Product innovation manager jobs

Battersea is entering an exciting phase of innovation and transformation as we embark on the first year of our new five-year strategy. With increased investment in income generation starting in 2025, we are expanding our team to drive the growth necessary to achieve our organisational goals. Our fundraising team bridges the journey of the animals in our care with the wider public, demonstrating how their contributions enable us to support every dog and cat. We now have several new roles within this team to further our mission.

This new role will oversee the development and delivery of engaging supporter journeys across a range of channels for Battersea’s Challenge and Public events, as well as our Supporter-Led Fundraising audiences. It will play a pivotal role in maximising event and supporter-led fundraising income, ensuring every supporter has a positive experience and feels inspired to continue supporting Battersea.

What we can offer you:
In return for your commitment to our cause and to recognise the value of our employees, Battersea offers a range of benefits to support the wellbeing of our employees. These include:

• 28 days of annual leave (plus 8 days paid public holidays) per year.
• Discounted gym memberships and cycle to work schemes.
• Employee Assistance Programme and access to Wellbeing Resources.
• Generous pension contributions - up to 10% employer contribution.
• Free healthcare cash plan, where you can claim for a range of treatment including dental, optical, physiotherapy, chiropody and acupuncture every year.
• Annual interest-free season ticket loans.

We are also committed to providing learning and development to our employees. During your time with us, we provide support for your professional and career development, including access to digital and in-person training programmes, leadership and management training, mentoring and much more.

Our hybrid working model:
We operate a 50% onsite hybrid working model, with our office-based staff splitting their time between site based and home working. This enables our office-based staff to balance the benefits of home working with onsite collaboration and maintaining a connection to our cause.

Diversity and inclusion:
We are committed to providing a welcoming and inclusive experience for all staff, volunteers and trustees and those hoping to join us. We operate an anonymised shortlisting process and actively seek to ensure our process is fair and equitable for all.

We understand the value of diverse voices, perspectives, and experiences to help us deliver even more for our dogs and cats, and we welcome applicants from all sections of the community.

As a Disability Confident Committed Employer we will ask about any adjustments you may need at application and/or interview stage, and if you are offered a role with us, we’ll talk to you about any workplace adjustments you may need to help you perform at your best. 

More about us:
At Battersea, we aim to never turn away a dog or cat in need of help. We give each one lots of love, expert care and get to know their characters and quirks so we can find them a new home that’s just right for them. Join us and help us be here for every dog and cat, wherever they are, for as long as they need us.

Acceptable use of AI:
At Battersea, we value expertise. We recognise each candidate that applies to us will have a range of expertise they can offer us, so we want to hear about this in your own words. We understand the support that generative artificial intelligence (AI) software can offer but it can also lead to numerous applications presenting as generic and impersonal. This makes it difficult to gain understanding of your unique experience.

To best showcase yourself, we encourage you to write your responses without the assistance of AI. If you require the use of AI software to aid in completing your application, we ask you use the generative responses as a prompt for writing your answers and avoid copying and pasting. You must also ensure the information presented in your application accurately reflects your experience.

Closing date: 11th January 2026
All applications must be submitted before the closing date advertised. We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of applications is received.

Interview date(s): To be confirmed

For full details on the role, please download the recruitment pack.

If you are an Assistant Accountant looking for your next role in an organisation with a meaningful mission, the Royal College of Radiologists’ Accountant Assistant role may be the role for you!

The Assistant Accountant is a crucial role that sits in our high performing finance team. We’re seeking a proactive and detail-oriented professional to join our high-performing finance team. This is a varied role where you’ll play a key part in ensuring the smooth running of our financial operations and supporting the delivery of accurate, timely financial information. You will be collaborative, working alongside one other assistant accountant, ensuring all routine transactions and processes are completed in a timely and efficient manner and providing excellent customer service. This is an excellent opportunity for someone with all-round experience in finance within fast paced environment.

What you’ll do: 

• Have responsibility for administering the accounting system to ensure that the user hierarchy is maintained, new users are set up appropriately and that rights for processing, reporting and workflow are assigned correctly.
• Attend promptly to general finance queries.
• Reconcile fortnightly travel invoices and monthly credit card statements obtaining approvals and uploading to the accounts system.
• Raise all sales invoices across all group companies.
• Provide credit control to the business according to finance policies, actively engage with and enter in to and keep records of dialogue for all debtors.
• Provide cover for the other assistant accountant, namely in relation to purchase ledger processing and payments runs and bank transaction postings.
• Ad hoc analysis and support for month and year end activities.

What you’ll need:

• Experience of using a finance system preferably Sage 200, payment system and Microsoft applications, including experience of working in nominal, sales and purchase ledgers and cashbook.
• An ability to multi task and work to tight deadlines.
• Experience of working in a finance team in a similar role
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail
• A consistent and effective team player who can multi task and prioritise
• Effective oral and written communication skills 

 This is an exciting opportunity to join a fast-paced and forward-thinking team and organisation. If you are interested in finding out more about the Assistant Accountant role and the RCR please have a read of the candidate pack.   

The successful candidate must be available for an immediate start at the end of January 2026.
 
Why join us:

• Make a difference to the lives of Doctors and the specialities they work in every day!
• Hybrid working (up to 60% working week can be done remotely)
• Modern working environment
• Equipment provided to work from home
• Generous annual leave allowance
• Excellent pension scheme
• Interest free season ticket loan and cycle to work scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme

Role Description

The purpose of the Executive Assistant role is to provide administrative, organisational and coordination support to the Executive Team, ensuring their time and attention are aligned with organisational priorities, goals, and objectives. The role covers executive coordination, governance administration and project support.  The Executive Assistant enables effective decision making across the Leadership Team, supports the smooth delivery of priorities, and contributes to the execution of long-term strategic goals.

The Executive Team comprises the Chief Executive, Operations Director and Business Development Director.  They work together as part of the Leadership Team, comprising key leaders from across the charity.

Excellent attention to detail is crucial, as is the ability to operate with discretion and flexibility. A high standard of written and verbal communication is essential. The role requires collaboration across Finance, HR, Trustees, and external stakeholders, and an understanding of effective charity governance would be desirable.

This role requires a high level of emotional intelligence, sound judgement, and the ability to build trusted relationships across all levels of the organisation. Success in this role depends on a proactive mindset, strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to remain calm and resourceful under pressure. The Executive Assistant must be highly dependable, detail-oriented, and capable of managing sensitive information with discretion and professionalism.

Responsibilities

Executive Coordination

• Manage calendars, inboxes, travel and meeting preparation for Executive Team
• Coordinate agendas and logistics for internal and external meetings
• Liaise with stakeholders, clients and partners to ensure smooth engagement

Governance Support

• Own the established governance timetable, board meeting scheduling, and trustee communications
• Draft and distribute board packs, take minutes, and track actions
• Support governance processes in collaboration with the Operations Director
• Support trustee onboarding, training, and engagement
• Ensure timely completion of Charity Commission and Companies House submissions
• Leverage AI tools and platforms to enhance business processes

Strategic communications

• Communicate with external stakeholders on behalf of the Executive Team
• Coordinate staff events and meetings
• Work with marketing and communities & projects teams for conferences and external events

Project support

• Support ongoing transformation projects in collaboration with Head of Business Functions
• Support recruitment and onboarding for senior roles led by the Head of Business Operations
• Support strategic planning and performance tracking led by the Operations Director and Business Development Director
• Support handover and re-onboarding of Executive Assistant on her return April 2027

Role Requirements

Required:

• Minimum of four years’ experience in a similar role.
• Experience supporting senior leaders in a fast paced and changing environment, taking initiative and managing competing deadlines calmly and flexibly.
• Confident communicating with the executive and leadership team, trustees and external partners in a professional and timely way.
• Able to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion and good judgment.
• Confident coordinating meetings, preparing papers and taking accurate minutes.
• Ability to research, digest, analyse and present material clearly and concisely.
• Ability to identify and apply AI-driven tools to enhance business activities and using AI to streamline workflows and personalise business engagement.
• Comfortable stepping into an established role quickly and maintaining continuity during the maternity leave period.

Desirable:

• Experience in charity governance
• Experience in project support/management

Employees are also expected to be flexible in undertaking the duties and responsibilities attached to their post and may be asked to perform other duties that are consistent with the grade, responsibilities, and typical scope of the role. Any additional tasks should remain appropriate to the nature of the post and not extend into unrelated functions or specialisms.

All employees are expected to work in accordance with the organisation’s values and behavioural standards, which include being supportive, transparent, respectful, kind, honest, and collaborative. This means fostering a culture of empathy, openness, integrity, and teamwork in all interactions, and contributing positively to the organisation’s mission and strategic objectives.

We are committed to flexible working and are open to requests for different working patterns. This includes part time arrangements and four day working week requests, which we will always consider as part of the recruitment process.

To apply for this role, please share your CV with a one-page cover letter setting out why this role appeals to you and how your skills and experiences meet the key skills points in the job description.

Interviews expected to take place on week commencing the 2nd of February 2026.

This is a senior leadership role accountable for award winning high performing shops that deliver + £3.5m in sales in the context of an ambitious and developing trading strategy.  The post holder is directly accountable for sustaining and building this performance leading a team of staff and volunteers and in working as part of the central trading and wider hospice teams.  The role combines sales and profit targets, creativity, accountability, empathic people skills and a passion for trading. Our retail business is a key driver for organisational success. The Hospice of St Francis Charity provides essential free care across West Hertfordshire and South Buckinghamshire.  More than 80% of the income we spend comes from trading and fundraising. Our retail performance (sales and profit) benchmarks at the very top of the sector with award winning and innovative retail formats supported by a strong volunteer base and shop team delivering outstanding customer service. 

Main duties and responsibilities:

· Line management and mentoring 5 direct line reports and oversight accountability for a team of 33 whole time equivalent employees (53 people) and 500 volunteers

· Maintain and improve our performance at the top of the charity retail sector nationally

· Hold oversight of leases and ensure effective lease management

· Accountability for delivering more than £3.5m in annual sales, with levels of engagement, profit and performance that deliver the strategic aims of the Charity

· Accountability for retail Gift Aid income and HMRC compliance assuring at least £300k annually from retail claims

· Project manage the process of new shop openings as required

· Accountability for customer complaints, health and safety, fire safety and environmental health across all retail premises working closely with our estates team to assure compliance

· Ensure our shops operate as a physical and digital front door to the hospice, creating a dynamic interactive culture

· Collaborate effectively with peers and colleagues, operating in adherence to the values and ethos of the Hospice

· Contribute to the design, development and implementation of the trading road map, annual budget and profit projections, annually and over 3- 5-year timescales to match the strategic development timelines of the Charity

· Maximise the potential of Electronic Point of Sale to drive performance and provide regular KPI reports internally at all levels, motivating the shop teams, in accountability to the Trading Board and our committees, Board and AGM

· Maintain an up to date understanding of high street trends and charity retail trends and ensure our merchandising, product development, social media and retail innovation maintains our competitive edge

· Assure windows and shop floors meet the highest standards of engagement and stand out on the high street embedding the ‘owned brand’ and social impact

· Accountable for ensuring a programme of community engagement and events where our shops are community hubs

· Leading projects including lead responsibilities in the set up and opening of new shops

· Implementation of goal setting, career development reviews and routine and regular supervision and team meetings to build an inspiring successful team culture and empower individual performance

· Use a range of digital systems effectively in the management of the business and in communication, including social media, on-line analysis of reach and click rates

· Represent the Trading Directorate at Health and Safety Committee, attend the Trading Board, as required Income generation committee and deputise for the Director at Executive Meetings, deputising for the Director of Sustainable Trading as required

· Embeds equality, diversity and inclusion across trading processes and practices

· Represent the organisation as ambassador and contribute to maintaining the wider public presence of the Charity.

Key Accountabilities, Responsibilities & Tasks

Departmental & Role Specifics 

· Set objectives that are realistic and encourage outstanding performance, in a supportive team culture with effective individual supervision, support and training to ensure our performance continues to benchmark nationally at the top of the charity retail sector.

· The senior responsible manager in Trading, holding overall accountability for all aspects of our charity retail operation

· As an ambassador for the organisation maintaining excellent relationships with all suppliers and partners

· Lead a team of 33 whole time equivalent employees (51 people) and 500 volunteers to deliver at least £3.5m in sales and at least £300k in gift aid annually

· Ensure our shops operate as a physical and digital front door to the hospice, creating a dynamic interactive culture

· Lead, manage and coach a culture of openness to engage the diversity of the community as customers, donors, staff and volunteers

· Detailed understanding and analysis of data from a range of sources in order to collate and provide timely effective verbal and written reports, to agreed schedules, reporting on and managing performance, risk, variance, effectiveness, trends and the cut through impact of innovation

· Collaborate internally and with external partners to maintain a range of projects with local colleges teaching and training in fashion, design and social media, including joint events and succession pipelines with apprenticeships, DoE volunteer placements and internships

· Hold oversight of leases and ensure effective lease management

· Accountability for customer complaints, health and safety, fire safety and environmental health across all retail premises working closely with our estates team to assure compliance

· Project manage the process of new shop openings as required

· Collaborate effectively with peers and colleagues, operating in adherence to the values and ethos of the Hospice

Job Title: Account Handler
Location: Unity Insurance, Lancing, West Sussex, BN15 8UW
Salary: £26,199 per year, Band C, Level 3
Hours: Full-time, 35 hours per week
Contract: Permanent

About the Role:

We’re Unity Insurance, part of the Scouts, and we’re passionate about helping charities, youth groups, and organisations like the Scouts and Guides protect what matters most.

We’re a small, friendly team with a big heart — and we’re looking for a positive, customer-focused Account Handler to join us. If you have experience in insurance and enjoy helping people, we would love to hear from you!

What you’ll do as an Account Handler:

• Be the first point of contact for our clients
• Provide quotes, advice, and ongoing support
• Manage renewals, policy updates, and claims
• Recommend additional products to help clients stay protected
• Ensure all administration is accurate and completed on time
• Deliver excellent customer service and help us grow our client base

What we’re looking for as an Account Handler:

• Experience in insurance and customer service
• Understanding of youth organisations or small charities (desirable)
• Good knowledge of insurance principles and FCA guidelines
• Confident using computers and insurance systems
• Working towards or holding insurance qualifications (desirable)
• A genuine passion for helping others

Why join us?

• At Unity, your work makes a real difference. You’ll be supporting the amazing organisations that help young people gain skills for life — and you’ll do it alongside a welcoming, supportive team.
• We also offer great training, opportunities to develop your skills, and the chance to get involved in volunteering and projects that matter

Benefits

We’re proud to be an award-winning Charity of the Year (Charity Times Awards 2022) with over 400 employees across multiple locations nationwide.

• 28 days’ holiday, rising to 32 days after 2 years’ service, plus extra days at Christmas

• Flexible working hours and hybrid options

• Work in a way that suits you, your role, and your department

• Double-matched pension up to 10% of gross salary

• Family-friendly employer with generous family leave

• Learning and development opportunities via our internal learning hub

For a full list of our benefits click .

Closing date for applications: 23:59pm Thursday 15th January 2026.

Interviews will be on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.

We reserve the right to close this role early. If you're interested, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

Strictly no agencies. 

The Scouts is an equal opportunities employer and we are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and empowered to contribute. We offer flexible working arrangements to support diverse needs and lifestyles, ensuring that our teams can thrive both professionally and personally. We welcome and encourage applicants from all walks of life, believing that varied perspectives strengthen our innovation and community. Your unique experiences and ideas are essential to our success, and we look forward to hearing from all voices.

We are looking for an experienced, motivated fundraising professional to oversee corporate partnerships and individual giving, embedding the corporate and individual giving journey into all aspects of ERIC’s communications, and broadening the charity’s approach to donor stewardship to treat all service users and website visitors as future donors. You will also oversee all ERIC’s external and internal communications including our website, social media and PR.

As part of ERIC’s Senior Leadership Team, you will contribute to strategic planning, policy and decision-making across the whole organisation. This role provides strategic and operational leadership for ERIC’s fundraising and communications team. You will play a pivotal role in maximising supporter-led fundraising income, ensuring every supporter has a positive experience and feels inspired to continue supporting ERIC.

As Head of Fundraising and Communications, and a Senior leadership team member you will be responsible for implementing ERIC’s overall strategy. Our primary strategic objective in this area is to build our corporate and individual donor base, and you will use user data, stewardship strategy, website user experience, social media, segmented email and online service design to deliver this.

You will work closely with the CEO and provide effective line-management for two staff, and you will work with contractors and freelancers who provide social media support, videography and web development services etc.

ERIC’s reputation is built on providing families and professionals with health information that is accurate, up-to-date, clearly written and accessible. You will work with our team of qualified and experienced staff to ensure that robust systems are in place for checking and approving all the health information that ERIC publishes.

What we can offer you:

In return for your commitment to our cause and to recognise the value of our employees, ERIC offers a range of benefits to support the wellbeing of our employees. These include:

• 25 days of annual leave (plus 8 days paid public holidays per year), rising one day per year as a long service reward up to a max of 5 days.
• Employee Assistance Programme and access to wellbeing resources
• 3% Employer Pension contribution
• Living Wage Accredited Employer

We are also committed to providing learning and development to our employees. During your time with us, we provide support for your professional and career development, including access to digital training programmes and other training as required by the role.

Build something new. Shape the future. Make a real impact.

The Infection Prevention Society (IPS) is a leading professional charity for infection prevention and control in the UK and Ireland. With 2,100 members across health and care professions, we exist to advance education in infection prevention for the benefit of the community. And we're at a pivotal moment.

We've built the foundations – modern infrastructure, professional team working alongside our volunteer leadership, strong governance – and now we're ready to scale our impact. We need someone to help us unlock new opportunities and expand what we can offer our members and the communities they serve. That's where you come in.

As our first Commercial Director, you'll have the autonomy to establish commercial capability from the ground up. You'll build partnerships with health and care organisations, create revenue streams that strengthen our mission including leading the development of training courses that reach new audiences: supporting our members to prevent infections and save lives.

This is a unique opportunity to combine commercial expertise with charitable purpose. You'll have the freedom to develop innovative strategies, build partnerships that matter, and create revenue streams that strengthen our capacity to serve our members and prevent infections. The role offers flexibility (four days per week, home-based) and genuine autonomy to shape your approach.

What You'll Do

• Build corporate partnerships: Build relationships and partnerships with businesses that have an interest in infection prevention
• Enhance events revenue: Enhance and develop sponsorship opportunities across our annual conference, events, and webinar programmes
• Explore new opportunities: Identify emerging revenue streams from consultancy, publications, and membership growth into new professional sectors
• Shape training course development: Scope and develop infection prevention courses that generate income whilst advancing our educational mission

Who We're Looking For

You're an experienced commercial professional with a proven track record of generating revenue through partnerships, training programmes, or business development. You might come from membership organisations, professional bodies, charities, education or healthcare settings, or from B2B commercial roles with clear transferable skills.

You have the entrepreneurial confidence to build something new, the strategic thinking to identify opportunities, and the relationship skills to turn those opportunities into sustainable partnerships. You're equally comfortable developing pricing models and financial projections as you are crafting compelling partnership proposals.

Most importantly, you understand that commercial success and charitable purpose aren't opposing forces – they're complementary. You want your commercial expertise to strengthen a charity's capacity to serve its members and achieve its mission.

What We Offer

• Build something new: Establish new commercial capability in a respected healthcare organisation
• Autonomy and influence: Freedom to develop your own strategies with CEO mentorship and Board support
• Meaningful work: Direct contribution to preventing infections and protecting public health
• Senior leadership role: Strategic responsibility and genuine influence on organisational direction
• Flexibility: Four days per week (£42,400 per annum / £53,000 FTE), home-based with regular UK travel
• Growth potential: 12-month fixed-term contract with potential for extension or permanent conversion

Why Now?

As a charity, IPS exists to advance education in infection prevention for the benefit of the community. We're at an exciting stage of development, having evolved from a volunteer-led organisation to a professional operation with dedicated staff working alongside our expert volunteer leadership. We've modernised our infrastructure, enhanced our conference programme, and strengthened governance. The foundations are in place.

Now we need dedicated commercial expertise to unlock our full potential and accelerate our growth. This role will genuinely shape the future of the charity – the partnerships you build, the courses you develop, and the strategies you implement will determine our capacity to expand our reach and deepen our impact over the coming years.

Key Details

• Role: Commercial Director
• Contract: 12-month fixed-term (potential for extension/permanent conversion)
• Hours: Four days per week (0.8 FTE)
• Salary: £42,400 per annum (£53,000 FTE)
• Location: Home-based with regular UK travel

How to Apply

Download the full recruitment pack for detailed role responsibilities and person specification.

To apply, please submit your your CV (maximum 3 pages) and covering letter (maximum 2 pages). Applications close 10pm on Sunday 11th January 2026.

Your covering letter should address:

• Your relevant experience in commercial/business development
• Your track record of revenue generation with specific examples
• Why you're interested in this role and IPS
• How your skills match the person specification

Benefits: 39 days annual leave (including bank holidays), company pension

Lead. Inspire. Serve. Transform Lives.

Are you a Christian leader with a heart for young people and a passion for community transformation?

Do you believe in the God-given value and potential of every person?

Are you ready to guide one of the country’s oldest and most trusted Christian youth movements into its next chapter?

YMCA North Staffordshire is seeking an exceptional Christian Chief Executive Officer to lead our mission, embody our values, and continue shaping a movement that is transforming the lives of thousands of young people and families.

With a proud 160-year history and an award-winning campus at the heart of Stoke-on-Trent, this is a rare opportunity to lead a charity that is deeply rooted in Christian faith, committed to radical inclusion, and driven by a vision where all young people can belong, contribute and thrive.

Our Christian Vision and Values

YMCA North Staffordshire is an inclusive Christian movement.

Our mission flows directly from our faith and is grounded in four core values:

PROTECT

We provide sanctuary and safety, ensuring every young person feels seen, valued, and respected.

HOPE

We see young people not through the lens of their past, but their God-given potential.

PERSEVERE

We walk with young people through challenges, setbacks, and breakthroughs.

TRUST

We act with integrity, accountability, and belief in the dignity of every human being.

Because these values are Christian in origin and practice, and because the CEO is the guardian of our mission, this role has a Genuine Occupational Requirement (GOR) for the postholder to be a practising Christian.

 About the Role

Reporting to the Board of Trustees, the CEO will lead an organisation of 130 staff, a £5m+ budget, and a £35m estate, helping strengthen community through youth development, education, housing, healthy living, and social responsibility.

The next CEO will:

• Provide strategic leadership to deliver the 2026–2029 Business Plan
• Champion youth voice and empowerment in all areas of work
• Sustain and grow financial strength, partnerships, and social enterprise
• Uphold and deepen our Christian identity, ensuring values-led practice
• Drive innovation, digital transformation, and organisational development
• Represent YMCA NS locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally
• Be a visible advocate for young people in Stoke-on-Trent
• Strengthen our “village” culture: welcoming, relational, rooted in Ubuntu and Asset-Based Community Development principles (ABCD).

Purpose of the Role

To lead YMCA North Staffordshire in fulfilling its Christian mission, as described in the Associations charitable objectives 

We develop young people; they develop their world.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic leadership in alignment with Board governance
• Upholding Christian ethos, values, and culture across the organisation
• Financial stewardship, compliance, and sustainability
• Community development and partnership building
• Youth advocacy and empowerment
• Oversight of housing, programmes, and impact measurement
• Staff leadership, pastoral care, and organisational culture
• External representation and communications

 Person Specification – Summary

Knowledge

• Housing, youth services, and community development
• Charity law, governance, safeguarding
• Understanding of Christian ministry, mission, and values
• Organisational development and change leadership

Experience

• Senior leadership in values-led or Christian settings
• Track record of strategic development and organisational growth
• Experience working with young people, housing, or community sectors
• Experience nurturing Christian ethos across a diverse organisation

Skills & Abilities

• Inspirational leadership and people development
• Strategic planning and delivery
• Excellent communicator and ambassador
• Partnership building and stakeholder engagement
• Ability to articulate and embody Christian faith
• Deep commitment to Christian values and the Aims & Purposes of the YMCA

 The Leader We Are Looking For

The landscape for young people is changing — and so must we.

We need a CEO who is:

• Faith-filled and prayerful
• Values-driven and courageous
• Relational, compassionate, and community-minded
• A champion of excellence, innovation, and good governance
• Grounded in Christian mission and committed to radical inclusion
• Able to inspire hope, build trust, and persevere through challenge

As George Williams, YMCA’s founder, said:

“You are not alone, and you can be more.”

Our next CEO must believe this not only for themselves — but for every young person we serve.

How to apply

An application pack can be found at the YMCA North Staffordshire website. This role is subject to enhanced DBS and reference checks.

Key Recruitment Dates

• Closing Date: 18th January 2026
• Interviews: Week commencing 9th February 2026

We are a safe recruitment Organisation and an Equal Opportunities Employer, we run the disability confident guaranteed interview scheme.

We are an organisation with Christian values, committed to Equality and Diversity in the Workplace. YMCA is committed to the safeguarding of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

Purpose of the job

This role is responsible for the design of UK Youth’s support to young people, youth organisations and youth workers. This could include structured youth work programmes, funding and grants+ programmes, professional development programmes, and campaigns.

You will lead and oversee end-to-end design processes, ensuring that UK Youth develops fully packaged offers that respond to the evidence base and people’s needs, drive forward our strategy and achieve incredible impact. You will work across UK Youth teams, with external design partners, and meaningfully involving young people and the professionals who support them in the design process.

You will be experienced in developing high quality funding propositions (proactively and in response to new business opportunities). You will be confident in taking a human-centred design approach to tackle some of the youth sector’s knottiest problems.  You will design solutions to important problems, ensuring that they are feasible, equitable, impactful and scalable.

In 2026, our priority topics for youth work programmes and network development are: mental health and wellbeing, employability, social cohesion and community safety.

 As a leader, you will work closely with research, evaluation, policy, service delivery, network development, and fundraising teams. You will help to improve the skills and confidence of colleagues across UK Youth to apply design methods in their own work and collaborate effectively with the Design team.

Why work at UK Youth?

UK Youth wants all young people to be equipped to thrive and empowered to contribute at every stage of their lives. Youth work can be life changing (and even life saving.) In 2026, we will be launching our new strategy, positioning UK Youth to unlock youth work so that every young person in the UK can benefit. We work with others to ensure that the youth sector is strengthened and that provision is youth-led, evidence-informed, and delivers high-quality outcomes.

 UK Youth plays a unique role in addressing the lack of investment in the youth sector, the lack of cross-sector understanding in how youth work makes a difference, and the limited opportunities to embed effective solutions. These factors lead to mass inequality of access to youth services for young people. Come and be part of this change in a driven and supportive team that puts evidence at the heart of our work.

Role Responsibilities

• Designing Solutions

• Developing new business and funding propositions

• Embedding Human Centred Design

• Building a strong external network to support the Design team’s work

• Operations

Experience we're after

• Significant experience of leading and overseeing the development of new business propositions and proposals to time-limited funding opportunities

• Significant experience of designing interventions (digital and/or physical) for young people and/or those who support them 

• Experience using human-centred-design methods and mindsets; managing projects across the end-to-end design process

• Proven track record of inspiring and motivating diverse teams and improving collaborative ways of working across teams and departments

• Experience of developing high quality programme content and curricula for young people, youth workers and/or outdoor learning instructors (desirable)

• Experience of commissioning and managing external design freelancers and consultants (desirable)

• Experience of designing and/or delivering professional development programmes (desirable)

What we can offer you

We offer a competitive range of benefits, good work/life balance, excellent learning and development opportunities and vibrant organisational culture:

• Flexible/Agile Working

• 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays (pro rata for part time employees)

• Funded training provided in; Safeguarding, GDPR, Information and Cyber Security & Equality & Diversity

• Other training available in support of your personal and professional development

• Pension scheme (currently UK Youth match employee contributions up to 5%)

• Membership of our life insurance scheme which would pay-out up to 4 times your salary

• Employee Assistance Programme to support employees both professionally and personally

• 20% discount off bookings at Avon Tyrrell, our New Forest Outdoor Centre, including camping, lodges and outdoor activities.

• IT equipment provided for the duration of contract

• CycleScheme and TechScheme

How to apply

If you would like to be considered for this fantastic opportunity, please complete an application via our completely anonymised recruitment system provided by Applied which looks to create a fair and unbiased application process for all. Scroll to the top of the page and start your application.

Closing date: Sunday 4th January 2026 at 23:59pm

Provisional Interview Dates: 12th and 13th January 2026

As this role involves working in a regulated environment with young people, any offer will be conditional to satisfactory background checks, which include criminal record check and employment reference.