Programme administrator jobs in bristol

£25,750 per year

Full-time

Job description

The postholder will be expected to provide energy advice to householders by telephone and email. Delivering key information to help householders/clients to access appropriate support. Whilst maintaining accurate and detailed records of all interactions with clients.

Pay and conditions

The role is full-time (37.5 hours per week). However, we will consider applications from a minimum of 22.5hrs per week.

The salary for the role will be £25,750. Rising to £26,739 after passing 6-month probationary period.

You will be entitled to 25 days paid holiday (plus statutory holidays).

CSE offer a range of benefits including, subsidised bike purchase and Tech Scheme, Life Assurance, Health Cash plan, retail discounts and discounted breakdown cover and many more.

We will pay fees and expenses on relevant training courses.

Specific responsibilities

An applicant appointed to the role will be expected to:

• To work on the advice line and/or other telephone advice projects making and receiving calls from people who may need help with energy related issues.
• To record client details and use own knowledge to assess help and support needed.
• To refer clients onto other support organisations in their area as appropriate.
• To identify energy improvements that can be made to clients’ properties and refer to installers who can fit them.
• To help vulnerable clients make applications for grants and switch energy tariffs where appropriate.
• To listen attentively to callers (some of whom may be in distress) and respond to their needs in an empathetic way.
• To be familiar with and adhere to advice line protocol, processes and procedures.

To see a more detailed list of responsibilities please see the supporting documents attached. These documents are also available to download from our website.

Essential attributes for this role include:

• Minimum Math/English GCSE or equivalent.
• Experience of giving advice, customer service or helping others in some capacity.
• Ability to respond to clients in a respectful and engaging manner.
• Ability to communicate effectively with people verbally and in writing.
• Ability to work in a team and able to identify areas where their skills complement others.
• Ability to maintain admin systems independently and accurately.
• Able to take responsibility for your own work and seek support where necessary.
• Highly organized at managing time and workload.
• Skilled in use of MS office applications including Word, Excel and Outlook.

Please note, the above is an overview of the skills required for this role. To see the full list of essential and desirable skills please see the attached job description.

How to apply

To apply, please download and complete the application form available from our website. Your application should demonstrate your suitability for the role against the criteria outlined in the person specification.

To apply, please download and complete the application form available from our website and send it to our Jobs email. Your application should demonstrate your suitability for the role against the criteria outlined in the person specification and job description.

To be considered for this role an application form must be sent to jobs @ cse . org . uk .

The closing date for applications is 5pm Wednesday 1 October 2025.

Interviews are expected to take place Thursday 9 and Friday 10 October 2025, though this is subject to change.  

If invited to interview, we will ask you to provide evidence of eligibility to work in the UK.

Chief Operating Officer - National Youth Agency

The National Youth Agency is looking for a new Chief Operating Officer to join our Executive Leadership Team.

Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full-time - 37 hours per week
Salary: £85,000 per annum
Remote: This role is homebased (within the UK) with occasional to meetings, events and conferences.

What we do

As the national body for youth work, the NYA has a dual function. We are the professional statutory and regulatory body (PSRB) responsible for qualifications, quality standards, and safeguarding for youth work and services in England. In line with our charity mission and aims, we also champion youth work through research, advocacy, campaigns, and programmes.

We work in partnership and believe in collaborative leadership, listening to youth workers and the youth work sector so that we can understand their needs and respond to the challenges they face. We are ambitious for youth work and for young people and integrate youth voice and influence across our work

About the Role

Responsibilities will include:

• The COO leads the day-to-day functioning of the organisation to ensure smooth, efficient, and effective delivery of services. This is vital for maintaining operational stability and achieving strategic outcomes.
• They design and execute strategies that align with the organisation’s mission and long-term goals ensuring resources are used effectively and priorities are clear.
• They promote a culture of excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement through supporting employee engagement, productivity, and organisational success.
• The COO collaborates closely with the CEO/CFO and other senior leaders to drive strategic initiatives and business growth, ensuring unified leadership and coherent decision-making.
• They partner with the CFO to manage budgets, forecasts, and resource allocation. Financial oversight ensures sustainability and supports informed investment in strategic priorities.
• Strengthen governance and risk management frameworks, aligned to regulatory expectations and best practice while proactively managing reputational and operational risks.
• The COO cultivates strong relationships with partners, clients, and stakeholders to enhance service delivery and reputation. These relationships are key to influence, collaboration, and impact.
• They lead efforts to improve processes and adopt best practices across the charity to enhance efficiency and keeps the organisation competitive and responsive.
• They ensure that daily activities support the charities long-term objectives.
• The COO mentors other directors and departmental heads and fosters leadership capabilities across teams.
• They establish and track KPIs to identify inefficiencies and guide improvements through data-driven decision-making to enhance accountability and results.
• They evaluate and refine workflows to boost productivity developing efficient processes to reduce waste and improve service quality.
• They act as a bridge between departments and the CEO to ensure cohesive execution of strategic plans preventing silos and promoting organisational synergy.
• The COO serves as a senior figure in national and cross-sector forums, conferences, and strategic partnerships to strengthens the organisation’s voice and influence.
• They demonstrate commitment to Equality, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging in both internal culture and external programmes to foster a fair and inclusive organisation.
• They work with the CEO, CFO and Director of Growth to identify and pursue new revenue streams and strategic partnerships. This expands the organisation’s reach and sustainability.
• They engage in public speaking, media interactions, and external representation demonstrating clear communication, credibility, and stakeholder engagement.
• They develop and embed evaluation frameworks to assess progress against strategic goals. The measuring of our impact ensures accountability and informs future planning.
• They promote the organisation’s brand at events and through networking.

The COO takes on other responsibilities as needed to support the organisation’s mission.

About You

Essential competencies of the Chief Operating Officer:

• Extensive experience in senior leadership with a proven track record in operations, financial and risk management, and delivering high-performing teams, ideally in the charity sector.
• Strong understanding of business functions such as HR, Finance, Marketing, etc.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to think strategically and execute effectively.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities. Commercially astute, process-driven, and highly pragmatic in approach.
• Experience in driving performance and fostering a collaborative culture.
• Bachelor’s degree in business administration or related field; MBA preferred

Why Work for NYA?

• NYA operates as a people-first organisation, prioritising the well-being and needs of its employees.
• NYA offers an exceptional flexible working approach which encourages our team to balance professional responsibilities with their personal life.
• A remote based team, spread across England, fostering inclusivity and diverse talent. Despite geographical distances between team members, NYA maintains a highly motivated and connected team through the optimisation of digital tools.
• NYA is committed to supporting the continual personal and professional development of our team and helping them achieve their ambitions.
• We provide 25 days leave plus 8 days, life assurance scheme, 5% employer pension contribution and a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme via Spectrum.life with unlimited specialist support available to all NYA employees.

How to Apply:

To apply, please submit the following via our online application platform by 11:59pm on Monday 29th September 2025:

A detailed CV setting out your career history, with responsibilities and achievements in line with the person specification in the About You section.
A covering letter highlighting your suitability for the role and how you meet the requirements in the About You section.
We will request data for our EEDI monitoring purposes, providing this is optional.

Please note: The covering letter is an essential part of the application process and will be assessed as part of your full application. We use AI detector software, so cover letters or CV’s with over 80% AI generated content will be disregarded. We understand that AI tools can offer support to candidates who have learning differences, which is why we will accept applications with some AI assistance. CV’s will not be accepted without a cover letter.

The National Youth Agency is an equal opportunities employer.

At NYA our inclusive culture means that we embrace individual differences and understand that we need a diverse team to achieve our organisations mission.

We wish to recruit candidates from all backgrounds to ensure our team reflects the rich diversity of the communities we serve. We encourage applications from anyone regardless of disability, ethnicity, heritage, gender, sexuality, religion, socio-economic background and political beliefs but we particularly welcome applications from global majority candidates and those from other minoritised ethnic groups in the UK as they are currently underrepresented in our team.

Youth Work changes lives

Which is why we’re committed to ensuring that as many young people as possible get to benefit from it.As the national body for youth work in England, the National Youth Agency (NYA) exists to champion its transformative power. We believe all young people should have the opportunity to benefit from the life-changing impact of extraordinary youth workers and trained volunteers.

We help to grow youth work provision in ways that keep it effective, relevant, safe and engaging, to help millions of young people reach their potential and thrive. We do this by providing guidance, support, advice, training and staff development opportunities for youth workers and youth work organisations. At the heart of everything we do are young people themselves. We work hard to ensure their voices are integrated into all our work, to develop provision that truly meets their needs.

REF-223747

Do you want to help improve the lives of people with disabilities through the power of assistance dogs? To help us create amazing partnerships, we need amazing people.
 
Canine Partners’ mission is to change the lives of disabled people using expertly trained dogs to improve physical, emotional and social wellbeing. Our amazing dogs bring greater independence and an improved quality of life to their partners, offering security, companionship, and practical help with everyday household tasks.
 
We are looking for a passionate and innovative individual to join our dedicated Puppy Training Team as a Puppy Trainer. This is an exciting opportunity at a prominent assistance dog charity for a dog training instructor to develop their skills and take on new responsibilities within this rewarding field.
 
Position: Puppy Training Coordinator
Hours: 22.5 hours per week (3 days per week).
Contract: Temporary Maternity Leave Cover (9 month minimum contract)
Location: Homebased in South Hampshire. This role covers a specified geographical location in the Southeast of England - South Hampshire (purple area on the map attached). There will be regular travel involved in this role to undertake visits, training sessions and to transport dogs and puppies, therefore it is essential that you have a driving licence and appropriate vehicle for work purposes or the ability to travel significant mileage in line with the requirements for the role. See the job description for the area map.
Direct Reports: Puppy Training Volunteers
 
You will be part of the ambitious puppy team, developing, coordinating, and supporting the puppy training programme. You will have the opportunity to work with and train volunteers in the appropriate care and training of Canine Partners’ puppies. You will work with puppies from eight-weeks to approximately 15-months old, ensuring they receive appropriate socialisation and training before entering our assistance dog training, giving them the foundations to learn how to be life-changing assistance dogs, bringing greater independence and quality of life to people with physical disabilities. A proactive approach is key to maintaining the welfare and behavioural standards for the puppies. All training at Canine Partners follows best practice, positive reinforcement methods and this role is an ambassador for this approach.
 
About you:

• Experience of working with puppies.
• Good working knowledge of best practice dog training and behaviour.
• Good practical dog handling and training skills.
• Effective interpersonal, communication and relationship building skills.
• Strong administration skills with accurate record keeping.
• Coaching/ Teaching skills.
• Computer literacy/ IT skills (MS Office – minimum requirement basic level)
• Full UK driving licence and use of appropriate vehicle for work purposes.
• Ideally, you may have experience of working with volunteers.

 
It may be advantageous, but not essential, for you to have a relevant Animal Behaviour and Training Council – Animal Training Instructor (ABTC-ATI) accreditation. Most importantly, you will be passionate about the transformative impact that our assistance dogs provide to our beneficiaries.
 
Interested?
 
If this sounds like the perfect role for you, we would be delighted to hear from you. Please apply online with a comprehensive CV and supporting statement explaining how you believe you match the requirements of the role.
 
Please note we may interview candidates prior to the closing date. If we find a suitable candidate or receive a high volume of applications, we may close this advertisement prior to the closing date so apply now to ensure you don't miss out! Please be assured that we contact all candidates regarding the outcome of their application, this may take longer if we receive high volumes of applications.
 
Closing date: 22nd September 2025
 
First interviews are scheduled to take place online (via MS Teams) in the week commencing 29th September 2025.

Second interviews are scheduled to place in person the week commencing 6th October 2025.
*Subject to changes.
 
We recognise the benefit of diverse experience and welcome and encourage applications from all sections of the community. We are a disability confident committed employer.
 
REF-223 525

We have a fantastic opportunity for an enthusiastic, proactive and driven Fundraising Manager to join our team at Brain Tumour Support. You will be joining the team at an exciting time as we seek to grow our supporter base both locally and nationally.

You will assume responsibility for the delivery of the fundraising strategy to achieve ambitious unrestricted income targets through Corporate Partnerships, Community Fundraising and Individual Giving. Motivating and line managing a small, but growing fundraising team, you will ensure activity levels are on track to achieve both income and awareness targets for the charity.

Ideal candidates must come from a charity fundraising background, with the drive to inspire a team, grow income, build relationships and initiate opportunities for development of the fundraising function. This role will suit a dynamic and positive individual, with a proven track record and extensive experience of meeting demanding income targets within various income streams, one of which should be Corporate, community or individual fundraising. Experience of developing and leading a team to success is desirable for this role.

This in an exciting and varied role, that you will be able to really put your stamp on, working with a really engaged charity team and reporting to the Head of Fundraising and Operations.

We value our staff and offer a welcoming working environment with an enthusiastic and committed team. We can offer you:

- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays

- Enhanced sickness pay scheme

- Flexible working and hybrid working patterns

- Family friendly and carer supportive policies

- Opportunities for training and development

- Robust supportive supervision, and 1:1’s

- Whole team working practices and opportunities to feel close to the support delivery

- Whole team charity away days once a year, with overnight stay and socials

- Staff engagement incentives throughout the year

- Wellbeing and mental health support

Our mission is that no-one feels alone when facing the effects of a brain tumour diagnosis and this is an exciting time to join the team as we look to the future.

The role has a requirement to work some evenings and weekends to meet supporter needs, and will require some travel. A full UK driving licence is essential.

If you would like an informal chat regarding the role, please contact Sarah or Emma

Job title: ISC - Avon and Gloucestershire

Reports to: Immediate Support and Debrief Manager

Location: Home working with regular travel throughout the area

Objective:

2wish exists to provide support to anyone affected by the sudden and unexpected death of a child or young person aged 25 and under.

Aims:

• Ensure every Emergency Department and Critical Care unit has a suitable bereavement suite
• Ensure that bereavement boxes are available at each of these hospitals
• Ensure that immediate bereavement support is available for all affected by the sudden death of a child or young person
• Provide a professional counselling service and other therapies for those affected by the sudden death of a child or young person
• Provide support to individuals who witness the sudden death of a child or young person
• Provide support and training to professionals from any sector who may be affected by the sudden death of a child or young person
• To advocate and campaign on behalf of suddenly bereaved families

2wish Cymru and 2wish:

2wish has been established since 2012 and has grown from strength to strength. During this time, we have worked tirelessly to embed our service and ensure that the offer of support is made at the point of death.

We offer an immediate, consistent, high-quality and compassionate service to all individuals affected by the sudden and unexpected death of a child or young person aged 25 and under. We work in partnership with professionals who refer into the charity on behalf of families, so they don’t have to trawl through the internet for an organisation who may, or may not, be able to support. We provide immediate, and ongoing, support and are here for as long as our families need us.

In January 2024 we launched phase one, of the ten-phase expansion, into the bordering counties of England and Wales, namely; Cheshire, Shropshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Gloucestershire and Avon and Somerset. In July 2025, we plan to launch phase two of the expansion and will continue to roll out support in the coming years across the whole of England.

Context of role:

2wish support anyone affected by the sudden and unexpected death of a child or young person aged 25 and under. We provide immediate casework support, as well as ongoing services including counselling, complementary therapies, play therapy, coffee mornings, support events and a respite cottage.

As we continue to expand our services across England the successful candidate will play a central role in the ongoing development of our relationships with stakeholders. Initiative and drive play an integral part of ensuring our professional stakeholders remain engaged and champion our service to those we support. The post holder will provide immediate and ongoing emotional and practical support to families, friends, witnesses and professionals affected by the sudden death of a child or young adult.

Main duties:

Service:

• To initiate immediate support for a caseload of families whose children and young people aged 0- 25 have died suddenly and unexpectedly across the county you reside in and bordering counties
• To contact all families within 24-48 hours of the referrals by telephone
• Complete an initial assessment of families' needs to identify and plan the support as required in line with safeguarding and risk reduction
• Offer emotional support and advice to a case load of families through home visits and ongoing weekly telephone calls
• To liaise with the Counselling Support and Outreach Coordinator, who is responsible for organising formal support such as counselling, complementary therapy or play therapy, subject to consent from the bereaved individual
• To work with hospital staff, GP’s, police officers, coroner offices, mental health teams and other healthcare professionals to raise awareness of and promote referrals into the charity from the county you reside in and bordering counties
• To liaise with other professionals working alongside the family to provide a holistic and multiagency approach to support
• Attend relevant forums within the area
• To deliver awareness training in hospitals and other healthcare settings, schools and workplaces on the use of the bereavement boxes, the services we offer, ho to refer into the charity and bereavement awareness
• To ensure families have been offered a memory box and coordinate these when required
• Facilitate debriefs within professional settings following a traumatic or sudden death of a child or young person
• To work with hospital trusts to establish and maintain the upkeep of suitable bereavement suites for bereaved individuals to use as required
• Maintain stock of 2wish memory boxes and deliver boxes to partner organisations as required
• To submit monthly/quarterly/annual reports to Bereavement Services Manager as required
• To signpost and/or refer to other agencies as required that can provide support as needed
• Cover members of the support team for annual leave and/or sickness
• To travel to attend in-person team meetings and in-person training as required
• To travel to in-person events as required

General:

• To be responsible for organising own work agenda, time management and administration
• To show respect and sensitivity for the cultural and religious beliefs of families
• To undertake learning opportunities and seek them out for the team
• To adhere to all company policies and procedures including Safeguarding, Confidentiality, Health and Safety and Lone Working; and to be proactive in implementing new safe working practices as appropriate
• To attend weekend and evening community events in support of the charity as necessary
• Participate as and when required in team meetings and one-to-one meetings, and undertake, as appropriate, courses/training/other developmental activities, which is relevant to the role
• Contribute on the social media platforms maintained by 2wish

It is the nature of the work that tasks and responsibilities are in may circumstances unpredictable and varied. All employees are therefore expected to work in a flexible way and tasks, which are not specifically covered in their job description may have to be undertaken.

You will be subject to performance review, which will incorporate a review of the above duties and performance over the period.

This role is subject to a DBS check.

Salary: Starting salary of £26,500 per annum, with the opportunity for an increase through the appraisal structure.

Contract type: Permanent

Hours: Normal office hours are 9am - 5pm, Monday to Friday, although alternative hours may be worked with line manager agreement. Work outside office hours may sometimes be necessary and will be compensated for by time off in lieu.

Annual leave: 28 days plus bank holidays. Annual leave steadily increases after five years of service. Annual leave and statutory holidays are calculated on a pro rata basis where applicable.

Pension: 2wish operate a contributory pension scheme. 2wish will auto-enrol you into the scheme in accordance with it's auto-enrolment obligations. Full details of the scheme will be provided to you once you are enrolled, including the minimum level of contributions that you will be required to make during your membership (current contributions - employer 3% and employee 5%).

Mileage: A fixed rate allowance is payable for agreed mileage undertaken on 2wish business in a private vehicle, over and above your usual journey to your workplace/s.

Location: This post is predominantly home based, with regular travel across the areas you will be covering and some travel to our Head Office in South Wales.

Additional benefits for our employees:

• An 'Employee Assistance Programme, ' including wellbeing support
• Free parking on 2wish premises
• Free branded 2wish clothing
• An extra annual leave day on your birthday
• Incremental increase in holiday entitlement based on length of service
• Paid sick leave
• Discounts for personal purchases on 2wish Merchandise
• Discounted tickets to UK 2wish events for staff and family
• Extra holiday entitlement when taking part in 2wish overseas events
• Company mobile phone for performance of duties
• Tools/equipment required for the performance of duties
• Reimbursement of work expenses
• Bright Exchange employee discounts
• Auto-enrolment into company contributory pension scheme after 3 months service

How to apply:

Please return a CV and covering letter, or a CV and two-minute video, by email.

Closing date: 26th September 2025

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as soon as possible. Only those shortlisted will be contacted for an interview. Interviews may take place prior to the advertised closing date.

Would you like to support a dynamic annual conference that brings together a diverse group of people to learn, be inspired and collaborate to achieve workplace justice and fight poverty and discrimination?

Workplace Justice is a new company limited by guarantee that has been created to take forward the annual New Organising Conference. The New Organising Conference is unique in bringing together a diverse group of participants - trade unions established and new, community organisers, not for profits, academics, lawyers and journalists, with a shared interest in worker rights. In September 2025 60 people will deliver 40 different sessions to an audience of 135 people.

Overview of the role

This role, which will be largely remote, with regular online supervision and periodic meet-ups, offers the opportunity to support an important social justice initiative which has received hugely positive feedback from participants. You will have a high degree of autonomy, and a varied and interesting workload, as well as the opportunity to interact with and meet inspiring activists and educators.  Because of the annual cycle of the conference, you will ideally be able to flex your working hours across the year, with the opportunity for a four week break after the conference.

Job description

To provide operational support for Workplace Justice and the New Organising Conference with a particular focus on outreach and social media but also covering finance, website, participant database, registration, and governance.

Outreach and Operations Support Manager, New Organising Conference

3/4 days/week circa £33,000 f/t/e/

Background

Workplace Justice is the organisational home of the annual New Organising Conference, now in its third year, with support from the Network for Social Change The New Organising Conference, held over a weekend, is unique in bringing together a diverse group of participants - trade unions established and new, community organisers, not for profits, academics, lawyers and journalists, with a shared interest in worker rights and community organising. Participants learn, get inspiration and form new collaborations. In September 2025, 60 people delivered 44 different sessions to an audience of 130 people. You can see videos of past conferences here.

Overview of the role

This role is largely remote, with weekly online supervision and monthly meet-ups with the Coordinator, and twice yearly Board meetups. It offers the opportunity to support an important social justice initiative which has received hugely positive feedback from participants. You will have a high degree of autonomy, and a varied and interesting workload, as well as the opportunity to interact with and meet inspiring activists and educators.  Because of the annual cycle of the conference you will ideally be able to flex your working hours across the year, with the opportunity for a four week break after the conference. You are unlikely to be able to take more than one week’s holiday during July and August.

Summary job description

To provide operational support for Workplace Justice and the New Organising Conference, focussing on marketing and communications including social media but with responsibility in addition for finance, the participant database and governance.

The role offers 5 weeks paid holiday. PAYE or self-employed status for discussion.

Key tasks

• Raising the profile of NOC and attracting participants and session leaders through social media, email communications and networking

• Responsibility for ensuring the website evolves in line with the needs of the Conference

• Maintaining and operating a database of participants, past and present

• Managing the registration of participants to the conference including taking payment and where necessary issuing invoices, and recruiting volunteers to assist at the conference

• Supporting the Board led process to select sessions and plan the programme

• Attending the conference and trouble shooting as necessary

• Operating a simple finance system

• Support as needed for initiatives arising from the NOC

• Any other support tasks that may be required

 

Person specification

Essential

• At least three years experience in a similar role

• Contacts in and understanding of the trade union movement, UK or international

• Proven track record of using outreach on social media to achieve results

• Experience of working independently

• Close attention to detail in data handling

• Persuasive and constructive manner in dealing with other people

• Familiarity with website editors e.g Squarespace

• Experience of basic financial management

Desirable

• Experience of using the Action Network system

• Experience of event management

• Ability to accommodate peaks and troughs in workflow

• Experience of using graphic design software e.g. Canva, Adobe

• Experience of website design

• Experience of managing projects or operations with multiple stakeholders

Online interviews will be on October 10th with final in person interviews held in London on October 14th. If selected for an interview, we will email the interview questions ahead of the interview. As well as interviews there will be tests of competencies. All non AI generated applications with an email address will be acknowledged. If selected you will be expected to attend a 24 retreat with the Board on 5/6 December.

We especially welcome applications from people who are or have been marginalised in society on the basis of their class background, income, ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexuality, or other characteristics. 

Key dates

• The closing date for applications is midnight on October 4th

• Online interviews will be on October 10th with notification on October 8th.

• In person interviews will be held in London on October 14th with notification on October 11th.

We are looking for an experienced Finance Director to join our team of nearly 100 staff, ideally before the end of 2025.

This is a full-time, home-based, permanent position. You can be based anywhere in mainland UK or Ireland, with some travel and occasional overnight stays to meeting and conferences mainly in England and Wales.

We offer flexibility around working hours, including the option of a 9 day fortnight - time off in lieu is also available. We offer 25 days holiday pro rata (rising to 28 days) plus statutory public holidays. We are happy to make adjustments for people with disabilities and/or caring responsibilities, and we welcome applications from all communities.

The role is a grade 7 position with a starting salary circa £75,000 plus benefits including 9% employer pension contribution.

The Finance Director (“FD”) works alongside the Chief Executive and Operations Director to manage the finances and governance of The Rivers Trust, a leading conservation charity with three associated trading subsidiaries operating across the UK and Ireland, with a collective annual income approaching £10m.

Given the prospective retirement of the current postholder at the end of 2025, we are seeking a well-qualified and experienced individual to take on this senior leadership role as soon as possible to enable handover to occur.

The role is very varied and wide-ranging, including presenting financial information to the Trustees and senior management on a quarterly basis, reviewing monthly management accounts, leading on annual budgeting, appraising internal project concepts and contracts, statutory compliance administration and liaising with auditors.

The postholder will lead a team of eight in the Finance department and join a very welcoming team of 95 highly engaged and passionate staff at The Rivers Trust.

Main duties and responsibilities:

Working alongside the CEO, the Finance Director will provide commercial, financial and governance management and leadership for The Rivers Trust ("the Charity") and its associated subsidiaries (“The Companies”). The FD will not only be an exceptional accountant, with executive oversight of the finance function, but will be commercially astute and have the confidence to represent robustly the best interests of The Companies. The FD will also be an experienced manager of people.

Key Accountabilities:

1. Act as a business partner to support and constructively challenge the CEO in the general management of the Charity and the Companies, reporting to the board.
2. Lead all aspects of the finance function (including maintaining and developing the financial control environment; robust financial accounting; cashflow management; incisive management information; clear and concise reporting to Board) to ensure that the Charity and the Companies’ assets are secured, risks are managed, and the Board of Trustees, subsidiary boards and committees can make well-informed decisions.
3. Manage relationships with auditors, funders, IT specialists, banks, investment platforms and other external organisations.
4. Provide support to project bids and the development of other commercial opportunities to ensure that bids/opportunities are optimised for the Charity and the Companies as a whole.
5. Provide input to project and programme delivery from time to time, to ensure that performance is maximised for the Charity and the Companies.
6. Attend Board meetings and Business Audit and Risk Committee meetings to guide the Board and the Senior Management Team on financial, commercial and governance issues.
7. Ensure compliance with the requirements of the Charity Commission and Companies House and, from time to time, provide guidance to members of the Rivers Trust movement on good governance practice.
8. Maintain the finance department operational manual for business continuity.
9. Serve as the Company Secretary for the Charity and Companies.

Staff Management:

1. Lead, manage and develop the finance team (who work remotely) and ensure the team understands their respective and collective contribution to achieving the Charity's and the Companies’ objectives.
2. Support the team in their professional development.
3. Ensure the team delivers a high-quality service focused on internal and external customers and funders.

Knowledge, skills, experience, and personal qualities:

Essential

• Significant experience in financial management and senior leadership roles, ideally gained in a range of organisations.
• A strategic thinker, able to see the big-picture, shape long-term direction and balance this with attention to detail.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills combined with creativity and openness to innovate.
• Strong IT and digital skills, with experience of using technology to improve efficiency and automate processes.
• Proven people leadership experience, with a track record of managing, developing, and inspiring teams and creating a supportive, inclusive, and collaborative culture.
• Excellent relationship builder, with the interpersonal skills to influence, collaborate, and provide constructive challenge while maintaining positive relationships across the organisation, including with trustees and senior stakeholders.
• Experience reporting to boards of trustees and/or directors, with the confidence to contribute to board-level discussions as a trusted adviser.
• Strong written and verbal communications skills, able to distil complexity into pertinent, concise and understandable messages tailored to diverse audiences.
• The courage to make and communicate tough decisions and be open about risks and setbacks.
• Resilient and calm under pressure, with the ability to maintain focus and steady leadership in challenging circumstances.
• Impeccable standards of integrity and personal ethics, acting as a role model for the organisation values.
• Knowledge of Sage financial software packages.
• Work to a good standard in Microsoft 365, especially Excel, Word, Outlook and Teams.

Desirable

• Experience of working in the charitable sector.
• Experience of being a Company Secretary.
• Understanding of the environmental sector or a passion for making a positive impact.
• Familiarity in using Sharepoint, Sage and Slack.
• Knowledge of Partial Exemption VAT rules.
• A basic understanding of Irish tax law, Irish and UK payroll taxes and corporate governance.

Qualifications/ Education

• Qualified Accountant, preferably ICAEW or ACCA.

Additional information

Everyone who works for us is expected to contribute to a respectful and inclusive working culture and follow our policies and procedures including Health & Safety, EDI, Cybersecurity and GDPR.

Please note we can only accept applications made through this site, and not sent by email or other methods.

We are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible. We warmly welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. If you would benefit from any adjustments to support you through the process, please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate your needs.

To apply please send your CV and a covering letter.

Closing date: Wednesday 24th September 2025

We may close this vacancy early if we receive a strong pool of applications, so we encourage early submission

Nb: The provisional closing date for this role is 28th September 2025 at 11.59pm, however we may close this sooner depending on the number of applicants we receive. We therefore encourage you to apply as soon as possible to avoid missing out on this opportunity.

We are excited to announce that we are looking for a temporary Team Coordinator to cover a period of Maternity leave within the Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs) to support the expansion of our offer to children and young people in North, East, and Central Bristol.

Mental Health Support Teams are part of a national strategy implemented by the government in 2018. In Bristol, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire, the MHSTs are run as a partnership between OTR and NHS Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (AWP CAMHS). This partnership makes our MHST unique, creative, and responsive to the needs of the diverse communities we work in.

Team Coordinators will assist MHST Team Managers and Clinical Leads in the operational management of Mental Health Support Teams by providing high quality support to staff members and supporting initiatives to develop our workforce. 

Applicants will need relevant education in line with the requirements of the role, experience working with young people and the adults in their lives, and demonstrable management skills with the ability to lead a diverse team with a range of needs and skills.

To find out more about the role please download the Job Pack below or from our careers page

If you would like an informal chat about the role, please contact the email listed in our Job Pack

To apply for this role click 'Redirect to recruiter' and then the 'Apply now' on our careers page

We welcome applications from all sections of the community and are committed to developing a team that reflects the diversity of the people we work with

Safeguarding: 

OTR is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We expect all staff, trustees, and volunteers to share this commitment.

As part of our Safer Recruitment practices, all roles involving contact with young people will be subject to robust pre-employment checks, including references, a full employment history, and an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Where applicable, overseas criminal record checks will also be required.

We are dedicated to creating a culture of vigilance, transparency, and accountability. Our safeguarding procedures are guided by the principle that the welfare of the child is paramount, and all staff are required to adhere to OTR’s Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy. 

OTR & Benefits:

OTR is a mental health social movement by and for young people. The charity is at an exciting stage of its 59-year history and is proud to be reaching more young people than ever before (over 20,000) across Bristol, South Gloucestershire, and North Somerset with creative and diverse mental health and wellbeing info and support.

Our approach to mental health is grounded in a set of beliefs and assumptions that underpins all of our work. We believe in celebrating diversity, empowering and mobilising young people to make change, and that catering to the unique strengths, interests and circumstances surrounding young people is key. Our approach centres on collaboration and partnership, building relationships between individuals, peers and communities.

Each day is as engaging and fulfilling as the last, and with a network of supportive, community minded people, we hope you’ll feel welcome here. As a thank you, we like to compensate our employees for the important work they do with a range of benefits including a flexible leave policy (38 days), healthcare cost assistance with HealthShield, flexible and hybrid working arrangements, enhanced sick pay, parental leave, continual training and development, free yoga and reiki, and more (subject to contractual terms and conditions).

A Willingness to Work with Difference

At OTR, whatever your role or professional background, you will be expected to work in a way that is anti-oppressive and inclusive. A key focus for OTR is to develop an organisation that is inclusive for all but we do not claim to be experts in this. We are committed to continuous learning and improvement in these areas and invite you to join us on this journey.

OTR recognises the benefits to individual practice and organisational credibility of having a diverse community of staff and volunteers and to this end is continually working towards building and maintaining an environment which values and pursues diversity accordingly.

We recognise that tackling systemic inequality, prejudice, racism and oppressive practice requires each of us to actively engage, self-examine and make changes where necessary, in order to improve access and equitable experience for all in society and all of those who come through our doors at OTR.