Programme director jobs in DE72 3BY

You will be instrumental in the quality and impactful implementation, delivery and retention of our sites. You will oversee the delivery of exceptional outcomes in support of the charity's mission. You will work as part of a Regional/Country team to deliver outstanding programmes across your geography, establishing and leading partnerships throughout the life of a programme.    

Regular travel throughout your geographical location will be required, with occasional travel to other areas of the UK, NI and Iberia.  Please stipulate which role you are applying for (North of England or Nationwide).

 In addition, occasional international travel may be required, for example to the annual conference in the United States.  

You will report to either Regional/Country Lead within the Delivery & Partnerships team or the Associate Director of Business Development (depending on the scope of your role). 

• We will conduct selection in the w/c Nov 17th – with a multi-stage process taking place that week

Key Responsibilities  

· You will be accountable for the retention and outcomes of your portfolio of programmes.  

· You will work closely with colleagues in both the Delivery & Partnership team and the Quality & Impact team to pursue quality delivery of programmes that adheres to model fidelity.  

· You will hold partners and stakeholders to account for their key responsibilities in the delivery of quality programmes.  

Head of Programmes is a key role with significant scope to grow as the charity evolves. You’ll lead on the day-to-day delivery of our programmes, including our largest single programme, Maths Circles: a small-group-based maths enrichment programme engaging talented young mathematicians nationwide. You will coordinate a large community of volunteers as well as our in-house team of part-time and freelance staff to deliver an excellent experience for students, parents, tutors and partners.

You will need to be genuinely enthusiastic about using our CRM and Google Sheets to track progress and excited about martialling the charity’s data to communicate clearly with colleagues, partners and trustees. You will take ownership of programme reporting and KPIs, using insights to identify and implement delivery improvements and demonstrate impact.

You will communicate regularly with our diverse community – including speaking directly to young people and parents to resolve issues, recruiting and training education professionals and meeting with partners to organise and manage projects. Beyond programme delivery, you’ll play a crucial part in fundraising, communications, recruitment and planning and will occasionally deputise for the Foundation Director in representing the charity externally.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, delivery and continuous improvement of programme operations
• Drive impact by setting, monitoring and reporting on KPIs (e.g. attendance, retention, satisfaction) whilst sharing insights with partners and funders
• Coordinate and support a team of part-time staff, freelancers and delivery contractors
• Lead communications with parents, students, tutors and external partners
• Act as Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (training provided)
• Support fundraising, charity development and strategic planning
• Support recruitment and onboarding of staff, volunteers and collaborators
• Contribute to newsletters, social media, and other communications content 

You should apply if:

• You’re motivated to make a difference in the education sector
• You’re excited to work flexibly as a senior member of a small, growing team
• You’re a “builder” with the energy and impetus to make things happen

Essential criteria:

• Genuine enthusiasm using spreadsheets and other tools to track and demonstrate progress
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with diverse audiences (young people, schools, partners, funders, etc.)
• Experience in education, youth work or the charity sector
• Experience building and managing projects independently
• Belief in the power of education to transform lives
• Right to live and work in the UK

Desirable criteria:

• Knowledge of safeguarding practice
• Experience in programme monitoring and evaluation
• Experience in fundraising or business development

Safeguarding

Tutorfair Foundation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of its staff, volunteers and the young people we support. All staff are expected to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be required to provide two satisfactory references and complete an Enhanced DBS check.

Our work is needed now more than ever before. This is why we have embarked on an exciting new strategy to make tackling low numeracy an urgent, national issue. However, we will only achieve significant and lasting change by engaging other organisations to support and fund our work.

The Corporate Volunteering Manager plays a central role in this by managing our successful and impactful Corporate Volunteering Programme. Each year through this programme, we train hundreds of volunteers from our corporate partners to visit primary schools and share examples of how maths has helped them as adults, both in their careers and personal lives.

This crucial work helps change us to the inter-generational narrative about numeracy in the UK. Maths is not just something you ‘have to do at school’, but is a valuable skill that helps us get on at work, and manage our time and our money. The programme has been running for three years now, and this year’s activity looks set to have meaningful impact on at least 17,000 children across the UK.

You will be responsible for ensuring that volunteers are adequately trained, for recruiting appropriate schools for them to visit, and all the admin and reporting that supports the programme.

We are looking for someone who can ‘own the programme’, is committed to improving our processes and the efficiency of delivery, with strong line management skills, and a commitment to the professional development for the Corporate Volunteering Programmes Assistant.

National Numeracy is based in Brighton, East Sussex, but we are offering significant remote/hybrid and flexible working with this role. If you are not office based, then the expectation is that you will be in Brighton at least occasionally when the work requires it. The role may include occasional travel to London and beyond.

Drive Head of Programmes

£57,095- £60,441

A London Weighting allowance of £3,299 will be applied for those living in London. 

37.5 hours per week with flexible working hours and provision of an out-of-hours

response as needed

Remote with travel throughout the UK

Permanent subject to funding

The Drive Partnership, formed by Respect, SafeLives and Social Finance, is working to transform the national response to perpetrators of domestic abuse. We work to end domestic abuse and protect victims by disrupting, challenging, and changing the behaviour of those who are causing harm. Together we have developed the Drive Project to address a gap in work with high-harm, high-risk perpetrators of domestic abuse. We also work to advocate for systems and policy change- to develop sustainable, national systems that respond more effectively to all perpetrators of domestic abuse. 

In July of this year the Home Office announced a £53m investment over the next four years to enable the Drive Project to roll out across England and Wales. To end domestic abuse, we must address the source of the problem – the perpetrator.  This funding will make a huge difference to our efforts to support survivors, by holding perpetrators to account, stopping them from causing further harm and giving them the chance to change.

The Drive Head of Programmes will play a central role in maintaining strategic oversight of internal operations, including project planning and risk management across workstreams, and partner coordination across the Drive Partnership. This is a senior leadership position providing operational leadership, staff management, and cross-partner coordination to ensure workstreams within the Drive Partnership function effectively, efficiently and in in alignment with the Drive Partnership’s core mission.

The role will report directly to the Drive Director, form part of the Drive Senior Management team and work alongside the Drive Deputy Director and other Senior Leads to embed a high-performing, values-led culture across The Drive Partnership. 

How to apply

Application is by way of CV with a Supporting Statement.

Please write a personal statement of not more than 3 pages of A4 (in minimum of Calibri pt 12 font) which covers:

· Why you are interested in this job

· Your experience, knowledge, skills, abilities and attitude in relation to the person specification

Selection process and timescales

Closing date: Midnight Sunday 16th November

Preliminary interview with NFP:                   Wednesday 26th and Thursday 27th November

First interview:                                               Monday 8th December

Final interview:                                              Week commencing 15th December

Director of Finance and Operations
The Akshaya Patra Foundation UK
Salary: £60,000-£70,000 per annum
Remote (UK-based) with expensed travel to London
Full-time, permanent

Akshaya Patra is one of the world’s largest school meals charities – nourishing 2.35 million children in India every day and now expanding our impact across the UK.

Our UK after-school programme, Empower Hour, provides hot, nutritious meals and targeted tuition to children growing up in poverty – extending the school day by 60 minutes to give them the fuel, support and enrichment they need to thrive.

What began in one school in 2024 is already serving ten, and – alongside driving continued expansion in India – we are now ready to scale our delivery to reach thousands more children across the UK’s most disadvantaged communities.

To help lead this exciting phase of growth, we are seeking a Director of Finance and Operations – a senior leader who combines strong financial stewardship with operational leadership and is motivated by purpose as much as performance.

You will sit on the Senior Leadership Team, reporting to the CEO, and oversee two core portfolios:

• Programmes – overseeing Watford kitchen operations, Empower Hour delivery and holiday hunger initiatives.
• Finance and Resources – leading financial planning and reporting, systems, compliance, HR development and organisational infrastructure.

This role will suit someone who enjoys both strategic thinking and practical implementation – someone who finds energy in building strong foundations and helping a values-led organisation grow well.

You may have built your career in charity, education, food provision, public services, the private sector or elsewhere – but you will bring:

• Senior-level experience across finance, operations or programme delivery.
• Strong financial acumen and understanding of charity governance and compliance.
• A collaborative leadership style – supporting, challenging and uplifting those you lead.
• Deep alignment with our mission to fight child hunger and educational inequality.

What we offer:

• Flexible and remote working.
• 34 days’ leave (25 days annual leave + Diwali + English bank holidays).
• Employer pension contribution.
• Investment in professional and vocational development.
• A meaningful leadership role in a growing global movement – empowering children in both the UK and India.

How to apply:

• Download the full job description and application details here or on our website.
• Please send your CV and a cover letter to the email address in the applicant pack outlining both your suitability for the role and what attracts you to Akshaya Patra and our mission.
• Closing date: Monday 3 November 2025.

If you believe no child should be held back by hunger – and you have the leadership skills and desire to help grow an organisation that makes that possible – we would love to hear from you.

Prospectus is delighted to be supporting a national oracy education charity to recruit for a Programme Delivery Lead. This is a full time, permanent role on a fully remote working basis. The charity exists to empower every child to use their voice to thrive in school, work and life. Their work with schools across the country transforms learning and life chances through talk by increasing access to a high-quality oracy education for those that need it most.
 

The charity is about to launch their new 5 Year Strategy (2025 - 2030) with ambitious goals for reach, impact and influence. As they continue to grow and build into a mature and sustainable organisation, the charity is managing more concurrent programmes and projects across multiple teams. To ensure delivery remains effective and aligned with their strategy, they are looking for an experienced programme manager to work alongside their Director of Operations, Operations team and Project Manager to strengthen their organisation wide internal programme and project management function. You’ll provide visibility across their portfolio, embed a consistent delivery approach, build internal capability and enable smarter, faster decision-making. You’ll play a key role in shaping how they work as a growing mission-led organisation

The successful candidate will bring proven experience as a programme management professional or senior project manager, with a track record of delivering complex programmes. You will have good knowledge of programme and project management frameworks (e.g. Agile, PRINCE2, PMI) and be able to communicate effectively at all levels. You will have experience of using work management platforms confidently to drive collaboration and delivery and be adept at analysing data effectively to inform decisions and improve outcomes.

To apply please submit your CV and a supporting statement via the ‘Apply Now’ button (maximum of 2 sides of A4 for each), preferably in Microsoft Word/PDF format. Applicants are advised to carefully consider the Appointment Brief before applying, tailoring your CV and cover letter to demonstrate clearly how you match the specification for this role and giving concrete examples of the impact you have had in your current role. Applicants who do not demonstrate their capability and competency in the key areas of responsibility are unlikely to progress to interview

As a specialist Recruitment Practice Prospectus are committed to building inclusive and diverse organisations, and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Prospectus invest in your journey as a candidate and are committed to supporting you in your application.

Finance, FJ and Operations Director

Lead the transformation of finance 

IRO £61,000 | Remote-first | Full-time | Reports to Co-CEO

Charity Finance Group (CFG) is seeking a visionary Finance, FJ and Operations Director to drive innovation, collaboration and excellence across our organisation and the wider charity sector. This is a rare opportunity to lead an organisation and a movement that's reshaping how finance empowers social impact.

About the role

As Finance, FJ and Operations Director, you’ll work closely with our two Co-CEOs to deliver CFG’s mission: championing financial sustainability for charities. You’ll lead the strategic and operational delivery of our Finance Journey framework—a bold, sector-defining initiative that transforms finance professionals from technicians into strategic leaders.

This role blends internal leadership with external influence. You’ll oversee key functions including finance and governance, HR, digital/IT and business development,—ensuring CFG’s internal systems and external offerings are aligned with our strategy, values, and member needs.

Your Impact

• Shape and deliver CFG’s Finance Journey strategy across the organisation

• Lead cross-functional teams to elevate performance and maturity

• Represent CFG to media, government, partners, and sector bodies

• Inspire a mindset shift across the finance community—from operational to transformational

• Support income generation through strategic partnerships and product development

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Champion a culture of learning, inclusion, and continuous improvement

• Contribute to CFG’s strategic planning and organisational development

• Provide strategic leadership across the organisation and support the board

Operational Oversight

• Lead finance, governance, HR, digital/IT, and business development teams

• Deliver robust financial analysis, reporting, and resource planning

• Ensure CFG’s finance function meets evolving business needs

Finance Journey Integration

• Embed the Finance Journey ethos across CFG’s products, services, and internal practices

• Collaborate with communications, learning, and membership teams

• Shape new offerings—training, events, assessments, leadership programmes

Stakeholder Engagement

• Build relationships with sector experts, partners, and members

• Represent CFG in forums, steering groups, and collaborative initiatives

• Share your expertise and catalyse sector-wide transformation

Internal Collaboration

• Work closely with Co-CEOs and the Director for Engagement

• Champion joined-up leadership, planning, and performance monitoring

• Foster a culture of inclusion, learning, and innovation

Location & Flexibility

• Remote-first: work from home or a suitable location near you

• Quarterly staff away days and ad hoc in-person events (travel costs covered)

Relationships

• Reports to Co-CEO 

• Member of the Leadership Team

• Manages business development, HR, and digital teams

About CFG

Our vision is a world where financial excellence empowers every charitable and social purpose organisation to drive positive impact. The Finance Journey is our flagship framework—designed to help finance professionals evolve from technicians to strategic leaders.

________________________________________

Ready to lead a movement that’s changing the face of charity finance?

Apply now and be the catalyst for sector-wide transformation.

How to Apply 

If you would like to be considered for this position, please take a look at our recruitment pack on the next page, and apply with your CV. We have a series of questions for you to answer succinctly, but we do not require a covering letter. The deadline for applications is Midday on Monday 10 November, and shortlisting will take place in the following week, with interviews to follow shortly after. 

Please email us with any job enquiries, or if you require assistance or experience difficulties when applying. Please note that successful candidate(s) will be asked to evidence their Right to Work in the UK post-job offer – we do not hold a sponsor licence therefore we are unable to provide Visa sponsorship.

Benefits of working at CFG 

• 25 days' annual leave per year in addition to bank holidays, increasing to 28 days after three years of continuous service (pro-rata if part-time). 
• An extra three days' leave for the office Christmas closure. 
• Wellbeing closures where the whole organisation takes a break.
• Time off for personal health appointments. 
• Hybrid and remote flexible working options. 
• Four paid volunteering days every year. 
• Health cash plan via HSF.
• Enhanced sick pay, as well as enhanced parental and adoption leave policies.
• Continuing personal development - learning and development opportunities both individually and organisation wide, such as a mentor/coach, training courses and conferences. 
• Auto enrolment to the Personal Pension Plan where CFG will contribute twice your contribution to the scheme up to 10%. 
• Access to interest-free employee loans or salary advances. 

CFG promotes remote-first working, although we do have office space at our registered address in Bermondsey, Southwark, SE London for those team members who prefer an office setting. We expect all of our team members to attend all staff, directorate, or team anchor days on a regular basis in London. All-staff anchor days are currently quarterly, and directorate and smaller team anchor days are organised on an ad hoc basis. If you have any questions about this we'd be happy to chat about our in-person expectations with you. 

Please note that attending our flagship events will be required for this role, as well as work outside core hours occasionally as part of our events programme.  

Join Evolve Music as our next Executive Director — and lead a creative, purpose-driven charity using music to change lives across the South West.

We’re looking for an inspiring, strategic and compassionate leader to guide Evolve into its next exciting chapter.

Since 2017, Evolve Music has grown into one of the South West’s leading community music organisations, working in partnership with health, education and cultural organisations to deliver inclusive, creative and high-impact programmes. From Sound Lab for neurodivergent young people to Dads Rock for fathers and male caregivers, our work reaches thousands each year, using music as a catalyst for wellbeing, confidence and connection.

As Executive Director, you’ll shape our strategic vision, lead fundraising and partnership development, and nurture a talented and passionate team. If you believe in the power of music to transform lives, we’d love to hear from you.

At Headway, our mission is simple: Improve life after brain injury.

Every 90 seconds, someone in the UK is admitted to hospital with a brain injury. Our job is to support survivors and their families from the moment brain injury strikes – and to do that, we need your help and expertise!

We’re seeking a determined, values-driven Director of Fundraising to drive income generation across several different disciplines, helping to ensure we can continue delivering vital support to people affected by brain injury.

This role isn’t just about setting strategy; it’s about being actively involved in in a hands-on capacity as you build relationships and lead fundraising efforts across community, individual giving, corporate partnerships, events, legacies and trusts fundraising.

You will also oversee and support the Head of Retail, ensuring that income from our charity shops contributes effectively to the organisation’s overall financial sustainability and growth.

As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, you will also have the opportunity to shape Headway’s future and contribute to key decisions across the charity, including working with trustees and contributing to board meetings.

Key areas of accountability

• Develop, maintain, and evolve a multi‑year fundraising strategy (3‑5 years) aligned with Headway’s strategy, priorities, and risk appetite.
• Lead the development and delivery of income generation plans across all fundraising channels (retail, individual giving, corporate partnerships, trusts and foundations, events, legacies, and community fundraising), translating organisational objectives into clear annual targets, growth strategies, and actionable fundraising plans.
• Personally lead on key fundraising initiatives, cultivating and stewarding donor relationships while overseeing a diverse portfolio of fundraising activities.
• Use data-driven insights to evaluate performance, inform strategy, and identify opportunities for growth.
• Manage and inspire a fundraising team, fostering a culture of innovation, accountability, and professional development.
• Oversee the Head of Retail and ensure the effective operation and strategic development of Headway’s charity shops.
• Monitor fundraising performance and report on progress to the Chief Executive and Board of Trustees.
• Play an active role within the Senior Leadership Team, contributing insight and expertise on income generation, fundraising performance, risk, scenario planning, and resource allocation, while working closely with colleagues to support decision-making and drive organisational priorities.
• Act as a key ambassador for the organisation, representing its mission and values to external stakeholders, partners, and donors.

About you

We’re looking for an experienced fundraiser who has performed at a director level or equivalent, ideally at a charity with a UK-wide reach.

You will be able to nurture and develop the fundraising team, building a strong culture in line with the organisation’s values, and motivating others to achieve shared goals by using your working knowledge of various fundraising disciplines.

You will be a skilled communicator, able to build relationships with and instil confidence in internal and external stakeholders including donors, supporters, and colleagues.

You will be confident and proficient in using CRM systems and fundraising platforms to manage supporter data, analyse performance and support donor engagement with data-informed decision making.

And you will be able to combine a strategic and analytic mindset with proactive, hands-on fundraising.

Benefits

• You will be automatically enrolled into the People’s Pension. This is based on your contribution of 5% and with Headway UK contributing 3%. For every 1% you increase above this, Headway UK will increase its contributions by 1% up to a total maximum of 6%.
• We offer 25 days’ annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising incrementally after two years to a maximum of 30 days. We also offer a range of special leave entitlements.
• Access for you and your immediate family members to an employment assistance programme offering life support, legal and medical information, and counselling services.
• Death in service benefit of two times your salary.

Closing date for applications: Wednesday 5 November 2025

First interview: Wednesday 12 November via Teams/Zoom

Second interview: Monday 17 November in Nottingham (NG6 8SF)

This role is essential in our drive for evidencing the impact of the work we do. You will lead and manage a large-scale, multi-organisation piece of research aiming to highlight the impact of our programmes. You will play a key role in ensuring the main research project and any supplementary research projects are delivered efficiently and ethically. You will use data and evidence to inform practice and work closely with the Programme Specialist for Pilots and the wider Quality and Impact Team as required.  Additionally, you will project manage additional cross-organisational projects as required in support of our growing charity. 

This is role is a fixed-term contract for 18 months. 

Travel throughout the UK may be required.   

You will report to the Head of Quality and Impact. 

Key Responsibilities 

· You will be accountable for the oversight of the main research and any supplementary research projects from initiation to completion.

· You will collaborate with the Programme Specialist for Pilots and the Associate Director of Business Development to ensure delivery of the research and ensure alignment and fidelity to the research plan.

· You will work with the Head of Quality and Impact and Finance Team to ensure that the project/s meet agreed objectives, timelines and budgets. 

· You will support the development of project documentation. 

· You will deliver reports and presentations as required both internally and externally from DFN Project SEARCH to share information regarding the research project. 

· You will be accountable for collecting, analysing and reporting on data that is relevant to the organisation. 

The Assistant Director of Income Generation is responsible for driving income and engagement across our fundraising portfolio, including Individual Giving, Legacy, Community, Corporate, Trusts and Major Donors.  Ensuring we build and develop a breadth of strong relationships with supporters, and deliver a calendar of impactful appeals, fundraising activities and compelling propositions that maximise income and life time value.  The Assistant Director will work closely with the Director of Income and Engagement and the Assistant Director of Audience Engagement to ensure we deliver income targets and maximise opportunities to deepen understanding and commitment, ensuring decision making is driven by insight and analysis.

This role is part of the Together with Trussell programme, the goal of which is to build stronger connections with our supporters, partners and donors in order to increase funding, campaigning, and other forms of support for our work.  As a member of an enabling programme, this role is focused on the successful delivery of the Together with Trussell programme outcomes, which underpin and enable the outcomes of our 5 external programmes – together contributing to the fulfilment of our long term vision of a UK without the need for food banks.

Role responsibilities

· Lead the team to deliver our income generation strategy, meeting income targets based on long term financial forecasts, by driving growth and retention across existing supporters through outstanding stewardship and innovative products and activities that uplift and convert support, as well as proactively developing new opportunities, compelling propositions and relationships.

· Ensure that income reporting is accurate, timely, and accessible, and that teams are equipped with and utilising supporter data and insight to drive decision making.

· Maximise the opportunities for integration across our fundraising and mobilisation activity by working closely with the Assistant Director of Audience Engagement, and driving engagement and collaboration across teams.

· Develop and nurture stakeholder relationships across the organisation to support and champion fundraising.

Buglife

Director of Transformation

Location: Flexible within the UK

Salary: c£78,000

Contract: 2-year fixed term

Are you a bold, strategic leader ready to drive transformational change for one of the UK’s most impactful conservation charities?

Buglife is the only organisation in Europe dedicated to the conservation of all invertebrates. As they enter a pivotal phase of growth and innovation, Buglife is seeking a Director of Transformation to co-lead their organisation into a new era of impact, influence, and operational excellence.

About the Role

In a dual-leadership model alongside the Director of Conservation, you will define and deliver a Transformational Change Programme that amplifies Buglife’s mission: securing a thriving future for invertebrates as part of nature’s recovery.

You’ll lead strategic initiatives across systems, people, and processes, shaping a roadmap for sustainable growth and innovation. From organisational design to digital transformation, you’ll be the catalyst for change — building capability, cohesion, and resilience across Buglife.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead discovery and strategic direction, assessing internal operations and external opportunities.
• Develop and deliver a transformation roadmap with measurable impact.
• Inspire and manage cross-functional teams including Finance, HR, Communications, Fundraising and Engagement.
• Champion inclusive leadership, emotional intelligence, and organisational cohesion.
• Shape Buglife’s global growth strategy and explore new funding models.
• Overhaul systems and processes to create a more agile, integrated organisation.

What You’ll Bring

• Proven expertise in transformational leadership, business model innovation, and strategic planning.
• Experience engaging Boards and senior stakeholders with clarity and influence.
• Deep understanding of change management methodologies and programme delivery.
• Commercial acumen and entrepreneurial mindset.
• Strong emotional intelligence and collaborative leadership style.

Desirable: Experience in conservation, environmental or science-led sectors; familiarity with digital transformation and international experience or perspective on scaling impact globally.

Why Buglife?

Buglife is a passionate, science-led charity making a real difference for biodiversity. You’ll be joining at a time of exciting change, with the opportunity to shape the organisation’s future and scale its impact globally. Buglife offers a collaborative culture, flexible working, and a chance to lead with purpose.

Ready to lead transformational change for nature’s smallest heroes?
Apply now and help Buglife build a future where invertebrates thrive. 

We are partnering with GatenbySanderson on this recruitment. For more information and how to apply, please click on the button below.

Closing date:  28 November 2025

GatenbySanderson Interviews:  8 – 12 December 2025

Buglife Interviews: 6 – 15 January 2026

Buglife is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. We particularly welcome applications from underrepresented groups in the environmental sector, including people from global majority backgrounds, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ communities.

About Planet Patrol

Our vision is a world where all beings can enjoy our waterways, free from pollution. We are a global community dedicated to placing people-powered environmental data at the heart of decision-making. Through our unique anywhere, anytime, anybody approach to citizen science, we gather critical evidence of water and litter pollution to drive solutions that protect both environmental and human health. Our data and citizen science methods have been featured in academic journals (Stanton, et al., 2022) and media investigations (Channel 4 and ITV), enhancing public and scientific knowledge of litter pollution.

About the role

As Director, you will oversee daily operations, including forecasting and budgeting for the entire organisation (currently c£300K per annum). As such, you will lead on developing a sustainable funding stream for our mission-driven work, ensuring we maintain a 6-month runway at all times. You will build and maintain strong external relationships to help grow and develop the organisation. The Director will provide leadership to a small, remote team (4 x PAYE) and create a happy, sustainable and productive work environment. Most importantly, the Director will ensure objectives are being met - both personal and organisational - to deliver impactful, positive change for our waterways in the UK, and abroad. 

About you

The successful candidate will be a strong leader who excels at strategic thinking, with the natural ability to analyse situations and relationships to maximise impact and return on investment. They will have experience in line management, fundraising and financial management. We are seeking candidates who have experience in senior management in a non-profit setting, ideally within the environmental sector but not essential. Critically, you must thrive in a start-up environment and have a can-do attitude to problem solving. You’ll be one of only a handful of employees and a team of excellent freelancers, so being a team player is a must! This is a great opportunity to really shape the organisation and our impact, so if you like having agency and being innovative, Planet Patrol would be a great fit.

Your top qualities as a leader

• Ambitious
• Collaborative
• Agile
• Resilient
• Resourceful

Key Responsibilities

Funding Development + Stakeholder Relationships (40%): 

• Significant responsibility for successful contractual negotiations and maintaining a healthy new funding pipeline. Secure six-to-seven figure funding opportunities to provide a sustainable revenue stream for 3+ years. 
• Strategic understanding and experience of competitive and fast changing charitable financial landscape. 
• Build and maintain strong partnerships with funders and other voluntary sector organisations.
• Ensure we are suitably represented at appropriate meetings, events, conferences, management groups etc. and that issues that impact our work are raised appropriately. 

Operational Leadership including Compliance + Budgetary Control (30%): 

• Effective leadership driving business operations and strategic targets. Inspire teams to deliver high-quality programmes and foster a culture of creativity and innovation. 
• Draw up and monitor budgets, with support from the Founder and Team Leaders, and ensure effective management and use of all resources. Ensure maximum operational efficiency and maintain a six-month runway at all times.
• Work collaboratively with the Founder and Team Leaders to build annual Business Plans and long term strategies for the organisation.
• Ensure compliance across product / project delivery, finance, human resources, IT, legal, health and safety, customer services and facilities management. Ensure that all data is collated and managed in line with data protection requirements.
• Maintain and develop effective human resource systems for the recruitment, management, support, training, and appraisal of staff and volunteers. Ensure systems are in place to monitor and evaluate the work. 

Team + Performance Management (30%): 

• Build high-performing, committed teams. This includes line managing, coaching, and supporting team members to create a positive, productive work environment. 
• Oversee the team to deliver comprehensive planning and reporting.
• Set benchmarks, monitor performance, and develop a culture of continuous improvement. 
• Proactively manage the performance of Team Leaders by carrying out inductions, regular accountability meetings, supervisions, and probation reviews, while also setting clear work and development objectives.

Person Specification 

If you think you could do the role but do not meet all of the specification points below, we would still like to hear from you.

Essential Experience and Ability

• Senior management experience working within a small charity or Community Interest Company (CIC).
• Track record of driving operational excellence, including organisational finances and resources.
• Experience of line management, team development and performance management.
• Experience of securing sustainable and diverse revenue streams; including  multi-year, strategic deals worth six-and-seven figures. 
• Proactive approach to risk management and maintaining compliance.
• Experience in a strategic role, including developing organisational strategy and/or developing and overseeing monitoring and evaluation frameworks.
• Experience of working with a range of stakeholders and managing stakeholder relationships.
• Ability to effectively prioritise, manage and oversee programmes of work across the organisation and lead through change. 
• Ability to work under own initiative, delegate where appropriate, prioritise work and meet strict deadlines. 
• Good general IT skills and appreciation of new platforms that can increase efficiency and effectiveness (Slack, Trello, Canva, Dext, Xero, HubSpot, SenseHR).
• Broad understanding of GDPR and other essential legislation and organisational policies, including use of AI.
• Passionate about the environment and the importance of citizen science.
• A commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion.
• Legal right to work in the UK without visa sponsorship.

What we offer

Planet Patrol values collaboration, innovation, and agility. That’s why we’re proud to be a 4-day week employer. We offer a flexible, remote working environment, paired with regular opportunities to connect as a team. We’re a vibrant, mission-driven non-profit that supports professional growth, alongside wellbeing. We offer a generous annual leave package, your birthdays off and encourage you to get out into nature whenever possible.

Application details

If you believe in the work we’re doing and think you could add something to it then we would love to hear from you.

Please submit your CV, LinkedIn profile and answers to the four questions listed. We are unable to process applications which are not complete.

Applications close midnight Sunday 23 November. 

First stage interviews will be held virtually on Wednesday 26 November.

Second stage interviews will be held in person on Wednesday 3 December.

We are looking for a Sector Development Lead to drive growth and impact in the primary education sector at a pivotal moment for the Leadership Skills Foundation.

 This newly created role comes at an exciting time: we’re expanding our programmes, deepening partnerships, and rolling out a refreshed brand.

You’ll play a key role in helping us reach more young people and maximise our impact.

As Sector Development Lead, you’ll lead income generation and customer growth in the primary sector. From designing integrated sales and marketing strategies to delivering outreach and events, you’ll champion our offer and act as a trusted sector voice - shaping offers that meet the needs of schools, empower learners, and delight our customers.

We’re seeking someone with experience in sales, sector development, or programme growth, with a proven ability to achieve ambitious targets. You’ll bring creativity and confidence in delivering outreach campaigns across both digital and in-person channels, underpinned by a strong understanding of the UK education system, particularly with insight into the primary sector.

Thriving on building relationships and influencing stakeholders, you’ll use data and insights to inform decisions and adapt approaches. Alongside these skills, you’ll be a collaborative team player and a compelling storyteller, able to balance strategic thinking with hands-on delivery as well as passion for creating meaningful opportunities for young people.

If you’re an experienced development professional who thrives on spotting opportunities and delivering results, we’d love to hear from you.

Role purpose:

Drive the growth of the primary education sector, leading on centre acquisition, income generation, and customer experience.

Develop and deliver integrated sales and marketing strategies, including digital lead generation, network development, key segment outreach, and data-led campaign planning.

Act as the sector lead, using insight to shape positioning, monitor market maturity, and influence internal and external strategy for long-term impact.

Key responsibilities:

Planning

Shape and deliver the Primary Sector Development Plan.

Sales & growth delivery

• Drive income and centre growth targets across all relevant programmes.
• Develop tailored acquisition and conversion strategies by segment, including cold outreach, warm lead nurture, events, and campaigns.
• Track and report against sector income targets, centre growth metrics, lead conversions, and ROI using dashboards and data analysis.

Marketing and lead generation

• Design and test sector-wide digital campaigns in collaboration with marketing teams and, where relevant, external agencies.
• Manage audience segmentation, personalised journeys, email marketing, and paid social media campaigns targeting school leaders, MATs, and parents.
• Plan and deliver events related to the Primary sector and represent the organisation externally when required.
• Contribute towards content strategy across case studies, impact stories, webinars, and sector PR/editorial opportunities as required.

Customer Experience (CX) & retention

• Lead on sector-specific centre onboarding, retention strategies, and cross-sell pathways.
• Be responsible for mapping and reviewing the customer journey, reducing friction for customers, and removing internal barriers.
• Develop Customer Experience led comms plans to ensure consistent, high-quality touchpoints that support relationship building and long-term value.

Collaborate across teams and support innovation

• Contribute to team planning meetings, training sessions, and department-wide initiatives.
• Support the induction of new team members and contribute to a collaborative, learning-focused team culture.
• Be an engaged member of the Engagement and Marketing Directorate and carry out any other reasonable duties as requested by the Head of Business Development. 

 Skills, experience, and knowledge

 Essential 

• Proven experience leading sales, sector development, or programme growth.
• Experience in designing and delivering multi-channel marketing or outreach plans, ideally across digital and in-person formats.
• Demonstrable success in achieving income and acquisition targets within a complex stakeholder environment.
• An understanding of education systems in the UK, particularly the primary sector.
• Experience of working on your own initiative, taking a pro-active approach to your work.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• High level of presentation skills to external stakeholders.
• Experience of data management and analysing insight to inform decision making.
• An ability to network, influence and build relationships with key stakeholders and customers.
• Collaborative mindset with the ability to build strong working relationships across teams
• Ability to use Microsoft Office programmes comprehensively to support customer interaction and information presentation.
• An ability to prioritise your workload and focus on importance of tasks.

Desired

• Experience with campaign management tools and marketing platforms (e.g., HubSpot, Mailchimp, Google Ads, LinkedIn Campaign Manager).
• Experience working directly with or selling into primary schools, MATs, or local authorities.
• Strong understanding of the UK primary education landscape, including MATs, independent schools, and local authority priorities.
• Understanding of education inspectorate frameworks, and how they impact school decision-making.
• An understanding of awarding body function and responsibilities.