Research and insight manager jobs

The Grants Officer is a key role supporting our grant-making systems, grants strategy and growth plans. You will be helping with the promotion of our grants rounds, processing grant applications received from charitable organisations, responding to enquiries from applicant organisations, completing grants assessments, tracking and reviewing monitoring and creating reports. Training will be provided.

The candidate

You are a passionate advocate for the great work done by grassroots community groups and charities. You enjoy interacting with people both in person and virtually, getting to understand the work they do. You are also a details person, committed to careful record-keeping and task-management to ensure that OCF provides an excellent level of service to groups. You are a proactive problem-solver and a team player who enjoys being part of a small organisation and getting things done together.

Application process

Prior to applying please ensure you have read the full job description

To apply, please submit a curriculum vitae and a word document with your answers to these three questions (answer in maximum 150 words per question):

1. Describe an achievement you’re really proud of
2. What about this job appeals to you, and why?
3. Tell us a bit more about your experience with grassroots community groups or charities

Closing date

The closing date is 11pm on 11th September 2025

Further information

Read the full job description which provides more details about the role.

Alexandra Palace is partnering exclusively with Robertson Bell in their search for a permanent Finance Director. Alexandra Palace is one of London’s most iconic destinations. For over 150 years, it has stood as a beacon of creativity, community and culture—home to world-first innovations, unforgettable entertainment and open access to green space across 196 acres of parkland in North London.

The Finance Director is a pivotal role within Alexandra Palace, one that combines strategic leadership with hands-on financial stewardship across a uniquely diverse and high-profile organisation.

The role:

• Partner with the CEO and Leadership Team to embed financial planning into every layer of organisational strategy, balancing the organisations objectives across conservation, commercial, community and climate resilience.
• Lead the financial strategy behind Alexandra Palace’s 10-year vision, aligning restoration, growth and innovation across both charitable and commercial activities.
• Act as the senior financial advisor to the Trust, Trading Company and Board Committees - providing clear, confident insight to guide performance, accountability and investment.
• Provide strategic, visible financial leadership that positions the Finance team as a proactive partner - driving innovation, sustainability and delivery across our charitable and commercial priorities.
• Build strong, trust-based relationships between Finance and other teams to enhance collaboration and accountability.
• Drive strategic financial planning, annual budgeting, and forecasting to present a clear, data-led view of organisational health. Ensure timely, transparent financial reporting, audit readiness, and compliance that strengthens trust and accountability with the Board, auditors, and stakeholders.
• Deliver cash flow, funding structures, and investment strategy to ensure long-term sustainability. Provide rigorous oversight of grant and fundraising compliance, unlocking the full value of both restricted and unrestricted income.
• Ensure full compliance with charity, company, trust and financial regulations, acting as Company Secretary for the Trading subsidiary and overseeing all statutory filings, governance obligations and legal responsibilities.
• Oversee VAT return processes and key administrative requirements, maintaining timely reporting and keeping the CEO and Board fully informed and assured.

The organisation:

Today, Alexandra Park and Palace Charitable Trust is the custodian of their extraordinary site. As a charity, they are committed to safeguarding its heritage while continually evolving their offer to meet the needs of today’s audiences and communities. More than 3 million people visit each year to enjoy a dynamic mix of live events, festivals, exhibitions, learning and engagement programmes and community initiatives. Their work is supported by a blended income model - combining commercial income, public funding and philanthropic support which allows them to reinvest in their buildings, our park, and their charitable mission.

Essential criteria:

• Qualified Chartered Accountant, with at least 10 years post qualification experience (ICAEW, ACCA, CIMA, ACA) 
• Extensive experience working in a financial leadership role within the Charity and Not for Profit sector
• Experience working with charity trading subsidiaries and dealing with entities singularly and as a group
• Experience of delivering Annual Reports and Accounts process end to end
• Experience implementing new financial systems and processes
• Strong leader with an authentic approach, able to build and empower a team
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to present financial reports at Board level, and support non-finance manager with understanding financial information

The position will be based at Alexandra Palace and requires regular office attendance. The closing date for applications is 24^th August with first stage interviews taking place on the week commencing 8^th September.

Applications will be under constant review before the closing date, so please submit your application to our exclusive search agent, Robertson Bell. Apply now to be considered!

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

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.

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

The External Relations (ER) unit comprises four complementary functions: Private Fundraising, Marketing & Mobilization, Policy & Advocacy and Operations & Analytics. To enable IRC to deliver our Strategy100 commitments, the ER unit established a bold new approach that enhances our ability to raise diverse and flexible funding aligned with IRC’s top priorities, while raising our profile and influence. The ER unit is international, with colleagues in more than 10 offices globally.

The Purpose of the Role

As Director of Communications, UK, you lead IRC UK’s core communications strategy with the objectives of growing our profile, influencing policy, driving income, and building our reputation. This is done by taking a strategic approach to generating effective messaging for cross-team use, creatively collaborating to produce cut-through external products across media and digital channels, and generating top tier media coverage in collaboration with communications, advocacy and fundraising colleagues globally. In this role you will be expected to use expert judgment to manage IRC UK’s reputation, as well as ensure media and digital outputs protect clients, staff and programming from harm. 

The Director will report to the UK Executive Director and the Acting Senior Director of Global Public Affairs. The Director will collaborate closely with the Director for Digital Engagement, UK Advocacy Director, and the Director of UK Mass Markets to meet the organization’s strategic objectives surrounding profile, income and influence.

Scope and Authority

Authority:

●The role holder sets strategic direction for UK communications, with a focus on earned media, public advocacy and organic digital.

●The role oversees the UK comms operational budget, with access to the Global External Relations budget.

●The role has the authority to brief journalists with agreed messaging and act as spokesperson for the organisation.

●The Director will line manage the communications team and other positions when required.

●The role is a key member of the UK Senior Management Team, with collective responsibility for the leadership, culture and efficacy of IRC UK.

Key Working Relationships

●Reports to the UK Executive Director and Acting Senior Director Global Public Affairs & Communications.

●Close collaboration with External Relations staff in the UK, US and globally, including Policy and Advocacy, Mass Markets, Fundraising, Awards Management, Digital Engagement, Entertainment Relations, Creative Studio, and Experiential Marketing.

●Works closely with key country directors, country programme staff and technical unit colleagues.

●Supports policy staff in the IRC President’s Office on key UK messages and policy initiatives involving the IRC President.

●Works closely with counterparts in NGOs and donors particularly FCDO and the DEC.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Strategic Direction

●Raise IRC UK's profile, income, influence and brand in the UK market by developing and delivering a 360 comprehensive communications & marketing strategy that reaches target audiences, attracts new supporters, and connects supporters with IRC clients.

●Partner with global external relations leadership to set Key Performance Indicators for achieving the strategy, and drive and monitor progress towards them with the support of your team.

●Contribute to the development and delivery of the UK Strategic Plan.

Team Management & Stakeholder engagement

●Manage a team of communications professionals, setting objectives, portfolio scope, and partnering on professional development opportunities

●Drive creative insights and strategic thinking within the UK comms team and influence / maximize policy, advocacy and fundraising outputs and results

●Lead strategic communications planning to maximize opportunities of partnering with income and influence objectives and outputs

●Ensure the UK Communications Team are clear on systems, processes and organization to drive efficiency and team productivity

●Review team performance quarterly and present on results to global stakeholders

●As a member of the UK Senior Management Team (UK SMT) support the UK Executive Director in the creation and delivery of IRC UK strategies and priorities, foster cohesion and collaboration among UK based departments, representing the needs and objectives of the team in the UK SMT and UK office.

Execution: Driving IRC profile, influence and income; and protecting the reputation of the IRC

●Work alongside global communications colleagues, Policy & Advocacy colleagues, Digital Engagement and UK Fundraisers to develop appropriate messaging on key proactive and reactive issue areas across the scope of IRC’s work.

●Plan and identify key moments of opportunity for IRC UK Communications according to internal and external landscape and timetables.

●Ensure pro/reactive message accuracy and cut through calls to action that engage audiences for proactive campaigns and news cycle opportunities.

●Develop, commission and drive creative cut-through tactics and products, from revealing IRC research and analysis to emergency media briefings.

●Secure top tier media coverage of IRC’s work, solutions and innovation, balancing mentions with long-form/features and profiles.

●Influence and shape key media and digital narratives around IRC UK priority issues.

●Oversee strategic media opportunities by commissioning, writing, editing and disseminating messaging for multi-channel use includingpress-releases, op-eds, statements, web and social content to secure coverage of the IRC in the UK across print, broadcast and online media.

●Work with global communications colleagues and country office staff to create strong, persuasive and impactful outputs, and to arrange interviews and media visits to frontline work.

●Act as a spokesperson for the organization in the media as needed.

●Liaise closely with Fundraising teams to collaborate on timely messaging, client-centered storytelling, digital outputs, and media coverage to bring in donations to the IRC during emergencies and other fundraising appeals.

●Manage the communications component of IRC UK’s relationship with the DEC and lead communications on DEC appeals.

●Use expert judgment to ensure the IRC’s brand is protected and to develop and enact strategies to enhance IRC’s reputation, as well as ensure media outputs protect clients, staff and programming from harm.

●Ensure coordinated and topical messaging across media outreach and digital channels.

●Establish close relationships with press counterparts within statutory donor organizations that lead to opportunities to promote IRC in the media.

●Leverage IRC’s President and CEO, and UK Executive Director to grow our profile in the UK, through proposing and implementing op-eds, interviews and other media activities.

●Support, prepare and coach staff, spokespeople and board members for media interviews and visits; and provide guidance across the organisation to dealing with media.

●Build expertise on current and potential issues in the humanitarian NGO arena via research and monitoring of national media and competitors and in liaison with global colleagues.

●Work with the global media colleagues to ensure that IRC has a system for managing media enquiries at all times, as needed.

●Responsible for reporting to the IRCUK board, subcommittees and Executive Director on press activity, trends and upcoming opportunities.

●Responsibility for the budget oversight, tracking & administration as well as ensuring adherence to financial processes

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Experience

●**Track record in creating, driving and evaluating a 360-degree communications and marketing strategy that focuses on media, digital and enabling income.**

●**Experience leading and managing media and digital teams.** 

●Experience navigating and influencing within large matrixed organizations.

●Extensive experience of developing key messages and implementing media strategies with an international, and ideally humanitarian or development focus.

●**Experience of conducting media relations and communications opportunities in developing countries and sensitive contexts.

●Experience of organising international media visits to projects in order to facilitate reporting on key issues.**

●**Experience responding to reputational threats.**

●**Experience leading a digital communications team that delivers breakthrough digital content

●Experience/knowledge of tools for monitoring media coverage and digital results.**

●Experience of dealing with media enquiries into crisis and sensitive issues.

●Experience of acting as a spokesperson for an organisation.

●Experience managing a budget, ensuring timely payment and adherence to finance protocol

Skills and Knowledge

●Creative thinker who can identify opportunities and collaborate internally to produce external products that cut through media and digital and meet strategic IRC UK objectives.

●Strong communication and interpersonal skills: ability to communicate effectively with colleagues both in the UK and overseas and manage working relationships diplomatically.

●Excellent eye to detail and commitment to high speed and high quality writing and editing

●Strong understanding of marketing and how communications intersect with income generation, and influencing

●Strong organisational and time management skills: ability to prioritise team’s work, and multi-task in a fast-paced work setting.

●Good knowledge of UK and international media landscape and news cycle

●Good instinct for digital marketing and digital environment

●Good contacts with key UK journalists and media outlets, and knowledge and ability to develop relationships quickly.

●Excellent writing, editing and proofreading skills; adept at writing clean, engaging, jargon-free copy for a range of channels.

●Ability to represent IRC-UK and the wider IRC professionally and appropriately at all times.

●Knowledge/interest in international affairs, particularly of conflict and humanitarian crises and issues.

●Knowledge of key political debates in the UK around international development and aid.

●Flexibility as regards working hours, as the need arises.

●Willingness to travel occasionally to conflict areas.

●Fluency in English, spoken and written.

Outreach and Admissions Officer
Salary: £30,000 per annum
Based: Cambridge
Hours: Average at 36.25 per week – This will be an annualised hours contract, allowing the job holder to work flexibly.
Contract: 24 Months

The Role

We are seeking to appoint an Outreach & Admissions Officer who will work to increase the numbers of strong applicants to the College and University from underrepresented backgrounds, and support them in applying to Cambridge. The role holder will build on current successful projects as well as being encouraged to identify and develop new initiatives which align with the College’s strategic vision for outreach and admissions. This will involve organising, delivering, and evaluating widening access and recruitment activities in College, in schools, and online and will include one-off events as well as sustained intervention.

About Us

Clare is the second oldest of the 31 Colleges in the University of Cambridge. Regarded as one of the most progressive and informal, Clare is renowned as a College that achieves academically at the highest levels, whilst also being welcoming, forward-thinking, and inclusive.

Located in the heart of Cambridge city centre, the College is extraordinarily beautiful and famed for its gardens on “the Backs” (the famous backs of the Colleges that overlook the River Cam). Clare’s Old Court, a Grade I listed building, is the centre of the College and is unique among the ancient Cambridge Colleges in having maintained its architectural integrity over the course of its history.

Salary and Benefits

The salary for this role is £30,000 per annum. The contract is offered on annualised hours for 24 months. In addition to the salary, you will be entitled to a free lunch when working in College, membership of a defined contribution pension scheme, and access to an employee assistance programme and cash healthcare scheme.

The closing date for applications is Tuesday 12 August 2025 with interviews being held at Clare on 22 August 2025.
Please note: The College reserves the right to close the vacancy earlier if we find the right candidate.

Interested?

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

Clare College is an Equal Opportunities Employer.

Clare College is committed to treating all job applications on their merit irrespective of sex, race, disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief, age, marital status or civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity or gender, where any of these cannot be shown to be a requirement of the job concerned. Recruitment, selection and promotion procedures will be monitored to ensure that individuals are selected, promoted and treated on the basis of their relevant merits and abilities.

No agencies please.

The Education Access Coordinator will equip young asylum seekers and refugees to access further (FE) and higher education (HE) through advice and guidance, 1:1 casework and training for other professionals. 

This role sits within the Education Access team: everything we do is focussed on supporting young refugees and asylum seekers into an appropriate form of education from primary school right the way up to university.

The team is separated into three work streams: access to schools, access to FE and access to HE. We also run a national email and telephone advice service through which young people, their families and the professionals who support them, can receive timely and accurate advice and support about any aspect of accessing education in the UK.

This role straddles the access to FE and HE streams of work and, although it would be helpful to have some experience of working in these sectors, our experience is that this knowledge can be taught and is not as important to us as other qualities and experience.

The successful candidate will, however, need to be able to understand and retain a great deal of complex information and then clearly articulate this to others both verbally and in writing. The ideal candidate would be someone who would relish becoming an expert in refugee access to FE and HE and would enjoy the problem solving element of navigating complex regulations to find the right solution for an individual struggling to access education. 

The successful candidate will also need to have experience of and enjoy working with vulnerable young people both individually and in groups. A key element of this role is ongoing casework with individuals - where you will need to build a supportive and trusting relationship over the long term - alongside running one-off workshops for large groups where the priority is to quickly gain young people’s confidence and attention. 

Finally, the successful candidate will be responsible for representing REUK’s access pillar externally.  You will co-deliver training to a high standard as well as maintaining relationships with key stakeholders including local authorities, FE colleges, universities and other NGOs - it is therefore imperative that you have excellent people skills.

This role can be done 4 or 5 days per week, depending on preference (salary would be pro rata for 4 days).