Refuge manager jobs

This is an exciting and challenging opportunity for a senior fundraiser / income-generation specialist with the ambition to grow and diversify our income streams sustainably. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, you will bring strategic planning and action to the income generation work needed to ensure that the charity can continue delivering, and increase the reach of, its life-changing support to Asylum Seeker and Refugee communities in and around Derby.

Key Skills and Attributes we’re looking for: 

• Demonstrable experience of significant income growth in a large charity through grants, tenders and/or major donors with pipeline development.
• Experience of motivating and inspiring team members to achieve high, sustainable performance in fundraising and communications.  
• Collaborative and skilled at working cross organisationally and building strong internal relationships.
• A proactive networker with the ability to work in true partnership with local organisations, including faith groups, corporate, local government and national funding partners, inclusive of major donors.
• Provides strategic leadership across the organisation, working jointly with the Chief Executive and Trustees to embed the charity’s ethos and values.

Operational responsibilities:

Income generation and external partnerships

• Hold overall accountability for income generation across trusts and foundations, statutory funding, corporate partnerships, major donors and community fundraising.
• Developer and deliver a statutory fundraising strategy to maximise income from government, NHS, lottery and public sector funders.
• Lead and write high-quality funding bids, working closely with the Senior Leadership Team and operational teams to shape compelling programme proposals.
• Oversee the management of the charity's current grant portfolio; ensuring grant applications and reports are delivered on time and in accordance with internal processes.
• Ensure that the voice, experience and dignity of refugees are meaningfully and ethically reflected in all fundraising and communication activity.

Leadership

• Provide inclusive, ambitious and supportive leadership to the Fundraising team, encouraging a culture of high performance, collaboration and learning.
• Champion strong collaboration between fundraising and other areas of the charity.
• Model Upbeat Communities values at all times, contributing to a welcoming, mission-led and entrepreneurial organisational culture.
• Actively contribute as a member of the Senior Leadership Team, supporting organisational leadership and decision-making beyond fundraising.

· Provide clear, accurate and timely reporting to the CEO, and Board of Trustees, attending meetings as required.

Strategy & Development

• Working closely with the CEO, lead the development and delivery of an integrated Fundraising Strategy that supports organisational priorities, financial sustainability and long-term partnerships.
• Contribute income generation expertise to support the execution of the charity’s strategic plan.
• Translate strategy into clear priorities, plans and performance expectations across the fundraising portfolio.
• Ensure fundraising propositions are compelling, evidence-led and clearly connected to Upbeat Communities impact, working closely with the Head of Delivery to reflect operational reality and participant need.
• Strengthen pipeline management, forecasting and scenario planning to support financial resilience and informed decision-making.

· Identify opportunities to deepen funder engagement beyond income, including learning partnerships, influence and profile-raising where appropriate.

Networking & Partnerships

• Build and maintain strong strategic partnerships across statutory, community and private sectors, strengthening the profile and reach of the charity.
• Represent the organisation at networking events, conferences generating leads and expanding income opportunities
• Support the development of a joined-up Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) offer, positioning Upbeat Communities as a key partner for corporate engagement.

Foundational Values

• Excels in emotional intelligence, building deep connections and mentoring others in emotional awareness.
• Embodies compassion in action, inspiring others to create a culture of care and community impact.
• Drives a culture of learning and excellence, mentoring others and integrating innovative ideas into practice.
• Leads with empowerment, creating opportunities and mentoring others to take ownership of their actions.

Person Specification:

Role Specific Competencies

• Significant experience leading high-value fundraising across multiple income streams, with a strong track record of income growth in a large charity.
• Demonstrable success securing and stewarding 6- and 7-figure partnerships or donations from corporate partners, trusts/foundations, statutory funders and/or major donors.
• Proven ability to operate at both strategic and delivery levels, balancing leadership with selective frontline fundraising.
• Experience managing senior fundraisers or managers with responsibility for discrete income streams.
• Strong strategic, financial and analytical skills, including budgeting, forecasting, performance management and risk assessment.
• Excellent relationship-building, influencing and negotiation skills, with credibility at senior levels internally and externally.
• Ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and compellingly to a range of audiences, including trustees.
• Experience working effectively across an organisation and with senior leadership teams.
• Strong project management skills and ability to prioritise in a fast-paced environment.
• Sound knowledge of GDPR and the Charity Code of Fundraising Practice.

We’re looking for an Operations Officer to play a central role in keeping our organisation running safely, smoothly and effectively across our central office, refuges and dispersed accommodation.

This is a varied, hands-on role combining operations, facilities management, reception, health & safety, admin coordination and service-user access support. You’ll help ensure our buildings, systems and processes enable high-quality, trauma-informed services for Black and minoritised (Global Majority) women and children.

You’ll be a key first point of contact for the organisation — welcoming, calm and professional — while helping to maintain safe, well-managed environments and strong operational systems.

You’ll:

• Support the day-to-day operation of the central office, refuges and dispersed accommodation

• Coordinate facilities, repairs, access and health & safety requirements

• Act as a first point of contact for enquiries, referrals and visitors

• Support safe service-user access and reception processes

• Provide administrative and operational support across teams

You’ll bring:

• Experience in operations, facilities, admin or office coordination

• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail

• A calm, professional approach in a fast-paced, sensitive environment

• Commitment to trauma-informed, anti-racist and survivor-centred practice

Due to the nature of work and focus of LBWP, the organisation considers the candidate’s race and gender, to be an occupational requirement in accordance with Parag. 1, Schedule 9, of the Equality Act 2010. This post is open only to Black and minoritised, i.e. Global Majority, women.

We are not able to sponsor any work permit or visa. 

*This post is open to female applicants only as being female is deemed to be a genuine occupational requirement under Schedule 9, Paragraph 1 of the Equality Act 2010. 

Stop Domestic Abuse is a trauma informed organisation; the work we do to support those effected by domestic abuse may be triggering for those with past trauma. Please only apply if you are living free from abuse. If you’d like to talk to us about this, please get in touch.

Location: Havant

Salary: £36,547 - £39,372

Hours per week: 37

Contract Type: Full Time/Permanent 

Reference Number: STOPDA847

Main Purpose and Scope of the Job:

Prepare compelling responses to grant applications, support the Business Development Director and wider leadership team with responses to complex tenders and high-value funding applications.

Ensure all policies, procedures and practice are reviewed in line with designated timescales and meet the quality assurance requirements of the national outcomes framework and service standards for VAWG, SafeLives, Women’s Aid NQS, RESPECT accreditation principles and any additional frameworks agreed by the CEO.

Lead, monitor and evaluate projects as designated by the Business Development Director e.g. project management of website redevelopment, collaborating with external contractors and our IT Manager to convey our organisational vision.

Support operational activities which inform whole-organisation improvement e.g. gather and analyse staff survey feedback data, possess a natural curiosity for data analysis and identification of trends which draw meaningful conclusions from qualitative and quantitative data.

Manage (and delegate where appropriate) and quality assure all subject access requests, complaints and data queries in line with Data Protection and GDPR legislation, working with, and supported by the Business Development Director (DPO) on complex cases.

What We Offer:

Time off and Flexibility:

- 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays (Increasing with service)

- Birthday day off

- Child’s first day of school off

- Option to purchase up to 10 additional days’ leave per year

- Flexible and hybrid working

- Protected time of up to one hour each month

Family-Friendly Benefits:

- Enhanced Maternity, Paternity, Shared Parental and Adoption leave

- IVF Leave

Health and Wellbeing:

- Westfield Health Healthcare Cashback Plan (after probation)

- Westfield Health Personal Health Insurance (after 2 years’ service)

- Employee Assistance Programme

- Eye care vouchers

- Cycle to Work Scheme

About Stop Domestic Abuse:

Stop Domestic Abuse is a proud women-led organisation supporting victims and survivors of domestic violence and abuse across Portsmouth and Hampshire. Our vision is a world without domestic abuse, and we work to ensure that it’s ‘everyone’s business.’

We provide refuge and community-based support, delivering in a trauma-informed way for adults, children and young people, tailored to individual needs. Our 19 refuges offer safe, welcoming homes, and across our services we provide one-to-one support and group activities to help improve their safety and to meet others with similar experiences. We support children process their experiences and help regain a sense of safety.

Our UP2U programmes support those seeking to change abusive behaviours, and we also offer specialist support for victims of stalking. We also deliver training to professionals, including the hair and beauty industry, to recognise domestic abuse and connect people to specialist support services.

Our Values:

Equality, Openness, Honesty, Respect for individual dignity and diversity, Empowering women and children, and Care and Compassion – are at the heart of everything we do. By committing to these values, we aim to significantly improve the lives of those we support and work towards our vision of a world without domestic abuse.

Location: Camden (Head Office) / Hybrid

Salary: £36,436 -£38,075 per annum 

(Please note that applicants are usually appointed at the bottom of the relevant band)

Hours: 37.5 hours per week 

Contract: Fixed Term Contract (Until 31st March 2027)

Closing Date: Tuesday 3rd March 2026

Closing Time: 00:00am

Are you looking for a rewarding role working for an intersectional feminist organisation? If so, we have an incredible opportunity for you to join our team as an Clinical Lead at Solace Women's Aid.  

You will be joining a team of committed and inspiring individuals whose dedication has saved the lives of thousands of women, men and children in the capital. We are looking for friendly and diligent individuals to join our services and help us make a difference.

Our core values reflect our history and were developed in consultation with staff and service users. Feminism and intersectionality are key to our work and we are committed to the principles of being survivor-led, trauma-informed, empowering, diverse, anti-racist and anti-discriminatory.

About the Service

Our counselling service provides one-to-one counselling to survivors of domestic abuse, providing an assessment and 15-20 counselling sessions. The Counselling Service provides support to survivors across London and witin the community, as well as through refuge-based CYP and adult counselling services.

The core service is open 9.00am to 5.00pm. However, appointments can be arranged outside of these hours if required, and may offer flexibility around working hours.

About the role

We are looking for a Clinical Lead to join our counselling service, which provides one-to-one counselling to survivors of domestic abuse. The Clinical Lead delivers line management support to a team of Counsellors and Therapists, supporting with clinical decision making across the counselling service. The Clinical Lead will also work from a trauma-informed perspective, and use multi-modal interventions considering the needs of a diverse group of survivors of domestic abuse.

About you

The ideal candidate will offer a trauma-informed perspective to therapeutic intervention and clinical decision making. They will also have great organisational skills, good communication skills (both written and verbal), and an ability to manage their own workload. You will be able to balance competing priorities and support the wider counselling team to deliver a high-quality service to the survivors accessing support. 

It is imperative to us at Solace that the suitable candidate is a warm, empathetic, and diligent individual with a strong work ethic. You would also be a person who is happy to join and contribute to our services, helping us to make a difference to the lives of those that we support.

Previous management experience is desirable, but not essential. If you hold a recognised professional counselling qualification to Diploma level or equivalent with 2 years’ post-qualification experience, and are passionate about ending VAWG, we would love to hear from you.

What we can offer you

We provide a comprehensive benefits package to all our employees, including:

• Flexible working
• Focus on learning and development (internal career progression and training)
• Generous holiday entitlement
• Employer pension contribution
• Family-friendly leave and enhanced maternity pay
• Access to Inclusion Networks
• Daily clinical debriefing
• Employee Assistance Programme providing free 24/7 support and advice
• Employee Benefits Platform offering staff discounts, benefits and savings
• Flow & Restore yoga classes
• Meditation sessions
• Cycle to Work Scheme

How to apply

When applying for this role, kindly highlight in your Supporting Statement how your values, knowledge, transferrable skills, and experience align with each point within the following sections of the Job Profile Document:

• Values, Behaviours & Competencies
• Knowledge, Experience and Skills

Solace Women's Aid values diversity, promotes equity, and challenges discrimination. We encourage and welcome applications from candidates of diverse cultures, abilities, perspectives, and lived experiences. We have policies and processes in place to ensure that all employees are offered an equal opportunity in recruitment and selection, promotion, training, pay, and benefits. Our Inclusion Networks support staff with protected characteristics and offer inclusive spaces to connect.

We are a Disability Confident Employer and committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. We anticipate and provide reasonable adjustments as needed and support employees who acquire a disability or long-term health condition, enabling them to stay in work.

This service is run by women for women and is therefore restricted to female applicants under the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, and Part 1. Section 7(2) e of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 apply. The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.

As part of safer recruitment practices, we carry out pre-employment checks including references, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and right to work in the UK checks.

No agencies.

We’re looking for a Community Development Co-Ordinator to join the team. You will support the direct delivery of our community services that supports male survivors to access connection and peer support activities.

You’ll play a key role in supporting clients, either through facilitating our core groups like builders’ yard, drop ins etc. Community development team also provide check ins for clients to keep them engaged and connected with the organisation. The team also supports one off project where required.

Why Join Us?

· A competitive salary.

· Annual leave package with incremental rises plus bank holidays.

· Company sick pay.

· Birthday annual leave.

· Monthly clinical supervision.

· Pension contribution.

· A range of discount and benefit programmes.

Title: Interim Chief Executive Officer (Maternity Cover)
Annual salary: £65,000 – £67,500 
Hours: 40 hours per week over 5 days (occasional evening and weekend work)
Contract length: 12 months
Place of work: Hybrid working with weekly attendance at two sites in the South East

We are supporting a specialist charity providing refuge and accommodation-based support to survivors of domestic abuse.

The Board is seeking an experienced Interim Chief Executive Officer to provide confident and steady leadership. You will be accountable for a team of approximately 30 staff, reporting to a Board of seven trustees, and leading through three experienced direct reports (services, finance and fundraising).

This role combines organisational and people leadership with a strong and essential focus on legal and regulatory compliance.

The primary focus of the role is to ensure the charity remains fully compliant with all statutory and regulatory obligations. The Interim CEO will hold executive oversight of property compliance, health and safety, risk management, audit assurance and data protection (including acting as DPO). This includes ensuring robust systems across fire safety, gas and electrical safety, asbestos management, insurance, lease oversight and broader organisational controls.

The successful candidate will bring:

• Proven senior leadership experience, including working closely with a Board of Trustees
• Executive-level experience overseeing property portfolios and safety compliance
• Strong knowledge of housing/property legislation and health and safety regulations
• Experience embedding risk management frameworks and audit oversight
• Technical understanding of building maintenance and regulatory standards
• Preferably, relevant professional or health and safety qualifications (e.g. IOSH or equivalent)

Alongside technical capability, we are seeking a leader with high emotional intelligence, integrity and resilience, someone able to build trusted relationships across staff, trustees and external stakeholders, and provide a stabilising presence within a trauma-informed, survivor-centred environment.

Experience within domestic abuse or a commitment to learning about domestic abuse, coercive control and trauma-informed leadership is essential.

You must be available to commence by 1 May 2026.

Closing date for applications is Wednesday 25th February 2026.

Interviews for successful candidates will be held W/C 2nd March 2026.

Applications should be submitted via CV only through the Prospectus website. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so early application is encouraged.
Candidates invited to interview will be asked to complete a short application form as a supporting statement.

Applicants will need to demonstrate a commitment to equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practices. A full DBS check will be carried out for successful applicant.

Female applicants only, exemption under the Equality Act 2010 pursuant to Schedule 9, Part 1.

ABOUT SAFETY4SISTERS

Safety4Sisters (S4S) is a specialist Black and minoritised by and for women’s organisation based in Manchester. Our aim is to promote the human rights of migrant women experiencing a spectrum of gendered violence by providing a trauma informed, specialist, holistic and integrative programme of support to Black and minoritised survivors with NRPF. Support is underpinned by the following strands of services and activities; culturally competent advocacy, welfare and destitution support, a specialist refuge dedicated to migrant women with NRPF, therapeutic activities, groups and training, social activities, a helpline for both professionals and women, grassroots campaigning, and strategic advocacy. 

JOB PURPOSE

To support the development and delivery of Safety4Sisters’ policy, campaigning, and influencing work to advance the rights, safety, and wellbeing of Black, minoritised and migrant women and children experiencing violence against women and girls (VAWG).

The post holder will contribute to influencing local, regional, and national policy and decision-making on VAWG, honour-based abuse, harmful practices, immigration and asylum policy, and no recourse to public funds (NRPF). This work will be rooted in survivor voice, frontline practice, and Safety4Sisters’ feminist and anti-racist values.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

1.To contribute to the planning and delivery of Safety4Sisters’ policy, campaigning, and influencing work in line with the organisation’s strategic priorities.

2.To undertake policy research and analysis on issues affecting Black, minoritised and migrant women experiencing VAWG, including immigration, asylum, and NRPF.

3.To draft policy briefings, consultation responses, reports, statements, and other written submissions to influence decision-makers and statutory bodies.

4.To work closely with frontline staff, partners, and where appropriate victim-survivors, to ensure that policy and campaigning work is informed by lived experience and practice-based evidence.

5.To support parliamentary, local authority, and regional influencing activity, including engagement with MPs, councillors, civil servants, and statutory agencies.

6.To assist in organising and delivering policy events, roundtables, seminars, conferences, and briefings for external stakeholders.

7.To represent Safety4Sisters at external meetings, networks, events, and forums as required, promoting the organisation’s policy positions and values.

8.To contribute to raising public and professional awareness of VAWG, honour-based abuse, and the specific barriers faced by migrant women, including institutional racism and hostile immigration policies.

9.To manage Safety4Sisters’ social media platforms, ensuring content supports the organisation’s policy, campaigning and advocacy work and reflects S4S values and safeguarding principles.

10. To support Safety4Sisters’ partners and stakeholders to engage with policy advocacy, communications, and campaigning activity, including providing guidance and resources where appropriate.

11. To contribute to training, learning, and community engagement activities delivered by Safety4Sisters, including sessions for professionals and community organisations.

12. To maintain up-to-date knowledge of relevant legislation, policy developments, research, and sector best practice.

13. To contribute to monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning activities, ensuring accurate records and data collection for policy and campaigning work.

14. To assist in developing strong links with key partners and networks at local, regional, and national levels to strengthen Safety4Sisters’ influencing work.

15. To undertake campaigning and influencing activity arising from frontline services and policy priorities, which may include occasional evening or weekend work.

16. To undertake any additional duties that contribute to the effective delivery of Safety4Sisters’ services, projects and campaigns.

GENERAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1.To contribute to the smooth running of Safety4Sisters’ services, projects and organisational activities.

2.To assist in maintaining high standards in all aspects of the organisation’s work, including conduct with colleagues, external agencies and partners.

3.To comply with and promote issues of confidentiality, safeguarding, equality, diversity and other Safety4Sisters policies and procedures.

4.To attend supervision, appraisal, training, staff, management and team meetings as required.

5.To promote equality and diversity in all aspects of Safety4Sisters’ work.

6.To maintain clear and accurate records and provide information for monitoring, evaluation, policy, research and funding purposes.

HEALTH AND SAFETY RESPONSIBILITIES

1.To be fully compliant with all Health and Safety legislation and Safety4Sisters’ Health and Safety policies.

2.To ensure that work is carried out safely and that no risk is posed to self, colleagues, service users or visitors.

FLEXIBILITY CLAUSE

In order to deliver services effectively, a degree of flexibility is required and the post holder may be required to perform work not specifically referred to above. Such duties will fall within the scope of the post at the appropriate grade.

This job description will be reviewed with the post holder to ensure it accurately reflects the duties and range of the post and supports the delivery of high-quality services for Black and minoritised women.

When necessary, the post holder may be expected to work evenings and weekends. This time can be claimed back as Time Off In Lieu (TOIL).

THIS POST IS:

·Subject to Enhanced DBS Disclosure

·Subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975. A disclosure will be required from the Disclosure and Barring Service regarding any previous convictions.

·Open to women only* (exempt under the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, Part 1).

PersonSpecifications:ImportantInformationforApplicants 

Your application needs to demonstrate clearly and concisely how you meet each of the criteria. If you do not address the criteria fully, you will not be shortlisted. Please give specific examples wherever possible.

CRITERIA

ESSENTIAL/DESIRABLE

Knowledge/Qualifications

Knowledge and understanding of issues affecting Black, minoritised and migrant women, particularly in relation to violence against women and girls, immigration, asylum, NRPF and institutional racism.

Essential

Understanding of honour-based abuse, harmful practices and other forms of gendered violence.

Essential

Understanding of policy influencing, campaigning and advocacy as tools for social and systemic change.

Essential

Relevant qualification or equivalent experience in policy, research, campaigning or a related field.

Essential

Experience

Experience of working in a policy, research or campaigning role, or demonstrable transferable experience.

Essential

Experience of producing written policy outputs such as briefings, reports, consultation responses or submissions.

Essential

Experience of working collaboratively with multiple stakeholders, partners or teams.

Essential

Experience of managing organisational social media accounts. 

Desirable

Experience of engaging with statutory bodies, local authorities or government. 

Desirable 

Skills and Abilities

Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex issues clearly and persuasively.

Essential

Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills.

Essential

Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team.

Essential

Ability to prioritise workload, manage competing demands and meet deadlines.

Essential

Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, values-driven environment.

Essential

Personal Attitude and Commitment

Commitment to Safety4Sisters’ Black feminist, anti-racist values and survivor-led approach.

Essential

Commitment to equality, diversity and anti-discriminatory practice.

Essential

Willingness to work flexibly, including occasional evenings and weekends.

Essential

Commitment to ongoing learning, reflection and professional development.

Essential 

Director of Income Generation & Business Development
Salary - £55,000 - £60,000 dependent on experience
Location: Leeds (hybrid working)

For over 50 years, Leeds Women’s Aid has been a lifeline for women and children experiencing domestic violence and abuse. The organisation has grown significantly, from a c.£600–700k income charity 10 years ago, to one now approaching £5m annual income. With this growth comes bold, renewed ambition to diversify income, strengthen influence and ensure LWA’s voice, values and impact are communicated with clarity and confidence to reach those who need them most. 

It’s an exciting time in LWA’s development. With a growing footprint, deeper community roots, expanding services and renewed ambition to influence systemic change for women. This newly established Director of Income Generation & Business Development role is designed to bring together income generation, marketing and communications, and retail under one strategic umbrella to shape the next chapter of LWA’s development and impact. 

As Director of Income Generation & Business Development you will set the strategic direction for all income related activity across the charity, ensuring LWA develops a sustainable, diversified income portfolio that is aligned with the charity’s purpose and values. This is an opportunity to shape a sustainable future for LWA – ensuring it can continue to grow its impact and that its work remains rooted in the voices and experiences of women and children. 

You’ll play a key role in the Senior Leadership Team, contributing to collective leadership, organisational governance and the long-term resilience and strategic direction of the charity. 

As Director of Income Generation & Business Development you will:

• Strategically lead a multi-year income generation and business development strategy, setting key objectives and enabling diversification that aligns with LWA’s values and new organisational strategy. 
• Provide strategic leadership for marketing and communications, ensuring organisational-wide narrative building that reflects the values and impact of LWA, while championing the voices of women and children. 
• Ensure strategic leadership for LWA’s retail function, developing growth strategies that balance community impact alongside financial performance. 
• Develop compelling, adaptable cases for support that reflect LWA’s impact and ambitions, ethically and meaningfully embedding survivors’ voices. 
• Strengthen organisational resilience through income diversification beyond statutory funding, establishing strong communities of support and identifying opportunities for growth. 
• Work collaboratively with the Director of Services & Engagement and Director of Strategy, Partnerships & Influence to identify and develop new commissioning and business development opportunities, ensuring viability and strategic alignment. 
• Represent LWA with authenticity, integrity and sensitivity to ensure the values of the organisation are upheld and that organisational decision making reflects women-centred principles. 

The role would best suit:

• A senior income generation leader, with broad multi-stream experience and a proven track record of strategically driving growth and diversification of fundraised income. 
• A strategic leader with the ability to develop a team across income generation, marketing and communications and retail. 
• An individual with experience of developing income generation strategies that intersect with organisational strategies and ambitions. 
• Someone with the ability to balance income generation with ethical storytelling/responsibility, public accountability and regulatory considerations. 
• An individual who demonstrates commitment to LWA’s values and the Nolan Principles: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership. 
• Someone with demonstrated commitment to, and understanding of, women-led and women-centred support services, including the importance of trauma-informed, inclusive, and empowering practice for women and girls.

Please get in touch as soon as possible to express an initial interest, the deadline for applications (CV and Application Questions) is Tuesday 24th February with first stage interviews scheduled to take place Thursday 5th/Monday 9th of March.  

Due to the nature of the services provided and the population supported, this post is subject to an Occupational Requirement under Schedule 9 (Part 1) of the Equality Act 2010, and therefore the postholder must be female. This requirement is applied lawfully and proportionately, reflecting the organisation’s provision of specialist women-centred services and the need to maintain safety, trust, and authenticity in leadership and external representation.

Appointment to this role will be subject to safer recruitment checks, including satisfactory references, right to work verification, and a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check at the appropriate level.

The Cathedral has a particular responsibility to safeguarding children, young people, and vulnerable adults in the Cathedral community. It shares this responsibility with the Diocese of St Albans. This work is wide‑ranging, and the Cathedral Safeguarding Officer (CSO) plays a central role in maintaining good safeguarding practice.

This part‑time role (15 hours per week) becomes vacant as the current postholder retires after four years, with time planned for handover with the person appointed to the role now. The CSO works with senior staff and the governing body to help lead policy development, training, reporting, and compliance with Church of England guidance. They report to the Canon for Mission and Pastoral Care and receive regular professional supervision from the National Safeguarding Team, with occasional networking with other CSOs.

Safeguarding is recognised as a shared leadership responsibility. The CSO meets weekly with senior clergy to review cases and will also work with the newly appointed non‑executive Safeguarding Lead on Chapter, the Cathedral’s governing body.

A core part of the role is promoting safeguarding awareness across the Cathedral community and understanding all activities involving children, young people, and vulnerable adults. The CSO provides professional advice on concerns raised, ensuring responses follow law and national policy, and works closely with diocesan and national safeguarding teams on complex cases. They also ensure appropriate support for survivors and proper management of those who pose risk.

About You

The Cathedral is seeking candidates with strong knowledge and professional experience in relation to safeguarding issues and proven experience working collaboratively in teams.

The post will require some flexibility in working patterns and will therefore require occasional weekend working and the ability to respond to urgent cases.

The successful candidate will hold a relevant professional qualification and relevant experience and expertise in child and/or adult protection.

How to apply

If you have questions about the post, please contact the Head of HR, Michelle Ovenden.  For further details including an application form and job pack please visit the Cathedral website vacancies page.

Applicants should submit a covering letter and application form (which can be downloaded from the cathedral website) to the Head of HR, Michelle Ovenden

Closing date: 20 February 2026

Interviews (in person): 11 March 2026