Regional programme development manager jobs

About us

GSG Impact is a UK-registered charity with a global footprint. We work with a network of National Partners and collaborators across multiple countries to help build “impact economies”, strengthening the systems, relationships and market infrastructure that enable capital and policy to deliver better social and environmental outcomes. Our work brings together evidence, convening power and practical support, partnering with leaders across public, private and civil society to accelerate progress and share what works globally. 

The role

We are seeking an experienced Chief Operating Officer (COO) to lead our organisational operations, including finance, HR, governance, compliance and risk. You will ensure strong systems, controls and processes that enable excellent delivery across an international organisation. 

Key responsibilities

• Lead organisational operations across finance, HR, IT, legal, admin and key systems

• Own budgeting, forecasting, reporting, audit and treasury/controls

• Strengthen UK charity governance, policies, compliance and risk management

• Oversee contracts, procurement, supplier management and external advisers

• Lead people operations across multiple jurisdictions (including Employer of Record arrangements) 

About you

• Track record in UK charity governance/compliance and international operations

• Senior operational leader with strong financial and people management experience

• Confident working across complex stakeholder environments and multi-country teams

• Clear communicator, pragmatic problem-solver, calm under pressure 

How to apply

Please send CV (max 2 pages) and a cover letter (max 1 page) explaining your suitability.

GSG Impact is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all backgrounds. We are committed to safeguarding and will carry out appropriate pre-employment checks.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications or appoint a suitable candidate before the advertised closing date.

Location: HMP Brixton
Department: Prison delivery
Salary: £24,219
Hours: 28 hours
Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract
 
Do you want to join an organisation committed to addressing low literacy levels amongst people in prison?
 
Shannon Trust are delighted to be working with His Majesty’s Prison & Probation Service (HMPPS) to provide peer-led learning programmes at HMP Brixton. Working closely with the prison and their staff, people in prison, Shannon Trust volunteers and mentors, this post will lead the delivery and development of our prison-based reading and numeracy programme, maximising opportunities for people in prison to learn to read.
 
Ideally you will have some experience of prison settings underpinned by the ability to build relationships and personal qualities that include resilience, determination and a problem-solving approach.
 
This role is a fixed-term role until 2nd June 2026, with the opportunity to be made permanent subject to contract award.
 
The role will be prison-based. Employee benefits include a company contribution to pension scheme of up to 5%, 30 days holiday plus bank holidays, life insurance, paid volunteering days, discounts via Reward Gateway and an Employee Assistance Programme. The biggest benefit though is our culture – our people really want to work for the organisation.
 
?We welcome job applications from people with lived experience of the criminal justice system and do not routinely ask for details of any criminal convictions. These roles do require prison security clearance, so we will need to ask for details of any relevant criminal convictions before an offer of employment is finalised.
 
?Interviews are planned for 14th January 2026
 
Benefits: Standard Shannon Trust: Employee benefits include a company contribution to pension scheme of up to 5%, 30 days holiday plus bank holidays, life insurance, paid volunteering days, discounts via Reward Gateway and an Employee Assistance Programme.
 
REF-225 666

• Provide inspirational leadership and clear strategic direction for the Freshly Greated CPP programme.
• Lead the implementation of the programme with creativity and a strong commitment to its aims and objectives.
• Develop and nurture the key partnerships in Great Yarmouth and beyond that support the programme’s sustainability and growth.

The Executive Director leads the Freshly Greated programme, working closely with the Freshly Greated Consortium, Arts Council England (ACE), freelancers, volunteer Community Producers and the wider local community. The Director manages a small, multi-disciplinary team and is responsible for the programme’s creative direction, partnership development, financial sustainability, evaluation,  compliance and will also develop and lead an ambitious, co-created community-led arts and culture programme that has action research and evaluation at its core. 

Freshly Greated is a year round programme which includes award winning youth participation and intergenerational projects across three neighbourhoods. In partnership with Out There Arts, Freshly Greated create vibrant public celebrations across parks, beaches, and town spaces, inspired by local stories. Last year, 61,942 residents took part in workshops, events, and festivals that are free, inclusive, and locally led. All Community Producers agree Freshly Greated proves everyone is creative, builds skills, and strengthens community spirit - 94% say it increases local pride, and 91% believe it makes Great Yarmouth a better place to live. 

The postholder will play a key role in strengthening national, regional and local responses to violence against women and girls (VAWG) affecting Black, minoritised and migrant women. They will design, develop and deliver a high-quality, influential training programme for statutory agencies, voluntary sector organisations and other key stakeholders on VAWG, including domestic abuse, harmful practices such as ‘honour’-based abuse, force marriage, and related forms of gender-based violence.

The role will have a particular focus on the intersections between VAWG, immigration and asylum systems, and no recourse to public funds (NRPF), ensuring that professional responses are rights-based, trauma-informed and grounded in an understanding of structural racism and gender inequality.

Working collaboratively with SBS colleagues, project partners and, where appropriate victim-survivor, the postholder will ensure that training is informed by lived experience and SBS’s long-standing specialist practice, contributing to improved policy, practice and outcomes for Black, minoritised and migrant women.

The postholder will also contribute to the wider work of SBS, supporting the organisation’s strategic objectives, feminist values and commitment to challenging violence against women and girls in all its forms.

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.

Join a movement transforming how communities create lasting change. This isn't a typical charity role—it's a chance to shape the future of place-based working across the UK and help lead a growing organisation.

Place Matters is a small, entrepreneurial charity punching above its weight. We work at the intersection of communities, public services, funders, and policymakers to tackle the root causes of inequality and create changes that communities want to see. Our approach? Empower communities to lead change in their own places, learn from what works, and influence the systems that hold them back.

Why this role matters

This is a senior position on our Executive team, reporting directly to a co-CEO. You'll play a leadership role in developing our organisation—shaping strategy, building our team, and deepening partnerships. We're looking for someone colleagues and Trustees trust to make sound decisions on behalf of our mission.

Learning and practice development is at the heart of everything we do. You'll design and lead learning partnerships that build the capabilities of communities and organisations to work differently. You'll capture insights from the ground and turn them into accessible tools, frameworks, and resources that make place-based working more effective for everyone.

You need to be a team player, confident and with strong opinions, but low ego and collegiate

What you'll do

• Lead the development and delivery of Learning and Practice Development Partnerships
• Initiate, convene and participate in ‘field-building’ efforts that aim to influence the broader place-based change sector, bringing together community organisations, public sector organisations, policy makers, foundations and businesses to build broader support for community centred place-based change
• Develop Place Matters thought and practice leadership
• Draw together the themes and patterns from learning into regular blogs and publications to make the learning as widely accessible as possible and influence key policy makers and funders
• Initiate and convene field-building efforts to influence the broader place-based change sector
• Build a wide network of place-based practitioners from all sectors
• Play a key role in business development, securing new partnerships, fundraising, and improving organisational efficiency

See job description (JD) for full details

What makes this role special

• Executive leadership: Part of the leadership team shaping organisational direction
• Real autonomy: Lead your own projects, design new partnerships, represent Place Matters externally
• Learning culture: We practice what we preach—continuous learning and innovation are built in
• Flexible working: Hybrid arrangement, negotiable location, with UK travel (up to 50 days annually)
• Competitive salary: £65,000-£75,000 (negotiable based on experience)

Practical details

Ideally 37.5 hours per week (flexible) but we'll consider part-time. UK travel required, including occasional overnight stays and some evening/weekend work.

We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from disabled people and people from diverse backgrounds.

We'll conduct interviews on 19th and 21st January.

Prison Facilitator - Bank Staff

Location: South Central Region (HMP Aylesbury and HMP Bullingdon)

Department: Prison delivery

Salary: £16.98 per hour

Hours: Various

Contract Type: Bank

Do you want to join an organisation committed to addressing low literacy levels amongst people in prison?

Shannon Trust are delighted to be working with His Majesty’s Prison & Probation Service (HMPPS) to provide peer-led learning programmes across a number of prisons. To ensure the continuation of our programmes during times of staff absence, we are now seeking to recruit a Prison Facilitator on a bank working basis to work across the South Central region, covering HMP Aylesbury and HMP Bullingdon. Working closely with prisons and their staff, people in prison, Shannon Trust volunteers and mentors, this post will support with the delivery and development of our literacy and numeracy programme in the Central region, maximising opportunities for people in prison to learn to read.

Ideally you will have some experience of prison settings underpinned by the ability to build relationships quickly and personal qualities that include resilience, determination and a problem-solving approach. You will also have a willingness to travel, sometimes at short notice, to provide short or long term cover within the region including possible overnight stays.

This role will be prison-based. This is a bank role and so the number of days to be worked will vary and are not guaranteed. Employee benefits include a company contribution to pension scheme of up to 5%, 30 days holiday plus bank holidays, life insurance, discounts via Reward Gateway and an Employee Assistance Programme. The biggest benefit though is our culture – our people really want to work for the organisation.

We welcome job applications from people with lived experience of the criminal justice system and do not routinely ask for details of any criminal convictions. These roles do require prison security clearance, so we will need to ask for details of any relevant criminal convictions before an offer of employment is finalised.

Closing date: 18th January 2026

Applications for this role will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and interviews may be held before the closing date so early applications are encouraged.

REF-225 748

Major Donor and Trusts Manager
Home based, remote working 
£36,000 pa plus excellent benefits (FTE £45,000 pa)
28 hours per week
Fixed-term contract for 12 months

The Major Donor and Trusts Manager will play a pivotal role in driving RNID’s High Value fundraising strategy. You’ll manage a diverse portfolio of major donors and trusts, strengthen stewardship processes, and develop innovative engagement strategies. Working in close partnership with the Senior Philanthropy Manager and High Value colleagues, you’ll help unlock transformational gifts that make a lasting impact.

You will:  

· Cultivate and manage relationships with major donors and trusts.


· Design and deliver innovative stewardship plans.

· Create engaging funding proposals and impact reports.

· Work with advocates and internal teams to identify new prospects. 

· Plan and deliver donor cultivation events. 

You’ll bring a proven track record of securing significant gifts (five and six-figure), excellent relationship-building skills, and the ability to craft compelling proposals. Highly organised and self-motivated, you’ll be confident using CRM systems and managing multiple priorities. Exceptional written and verbal communication skills are essential, along with a collaborative approach and a passion for RNID’s mission to create an inclusive world for people who are deaf or have hearing loss or tinnitus.

No essential qualifications are needed, but a good standard of written English and attention to detail is a requirement.

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: 2 January 2026.
Interviews: w/c 12 January 2026.

Employer: Community Rail Network 

Salary: £43k-£51.5k pa, full time 

Location: Home based / flexible or Huddersfield 

We are seeking a dynamic director of policy and communications, to lead and develop our increasingly impactful external affairs activity. You’ll be sharing community insights and evidence with policy and decision-makers at national and devolved level, supporting a shift towards more inclusive and sustainable transport and mobility, while overseeing high-quality, inspiring member communications and thought-leadership, drawing on grassroots experiences.  
  

About us 

Community Rail Network is a national not-for-profit organisation supporting a growing ‘community rail’ movement, which helps communities get the most from their railways, promotes sustainable and inclusive travel, coordinates volunteering and place-making, and brings people together.

Community rail is made up of 76 community-based partnership organisations, and c.1,300 station friends volunteer groups and other community-led initiatives around Britain. Their activities range from creative projects for young people, to advising train operators on service improvements, to building travel confidence among marginalised groups, to biodiversity projects at stations, to promoting greener tourism by rail.

Our enthusiastic team of 24 works from home in different locations, but we come together regularly in person and online. We work collaboratively to support our members, provide training, events and resources, run campaigns, and champion community rail and its insights. We believe in developing our team and helping everyone reach their potential while having a good work-life balance.

About this role 

This role is crucial for us, our members and their communities, especially at the current time, with our need to seize on the opportunities of rail reform and devolution, promote wider use of sustainable transport, and bring communities together. You will spearhead our external affairs strategy and plans, building political relationships, influencing decision-making and raising awareness of community rail and its insights, while ensuring effective communications with our members and helping them to have a voice locally and regionally. You’ll be striving to put community rail at the forefront of a shift towards more inclusive and sustainable mobility.

As a member of our senior leadership team, reporting to and working closely with our chief executive, you will manage a passionate team of four, ensuring collaboration with our other teams, partners and funders, and drawing on members’ insights.

 
Main responsibilities 

• Lead the review, development and delivery of our communications, policy and insights strategy, working to position the community rail movement effectively, use its insights to influence policy change, and ensure our members are well-informed and have a voice; 

• Further strengthen our advisory and influencing work with national, devolved and regional government, transport bodies, parliamentarians and other decision-makers, especially around rail reform, transport devolution and integrated, inclusive, sustainable transport; 

• Ensure we’re engaging effectively with policy developments and opportunities, taking forward a programme of relationship-building, and identifying and engaging in relevant consultations, events and speaking opportunities, enabling community rail’s insights and experiences to be shared; 

• Collaborate with partners in rail, government and the third sector to feed in our expertise on community engagement with rail, amplify our campaigns, and build opportunities for joined-up communications and policy work;

• Continually develop and disseminate our evidence base and insights on the social, environmental and economic value community rail delivers, and opportunities to create greater benefits for communities from rail and transport; 

• Oversee high-quality, coherent and inspiring communications with our members and partners, promoting our work, and sharing news, opportunities, and good practice across the movement; 

• Manage production of high-quality resources, case studies and reports that our members can use to enhance their impact and which showcase community rail’s impact; 

• Lead and develop our media relations and awareness-raising PR, championing community rail and its messages on sustainable, inclusive travel and communities at national and regional level, while supporting members on local PR; 

• Develop our online presence and reach, making full use of our website, social media, our Scenic Rail Britain campaign, and partners’ channels to celebrate and position community rail and grow its reach and impact; 

• Oversee a calendar of creative and impactful campaigns that involve and empower our members, creating PR and engagement opportunities, including Community Rail Week;

• Play a key role in collective leadership, strategic focus and organisational development as a member of our senior leadership team, including through internal communications and cross-team working, annual planning, funder liaison and reporting, upholding our strategies and policies, and pursuing opportunities for continuous improvement. 

 
Skills and competencies 

1. Strong leadership and management skills, including experience managing, developing and drawing on a multi-faceted team delivering complex campaigns or projects, and budget management; 
2. Excellent communication and external leadership skills; articulate, assertive, and with the ability to work diplomatically and persuasively with stakeholders at all levels; 
3. An understanding of public affairs, ideally in relation to community development, sustainability and/or transport, and a demonstrable ability to identify influencing opportunities, deliver thought-leadership, and engage with policy-makers, including sharing community insights; 
4. Politically astute, with awareness of and commitment to social inclusion, social justice and sustainability, and a good grasp of the importance of public transport sustainable travel, and community-led action, to these agendas; 
5. Understanding of political processes and experience of engaging with policy and decision-making, ideally at national, devolved and local levels; 
6. Sound knowledge of communication and marketing methods and channels, and ability to oversee messaging and targeting of public and professional audiences, and to align content across multiple channels; 
7. A demonstrable ability to think analytically and draw on statistical and qualitative research to construct robust, evidence-based arguments; 
8. Experience of working with the media and achieving coverage at national, regional and local level; 
9. Experience working collaboratively with partners and ideally funders to deliver communications and policy activity and forming professional networks; 
10. Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines while dealing with competing priorities, and to support team members to do so; 
11. IT literate with a good working knowledge of Office, the internet and social media; 
12. Appropriate qualifications and professional development demonstrating knowledge and skills in line with the above, and a commitment to ongoing learning and development.

Other information

As you will be home-based, we are flexible about your location. However, you will be expected to travel to in-person full team meetings quarterly (usually in West Yorkshire), and you will need to bring your team together (currently all West Yorkshire based) with similar regularity in between. Attendance at in-person events and meetings is also important. We therefore welcome applications from those with decent public transport links, not too far from a railway station, to enable journeys to be made sustainably.   

This is a full-time position, 37 hours per week. We use a flexi-time system with core hours 10am-3pm, and are committed to being a flexible, supportive and understanding employer. This is a permanent position with a probationary period of six months.   

Community Rail Network is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from disabled people and Black, Asian and other minoritised groups, who meet with the skills and competencies for this role. We will provide reasonable adjustments for interviews as required.  

Location: HMP New Hall
Department: Prison delivery
Salary: £16,964 per annum
Hours: 21 hours (3 days a week)
Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract
 
Do you want to join an organisation committed to addressing illiteracy amongst people in prison?
 
Shannon Trust are delighted to be working with His Majesty’s Prison & Probation Service (HMPPS) and G4S to provide peer-led literacy and numeracy programmes across a number of prisons. We now have the opportunity to provide a service at HMP New Hall. Working closely with the prison and their staff, people in prison, Shannon Trust Team Members, this is an exciting role leading on the delivery and development of creative and exciting literacy initiatives and an ambitious Reading Strategy at HMP New Hall, maximising opportunities for people in prison to learn to read.
 
Ideally you will have some experience of prison settings underpinned by the ability to build relationships and personal qualities that include resilience, determination and a problem-solving approach.
 
This role will be prison-based. Employee benefits include a company contribution to pension scheme of up to 5%, 30 days holiday (when full time) plus bank holidays, life insurance, paid volunteering days, discounts via Reward Gateway and an Employee Assistance Programme. The biggest benefit though is our culture – our people really want to work for the organisation.
 
?We welcome job applications from people with lived experience of the criminal justice system and do not routinely ask for details of any criminal convictions. These roles do require prison security clearance, so we will need to ask for details of any relevant criminal convictions before an offer of employment is finalised.
 
This is a fixed term contract until 5th June 2026
Interviews are planned for the 22nd January 2026.
 
Benefits: Standard Shannon Trust: Employee benefits include a company contribution to pension scheme of up to 5%, 30 days holiday plus bank holidays, life insurance, paid volunteering days, discounts via Reward Gateway and an Employee Assistance Programme.
 
REF-225 665

Salary: £46,698 (London) / £42,373 (National) per annum

Hours:                       35 hrs per week

Contract: Fixed term contract (until March 2027)

Benefits

· 27 days annual leave + statutory holidays + 3 closures days over the Christmas period;

· Flexible working for all staff including working from home / hybrid working, and flexi-time/TOIL scheme;

· Attractive family friendly policies;

· Private healthcare cover;

· Season ticket loans;

· Employee awards, and training and development opportunities.

For more information about our benefits please visit our website.

Office locations:  London, Bristol or homeworker

The role will involve spending a substantial amount of time in the East of England (including early starts/late finishes and overnight stays where required) and regular travel nationwide for NHF events and meetings. 

Please note, if office based, the successful candidate will be expected to carry out two days in-person working per week on average which will include attendance at your office location.

Flexible working arrangements can be discussed and agreed with the line manager subject to role and business needs.

An exciting opportunity has arisen at the National Housing Federation (NHF) to join our team of External Affairs Managers on a fixed-term basis to cover maternity leave. The NHF is the voice of housing associations in England. We are the trade body to almost 600 housing associations, who have grown from philanthropic roots to provide 2.6 million homes to around 6 million people. You can find further information about the NHF on our website.

Could you be our new External Affairs Manager, working closely with our housing association members across the East of England?

This is a unique and varied role which would appeal to someone with a background in areas such as stakeholder management, policy, public affairs, communications, programme management – or a combination of these areas! For example, you may be looking to step into a role to further develop your leadership and stakeholder engagement skills, whilst still building on your policy or programme management experience and knowledge.

You will operate at the heart of social housing by working with key decision makers across the housing association sector – including managing relationships with chief executives, chairs of boards and executive directors. Strong communication and influencing skills are essential to the role, as well as the confidence to work at the most senior levels.  

It is crucial that you can work collegiately to lead key programmes of work across the NHF with colleagues in other teams, for example from our policy, press, events, and public affairs teams. Equally, you will be comfortable working autonomously and shaping your own work programme.

The core of the role involves being responsible for engagement with a whole geographic region of our membership; and working closely on or leading one of the NHF’s key themes of work, which include areas such as supported housing; devolution; developing new homes; decarbonising existing homes; ensuring the building safety agenda is delivered; or representing our rural or smaller housing associations.

The role is wide ranging and in addition to stakeholder management and programme leadership, will include running roundtables between our members and government, chairing sessions at NHF conferences, and presenting political and policy updates to senior teams within housing associations.

You will be part of a team of eight External Affairs Managers sitting within the member services directorate, which is there to ensure that we provide excellent value for money for our housing association members.

 

Key elements of the role:

· You will build and maintain brilliant relationships with housing associations leaders, using your well-developed communication and advocacy skills to maximum effect.

· You will develop knowledge, insight and understanding of housing associations to shape our policy and influencing work and to create structured programmes of member engagement on critical policy and political issues.

· You will be the contact point for housing associations in your region, ensuring they receive first class customer service on the issues which matter to them. Working closely with NHF members you will facilitate the organisation of regional chief executive or leaders forums and sounding boards.

· In addition to your regional work, you will lead on the strategic planning and delivery of a key NHF policy priority. This will require collaborative working with colleagues from across the organisation and working with members across every region and specialism.  You will play a leadership role, creating structured engagement strategies to ensure members are able to influence policy as well as engaging key NHF stakeholders and sharing best practice.

· Your role will be to implement structured member engagement to ensure our policy priorities, positions and influencing work are member-led. This will include working directly with members to inform our policy positions and lead our influencing work.

· You will influence debates at the highest level and you will spot in advance and act strategically to mitigate the risk to our membership. As such, this role requires a high degree of political and organisational acumen and the ability to horizon scan.

· You will work with colleagues in our Commercial and Events teams to maximise commercial opportunities and help shape content at our conferences, as well chairing conference sessions.

· To be the face and voice of the NHF with members, stakeholders and the media.

· To ensure that as an organisation we deliver as a whole team, seamlessly, to members to achieve greatest impact in line with the business strategy.

· To maintain high quality standards and follow NHF policy and process.

The successful candidate:

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate:

· A sound knowledge and understanding of housing associations and issues affecting the wider sector.

· A sound understanding of the political and policy landscape that housing associations operate in.

· Demonstrable knowledge and experience of establishing and maintaining relationships with senior stakeholders, demonstrating excellent customer service and value for money.

· Effective communication skills, in person and in writing, including the ability to credibly and confidently present at meetings and events.

· Ability to listen to and influence senior stakeholders, demonstrating diplomacy, effective communication and negotiation skills.

· Clear leadership skills, able to lead complex and strategic programmes of work effectively, including experience of matrix managing and motivating a team.

· Excellent analytical skills and strategic nous with the ability to summarise complex information effectively to aid decision making.

· A commitment to excellent customer service.

· A positive, energetic and agile approach to work.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

The NHF has published its equality, diversity and inclusion strategy, which was co-created with staff. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and we value the contribution each individual makes to our work.  

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and are working to increase the diversity profile of our workforce. We are currently under-represented by ethnic minorities, people with a disability or disabilities and LGBTQ+, and would particularly welcome applications from people in these groups.

Disability confident employer

We are a disability confident employer and if you are a disabled person who meets the skills and experience we consider essential for the role, we will offer you an interview.

Please note: there may be occasions where it is not practicable or appropriate to interview all disabled people who meet the minimum criteria for the job. In certain recruitment situations such as high-volume of applications, we may be required to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people.
In these circumstances the NHF will select the disabled candidates who best meet the minimum criteria for the job rather than all of those that meet the minimum criteria, as we would do for non-disabled applicants. This is in line with the Disability Confident guidelines.

We are happy to consider reasonable adjustments to our recruitment process if you have a disability or have a condition that you feel may affect your performance during the recruitment process. Please contact the People team with your request or to arrange a time to discuss in more detail.

Our role profile and job advert can also be requested in large print or in accessible format via this email address.

 

Completing our Application Form

To apply for this role, please complete our online application form. The application form includes your employment and education history plus you will be asked to answer questions in relation to your knowledge, skills and experience, why you are applying for the role and questions in relation to our values. The application form is anonymous and will not require you to upload a CV or cover letter. This will help us to shortlist candidates for interview based solely on their knowledge, skills and experience.

 

Right to work in the UK/UK VISA sponsorship

You must have the right to work in the UK and it is important to note that the NHF does not sponsor individuals to work in the UK.

 

Closing date for applications: 4 January 2026

Interview date: 14 and 15 January 2026

We love celebrating our successes and building our supporter base, and we already do it really well. However, there’s always room for improvement. Our ideal candidate will be a powerful storyteller and collector of data, energised by the prospect of making an impact on the lives of children and young people. You may already be an experienced fundraiser or someone with transferable skills that’s ready to pivot. Either way you’ll be our lead Trusts and Foundations contact; researching prospects, crafting appeals, managing relationships and reporting activity. You won’t do it alone, there’s a strong Head Office team, led by our Founder/Artistic Director and Chief Executive, plus a really cracking set of assets. You’ll also inherit a great funding pipeline, strong contacts book, and an exciting plan for our 2026 30th anniversary celebrations. We already raise more than £200,000 from Trusts and Foundations each year; we believe there’s scope to secure more. So if you like a challenge, love music and live for detail, this could be the role for you.

Persuasive Advocacy
Design and deliver a successful income generation plan and targets that enables the delivery of our ambitious strategic direction, with the CEO, Artistic Director and National and Regional Choir Producers.
Ensure our overall Case for Support remains compelling and up-to-date. In particular liaise with Producers on evaluation waves and with the Marcomms function to develop creative new storytelling approaches that will bring the impact we make to life.
Lead the application process for Trusts and Foundations and some statutory and corporate organisations, working closely with colleagues across the organisation to collate all necessary information, and compile final applications with detailed budgets and supporting material.
Provide timely receipts, invitations and reports to funding partners, in order to maintain productive and positive relationships with administration staff and Trustees.
Continuously monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of fundraising activities, aiming to deliver maximum impact and maximum efficiency.
Recommend and drive targeted additional cultivation activity, from the development of standalone investment materials (digital and hard copy) to receptions and events.

Represent NYCOS at internal and external networking opportunities, developing existing and identifying new institutional relationships.
Research and qualify further development opportunities in response to planned activity including artistic and creative learning programmes.
Work closely with colleagues to ensure that grants are spent in line with funding agreements.
Carry out any other duties as deemed appropriate by the Chief Executive .
Precise administration
Maintain accurate records of all grants and donations including the appropriate destination and Gift Aid Declarations using the organisation’s Customer Relationship Management system (CRM).
Manage budgets, prepare financial data and monitor incoming grant payments with the Finance Team.
Ensure the maintenance of up-to-date records, with the ability to generate and analyse data, and ensuring all data adheres to applicable legislation and guidance, including GDPR.
Produce reports for and make presentations to the Board of Trustees as appropriate

Skills & Experience
Essential
Exceptional writing and communication skills, with an ability to convey detailed information in a concise and compelling way.
Ability to work proactively and constructively with senior and junior colleagues to develop high-quality proposals and creative campaigns.
Experience in establishing and stewarding productive relationships with funders and/or other external stakeholders.
Exceptional attention to detail and organisational skills.
Ability to prioritise and meet regular deadlines whilst working under pressure.
Experience of budget development and management.
 

Desirable:
Track record of designing and implementing fundraising strategies with Trusts and Foundations (or other donor sources) to achieve sustainable revenue
Proven ability to manage, cultivate and grow a list of active and significant donors.
Track record of designing and implementing sustainable strategies to achieve successful revenue fundraising activities.
Experience of managing innovative fundraising campaigns (for example, via events or digital media).
Knowledge of relevant charity and tax laws.

Understanding of qualitative and quantitative research methods and best channels to target audiences .
Experience working with young people and/or in the arts sector

Competencies
Excellent interpersonal and presentation skills, with the ability to engage a wide range of people with our work
Exceptional influencing, negotiation and diplomacy skills
Ability to think and operate strategically and provide flexible solutions
Able to deliver to demanding deadlines and with a hands-on approach
Excellent IT skills including use of CRM
Ability to self-motivate, work as part of a small team, and support colleagues, even under pressure
Confident, resilient and resourceful, with the capacity to negotiate through personal influence
A commitment to excellence and professionalism
Appreciation of and support for the aims, values and ethos of NYCOS

BACKGROUND

Over the past 90 years, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) has developed unparalleled expertise in responding to emergencies and helping uprooted communities to rebuild. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. The IRC is on the ground in more than 40 countries, providing emergency relief, relocating refugees and rebuilding lives in the wake of disaster.

The IRC is committed to a culture of bold leadership, innovation in all aspects of our work, creative partnerships and, most crucially, accountability to those we serve. The IRC is a tireless advocate for the most vulnerable.

IRC UK

IRC UK is part of the IRC global network, which has its global headquarters in New York. Our team in the UK works to raise profile, deliver policy and practice change, and increase funding to help restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Since 2021, IRC UK has also provided integration services directly to refugees in England.

In Europe, the IRC also has offices in Berlin, Bonn, Brussels, Geneva and Stockholm.

The Purpose of the Role

Reporting to the Associate Director of Philanthropy, UK, the Philanthropy Manager will support the implementation of the UK Philanthropy team’s strategy, with a focus to identify, establish and develop new and existing high value relationships with individuals who have the capacity to support IRC at a five and six figure level. This is an exciting role working with senior stakeholders across IRC, in the UK and internationally, to cultivate and steward relationships with philanthropists to effectively solicit multi-year gifts to fund high-impact programmes that will deliver transformative change for IRC clients across the world.

As part of this, the Philanthropy Manager will:

· Develop and implement initiatives to identify, cultivate and solicit gifts from donors in the major gift range of £10,000 and above, both in partnership with the Director of Philanthropy and through account management of a discreet prospect portfolio

· Work closely with the Director of Philanthropy and the research function to identify and cultivate positive relationships with existing donors and new prospects to significantly grow our major donor pipeline

· Manage a portfolio of major donors through various personalised approaches, including face-to-face meetings, phone calls, events and written and verbal communications

· Develop personalised donor stewardship plans with the aim of increasing their engagement and uplifting their support to achieve the revenue target for the UK Philanthropy team and the overall revenue target for the International Philanthropy team

· Lead on gift management, reporting and proposal development for new prospects and existing donors, ensuring timely and accurate communications that match the individual’s requirements

· Identify and deliver unique stewardship and cultivation opportunities for donors

· Maintain thorough and up to date files and records relating to major donors

· Maintain strong knowledge and understanding of IRC’s work in the UK and around the world

· Collaborate proactively with a network of internal and external senior stakeholders, garnering their support and influence in the development of relationships with philanthropists

· Contribute to profile raising of the IRC’s Philanthropy programme and the IRC more widely through proactive networking and external engagement with potential donors and their advisors

· Proactively collaborate with other members of the Philanthropy team, supporting the delivery of the wider Philanthropy strategy as required

· Carry out administrative activities and other duties, as required, to maximise fundraising.

Scope and Authority

Authority: This position is responsible for supporting the delivery of Philanthropy and contributing to the identification, cultivation and stewardship of £10,000 and above gifts from HNWIs.

Key Working Relationships

· HNWI donors and prospects

· Third party philanthropy advisors

· Key contacts across IRC in UK and internationally:

o International Philanthropy Team

o USA Philanthropy

o Engagement with the UK and International Board

o Global Partnerships and Philanthropic Services

o Communications team

o Policy and Advocacy team

o UK Finance team

o Country Programme and regional teams, the Awards Management Unit as well as IRC’s Technical Units

o President’s Office and Executive Director of IRC- UK

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

 

Partnership identification, cultivation and stewardship (65%)

· Manage a portfolio of HNWI prospects and donors, working closely with the Director of Philanthropy to cultivate successful, high-impact relationships

· Collaborate with colleagues to develop transformative funding opportunities, create tailored plans for the cultivation of donors, deliver unique stewardship and cultivation opportunities, and coordinate internal and external meetings to drive donor relationships forward.

Partnership Management (25%)

· Lead on the creation of inspiring and engaging impact reports and proposals for donors, ensuring timely and accurate communications that are matched to the requirements of donors.

· Use Salesforce and IRC’s internal grant management system, OTIS, to keep clear and accurate records of donor communications and interactions related to all donor relationships

Team collaboration (10%)

· Contribute to the wider ambitions and shared objectives of the Philanthropy team as part of the HNWI Pillar

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential

Skills, Knowledge and Qualifications

· Knowledge and understanding of the principles and methods of philanthropy fundraising**

· Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to inspire and enthuse, through the delivery of strong external and internal communications**

· Ability to establish and build relationships with donors, colleagues and senior stakeholders at all levels and from a variety of backgrounds, both externally and within IRC**

· Ability to identify potential donors, produce donor stewardship plans and be able to implement and execute them

· Ability to influence and negotiate with a broad spectrum of stakeholders, ensuring best possible outcomes for the IRC

· Excellent attention to detail

· Excellent Microsoft Office software skills including Excel

· Demonstrable ability to prioritise and organise own workload and meet conflicting deadlines

· Ability to understand and demonstrate commitment to IRC’s Equal Opportunities Policy and to ensure all activities are consistent with Equal Opportunities

· Ability to work collaboratively with members of a fundraising team and across departments, whilst managing conflicting priorities and deadlines in a busy working environment

Experience

· Demonstrable experience of securing gifts from high net-worth individuals**

· Demonstrable experience of writing persuasive and creative proposals and correspondence in a range of relevant styles

· Demonstrable experience of managing a portfolio of high net-worth individuals and relationships with senior stakeholders in a fundraising or corporate context**

· Demonstrable experience of supporting the implementation of events with wealthy individuals and influential contacts

· Demonstrable experience of managing information on a fundraising database e.g. Salesforce

· Demonstrable experience of compiling information from various global stakeholders in order to create compelling tailored proposals and reports

· Demonstrable experience of supporting a team and implementing new administrative systems and processes

We’re an award-winning charity running local learning centres in the heart of the communities where the young people we support live. Our centres provide a high-impact education programme which includes practical learning support, pastoral care, and motivational and confidence-building activities for young people aged 7-18. Our aim is to enable students from the least advantaged neighbourhoods to realise their ambitions and achieve their wonderful potential.

As the UK’s leading university access organisation, our staff team is helping 56,000 young people each year at its 44 learning centres and extension projects across England and Scotland, and we plan to scale-up our provision to 50 centres over the coming years.

We are looking for a high-calibre candidate who will enjoy working each day with young people and who will thrive in a frontline, community-based, fast-paced and rewarding role. You will be taking up a permanent role as Centre Leader at our IntoUniversity centre in Grimsby. You will have responsibility for running your IntoUniversity centre, including managing your team, planning and delivering the programme, liaising with external stakeholders and meeting  IntoUniversity’s targets for delivery.

A substantial element of this role is delivering our education programme to children and young people aged 7-18, so you will need to have a genuine passion and enthusiasm for working with young people, including leading a class of 30 from the front, working with small teams of children and providing one-to-one support.

The role at a glance

Contract: Full-time, permanent

Application deadline - 9am Friday 6th January 2026

Interview day (in-person) - Friday 23rd January 2026

Start date: February 2026

Working hours
Mon and Thurs: 09:30-18:00
Tues, Weds, Fri: 09:00-17:30

(Some additional weekend & unsocial hours will be required)

Centre Leaders are based at one of our IntoUniversity learning centres and work directly with young people, schools and families on a daily basis. It is therefore not a hybrid role and is based full-time in our centres

Location

IntoUniversity Grimsby

The role requires intermittent travel in your region (usually within the day). Periodic travel out of the area is also required e.g. to London, this may include occasional overnight stays. 

Salary

£36,400 per annum.

Annual leave
33 days (inc bank & public holidays) + 3 closure days (two in December and one in July) + additional length of service entitlement (one day per year of service, up to 5 days)

Staff benefits

• Employer pension contributions of 6% (and up to 8% after two years)
• Year round ‘early finish’ Fridays at 4.30pm
• Summer working hours (finish at 1pm on Fridays for six weeks in the summer), pro-rated for staff joining after January in the same year 
• Employee Assistance Programme including access to wellbeing and legal support 
• Life Assurance scheme with Aviva including SmartHealth service with access to 24/7 online GP appointments
• Interest-free new starter loans of up to £1,000
• Cycle to Work Scheme and Travelcard Loan Scheme
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, shared parental and adoption pay and sick pay allowances
• Staff in FOCUS – rewards, competitions and prizes across the year

Job title: Head of Fundraising and Communications

Salary: £45,000

Location: Hybrid between home and our exhibition locations in London (Your attendance in the office will vary flexibly between 1-5 days per week, depending on business need. We cannot offer fixed days at home).

Contract: Permanent

Hours: 35 hours per week

Reporting to: CEO

Direct Reports: Fundraising Manager, Senior Campaigns Manager

Indirect Reports: Communications Officer

Job Description

About the role

The Head of Fundraising and Communications will lead the development and delivery of a systematic, data-driven, and project-managed approach to fundraising and communications — driving sustainable income growth and raising the charity’s profile and influence.

This role is first and foremost a fundraising leadership role. As the charity’s strategic lead for fundraising, they will shape and expand our income streams, strengthen systems and processes, and build a high-performing team to help us reach more young people with our vital work. They will also lead on external communications and storytelling, ensuring our narrative is compelling, consistent, and rooted in the powerful impact of our programmes.

While this role will oversee a team of three, the postholder will be hands-on and deeply involved in the systems and practices they implement, ensuring excellence in both strategy and delivery.

This newly created role is a key position on the Senior Leadership Team, working closely with the CEO, Deputy CEO, and Head of Programmes to deliver The Ben Kinsella Trust’s vision and strategy.

As part of a small charity making a big impact, you will play a central role in ensuring Ben’s legacy continues to educate, empower, and inspire thousands more young people across London and beyond.

Key Responsibilities

  Fundraising

• Provide strategic leadership and direction for all fundraising activity, ensuring a systematic and dependable approach to income generation.
• Develop and deliver a long-term fundraising strategy that supports sustainable growth and diversification across grants & trusts, corporate donors, major donors, individual giving and community fundraising.
• Build and manage relationships with key funders and donors, working with the CEO and Fundraising Manager to cultivate and steward major partnerships.
• Maintain oversight and final sign-off of major and high-value funding applications to grants & trusts, corporate donors and major donors, ensuring they are well-structured, hold a compelling narrative, and are of the highest quality.
• Implement systems, processes, and KPIs to monitor performance, track pipelines, and drive continuous improvement.
• Provide strategic fundraising insight and reporting to the Senior Leadership Team and Board.

  Senior Leadership Team

• Play a full and active role as a member of the Senior Leadership Team, contributing to organisational strategy, decision-making, and culture.
• Introduce and refine systems, processes, and workflows to improve efficiency and collaboration across departments.
• Support strategic planning and financial forecasting, particularly in relation to income generation and communications activity.

  Communications and Marketing

• Develop and implement a comprehensive external communications strategy, providing strategic leadership communications and campaigns and ensuring alignment with the charity’s mission and priorities.
• Shape and oversee the charity’s external narrative, ensuring our storytelling is compelling, consistent, and rooted in impact.
• Oversee the charity’s external communications and brand, ensuring all public-facing content is high quality, consistent and strengthens the charity’s reputation.
• Lead the charity’s digital communications, including the website, social media, online campaigns and paid advertising; to grow awareness, engagement and support.
• Lead the creation of high-quality marketing materials and publications to support fundraising, advocacy, and service delivery.
• Use data and insight to evaluate effectiveness and inform future strategy.

  Finance

• Responsible for the Fundraising and Communications budget and any related contracted services budgets, and any relevant restricted funds.

Person Specification

We actively encourage people from a variety of backgrounds with different experiences, skills and stories to join us and influence and develop our working practice. We recognise the value a diverse workforce brings to a small charity, and we are especially keen for people currently underrepresented in our charity and the wider sector to apply.

This role is first and foremost a fundraising leadership role, with strategic communications as a closely linked responsibility. While we’ve set out the skills and experience we’re looking for, we know that no one will bring everything. If you have significant fundraising experience and are confident leading strategy, with experience of communications or a willingness to further develop in this area, we would really encourage you to apply. Please feel free to get in touch for a friendly conversation about the role and your application.

Experience 

• Significant experience in a senior fundraising role, with a demonstrable track record of developing and delivering successful multi-stream income generation strategies.
• Experience overseeing complex high-value fundraising applications and partnerships across a broad funder base, such as trusts and foundations, corporate sponsors, major donors and public-facing campaigns.
• Leadership and team management experience, with the ability to motivate and develop others.
• Experience managing budgets and working closely with finance colleagues on planning and forecasting.
• Experience in leading or contributing to strategic communications, engagement or PR activity within a charity, campaigning or mission-led organisation.
• Experience of working with a CEO, Senior Leadership Team and/or Board of Trustees to support organisational growth, strategic planning and decision-making.
• Experience of developing or contributing to monitoring, evaluation and reporting frameworks to assess fundraising and communications performance and impact

Skills and Knowledge

• Written communication and editing skills, with the ability to produce clear, accessible and persuasive content for fundraising applications, donor communications, campaigns and public-facing materials.
• A storyteller who can translate data and impact into emotionally compelling narratives that inspire support.
• Strategic thinking skills, with the ability to translate organisational priorities into clear, deliverable fundraising and communications plans.
• Organised, systematic, and process-oriented; with the ability to design, implement and manage effective systems for project management, pipeline tracking, KPIs and reporting.
• Project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines with a calm and methodical approach.
• Confident in the use of digital and cloud-based systems (such as CRMs, project management tools and analytics platforms) to inform decision making and continuous improvement.
• Interpersonal and influencing skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships with donors, partners, colleagues and senior stakeholders.
• Familiarity with issues relating to youth violence, education, or social justice.
• An understanding of knife crime, youth violence, and other key current issues affecting young people.
• Ability to work independently, with initiative, and manage multiple priorities and projects effectively.

Key Attributes and Values

• Passionate about making a difference – committed to preventing knife crime and improving outcomes for young people
• Committed to equity and inclusion – values and actively promotes diversity, inclusion, and fairness in all aspects of work
• Reflective and open to learning – committed to personal growth, welcomes feedback, and continuously seeks to improve practice
• Strategic thinker with leadership presence – able to set direction, make informed decisions, and inspire confidence across the organisation.
• Collaborative and influential – builds effective working relationships internally and externally, fostering teamwork and partnerships.
• Resilient and adaptable – able to navigate challenges, manage multiple priorities, and maintain focus under pressure.

Benefits

• Flexible working opportunities where possible
• 27 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays (rising to 30 days and 33 days after 5 and 10 years’ service, respectively)
• Enhanced sick policy
• Contributory pension scheme
• Cycle to work scheme with the Green Commute Initiative
• Personal development opportunities