Public policy jobs

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced international advocacy professional to lead our global engagement strategy as our inaugural Head of Advocacy. You will be joining us at a pivotal moment on our mission as we continue to develop and implement our international engagement strategy and launch a new Global Institute for the 1001 Critical Days. As our Head of Advocacy you will elevate our influence on the global stage. You will work with our senior team to drive international advocacy and engagement with policymakers, parliamentarians, international organisations, and strategic partners. Your work will help us to position babies – and the 1,001 critical days – at the heart of global policy agendas.

To apply please click on the redirect to recruiter button. 

Everyone deserves good mental health.

The Mental Health Foundation is the UK's leading charity focused on the prevention of poor mental health. For more than 75 years, we have combined research, policy, campaigning and public engagement to challenge the causes of poor mental health and drive lasting change.

Today, mental health outcomes across the UK are worsening, particularly for children and young people. While services remain focused on responding to crisis, we believe prevention must become the foundation of the UK's approach to mental health. Our new five-year strategy, ‘A Call to Act: Fighting for Prevention in Mental Health’ sets out an ambitious vision to achieve that change.

Why we are recruiting

After eight successful years, our current Chief Executive will be stepping down, creating an exciting opportunity for a new leader to guide the Foundation through its next phase of growth and impact.

The organisation enters this transition from a position of strength: a clear and ambitious strategy, a talented and committed team of around 70 staff across the UK, strong finances, a respected national profile, a supportive Board and committed Chair.

The opportunity

As Chief Executive, you will be the chief ambassador of the Foundation. You will lead the delivery of our new strategy, strengthen our influence with governments, policymakers and partners, and ensure we continue to grow our impact and income.

Working closely with the Board, a highly capable Senior Leadership Team, supporters and partners, you will champion prevention as the solution to the UK's mental health crisis, helping to shape policy, public understanding and systemic change across our priority areas:

· Championing prevention: so that we can prevent mental health problems before they take root, tackling the causes instead of waiting to treat the symptoms.

· Online worlds: so that people are protected from harm and are more mentally healthy in their online activity.

· Bullying and discrimination: so that children and young people are protected from the life-long harms these can lead to.

· Working lives: so that young people can thrive in mentally-healthy workplaces that support their wellbeing.

This is an opportunity to lead one of the UK's most respected charities and improve the lives of millions of people.

Who we are looking for

We are seeking an inspiring, values-driven leader with the credibility, ambition and vision to take the Foundation forward.

You will bring:

• Significant senior leadership experience as a CEO, Executive Director or similar SLT role
• A proven track record of leading organisational growth, impact and fundraising success
• Outstanding communication and strategic partnership-building skills
• Experience of engaging and influencing senior stakeholders, policymakers, funders and the media, to effect change
• Strong strategic, financial and organisational leadership capability
• A collaborative leadership style that empowers and develops others
• A commitment to equity, inclusion and the Foundation's values

Knowledge of mental health, public health, prevention, related research, or campaigning would be highly advantageous, though we welcome applications from candidates with transferable leadership experience and relevant insights from closely adjacent or intersecting sectors.

Join us

This is a rare opportunity to lead a nationally respected organisation at a pivotal moment for mental health in the UK. If you are passionate about creating long-term social change and have the leadership skills to inspire people, influence systems and deliver impact at scale, we would love to hear from you.

To read more about the organisation and role, please download the full appointment brief.

Together, we can build a future where everyone can live with the good mental health they deserve.

Closing date: 16 August 2026

People Beyond Profit Conversations: 20-31 August 2026

Mental Health Foundation Interviews:

• First Stage: 7 September 2026 (in-Person)
• Second Stage: 14 September 2026 (In-Person)

Goodman Masson are partnered with a highly respected, award-winning Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) in North London to find a skilled and proactive Finance Manager.

Educating over 2,500 pupils across a close-knit family of primary and secondary schools, our client is dedicated to providing life-changing opportunities within vibrant, diverse communities. Recently recognised nationally for their exceptional educational outcomes and community outreach, they provide a highly collaborative and supportive central services team environment where your work directly impacts the success of young people.

As the Finance Manager, you will support the monitoring and control of Trust spend, working closely with the Finance Director to successfully manage budgets and incoming resources, whilst delivering the highest standards of customer service to the academies in the Trust and other stakeholders.

You will be responsible for the day-to-day finance transactions, including banking, management accounts review and reconciliation, debtor management and reporting, and the administration and development of the finance system. This includes close working with the Accounts Payable team to ensure robust financial control, compliance and efficiency across all academies within the Trust.

You will provide a stable, flexible and resilient service that supports leadership in delivering value for money and strong financial stewardship across all income streams received by the Trust. 

Key Responsibilities:

• Financial Control & Accounting: Lead month-end close procedures, balance sheet reconciliations, and correction journals. Maintain the fixed asset register and calculate annual depreciation in line with academy financial reporting standards.
• Budgeting & Income Management: Partner with the Finance Director to advise academy budget holders, manage self-generated income streams (including debt management/reporting), and oversee compliance for the 6th form bursary payment process.
• Cash & Compliance: Direct daily banking reconciliations, cash-flow forecasting, and monthly VAT 126 return submissions to HMRC.
• Systems & Operational Support: Act as the super-user and administrator for the Trust’s finance system—providing training to staff and stepping in to support the Accounts Payable team during peak periods.
• Procurement: Oversee the Trust’s centralised contract register to support timely renewals, compliance with procurement policy, and value-for-money principles.
• Audit & Governance: Assist in the preparation of monthly management accounts and support the internal scrutiny and external annual audit processes by providing clean evidence.
• Academy Partnering: Spend time out at the local academy sites to assist with school trip costings, build visibility, and strengthen financial understanding across the school. 

What You'll Need to Succeed:

• Sector Experience: Prior finance experience within an educational setting, academy trust, local authority, or the wider public/not-for-profit sector is highly desirable but not essential.
• Technical Strength: A strong foundation in management accounts preparation, balance sheet reconciliations, and financial control frameworks.
• System Savvy: Excellent IT skills, particularly with modern finance software/ERP systems, and the ability to train/support other users.
• Communication Skills: The ability to explain complex financial matters clearly to academic leaders and senior trustees who may not have a finance background.
• Flexibility: A collaborative mindset with a willingness to travel to different academy locations in North London as required.

The Salary range is £45,000 - £53,000 + Excellent benefits including Local Government Pension Scheme. 

You will be predominately based in the trusts Head Office (Edmonton / Enfield area) with some travel to the academy sites which are local to the office. 

Applications are being reviewed on a rolling basis, therefore please apply ASAP with your CV to ensure you are considered. 

As our Movement Buliding Lead you'll bridge the gap between national organisations driving economic systems change and grassroots campaigners living the consequences of economic decisions every day — whether that's stagnant incomes, the cost of living crisis, housing, access to care and public services, rising polarisation or the impacts of climate change.

ECU has a strong track record in movement building, and now we're ready to go further. Your core focus will be building deep, trusting relationships with communities — especially with people experiencing multiple forms of marginalisation — and strengthening their capacity, connections, and opportunities to collaborate on changing our economy.This is a rare opportunity to shape the growth of a pivotal movement.

For over 60 years the National Children’s Bureau (NCB) has been building a better childhood for all.

Research and Policy Manager
Contract: Permanent
Work Pattern: Full Time, 35 hours per week (1.0 FTE) (We are open to flexible hours and working patterns, including accommodating part-time and compressed hours (0.8 FTE) where possible).
Salary: £44,167 per annum
Location: London Fields, E8. NCB promotes a hybrid, flexible way of working with 2 days working in the office.

The Vacancy

The Policy and Communications Manager will act as a driving force behind our visibility and impact across key policy areas, bringing lived and learned experiences to the heart of our influencing. This role will work to elevate our profile, transforming our evidence and expertise into impactful communications and influencing strategies to build a momentum for meaningful policy, legislative and social change.

This position will bridge the gap between NCB’s evidence-based policy development and national advocacy, translating complex policy issues into powerful narratives that resonate with decision-makers and galvanise wider support. The role will manage and deliver key elements of NCB’s core work across policy and communications, lead the delivery of funded projects and provide robust project management, and actively contribute to project proposals and income generation.

About NCB

For more than 60 years, the National Children’s Bureau has championed the rights and amplified the voice of children and young people in the UK. We interrogate policy and uncover evidence, blending in lived and learnt experience to shape future legislation and develop more effective ways of supporting children and families.

Bringing people and organisations together is fundamental to how we improve the systems that babies, children, young people and their families rely on to thrive. We push boundaries, even looking beyond childhood itself to consider transitions into adulthood and the impact of childhood issues on an entire lifespan. We are united for better childhoods and brighter futures.

The Benefits

• 30 Days Annual Leave
• Generous Pension Scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Flexible Working
• Winter Holiday Closure & Break
• Employee Assistance Programme

Closing date: 08:00am, Friday 10th July 2026
Please note that we reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive a high volume of applications. We encourage interested candidates to submit their applications as soon as possible.

Interested?

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

We are actively seeking to broaden the diversity of our staff group and warmly welcome applications from candidates underrepresented in the charity sector, including those from Black and Global Majority communities, disabled people, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people with lived experience of the issues NCB works on.

No agencies please.

About the role:

This role is key to our new partnership programme influencing practice and policy on climate resilience and emergency preparedness at local and national levels. It presents a fantastic opportunity to effect real change in how our government responds to the needs of people most affected by climate change.

We are looking for someone who can be a bridge between the statutory and voluntary resilience communities and equality groups. You’ll have a thorough understanding of emergency preparedness and response systems, and a commitment to transform how they operate for the benefit of everyone, by working collaboratively with a rights based approach.

About the programme:

Hosted and supported by Equally Ours, this role exists as part of an innovative, collaborative team that brings together five roles from three different organisations: Equally Ours, Communities Prepared (Groundwork South) and the VCS Emergencies Partnership (VCSEP). This brand new programme has received £2,052,488.00 over five years from the Climate Action Fund, a long-term commitment from The National Lottery Community Fund to support communities across the UK to act on climate change and involve more people in positive environmental action. 

About the organisation:

Equally Ours is the UK charity that brings together people and organisations working across equality, human rights and social justice to make a reality of these in everyone’s lives. Our vision is a just and compassionate society, where we are free from harm and can all contribute and flourish, whoever we are, whatever we believe in, and whatever we do and don’t have. A society that is equally ours.

Main duties and responsibilities:

Programme Leadership

• Lead Equally Ours’ contribution to the programme. Shaping and delivering the programme’s policy, influencing and systems change objectives.
• Work closely with programme partners Communities Prepared (Groundwork South) and the VCS Emergencies Partnership (VCSEP) to ensure joined-up co-design and delivery across community engagement, resilience training, strategic communications and influencing activity.
• Facilitate and enable the co-design process and provide a pan-equality analysis on thought leadership.
• Lead for the programme on liaison and knowledge exchange with initiatives in the devolved nations.

Policy Influencing

• Drive systems change: Support efforts to redesign climate resilience policy and practice at local, regional and national levels, ensuring it better reflects the needs and rights, experiences and expertise of communities experiencing discrimination and disadvantage.
• Build strategic relationships: Develop and maintain strong relationships with equality organisations, government departments, voluntary and statutory sector partners and resilience stakeholders.
• Support influencing activity: Coordinate and contribute to consultations, policy submissions, roundtables, events and stakeholder engagement opportunities that strengthen the programme’s influence and impact.
• Promote a rights-based approach: Champion intersectional, pan-equality and human rights based approaches across climate resilience policy, practice and partnership working. 

Person Specification (Essential Skills and Experience):

1. Demonstrable experience or understanding of statutory and voluntary sector duties and action on climate resilience in relation to extreme weather event preparedness and response.
2. Policy and influencing experience: Demonstrable experience of creating policy or practice change, ideally linked to equality, social justice, climate resilience or related areas.
3. Partnership and stakeholder engagement: Experience of building positive working relationships with a range of stakeholders, including community organisations, networks, public bodies or voluntary sector partners.
4. Community engagement: Experience of engaging with communities experiencing discrimination and disadvantage in meaningful, inclusive and accessible ways.
5. Understanding of equality and human rights: Professional or lived experience combined with a strong understanding of equality, intersectionality and human rights principles, and the ability to apply them in practice. 
6. Communication and collaboration skills: Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate and facilitate confidently with a range of audiences and work collaboratively as part of a partnership programme.
7. Organisation and programme coordination: Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities, coordinate activity and work effectively across multiple projects and stakeholders.
8. Anti-Racism, intersectionality and a human rights approach: Commitment to embed these principles across all aspects of our work.

Please read the full application pack attached before applying. You must be signed into your CharityJob candidate account to access and view this document.

Please note we will only accept applications that include a cover letter.

Job title: Policy Specialist (Audits and Technology)
Area of work: Audit & Assurance Policy / Technology Policy
Contract type: Permanent
Employment type: Full-time
Salary: £69,000
Location: Birmingham(2 days on site per week)
Annual leave: 30 days plus bank holidays
Closing date: Friday 10th July

Overview
This is a uniqueopportunity to help shape the future of audit in the UK within a leadingindependent regulator for audit, reporting and governance at a pivotal momentof technological change.
As a PolicySpecialist, you will play a key role in developing policy and guidance on theuse of emerging technologies, including AI - within audit and assurance.Working at the intersection of audit, regulation and innovation, you will helpensure technology is adopted in a way that enhances audit quality and supportseconomic growth.
You will contribute toa high-profile and evolving policy agenda, translating complex technicaldevelopments into clear, practical guidance for the audit profession. This roleoffers exposure to international standard-setting bodies, senior stakeholders andmultidisciplinary teams across the regulatory landscape.
This position is idealfor candidates with a background in audit, accounting policy, or technology/AIpolicy who are keen to step into a forward-looking role where intellectualcuriosity, writing ability and stakeholder engagement are critical.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the drafting of guidance on the application of technology in audit, including AI and emerging tools
• Translate complex technical and policy concepts into clear, practical and accessible written outputs
• Engage with audit firms, technology providers, regulators and international bodies to gather insight and influence thinking
• Contribute to the development of UK audit and assurance policy in response to technological change
• Support and influence international standard setters across audit, assurance and ethics
• Collaborate across internal teams to ensure a consistent regulatory approach to audit technology
• Monitor developments in AI and other emerging technologies, assessing implications for audit quality and standards
• Build and maintain a strong professional network across the audit, regulatory and technology landscape

Skills &Experience Required
Essential

• Qualified accountant or demonstrable expertise in technology / AI policy
• Strong understanding of auditing and ethical standards in the UK or strong understanding of technology policy frameworks
• Knowledge of emerging technologies relevant to audit, particularly AI (including generative or agentic AI)
• Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to clearly convey complex ideas
• Experience engaging with stakeholders across professional, regulatory or technical environments
• Ability to interpret technical material and distil underlying principles into policy-relevant outputs
• Collaborative approach with the ability to work across multidisciplinary teams

Desirable

• Experience within a regulator, standard setter, Big 4 firm or central policy function
• Understanding of how technology is applied in audit and associated policy challenges
• Experience contributing to policy development or standard-setting processes
• Exposure to international working groups or cross-border regulatory environments
• Interest in AI governance, AI safety or emerging regulatory frameworks

Person Specification

• Outstanding written communicator
• Intellectually curious, with a strong interest in emerging technology
• Proactive and adaptable, able to operate in a developing policy area
• Strong analytical thinker, comfortable working with nuanced and complex topics
• Confident engaging and influencing a wide range of stakeholders
• Collaborative team player, able to work effectively in a flat team structure
• Open to development and stepping into a growing, evolving policy discipline

The Team
You will join ahigh-impact policy function within a UK regulator, working at the forefront ofthinking on technology in audit and assurance.
This is a rareopportunity to help shape a new and rapidly emerging policy area at theintersection of audit and AI, with significant scope for growth andprofessional development.
The organisationoffers:

• A progressive and high-profile regulatory environment
• Opportunities to contribute to international standard setting
• A strong commitment to flexibility and work/life balance
• A collaborative and inclusive culture with clear public interest purpose

Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and employment business for the supply of temporary workers. By applying for this job you accept the T&C's, Privacy Policy and Disclaimers which can be found at hays.co.uk

This is a defining moment for the National Forest. With a renewed Vision, our purpose is clear: to harness the transformative power of forests to restore nature, connect communities, and drive enterprise for a positive future. Over 30 years, this 200 square mile landscape has been reshaped, more than 10 million trees planted, and forest cover increased from 6% to 26%. Now, we are ready to build on this success within the National Forest itself, enabling three new national forests and championing a forest network for England.

We are now looking for a Project Manager to join us to take forward this work on new national forests. This role is full-time, working 37 hours per week for a fixed-term contract to 31 March 2031, with the potential for extension depending on funding.

Our Commitment to You

- Salary of £43,500 - £48,575
- Civil Service Pension scheme
- 30 days’ annual leave plus 10.5 days’ public and privilege holidays
- Staff bonuses
- Flexible working options
- Cycle to Work Scheme
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Discounts on gym memberships

 Your Role in Growing Our Forest Story

As the New National Forests Project Manager, you’ll lead on effective project management of centralised activities for the three new national forests.

Specifically, you’ll manage the centralised reporting of progress, targets and budgets, liaising closely with the programme managers for each new national forest.

You’ll also provide technical support and advice on land use issues, including forest creation grants delivery, habitat management and land use planning, writing briefings and policy papers.

Additionally, you will:
- Liaise with external partners including government departments, statutory agencies, NGOs and wider partners
- Procure and contract manage consultancy works
- Support communications, advocacy and funding work for new national forests

What You’ll Bring

To be considered as a Project Manager, you will need:
- A relevant degree-level / professional qualification, or at least five years’ work-based experience in a similar role
- Proven experience of project managing partnership projects to deliver positive place-based or environmental outcomes
- Experience of building productive relationships at all levels with external delivery partners and funders
- Knowledge of land use and environmental policy and practice, including incentives and regulation

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

The post holder will share responsibility with the whole Asylum Aid legal team, and partner organisations to ensure that:

· There is a clear focus on agreed priority areas of work and that cases are taken on in line in with those priorities.

· Relevant stakeholders are engaged in developing the work so that they can participate as effectively as possible.

· Asylum Aid does not duplicate work being delivered elsewhere but is able to collaborate with external partners where appropriate.

· The lessons and successes of Asylum Aid are disseminated outside the team and are able to be applied as widely as possible.

Casework

Following an Independent Peer Review Asylum Aid’s casework has been rated as ‘excellent’.

The post holder will, with support from the team, be expected to:

· Provide high quality advice and representation for clients, NGOs, practitioners and other groups as appropriate,

· Conduct and co-ordinate immigration/asylum/public law casework and litigation on behalf of organisations and individuals,

· Coordinate law clinic programmes together with other Asylum Aid staff,

· Conduct legal and country background research where necessary, and

· Record all work undertaken, using Asylum Aid’s case management system, and prepare cases for billing to ensure all income is accounted for accurately and in a timely manner.

If the postholder holds Supervisor accreditation, and is appointed as a Supervisor, your responsibilities will include the full responsibilities of a Supervisor, including responsibilities for the work of people under their supervision.

The post holder will be expected to carry out their casework with a high degree of professionalism, and in such a way as to meet relevant external standards (e.g. Law Society, Solicitors Regulation Authority, Immigration Advice Authority and Lexcel). They will also be expected to meet performance targets in relation to time recording/chargeable hours.

Training and Information Work

The post holder will share responsibility with the other members of the legal team to:

· Develop and disseminate relevant information on legal developments in their area of work/expertise to relevant stakeholders, supported by the team,

· Attend and contribute to both internal meetings and relevant external meetings, and

· Prepare and deliver training on areas of their work/expertise.

Administration

The post holder will:

· Contribute to the fulfilment of any reporting requirements to funders, the LAA, Asylum Aid management team and others,

· Undertake general administration,

· represent the MLP team and Asylum Aid externally as necessary,

· Undertake other tasks appropriate to the role as necessary,

· Attend Asylum Aid staff, and any relevant meetings of the Helen Bamber Foundation Group when necessary,

· Occasionally travel outside the UK at short notice and be willing to work outside office hours where necessary. Time off in lieu and overtime are available where appropriate,

· Record their own work, using Asylum Aid’s case management system, and participate in the evaluation and review of the wider team at Asylum Aid, and

· Lexcel - all legal staff are required to participate in the procedures developed in response to Lexcel requirements e.g. regularly reviewing and recording review of own files.

Teamwork, decision making and management

· The post holder will be expected to attend all Asylum Aid staff meetings and any relevant meetings of the Helen Bamber Foundation Group and participate in consultation and decision making. S/he will carry out their duties in accordance with Asylum Aid’s policies,

· The post holder will work closely with all Asylum Aid staff and relevant Helen Bamber Group Foundation staff.

General

· Commitment to Asylum Aid’s ethos and mission.

· Maintaining the values of the charity and positively promoting the work and activities of the charity at all times

· Undertaking any task that may be requested from time to time that may be consistent with the nature and scope of this post

· Championing diversity and inclusion in your role at all times.

All Asylum Aid staff who are solicitors have a responsibility to support casework supervision of non-legally qualified staff and comply with the Solicitors Accounts rules in accordance with the professional practice rules for solicitors.

Are you a qualified finance professional looking for a high-impact contract role within an international charity? This is a unique opportunity to join during a pivotal period of growth and transformation, helping integrate UK and US finance operations while ensuring robust financial control, compliance, reporting and governance.

Working closely with the VP of Finance, you will provide strategic financial leadership while remaining hands-on with financial operations, systems migration, board reporting and statutory compliance. This role would suit someone who thrives in a changing environment and enjoys improving processes, systems and reporting.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the integration of UK finance operations into a global finance function
• Support the migration from QuickBooks to NetSuite and Barclays to HSBC
• Support budgeting, forecasting and financial planning activities
• Prepare board reports and provide financial insights to senior stakeholders
• Lead UK audit activity and support statutory filings with Companies House and the Charity Commission
• Review and improve financial policies, processes and reporting frameworks

Essential Skills & Experience

• ACA, ACCA or CIMA qualified
• 5+ years' finance experience
• Experience managing change, finance transformation or systems projects
• Board reporting and stakeholder management experience
• Experience managing or mentoring finance staff

Desirable Skills & Experience

• Charity or international NGO experience
• NetSuite implementation or migration experience
• Gift Aid knowledge

Applications for this role are now under review, and the deadline could well be brought forward if the suitable candidate is found. Therefore, do not delay in submitting your application!

To provide high-quality and comprehensive advice, information, practical and advocacy support relating to violence against women and girls (VAWG) perpetrated against black and minoritised women and children. To work predominantly with women who are deemed standard or medium risk, across West London. To assist with educational, developmental, policy and campaigning work arising from advice and casework, with a particular emphasis on those residing across West London boroughs.

Why work with Southall Black Sisters?

Southall Black Sisters is committed to providing a supportive working environment, where team members feel valued, empowered and safe. To that end, we provide an excellent package of employee benefits including:​

• Generous annual leave entitlement 
• Hybrid working 
• Enhanced pension contribution
• Enhanced sick pay
• Subsidised public transport season ticket
• A comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme, including access to confidential support from MBACP therapists 
• Clinical supervision with an MBACP therapist to explore issues arising from casework
• A focus on continued learning and development through accredited training delivered by experts in their field
• Organisation-wide away days
• Career development pathways and support
• The opportunity to learn and grow within an organisation renowned for inspiring political activism and campaigning successes
• Employer eye care scheme

To Apply

Submit a completed application form along with the optional equal opportunities monitoring form by the application deadline. Please do not send us your CV as this will not be considered.

Please note, incomplete applications will not be considered.

To provide high-quality and comprehensive advice, information, practical and advocacy support relating to domestic and other forms of gender-based violence perpetrated against Black and minoritised women and children.

To assist with educational, developmental, policy and campaigning work arising from advice and casework.

To promote the aims and objectives of SBS as a specialist organisation for Black and minoritised women and children.

Why work with Southall Black Sisters?

Southall Black Sisters is committed to providing a supportive working environment, where team members feel valued, empowered and safe. To that end, we provide an excellent package of employee benefits including:​

• Generous annual leave entitlement 
• Hybrid working 
• Enhanced pension contribution
• Enhanced sick pay
• Subsidised public transport season ticket
• A comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme, including access to confidential support from MBACP therapists 
• Clinical supervision with an MBACP therapist to explore issues arising from casework
• A focus on continued learning and development through accredited training delivered by experts in their field
• Organisation-wide away days
• Career development pathways and support
• The opportunity to learn and grow within an organisation renowned for inspiring political activism and campaigning successes
• Employer eye care scheme

To Apply

Submit a completed application form along with the optional equal opportunities monitoring form by the application deadline. Please do not send us your CV as this will not be considered.

Please note, incomplete applications will not be considered.

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

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

Key Responsibilities

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

About The Difference

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

About You

Essential

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

Desired

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

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

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

Financial Controller

£60,000 - £65,000 | Permanent | 4 day working week (Full Time) | London Hybrid

Take ownership of financial control, statutory reporting, and technical accounting while helping shape the future of CIPFA's finance function whilst they are undergoing transformation!

CIPFA is exclusively partnering with Robertson Bell in their search for a Financial Controller to join their finance team in a newly created role. This is an exciting opportunity to take ownership of financial control, statutory reporting, treasury, tax and compliance, while helping drive the ongoing development of a modern, high-performing finance function.

As the professional body for people in public finance, CIPFA is committed to supporting better public services through excellence in financial management and governance. This role will play a key part in ensuring the organisation continues to operate with strong financial stewardship while supporting future growth and organisational priorities.

Why this Financial Controller role stands out:

• A genuine four-day working week – work Monday to Thursday, enjoy Fridays off, and take the full salary home (it is not pro rata!).
• Newly created position with the opportunity to shape the role and influence the future direction of the finance function.
• Strategic exposure – partner with senior leaders on commercial opportunities, international activity, and organisational initiatives.
• Drive improvement and transformation across systems, controls, reporting, and finance processes.
• Clear progression potential – gain exposure well beyond traditional financial control responsibilities, with the potential to develop into a broader finance leadership role over time.

What you'll do – and what you'll gain:

• Play a leading role in statutory reporting, year-end processes, audits, treasury management, and tax compliance.
• Act as the organisation's technical accounting expert, ensuring compliance with charity accounting standards and evolving regulations.
• Support strategic projects by providing insight into financial, tax, treasury, and compliance implications.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen controls, improve reporting, and maximise the value of finance systems.
• Contribute to the ongoing development of a modern, high-performing finance function.

What you'll need:

• Experience preparing charity statutory accounts and managing year-end audits, either in industry or practice.
• Strong knowledge of charity accounting, VAT and SORP FRS102.
• A proactive approach to process improvement and problem-solving.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills and the confidence to challenge constructively.
• A recognised accounting qualification is desirable, although exceptional relevant experience will also be considered.

Location & Working Pattern:

The organisation operates a 32-hour full-time working week, with employees typically working 9:00am - 5:30pm Monday to Thursday (including a 30-minute lunch break) and enjoying Fridays off.

Hybrid working is in place, with 1-2 days per week in the London office.

Ready to make your mark?

This is an excellent opportunity to join an organisation investing in its finance function and creating an environment where technical expertise, innovation, and continuous improvement are genuinely valued.

The deadline for applications is on Sunday 5^th July, but CVs are being reviewed on a rolling basis, so early applications are encouraged to ensure you don’t miss out!