunity

As Head of Corporate Planning, you'll lead the process by which Alzheimer's Society translates its strategy into a clear, deliverable plan and tracks the difference we are making. In a role where every decision shapes how we use our resources to end the devastation of dementia, you'll provide the leadership team with the insight they need to focus on what matters most and to keep adjusting course as the world around us changes.

You'll bring people together from across the organisation, building trusted relationships that make corporate planning a genuinely shared endeavour rather than a Finance exercise. Through workshops, partnership and powerful reporting, you'll help leaders at every level understand how their work connects to the corporate plan, where progress is being made, and where we need to challenge ourselves to do more.

You'll be part of our Finance and Assurance directorate, where our vision is to be the Society's single point of truth. Working closely with other Finance department heads, you'll help to deliver an accountable, efficient and improvement-driven approach to the Society's financial and corporate strategy, providing the leadership team with the information they need to run the organisation well.

Leading our Corporate Planning team, you'll set the standard for accessible, timely and accurate corporate planning, while continuously improving the way we plan across the Society and the way we measure success. You'll act as a vital source of insight on what is working across the Society, what might need to change, and where the next opportunity to increase our impact for people affected by dementia might lie.

Please note that this role is a 12 month fixed term contract. 

About you
You're an experienced corporate planning or strategy professional who understands that good planning is about people as much as process. You're as comfortable in an Executive workshop as you are in the detail, and you know how to combine analytical rigour with clear communication, constructive challenge and a genuine interest in helping others see the bigger picture.

You'll have:

- An in-depth understanding and significant experience of planning a large organisation's activity in a way that effectively supports delivery and the tracking of performance, driving continuous improvement.
- A track record of providing insightful, accessible reporting to drive decision-making at senior levels, including with Executive and Board audiences.
- The confidence to engage stakeholders at all levels in planning and progress tracking, leading them through it with clarity and credibility.
- Proven facilitation, workshop leading and presentation skills, including with executive and senior leadership teams.
- Effective analytical skills, with the ability to draw insight from data and influence priority setting at an organisational level.
- Confidence and experience in leading a small team, managing their performance and developing their capability.
- The ability to deliver effectively to timelines in complex and sometimes ambiguous environments, balancing strategic focus with operational responsiveness.
- Demonstratable critical thinking skills, identifying and acting on ways to work more effectively and efficiently, and celebrating progress, solutions and impact rather than activity.

It would be particularly valuable if you also bring:

- Experience of corporate planning or strategy delivery within a large charity, public sector or values-led organisation.

What you'll focus on

- Leading the corporate planning process and producing the corporate plan, with clear objectives that align to budget and risk appetite and translate strategy into delivery.
- Analysing performance against the corporate plan and providing accessible, timely insight to the leadership of the organisation on what is working and what may need to change.
- Working with Finance, Risk and other relevant teams to align reporting on progress, outcome, finance and risk, producing engaging dashboards and reports that drive decision-making at Executive and Board level.
- Facilitating discussions, running workshops and driving engagement and understanding of our plans and how we measure them across all parts of the organisation.
- Setting, tracking and reporting the impact of activity as part of integrated team, directorate and corporate reporting.
- Continuously improving the performance of the Corporate Planning function so the Society remains agile in delivering impact aligned with the strategy.
- Owning and managing the departmental budget, ensuring resources are allocated effectively to meet strategic and operational objectives.
-  Building and drawing on external networks to inform the Society's approach and decision-making, bringing best practice from across the sector and more widely.

You'll work alongside other leaders across Finance and Assurance to deliver the directorate plan and deputise for the Associate Director of Finance as required, role-modelling a high challenge, high support culture where accountability, performance and development go hand in hand.

Are you ready to bring planning rigour, partnership and insight to the people working to end the devastation of dementia?

Important dates

- The deadline for applications is 23:59 on Wednesday 20th May 2026
- Interviews will begin W/C 25th May 2026 and will include a presentation task to prepare beforehand.

About Alzheimer's Society

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 groundbreaking 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 Black, Asian or from another minority ethnic background, as these groups are currently under-represented at Alzheimer's Society.  

We want everyone we work with, as a colleague, volunteer, supporter, or someone we support, to feel included and that they belong at Alzheimer's Society. 

Our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy here along with our internal employee forum and Employee Lived Experience network groups help us promote inclusion and belonging, becoming an engaged and inclusive organisation for all our people. 

Our hiring process

During your recruitment process we want to make sure that you bring your whole self and can be at your best. We are working hard to ensure our recruitment process is as inclusive as possible, so please do inform us of your experience and anything you think we could do better by completing our candidate survey when you apply.  Please also contact Alzheimer's Society Talent Acquisition Team via [email protected] for application support or any adjustments you might need.

To ensure fairness and consistency to select the best candidate for this role, all our applications are anonymised up until an interview has been confirmed. We recognise the benefits of AI, but if you're considering using it to submit your application, we encourage you to reflect on the value it truly adds. AI tools often lack the personal touch and authenticity that set candidates apart. We want to hear your unique perspective, experiences, and skills, so we encourage you to showcase them in your own voice.

We try to avoid closing roles early where possible, however if we receive a high volume of applications, we may close earlier than the advertised closing date. Should this occur, we will aim to provide you with at least 48 hours' notice.

We are committed to safer recruitment and ensuring the welfare of those we work with, due to the nature of some of our roles, we might need to carry out a Criminal Record Check at the relevant level. You can read more information via our Website.

Giving back to you

Our employees work hard every day to make a true difference in people's lives. We are proud to support them with a range of benefits, recognition and many options for working agilely, all contributing to a strong work life balance. We also have various learning programmes to support you in your development and help you grow to realise your potential and shape a career with Alzheimer's Society. 

You can also visit our Working for Us pages, which give you more information about what it's like to be an employee at the Society.