Principal policy advisor jobs
About the Trust
We're one of the UK’s biggest charities and we care for 2,000 miles of canals, rivers, docks and reservoirs because we believe life is better by water. We're looking for people who support our cause and want to make a difference for future generations. Could this be you?
Along with our waterways we also manage museums, archives and the country's third largest collection of historic buildings, as well as the nature and wildlife that calls our canals home. All of this enables us to provide wellbeing opportunities for millions of people each year.
Join Our Team: Property Lawyer
Navigate your future and lock in your career as we keep our canals open and alive.
Join the Canal & River Trust as a Property Lawyer. We have a fantastic opportunity for a talented Property Lawyer to join our national Legal & Governance team; assisting the Trust’s Senior Property Lawyer with the handling and management of transactional contentious property matters across the Trust’s property portfolio.
Location & coverage
The position will be offered on a remote working basis, with a requirement to attend our main hub spaces on occasion for meetings. Main hubs include Leeds, Ellesmere Port, Burnley, Birmingham, Milton Keynes, Gloucester, London.
This role follows a 37 hours Monday to Friday working pattern and will be home-based, with the allocation of a nearby Hub.
Key Responsibilities
- Support the Senior Property Lawyer and Principal Property Lawyer on complex transactions, whilst managing your own caseload of commercial property matters.
- Draft, review and negotiate leases, licences, agreements, transfers and associated legal documents for acquisitions, disposals and other transactions.
- Provide legal advice on day-to-day landlord and tenant issues, lease renewals, consents, title matters and statutory obligations.
- Assist with due diligence and title investigations for acquisitions, disposals, and projects.
- Manage instructions from internal stakeholders with a commercial, pragmatic approach.
- Help identify and mitigate legal risk in line with Trust policy and Charities Act obligations.
- Work in accordance with the property team support framework in delivery of legal advice to the wider Trust teams.
About you
We’re a complex organisation and our Legal & governance team work closely every day across the organisation in supporting our Estates, Property Investment, Utilities, Engineering and Regional Operations teams, in addition to liaising with a variety of external partners, stakeholders and advisors. The Property Lawyer will be working collaboratively in an experienced Legal team of qualified lawyers, claims manager, paralegals and legal PA.
The Trust’s legal team plays a vital role in protecting the Trust’s interests, across the whole range of our activities, to ensure regulatory compliance with charity, environmental, planning, heritage, health and safety (as well as the Trust’s unique historic waterways Acts of Parliament dating back over 200 years), providing advice and support drafting on contractual and property documentation, bringing and defending litigation (including judicial review) plus a full range of commercial, employment and boat licensing matters.
As our Property Lawyer you will be supporting the delivery of legal advice across the Trust’s broad property portfolio in connection with its commercial property transactions and related legal matters.
Skills & Qualifications
Our Values really matter to us. It is important for us that they also resonate with you and will be evident in the way you deliver your work, and work with stakeholders and colleagues alike.
- Qualified lawyer (or equivalent) with a minimum of 5 years‘ commercial property experience gained in private practice or in-house.
- Sound working knowledge of property legislation and case law, including landlord & tenant.
- Strong drafting and negotiation skills, highly organised, detail-oriented, and capable of working independently with minimal supervision.
- Ability to adhere to and manage deadlines.
- Have a proven track record of building and maintaining relationships both internally and externally.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Collaborative and able to think creatively when solving problems.
- Ability to build collaborative relationships across all levels and disciplines within the Trust and to participate effectively in meetings.
- To be aware of your own responsibilities regarding safeguarding and to support our commitment to providing safe environments and working practices that promote and protect the safety and welfare of children, young people and adults at risk at all times
Contact & Application
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us. We encourage early applications as we may close the vacancy once we receive enough suitable candidates.
What We Offer
We offer a starting salary of £48,000. Enjoy a competitive pension scheme, increasing holiday entitlement, and a range of employee benefits.
Canal & River Trust is the UK's largest canal charity, caring for a 2,000-mile network of stunning canals and navigable rivers.
War Child believes that children’s lives should not be torn apart by war. It is the only specialist charity for children affected by conflict, with four main areas of work: protecting children, educating children, supporting communities and campaigning. The charity are renowned for their creative, innovative and entrepreneurial approach, with strong connections to the gaming, music and creative industries.
Philanthropy is a central driver of War Child’s growth. Income has risen rapidly, underpinned by exceptional networks, high-profile supporters and a highly successful portfolio of events and experiences. Following a strategic review, War Child is now investing in a more structured, sustainable approach to philanthropy fundraising with two clearly defined strands: one focused on traditional major donor relationship management and pipeline growth, and a second dedicated to high-value events and experiences as a core driver of major donor engagement and income. This role has been created to lead the second strand.
While the Senior Philanthropy Manager’s primary focus will be generating income from a warm portfolio of major donors, they will also take strategic ownership of War Child’s high-value philanthropy events, shaping donor engagement rather than delivering events operationally. This is an autonomous, externally-facing role, unlocking influential networks and converting high-profile engagement into long-term philanthropic partnerships.
Please note that this is a hybrid role, with 1-2 days per week in the Camden office, with regular events and meetings in central London.
As Senior Philanthropy Manager, you will:
- Manage and develop a portfolio of donors and warm prospects capable of giving 6-figure gifts, including high-value donors currently sitting with senior leadership
- Take strategic ownership of War Child’s high-value events as a core driver of the major donor pipeline, shaping and strengthening this strand so it becomes a defined, sustainable part of the philanthropy programme
- Lead on donor engagement around events, including narrative, asks, pledge levels, follow-up and conversion to income
- Analyse and prioritise prospects with the Data & Insights Manager to focus effort on the highest-value opportunities
- Unlock and activate influential networks through ambassadors, senior volunteers and high-profile supporters
- Work closely with the Head of Philanthropy, Data & Insights Manager, Events Producer, and Principal Giving Lead
Essential skills and experience:
- Significant experience of high-value major donor fundraising, with a track record of securing £50k+ gifts from HNWIs
- Strong experience of developing donors through identification, cultivation, solicitation and long-term stewardship
- Credibility and confidence working with wealthy, influential individuals, advisers, celebrities and senior volunteers
- Experience of shaping donor engagement strategy around high-value events or pledge environments
- Strategic thinker with strong judgement on prospect prioritisation and pipeline management
- Excellent relationship management, influencing and written communication skills
- Comfortable operating autonomously in a fast-moving, high-profile environment
Desirable:
- Experience of pledge dinners or high-value special events at a strategic fundraising level
- Experience working with ambassadors or high-profile supporters
- International development or humanitarian sector experience
Not required: Direct event production experience; Line management experience
Employee benefits include:
- 28 days’ annual leave, rising to 33 days, plus public holidays (entitlement is pro-rata for part-time staff
- Enhanced pay provision for maternity, partner/coparent/paternity, shared parental and adoption leave.
- Life insurance
- Healthcare Cash Plan and Cancer Cover
- Enhanced Sick Leave (from Day 1, entitlement increases with length of service)
- Paid Emergency Time Off for Dependants: Up to 5 days paid leave per annum to deal with an emergency involving a dependant
- Flexible Public Holidays: Staff may exchange up to two standard UK public holidays around Easter and Christmas for those that have cultural or religious significance to them
- Career Break: 3-12 months’ unpaid leave available to staff after 3 years’ continuous service
- Temporary Overseas Working: Up to 4 weeks per annum to work from a location outside of the UK
- Volunteer Leave: Up to four days paid leave per annum (pro rata) to participate in volunteering activities
- Cultural Benefits: As a charity that works closely with the creative industry, we’re delighted to offer our staff a number of free tickets to the best cultural events, including gigs, art exhibitions, private views and more! You’ll also receive free membership to Tickets for Good who provide free and discounted tickets to even more live events.
War Child UK are partnering with Laura Macnamara at QuarterFive for this appointment.
For your application via CharityJob, please ensure that your CV aligns with the person specification. If necessary, please provide additional notes.
A cover letter is not required at this stage. Suitability will be assessed initially via CV and accompanying notes where provided. For suitable applicants, comprehensive support for formal application will be provided by Laura at QuarterFive.
Owing to the number of applications we receive, we may not be able to respond to all applicants individually. If you do not hear from QuarterFive by 10th February 2026, please assume that your application has not been successful on this occasion.
No child should be a part of war. Ever.
Specific responsibilities
Supporter care, stewardship and engagement
- Recruit, manage and support guests attending Back Up’s high-profile special events, delivering a seamless and memorable experience from invitation to follow-up.
- Work closely with the Partnerships Team to engage, steward and strengthen relationships with corporate partners and sponsors connected to special events.
- Recruit, develop and manage a dedicated team of volunteers, supporting them in line with Back Up’s volunteering policy and ensuring they feel confident, motivated and appreciated.
- Partner with the Finance team to ensure robust, efficient processes are in place to handle income, process donations and thank supporters promptly and accurately.
- Support Event Committee members by coordinating meetings, preparing agendas and minutes, and enabling committees to play a meaningful role in the success of events.
- Build strong relationships with the Services Team to recruit people with spinal cord injury, along with their family and friends, to engage with and benefit from our special events programme.
Operational Events Co-ordination and Support
- Deliver the operational coordination of Special and Cultivation events, including managing enquiries, fundraising communications and timely supporter thank-yous.
- Prepare and maintain detailed risk assessments with the Special Events Manager to ensure safe and professional event delivery.
- Manage and build strong relationships with key suppliers and service providers.
- Work with the Communications Team to deliver creative marketing and communications plans that grow audiences and raise awareness of events.
- Support the Special Events Manager to develop and deliver the annual special events fundraising plan, contributing to budgets and KPIs to increase income and reach.
- Proactively identify and develop new and existing Special and Cultivation event opportunities.
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of all supporter, guest and volunteer interactions on the database.
- Keep up to date with fundraising best practice and sector standards.
- Provide regular reporting to the Special Events Manager, including progress against KPIs and budgets.
- Undertake other duties as required to support the Special Events programme.
Key stakeholders: Fundraisers, Corporate supporters, Special event suppliers, Back Up staff, committees, volunteers and trustees
At Back Up, our vision is a world where everyone affected by spinal cord injury can reach their full potential.

5Rights is seeking to recruit an outstanding professional Senior Public Relations Adviser to support our world-leading NGO at a time of exceptional visibility and opportunity to scale our impact. This is a remote role and can be based either in the UK or Belgium.
About 5Rights
5Rights Foundation exists to ensure a digital world that will serve children and young people today and for future generations. We are a small team of senior professionals and experts delivering change in how the digital world works. We have shifted the narrative and the agenda through provocative comms campaigns (e.g. Twisted Toys), pioneering research (e.g. Pathways) and award-winning tools (e.g. Child Online Safety Toolkit). We continue to drive real-life change thanks to an outstanding track-record of delivering legislation (e.g. Californian Age Appropriate Design Code), policy and regulatory frameworks (e.g. UNCRC General comment No.25), and industry standards (e.g. IEEE 2089).
Role Purpose
The Senior Public Relations Advisor leads 5Rights' external public relations and media strategy, positioning 5Rights as a global authority on children’s rights in the digital environment. The role shapes the public narrative around our mission, ensuring 5Rights’ work achieves maximum visibility, credibility and impact with policymakers, the media, industry and the public.
This is a senior, strategic role requiring exceptional judgement, political awareness and strong relationships across media and stakeholder landscapes.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and deliver a comprehensive public relations strategy aligned with 5Rights’ mission and policy objectives.
- Position 5Rights as a leading voice on children’s rights in the digital environment in UK, EU and international media.
- Anticipate emerging issues and shape proactive public relations strategies around key policy moments, research releases and advocacy campaigns.
- Protect and enhance the organisation’s reputation, including crisis communications and risk management.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with senior journalists, editors and broadcasters across national and international media.
- Secure high-profile coverage in print, broadcast and digital media.
- Act as principal media advisor to the Executive Director and senior leadership team.
- Support and coach senior spokespeople and youth representatives for media engagements.
- Lead public relation planning for major campaigns, policy launches and advocacy initiatives.
- Advise on strategic partnerships and external engagement from a public relations perspective.
- Represent 5Rights at events, conferences and high-level meetings as required.
- Contribute to strengthening 5Rights’ overall public relations impact by bringing senior PR expertise, networks, and strategic media insight to the team.
Person specification
This is a highly challenging and rewarding position for a professional with the following attributes:
Essential skills and attributes:
- Extensive senior-level experience in public relations, communications, journalism or public affairs, ideally within policy, advocacy, human rights, technology, or social impact sectors.
- Proven track record of shaping national and international media coverage and securing high-profile placements across print, broadcast and digital platforms.
- Demonstrated experience leading public relations and media strategy, including reputation management, at organisational or campaign level.
- Experience advising senior leaders and acting as a trusted public relation expert in high-stakes and politically sensitive environments.
- Exceptional writing and editorial skills, with the ability to translate complex policy, technical and research content into compelling public narratives.
- Deep understanding of media landscapes, political processes and public policy dynamics, particularly in the UK, the EU and internationally.
- Experience of crisis communications and issue management.
- Outstanding judgement and political awareness.
- Strong strategic thinking combined with hands-on delivery.
- Highly developed interpersonal skills with the ability to influence and build relationships at senior level.
- Confident, authoritative and credible spokesperson when required.
- Excellent project management and organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple high-profile priorities simultaneously.
- Ability to work under pressure and respond rapidly to fast-moving external developments.
- Strong collaboration skills and ability to work effectively across multidisciplinary teams.
- High standards of professionalism, discretion and integrity.
- Deep commitment to the mission and values of 5Rights Foundation.
- Resilient, adaptable and solutions-focused.
- Proactive, self-motivated and comfortable working with a high degree of autonomy.
Desirable skills and attributes:
- Experience working on children’s rights, digital rights, technology policy or online safety.
- Experience of international advocacy and global communications.
Practical details
- Location: Remote position in either the UK or Brussels. Some international travel required.
- Salary: €80,000 / £70,000 per annum including all benefits.The final offer will depend on skills and experience.
- One-year contract, renewable dependent on impact.
- Working hours: Full time (38h week), with occasional accommodation necessary for work across time-zones.
- Statutory pension contribution.
- 25 days annual leave per annum.
- Work equipment including a laptop will be provided.
- Starting data: ASAP, depending on notice period.
- Reporting line: Leadership team
5Rights values diversity and we strongly encourage people from under-represented groups to apply for this role. We aim for our recruitment to be inclusive and equitable, and we strive to constantly learn and improve in this regard.
How to apply
Please send your CV and a brief cover letter by 31st January 2026 via our website.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
This is a centre-based role with some travel to other animal centres, branches and adopter’s homes. There will be a requirement to work with diverse teams and in potentially dangerous (due to the animals they may encounter) and emotionally demanding situations.
Role Purpose
Responsible for assessing and monitoring the behaviour and welfare of dogs, cats and small animals (depending on need and competence) in Danaher’s care. This will include devising behavioural plans, and carrying out or overseeing environmental and behavioural and training interventions in agreed circumstances, to maintain high standards of welfare, support successful rehoming and reduce return rates. The post holder will also be required to support and train other staff and volunteers in the care, management and behaviour modification of the animals in their care.
Behaviour, welfare and training plans for dogs and cats (other species depending on RSPCA need and professional competence). Decisions to escalate animals for RCAB attention (according to agreed criteria). Sign off of staff/volunteer competency to handle dogs with more complex behavioural needs (according to agreed criteria). Record-keeping.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – The Eveson Trust
Location: Worcester (minimum two days per week in the Trust’s office; travel across Worcestershire, Herefordshire and the West Midlands)
Salary: circa £75,000
Contract: Permanent, 35 hours per week
Are you a judicious, outward-looking leader who can sharpen strategy and raise the profile of a regionally rooted grant-maker with a significant endowment?
About The Eveson Trust
The Eveson Trust is a Worcestershire-based, place-focused grant-maker established from the bequest of Violet Mary Eveson. With an endowment of approximately £100 million, the Trust supports an annual grants programme of around £5–6 million and in 2022 modernised its legal structure by becoming a Charitable Incorporated Organisation while retaining strong local roots.
We exist to relieve need and enhance quality of life across Worcestershire, Herefordshire and the West Midlands, prioritising support for people with disabilities, mental-health needs, children and young people in need, older people, those experiencing homelessness, and users of hospitals and hospices. Our next CEO will be central to translating stewardship into measurable local impact and sustainable grant practice.
As our next Chief Executive Officer, you will:
- Strategy & Impact: lead the development and delivery of a refreshed strategic plan and grant-making framework that focuses resources where they will make the greatest measurable difference.
- Governance & Finance: support and advise the Board and sub-committees, ensuring robust governance, high-quality committee papers and sound financial stewardship of the endowment.
- Operational Leadership: strengthen internal systems and processes, make effective use of Salesforce, and propose a right-sized resourcing model to deliver the Trust’s ambitions.
- Income & Investment Oversight: work with the investment advisers and Trustees to balance spending policy, long-term capital protection and responsible investment principles.
- Community & Partnerships: build regional funder partnerships, increase reach in under-represented areas and foster strong relationships with grantees and local stakeholders.
- Grants Quality & Safeguarding: ensure rigorous due diligence, proportionate monitoring and consistently high standards of safeguarding and risk management.
- Brand & Profile: establish and deliver a communications plan that raises the Trust’s visibility across urban and rural communities.
- Team & Culture: lead, mentor and develop a compact team and oversee high standards in HR, data protection and operational compliance.
Who you are
- A seasoned senior leader with demonstrable experience in grant-making, philanthropy or a closely comparable mission-driven setting.
- Financially literate and confident with investment reports, annual accounts, budgets and risk analysis.
- Experienced in modern grants processes, due diligence and impact-focused monitoring.
- Comfortable advising and constructively challenging Trustees, producing concise, evidence-based committee papers.
- A strong relationship builder with a track record of partnership development and external representation.
- Skilled in strategic analysis, clear judgement and using data (for example Salesforce reporting) to inform decisions.
Why The Eveson Trust?
- A rare leadership opportunity to steward a significant endowment and shape a strategic grant-making approach across a diverse regional footprint.
- A respectful, detail-focused Board and a compact, capable team who value proportionate, evidence-based practice.
- The chance to expand the Trust’s presence in under-represented boroughs and to develop meaningful funder partnerships.
- Competitive salary, defined-contribution pension, flexible working and a supportive, mission-focused culture.
- The role offers clear scope to design the team and systems needed to deliver a more impact-focussed future for the Trust.
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 at via the 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 2nd February 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.
Working hours: This is a full-time role (35 hours per week) with the opportunity for hybrid working and flexible working. Attendance in person will be required at the Diocesan Office or venues within the Diocese for relevant committee meetings.
Part-time working may be considered for an exceptional candidate, with a minimum of 28 HPW (0.8 WTE).
Salary: £42,000- £46,000 per annum, subject to qualifications and experience.
Benefits: We offer a range of benefits including hybrid and flexible working, 11% non-contributory pension scheme, 25 days holiday rising to 29 after five years’ service.
ROLE DUTIES
- Act as the primary governance support for the COO, ensuring all governance activities align with strategic priorities.
- Lead and manage the administration of the Finance Executive, Audit & Risk Committee, and Property Committee
- Support the COO, Diocesan Secretary and Head of Service Delivery in managing risk processes, including risk registers and compliance reporting.
- Prepare governance and Committee reports and relevant dashboards for the COO, CEO and senior leadership, including the Management Team and Bishops Leadership Team.
- Acting as a liaison between governance bodies and internal/external stakeholders.
CRITERIA
- Degree or equivalent level of relevant experience in governance, business administration, or a related field.
- Relevant and substantial experience in committee administration and governance support.
- Experience of working with and familiarity with regulatory compliance and risk management.
- Experience of working with, alongside a strong understanding of governance principles and compliance frameworks
For more information please see the job description, and to apply please visit the Chelmsford Diocese website to complete a application form.
Closing Date: Midday Thursday 12th February
Interview Date: Tuesday 24 February
We reserve the right to invite candidates for preliminary interviews.
Please be advised we reserve the right to close the role early and we cannot consider candidates who do not complete and return a completed application form.
Please refer to the CDBF Privacy Policy found on the Chelmsford Diocesan website for guidance on how we will process your data.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Director of Finance and IT
London (Camden) | Hybrid working
Salary £90,000
Full time (37.5 hours) or 4 days per week considered
Thomson Foundation is an independent, globally respected organisation with over 60 years’ experience supporting free, ethical and trusted journalism around the world. At a time when reliable information has never mattered more, Thomson’s work is both impactful and deeply values-driven.
They are now seeking a Director of Finance and IT to join the senior leadership team at an exciting point in the organisation’s evolution.
This is a rare opportunity for a senior finance leader who enjoys combining strategic leadership while also being able to provide hands on support. You will work closely with the CEO, Board and senior colleagues to shape future strategy, while also getting into the detail to understand how things work today and where they can be improved tomorrow.
You will thrive in this role if you enjoy making your mark: strengthening systems, improving automation, streamlining processes and building robust, proportionate controls that suit a small, international organisation. This is not a role where you sit at arm’s length from the detail – you will be curious, practical and comfortable rolling up your sleeves, whether that’s reviewing processes, posting journals, improving reporting or driving smarter use of technology.
Alongside financial leadership, you will oversee IT, risk, compliance and governance across the Thomson Group, working with outsourced providers and internal colleagues to ensure systems are secure, efficient and fit for purpose. You will play a key role in delivering the Finance and Technology Transformation Plan, helping the organisation operate more effectively and sustainably as it continues to grow and adapt.
Thomson has a small, welcoming team and a collaborative, non-hierarchical culture. You will be joining an organisation where people are trusted, ideas are welcomed and impact really matters. The role is based in Camden, with hybrid working two days per week in the office.
This role will suit someone who is:
• equally comfortable thinking strategically and working hands on
• motivated by improving systems, automation and ways of working
• curious, detail-oriented and happy to implement change
• values-led and excited by working in a mission-driven, international charity
If you are looking for a senior leadership role where you can genuinely influence, improve and help shape the future of a highly respected organisation, this is an outstanding opportunity.
How to Apply
For more information, please contact Rosemary Pini at Allen Lane who is supporting on this role and happy to answer any questions.
Please apply by sending CV and supporting statement before 1st February