Project officer jobs in darlington, county durham

Job purpose

This is an exciting time to join Action for ME. With developments in research and policy alongside delivering services which are in high demand, you will enjoy working in a fast-paced and continually changing environment. You will be responsible for overseeing operational programme design and delivery, reporting of progress, and measuring the impact of all Action for ME work to improve the lives of people affected by ME. Better meeting their needs today while taking action to secure change for tomorrow. You will also assist the Chief Executive in implementing the organisational strategy, and by adapting and evolving delivery models on the ground. As you will have operational management and oversight for our Healthcare Services and hold the Designated Safeguarding Lead role for the organisation, you will bring considerable services-related experience at a management and leadership level. The Chief Executive will focus predominately on external matters and therefore you must have experience of managing an organisation to achieve high quality programmes with evidenced impact and motivated teams. You will act for the Chief Executive on topics, as agreed, and deputise during their absence.

Key duties

1. Leadership

• Ensure that children and adults with ME are at the heart of everything we do through meaningful engagement and participation to influence all aspects of our work.
• Deputise for the CEO and represent and promote the Charity at national meetings and events.
• Deputise for the CEO during periods of absence, and in relation to specific matters, issues or elements of operation as delegated from time to time by the CEO, ensuring a consistency of approach and decisions aligned with the organisation’s objectives.
• With the CEO and HR Business Partner, lead on implementing the People and Culture Strategy and ensuring our Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging plan is achieved.
• To provide support, leadership and coaching to the Management Team to ensure the smooth running of the organisation and development of the Charity.
• Contribute to the development of the overall strategy for Action for ME, ensuring that the best use is made of available resources within agreed priorities. Ensure that agreed strategy is delivered to target and in line with agreed budgets.
• Work closely with the Chief Executive and Trustees to ensure effective reporting to the Board and sub-committees.

2. Operations & management

• Manage the day-to-day operations of the Charity ensuring high quality service provision that meets all best practice, legal and regulatory frameworks and internal policies and procedures.
• Hold overall management responsibility for our Healthcare Services including the role of the CQC Nominated Individual, ensuring all regulatory requirements and compliance are met.
• Manage the staff and volunteer team, including holding regular meetings and ensure the efficient running of the office ensuring a culture that supports, inspires and motivates the team while ensuring required standards and quality are met at all times through effective performance management.
• Act as the organisational Designated Safeguarding Lead (children and vulnerable adults), working closely with the Designated Safeguarding Officers, colleagues and the Safeguarding Lead Trustee; facilitate the annual safeguarding audit (led by the Lead Trustee) and ensuring safeguarding standards across the organisation are maintained.
• Contribute to the learning and development of key personnel including coaching support (either directly or through the identification of external coaches) to enhance performance.
• Establish (where not already in place) and maintain a clear performance outcome-focused management system driving positive change and improvement across all teams.
• Ensure that policies and procedures are effectively implemented and kept up-to-date to enable the effective management of operations and support growth.
• Take the lead role for data protection, health and safety, compliance and risk management across the organisation and act as the Designated Safeguarding Lead.

3. Finance & income generation

• Hold financial leadership responsibility, working closely with the Finance Manager and the Fundraising Director to ensure sustainability for our work.
• Ensure effective financial management with procedures in place which are kept up-to-date and implemented accordingly.
• Provide support and engagement, where appropriate, to actively grow our income.

4. Working with others

• Lead, nurture and develop relationships with key stakeholder groups and partner organisations, both locally and nationally, supporting Action for M.’s place as the ‘go to’ organisation for people affected by ME
• Lead on new business ideas and pilot projects in line with the strategic objectives; with colleagues, develop the business case, identify and manage risks, lead implementation across teams, evaluate success and learning and make recommendations for future development.

5. Other key accountabilities

• Be proactive in keeping up to date with developments affecting operations and maintain and improve personal competence through continuous professional development.
• Take direction on projects and priorities from the CEO, which may vary from time to time.
• To ensure best value in all service delivery.

Person specification

Experience and Knowledge

• Proven experience in an operations, leadership, or senior management role, ideally within the charity service delivery or healthcare sector, with the ability to develop and implement strategic plans that drive organisational growth and reporting that demonstrates impact delivered. If you come from outside a support services background, you must demonstrate sound understanding of the regulatory and best practice requirements related to delivering support and/or healthcare services.
• An understanding of ME and associated/overlapping illnesses, the impact on people affected by it or a commitment and ability to understand the illness and lead services to meet the needs of children and adults with ME
• Experience managing multi-disciplinary teams, including remote workers, and fostering a supportive workplace culture where change is a constant.
• Safeguarding understanding at a management/decision-making level.
• Proven experience of building and nurturing strong relationships internally and externally at all levels.
• A sound understanding of outcome-focused, effective performance management, quality assurance and risk management.
• Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, financial planning, and resource management in the voluntary sector.

Skills and Behaviours

• Experience of governance, risk management, and compliance, including within regulated services, ideally within a charity and/or service delivery setting.
• Proven ability to think strategically, balance competing demands, use initiative to solve problems and actively seek innovative approaches to problem solving and delivering results.
• Strong interpersonal skills including motivational, negotiating influencing and networking skills which build strong internal and external relationships.
• An ability to understand, analyse and make effective use of data across all of our work.
• A proven ability to coach and motivate staff and to build and lead teams reflecting organisational culture and values, a respectful, constructive and energetic style.
• Proven, strong MS Office skills that supports writing, email, internet and database use.
• Demonstrable ability to work within our organisational values

Interview: The first round of panel interview scheduled to take place in Bristol on the 24th of June 2025.

Vacancy Reference Number:

SA/GF/UKFS-R1

Position title:

Systems Accountant

Reports to:

Global Finance Officer

Location:

REMOTE

Hours of Work:

Full-time, 35 hours per week

Salary guideline:

Competitive

Terms of Employment:

12-Months’ Fixed-Term Contract (with a 6-Month Probationary Period, extendable and renewable)

Application Process & Closing Date:

Send an up-to-date CV and supporting Covering Letter by Email by no later than 20th June 2025

Approx. Interview & Role Commencement Date(s):

Interviews: W/C as and when suitable candidates apply

Start: ASAP thereafter

ROLE OVERVIEW:

Muslim Hands is seeking a dynamic and experienced Systems Accountant to lead the implementation of a bespoke budget and finance management system for our grant-receiving partners. This role is critical in ensuring smooth onboarding, system integration, and ongoing support to enhance financial management practices across our partner network.

See full role details attached!

Notes: 

Strong Applicants may be contacted sooner, ahead of the closing date, to hold an Online Interview with Muslim Hands; therefore, please familiarise yourself with MS Teams / Zoom.

We reserve the right to end the application procedure early should the right candidate be found. 

Unfortunately, we will only be able to contact successful candidates so if you have not heard from us by the closure date unfortunately your application will have been unsuccessful.

Why Access Social Care Exists 

Every day millions of older and disabled people are denied the social care they need. Most local authorities can’t meet the growing demand for care, and none are confident they can meet their legal duties in the future. This affects all of us - we will all need social care at some point in our lives. 

We all have a right to hold public bodies to account, but most of us cannot afford lawyers so rely on legal aid. The 92% drop in legal aid cases since 2010 means that we have nowhere to turn. Without access to justice, our rights do not exist. The rule of law is broken. 

What we do 

Access Social Care provides free legal advice and information for people with social care needs, helping achieve a better quality of life. We work with communities to increase knowledge of the law and our rights. We highlight the gap left by cuts to Legal Aid and provide advice for those who can’t afford it. 

With a 98% success rate, our network of lawyers provide access to justice when things go wrong. We collaborate with social services whilst ensuring legal obligations are met. We are working towards a future where social care is adequately funded and we all get the support we need. 

We provide rights awareness training to front line managers, and legal advice and support to families and individuals. As well as providing access to justice, our aim is to drive system level change through evidence-led influencing and strategic casework.

This is an exciting time to join ASC. We have a new strategy and are growing quickly including across our senior leadership team. We have more than doubled in size and income since we started operating in April 2020 and we anticipate that this strong growth will continue for the duration of our next strategic period. We are dedicated to the people who need our help, but we also care deeply about our team and we think that work should be an exciting and satisfying place to be.

About the role 

This role is pivotal to the growth and success of the charity. Its purpose is to support the Director of Partners and Engagement and fundraising team, and Head of Business Development, to lead the charity’s income generation. This includes activities in sourcing small, medium, and major (up to six figures) grant opportunities from trusts, foundations, and institutional/government funders, and individual donors where appropriate. Where opportunity presents, the role holder may also support the business development function. This could involve assisting in the development and implementation of new business growth opportunities  to boost income generation. The role will involve project and core-cost fundraising.

Responsibilities

· Work with the Director of Partners and Engagement and the fundraising team to maintain existing funds; research new income streams and prepare and submit business cases; and source new funding opportunities for Access Social Care’s projects and core-cost needs.

· Participate in planning and strategy meetings. Work with the Finance Director and other leaders to develop and implement annual fundraising/income generation plans, gift tables, and budgets to achieve income targets.

· Monitor income targets and provide regular progress reports and updates on performance against target.

· Create and implement cultivation plans for high-value donors. Build and maintain long-term relationships with trusts and foundations, individual donors, and other income-generation partnerships through meetings and the production of detailed reports and presentations to generate repeat donations and renew income streams.

· Lead on funding bid applications and reports including working with senior colleagues across the organisation to draft warm and cold acquisition, and bespoke written applications.

· Build, monitor and manage a pipeline of prospective Trust & Foundation and Funder opportunities.

· Keep comprehensive records of all fundraising and business development activities.

· Maintain excellent relationships with internal stakeholders ensuring an up-to-date knowledge of current activities of Access Social Care’s work and brand. Secure case studies to showcase the charity’s work.

· Represent the organisation at public events as required.

· Perform other duties as may be required by the Director of Partners and Engagement, Head of Business Development, and/or other senior leaders which you could be reasonably expected to perform in line with this job description. 

· Where appropriate and as opportunity arises, support the Head of Business Development with potential new business opportunities. This could include tasks such as: drafting proposals, seeking new opportunities as instructed, sustaining connections and supporting plans to enter strategic partnerships.

This list of tasks is not exhaustive and will be reviewed from time to time in discussion with the post holder.

Person Specification

All staff at ASC are expected to share and demonstrate our values:

Trustworthy

Recognised for excellence, we will be the best we can be in everything we do.  We will be truthful, independent and outcomes focussed.

Fair

We believe in treating people with kindness and compassion in a way that is right, reasonable and just.

Fearless

We will do what is right, not what is easy.  We will bravely challenge injustice.

Inclusive

Our beneficiaries’ voices will influence our thinking and decision making at all levels of our organisation. Collaborative in our thinking, we will work with others to achieve our goals.

Positive

We will be constructive and progressive in our challenge.  We will optimistically and dynamically drive for change.

In addition to our values, you will also need to be able to demonstrate or tell us about the following areas at your interview:

Person Specification

All staff at ASC are expected to share and demonstrate our values. In addition to our values, you will also need to be able to demonstrate or tell us about the following areas at your interview: 

Personal Attributes:

• Purpose driven with a commitment to our mission and values
• Commitment to working within the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion. Commitment to and interest in disability rights. 
• Self motivated, interest in developing knowledge and understanding trends in charitable trusts and foundations fundraising and business development
• Willingness to adapt and ability to work in an agile way to meet the income generation needs of the organisation 

Experience

• Experience in similar Income Generation role, with a proven track-record of success 
• Experience of working independently to develop and implement income generation strategies with a proven track record of securing five-figure gifts and delivering against targets
• Proven experience in managing and nurturing relationships with trust and foundation funders 

Skills

• Highly developed written and verbal communication skills. Ability to draft and present information including briefings, applications, and project reports to a range of audiences in a clear and confident manner 
• Strong networking skills, with the ability to build and maintain relationships both internally and externally to identify and leverage funding opportunities
• Organised and able to plan and prioritise to meet multiple deadlines 
• IT literate with strong online research skills to identify new funding opportunities, and experienced in using MS Word and MS Excel to manage and present information effectively
• High level of numeracy 

Desirable

• Understanding of health and social care issues and/or the law 

How to apply
 

We hope that having read this far, you will want to apply!

Please ensure that your CV and supporting statement do not include your name – use initials only. This will ensure that we avoid unconscious bias in our shortlisting process. To apply, please provide the following documents:

• An up-to-date CV
• A completed diversity monitoring form
• A supporting statement of no more than two pages, addressing:
  • The essential requirements of the person specification

Please ensure you have the right to work in the UK before expressing your interest in this role. We are sorry that we cannot consider applications from candidates who do not have the right to work in the UK.

We only reach out to candidates who have been shortlisted. If you do not receive communication from us within two weeks following the application deadline, please consider that we will not be moving forward with your application. 

Timeline for recruitment process

Closing date: 4th June 2025

A selection exercise will need to be completed by the 17th June 2025

Interviews will take place on the 26th & 27th June 2025

Please ensure you keep these dates free.

At Access Social care, we aren’t interested in tokenism. We know that if we are to make the biggest difference for the people that need us the most, we need to get Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and anti-racism right. Part of this is recruiting greater diversity in all our teams. 

With this in mind, we particularly welcome applications from candidates with experience of the communities we serve, including people with direct experience of the social care system, and from marginalised groups, particularly Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups, older and disabled people, and trans and non-binary people.

Are you passionate about helping people to do great things? Do you get a kick out of someone else’s joy as they reach their fundraising target?  Are you an excellent communicator online and on the phone? 

We are looking for a Community Fundraising Manager to develop our fundraising ambitions and work with our community.  

This is a varied and interesting role which will give you the opportunity to see your impact first-hand, as you will be interacting daily with people whose lives are affected by PANS or PANDAS.  You will also provide logistical and project management support on fundraising events. 

Our small community means that our fundraisers tend to be families affected by PANS or PANDAS.  We are passionate about creating opportunities for members of our community to support us in ways that create joy in their own lives.  We intend that fundraising activities and events should help tackle the isolation and other difficulties that are faced by those living with these complex and misunderstood conditions. 

Legacy Stewardship Manager
Home based, remote working 
£42,000 pa plus excellent benefits
35 hours per week

The Legacy Stewardship Manager will plan and deliver an ambitious new legacy stewardship strategy to bring about growth in future legacy income.  It will diversify the current legacy stewardship programme to convert more legacy prospects and maintain more pledgers using a combination of relationship and mass fundraising activities. It will be responsible for planning and delivering high quality communications and experiences which make supporters feel inspired, valued and deepen relationships with them over the long-term.

This role is critical in growing future legacy income for RNID, which currently represents 72% of RNID’s income. It will play a pivotal role in a Legacy Fundraising Team of four people, reporting into the Head of Legacies, working alongside the Legacy Marketing Manager and line managing the Gifts in Wills Specialist Officer.

This role is a new addition to a growing team in an organisation where legacy fundraising has a high profile.  It is an ideal next step for an experienced and confident legacy fundraiser wanting to make their mark by growing the legacy stewardship programme to a new ambitious level that matches an increased investment in legacy acquisition.

You’re an experienced and ambitious legacy fundraiser with the ability to think strategically as well as deliver a full and varied programme of operational activity. You’re ready to apply your previous experience, success and ideas to shape and grow RNID’s legacy stewardship programme to its full potential.  You’re confident, innovative and keen to use data and insight to improve performance. You’re a strong collaborator and able to influence internal stakeholders at all levels. You’re an excellent project and event manager, able to plan and deliver multiple activities simultaneously to agreed deadlines and budgets.

You will be responsible for:

· Working with the Head of Legacies to diversify and plan the legacy stewardship programme, applying test and learn principles to evaluate and improve performance.

· Operational delivery of a varied legacy stewardship programme including supporter care, supporter journeys, in person and online events.

· Overseeing all one-to-one interactions with legacy prospects and supporters, either directly or through senior colleagues such as RNID’s Chief Executive.

· Educating and training colleagues to confidently support legacy fundraising activities.

· Line managing and developing the Gifts in Wills Relationship Officer.

· Working with the Head of Legacies, contributing to annual operational planning, budget setting, phasing, reforecasting and contingency planning. 

We are RNID: the national charity supporting the 18 million people in the UK who are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus. Together, we will end the discrimination faced by our communities, help people hear better now and fund world-class research to restore hearing and silence tinnitus. We work with our communities and partners across industry, government, charity, education and more to change life for the better.

We champion the value of difference and equality and celebrate our diverse and inclusive workforce. We actively encourage applications from eligible candidates from BAME backgrounds or who are deaf or hard of hearing. With almost 20% of our employees having a disability we proudly hold Disability Confident Leader status and guarantee an interview for disabled applicants meeting the minimum essential criteria.

Closing date: 3 June 2025

At the Alliance for a Cavity-Free Future (ACFF) we are dedicated to helping the billions of people worldwide suffering from untreated caries. This suffering disproportionately affects people from disadvantaged population groups and costs the global economy an estimated $245 billion USD.

We work for better oral health for all through a number of interconnected programmes including advocating at global conferences and meetings, local groundwork throughout 28 volunteer Chapters, designing and recommending better oral health policies for national governments through our Policy Labs and more.

We are looking for a freelance Director of Operations and Finance to work for an average of 4 days a week for a total of 180 days a year. They will be part of the senior leadership team alongside the Chief Strategy and Advocacy Officer and the Chair of the Board of Trustees.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership and Strategy

● Deliver our Operations and Finance KPIs as outlined in the Charity’s strategy; as well as being jointly responsible for the successful implementation of the full strategy.

● Lead and shape the Operations department, making sure it’s fit for purpose and maximising resources.

● Work collaboratively with senior management to maximise the success of the charity.

● Work closely and liaise regularly with the Chief Strategy & Advocacy Officer

● Work closely with the Chair of Trustees to ensure sound charity governance and compliance with HMRC and OSCR regulations.

● Ensure sound risk management strategies are in place.

● Manage the finance and operations input to grant bids and negotiation meetings.

● Liaise with external solicitors for advice to the Board.

● Project and logistics management, e.g for events and meetings

Finance

● Set and manage the charity’s annual budgets, supporting senior management in the process

● Report regularly on the charity’s finances, tracking the charity’s income, expenditure and reserves, and liaising with the Board of Trustees.

● Oversee the Charity’s bookkeeping and payroll; input journals as needed and closely monitor cashflow.

● Manage the end of year accounts and audit process, liaising with the external accountants.

Operations, IT and Data

● Manage the office and future office needs

● Manage the technology and data strategy, keeping staff tech secure and up to date, and acting as key liaison with third parties

● Be responsible for upholding our data privacy obligations. Work in partnership with senior management and charity lawyers to ensure GDPR obligations are followed, data security and use of data for internal and external reporting

● Oversee the efficient usage of our database, systems and key platforms (including Xero, Wordpress, Microsoft Office Suite) ensuring we are collecting and analysing relevant data in line with our goals to grow income and impact, ensuring proportionate resourcing and training

● Leadership of ad hoc Operations as required.

People Management

● If needed, oversee the recruitment of new staff, coordinating the process managing the staff journey including inductions, staff surveys, annual reviews, and exits.

● Oversee the communication with and distribution of work with freelancer and contractor staff.

● Maintain our policies and staff handbook, researching and writing/updating policies as required.

About you

Essential Criteria

● Must have a comprehensive knowledge of relevant systems, processes, policies, and procedures involved in the effective management of not-for-profit organisations.

● Demonstrable experience of financial management including, but not limited to, budget creation and reprofiling, forecasting, financial strategy, payments and invoicing, reconciling cashbook and bank accounts, VAT submission, and working with accountants on annual accounts.

● Requires possession of, or ability to quickly acquire specialist or professional knowledge of dental caries, and engagement in appropriate professional activities to keep knowledge base and skills up to date and develop them further.

● Ability to communicate effectively with a global stakeholder base.

● Ability to influence the strategic direction of the organisation and collaborating on the development and implementation of global impact strategy.

● Able to decide own pattern of work, manage own workload and resources.

● Requires the ability to use own judgement, creativity and initiative to resolve complex problems (for which an immediate solution might not be clear).

● Able to take both collaborative and independent decisions that have implications on their own work and that of others and have global, complex and long-lasting impact.

● Ability to advise others on recommended actions, including the creation of guidance documents and training procedures as well as introduction of new policies.

● Able to act independently in order to adapt the service offered based on research and investigation of the needs and requirements of stakeholders

Desirable Criteria

● Have an understanding of international development and sensitivity for ensuring appropriate and effective relationships are built across cultural and geographic barriers.

● Experience running communications campaigns using social media.

● Experience with Xero finance management software.

● Experience with Microsoft 365, especially Excel, PowerPoint and Word.

Applications

Please apply by submitting a CV (no more than two A4 pages) and Supporting Statement (no more than two A4 pages) addressing your suitability against the Essential and Desirable Criteria.

About WasteAid

WasteAid is an international NGO working in low and middle-income countries to implement environmental and economic empowerment programmes. We focus on supporting green businesses and grassroots entrepreneurs to improve livelihoods, promote circular economy innovation, and contribute to a cleaner, healthier future for all. Our work primarily addresses waste pollution in areas without formal waste management systems.

With programmes currently in The Gambia, India, South Africa, and Uganda, we're making a significant impact with over 1.3 million people positively affected by our work.

The Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced and dynamic Director of Programmes to provide strategic management of our programme portfolio during an exciting phase of our organisation's evolution. This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of a growing international development organisation working at the nexus of environmental and development programming.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement WasteAid's programme strategy
• Lead programme development, creating pathways to scale our impact
• Ensure high-quality delivery and impact measurement across all projects
• Manage the programmes team and budget effectively
• Build relationships with key stakeholders and represent WasteAid externally

What We're Looking For

We seek a candidate with experience in international development programming, ideally with knowledge of environmental management and circular economy approaches. You should have proven ability to design and manage complex programmes, work with funders, and lead remote teams.

Package

• Salary: Circa £65K depending on experience
• Location: Home-based in UK or Europe with approximately 25% international travel + 15% UK travel
• Reports to: Chief Executive

WasteAid's vision is a world where waste causes no harm, and people are empowered to recover its value.

Join Our Mission at Neuroendocrine Cancer UK

We are seeking a passionate and experienced Individual Giving Fundraiser to join our small, dynamic team during an exciting period of growth. This newly created role is pivotal in shaping and delivering our individual giving strategy, helping to secure the long-term sustainability of our work.

You will lead on developing and implementing initiatives to grow our regular giving and legacy programmes, while identifying new opportunities to engage and inspire individual supporters.

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who is ambitious, creative, and ready to make a real impact in a growing charity.

About Neuroendocrine Cancer UK (NCUK)

Neuroendocrine Cancer UK is a national charity with a clear mission: to support and inform patients and families from diagnosis, enable access to the best care and treatment, stimulate research, raise awareness, and influence improvements in outcomes.

We deliver our mission through four strategic priorities:

1. Patient support and advocacy
2. Education and awareness
3. Research and innovation
4. Policy and service improvement

If you’re ready to bring your skills and passion to a cause that matters, we’d love to hear from you.

Director of Finance
Reference: APR20256942
Location: Flexible/Remote in England, with travel to RSPB Offices and HQ Sandy SG19
Salary: £86,059.00 - £109,346.00 Per Annum
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full-Time, 37.5 hours per week.
Benefits: Pension scheme (7%), Life Assurance scheme, 26 days' annual leave (plus bank holidays)

The RSPB Finance Director role is a crucially important role for RSPB, reporting to the Executive Director for Finance, Governance and Strategy, and a part of the RSPB's senior leadership group.

What's the role about?

This is an opportunity for the successful candidate to:

• Drive the Finance department across all areas, including financial operations and budgeting and forecasting.
• Provide advice and support to the wider Finance, Governance and Strategy Directorate, Board, and other senior leaders on finance-related matters with a focus on strategy implementation.
• Engage with the Finance Committee and Audit and Risk Committee, leading on all financial matters.

Essential skills, knowledge and experience:

• Fully qualified accountant (UK-recognised qualification such as ACA, ACCA, CIMA)
• Successful track record of inspiring, managing, and delivering large scale organisation-wide projects
• Demonstrable track record in the successful leadership and management of a Finance team in a multi-faceted and geographically dispersed organisation
• Successful track record in developing excellent working relationships between internal directorates and external stakeholders
• Experience of both internal and external financial reporting and the related regulatory environment in the charity sector
• Experience of control systems that manage risk effectively and provide assurance on the efficiency and effectiveness of financial processes and compliance with relevant regulatory frameworks
• Knowledge of the main direct and indirect tax frameworks related to the charity sector
• Experience in creating and communicating a compelling vision for directing and motivating the Finance team

Desirable skills, knowledge and experience:

• Investment management experience
• Defined benefit pension scheme arrangement experience

Please note this is a remote working role that can be conducted flexibly within the UK, however the successful candidate will be expected to travel to RSPB offices (including The Lodge in Sandy, Bedfordshire) on a monthly basis.

Closing date: 23:59, Wednesday 4th June 2025
We are looking to conduct interviews for this position from June 2025.

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our recruitment partner's website to complete your application for this position.

We are committed to developing an inclusive and diverse RSPB, in which everyone feels supported, valued, and able to be their full selves. To achieve our vision of creating a world richer in nature, we need more people, and more diverse people, on nature’s side. People of colour and disabled people are currently underrepresented across the environment, climate, sustainability, and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled, we are particularly interested in receiving your application.

The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role will require standard pre-employment checks. This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

As part of this application you will be asked to provide a copy of your CV and complete a short form, which includes an optional cover letter section. Please use this cover letter section to detail how you meet the criteria listed above, as this will form the basis of our shortlisting. Contact us to discuss any additional support you may need to complete your application.

No agencies please.

The Degrees Initiative is a UK-based NGO that builds the capacity of developing countries to evaluate solar radiation modification (SRM), a controversial proposal for reducing some impacts of climate change by reflecting sunlight away from the Earth. Degrees is neutral on whether SRM should ever be used, but we believe that developing countries should be empowered to conduct their own research and to play a central role in SRM discussions.

This is a unique opportunity to shape global conversations on climate science by empowering researchers in developing countries to publish and communicate their work, collaborating with some of the world’s leading SRM experts. 

The Scientific Writing and Publishing Lead will play a key role in supporting researchers in the Global South to communicate their findings effectively and contribute to the global SRM conversation. Working within the Programmes team, reporting to the Programmes Director, and in cooperation with the Communications team, the Scientific Writer will collaborate closely with research teams and external partners. Responsibilities will include: 

1. Support researchers with scientific writing and publishing

• Develop guidance materials on topics such as structuring research papers, writing abstracts, and best practices for peer-reviewed publication. 

• Train and support researchers to develop, refine, and publish scientific manuscripts through one-on-one and group training sessions and technical editing and feedback. 

• In collaboration with the Staff Scientist, help build climate researchers’ capacity to prepare and communicate their findings to different audiences. 

• Advise research teams on scientific publishing norms, including peer review, and open-access publishing.

• Support researchers in choosing appropriate journals and navigating the submission and review process.
• Assist researchers in adapting their work for public and policy-facing communication channels, ensuring clarity and accessibility.

2. Lead and coordinate reports and publications

• Serve as the lead coordinator for a recurring international scientific report, overseeing contributions from multiple researchers and ensuring deadlines are met. 

• Act as a writer for key sections of the report, synthesising insights from researchers into a compelling and scientifically rigorous narrative. 
• Work closely with stakeholders and coordinate peer review and fact-checking to ensure the report’s accuracy, consistency, and accessibility.

3. Support Degrees’ scientific communication and outreach

• Collaborate with the communications team to ensure that external materials such as blog posts, website content, policy briefs and media articles are scientifically accurate and up to date. 

• Work with the policy engagement teams to develop scientific summaries and briefings for a range of stakeholders. 

• Keep Degrees staff and researchers abreast of new techniques for communicating research results to a range of stakeholders and training them how to use them. 
• Ensure that information from our funded research teams is shared with the communications teams. 
• Work closely with Degrees’ Staff Scientist and provide support when required.

4. Manage projects 

• Manage multiple writing and editorial projects simultaneously, ensuring deadlines are met. 

• Work closely with programme officers, researchers, and external partners to coordinate content development and align with strategic goals. 

• Working closely with the Staff Scientist in helping them to maintain an organised archive of scientific publications, reports, and communication materials for internal and external use. 

One of our fantastic clients is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Head of External Affairs to develop and implement a comprehensive external affairs strategy. This pivotal role will be instrumental in strengthening societies and changing lives, working closely with senior leadership to lead government relations across the UK and cultivate relationships with elected representatives, the Civil Service, and key partners within the voluntary, community, and social enterprise sectors.

The successful candidate will lead a team of public affairs, policy, and influencing professionals, contributing to the wider communications strategy. They will leverage an extensive network of stakeholders and a deep understanding of policy and public affairs to stay abreast of significant developments, ensuring the organisation remains proactive in its positioning and sensitive areas.

This role requires a leader who can inspire and develop a team of External Affairs professionals, devising and executing projects in a fast-paced environment while ensuring alignment with strategic goals. The External Affairs mandate is exceptionally diverse, spanning devolved governments across the UK and increasing regional devolution within England. Regular travel to attend meetings and spend time with colleagues across the UK will be required.

The Head of External Affairs will provide a professional, consistent, and expert service, supporting strategic activity across the organisation. They will oversee tailoring outputs to effectively reach key external affairs stakeholders and play a senior role in assessing areas of reputational risk.

Key responsibilities

• As a member of the communications leadership team, take ownership of, create, and implement a comprehensive external affairs strategy to deliver the organisation's missions and strategic objectives, including significant activity in the national portfolios, integrated and aligned to its communications strategy.

• Provide strategic oversight of government relations, public affairs, and strategic engagement across the UK, including relationships with sponsor bodies, working closely with the CEO Office and Portfolio Directors. Offer strategic guidance, sound judgement, and advice to senior leadership and other teams, driving a consistent organisational approach to relationship management.

• Take responsibility for strategic horizon scanning for external affairs activity across the mission areas, ensuring information and advice is shared directly with the CEO and senior colleagues, and opportunities for stakeholder engagement and influencing are maximised.

• Devise and lead a programme of external engagement with key policy, political, and mission-related stakeholders for the Chair, CEO, Board Members, and other senior leaders. This includes owning and coordinating key messages and briefings, attending meetings as appropriate, and ensuring actions are followed up.

• Oversee the design and delivery of engagement programmes that measurably increase engagement with key political and other audiences. Identify and manage risks, trends, or opportunities to protect and enhance the organisation's reputation and ensure successful influencing among key stakeholders.

• Plan and deliver a continuous review and evaluation of activities, including external benchmarking, measurement of engagement levels, and performance standards to ensure effective delivery of the External Affairs strategy across the four nations.

• Lead and develop a high-performing team, delegating work effectively, ensuring appropriate use of resource across the team, and providing and commissioning external suppliers and internal stakeholders to deliver high-quality plans.

Person Specifications

• Substantial experience leading government relations, public affairs, policy, and advocacy in a large, matrix organisation, ideally interacting with devolved administrations (national and mayoral).

• Experience in building and maintaining relationships with senior political and other stakeholders, fostering collaboration across diverse communities and perspectives.

• Experience of planning and executing strategic engagement across a range of high-profile audiences and activities, including responsibility for Chair/CEO/Board-level engagement.

• Experience of strategic planning and decision-making at a local, regional, and national level, including with peer organisations and local governments.

• Excellent interpersonal, networking, and communication skills, with the ability to engage diverse audiences with clarity and inclusivity.

• Experience of briefing and working with senior leaders in support of organisational and engagement objectives, often at short notice, including providing counsel in times of reputational risk and navigating complex organisational dynamics.

• Demonstrable leadership and project-management ability, with experience developing high-performing teams, resource management, and working in a matrix-management and collaborative environment.

• Experience commissioning agencies and third-party suppliers to work with internal stakeholders to deliver high-quality plans.

• Experience of continued professional, managerial, and personal development within the relevant discipline.

• If this role is based in Wales, or supports customers or colleagues in Wales, an understanding of Welsh language legislation and the Welsh Language Standards of the organisation is required.

What’s on Offer:

• Salary of £54,277-£60,000 outside London or £59,000-£66,500 inside London 

• Full time role 

• 12 month contract

• Immediate start 

How to Apply: To apply, please submit your CV demonstrating your suitability for this role by clicking the “apply now” button via our website.

The process: If your experience aligns with what we're looking for, a member of our team will be in contact to discuss the role with you in more detail before presenting your profile to the client. We will also ensure that all applicants receive an email to inform them of the outcome of their application.

To avoid any potential delays or your application being missed, please apply solely via the 'Apply Now' button.

Commitment to Diversity: The Talent Set and our partner organisation are committed to diverse and inclusive recruitment practices, ensuring equal opportunities for all applicants regardless of race, sexual orientation, disability, age, or gender. We actively encourage applications from a wide range of backgrounds and are always happy to make reasonable adjustments to ensure a fair recruitment process.

Do you share our dream of a UK where poverty is a thing of the past? 

Founded in 2019, the Poverty Truth Network believes that this can only happen when those most impacted by poverty are at the heart of the movement to end it. Our specific contribution brings together people experiencing poverty with those with responsibilities for alleviating it. “Nothing About Us Without Us Is For Us.” 

Thanks to funding from the National Lottery Community Fund, the PTN is recruiting a Partnerships Manager who will provide management and oversight of key partnerships essential to the delivery of the Network’s Strategic Plan, with a specific focus on the development and delivery of Regional Hubs.

You will have experience of establishing and delivering partnerships; dedicated to social justice; a commitment to collaborative working; and proven management experience.

Key Tasks

• To form part of the Core Leadership Team, providing overall strategic leadership across the Network 
• To manage the Partnership team, setting clear goals and objectives linked to the Strategic Plan 
• To lead on the development and support of Regional Hubs, including support with grant funding and income generation
• To act as the primary point of contact with Regional Hubs, for initial enquiries and ongoing relationships, including with staff and trustees
• To provide oversight of the Network’s Parliamentary work in Westminster and across the devolved administrations
• To oversee the Network’s Learning & Evaluation framework, offering insight and advice as appropriate, ensuring that agreed activities are delivered on time and in budget 
• To be the primary point of contact for partners working alongside the Network to deliver change in line with its Strategic Plan
• To recruit external partners to participate in the Mutual Mentoring programme
• To liaise closely with members of the Amplify Team in the development of national partnerships
• To develop and support work with creative partners to highlight the resilience of those struggling to overcome poverty
• To deputise for the Director as and when required
• To undertake other activities as needed dependent on jobholder’s knowledge, skills and experience

This role involves working from home with some travel.

This role will play a leadership role in delivering our ambitious policy influencing programme, helping to shape and implement influencing plans to bring about the changes needed to reduce, prevent and eventually end the need for food banks in the UK.  It will provide management and oversight to some of our strategic projects.

Role responsibilities

· Developing and implementing Trussell’s influencing strategy

Working with teams across the organisation to ensure key groups, including our community of food banks, corporate partners, churches and church-related organisations have a clear role in our policy influencing approach.

· Planning and delivering impactful public affairs activity

Ensuring systems are in place to help plan, monitor and evaluate public affairs activity and maximise opportunities to engage with key audiences, including Parliamentarians, advisers, and UK Government Ministers; and support close working with colleagues in all UK nations and regions.  Managing the development and delivery of public affairs activity to support high profile influencing campaigns.

· Building and managing strong relationships with key external stakeholders

Developing relationships, partnerships and networks to help raise the profile, credibility and influence of Trussell and our policy positions, particularly in the UK Parliament.  Representing Trussell and promoting the organisation’s policy position to key audiences, including in meetings and events with Parliamentarians.

· Developing public affairs support to the food bank community

Working closely with a small team of Network Policy and Research Officers and the Organising and Local Mobilisation team to support our community of food banks to build and maintain strong relationships with their local MPs.  Ensuring public affairs activity is well aligned to campaign strategies involving the food bank network.

· Embedding participatory approaches across our public affairs and wider influencing activity

Supporting further development of a participatory approach to policy influencing to ensure it is rooted in the lived experience of individuals affected by poverty.  This includes ensuring an ethical approach in line with our values.

· Providing advice and line management

Have line management responsibility for individuals within the team, providing pastoral and development guidance along with task management on key projects.  This includes regular 1:1s, objective setting and collaborative monitoring, and support with development needs.

Person Specification

Technical skills and minimum knowledge:

· Track record of successfully influencing politicians and key decision-makers to achieve strategic goals at different levels of government.

· Track record of delivering strategic public affairs activity based on robust evidence, from development to evaluation.

· Can explain components of effective policy influencing, including knowledge of the machinery and structure of government (UK, devolved, local) and experience of informing campaigns activity to mobilise support for policy change.

· Demonstrates a good understanding of policies that affect UK poverty and hunger.  Can explain policy motivations of main political parties and can advise on how to influence them most effectively.

· Excellent written and oral communication skills, particularly in demonstrating enthusiasm and experience when communicating complex topics to non-specialist audiences.

· Experience of line managing, including dealing with performance issues and supporting team development.

Behaviours and competencies:

· Works collaboratively, managing challenges in a constructive manner

· Balances competing priorities and work to tight deadlines

· Demonstrates a dedication to the values of Trussell

· Demonstrates empathy for people from disadvantages, marginalised or socially excluded backgrounds

· Role models inclusive behaviour, values and leadership

Your focus will be to secure both major gifts from new donors and build on the commitment of long-standing supporters to further their partnership in MAF’s work and mission.This is a fantastic opportunity to join a friendly and high performing team and make a significant contribution to our global mission.  There is an occupational requirement for the job holder of these positions to be a committed Christian. Additional information is available on request.

Responsibilities

In this role you will have 6 key responsibilities:

Financial: Managing a portfolio of high-value relationships and to deliver income at the agreed annual target in the first year with an expectation this will rise year on year.

Management:  You will be one of the first points of contact internally for trusts/foundations and individual major donors (IMD) related queries and will work in accordance with the major giving team strategic plan and existing procedures, practices and standards.

Relationship:You will seek to actively develop and manage excellent relationships with an agreed portfolio of trusts/foundations and IMD capable of donating a minimum of £25,000 or more as a single gift each year. In addition you will need to:

• Develop and implement professionally written action plans which will engage, inform and nurture prospects and donors to deliver gifts at the agreed level.
• Undertake timely administration to capture and record knowledge of supporters within the customer relationship management database. Work with the organisation’s systems team to utilise this information to enhance applications and giving levels
• Pro-actively develop relationships with key stakeholders within the MAF organisation(s)
• Present MAF proposals alone or with others, (member of the operational field team, CEO etc), to prospects and donors.
• Participate in events to develop relationships with donors, inviting individuals from portfolios where appropriate and co-ordinate visits to MAF overseas operations where appropriate to introduce these donors directly to the work of MAF.  

Information: Information management and analytical thinking is essential as you will present detailed, accurate and high-quality fundraising proposals to prospects and donors, ensuring any specific deadlines or funding windows are complied with.   In addition you will need to:

• Ensure that donors are thanked appropriately for their gifts with timely and appropriate reports, letters and phone call.
• Provide timely ‘report backs’ that are appropriate/agreed with each donor, to evidence effective use of funding and to encourage the opportunity to make further applications based on good stewardship and achievement of agreed outcomes.
• Maintain a thorough knowledge, and the funding priority, of projects available for funding by trusts/foundations supporters and prospects.
• Actively seeking to grow the trusts/foundations portfolio and income through the use of research
• Attending regular appropriate training courses, external forums and networks to ensure continuous personal development 

Major Donor team (practice/ procedures/training):As a key member of the team you will need to ensure procedures and standards are developed/maintained to ensure we are effective and compliant with any legislation/regulation.

CRM Database: To provide support to the Partnership Executive, who will be the team’s CRM database lead and maintain a thorough working understanding of MAF UK’s CRM system in order to answer specific team queries.  You will need to support the teams day-to-day CRM activities including producing reports, importing data, adding activities, amending details and any other relevant tasks

In line with all staff in MAF UK you will be required to:

1. Be a role model of organisational values and beliefs - contributing to the shared spiritual life of the MAF UK team as a unique Christian charity. This will include attendance and participation in corporate times of biblical reflection and corporate prayer meetings
2. Participate in appropriate matrix programme and project teams, contributing skills and expertise to required timescales from the appropriate programme leader
3. Keep your line manager informed of all relevant and timely information
4. At all times comply with statutory requirements for handling personal and sensitive data in a confidential manner
5. To abide by Safeguarding and Conduct Policies, and all other MAF UK policies provided on the Intranet

 Christian values, beliefs and ethos of MAF UK:

As a Christian mission, MAF UK is seeking those who share in the Christian values and beliefs of the organisation, as described in the mission, purpose, values and beliefs statements. All staff will be required to support and actively demonstrate the Christian values of the organisation and to take part in organisation activities such as staff meetings, prayer meetings, away days, where the values and beliefs of the organisation will be obvious.

Qualifications, Skills & Experience

Essential Requirements

• Educated to degree level
• Experience of working with donors or in a relationship management environment
• Experience of utilising knowledge of audiences to develop donor involvement
• Your personal skills and attributes will need to include
  • Excellent writing skills with the ability to successfully present project proposals to trusts and foundations
  • Proficient skills in Microsoft applications
  • Able to communicate positively, persuasively, and sensitively across functions and organisations
  • Building strong partnerships across the organisation and maintaining a positive and friendly approach even under pressure
  • The ability to positively influence non-direct reports in order to obtain information, or drive activity
  • High levels of efficiency and quality – Excellent attention to detail
  • Financially literate and able to interpret business plans
  • Able to manage multiple deadlines and priorities
  • Committed and mature Christian, able to demonstrate understanding and acceptance of the Statement of Faith and willing to proactively take part in MAF events and meetings e.g. prayer meetings, away days etc. Able to describe these beliefs and values to others so as to represent MAF as a Christian mission organisation
  • Emotional resourcefulness
  • Flexibility towards others and circumstances
  • Service orientation

Highly Desriable requirements

• Major donor/trusts & foundations or other transferable fundraising training

• Experience of working in a Christian organisation or charity/fundraising environment

• Successful work experience within a fundraising environment

  Benefits:

• Salary:   £42,000 per annum depending upon experience 
• Hours: This role is full time, 36 hours per week
• Pension: MAF UK provides a non-contributory pension scheme for staff of 10% salary on joining
• Annual leave entitlement: 22 days per year plus 8 statutory paid public holidays per year (including those falling at Christmas and New Year).

Location: This role can be based at the MAF UK Offices in Scotland, Glasgow,  or optionally could be in the Oxford, Cambridge arc as we are launching a new hub in the Milton Keynes area, maximising our engagement with a thriving local aerospace and charity sector region.  Up to two days a week in our Folkstone Office might be initially required.We welcome hybrid working in line with our flexible working policy, the needs of the business, the requirements of the role and your location. This will be discussed at interview.

Closing date:  22nd June 2025

Interview date:  July 2025