Research jobs in Belfast
What does it take to lead the national voice for special schools at a time of real change?
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – National Association of Special Schools (NASS)
National – home-based, with regular travel across England and Wales, particularly London
£90,000–£110,000 per annum
Full-time, permanent.
About NASS
The National Association of Special Schools (NASS) is the membership association for special schools in England and Wales. We bring together independent special schools, non-maintained special schools, special academies, maintained special schools and multi-academy trusts with specialist provision.
We exist to inform, support and represent our members, helping specialist schools improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND and secure the place of specialist provision within the wider education system. NASS is known for being accessible, responsive and personal, combining national influence with practical support that members value as timely, human and trustworthy.
This is a pivotal moment for the organisation. In February this year, the Department for Education published a major white paper on SEND reform which will require NASS to both influence national policy on behalf of our members and children and young people, as well as support them to navigate the changes. Our new CEO will need to review our strategy while building on our strong platform and momentum to further deepen our influence and strengthen our internal capacity.
As our next Chief Executive, you will:
- Strategy & Impact: Lead NASS through a period of policy and structural change, ensuring the organisation remains clear on purpose, responsive to members and influential in the SEND landscape.
- Governance & Finance: Work closely with the Board of Trustees to provide strong governance, prudent financial stewardship, robust risk management and clear strategic oversight.
- Operational Leadership: Provide confident leadership to a small, remote team, strengthening collaboration, accountability, resilience and a positive, high-trust culture.
- Income Generation: Oversee budgeting, planning and reporting while developing thoughtful opportunities to diversify income through membership, partnerships, events and related activity.
- Community & Partnerships: Build and sustain trusted relationships with government, parliament, regulators, sector bodies and member schools, ensuring NASS remains relevant and well connected.
- Member Services: Protect and enhance the practical offer to members, from briefings and special interest groups to conferences, webinars, training and peer-to-peer learning.
- Brand & Profile: Act as a credible public ambassador for NASS, helping to modernise communications and broaden the organisation’s voice beyond a founder-shaped model.
- Future Growth: Shape a distributed leadership profile and support a more varied, accessible and engaging approach to membership, advocacy and communications.
- A seasoned senior leader with experience in a charity, membership body, education or public sector setting, and a clear track record of leading through change.
- A strong strategic thinker, able to absorb complex information quickly and translate it into clear, practical direction.
- A confident communicator with the gravitas to represent NASS with members, staff, trustees, MPs, peers, media and national partners.
- A politically astute relationship-builder, comfortable navigating a complex and fast-moving external environment.
- Experienced in governance, with a sound understanding of working with boards or trustees and supporting effective decision-making.
- Numerate and commercially minded, with experience of budgets, financial planning, income generation or partnership development.
- Credible, approachable and resilient, with the emotional intelligence to lead well in a high-profile, remote and sometimes uncertain context.
- Direct SEND experience would be a significant advantage, alongside understanding of specialist education or similarly complex stakeholder environments.
Why NASS?
- This is a chance to lead a respected, member-led organisation with a strong national reputation and a clear public purpose.
- You will help shape the future of specialist education at a time when SEND reform is high on the agenda.
- NASS has a loyal, experienced and collegiate remote staff team, supported by an active Board of Trustees.
- The organisation offers a genuinely influential platform, with strong connections across the sector and with government.
Application
For full details of the role including how to apply, please download the full appointment brief. For an informal and confidential conversation about this position, please contact Jenny Hills at Harris Hill via apply button with times to speak and (optional but appreciated) a CV or professional profile which will be treated with the strictest confidence.
Closing date for applications: 9am, Monday 8th June 2026
As leading charity recruitment specialists and a certified B Corp, Harris Hill is committed to high and ever-improving standards of equitable and inclusive recruitment. We actively welcome applications from all sections of the community regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexuality and other protected characteristics.
Recruitment Agency 
21 - 50
Thank you!
Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Submit your application as normal and our system will anonymise it for you. Your personal information will be hidden until the recruiter contacts you.
This role will support the development and delivery of our services and resources for young people born with a cleft lip and/or palate. Working closely with the Engagement & Services team to help us achieve our mission.
The Youth Engagement Coordinator will sit within the Engagement & Services Team. They will join a friendly and supportive team of seven colleagues who, together, are responsible for the delivery of CLAPA’s adult, family, children and young people and involvement services. The post holder will develop and deliver services for eight- to seventeen-year-olds, which will enable the young cleft community to connect, share experiences and access guidance and emotional support. Shaping what support looks like, creating positive impact and strengthening reach, this new role for CLAPA will make a real difference to the lives of children and young people born with a cleft.
If you think you have the talent, passion and experience to help us ensure we can always meet the needs of the community we serve, we want to hear from you.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Submit your application as normal and our system will anonymise it for you. Your personal information will be hidden until the recruiter contacts you.
FTWW is looking for a Communications Coordinator! The successful candidate will develop and grow the organisation’s online platform, including sharing information, resources and signposting within FTWW’s pan-Wales virtual peer support community and beyond.
The role is full-time (0.8 FTE considered for the right candidate), home-based within Wales, with occasional travel to events and meetings, so a driving licence and access to a car would be an advantage. We work flexibly, but core working hours are between 10am-4pm, and the successful candidate will be expected to work some evening and weekends, as required.
We are a small but mighty charity where no two days are the same. You may be involved in promoting a focus group to our members one day and meeting with a journalist the next. We currently have over 100 registered volunteers and over 2000 members of our online community, and you will work closely with our Volunteer & Community Coordinator to ensure that our members are at the heart of what we do.
The ability to speak Welsh, or a willingness to learn, is desirable.
Successful applicants will need to complete a basic DBS check and provide references before any offer of employment is made.
As a Disabled People’s Organisation, we recognise that AI can be a helpful tool for structuring written applications. We ask that, if you choose to use AI, your application remains an accurate and authentic reflection of your own experiences, skills, perspectives, and voice.
For more information, including accessible formats, please see the attached document.
Interviews will be held via Microsoft Teams, in the week commencing 6th July.
---
Mae FTWW yn chwilio am Gydlynydd Cyfathrebu! Bydd yr ymgeisydd llwyddiannus yn datblygu ac yn tyfu platfform ar-lein y sefydliad, gan gynnwys rhannu gwybodaeth, adnoddau, a chyfeirio, o fewn cymuned rithwir FTWW sy’n darparu cefnogaeth gan gymheiriaid i bobl ym mhob cwr o Gymru a thu hwnt.
Mae hon yn swydd amser llawn (ystyrir 0.8 FTE ar gyfer yr ymgeisydd iawn), wedi’i lleoli gartref yng Nghymru, â theithio achlysurol i ddigwyddiadau a chyfarfodydd, felly byddai trwydded yrru a mynediad at gar yn fanteisiol. Rydym yn gweithio’n hyblyg, ond yr oriau gwaith craidd yw rhwng 10am a 4pm, a disgwylir i’r ymgeisydd llwyddiannus weithio ambell gyda’r nos a phenwythnos, yn ôl y galw.
Rydym yn elusen fach ond pwerus lle mae pob diwrnod yn wahanol. Gallech fod yn ymwneud â hyrwyddo grŵp ffocws i’n haelodau un diwrnod ac yn cyfarfod newyddiadurwr y diwrnod canlynol. Ar hyn o bryd mae gennym dros 100 o wirfoddolwyr cofrestredig ac mae gan ein cymuned ar-lein dros 2000 o aelodau. Byddwch yn gweithio mewn cysylltiad agos â’n Cydlynydd Gwirfoddolwyr a Chymunedau er mwyn sicrhau bod ein haelodau wrth graidd yr hyn rydym yn ei wneud.
Mae’r gallu i siarad Cymraeg, neu barodrwydd i ddysgu, yn ddymunol.
Bydd angen i’r ymgeisydd llwyddiannus gwblhau gwiriad DBS sylfaenol a darparu geirdaon cyn y byddwn yn cynnig swydd iddo.
Fel Sefydliad Pobl Anabl, rydym yn cydnabod y gall deallusrwydd artiffisial (AI) fod yn ddefnyddiol er mwyn strwythuro ceisiadau ysgrifenedig. Os ydych yn dewis defnyddio AI, gofynnwn i chi sicrhau bod eich cais yn parhau’n adlewyrchiad cywir a dilys o’ch profiadau, sgiliau, persbectifau a’ch llais chi eich hun.
I gael rhagor o wybodaeth, gan gynnwys fformatau hygyrch, gweler y ddogfen ynghlwm.
Cynhelir cyfweliadau drwy Microsoft Teams, yn ystod yr wythnos yn dechrau ar 6 Gorffennaf.
To apply, please answer the questions listed, submit a CV of no more than two pages, and a cover letter of no more than 1000 words, explaining how you meet each aspect of the person specification for the role, with examples, as well as how you would approach delivering accessible, impactful communications that amplify the voices of women and disabled people.
Er mwyn gwneud cais, atebwch y cwestiynau isod, cyflwynwch CV sy’n ddim mwy na dwy dudalen, a llythyr eglurhaol o ddim mwy na 1000 o eiriau, yn egluro sut rydych yn bodloni pob agwedd ar fanyleb y person ar gyfer y rôl, gydag enghreifftiau, yn ogystal â sut y byddech yn mynd ati i ddarparu deunydd cyfathrebu hygyrch ac effeithiol sy’n rhoi sylw i leisiau menywod a phobl anabl.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.