Research director jobs in london

About Ataxia UK 

Ataxia is the umbrella term for a group of neurological conditions and Ataxia UK is the UK’s leading ataxia support and research charity. Ataxia UK collaborates with the global ataxia community through our Research team, and we are on the board of the international non-profit association, Euro-ataxia. Our Services team focuses on helping everyone affected by ataxia in the UK to live their best life. We have a Helpline and Advocacy service providing information, advice, and 1-2-1 support to help people access their rights; whilst the InControl Community Engagement service provides activities, engagement and volunteering opportunities to bring the ataxia community together and reduce feelings of isolation.  

About the Role   

We are seeking to recruit a Science communications Intern to join the charity’s small enthusiastic Research team. The Science communications Intern will be involved in assisting the Research team in communications to a range of audiences. The post is full-time (35 hours per week) for 12 months. Some out of hours work may be required for which time off in lieu will be granted. See full Job description and person specification.  

To apply please send a CV and covering letter by 3rd June 2025 

The CV should include information on your education since the age of 16 (ie: GCSE or equivalent), employment and skills/experience relevant to the post. The covering letter should explain why you would like to be appointed as a Science communications Intern and how you think you are suitable for this post.

Closing date: 3rd June 2025 

Benefits of working for us. 

• 25 days annual leave pro rata (rising to 30 with a length of service) 

• Extra holiday day for your birthday 

• Access to a free Employee Assistance Programme & Employee Hotline 

• Flexible hybrid working 

• Pension scheme 

• Enhanced maternity and co-parental leave 

• Cycle to work scheme 

• Training and development opportunities 

• Accredited Living Wage Employer 

Please see full Job Description for further details including Person Specifications. Your covering letter will be used to assess you against the person specification for this role.

Flexible home working, with requirement for travel to BDA Office Birmingham twice a month.

Salary £50,755 per annum - full time 36 hours per week (job share will be considered)

Benefits include: 30 days holiday, working flexibly policy, non-contributory healthcare benefits and a company pension scheme.

Deadline for applications:    Friday 23rd May 2025

Interview Date:  Thursday 5th June 2025

We are the British Dietetic Association (BDA). We are an award-winning not-for-profit organisation, based in Birmingham, employing dedicated, dynamic and professional staff who deliver services for our membership of more than 12,000 dietetic professionals.

We are the leading organisation of nutrition professionals in the UK; representing the entire nutrition and dietetic workforce across all sectors. Our vision is to improve the health of the UK population by protecting and improving health and care services, developing health and social care policy, improving the impact of dietetics and promoting positive discussion on food, nutrition, wellbeing and health.

Role details:

The BDA is seeking a new Research Manager to work as part of the Education and Professional Practice Team, leading on the research and impact activities of professional dietetic practice. The role will also provide line management within the team.

The role will support the BDA’s Strategic Plan 2024-34 and lead the growth and delivery of the annual Research Symposium. The role will suit a candidate with a sound understanding and experience of the breadth of dietetic practice and research, and the factors that influence it. Working innovatively the post holder will develop and progress research within dietetic practice, building confidence in the dietetic workforce to be research active.  

 Ideal candidate:

We are looking for somebody who is an expert in research methodologies, and appraisal and is comfortable setting and influencing research strategy.  Ideally we would like somebody who has or is studying for their doctorate in dietetics and experience working in a practice setting would be advantageous. This is a senior internal and external facing role working alongside the Director of Education Practice and Research, and the Education and Practice Managers. The candidate will enjoy supporting colleagues and members to engage and deliver research related projects, and demonstrate impact through evidence-based practice.

In return, we offer exciting opportunities to raise the profile of research, innovate, and build purposeful external stakeholder relationships. The BDA have a collection of small departments who all work closely together and have a ‘one team’ ethos. The role will require somebody who enjoys the challenges that come with delivering and reporting on strategic targets and measuring impact.

For full details of the role, please download and refer to the Job Description.

We would strongly encourage any dietitian interested in the role to contact the BDA for an informal, confidential discussion about this post and opportunities for flexible working. Please refer to our website for contact details.

The job advert is shown on the BDA website, and for discussion about the role, please telephone the Birmingham office number and ask for Najia.

Please note: Only applicants who submit a covering letter will be shortlisted for interview.

About Us

We're the UK's leading charity for Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis.

A diagnosis of Crohn’s or Colitis is life-changing. Over 500,000 people in the UK are living with a lifelong disease many people have never heard of, and for which there is no known cure.

Crohn’s & Colitis UK funds research, provides award winning information and support and raises vital awareness by increasing the public’s understanding of the conditions, and what it means to live with debilitating symptoms. But we need to do more. We need to be a louder voice in the marketplace. Our ambitious plans for 2025, will help to make a real difference to every supporter’s journey with us. If this excites you - join us!

Role Overview

The successful candidate will be involved in leading and co-ordinating the delivery of Crohn’s & Colitis UK’s research strategy including our programme of grants, and our work to support increased patient and public involvement in research.  They will work with the Director of Services & Evidence and Head of Evidence & Research to support the charity’s involvement with external research bodies and contribute to the leadership, planning and delivery of cross-team projects, helping to influence and meet our strategic objectives.

About You

We are looking for someone who has proven experience of delivering successful research funding and patient and public involvement research activities.  The successful candidate must be adept at establishing and maintaining effective relationships with external stakeholders and comfortable working with operational performance metrics, and implementing strategies and objectives for the organisation.  Ideally your background will be in health care or working in a medical charity and you’ll be educated to degree level or equivalent.  Given this role will involve managing and providing leadership to the Research team, prior management experience would be an advantage. Whilst not essential, a knowledge of the needs of people affected by Crohn’s and Colitis would be beneficial also.

Please see our Recruitment Pack for details of our full Job Description and Person Specification.

Our Location

We are based in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, so we are easily accessible by road and rail. In this role, there is plenty of scope for working from home, although there will be times when you will need to travel to events/conferences. You will be required to attend two Directorate days each year and occasional face-to-face meetings with your team or our partner agencies. In addition, the charity meets four times annually at its office in Hatfield (or a location in London) for its’ ‘All Staff Together’ days, at which attendance is mandatory.

Benefits

• 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing one day per year up to 30 days
• Salary Sacrifice Pension scheme
• Flexible working options
• Enhanced maternity, adoption and paternity pay
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme
• Wellbeing programme
• Interest free loan for season tickets
• Cycle to work scheme
• Free parking and secure bike locks
• Training and development financial support and/or study leave
• Performance review and development scheme

We are an inclusive employer and offer equal opportunities to all regardless of an individual’s age, disability, gender identity, marriage or civil partnership status, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.

We are not a licensed sponsor at this time. Any offer of employment will be made subject to the applicant residing in the UK and a valid right to work in the UK being provided.

Sepsis Research, FEAT is a dynamic and ambitious charity dedicated to combating sepsis through awareness, innovative research, and community support. Founded in 2013 by a sepsis survivor, Sepsis Research FEAT is dedicated to combating sepsis through awareness, innovative research, and community support. The charity funds world-leading research to improve sepsis outcomes, runs public awareness campaigns, and engages with patients, carers, and healthcare professionals. Recent achievements include identifying top research priorities with the James Lind Alliance and delivering educational initiatives across the UK. Their vision is to #stopsepsisnow and make significant strides against this 'hidden killer'. We are currently seeking a visionary and strategic leader to join our team as CEO (Freelance), with the goal of scaling our operations and increasing our annual turnover from £300k to £1M by 2030.

Key Responsibilities:

· Advocacy and Representation: Act as the public face of the charity, representing its interests at events, in the media, and with policymakers.

· Strategic Leadership: Develop and implement a comprehensive growth strategy to achieve the charity's financial goals.

· Fundraising and Development: Lead fundraising initiatives, including donor engagement, grant applications, and corporate partnerships.

· Financial Management: Oversee the charity's financial health, ensuring effective budgeting, financial planning, and reporting.

· Team Management: Inspire, mentor, and manage a dedicated team of staff and volunteers, fostering a positive and productive work environment.

· Stakeholder Engagement: Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including donors, partners, and the community.

· Operational Oversight: Ensure the efficient and effective operation of the charity, including program delivery, compliance, and risk management.

Qualifications and Experience:

· Proven experience in a senior leadership role, preferably within the non-profit sector.

· Demonstrated success in fundraising and revenue generation.

· Strong financial acumen and experience in financial management.

· Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

· Ability to think strategically and drive organizational growth.

· Passion for the charity's mission and values.

Personal Attributes:

· Visionary and strategic thinker

· Inspirational and motivational leader

· Strong ethical standards and integrity

· Collaborative and team-oriented

· Resilient and adaptable

A fantastic opportunity has arisen to play a vital role at Cure Parkinson’s, as our Research Grants Officer. This role will be responsible for supporting research scientists who are applying for grants or are carrying out funded research for us. This work is critical for us to achieve the charity’s main objective of funding Parkinson’s research to slow, stop and reverse Parkinson’s.

As our Research Grants Officer you will be comfortable building relationships and providing support for researchers. You will be an effective member of our pioneering Research Team, ultimately helping us to drive scientific discovery forward and bring us closer to a cure.

The Casework and Research Manager will lead Humanists International's efforts in supporting Humanists at Risk through strategic engagement, research, and the management of key publications, particularly the Freedom of Thought Report. This role involves coordinating all Humanists at Risk support in accordance with the organization's new two-tiered strategy (https://humanists.international/blog/a-necessary-evolution-in-our-support-for-humanists-at-risk/), direct liaison with stakeholders, contributing to organizational strategy, and line management responsibilities.

Key Responsibilities:

• Coordinate and oversee the delivery of General Support to Humanists International's Members and Associates worldwide, including the provision of advice, guidance, and signposting to relevant resources.

• Coordinate the provision of direct, individualized casework support to leaders and officers of Humanists International's Member and Associate organizations who are facing significant risk due to their humanist activities or identity. This includes assessing needs, developing support plans, and ensuring timely and effective intervention.

• Develop and implement training programs for members and associates to enhance their capacity to support humanists at risk within their communities.

• Foster and strengthen partnerships with other human rights organizations to maximize the collective impact of our support efforts.

• Contribute to the development and maintenance of a comprehensive online resource library providing information on safety, security, advocacy, and support for humanists globally.

• Liaise and collaborate with staff in other humanist organizations to ensure coordinated and effective support for individuals at risk, aligning efforts with the new strategic framework.

• Develop and deliver fortnightly briefings to internal staff on relevant casework and risk-related matters, including updates on the implementation of the new support tiers.

• Prepare and present regular reports, statistical analyses, and updates on Humanists at Risk, and the effectiveness of the new support strategy, to the CEO and Board of Directors.

• Represent Humanists International at key stakeholder meetings, including platforms such as the EU Temporary Relocation Platform, building and maintaining effective relationships while articulating our revised approach to support.

• Lead the collection of compelling testimony and documentation for the Humanists at Risk campaign and the Freedom of Thought Report.

• Manage, edit, and oversee the entire production cycle of the Freedom of Thought Report, ensuring its accuracy, quality, and timely publication.

• Provide overall project management and strategic direction for the Freedom of Thought Report, including budget oversight and timeline management.

• Work collaboratively with the Fundraising and Communications Officer to ensure the research and findings effectively inform fundraising and public awareness initiatives.

• Directly line-manage and mentor the Freedom of Thought Report Researcher, providing guidance and support to ensure high-quality research output.

• Act as a representative for their area of work on the Management Team, actively contributing to strategic planning, policy development, best practice implementation, budgeting processes, and organizational decision-making, particularly in relation to the Humanists at Risk program.

• Manage and monitor relevant project budgets, ensuring responsible and effective resource allocation for both general support initiatives and any limited individual casework.

• Provide direct line management to staff, consultants, paid interns, and volunteers as required, fostering a productive and supportive working environment.

• Attend relevant conferences, seminars, and other events to raise awareness of the challenges faced by Humanists at Risk and promote Humanists International's work, clearly articulating our new strategic approach to support.

Person Specification:

Essential:

• Education: A Master's degree in International Law, International Relations, Human Rights, or a closely related field; OR a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field with a minimum of 3 years of demonstrable experience in a related role.

• Strategic Understanding: A clear understanding of strategic planning and the ability to implement organizational strategies within their area of work.

• Legal Expertise: Excellent understanding of international human rights law, and refugee and asylum law and frameworks.

• Communication Skills: Exceptional written communication skills and an excellent command of English (native or near-native proficiency).

• Language Skills: Fluency in other languages, particularly French, Spanish, or Arabic, is a significant asset.

• Casework Coordination/Management Experience: Proven experience in coordinating or managing casework or support programs, ideally within a human rights, equality, or asylum-related context.

• NGO Knowledge: A strong understanding of the landscape of international non-governmental organizations, their roles, and their operational scope.

• Analytical and Synthesis Skills: Demonstrated ability to synthesize complex information from various sources and communicate it clearly and effectively to both specialist and non-specialist audiences.

• Analytical Skills: Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.

• Research and Drafting Skills: Strong research, analytical, and drafting skills with a proven ability to produce high-quality written materials.

Desired:

• Humanist Knowledge: Experience with or a strong understanding of humanism and the role and objectives of humanist organizations.

• Alignment with Values: Excellent understanding of, and demonstrable sympathy with, the philosophy, values, and policies of Humanists International.

• Organizational Skills: Highly organized, efficient, and able to work independently, managing multiple priorities effectively.

• Communication Style: A clear, persuasive, and confident communicator with strong interpersonal skills.

Research Associate - National Youth Agency

Contract: 12-month Fixed Term Contract (with potential to extend)
Hours: Full-time - 37 hours per week 
Salary: £30,000 – £35,000 per annum, dependent on experience
Remote: This role is 100% homebased with occasional travel for staff residentials and other events.

What we do

As the national body for youth work, the NYA has a dual function. We are the professional statutory and regulatory body (PSRB) responsible for qualifications, quality standards, and safeguarding for youth work and services in England. In line with our charity mission and aims, we also champion youth work through research, advocacy, campaigns, and programmes.

We work in partnership and believe in collaborative leadership, listening to youth workers and the youth work sector so that we can understand their needs and respond to the challenges they face. We are ambitious for youth work and for young people and integrate youth voice and influence across our work

About the Role

This is an exciting opportunity to join our Knowledge Team, working alongside two existing Research Associates and a Data Analyst. 

You will be integral in delivering research, data, and insights that support organisational development and programme delivery across NYA.

We are looking for an experienced mixed-methods researcher with a strong understanding of social research and evaluation approaches. Ideally, you will have experience working in or alongside the youth sector and be confident using both qualitative and quantitative methods.

You’ll need to be flexible, proactive, and a strong communicator, able to explain complex ideas to varied audiences. 

This role is ideal for someone looking to make a tangible difference through evidence-led approaches that shape policy, practice, and impact in youth work.

Key responsibilities for this role will include:

• Designing and delivering research projects using a range of methods including surveys, interviews, and focus groups.
• Supporting the development of the NYA research and data hub, including external research collation and data visualisation.
• Leading on evaluations to meet funder requirements and contribute to NYA’s growing evidence base.
• Analysing data from NYA programmes to support impact measurement.
• Promoting evidence-based practice across NYA and the wider youth sector.
• Communicating findings clearly through reports, briefings, and presentations.
• Managing research projects and collaborating with internal and external partners to deliver on time and to quality.
• Responding to internal and external research enquiries.

The ideal candidate will have experience in social research, familiarity with various research methodologies, and the ability to communicate complex findings to diverse audiences. 

Please refer to our Candidate Pack for more information on the role and the requirements.

Why Work for NYA?

NYA operates as a people-first organisation, prioritising the well-being and needs of its employees.

NYA offers an exceptional flexible working approach which encourages our team to balance professional responsibilities with their personal life.

A remote based team, spread across England, fostering inclusivity and diverse talent. Despite geographical distances between team members, NYA maintains a highly motivated and connected team through the optimisation of digital tools.

NYA is committed to supporting the continual personal and professional development of our team and helping them achieve their ambitions.

We provide 25 days leave plus 8 days, life assurance scheme, 5% employer pension contribution and a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme via Spectrum.life with unlimited specialist support available to all NYA employees.

How to Apply:

Please download our applicant pack to find out more about the role and requirements

To apply, please submit the following via our online application platform by 11:59pm on Monday 12th May 2025:

A detailed CV setting out your career history, with responsibilities and achievements in line with the person specification in the About You section. 

A covering letter (maximum two sides) highlighting your suitability for the role and how you meet the requirements in the

About You section. 

We will request data for our EEDI monitoring purposes, providing this is optional.

Please note: the covering letter is an essential part of the application process and will be assessed as part of your full application. We use AI detector software, so cover letters or CV’s with over 30% AI generated content with be disregarded. We understand that AI tools can offer support to candidates who have learning differences, which is why we will accept applications with some AI assistance. CV’s will not be accepted without a cover letter.

The National Youth Agency is an equal opportunities employer. 

At NYA our inclusive culture means that we embrace individual differences and understand that we need a diverse team to achieve our organisations mission. 

We wish to recruit candidates from all backgrounds to ensure our team reflects the rich diversity of the communities we serve. We encourage applications from anyone regardless of disability, ethnicity, heritage, gender, sexuality, religion, socio-economic background and political beliefs but we particularly welcome applications from global majority candidates and those from other minoritised ethnic groups in the UK as they are currently underrepresented in our team.

Youth Work changes lives

Which is why we’re committed to ensuring that as many young people as possible get to benefit from it. As the national body for youth work in England, the National Youth Agency (NYA) exists to champion its transformative power.  We believe all young people should have the opportunity to benefit from the life-changing impact of extraordinary youth workers and trained volunteers.

We help to grow youth work provision in ways that keep it effective, relevant, safe and engaging, to help millions of young people reach their potential and thrive. We do this by providing guidance, support, advice, training and staff development opportunities for youth workers and youth work organisations. At the heart of everything we do are young people themselves. We work hard to ensure their voices are integrated into all our work, to develop provision that truly meets their needs.

REF-221126

Are you our first Deputy Director?

• Are you passionate about the voices of people with lived experience in campaigns and communications around the asylum and immigration system?
• Are you a diplomat and leader, able to influence and collaborate with a network and partners?
• Do you enjoy being part of a small, dynamic team working with movement leaders, turning your hand to different challenges?
• Can you further build a campaign coalition to equip it to win deep change in the way the UK treats refugees?

About us

The Asylum Reform Initiative (ARI) is an alliance of nine leading national organisations collaborating to secure deep change towards a fair, compassionate and well-managed UK approach to refugees. Central to its strategy has been incubating, launching and backing the broader, public-facing Together With Refugees campaign coalition, now with over 600 national and local member groups from across the refugee sector and beyond. The ARI team provides a dynamic hub that supports Together With Refugees, coordinating the development and delivery of the coalition’s campaign strategy.

About the role

This is a new role. Working closely with the rest of the ARI team, One Strong Voice, and the newly formed Together With Refugees Steering Group, it will play a key part in shaping and delivering the ambitious next phase of the Together With Refugees strategy. The Deputy Director will lead on movement building, strengthening the coalition, and developing the reach, activation levels and effectiveness of the coalition’s grassroots campaign organising to secure changes in policy and practice. At the heart of this is the engagement and leadership of activists with lived experience as refugees, and of member groups that are led by and for refugees – so advancing the goal of a transition to leadership by people with lived experience across the coalition. Key to this work will be building the capacity, effectiveness and impact of the One Strong Voice network to support lived experience campaigners, organisations and leaders at all levels. The Deputy Director will also contribute to wider leadership of the team’s work including fundraising, support for – and accountability to – coalition leadership structures, and effective delivery of the team’s work programme.

About you

The Deputy Director will be a natural collaborator and relationship builder, able to work with diplomacy to drive forward our ambitious strategic aims. You will need ambition, energy and an ability to work at both strategic and more detailed levels. This could be the right opportunity for a range of potential candidates. You could be someone who has led and managed in other issues-based settings, in the asylum and refugee sector, or more broadly. Whatever your background, if you think you have the skills and experience to contribute to our team and take Together With Refugees forward then we’d like to hear from you.

Our commitment to and our strategic aims means that, we warmly invite and encourage applications from people with lived experience of the asylum system, or of forced migration more generally.

How to apply

First, download the candidate information pack; you will also need the application form and the Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form (these are all downloads under "Application resources" below). Send the two completed forms with your CV to the email address in the pack.

We are working in partnership with SongBird Survival, an independent charity working to solve the ecological crisis for songbirds through scientific research, to secure their new Scientific Research and Impact Manager.

Since 2000, SongBird Survival has been fighting for a better future for UK songbirds, and they are the only national UK charity solely dedicated to make a positive impact for songbirds in the face of this devastating ecological emergency. Their goals are to drive impactful conservation through scientific research, protect songbirds by raising awareness and inspiring action, and safeguarding the most at-risk songbird species in the UK. SongBird Survival do this by commissioning independent scientific research into the causes of the catastrophic decline in songbird numbers, translating research findings into actionable strategies, which aim to make a tangible difference in the protection and preservation of songbird populations. They also campaign for change, working with other NGOs and policymakers.

The Scientific Research and Impact Manager role is at the heart of SongBird Survival’s mission, ensuring that their research not only advances scientific understanding but also influences policy change, engages stakeholders, and strengthens communications and fundraising strategies. The postholder will oversee research projects, build key partnerships, and turn findings into practical conservation strategies. 

The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate:

• Degree level education in Ecology or an appropriate discipline or equivalent experience, with comprehensive knowledge of songbird and other small bird ecology.
• Knowledge and understanding of how scientific research is commissioned and delivered, as well as the ability to assimilate and appraise relevant information.
• Track record of translating scientific findings into policy, communications and stakeholder engagement.
• Knowledge of UK environmental policy and its impact on conservation efforts. 

For more information, please contact Katherine Anderson-Scott, Associate Director, Charisma Charity Recruitment. Your application should be submitted through the Charisma website and include your CV and supporting statement.

We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, or other category protected by law. 

Hours: 0.8-1.0 FTE (Full time is 37.5 hours with use of flexi hours)
Location: Remote/home working with occasional travel and visits to SongBird Survival office in Diss Norfolk.

Closing date: 21 May 2025

Charisma interviews must be completed by EOD 28th May in preparation for submission of the shortlist on the 29th. 

The eoa exists to grow and strengthen employee ownership as a force for powering fairer livelihoods, stronger businesses, and a more resilient economy. With 800+ member businesses and a community of thousands of employee owners, we are the national voice for employee ownership in the UK.

Our refreshed strategy is focused on accelerating impact through people powered growth. We’re here to make employee ownership a mainstream business model choice—by expanding the sector, setting the standard for excellence, and building a connected, values-led ecosystem. We do this through sharp insight, high-impact advocacy, and a thriving member experience.

For founders and business owners exploring employee ownership, or for leaders and managers building Great EO businesses, the eoa offers tools, knowledge, experience and connection. We facilitate powerful peer learning, codify what works, and champion the stories that inspire others to choose EO.

Together with our members, we’re creating the conditions for employee ownership to thrive—seizing the political, cultural, and digital opportunities ahead. and this is where you come in.

As Director of Partnerships and Growth, you’ll be the driving force behind the eoa’s external influence and reach. you’ll lead our advocacy and external affairs strategy, build meaningful partnerships, and deliver powerful events programmes that accelerate adoption of Great EO. You’ll also shape the narrative—ensuring our insights, policy recommendations and thought leadership land with impact.

This is a high-profile, senior leadership role at a pivotal time for the EO community. It calls for someone with a track record in advocacy or external affairs, strong commercial acumen, and the ability to lead high-performing teams. It also needs a big-picture thinker - someone who can champion EO, influence change, and help us build a more inclusive, resilient economy.

If you’re excited about the opportunity to grow an economy that puts people at the heart of business, we’d love to hear from you.

Role Details

At the heart of this Director of Parnterships & Growth role is the opportunity to shape the external environment for employee ownership, champion the voice of our members, and lead high-impact strategies that grow both our reach and the sector itself.

You’ll lead on policy, advocacy, external affairs and events—crafting compelling narratives, building powerful partnerships, and delivering programmes that drive commercial sustainability and sector-wide change.

From shaping relationships with key stakeholders and securing strategic sponsorships, to overseeing the delivery of thought leadership, content, and events, you’ll ensure that the eoa is not just part of the national conversation—but leading it.

Your ability to influence, convene, and inspire will be critical to removing barriers to employee ownership and unlocking the potential of our £1.7m organisation to deliver even greater impact.

Join us on this exciting journey where your leadership will shape policy, grow influence, and contribute to our mission of unlocking the potential of people, businesses, and the economy through employee ownership.

This role is remote, however regular travel to our HQ in Brough and across the UK is expected.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead external affairs, collaborating with stakeholders to shape policy, advocacy and best practice that removes barriers and expands EO.
• Establish relationships and secure commercial partnerships and sponsorships, generating revenue to support advocacy, events, and sector growth initiatives.
• Engage key stakeholders to co-produce content that positively influence EO practice and policy and amplify the eoa’s voice in public affairs.
• Oversee delivery of an effective content strategy that delivers our commercial objectives and positions the eoa as the leading EO authority.
• Oversee events programmes, ensuring they drive knowledge-sharing, sector development, and commercial sustainability.
• Represent the eoa at industry forums, policy roundtables, and public affairs events, championing the employee ownership model.
• Collaborate with the Director of Membership & Operations to align advocacy efforts with member needs and engagement.
• Lead and develop high-performing teams, fostering innovation and delivering measurable impact across advocacy, policy, event activities.

Success in this role

Success in this role means having a positive impact on the growth rate, influence and adoption of great EO across the employee ownership sector. Strengthening and expanding stakeholder relationships, driving advocacy impact and securing commercial sustainability through a diverse mix of sponsorships, partnerships will also be indicators of success.

Key outcomes for the role

• Growth of the employee ownership sector. Measured by increased number of EO businesses, heightened sector awareness
• Strengthened corporate engagement. Measured by growth in strategic partnerships, corporate and government engagement
• Strong Commercial Sustainability. Measured by increased sponsorship revenue, secured long-term commercial partnerships
• Increased policy influence. Measured by policy recommendations adopted, increased government engagement
• Enhanced sector insight and intelligence. Measured by utilisation of high-quality data and insights for regular sector related content outputs.
• Development and adoption of best practice. Measured by creation, adoption and promotion of best practice across the EO network.
• Successful events programmes. Measured by iIncreased participation, sponsorship growth, positive feedback.

About you

• Proven expertise in advocacy, public affairs, or policy leadership, ideally within a business, trade body, or membership association.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills, with experience influencing government, media, and corporate partners.
• Demonstrated ability to drive sectoral or policy change, leading successful advocacy initiatives.
• Strong commercial acumen, with experience in sponsorship acquisition, revenue generation, and developing financially sustainable initiatives.
• Exceptional strategic communication and storytelling skills, able to engage and mobilise diverse audiences.
• Experience in event programme development, ensuring high engagement and sector impact.
• Passion for employee ownership and economic models that promote shared prosperity.
• Innovative, creative, and proactive in problem-solving and strategy execution.
• A confident and transparent leader who fosters collaboration and inclusivity through teamwork.
• Self-aware with emotional intelligence, resilience, and integrity.

Role Summary

• Contract: Permanent
• Hours: Full time, 37.5 hours per week
• Location: Remote, with regular travel to eoa offices and national events
• Salary & Benefits: £65,000 p/a + 7% Pensions. 30 Days leave + Bank Holidays.
• Reports to: CEO
• Management: TBC

Position: Director of Engagement
Hours: Full-time, 35 hours a week
Contract: Permanent
Location: Office-based in London with flexibility to work remotely
Salary: £73,653 per annum plus excellent benefits
Salary Band: Band 5

About us

We make sure people living with MS are at the centre of everything we do. And it’s this commitment that unites us across the UK.

Our strategy is based on what people affected by MS have told us is important to them. It gives us a clear and determined focus.

Our work is based on the hopes and aspirations of our MS community. Together we campaign at all levels, fund ground-breaking research and provide award winning support and information.

Our people are our greatest asset and the key to our success. We offer a vibrant, progressive working environment where you'll be able to make a difference.

About this job

It is a very exciting time to join the MS Society as Director of Engagement a brand-new role in the organisation. We are implementing an ambitious cross-organisational transformation programme.  And we have just started a new 2025-29 strategy. Engagement is at the heart of both.

Engagement is everything. We define engagement as any interaction anyone has with the MS Society. We need to grow the audience we engage with. And deepen our audience relationships through engagement.  Growing and deepening engagement with all our audiences will enable us to deliver transformational impact for the MS Community. And contribute to our ultimate vision of a world free from MS.

We are looking for someone to provide strategic and thought leadership to engagement.  Someone who can work collaboratively across the organisation to lead and drive forward our ambition for engagement.

You will have significant experience of leading strategic engagement and customer experience to a complex multi-audience landscape within a complex cross-organisational operating model.  And be able to provide sector-leading thought-leadership and strategic expertise within engagement and customer experience.

You will have proven experience of delivering significant and sustainable business benefits through change programmes. And deep and broad experience of brand, marketing, digital and content.

You will have experience in understanding complex and wide-ranging external trends, taking the lead development of relevant cross-organisational strategic responses.  And significant experience of cross-functional and cross-organisational strategic leadership.

Closing date for applications: 9:00 am Monday 12 May 2025
Anticipated interview dates:
First interviews: Tuesday 27 May or Wednesday 28 May
Second interviews: Wednesday 4 June or Friday 6 June

Interested?

PLEASE PRESS THE 'HOW TO APPLY' BUTTON FOR MORE INFORMATION.

Equal Opportunities 
We particularly welcome applications from people with disabilities and or from ethnic minority backgrounds.

We’d be grateful if you downloaded and completed the equality and diversity monitoring form and submit it with your application. 

Disability Confident Employer 
We’re a Disability Confident Employer and we’re committed to promoting equality and diversity.

You can ask for reasonable adjustments as part of both our recruitment and new starter on-boarding processes.

If you need any help or adjustments to apply for this role, please contact us. You can also ask for the application materials to be sent to you in a different format. Such as for them to be sent to you by email or in a larger word format.

More about our employee benefits:
We have a wide range of employee benefits including (but not limited to): 

Encouraging work life balance

• 38 days paid annual leave (including bank holidays), pro-rata for part-time
• More annual leave entitlement, based on length of employment
• Smart working options (with the opportunity to work remotely and find a smart working pattern that suits both you and us) 
• Flexible working options 

Caring for you and your family 

• Generous sick pay entitlement
• More sick pay entitlement, based on length of employment 
• Opportunity to buy and sell annual leave in each calendar year 
• Free access to a GP virtually 24 hours a day/7 days a week allowing you unlimited advice, reassurance and where appropriate diagnosis 
• Enhanced leave for new parents 
• Free access to a confidential 24 hours a day/7 days a week helpline service for both you and your family with a specialist range of support and information
• Special leave options (such as up to 5 days paid leave for domestic or personal emergencies a year)
• 10 days paid disability leave a year, pro-rata for part-time 
• 10 days paid carers’ leave a year, pro-rata for part-time 
• Cycle to work scheme 
• Death in service scheme
• New family-friendly benefits, including paid leave:
  • In the event of miscarriage or still birth 
  • To support fertility treatments
  • For antenatal appointments for both parents

Thinking about your finances 

• Enhanced salary sacrifice pension scheme
• Discounted season ticket loan and interest-free emergency loans
• Give as you earn to support other charities of your choice before tax
• New employee portal including lifestyle savings vouchers and personal wellbeing

Enriching your life at work

• Personalised development plans with a wide range of training courses and opportunities to source additional training options with your line manager
• Yearly internal apprenticeship opportunities
• New, modern offices that embrace working together both in-person and remotely 
• Various opportunities to influence how we internally operate (including surveys, and focus and committee groups) 
• Active and supportive internal employee networking groups for collaboration and peer support 
• 2 days paid leave a year for volunteering for MS Society activities during normal working hours (such as fundraising events, or campaigning in the local community) 
• 2 days paid leave a year for volunteering with other charities during normal

Safeguarding 
We’re committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of everyone who uses our services and we come into contact with.

This is regardless of Gender, Race, Disability, Sexual orientation, Religion or belief, Pregnancy, Gender reassignment.

We recognise our particular responsibility to make sure vulnerable adults and children are protected.

We have measures in place to protect everyone we come into contact with from abuse and maltreatment of all kinds.

Your right to work in the UK 
You must have the right to work in the UK to work in paid employment with us. You’ll need to share documents showing you’re eligible to work in the UK if we offer you employment.

You can find the UK visas and permits granting you the right to work in the UK on the UK Government website. We currently don’t have a Sponsor Licence agreement with the Home Office and aren’t able to support you with your visa applications.

No agencies please.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a vital role in shaping the future of one of the UK’s leading touring theatre companies. The Development Director will lead our fundraising strategy, building the relationships and resources that power our bold, nationally-reaching work.

As Development Director, you will work closely with the joint CEOs (Holly and Lisa) to deliver Headlong’s fundraising strategy. You will have the opportunity to develop the role and will be responsible for raising the funds to support Headlong’s mission and vision over the long-term.

You will lead on prospect research, donor cultivation, bid writing and delivering fundraising events. You will set a fundraising culture with the Board and wider staff, advocating for the power of fundraising to push Headlong into its next chapter.

You will be part of the Senior Management Team and will take an active role in the organisation and as an ambassador for Headlong in different contexts.

As Senior Policy Manager, you will take a leadership role within the Policy and Influencing Team, providing strategic direction and subject matter expertise in health policy related to bowel cancer. Working closely with the Head of Policy and Influencing and Director of Research, Policy and Influencing, you will drive the development and implementation of policy initiatives that align with the organisation’s strategic priorities and positively impact the lives of people affected by bowel cancer. You will lead a team of policy officers and provide expert advice on complex policy issues, influencing decision-makers in government, healthcare organisations, and partner agencies across the UK.

About us

We're Centre for Mental Health. We take the lead in challenging policies, systems and society, so that everyone can have better mental health.

By developing mental health research, economic analysis and policy ideas, we’re equipping services and decision makers to meet people’s needs and reduce mental health inequalities.

2025 marks 40 years of our ground-breaking research. So it's a perfect time to join our team and help us fight for a mentally healthier future.

Who we're looking for

We’re looking for a Communications Lead with excellent written communication skills to help us promote the Centre’s research, campaigns and services across a range of channels. You will ensure our written and visual outputs are of the highest quality, and harness the Centre’s respected brand and reputation to influence change. 

Day-to-day tasks include:

• Copy-editing and proofreading a range of written materials, including blogs and publications
• Laying out our research reports for publication using Adobe InDesign
• Creating on-brand, engaging infographics and social media assets
• Writing and curating content to post to our social media channels
• Producing the Centre's monthly newsletter using Mailchimp
• Issuing press releases and responding to press enquiries

We're looking for someone with strong attention to detail, experience of using Adobe InDesign or Adobe Illustrator, with skills in writing copy for a range of key audiences and channels.

We’re looking for someone who is passionate about tackling mental health inequalities, mindful of the sensitivities of communicating in this area, and able to harness and promote the Centre’s respected brand to drive change.

We offer wellbeing support including one paid hour weekly for wellbeing, generous annual leave, flexible working, and a comprehensive employee assistance programme. We support your career development with relevant training and offer up to 12% employer pension contributions.

Centre for Mental Health wishes to increase our diversity and we particularly welcome applications from people from racialised communities and LGBTQ+ applicants.

All our shortlisting is done without reference to personal details.

Interviews will be held on 28 and 29 May. 

Please note that we may choose to close this job earlier than the stated deadline if we receive a high volume of interest. Early applications are encouraged.