Programme and policy manager jobs

Employability Events and Partnerships Manager

London, Greater London (Hybrid)

£35,000 per year

Full-time

Permanent

Job description

If you share our vision that ‘every young person should be supported to gain the confidence, independence and skills they need for a better and brighter future’ we might have the perfect role for you!

ThinkForward is recruiting an Employability Events and Partnerships Manager to aid our team in delivering our unique programme supporting young people into further education and employment. If you….

• Have a keen enthusiasm for working with young people

• Experience facilitating engaging and inclusive employability activities to equip young people for further education and sustained employment​

• Are process driven and organised, with experience in planning and delivery across multiple programmes and projects ​

• Possess the ability to develop new and maintain our strong external business partnerships that support the delivery ​of employability programmes

• Can influence ThinkForward’s careers advice through expertise and insight around the local educational and employment landscape​

• Have the skills to use data to plan, analyse and evaluate employability and progression activities ​

• Can lead on cultivating and onboarding new business partnerships in the London area

…then please click on the attached job pack for our role description and information pack for more details about ThinkForward and the role you could play, then apply via CharityJob with your CV and cover letter. Your cover letter should answer the following questions: 

1. Can you share an example of where you have project managed and delivered employability events or programmes, such as ‘ready for work’ activities?

2. Describe your experience of building and maintaining relationships with external partners, such as employers or corporate organisations, to support employability outcomes.

3. How have you used data, local labour market insight, or feedback to plan, deliver, and improve employability activities or progression programmes?

4. Can you give an example of how you have worked collaboratively with internal teams and external partners to deliver successful employability initiatives?

South East London Mind's Queer Minds Programme delivers peer-led mental health support for LGBTQIA+ people (aged 18+) in Lambeth and Southwark through two monthly peer support groups, a trans drop-in, events with partner organisations, psychoeducational workshops, and outreach activities.

The Programme Lead and Facilitator is responsible for coordinating and delivering the various strands of the programme, ensuring all services meet the contractual obligations of its funders. The role requires someone who is forward-thinking and adaptable, proactive in responding to the evolving needs of the group’s members and wider LGBTQIA+ community. They should be experienced in co-creative approaches to mental health and project management, working closely with programme participants to shape varied and meaningful initiatives. They will also bring creativity and flexibility, ensuring services remain impactful and grounded in lived experience while seeking relevant partnerships to enrich the programme’s offerings.

They will work collaboratively with participants, sessional facilitators, volunteers, community groups, and partners to deliver supportive spaces that foster connection, shared experience, and improved mental health and autonomy. The role includes building and maintaining strong partnerships, developing grassroots collaborations, and identifying outreach opportunities to increase the programme’s reach and profile. The post holder will work closely with the Peer Support Manager to deliver against objectives, maintain stakeholder relationships, and meet reporting requirements.

Successful applicants will be expected to undergo an Enhanced Level Disclosure and Barring Service check.

Closing date: Sunday 12th July (11:59pm)

Likely interview date: Wednesday 22nd July

We encourage early applications as we reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high number of applications.

About Us

SEL Mind supports people with mental health problems and dementia in the boroughs of Bromley, Greenwich, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark. We are proud of our diverse workforce and know that our organisation is made stronger by the variety of backgrounds, experience, and ideas within it. We promote a culture of inclusion and representation, and are working hard to build a workforce that even better reflects the communities we support.

SEL Mind is somewhere that you can be your authentic self without fear of discrimination on the grounds of ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, neurodivergence, gender, age, lived experience of mental health problems or anything else that’s part of who you are.

Read more about staff benefits and why staff love working here on our website.

We have a rare opportunity for an experienced policy professional to join as team as Policy Analyst.

In this exciting role you will lead the policy workstream for Head On, a major Wellcome Trust funded campaign bringing together 20 sector leading organisations to build political momentum for mental health reform. You will be a skilled policy analyst and writer, able to coordinate influencing opportunities with MPs, Ministers and No. 10 on the NHS 10 Year Plan and the new Mental Health Strategy. Experience in policy and public affairs, and knowledge of health or mental health policy, are essential.

Centre for Mental Health is committed to promoting equity, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of our work, to help create better mental health for all. We are taking active steps to become an antiracist organisation, and we value and support staff with lived experience of mental health challenges. We want the team shaping mental health policy to reflect the diversity of people whose lives that policy affects. We are happy to provide reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process for disabled applicants. We particularly encourage applications from people of colour and trans people, who are often underrepresented in policy roles.

We are also able to offer this role as a potential secondment opportunity. 

Title:     Engagement Manager

Salary:     £42,000–£52,000 (depending on experience)

Contract:     Permanent

Hours:     37.5 per week (Monday to Friday) 

Holiday:     25 days per year plus bank holidays 

Location:     Home based with regular travel within / to London and across the UK

Probationary Period:     3 months

Reports to:     Head of Department 

Benefits:     An additional 3 days holiday between Christmas and New Year, Flexitime policy, 5% pension contribution

Line Management:     Depending on experience, may line-manage the Senior Engagement Coordinator. 

We are River Action

We are a small and agile campaigning organisation on a mission to rescue Britain's rivers from a toxic cocktail of agricultural, sewage and industrial pollution and water shortages. We support community action, galvanise and mobilise public opinion, influence government policy, take legal actions and call out destructive industrial practices to incentivise changes that end river pollution and secure freshwater. 

We are building a talented team of positive disrupters and stakeholder mobilisers to deliver our strategy to urgently protect and restore our rivers for the benefit of communities, rivers and wildlife.

Britain’s rivers are our life support system and they are dying. We need urgent action to bring them back to life.

Who we are looking for

As River Action’s profile, influence and policy impact continue to grow, we are expanding our Public Affairs function to strengthen engagement with decision-makers, regulators, businesses, NGOs, strategic partners and local communities.

The Engagement Manager will play a critical role in helping River Action influence change by developing high-level relationships, building strategic partnerships and providing strategic leadership across River Action’s engagement programmes to advance our policy, legal and campaigning objectives.

This is a senior engagement leadership role responsible for providing strategic oversight of both stakeholder engagement and community engagement activity, ensuring River Action’s grassroots campaigning and external influence work are mutually reinforcing

What you’ll be doing

The Engagement Manager will lead River Action’s overall engagement strategy, providing strategic oversight of both stakeholder engagement and community engagement activity across the organisation.

Building and managing relationships with senior leaders across government, regulators, NGOs, businesses, financiers, academia and civil society, the postholder will identify opportunities to increase River Action’s influence, support policy and advocacy objectives, and help position the organisation as a leading voice on river protection and environmental reform.

The role will provide strategic direction and oversight to River Action’s community engagement work, including the River Rescue Kit, Community Toolkit and catchment-based campaigning activities, working closely with the Senior Engagement Coordinator who will lead day-to-day delivery, community support and programme implementation.

Working closely with colleagues across Public Affairs, Campaigns, Communications, Legal and Development, the Engagement Manager will ensure engagement activities contribute directly to organisational priorities and campaigns and that community insights help shape River Action’s policy, legal and campaigning work.

Main Responsibilities:

Strategic Stakeholder Engagement

• Develop and deliver River Action’s stakeholder engagement strategy.

• Manage relationships with senior stakeholders and decision-makers.

• Develop and implement engagement or public affairs strategies.

• Identify, map and prioritise key stakeholders across government, regulators, business, NGOs, academia and civil society.

• Build and maintain productive relationships with senior external stakeholders.

• Create opportunities for strategic collaboration that advance River Action’s mission and objectives.

• Monitor stakeholder developments and identify opportunities and risks.

Managing Stakeholder and Community Engagement

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight of River Action’s stakeholder and community engagement programme.

• Ensure effective delivery and continuous development of the River Rescue Kit and Community Toolkit as key resources supporting grassroots campaigners and community groups.

• Oversee catchment-based engagement strategies that strengthen community-led action, advocacy and campaigning.

• Work closely with the Senior Engagement Coordinator to identify opportunities to expand and strengthen River Action’s network of stakeholder and community groups, campaigners and partners.

• Ensure insights, evidence and priorities emerging from stakeholders and local communities to inform River Action’s public affairs, policy, legal and campaigning work.

• Monitor the effectiveness and impact of community engagement activities and ensure learning is shared across the organisation.

• Support the development of engagement frameworks, systems and processes that enable effective community mobilisation at scale.

Public Affairs and External Influence

• Support the delivery of River Action’s Public Affairs strategy.

• Build relationships with parliamentarians, political advisers, local authority leaders and relevant government officials.

• Support engagement with regulators including the Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales, Ofwat and other relevant bodies.

• Represent River Action in external forums, roundtables, conferences and stakeholder meetings.

• Coordinate stakeholder engagement around key campaigns, policy initiatives and legal actions.

Strategic Partnerships

• Develop partnerships with environmental NGOs, think tanks, academic institutions, financiers and businesses.

• Identify opportunities for joint initiatives, campaigns and advocacy activity.

• Strengthen River Action’s position within the wider environmental and public policy landscape.

• Convene strategic partnerships to support policy and campaigning objectives.

Organisational Leadership

• Work closely with the Head of Public Affairs to support delivery of organisational objectives.

• Provide strategic direction, support and oversight to the Senior Engagement Coordinator, ensuring community engagement activity aligns with organisational priorities and objectives.

• Provide stakeholder intelligence and strategic advice to senior leadership.

• Contribute to organisational planning and public affairs priorities.

• Support cross-team working between Public Affairs, Campaigns, Communications, Legal and Fundraising.

• Ensure strong integration between River Action’s community engagement, public affairs, campaigns, communications and legal work.

Communications and Representation

• Act as an ambassador for River Action externally.

• Support media opportunities through stakeholder engagement and relationship building.

• Prepare briefings, stakeholder reports and engagement plans.

• Help identify influential voices and advocates who can amplify River Action’s work.

Monitoring and Reporting

• Maintain stakeholder engagement plans and CRM records.

• Monitor engagement outcomes and report against agreed KPIs.

• Evaluate the effectiveness of stakeholder engagement activity and recommend improvements.

What you’ll bring

Essential Experience

• Significant experience in stakeholder engagement, public affairs, external affairs, partnerships or advocacy.

• Experience managing relationships with senior stakeholders and decision-makers.

• Experience developing and implementing engagement or public affairs strategies.

• Experience overseeing or managing community engagement, organising or grassroots campaigning programmes.

• Experience translating community priorities and local evidence into policy, advocacy or campaigning objectives.

• Experience working across complex stakeholder environments.

• Experience representing an organisation externally.

Essential Knowledge

• Understanding of UK water-related political, regulatory and policy-making processes.

• Understanding of stakeholder engagement and influence strategies.

• Understanding of community engagement, organising and mobilisation approaches.

• Knowledge of environmental, sustainability or public policy issues.

Essential Skills

• Exceptional relationship-building and networking skills.

• Strong influencing and negotiation abilities.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Strong strategic thinking and political awareness.

• Ability to balance strategic stakeholder engagement with community-led campaigning and mobilisation.

• Strong understanding of how grassroots engagement can support policy, legal and public affairs objectives.

• Ability to develop engagement strategies that connect local action with national influence and impact.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities and complex stakeholder relationships.

• Excellent project management and organisational skills.

Desirable

• Knowledge of water policy, environmental regulation or agricultural policy.

• Experience engaging with Westminster, Whitehall or devolved administrations.

• Experience developing partnerships with businesses and financiers.

• Experience supporting policy or advocacy campaigns.

• Experience working with community-led environmental campaigns or citizen science initiatives.

Why join us?

• Be part of a mission-driven organisation working to restore and protect the UK’s rivers.

• Work at the heart of political and environmental change, influencing decision-makers at the highest levels.

• Work in an agile, supportive and happy work environment where your ideas and expertise will have real impact.

• Opportunities for professional development and growth within the organisation.

Diversity and inclusion

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies show that women and people of colour are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single criteria. We are committed to building a diverse, inclusive and equitable workplace. So if you like the look of this role but your past experience does not align perfectly with everything in the job description, we’d still love to hear from you. You may be just the right person for this role.

How to apply

To apply, please submit to jobs at riveractionuk dot com with the subject ‘Engagement Manager’:

• your CV (2 pages), 

• a cover letter (2 pages) explaining why you want to work for River Action and how your skills and experience meet the requirements of the role, and 

• a written submission (2 pages) as described below. 

Only applications including all three documents will be accepted. Please provide your documents in pdf format. 

Written submission

The Government is expected to bring forward a Clean Water Bill in Parliament. River Action wants to influence the Bill to secure stronger protections for rivers, hold polluters to account, and deliver measurable improvements in river health.

In no more than 750 words, set out how you would approach this challenge. Your response should explain:

• Which stakeholders you would prioritise engaging with, and why.

• How you would use partnerships, community groups and grassroots evidence to support your objectives.

• How you would measure the success of your approach.

• One significant challenge or risk, and how you would address it.

We are interested in your ability to think strategically, prioritise effectively, and demonstrate how engagement can help deliver policy and environmental change.

Application process

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until 5pm on Wednesday 15th July.

Should your application be selected during sift, the next stage will involve an initial 15-minute interview. You may then be invited to attend a second interview with a panel. 

Interviews will be held in the weeks commencing 19th July and 26th July via video conference. 

Please indicate in your covering letter or in a covering email your availability for interviews.

If you have any questions about the role or your application, please contact us on jobs at riveractionuk dot com.

About Spear

We launched the award-winning Spear Programme over 20 years ago, and there are now 18 Spear Centres across the country, equipping unemployed 16–24-year-olds facing barriers to employment with the skills and mindset they need to secure work and thrive in the workplace.

About the role

This is an exciting role within Spear’s programme delivery team, leading and inspiring Centre Managers across a region to deliver high-quality coaching and strong outcomes for young people. The role combines line management, performance oversight and contributing to the ongoing development of Spear’s coaching culture and curriculum. It’s a great opportunity for an experienced coach and people manager to shape delivery and help more young people move into education, employment, or training.

Key information:

• Salary: from £36,000 dependant on location
• Location: London/South of England or West of England
• Full-time, Permanent
• 28 days annual leave (including Christmas gift days) plus bank holidays (pro rata)
• Regular staff prayer meetings, conferences and retreats (one residential)
• Closing date: Friday 3rd July (We interview on a rolling basis and will close the role early if we find the right candidate)

We are an office-based organisation, working face-to-face with the trainees and value the collaboration and opportunities to work creatively and build community that this offers us. There is an expectation of travel and of spending time in the centres where the Programme Manager has oversight.

For more information please read through our Job Specification and Work with Us Pack.

If you require any reasonable adjustments as part of the recruitment process, please let us know.

Person Specification

• A practising Christian, passionate about personally representing the values and beliefs of Spear, and our mission to equip and support young people facing barriers to employment
• Excellent all-round coaching ability, with extensive coaching experience in group and 1-1 facilitation and/or other relevant transferable skills
• Highly experienced in line management and holding responsibility for others’ professional development and wellbeing
• Effective interpersonal skills and high emotional intelligence, with the ability to relate confidently to church partners as well as a range of audiences, internally and externally
• Self-motivated forward planner who exercises initiative, with the ability to prioritise workload, including working well under pressure
• Good IT skills, with a working knowledge of Salesforce and Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint

Grants Programme Officer

Maudsley Charity
Salary: £35,000
Location: Hybrid - South London (Denmark Hill) & home working
Contract: Full-time (37.5 hours)
Start date: September 2026

About the role
Charity People are delighted to be partnering with Maudsley Charity to recruit a Grants Programme Officer to join their growing Programmes team, supporting the Living Well with Psychosis programme.

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone looking to build or deepen their experience in grant-making, programme delivery, and social impact. You'll play a central role in ensuring funding is distributed effectively, equitably, and with real impact-supporting work that improves mental health outcomes across south London and beyond.

Working closely with Programme Leads, you'll help manage grant portfolios, support funding processes from application through to monitoring, and contribute to learning and impact across the organisation.

About the organisation
Maudsley Charity is a grant-making foundation dedicated to improving mental health care. It works with NHS partners, King's College London, and community organisations to fund innovative, evidence-based solutions.

The charity is driven by a clear mission: ensuring that everyone experiencing mental illness can access the care that's right for them, with a strong focus on equity, lived experience, and tackling inequalities in mental health outcomes.

Key responsibilities
Grant-making & programme delivery

• Support end-to-end grant processes, including application review, due diligence and decision-making
• Manage and monitor a portfolio of grants, maintaining strong relationships with funded organisations
• Act as a key point of contact for applicants and grant holders
• Contribute to assessment panels, scoring bids and supporting funding decisions

Project & programme support

• Provide project management and administrative support to Programme Leads
• Help plan timelines, track progress, and coordinate programme activity
• Support delivery of events, workshops and engagement activity

Learning & impact

• Gather insights, data and learning from funded partners
• Support the charity's approach to monitoring, evaluation and impact
• Share learning internally and contribute to continuous improvement

Systems & collaboration

• Maintain accurate records within the grants management system
• Work closely with colleagues across Finance, Communications and Fundraising
• Contribute ideas to improve processes and strengthen inclusive grant-making practices

About you
We're looking for someone who is curious, organised and motivated by social impact.

You might already have experience in grant-making, or have gained relevant exposure through funded projects, the charity sector, or programme delivery work.

You'll bring:

• Strong organisational and project management skills
• Excellent communication and relationship-building ability
• Attention to detail and confidence working with data and systems
• Experience contributing to projects that deliver social impact
• An understanding of (or interest in) grant-making and funding processes

You'll also be someone who enjoys collaborating across teams, is keen to learn, and is motivated by improving mental health outcomes and tackling inequality.

Why apply?

This is a brilliant opportunity to join a values-led, collaborative and inclusive organisation, where you'll be supported to learn, grow and shape your career in grant-making.

Benefits include:

• Hybrid working (typically 2-3 days in the office)
• 25 days annual leave + additional service days + Christmas closure
• Pension contribution up to 6%
• Enhanced family leave policies
• Learning and development opportunities
• Employee wellbeing support and EAP
• A welcoming, inclusive working culture focused on equity and impact

Additional information

• Reporting to: Programme Lead - Living Well with Psychosis
• No line management responsibility
• Based at the Ortus building, close to Denmark Hill station

How to apply
Maudsley Charity is committed to building a diverse and inclusive team and strongly encourages applications from underrepresented backgrounds.

Applications are managed via Charity People and involve a structured, anonymised process focusing on your experience and potential. Please contact Abi for additional information or to arrange an informal discussion.

You must download the Qualifying Questions document and complete this, also sending in your CV.
You can download all the documentation when you click on 'Apply Now' button. 

Closing date: Wednesday 22nd July at 9am
Interviews (in person): 6th August or 10th August

If this sounds like something you would like to explore but you are unsure if the role is right for you, please feel free to email Abi. 
There is also an optional ‘Ask Us Anything’ Webinar via Zoom on Monday 13th July at 12.30–1.30pm where the Maudsley staff will answer questions.
Please submit questions in advance to Abi before 9am, on Friday 10th July 2026 to ensure all of your queries are answered.
Any further questions can be submitted via the Q&A function during the Webinar.

Interested?
If you're looking for a role where you can support meaningful change in mental health care while developing your career in grant-making, we'd love to hear from you.

Charity People is a forward thinking, inclusive organisation that actively and deliberately promotes equity, diversity and inclusion. We know organisations thrive when inclusion is at the forefront. We evidence our commitment by matching charity needs with the skills and experience of candidates irrespective of background e.g. age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. We do this because we believe that greater diversity leads to greater results for the charities we work with.

Hours: Full time

Pay: Up to £27,980 GBP gross per annual (dependent on experience)

Duration: Permanent

Right to work: Applications for work in the UK can only be accepted from people with an existing right to work in the UK

Location: UK-Med Office, Manchester, UK with hybrid working available

Programme Assistant to support coordination of capacity building and training for Emergency Medical Teams, and humanitarian and academic partners.

The key objective of UK-Med’s training and capacity building capability is to work with colleagues, members, partners, stakeholders and national health staff to strengthen response skills in order to enable Emergency Medical Teams and wider health services to be better prepared for emergencies. Integral to this is to ensure that the professionals who deliver UK-Med’s responses are well prepared, know what to expect, and deliver the best possible responses, resulting in positive health outcomes for the patients and communities we serve.

The Programme Assistant plays a vital role in supporting the delivery of high-quality Capacity Building and Training to internal and external audiences, with a key focus on supporting activities to ensure that preparation and training of UK-Med’s global workforce, comprising Core Staff and a Register of approximately 1,400 healthcare professionals worldwide runs smoothly.

Working under the guidance of the Programme Manager and closely with the rest of the Learning & Capacity Building team, the Programme Assistant will support and coordinate the delivery of high-quality capacity building and training interventions in line with UK-Med’s vision for our digital, in-person and simulation-based training capability.

The ideal candidate for Programme Assistant is someone passionate about Learning and Development and capacity building for humanitarian programming with excellent attention to detail, strong administration skills as well as skills in training coordination and effective communication. The role requires an organised and consistent approach to meeting team priorities and deliverables.

We offer a competitive salary and benefits in a supportive work environment, with the opportunity to contribute significantly to humanitarian efforts through your role.

How to apply

We strongly recommend that you read theCandidate Information Pack - Programme Assistant - Training before applying for this role.

To apply, please submit a current CV and answer the application questions

Please apply through our online jobs portal, as soon as possible no later than Wednesday 15th of July 2026

This role is based in the UK, and applications are accepted only from candidates with the right to work in the UK.

UK-Med is committed to safeguarding of our personnel and beneficiaries and has a zero-tolerance approach to sexual exploitation and abuse. We conduct thorough vetting before any appointment is confirmed.

UK-Med is committed to the principles of diversity, equality, and inclusion. We strive to provide an inclusive and supportive environment where employees feel respected and supported to be able to fulfil their potential.

Role purpose

To manage the programme’s policy activity and provide support and expertise to help ensure effective delivery of the programme’s strategy to influence policy change. Working closely with internal and external stakeholders, the role will plan and deliver activities to help ensure Trussell’s analysis and arguments are taken up and the organisation’s policy recommendations are reflected in decisions made by UK government, in line with the programme goals.

This role is part of Trussell’s Making Social Security Work programme, the goal of which is to ensure that social security and employment support are accessible, well-designed and sufficiently funded in order to prevent people experiencing hunger and hardship, and that the UK public view social security as an asset to society. This role is focused on the successful delivery of the overall programme outcomes, contributing to the fulfilment of our long term vision of a UK without the need for food banks.

Key responsibilities

Develop credible policy proposals
 
Plan and deliver policy development activities to achieve the goals of the Making Social Security Work programme. Create credible proposals, including embedding participatory approaches to ensure policy positions are rooted in the lived experience of individuals affected by poverty, to build a strong case for policymakers to implement asks.

Manage policy influencing activities

Plan and deliver policy influencing activities to strengthen Trussell’s ability to secure policy change. This includes briefings and presentations promoting the organisation’s policy positions to external stakeholders and audiences, ensuring alignment across programmes and all nations and regions of the UK. Ensure policy outputs are timely, high-quality and support engagement with key audiences, including UK government officials and Parliamentarians.

Coordinate reactive policy work

Ensure Trussell’s policy positions are included in real-time debates on key issues. Coordinate responses to reactive work on relevant policy issues, including policy consultations, activity in Parliament, in the media or in response to requests from food banks in the Trussell community so Trussell’s voice, evidence and analysis are included in key policy debates, raising the organisation’s profile and influence.

Build stakeholder relationships and networks 

Build collaborative relationships and networks with anti-poverty sector organisations and other external stakeholders to strengthen UK policy activity. Represent Trussell in key sector coalitions and share detailed policy analysis and recommendations with external stakeholders and audiences to raise the organisation’s profile and influence.

Person Specification

Core knowledge
Good knowledge of policy issues relevant to Trussell’s vision, including social security, disability and employment

Good understanding of the machinery of government and policy making in the UK at the national, regional and local levels and of effective policy development and influencing 

Good understanding of how to use evidence and analysis to develop, judge and advocate for policy solutions

Proficiency in MS Office (e.g. Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook) and project management processes 

Essential skills

Skills in developing policy solutions, ability to use different approaches and tailor solutions to organisational goals and external context.  

Good ability to make effective and appropriate use of evidence and analysis when developing and advocating for policy solutions, as well as identify gaps in evidence and make recommendations for filling them

Excellent communication skills, including written, presentations and speaking, ability to adapt to influence different audiences

Collaborative interpersonal skills, ability to build relationships and influence internal and external stakeholders.

Effective project management and ability to balance competing priorities, meet tight deadlines and maintain a constructive approach to challenges.

Role models inclusive behaviour and values, demonstrates commitment to the values of Trussell and empathy for people from disadvantaged, marginalised or socially excluded backgrounds.

Key experience

Track record of successfully delivering strategic policy influencing activity based on robust evidence from development to evaluation 

Experience of informing campaigns activity to mobilise support for policy change 

Experience line managing or task managing staff and contributing to team development 

Special Requirements 
None

Salary: £45000-£49000 p.a DOE

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Reports to: Senior Insight Manager

Direct reports: There is potential for line management responsibility for an Insight Officer to support their development, oversee elements of their work, and help to ensure high standards of research quality and delivery.

Location: Harlow, Essex. Easily commutable from London Liverpool Street or Tottenham Hale Station. We offer a free minibus service to/from Harlow Town Train Station as well as free parking and EV charging on site.

Extra Information: Open to conversation on hybrid, flexible and compressed working arrangements. The team works a minimum of two days a week from the office.

About the role:

At the Motability Foundation we fund, support, research and innovate so that all disabled people can make the journeys they choose. We oversee the Motability Scheme and provide grants to help people use it, providing access to transport to hundreds of thousands of people a year. We award grants to other charities and organisations who provide different types of transport, or work towards making transport accessible. We also carry out ongoing research, in partnership with disabled people and key stakeholders in the industry, to inspire innovations that continue to champion accessible transport for all.

This role will support the Senior Insight Manager in delivering policy research and insight as part of the new insight function. This role sits at the intersection of research and policy, ensuring that evidence is not only generated, but interpreted and mobilised effectively to inform forward-looking organisational positioning.

What you will be doing:

As Policy Research Manager, you’ll play a central role in building and mobilising the evidence needed to influence policy and public debate on mobility, disability and welfare reform. Working closely with colleagues across Insight, Policy and Public Affairs, you’ll help to ensure that the Foundation has a robust, timely and compelling evidence base to support advocacy, engagement with decision-makers, and external partnerships.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Developing clear and persuasive evidence narratives that demonstrate the social value and impact of the Foundation’s work, drawing on research, evaluation findings and wider policy evidence
• Scoping, developing and oversight of rapid evidence reviews and insight summaries to inform policy positions, responses to consultations and support external engagement
• Delivering forward-looking policy analyses using futures and foresight approaches (including horizon scanning and trend synthesis), assessing potential implications for disabled people and organisational positioning.
• Acting as the lead for policy-relevant research on welfare reform and related priority areas, synthesising internal and external evidence to inform organisational responses
• Supporting coordination with Motability Operations on shared policy and research priorities
• Supporting relationships with external partners including Disabled People’s Organisations (DPOs), think tanks and public research bodies, including representing the Foundation to contribute an evidence-informed perspective
• Supporting dissemination and engagement activity, including roundtables, briefings, thought pieces and events that help shape debate and explore innovative policy solutions
• Working collaboratively across the organisation to move our evidence and insight from reactive to proactive, strengthening our influence over time

Your experience:

You’re curious, motivated and motivated by public impact. You enjoy turning complex evidence into clear messages that resonate with different audiences, and you’re keen to see research used to influence real-world decisions. You understand what makes for good enough evidence to influence policy making.

You’re comfortable working across organisational boundaries and with external partners, and you bring energy, judgement and confidence to conversations about policy, evidence and social value.

You’re likely to thrive in this role if you:

• Enjoy synthesising research and data into compelling, accessible insight
• Are motivated by social purpose and improving outcomes for disabled people
• Have a strong interest in public policy
• Have a strong understanding of how evidence can be used to influence decision-making
• Are proactive, organised and able to respond quickly to emerging issues
• Are confident representing an organisation externally and contributing to policy discussions
• Like working collaboratively and building trusted relationships across teams and sectors

If you’re interested in applying and excited about working with us but are unsure if you have the right skills and experience, we'd still encourage you to apply.

Requirements

We recognise that candidates may come from a range of backgrounds. We’re particularly interested in people with strong potential who are keen to develop their skills in a purpose-driven environment.

Must haves:

• Experience conducting or coordinating research, evidence reviews or analysis in a policy, public affairs, research or related setting
• Familiarity with government policy-making processes, consultations and/or parliamentary engagement
• Ability to synthesise complex information into clear, concise written outputs
• Understanding of how research and evidence can be packaged and used effectively to inform or influence public policy
• Experience working with or alongside external organisations such as think tanks, charities, DPOs, academic or public research bodies
• Strong written communication skills and confidence contributing to external briefings, reports or events
• A relevant degree or postgraduate qualification in a social science, public policy or related discipline, or equivalent work experience

Nice to haves:

• Experience working on disability, welfare, transport or social policy issues
• Experience supporting advocacy or public affairs activity using evidence
• Experience designing or managing rapid evidence reviews or insight products
• A recognised professional research qualification such as the MRS Advanced Certificate, or equivalent professional research training.

Benefits

Who are we?

We are building a future where all disabled people have the transport options to make the journeys they choose.

We fund, support, research and innovate so that all disabled people can make the journeys they choose. We oversee the Motability Scheme and provide grants to help people use it, providing access to transport to hundreds of thousands of people a year. We award grants to charities and organisations who provide different types of transport, or work towards making transport accessible. We also carry out ongoing research, in partnership with disabled people and key stakeholders in the industry, to inspire innovations that continue to champion accessible transport for all.

Why choose us?

We want working for the Motability Foundation to be the best career move you’ve ever made. When you join the Motability Foundation you will join a group of people who are supportive, innovative and motivated to improve the lives of our beneficiaries.

We value everyone’s unique qualities and celebrate having a diverse, equitable and inclusive culture where everyone feels safe to be their authentic selves. This is embedded into our values, Collaborative, Respectful and Evolving.

We bring our people together through our People Forum, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Forum, Social Squad and our Wellbeing Champions and our employee Spotlight Awards help us recognise the excellence and dedication of our staff.

We are proud to be recognised as Disability Confident Leader, have attained Platinum Level Award for Investors in People and are members of the Business Disability Forum.

A career with Motability Foundation can offer you so much more than earning potential, we pride ourselves in offering some fantastic benefits. Some of these include:

• 26 days annual leave, plus the option to buy/ sell up to five days.
• One wellbeing day for extra flexibility.
• Pension scheme - Up to 20%, including a 10% non-contributory contribution and matched contributions up to 5%.
• Life Assurance of four times your salary.
• Private healthcare through BUPA for you and your family, along with a Medicash Health Plan.
• Employee assistance programme: GP appointments, eye tests, flu vaccinations, sick pay and free gym and yoga sessions.
• Enhanced Parental Leave, including Adoption Pay.
• Free parking, EV charge points and a minibus service to/from the town centre and train station.
• Fresh fruit, breakfast snacks, and a Dress for Your Day dress code.
• Learning and development opportunities to help you grow.

Our vision is to create a charity where everyone feels like they belong, benefits from and participates in, the work we do. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures, and we aim to be an employer of choice for candidates with disabilities.

As a Disability Confident Leader, we have committed to ensuring that disabled people and those with long term health conditions have the opportunities to fulfil their potential. We want to ensure everyone has the opportunity to perform their best when interviewing and when working with us, so if you require any reasonable adjustments that would make you more comfortable, please let us know so that we can do our best to support you.

To help us create an inclusive workplace we are committed to offering to interview every disabled applicant who meets the minimum criteria for the job. Some of our roles attract a high volume of applications and in some circumstances, we may need to limit the number of interviews offered to disabled and non-disabled candidates. re

Programme Coordinator
Location: Hybrid (typically 3 days in the office), central Manchester with occasional travel 
Contract: Permanent, full-time
Salary: £25,000 - £30,000 
Closing date: 10am, Monday 13th July 2026 

About Belong 

Belong – The Cohesion and Integration Network is a national organisation working to strengthen social cohesion and integration across the UK. Through research, policy development and place-based programmes, we bring people together, support communities and champion approaches that help create a more connected and less divided society.

Belong is entering an exciting new phase of growth. With a strengthened national profile, an ambitious strategy and a passionate team, we are looking for talented people who share our commitment to creating positive change. 

About the Role 

As Programme Coordinator, you will play an important role in supporting the delivery of Belong's place-based programmes across England and Wales. Working closely with the Programme Director, Programme Leads and external partners, you will help ensure projects are well organised, inclusive and impactful. 

This varied role combines project coordination, stakeholder engagement and administrative support. You will help coordinate programme activities, events and communications, maintain project records and resources, support reporting and evaluation activities, and contribute to the smooth day-to-day delivery of programmes. 

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys working across multiple projects, building relationships with a range of stakeholders, and contributing to work that makes a meaningful difference in communities. 

About You 

You will be an organised and proactive individual with experience supporting projects or programmes, ideally within a charity, public sector or wider social impact environment. 

You will have strong organisational and communication skills, excellent attention to detail, and the ability to manage competing priorities effectively. You will be confident working collaboratively with colleagues and external stakeholders, while also taking ownership of your own workload. 

Most importantly, you will be passionate about Belong's mission and values, with a collaborative, inclusive and solutions-focused approach and a genuine desire to learn and develop within a programmes team. 

Benefits  

• 30 days’ annual leave per year 

• Hybrid working (typically 3 days in the office) 

• Enhanced sick pay 

• Enhanced maternity and paternity pay 

How to Apply 

Please click ‘Apply’ to be redirected our recruitment partner's site, where you can download the Candidate Information Pack and find details of how to apply. As part of your application, you will be asked to answer three questions. 

1. Please tell us about a piece of work that you are particularly proud of and the role you played in its success. (max. 300 words) 

1. Please describe a situation where you had to work with a range of different people to achieve a shared outcome. (max. 300 words) 

1. Belong works with people, communities and organisations from a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives. What values or principles guide how you work with others? (max. 300 words) 

Deadline: 10am on Monday 13th July 2026 
Interviews: w/c 27th July 2026 (in-person in Manchester)  

For questions or to arrange an informal conversation, please contact Atkinson HR Consulting.

Belong’s Commitment to Inclusion  

Belong is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion. They welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and particularly encourage individuals from communities under-represented in the charity sector to apply. Impostor syndrome can disproportionately impact candidates from marginalised groups—if you are unsure whether to apply, we encourage you to do so.  

Job description  

Job title:                                      Programme Manager (Surrey) 

Reports to:                                  Head of Justice Programmes

Direct reports:                              x3 Advocate (Surrey)

Start date:                                  TBC following successful completion of HMPPS vetting

Salary:                                            £42,989 per annum (inclusive of £3,990 Southeast weighting)

Working hours:                               Full time – 35 hours per week

Contract:                                      Permanent

Location:                                        Hybrid - Surrey Women's Centre (Woking)
 

Job Purpose

To provide strategic oversight and operational management for Women in Prison services in Surrey. The role will focus on delivering Surrey Women’s CRS probation contract and any other funded programmes in Surrey.

Key Responsibility Areas - 

1. Lead on the operational management and strategic oversight of the Surrey programme, ensuring high quality, trauma responsive services are delivered to women in contact with, or at risk of being in contact with, the criminal justice system.
2. Provide effective leadership to the Surrey team, fostering a positive and supportive culture.
3. Monitor case management systems to ensure accurate and timely data recording
4. Develop effective relationships with key stakeholders, such as commissioners, probation and local authority leads to ensure effective service delivery.

For the full job description, please download the recruitment pack.
 

Person Specification

• Experience delivering effective strengths-based case work support and advocacy to women
• Experience supporting or supervising staff/volunteers
• Working knowledge of good safeguarding practice 
• Good budget management understanding/knowledge
• Understanding of trauma-informed approaches
• Good knowledge of the issues faced by women affected by the criminal justice system 
• Experience working with external partners
• Understanding of equality, diversity and inclusion and a commitment to working in a way that promotes social justice and feminism

This is a hands-on role that moves between two registers: structured qualitative research with proper analytical underpinning, and fast-turnaround reactive policy work. You will need to be genuinely comfortable in both able to run a multi-month thematic publication and turn around a tight briefing or consultation response within 48-72 hours when a policy window opens.

The role will lead The Difference's qualitative research and insight function, including research workstreams tied to the Difference Schools Partnership's annual thematic priorities, and our Harmful and Abusive Behaviours (HaB) workstream convening a sector council to build a shared framework for how schools understand and respond to peer-on-peer harm. You will produce briefings, evidence submissions and publications, manage external research partners, and work with the CEO, Head of Policy and Communications team to launch research with real impact. The role reports to the Head of Policy and works closely with colleagues across Strategy, Research and Programmes.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead The Difference's qualitative research and insight function, running research workstreams tied to annual DSP thematic priorities and emerging strands on MAT inclusion and LA working
• Design and deliver qualitative research with schools, MATs and local authorities interviews, focus groups, school visits and thematic analysis  translating findings into evidence and policy recommendations
• Lead the Harmful and Abusive Behaviours research workstream, convening a sector council, producing briefing material and managing the route from convening to publication
• Produce timely, citable evidence for policy influence  including drafting briefings, consultation responses and evidence submissions on fast turnaround
• Project manage publication cycles from scoping through to launch, working with coalition and media partners to maximise reach and tracking policy traction post-launch
• Brief, manage and integrate the outputs of external research partners where commissioned (e.g. FFT Datalab, Pro Bono Economics)
• Capture and develop case studies from DSP schools and the wider Difference network

About The Difference

• Every day, the equivalent of 5,500 children are suspended from England's schools, doubling their likelihood of being NEET by 24. The Difference is a young education charity founded to change this story through whole school inclusion. We train school leaders, carry out our own research, and turn frontline insights into policy recommendations lobbying Ofsted and the Department for Education to improve funding and support for inclusion. Our vision is to see lost learning falling nationally by 2030.

About You

Essential

• Dual capability across reactive and structured research : comfortable producing tight briefings on a 48–72 hour turnaround and running multi-month qualitative publications
• Experience in education research, policy research or applied social research, with examples of published, commissioned or internally-influential work
• Strong qualitative research skills : interview and focus group design, thematic coding, framework development, synthesis across multiple sources
• Persuasive writing for mixed audiences : able to write clearly and concisely for policymakers, school leaders, the press and the sector, and comfortable ghost-writing for senior colleagues
• Project management discipline : able to run multiple workstreams in parallel, manage your own deadlines, and keep colleagues and external partners on track
• Comfortable working at pace in a fast-moving environment where priorities shift as policy windows open and close : self-directed, flexible and able to make good judgement calls under pressure
• Shared values with The Difference and personal commitment to improving life outcomes for young people

Desired

• Strong working understanding of UK education policy, particularly around inclusion, exclusion, SEND, accountability and school improvement
• Confident data literacy and basic quantitative analysis : comfortable interrogating population-level datasets and translating findings into accessible policy language
• Understanding of why language matters when writing about behaviour, exclusion and vulnerability, and the ability to frame behaviour as a signal of unmet need consistently across all work
• Lived experience or insight into the school experiences of marginalised young people
• Experience of working in or with schools, multi-academy trusts or local authorities
• Existing relationships in education research, policy or sector organisations

Please see the attached Job Description for full role details and person specification.

We are committed to building a diverse team and strongly encourage applications from under-represented groups in the charity sector. As part of our commitment to fairer recruitment, all applications will be assessed with names and protected characteristics redacted.

Main purpose:

Reporting to the CEO and working with a small, dedicated head office team, the post-holder is responsible for the full finance function of the Charity and its Trading Subsidiary, NAFAS Enterprises Limited (currently dormant), using Xero financial package.

Key Relationships

• CEO
• Chair of the Board
• Chair of the Finance and Investment Committee
• Chair of Risk and Audit
• External Auditors
• NAFAS Staff, Area Treasurers and Members
• Suppliers

Key Responsibilities:

· Maintain accounts for the Charity and it’s subsidiary company.

· Manage outsourced payroll provider and Arrange payment of staff salaries, PAYE, NI and pension contributions.

· Process and Make payments for all staff and volunteer expenses.

· Ensure all expenditure payments are made on time.

· Maintain Direct Debits subscriptions.

· Responsible for annual affiliation fee income and master sheet reconciliation

· Raise quarterly invoices for advertising in the Flower Arranger magazine

· Process website stock orders and raise other ad hoc stock order invoices

· Process charity event receipts and expenditure and reconcile against master spreadsheet

· Responsible for supplier invoice processing and payments

· Responsible for banking of cheques and bank reconciliations.

· Responsible for VAT returns for both companies.

· Preparation of management accounts for the CEO, Finance Committee and the Board ona  scheduled agreed with the CEO

· Maintenance of restricted funds documentation, ensuring proper cost allocations and record keeping.

· Maintenance of P&L and Balance Sheets reconciliations.

· Prepare budgets and forecasts and assist CEO with variance analysis.

· Manage rolling 12-month cashflow forecasts.

· Manage the annual audit process.

· Provide information and advice to the CEO and the Board of Trustees.

· Keep up to date with compliance, legislation and regulation and to work within the organisation’s policies and procedures.

· To maintain the Charity’s supporter database ensuring accurate records of income and contact details is kept up to date.

· To act as Secretary to the Finance & Investment Committee and Risk & Audit Committee of the Board

· To act as a central point of contact for all financial enquiries.

General

· To at all times, act as a role model, representing the vision and values of NAFAS.

· Exhibit a strong team-working approach with the aim of maintaining a positive and productive work environment.

· To be involved in shared office duties, such as taking telephone orders, picking, packing and posting orders of trading goods.

· Attend and participate effectively in team meetings, appraisal meetings, and staff development sessions, as is reasonable for part-time working arrangements.

· To attend regular team meetings and undertake relevant training when required.

· To identify and motivate people to be involved in giving voluntary and financial support where possible.

· To undertake any other activities reasonably required.

Personal Specification

• Have significant demonstrable experience in finance and operations within the charity sector, in a similar role

· Be part or fully qualified (ACA, ACCA, CIMA etc) or equivalent

· Have a proven track record in budgeting, forecasting, cashflow management, and financial modelling

· Have experience of working within a small central team

· Have excellent communication skills, both written and verbal

· Have experience of managing compliance areas such as data protection, cyber security, insurance and risk (Desirable)

·  

Benefits

• Casual informal dress
• Season ticket loan
• 25 days annual leave plus statutory bank holidays (pro rata for part time posts)
• Three days additional leave to be taken over the Christmas and New Year period (pro rata for part time posts)
• HealthShield Cash Plan – Level 2
• Company Pension – Nest with 6% company contribution
• Hybrid working option available with a minimum of three days a week in the office

This Job Description cannot be considered to be exhaustive and other duties not included above may arise. On the understanding that such duties are commensurate with the purpose of the job and have been identified as such by the post holder’s line manager and advised to the post holder, then such additional duties shall form part of the requirement of this post.

Living Wage Places

The Living Wage Places scheme is pioneering a collaborative, place-based approach to tackling in-work poverty. Local action groups made up of public and private sector Living Wage Employers, work together with charities, unions and civil society on a three-year action plan to tackle local in-work poverty and grow the number of employers committed to the Living Wage, Living Hours and Living Pensions.

Since the scheme launched in 2019, we have recognised 20 cities, boroughs and city-regions for Making Living Wage Places.

Living Wage Places taps into the power of place, recognising and developing local champions within our network and supporting them to engage and influence their community’s employers. It feeds into broader local economic plans such as community wealth building and local anchor institution work.

Living Wage Foundation

The Living Wage movement began in 2001, after Citizens UK brought together communities in East London to discuss poverty and low pay. The campaign grew in momentum and soon required a mechanism to recognise employers who wanted to join the movement, which saw the establishment of the Living Wage Foundation in 2011.

Still part of Citizens UK today, the Living Wage Foundation continues to work with community organisations to make sure the voices of both workers and businesses are part of the Living Wage movement. We now work with over 16,000 employers, benefitting over 475,000 people and winning over £3bn of better wages for people who need it most.

Citizens UK works with a broad base of institutions across the political spectrum. At the Living Wage Foundation, we take the same deliberately broad-based approach and accredit all organisations who pay the real Living Wage to their directly and indirectly employed staff and are committed to tackling in work poverty. As a team we work across a range of industries and sectors to achieve this mission. We seek pragmatic coalitions in order to progress specific campaigns, and partnership around a particular issue such as Living Wage, does not imply an endorsement of broader purpose and policies.

Main Responsibilities

The Programme Manager for Living Wage Places plays a central role in delivering and growing a pioneering, place-based approach to tackling in-work poverty. The role is responsible for managing and developing the Living Wage Places programme, supporting local action groups to deliver ambitious action plans, and embedding wider standards including Living Hours and Living Pensions. They will be the first point of contact for regional leads seeking guidance in their work/regions. Working across a broad range of internal teams and external stakeholders, the Programme Manager will build strategic partnerships, strengthen regional networks, and ensure effective monitoring, evaluation and learning across the programme. The role combines strong

project management with relationship building, strategic thinking and a commitment to increasing the scale and impact of the Living Wage movement.

Working as the Programme Manager, reporting to the Senior Programme Manager for Living Wage Places, ,

your main responsibilities will include:

Contribute to CUK and Project strategic objectives

· Support and grow the Living Wage Places project and ensure it is embedded in CUK’s overall strategy

· Collate and share good practice across teams to ensure strong collaboration and that civil society remains at the heart of Living Wage Places

· Support strategy development around local and general elections, identifying opportunities to grow the scheme and influence stakeholders

Build and manage projects and achieve work targets effectively

· Monitor, evaluate and draw out learning from across the Living Wage Places project

· Lead the development of systems for monitoring and evaluating impact and progress

· Support action groups to design and deliver Action Plans including Living Hours and Living Pensions

· Facilitate roundtables, meetings, and milestone activities

· Identify opportunities to expand Living Wage Buildings and Zones

· Deliver project milestones and reporting

· Deliver additional projects aligned to team business plan

Learning & Expertise

· Develop expertise in local economic policy including community wealth building and devolution

· Support internal teams to understand Living Wage Places principles · Build knowledge of priority sectors and apply to strategy

· Lead internal learning sessions

· Provide guidance on Living Hours and Living Pensions

· Continue personal professional development

Develop and manage external relationships

· Build and manage relationships with regional stakeholders

· Support development of new partnerships

· Represent the organisation at meetings and events

· Co-deliver the Living Wage Places network

· Develop relationships that support long-term impact

Communications

· Support development and delivery of communications strategy

· Gather and share case studies

· Maintain communications channels

· Support local action groups with communications

Develop and manage internal relationships

· Build capacity of organisers and programme staff

· Lead delivery of learning strategy

· Support collaboration across teams

Generate income and manage resources

· Support development of funding proposals

· Collate evidence for funder reporting

· Contribute to budget development

· Support sustainable growth of programme

Personal Specification

(D) Desirable, (E) Essential

Key skills and knowledge

· Excellent project management skills with the ability to manage a wide range of competing demands (E)

· Outstanding communication skills, both verbally and written, combined with the ability to liaise with senior stakeholders (E)

· Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships, lead, influence and motivate others (E)

· Ability to take in and interpret information and present in a succinct manner (E)

· Understanding of the policy and campaign landscape around inclusive local economic strategies and devolution deals (E)

· Ability to support monitoring and evaluation reports for external funders and internal impact monitoring (E)

· Strong IT skills to include MS Office and CRM software (E)

· Understanding of database and systems management (D)

Personal qualities & values

· A proactive approach to all areas of work with a ‘can do’ attitude and a flexible approach to work demands (E)

· Able to work within a team, responding to needs and achieving results collaboratively (E)

· Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and the mission of the Living Wage Foundation. (E)

About the application process

We work within diverse communities bringing people together. In line with our Inclusion value, we would love to see applications from LGBTQIA+ people, people from racialised communities, people living with disabilities and people of faith, all to better represent the communities we work in. We want our employees to have the working conditions that allows them to fully participate, be able to be their best authentic selves and thrive doing so, and we have employee networks to support staff. Even if you don’t quite meet all the required criteria still consider

applying, as we invest in our employees and support them to develop the skills and knowledge required to deliver their role.

For questions and reasonable adjustments regarding your application including information in a different format, or our recruitment process, please email us.