Senior business development executive jobs

Age International's vision is a world where every older person is included and valued. Its mission is to inspire and channel UK and international support so that older people in challenging situations across the world can improve their lives.

The CEO of Age International provides leadership to a committed and dynamic charity which champions the rights, and improves the lives, of older people in low- and middle-income countries.

This is an exceptional opportunity to lead Age International at a pivotal moment for the rights and wellbeing of older people globally. As CEO you will provide inspirational leadership to an organisation with a strong reputation, deep expertise and a clear purpose: to ensure that older people everywhere can live with dignity, security and choice.

While the current strategy is defined, you will deliver this and then shape a new, ambitious strategy in years to come, working to influence policy, mobilise resources and nurture powerful partnerships that bring about lasting change.

With credibility, compassion and determination, you will champion the voices of older people internationally and lead Age International into its next chapter of impact and influence.

Please view the attached role description for full details.

Person specification:

Essential:

* Strategic vision, forward-looking, clear-thinking strategist able to read the environment and lead strategy processes.

* Passionate, values-based leader, committed to advancing the rights of older people.

* Senior leadership and governance experience in a complex organisation, preferably in the charitable / NGO sector.

* Strong experience of international development and humanitarian programme development and management, and related policy issues.

* Experienced income generator with financial acumen.

* Collaborative, relational team builder and manager committed to diversity equality and inclusion, able to use soft-power to build support.

* Partnership-builder creating impact greater than the sum of the parts.

* Confident external affairs representative, manager of stakeholder engagement and spokesperson, including for the media.

* Advocate and confident influencer able to drive policy change

* Engaging and effective communicator and campaigner, able to explain impact, inspire support and grow profile.

* Calm manager of change who is both agile and pragmatic.

* Thrives working in a small team on a big mission.

* Willing to travel internationally on programme monitoring visits and for conferences.

Desirable:

* Understanding of UN processes, health system strengthening, income security and social pensions, able to articulate the impact of gender discrimination and climate change on older people internationally.

* Experience as a CEO or of overseeing organisational management, policies and compliance.

* Technology and digital skills.

* Experience of leading public change campaigning.

* Experience as a Trustee.

What we offer in return:

• Competitive salary, 26 days annual leave + bank holidays + annual leave purchase scheme
• Excellent pension scheme, life assurance, Health cashback plan and EAP
• Car Benefit Scheme, Cycle to Work Scheme and Season Ticket Loan
• Techscheme - buy any tech from Apple or Currys, up to £1000, and spread the cost over 12 months, interest free
• Blue Light Card Scheme
• You Did It Awards - recognition awards from £100-250.

Additional Information

The closing date for applications is 14th September, 2026.

Early application is encouraged as we will review applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close the advert at any time.

Anonymisation

Please submit your CV as a Word document. It will be anonymised by our recruitment system.

Please provide a supporting statement that explains how you meet the competencies in the job description. Age UK acknowledges that AI may be used to support applications, however we expect candidates to personalise their experience, knowledge and skills. Failure to do so may result in your application being rejected.

Please do not include your name, or any other personal information in your supporting statement, to assist our inclusive recruitment process.

Please do not use heavy formatting for either your CV or supporting statement, as the system is unable to anonymise these.

All equalities monitoring information is also anonymised and not shared with the hiring panel. Your name and address will only be known to us if you are invited for interview.

Equal opportunities & Disability Confident Scheme

Age UK is an Equal Opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates, regardless of age, sex, race, disability, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital/civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity. Age UK is a Disability Confident Scheme employer. Due to high numbers of applications received, Age UK reserves the right to limit the overall number of interviews offered, and therefore, it may not always be practicable or appropriate to interview all disabled people that meet the minimum criteria for the job.

Reasonable adjustments

Disabled job seekers can access reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process. All requests for reasonable adjustments are considered on a case-by-case basis, in collaboration with the disabled job seeker to best meet their needs, by contacting the Recruitment Team. Disability disclosures will be kept confidential and only shared on a need-to-know basis to support the implementation of adjustments. Disclosures will not be used to inform hiring decisions.

Safeguarding

Age UK is committed to safeguarding adults at risk, and children, from abuse and neglect. We expect everyone who works with us to share this commitment.

Age UK politely requests no contact from recruitment agencies or media sales. We do not accept speculative CVs from recruitment agencies nor accept the fees associated with them.

For a full list of benefits please visit our website.

Are you a dog loving, IT professional who loves providing excellent customer service?
We’re looking for a Senior Service Desk Analyst to help us ensure our colleagues across the charity get fantastic, end-to-end IT support.

What does this role do?

As Senior Service Desk Analyst, you’ll:

• monitor and supervise a team of Service Desk Analysts, triaging and assigning tickets, ensuring consistency and supporting the team to deliver a high-quality service across the charity,
• personally manage your own tickets, including high-priority incidents, providing timely escalation of critical issues or ensuring their escalation to third party providers, often acting as the bridge between first and second line and third line teams,
• take part in regular service review meetings with external partners and internal teams, collaborating to ensure customers are supported effectively,
• support with the delivery of on-site support and maintenance, travelling to our rehoming centres and charity shops to resolve incidents and implement upgrades.

Due to the nature of this role, the post holder will be expected to work one weekend in four.
 

Initial screening calls for this role are provisionally scheduled for Friday 18th September 2026 and will take place on Teams. They will be followed by a panel interview, which are provisionally scheduled for week commencing 21st September 2026, and will be at our London office.

Could this be you?

To be successful in this role, you’ll need some experience of working on an IT service desk, with the ability to effectively resolve a range of issues, from simple fixes to complex tickets. Your depth of experience in this area will give you the knowledge and skills to effectively triage and prioritise tickets too. We’re looking for candidates who have experience of mentoring, supervising and coaching others, who can lead day-to-day operations with enthusiasm. You’ll be proactive, with a can-do attitude, and passionate about providing our colleagues with first-class customer service.

What does this team do?

The IT Infrastructure and support team provide excellent services across all IT systems and equipment to ensure the organisation can be successful in achieving its mission and goals. This will be achieved by reducing complexity and ensuring an effective and secure infrastructure exists to support the development of services and technology.

About Dogs Trust

We love dogs. That’s why we do whatever we can to make sure every four-legged friend gets the love they deserve. We’ll never put a healthy dog down, so our work is focused on helping dogs in need, supporting owners every step of the walk, and creating a better world for dogs in the future. It’s what we’ve been doing since 1891 and how we’ve grown to become the UK’s leading dog charity, helping 12,000 loyal friends find their forever homes every year.

To apply for this position please click the APPLY NOW button. Our application process requires you submit a personal statement explaining your interest and suitability for the role.
 
Dogs are incredibly diverse, much like the humans that love them! At Dogs Trust we value diversity, and we're committed to fostering an inclusive culture. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, abilities, and cultures and believe that a diverse workforce helps us to achieve our mission. Our colleague networks give our people a voice, acting as vehicles for real and meaningful change within Dogs Trust. We truly want to see every candidate shine throughout the entire job application process, interview stages, and during their time with us. If there's anything on your mind or any adjustments you may need, don't hesitate to reach out to us. We're here to support you every step of the way.

About Spear

Spear is a national youth employment charity. The award-winning Spear Programme was launched over 20 years ago, and is now running in 18 Spear Centres across the country, equipping unemployed 16–24-year-olds facing barriers to employment with the skills and mindset they need to secure work and thrive in work and life. 

Please see the 'Work with us’ pack for more information. 

About the role

We're looking for an ambitious, proactive and relationship-driven individual who excels at securing strategic, long-term corporate partnerships that drive the growth and impact of Spear. Joining our dynamic and growing Corporate Partnerships team, you will play a key role in developing and stewarding high-value partnerships that generate significant income and enable Spear to reach more young people facing barriers to employment.

This role is ideal for someone with strong business development and relationship management skills, who enjoys working both strategically and hands-on to generate income, develop compelling partnership opportunities and build lasting relationships with corporate supporters.

Key Information

• Salary: from £38,000, with considerable flex depending on experience
• Full-Time permanent role (4 days per week considered)
• Annual leave: 28 days annual leave (including Christmas gift days) plus bank holidays, increasing with long service. Please see our 'Work with us' pack for details of our other great benefits.
• Closing Date: 9aqm on Monday 14th September, though we interview on a rolling basis and may close the role early if we find the right candidate

For more information please read through our Job Specification.

If you require any reasonable adjustments as part of the recruitment process, please let us know.

Person Specification

• A practising Christian, passionate about Spear's values and mission, with a desire to engage and inspire corporate partners to support young people facing barriers to employment into sustainable work.
• Significant senior-level experience in corporate fundraising, corporate social responsibility, business development or strategic partnerships.
• Proven ability to raise funds, develop business partnerships or drive sales. Excellent client management using CRM tools such as Salesforce are desirable.
• An excellent communicator with strong relational skills and the confidence and ability to develop a rapport with and positively influence a variety of people from diverse backgrounds in the corporate space.
• Excellent writing skills, attention to detail and accuracy, including the ability to produce compelling proposals for a professional, corporate audience.
• Demonstration of leadership capabilities; proactive, responsive and a self-starter. Ability to manage multiple priorities to meet targets and deadlines.
• Strong numerical, reporting and organizational skills, including the ability to establish appropriate and effective processes and structures.
• Line Management experience desirable but not essential.

Faith Expressions

Spear is a Christian charity, working in a range of settings, in partnership with people from all faiths and none. Although the Spear programme itself has no faith element, Our Christian faith underpins everything we do; it motivates and sustains us and is core to our mission. Prayer and worship are embedded into our daily working practises, and all staff are required to lead a team prayer meeting from time to time. As such, there is a Genuine Occupational Requirement for our team to be practising Christians – our team share a belief in a triune God and we welcome applications from people of all denominations and expressions of Christianity.

ALDER HEY CHILDREN'S CHARITY 

Job title: Executive Assistant 
Salary: £31,125 - £39,823 

Hours: 37.5 hours per week 
Location: Alder Hey Children's Charity (based within the hospital), Liverpool. Hybrid working available. 

About us 

Alder Hey Children’s Charity raises vital funds to help make Alder Hey Children’s Hospital a truly world-class, patient-friendly hospital for the 450,000 patients and families we care for every year. 

The charity helps to fund a range of activities and projects that are designed to enhance and improve the lives of our amazing young patients. This includes the funding of specialist medical equipment to ensure our brilliant surgeons and clinical staff have the most up to date and cutting-edge technology available and funding hi-tech distraction equipment designed and proven to reduce pain and anxiety in our patients. We also fund a range of programmes and special projects such as our ward musicians, our on-site magician and the play specialists we have on every ward. 

About this role 

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Charity as an Executive Assistant, providing high-quality support to the Senior Leadership Teamand support for the governance functions. 

You will manage complex diaries, coordinate meetings, and deliver key administrative support in a fast-paced environment. Working closely with senior leaders and the Executive Affairs and Governance Manager, you will ensure deadlines are met, confidentiality ismaintained, and operations run smoothly. 

The successful candidate will be proactive, organised, and resourceful, with excellent communication skills and the ability to prioritise competing demands. This rewarding role offers variety, responsibility, and the chance to make a meaningful impact across the organisation. 

Key responsibilities will include: 

Executive and administrative supportfor the Senior Leadership Team 

• Provide high-quality, proactive executive and administrative support to the Senior Leadership Team.This willincludesupportingthe management of complex diaries and inboxes, coordinating appointments and meetings, resolving schedulingconflictsandanticipatingrequirements and priorities. 

• Support charity-wide projects, initiatives and working groups, coordinating activity and following up actions asrequired. 

Governance Function Support 

• Support the Executive Affairs & Governance Manager inmaintainingeffective, well-organised governance processes and delivering governance-related activities across theCharity and its subsidiary. 

• Provide administrative support to the Trustee Board and other Boards,Committeesand working groups, including scheduling meetings,coordinatingand collating agendas and papers, attending meetings, draftingaccurateand professional minutes,maintainingactionlogsand following up agreed actions. 

Event Planning 

• Support the planning, organisation and delivery of high-quality internal and external meetings and events, includingManager and Senior Leadership Team meetings,workshopsand other events at internal and external venues. 

• Coordinate eventlogistics, including venues, suppliers, attendees, materials, catering,technologyand other requirements, ensuring events run smoothly and delivergood valuefor money. 

Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration 

• Build positive and effective working relationships across the Charity and with colleagues at Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust and other key partners, supporting collaboration and shared organisational priorities. 

• Maintain the highest standards of confidentiality, professionalism and discretion when handling sensitive information and engaging with internal and external stakeholders. 

Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification for more information. 

Our Values 

At Alder Hey Children’s Charity, our values guide how we work. Being courageous, working together, showing passion and embracing creativity enables us to support the hospital in delivering the very best care for young patients and their families. 

Courage 

We try new things, take risks and innovate. We speak up, take accountability and act with responsibility. 

Together 

We work as one team, sharing knowledge and learning. We partner with patients, families, supporters and colleagues. 

Passion 

We are passionate about what we do and inspire others. 

Magic 

We are creative, fun and child-led, creating special moments and going the extra mile. 

Additional Information 

In April 2025, the charity adopted a four-day working week policy. Staff previously working 37.5 hours now work 30 hours across four days, maintaining full pay while supporting a better work-life balance. 

This job description outlines the general nature of the role and is not exhaustive. It may be subject to change in line with organisational needs. 

Alder Hey Children’s Charity will make reasonable adjustments where required and is committed to equal opportunities and safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. 

The post holder will be required to complete an enhanced DBS disclosure check. 

How to apply 

You can apply by clicking the link below. Applications must include your CV and a covering letter (no more than one side of A4) which answers the following questions: 

• How do you meet the person specification? If you don’t exactly meet all of the role requirements but have transferable skills please do consider applying and provide details as part of your answer.

• Why do you want to work for Alder Hey? 

Additional information is included within the Job Description and Person Specification.

Closing date: Monday 14th September 2026, 12pm 

Interviews will be held in person at Alder Hey on Tuesday 22nd September 2026 

Job titleChief Executive

ContractPermanent / Full time (35 hours a week)

Location London / hybrid (regular London presence)

Salary£95,000 - £100,000

Benefits Up to 6.5% matched pension, total contributions of 13%.
28 days annual leave per year plus public holidays.
Enhanced sick leave cover of up to 5 years.
Death in service benefit of 2x annual salary.
Employee Assistance scheme.
Working from home allowance.
Annual wellbeing allowance.

Reports to Chair and Board of Trustees

Direct reportsDirector of Finance and Operations
Director of Evidence and Improvement
Policy and Communications Manager
People and Business Partner

Background information

About us:

National Voices is the leading coalition of health and social care charities in England. We have more than 200 members covering a diverse range of health conditions and communities, connecting us with the experiences of millions of people. We work together to strengthen the voice of patients, people with Lived Experience, unpaid carers, their families and the voluntary organisations that work for them.

Our mission:

We advocate for a more equitable and person-centred health and care, shaped by the people who use and need it the most.

We do this by:

- Understanding and advocating for what matters to people, especially those living with health conditions and groups who experience inequalities

- Finding common cause across communities and conditions by working with member charities and those they support

- Connecting and convening charities, decisions makers and citizens to work together to change health and care for good.

Our five-year strategy:

In September 2024 we published a new five-year strategy that was co-produced with our staff, our member charities, our Lived Experience Partners and our key stakeholders. This set out three clear goals:

- End unequal access
By addressing the barriers experienced by those facing the worst outcomes, we will find solutions that improve care for all.

- Transfer power to people and communities
As a leader in co-production, we will help communities to work with system leaders at national and neighbourhood level to make big decisions together. This will maximise the skills and capabilities of patients, ensuring care is truly person-centred.

- Shift the measures of success
By campaigning for better patient experience and outcomes metrics, we can ensure that what matters to people becomes the key measure of success for the NHS.

In the first two years of the strategy we have already made big strides. For example, our work encouraging the Government to focus on “getting the basics right” has seen major policy initiatives designed to fix access to primary care and the 8am rush. Similarly, our work on the experience of waiting for elective care has seen the introduction of the first ever set of minimum standards for waiting.

Our work on the 10 Year Plan, and on the Quality Strategy, has also seen both patient experience and outcome measures given much greater prominence in how the NHS judges success and National Voices has now been commissioned by NHS England to help design the future of patient feedback mechanisms.

We have also successfully campaigned for funding formulas to be revised to enable the NHS to directly address the inverse care law and tackle the impact of health inequalities head on.

But there are challenges ahead, not least the role patients and communities play directly in co-producing improvement. With ICBs under huge financial pressures, and so much change in the health and care system, we need to make sure every piece of work we deliver is of the highest quality and adds real value. This is the only way to help others across the sector understand the value that people with Lived Experience offer to problem solving processes and creating better and more inclusive solutions.

PLEASE SEE RECRUITMENT PACK FOR FULL DETAILS AND APPLICATION GUIDANCE

The Organisation

Sported is one of the UK's leading sport-for-development charities, supporting more than 5,000 community groups across the UK to use sport and physical activity as a catalyst for positive social change. Through a combination of volunteer expertise, grants, learning and strategic partnerships, Sported helps grassroots organisations become stronger, more sustainable and more impactful.

Having undergone significant growth and transformation in recent years, Sported is entering an exciting new chapter. With a clear strategy, strong foundations and a respected national profile, the organisation is well positioned to increase its reach, influence and impact across communities throughout the UK.

The Role

Reporting to the Board of Trustees, the Chief Executive Officer will lead Sported through its next phase of growth and development. This is an opportunity to build on a strong platform, strengthening financial sustainability, deepening partnerships and increasing the organisation's influence across the sport and social impact sectors.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading the delivery of Sported's strategy and long-term vision. 
• Strengthening income generation and long-term sustainability.
• Developing high-performing teams, culture and organisational capability.
• Acting as Sported's principal ambassador with key stakeholders, funders and partners.
• Increasing the organisation's profile, reach and influence nationally.
• Ensuring strong governance, operational performance and impact delivery.

This is a rare opportunity to lead a highly respected national charity and help shape the future of grassroots sport and community development across the UK.

The Candidate

We are seeking an ambitious, values-led leader with the credibility, strategic capability and

commercial acumen to guide Sported through its next chapter. Outstanding candidates may

come from a variety of sectors and backgrounds.

You will bring:

•  A successful track record of leading a complex organisation, business unit or function with responsibility for strategy, performance and delivery.
• Experience of organisational growth, transformation or performance improvement.
• A demonstrable ability to secure income, develop partnerships and build sustainable funding streams.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen, balancing mission, impact and sustainability.
• Experience of working with Boards and building effective senior stakeholder relationships.
• A track record of leading and developing high-performing teams through change and growth.
• Excellent communication and ambassadorial skills, with the ability to represent Sported at the highest levels.
• A genuine commitment to Sported's mission and the role sport can play in creating stronger communities.

Previous Chief Executive experience would be welcomed, though it is not essential. Above all,

candidates will bring a genuine passion for sport for development and a strong belief in the

role sport and physical activity can play in tackling inequality, creating opportunity and

strengthening communities.

For further information and details on how to apply, please click to be apply this will redirect you to the application process.

Closing date for applications (CV and covering letter): 9am Thursday 17th September

Are you looking for an opportunity to broaden your leadership experience and help shape homelessness services across Oxfordshire and Reading?

This opportunity is offered as 12 month fixed term contract until 16/11/2027 (Maternity cover).

We are looking for a dynamic and values-driven Senior Service Manager to join our West London and West England Directorate. This is an exciting opportunity to lead a diverse portfolio of homelessness services spanning outreach, prevention, housing first and housing-led support and recovery-focused provision across Oxfordshire and Reading.

Working closely with the Regional Head, you will play a central role in the leadership of services across the region. You will provide strategic and operational oversight, support the development of managers and teams, strengthen relationships with commissioners and partners, and help identify opportunities to further expand and improve our services. You will act as a key member of the regional leadership team, supporting the delivery of directorate objectives and providing leadership across the region's homelessness response.

In this role you will:

• Provide leadership across a portfolio of services, ensuring high-quality, safe and effective delivery.
• Support, coach and develop managers and teams to achieve excellent outcomes for clients.
• Work alongside the Regional Head to drive service development, innovation and continuous improvement.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with commissioners, local authorities, housing providers and wider partners.
• Lead on contract performance, quality assurance, compliance and financial oversight.
• Contribute to new business opportunities, service growth and tender development.
• Use insight, performance data and stakeholder feedback to improve services and outcomes.
• Champion client involvement, equality, diversity and inclusion across all areas of service delivery.
• In this post you will be required to travel across Oxfordshire and Reading to visit services, teams and partners. There will be opportunities for home working up to 3 days per week.

This role offers a unique opportunity to work alongside the Regional Head in shaping the future direction of services across Oxfordshire and Reading. You will contribute to business development activity, support service mobilisation and growth, lead on strategic partnerships, and help ensure that St Mungo's remains at the forefront of developing innovative responses to homelessness and rough sleeping in the region.

About You

Do you enjoy bringing people together, developing others and finding practical solutions to complex challenges? If this sounds like you, and you bring the below please apply:

You will bring:

• Strong leadership potential, sound operational judgement and the ability to build effective relationships.
• Experience of delivering services that support people experiencing homelessness, housing exclusion or other forms of social disadvantage.
• Experience of managing performance, quality, resources or service improvement activity.
• Strong communication, organisational and problem-solving skills.
• The ability to balance day-to-day operational demands with longer term strategic priorities.
•  A commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion and meaningful client involvement.

You may already be operating at a senior level, or you may be looking for the opportunity to take the next step in your career. We welcome applications from people who have developed their experience through leading services, projects, programmes or teams and are ready for a broader leadership role.

Above all, you will be someone who can support others to succeed, work collaboratively across organisational boundaries and help shape services that enable people to move away from homelessness and rebuild lives.

How to apply

To view the job description and guidance on completing your application form, please click on the ‘document’ tab on the advert page on our website.

To find out more and apply please go to the St Mungo’s careers page on our website. 

Closing date: 10am on 15 September 2026

Interview and assessments on: 24 September 2026

We are working hard to create a diverse and fully inclusive culture where everyone feels valued and we welcome applications from all under-represented groups, particularly Global Majority candidates who are underrepresented at this management level.

What we offer

• Excellent Development and Growth Opportunities
• A Diverse and Inclusive Work Place
• Great Pay and Other Benefits

Shape the future of Fréa – a unique partnership of three Irish charities working together to create greater impact.

We’re looking for an ambitious, creative fundraiser to build on a strong foundation and develop Fréa’s next generation of income and partnerships.

Fréa brings together three established Irish charities with a shared commitment to supporting Irish communities across the North of England. We believe that, by working together, we can achieve more than any of us can alone.

We are now looking for an exceptional Head of Fundraising and Development to help us realise that ambition.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced fundraiser who enjoys building relationships, spotting opportunities and turning ideas into sustainable income. You will have the freedom to shape Fréa’s fundraising approach, develop new partnerships and funding streams, and help establish the partnership as an increasingly influential and sustainable organisation.

You will build on a strong platform already created by Fréa’s existing fundraising work, while bringing fresh thinking and new energy to its next stage of development. You will work closely with senior colleagues and Boards across the three partner charities, developing compelling propositions and identifying opportunities where Fréa can achieve more by working collectively.

Importantly, this is collaborative fundraising, not competitive fundraising. Fréa’s role is to complement and add value to the excellent fundraising already undertaken by its three partners. You will need the judgement to recognise when an opportunity is best pursued by Fréa, by an individual partner, or jointly – always respecting existing relationships with funders, donors and corporate partners.

We are looking for someone who combines fundraising expertise with relationship-building, creativity and excellent partnership skills. You will be comfortable working strategically while also getting stuck into the practical business of developing networks and events, cultivating relationships and securing income.

This is a rare opportunity to help shape the fundraising direction of an emerging partnership with an established history, a strong network and significant potential for growth.

If you are excited by the idea of building something collaboratively, creating new opportunities and helping three organisations achieve greater impact together, we would love to hear from you.

If you would like an informal chat about the role please contact any of the Fréa Trustees: Ant Hanlon Chief Executive at Leeds Irish Health and Homes, Breege McDaid, Director at Irish Community Care or Patrick Morrison, Chief Executive at Irish Community Care Manchester.

Role Purpose 

The Chief Executive Officer will provide strategic, operational and values-led leadership for Home-Start Norfolk, ensuring the charity delivers its mission, supports its families effectively and remains financially sustainable. Working closely with the Board of Trustees, the CEO will lead the organisation’s strategy, people, services, partnerships, governance, income generation and volunteer strategy, while acting as an ambassador for the charity and its work. 

Key Responsibilities 

Strategic Leadership 

• Lead the development and delivery of the charity’s strategic plan in partnership with the Board of Trustees. 

• Translate the charity’s vision, mission and values into clear priorities, measurable objectives and effective operational plans. 

• Identify opportunities for growth, innovation, collaboration and improved impact. 

• Ensure services and activities remain responsive to beneficiary needs and changing external circumstances. 

Governance, Compliance and Risk 

• Support the Board of Trustees to fulfil its governance responsibilities through clear reporting, sound advice and timely information. 

• Ensure the charity complies with charity law, company law where applicable, employment law, fundraising regulation, data protection requirements, safeguarding duties and all relevant regulatory obligations. 

• Maintain a robust approach to risk management, internal controls, policies and procedures. 

• Promote transparency, accountability and ethical decision-making across the organisation. 

Financial Leadership and Income Generation 

• Provide overall leadership for financial planning, budgeting, forecasting and long-term sustainability. 

• Work with trustees and senior colleagues to ensure resources are used effectively and in line with charitable objectives. 

• Lead the development of a diverse and resilient income strategy, including grants, trusts and foundations, individual giving, corporate partnerships, contracts and other appropriate income streams. 

• Maintain strong relationships with funders, commissioners, donors and supporters, ensuring excellent stewardship and reporting. 

Service Delivery, Quality and Impact 

• Ensure the charity delivers high-quality, safe and effective services that achieve positive outcomes for families. 

• Embed continuous improvement, evidence-based practice and meaningful beneficiary involvement. 

• Oversee monitoring, evaluation and impact reporting to demonstrate the value and effectiveness of the charity’s work. 

• Champion safeguarding, inclusion, accessibility and dignity in all areas of service delivery. 

• Comply with Home-Start UK’s Quality Audit Policies and Process, to ensure the charity maintains a high standard of quality assurance. 

People, Culture and Organisational Development 

• Lead, support and develop the senior leadership team and staff, creating a positive, inclusive and high-performing culture. 

• Ensure the charity has the right structures, systems, skills and capacity to deliver its strategy. 

• Promote wellbeing, learning, accountability and collaboration across the organisation. 

• Ensure effective HR, performance management and recruitment practices are in place. 

Volunteer Leadership 

• Provide strategic leadership for the development and delivery of the charity’s volunteer strategy, ensuring it supports organisational priorities and beneficiary needs. 

• Oversee effective volunteer recruitment, induction, training, supervision, support, retention and recognition. 

• Ensure volunteers are valued, well-supported, appropriately deployed and able to contribute safely and confidently to the charity’s work. 

• Develop a sustainable volunteer workforce plan, identifying current and future volunteer capacity, skills and support requirements. 

• Promote a positive volunteering culture that reflects the charity’s values and strengthens engagement, inclusion and community connection. 

External Relations, Partnerships and Advocacy 

• Act as the public face and senior ambassador for the charity, representing it with credibility and confidence. 

• Build and maintain strong relationships with beneficiaries, partners, funders, commissioners, local communities, statutory bodies and sector networks. 

• Raise the charity’s profile and influence through effective communications, thought leadership and advocacy. 

• Promote collaboration and partnership working to extend reach, improve outcomes and strengthen sustainability. 

Chief Executive Officer

Age UK Gateshead

Age UK Gateshead is looking for its next Chief Executive Officer,  someone who is passionate about people, believes in the strength of community and wants to lead an organisation that makes a real difference every day.

We are a genuinely community-driven local charity. Our services have grown and developed by listening to the people around us, understanding what our communities need and finding practical ways to respond.

From information, advice and advocacy to community activities, dementia support, day services, hospital-to-home support and regulated care through our subsidiary, Living Well North, our work reaches people at very different points in their lives.

Despite the breadth of what we do, the principle behind it is simple:

It’s simply about people.

We are looking for a CEO who shares that belief and can lead Age UK Gateshead through its next chapter.

The Role

As Chief Executive, you will have overall responsibility for the leadership, development and sustainability of Age UK Gateshead and its subsidiary.

Working closely with our Board of Trustees and leading an experienced senior team, you will provide direction while ensuring the organisation remains financially sustainable, well governed and focused on the people we exist to support.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Providing clear and positive leadership across Age UK Gateshead and its subsidiary
• Working with the Board to develop and deliver organisational strategy
• Leading our people, culture and organisational development
• Maintaining strong financial oversight and long-term sustainability
• Overseeing service quality, performance and continuous improvement
• Ensuring effective governance, safeguarding, risk management and regulatory compliance
• Providing strategic oversight of regulated services within our subsidiary, including appropriate assurance around quality and CQC requirements
• Developing sustainable income through funding, commissioned services, partnerships and new opportunities
• Building strong relationships with local authorities, NHS organisations, commissioners, funders, businesses and community partners
• Identifying opportunities for growth, collaboration and service development
• Representing and championing Age UK Gateshead locally, regionally and, where appropriate, nationally
• Providing the Board of Trustees with clear information, advice and assurance
• Ensuring the voices and experiences of the people we support continue to influence our decisions and direction

You won't be expected to do all of this alone. A big part of being our CEO is about leading people well, trusting good people to do their jobs, developing a strong senior team and creating clear accountability throughout the organisation.

Who We're Looking For

We aren't looking for someone who simply wants the title of CEO.

We're looking for someone who is genuinely passionate about supporting people and understands the responsibility that comes with leading an organisation that people and communities rely upon.

You will be comfortable moving between the strategic and the practical. One day you may be discussing finances, governance, contracts or organisational strategy; another you could be meeting a commissioner, visiting one of our services or simply having a conversation with the people we support.

We want someone who is visible, approachable and willing to listen, but who also has the confidence to make difficult decisions when they are needed.

You'll need strong leadership skills, sound judgement and commercial awareness, with an understanding of finance, organisational performance and good governance. You'll also need the ability to build strong relationships and bring people with you.

Our subsidiary delivers regulated care services. You don't necessarily need to have spent your career in regulated social care, but you will need to understand the importance of strong quality assurance and be comfortable providing senior oversight within a CQC-regulated environment.

About Age UK Gateshead

Age UK Gateshead is an independent local charity with deep roots in the communities we serve.

Our staff and volunteers support people in many different ways – sometimes through specialist advice or structured services, sometimes by helping someone regain their independence, and sometimes simply by making sure someone has somewhere to go and somebody to talk to.

Through Age UK Gateshead and our subsidiary, our work spans community support, information and advice, advocacy, wellbeing, dementia services, day opportunities, hospital-to-home support and regulated care.

Our next CEO will inherit an organisation with committed staff and volunteers, established services, strong partnerships and significant opportunities for further development.

They will also be leading in a challenging environment. Demand continues to grow, funding is increasingly competitive and the expectations placed upon charities and care providers continue to increase.

We therefore need a CEO who can balance ambition with sustainability and compassion with commercial awareness – someone who understands that growth only matters when it improves what we can do for people.

Experience & Qualifications

Strong leaders come from different professional backgrounds, and we don't expect our next CEO to tick every box. However, we would particularly value:

• Significant senior leadership or executive experience, ideally within the charity, community, health or social care sectors
• Experience of working effectively with a Board of Trustees, Directors or similar governing body
• Strong financial, governance, risk and organisational management experience
• Experience of developing strategy, leading change and supporting organisational growth
• Experience of income generation, commissioned services, contracts, grants or business development
• Strong partnership experience, particularly with public, voluntary or community sector organisations
• Knowledge or experience of regulated health or social care services and CQC expectations would be advantageous
• Experience of leading and developing multidisciplinary teams
• A relevant professional, management or leadership qualification would be beneficial, although equivalent senior leadership experience is equally valued

Most Importantly

Qualifications and previous job titles only tell us part of the story.

We want someone who knows how to listen, lead and bring people with them. Someone who trusts and develops their team, challenges things when they can be better and is willing to have difficult conversations when necessary.

Someone who can protect what makes Age UK Gateshead special while having the ambition and ability to move it forward.

Because behind the contracts, funding applications, CQC requirements, targets, strategies, budgets and Board reports are real people.

That's why we're here.

It’s simply about people.

Salary: £55,000–£60,000 per annum, dependent on experience.

Interviews to take place: Friday the 18th September

How to apply

To apply, please send your CV (no more than four pages, including two references who can be contacted if successful) and either:

· A covering letter of no more than two sides of A4 (Arial, size 12)

· Or a video of no more than four minutes.

Please explain why you want this role and how your experience meets the person specification.

Shortlisting: 07 September. Interviews week beginning 14 September.

NEYDL is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and particularly encourage applications from people with lived experience relevant to the communities we serve.

The Role

This is a new post and a significant one. As Business Development Manager, you will be the first dedicated commercial function in NEYDL, the only person in the organisation with responsibility for sales and income generation from commissioned services and traded products. You will report directly to the CEO and sit on the senior management team.

Your core mission is to grow NEYDL's earned income across two distinct strands: securing commissioned services and contracts with local authorities and other organisations in the North East; and developing a national market for NEYDL's training products and DigiDAD platform, enabling professionals and organisations across the UK to improve the support available to young dads in their communities.

There is no pipeline to inherit. You will need to identify the right routes to market, build relationships from scratch with commissioners and buyers, and develop the BD function as you go. The CEO will provide strategic direction and support, but you will need to be confident operating with autonomy, exercising commercial judgement independently, and getting on with it.

What you will do

Identify and pursue opportunities for commissioned services and contracts in the North East with local authorities, NHS commissioners, family hubs, children’s services and other public and voluntary sector organisations
Develop a national market for NEYDL's training products and, in time, licensing offer, working across both statutory and voluntary sector audiences. This will include selling training directly to local authorities, NHS bodies and VCSE organisations; testing demand from VCSE organisations for a licensing model that enables them to deliver NEYDL's approach locally; and exploring whether local authorities would fund or commission a local VCSE partner to do so. A key part of this role in year one/two is testing assumptions about which funding and delivery models have most traction.
Promote DigiDAD as a free resource to professional audiences, growing registrations and building relationships with organisations that can champion it with young dads
Develop and manage a BD pipeline, setting targets and reporting progress to the CEO and board
Represent NEYDL at sector events, networks and conferences nationally to build profile and relationships
Develop proposals, tenders and partnership bids, working closely with the CEO and programme team
Work closely with the DigiDAD Engagement Officer to share leads and coordinate activity via an agreed tracker, and with the DigiDAD Programme Manager to ensure BD and digital growth strategies remain aligned
Contribute to marketing and communications activity that supports commercial growth, including supporting the launch of our new national brand
Play an active role as a member of the senior management team, contributing to strategy, planning and organisational leadership.
What we are looking for

We need someone with commercial experience in winning commissioned services, contracts or selling products and services to public and voluntary sector organisations. You will be relationship-focused, self-directed, and comfortable building a function without established infrastructure or a team behind you.

You will need to understand the professional landscape in which NEYDL operates: family support, early help, children’s services, family hubs. You don’t need to be an expert in young dads, but you will need to speak credibly to the people who commission and deliver family support, and to understand what drives their decisions.

What we offer

NEYDL is a close, inclusive and supportive team that actively invests in the development of its staff. We are a non-judgmental organisation built on mutual trust, respect and honesty. We listen to young dads and respond to what they actually need, working with them voluntarily to find long-term solutions rather than short-term fixes. If you join us, you will be part of a team that genuinely believes in what it does, and that belief comes through in everything we produce and every relationship we build.

In addition, we offer:

7.2 weeks’ annual leave per year, inclusive of statutory and public holidays
5% employer pension contribution
A flexible hybrid working arrangement
Funded professional development and training
Mileage paid at 55p per mile for business travel
The opportunity to shape a new function in a growing, mission-driven organisation at a pivotal moment in its development
A supportive and values-led senior team
Job purposeTo grow NEYDL's earned income across two distinct strands: securing commissioned services and contracts with local authorities and other organisations in the North East; and developing a national market for NEYDL's training products and DigiDAD platform, enabling professionals and organisations across the UK to improve the support available to young dads in their communities.Key responsibilities

Income generation and business development

Identify and develop opportunities to secure commissioned services and contracts with local authorities, NHS bodies, family hubs, children’s services, early help teams and voluntary sector organisations
Lead on the sale of NEYDL’s training products to professional audiences nationally, managing the full sales cycle from prospecting to close
Where relevant to other business development activity, make professionals aware of DigiDAD as a free resource and refer interested contacts to the DigiDAD Engagement Officer for onboarding and follow-up
Develop and maintain a BD pipeline, setting annual targets in conjunction with the CEO and reporting progress to the board
Identify new markets, audiences and partnership opportunities and make evidence-based recommendations to the CEO on where to focus BD effort.
Proposals, tenders and bids

Lead on the development of proposals, tenders and commissioned service bids, working closely with the CEO and programme team to develop compelling cases
Maintain awareness of relevant commissioning frameworks, procurement processes and funding opportunities that align with NEYDL’s offer
Ensure all proposals and tenders accurately reflect NEYDL’s costs and margins and are consistent with the organisation’s financial requirements
Relationships and profile

Build and manage relationships with commissioners, buyers, strategic partners and sector networks nationally
Represent NEYDL at sector events, conferences and networks, raising our profile with the professional audiences we want to reach
Work collaboratively with the DigiDAD Programme Manager to align BD activity with the growth of the DigiDAD platform
Support the launch and positioning of NEYDL’s new national brand, contributing to marketing and communications activity that supports commercial growth
Organisational leadership and management

Contribute to organisational strategy and annual planning as a member of the senior management team
Report on BD performance and progress against targets to the CEO and board
Work closely with the DigiDAD Engagement Officer (managed by the DigiDAD Programme Manager) to ensure a joined-up approach to professional audience engagement
Comply with all NEYDL policies and procedures including safeguarding, data protection and equality, diversity and inclusion
Key relationships

Chief Executive Officer: line manager and strategic lead
DigiDAD Programme Manager: close working relationship on professional audience growth and platform promotion
DigiDAD Engagement Officer: referral coordination on professional engagement and DigiDAD growth
Programme Managers and frontline team: to inform BD activity and support proposal development
External: commissioners, local authority leads, NHS contacts, training buyers, sector networks
Targets

Year 1 milestones

The following milestones have been agreed with our primary Year 1 funder and represent the BDM's near-term priorities:

By six months:

Approaches made to at least 25 contacts, including commissioners in all Family Hub areas in the North East and warm VCSE collaborators
By twelve months:

Marketing and outreach completed with at least 100 contacts (warm and cold)
Training delivered at least 10 times
Indicative conversion targets achieved: approximately 3% of cold contacts and 25% of warm contacts progressing to a training booking (these are assumptions to be tested and refined through year one)
Evaluation and review of year one learning completed; year two targets developed
Longer-term targets (to April 2029)

The following targets relate to the areas of work this role will contribute to, alongside the DigiDAD Programme Manager and wider team:

Professionals trained through NEYDL's training products: 50 by April 2027; 350 annually by April 2029
New professional DigiDAD registrations: 750 by April 2027; 1,400 annually by April 2029
New young dad DigiDAD registrations: 510 by April 2027; 1,000 annually by April 2029

The Business Development Manager will play a central role in building the relationships and income pipeline that drives the training targets. DigiDAD registration growth is led by the DigiDAD Engagement Officer and wider team, with the Business Development Manager contributing through referrals identified in the course of other work.

Alongside these targets, NEYDL currently holds commissioned service contracts with several local authorities: Durham, Middlesbrough, Sunderland, Gateshead. A key priority for the Business Development Manager will be to maintain and strengthen these relationships, ensuring contracts are renewed and the value of our work to each commissioner is clearly evidenced. Beyond existing contracts, we are keen to secure commissioned funding in areas of the North East where we currently have limited or no presence. 

About the team

The Philanthropy Team raises income for Impetus and for Impetus partner charities. The team consists of 15 staff. Impetus has an annual income of c.£11 million which we are looking to grow significantly within the next few years. The team is led by two Directors of Philanthropy and Partnerships. 

The Philanthropy Team works with major donors, corporates and grant making trusts, as well as collaboratively with colleagues across the organisation to ensure we make a compelling case to generate new financial commitments and wider support for our work. The team also deliver a high-quality engagement programme of volunteering and pro bono for Impetus’s corporate supporters.   

Impetus is driven by a shared belief in tackling the barriers that hold back young people from disadvantaged backgrounds in education and employment. Alongside investing extensive financial and non-financial support in our charity partners through our Investment Team we also seek to influence decision makers to design and implement evidence led policy and direct new resources to get young people the support they need through our Public Affairs team. We are resolutely focused on outcomes, driven by quality evidence.

You would be joining a team that is passionate, ambitious, determined and warm. We care deeply for our colleagues, our charity partners and the young people we serve. 

About this role

The Development Director (New Business) provides strategic leadership for Impetus’ new business development, prospect pipeline and high-value funding opportunities. The postholder will have responsibility for identifying, cultivating and converting new corporate, trust and foundation, and high-net-worth donor relationships, as well as continued relationship management for key, established relationships.

In 25/26, the Philanthropy and Partnerships team generated £11m in philanthropic income, alongside £2.8m in probono contributions. The Development Director will play a key role in delivering Impetus' growth ambitions, helping to increase philanthropic income to £14m by 2029. 

Working closely with the Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships, the role will translate the fundraising strategy into clear new business priorities, pipeline plans and prospect engagement approaches, ensuring a strong flow of qualified opportunities and sustainable growth in high-value income.

Working closely with colleagues across Philanthropy and Partnerships, the postholder will personally lead and support significant six and seven-figure prospects and strategic funding opportunities, while overseeing the stewardship and retention of current partners. 

Working collaboratively across the Philanthropy and Partnerships team and with colleagues across the organisation, the Development Director will ensure a joined-up approach to donor acquisition, pipeline development, prospect conversion and stewardship, maximising income, partnership value and long-term impact within the agreed fundraising strategy.

Key responsibilities

New Business, Pipeline & Conversion

• Personally lead on six and seven-figure level priority prospects and strategic funding opportunities, managing the full fundraising cycle from qualification to close.
• Work with trustees, senior volunteers, and networks to unlock introductions and new opportunities, providing clear support and follow-up to maximise success.
• Evolve Impetus’ new business strategy, driving the identification, cultivation, and conversion of new high-value donor and partner relationships.
• Translate Impetus’ impact, evidence base, and venture philanthropy model into compelling propositions for new audiences and sectors.

Strategic Relationship Management & Growth 

• Own and oversee select donor relationships at six and seven-figure levels within the philanthropy portfolio, ensuring high levels of retention, satisfaction, trust, income growth and long-term value.
• Ensure your donors receive timely, consistent, high-quality and relevant engagement and communications throughout their relationship with Impetus.
• Work closely with the wider team to ensure a smooth transition between new business, and long-term stewardship.
• Ensure account plans for priority donors and partners include clear renewal and growth pathways; engagement and risk-management plans.
• Act as senior relationship owner where required, modelling strong stewardship and coaching the Head of Development and other colleagues to navigate complex or sensitive relationships.

Research, Insight & Pipeline Development

• Provide strategic leadership for the Research & Insights function, ensuring prospect research, donor intelligence and market insight inform fundraising strategy, pipeline development and organisational planning.
• Lead the strategic development of fundraising pipelines, ensuring focus on opportunities with the greatest potential for long-term income growth, impact and strategic fit.
• Ensure donor intelligence and prospect research are used effectively to identify, qualify and prioritise new funding opportunities.
• Maintain oversight of gift acceptance, due diligence and fundraising compliance in relation to fundraising opportunities, ensuring adherence to relevant regulatory requirements and organisational policies.
• Identify and escalate strategic, reputational or compliance risks associated with donors and partners.

Leadership and Team Performance

• Line manage and develop the Head of Development, providing strategic direction, coaching and performance oversight.
• Establish the Head of Development as the operational lead on new business, ensuring capability, succession and high performance across the wider team.
• Set clear objectives and success measures for new business growth, aligned to Impetus’ wider income strategy.
• Build and sustain an inclusive, evidence-led and high-performing team culture that balances pace and ambition with quality, learning and collaboration.
• Build fundraising capability across your team through leadership, coaching and consistent, fair, and high-quality performance management, including objective-setting, feedback and development planning.

Pro Bono, Events, Volunteering & Partnership Value

• Ensure engagement opportunities, including volunteering, pro bono and events, strengthen strategic partnerships and support long-term income growth through strong collaboration with colleagues.

Operational Excellence, Governance & Risk

• Ensure new business activity complies with due diligence, gift acceptance and risk management requirements.
• Oversee accurate pipeline reporting, forecasting, and performance tracking, using Salesforce and other systems to ensure insights inform decision making.
• Work with Finance and Operations to ensure income is contracted, invoiced, and reported accurately and on time in line with financial controls.
• Identify and escalate strategic or reputational risks associated with prospective partnerships.

Cross-Organisational Leadership & Representation

• Act as a senior ambassador for Impetus, representing the organisation credibly with new donors, partners, and external stakeholders.
• Contribute to organisational strategy, income planning, and senior leadership discussions.
• Lead philanthropic work on Impetus funds including identifying funding opportunities and risks; shaping prospect pipelines; contributing to cases for support and donor presentations; and develop fund stewardship.
• Champion collaboration across the Philanthropy team, ensuring opportunities are shared, relationships are leveraged and expertise is used to maximise income and impact.
• Back Impetus’ values, evidence-led approach, and commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion across the Philanthropy team.

Strategic leadership

• Work in partnership with the Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships to contribute to the fundraising strategy.
• Translate strategic priorities into clear operational plans, objectives and delivery, ensuring new business delivers against organisational priorities, income targets and long-term growth ambitions.
• Provide strategic oversight of annual forecasting, budgeting, pipeline performance and resource planning, ensuring risks and opportunities are identified and addressed proactively.
• Maximise the contribution of trustees, committees, senior volunteers and wider networks to support strategic relationship building and new business development.
• Act as a trusted senior adviser to the Directors of Philanthropy and Partnerships, providing insight, challenge and solutions to strengthen organisational fundraising performance and capability.
• Deputise for the Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships where appropriate, within agreed delegations and priorities.
• Build a positive, collaborative and high-performing culture across the Philanthropy team, modelling Impetus' values and supporting continuous improvement.

Person specification

Essential:

Fundraising & new business leadership

• Significant experience in major donor and/or corporate fundraising at six and seven-figure gift level, with a strong track record of securing new income and managing complex partnerships.
• Ability to lead and personally deliver the full fundraising cycle, from prospecting and cultivation through to solicitation, negotiation, and close.
• Proven experience of building, managing, and converting a new business pipeline, balancing ambition with delivery.
• Strong ability to leverage internal and external networks, including trustees, senior volunteers, and professional contacts.

Senior stakeholder engagement

• Experience of operating at a senior level and leading high value or complex stakeholder relationships (trustees, board members, senior external partners).
• Ability to influence and build credibility with senior audiences through clear, confident and evidence led communication.
• Excellent negotiation skills, with the ability to secure mutually beneficial outcomes while protecting organisational values and reputation.

Leadership & people management

• Proven experience leading and developing high-performing teams, including developing senior colleagues and building leadership capability.
• A strong track record as a collaborative senior team member, contributing beyond own area of responsibility and supporting wider organisational success
• Ability to build a high-trust, high-challenge culture that supports excellence, inclusion, and learning.
• Strong performance management capability and ability to handle complex people issues, giving strategic feedback, and addressing underperformance constructively.
• Ability to deputise for the Director of Philanthropy and Partnerships when appropriate.

Strategic & intellectual capability

• Strong strategic thinker with the ability to translate agreed strategy and insight into clear plans and execute them effectively.
• Ability to grasp, interpret apply and communicate complex information and ideas, including Impetus’ venture philanthropy and impact-led funding models.
• Evidence of an innovative and creative approach, with the ability to adapt in changing contexts.

Financial, operational & delivery capability

• Solid financial management, with experience contributing to budget-setting, managing agreed budgets, supporting forecasting and identifying efficiencies.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to delivery, with the ability to manage multiple priorities to a high standard
• Able to use insight and data (including CRM systems such as Salesforce) to inform decisions and strengthen performance.
• Sound judgement in identifying, managing, and escalating risk, particularly in relation to donor relationships and reputation.

Communication, values & ways of working

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, able to communicate clearly, persuasively, and with impact.
• Excellent relationship-building skills, with the ability to establish, maintain, and leverage relationships with key internal and external stakeholders.
• A strong commitment to Impetus’ mission and to improving outcomes for young people.
• A clear commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion, demonstrated through inclusive leadership and professional practice.

Desirable 

• Experience working within venture philanthropy, impact investing, or systems-change funding models.
• Familiarity with private equity, professional services.
• Experience contributing to income growth, donor strategy or portfolio development within an agreed organisational fundraising strategy.
• Knowledge of the UK charity or social impact sector, particularly education, employment, or youth-focused work.
• Experience using CRM systems (e.g. Salesforce) to manage pipelines, performance, and forecasting.

About Impetus

At Impetus, our focus is on helping young people achieve positive education and employment outcomes to increase their chance of leading fulfilling and successful lives, irrespective of their background.

We tackle the three most difficult challenges that affect a young person’s ability to succeed in life in Britain today:

• Lost learning through absence, suspensions, exclusions from school
• Stagnation in education attainment outcomes, which means many are missing out on key qualifications like GCSE English and maths
• The large numbers of young people out of education, training and employment

We use our deep expertise and high calibre networks to give the best non-profits working in these sectors the essential ingredients to have a real and lasting impact on the young people they serve.

Through a powerful combination of long-term funding, direct capacity building support from our experienced team and our pro bono partners, alongside research and policy influencing to drive lasting systems change, we work towards a society where all young people can thrive in school, pass their exams and unlock the doors to sustained employment, for a fulfilling life.

We are resolutely focused on outcomes and impact, driven by quality evidence.

You would be joining a team that is passionate, rigorous, determined, creative and warm. We care deeply for our colleagues, our portfolio partners and the young people we serve.

Impetus is a registered charity and our charity number is 1152262.

Our Values

In 2022 the Impetus staff agreed the following set of Values to act as our guiding principles as an organisation and help us to remain focused on achieving our mission to support young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

We are brave and curious

We are bold and brave in our pursuit of better outcomes for young people. We lead with curiosity and stay open to new perspectives. We support one another to take considered risks and learn together.

We bring high trust, high challenge

We build strong, long-term relationships through honesty, kindness, integrity, and respect. We create the space for open, constructive challenge, where colleagues, partners and supporters feel safe to speak up, hold each other to account, and bring their best in pursuit of our mission.

We are evidence led and results driven for young people

We pursue excellence for the young people we work with, are wholly committed to better outcomes, unapologetically results driven, and accountable for our actions.

We thrive through diversity

We seek to embed diversity of thought, background and experience in every aspect of our work. We are open, thoughtful and proactive in better understanding and challenging our assumptions to better deliver the change we seek.

We always seek collaboration

We will not succeed alone. We seek meaningful, productive partnerships with others to achieve our mission and drive systems change for young people.

Our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion

We believe that a diverse workforce leads to an organisation that is more open, creative and gets better results.

We want our team at Impetus to represent the diversity of the people and communities we serve. We also want our team to be one where different experiences, expertise and perspectives are valued, and where everyone is encouraged to grow and develop.

We want to reach a diverse pool of candidates. We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that potential employees may need to in order to be successful.

We recognise the importance of a good work/life balance. We do everything we can to accommodate flexible working, including working from home, working part-time job shares and other arrangements.

Please just let us know in your application or at any stage throughout the process (and beyond) if these are options you’d like to explore.

Impetus is an equal opportunity employer and is determined to ensure that no applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. We value diversity and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds.

Our employee benefits

Impetus appreciates the invaluable contribution made by all employees and wishes to encourage and reward loyalty, motivation and experience. We therefore offer a range of benefits and policies which aim to assist employees during various stages of their lives and careers. For more information on these, please download the job information pack from our website.

How to apply

Please click on the "Apply for this job" button.

You will need to:

• Complete the online form (including the equal opportunities monitoring form).
• Upload a comprehensive CV and supporting statement.

The supporting statement should be no more than two sides of A4 and should address the criteria in the person specification.

You should also include the contact details of two referees, one of whom must be your current or most recent employer. Referees will only be approached with your express permission.

As part of our commitment to flexible working we will consider a range of options for the successful applicant. All options can be discussed at interview stage.

The deadline for applications is Sunday 20th September 2026, 11:59pm.

Interviews:

1st Interviews will take place on w/c 5th October 2026.

2nd Interviews will take place on w/c 12th October 2026.

You will also be required to provide proof of your eligibility to work in the UK.

Personal Data

Your personal data will be shared for the purposes of the recruitment exercise. This includes our HR team, interviewers (who may include other partners in the project and independent advisors), relevant team managers and our IT service provider if access to the data is necessary for performance of their roles. We do not share your data with other third parties, unless your application for employment is successful and we make you an offer of employment. We will then share your data with former employers to obtain references for you. We do not transfer your data outside the European Economic Area.

This is an opportunity to help shape one of the UK's most ambitious youth development charities as we move from a founder-led organisation to a nationally recognised institution. The successful candidate will help build the systems, culture and capability that will enable 20/20 Levels to scale its impact over the next decade.

This role owns the 20/20 Levels brand and turns it into growth. It leads the Branding, Marketing & Communications stream of our 2026–2028 strategy: one consistent brand narrative across our 'in real life' and online presence, youth-centred storytelling that puts young people and alumni at the centre of every touchpoint, and a structured content operation that reduces our reliance on agencies and on CEO visibility.

The 'Commercial' half of the role is focused on our income-generation mandate. Our income strategy commits us to building unrestricted income, and this role builds the engine: tiered sponsorship propositions and renewals, a consultancy pipeline, licensing and digital products, monetised research and insights, and the commercial forecasting that makes this income plannable working hand in hand with the Business Development function, which leads the employment partner sales pipeline.

WHAT YOU OWN

• Brand strategy : positioning, narrative, visual identity and brand architecture.

• Marketing budget : the full branding, marketing and production budget, including agency and freelance spend.

• Communications calendar : the master content and communications calendar across all channels.

• Brand governance : brand guidelines, approval standards and their enforcement across the organisation.

• Commercial propositions : sponsorship packages, consultancy offers, licensing and digital products.

• Reputation & PR : media strategy, press activity, awards and crisis communications.

• Marketing technology stack : the tools used for content, email, social, analytics and campaign management.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Brand & Messaging ~ Extend and enforce our digital brand guidelines (with agency input), aligning tone, visuals and youth-centred storytelling across every channel so participants, alumni and mentors are visible at all touchpoints.

2. Content & Engagement ~ Build and run a structured master content calendar across all channels, replacing high-volume unstructured output with purposeful, story-led content.

3. Reputation, PR & Research ~ Lead the PR and awards strategy: targeted press activity, quarterly media features and two award submissions per year.

4. Partner Network (Corporate & Commercial) ~ Design the 20/20 Levels Partner Network proposition, intentionally articulating what partners and mentors give and receive, to strengthen commitment, retention and long-term reciprocal relationships across all partner types.

5. Commercial Development & Unrestricted Income ~ Design and package tiered corporate sponsorship propositions with clear, differentiated value for partners at each level.

6. Employer Brand ~ Worrking with the Chief of Staff to develop the employer value proposition, recruitment pack and employer presence (LinkedIn, Glassdoor) to support recruitment of staff, facilitators and mentors as the organisation grows.

7. Team Leadership & Budget ~ Lead and develop the brand and content team, including recruitment, task allocation, coaching and performance management.

8. Evaluation & Reporting ~ Track performance against strategy targets using Impact Hub data and platform analytics, and report quarterly to senior leadership and the board on achievements, risks and opportunities.

9. Organisational Leadership ~ Contribute to organisational strategy, annual planning and budgeting as a member of the Senior Leadership Team.

Read the full Job Description attached to see the full Key repsonsibilites, Person specification and 12 month success metrics.

Finance Director

Hours of work 30 hrs / 4 days per week, permanent contract

Based Newhaven, with some hybrid working available after completing induction

Starting Salary £65K per annum pro rata

Sussex Community Development Association (SCDA) has been supporting people and communities to thrive for over 28 years. We deliver a range of projects, services & activities aimed at improving economic stability and opportunity, health and wellbeing, and addressing loneliness, social isolation and social cohesion.  Come & join our flexible, inclusive and friendly organisation in this crucial role, and help make a difference!

Are you an experienced senior level finance decision maker with broad cross sector knowledge, who demonstrates excellent communication skills, and wants to use your skills to support a community facing organisation? If so, we would welcome your interest and application!

You will be a qualified accountant with an understanding of the complexities of working within the 3rd sector funding framework.  With responsibility for providing expert strategic financial advice and professional input right across the organisation, you will ensure the finances of the Charity run smoothly and efficiently.  You will consider the wider internal and external factors presented to you by our internal knowledge experts alongside the financial position to support the delivery of SCDA’s services and enterprises, and which fulfil the organisation’s mission and values.

As a manager you will also provide effective leadership, operational support and direction to the well-regarded finance team.

Providing sound financial, contract & risk management advice and ensuring compliance with legal, statutory and audit requirements, you will contribute to the strategic leadership of the charity as an active member of our Senior Management Team.

We are looking for people to join our team who have the qualities and skills we feel would most benefit our internal and external clients; professionalism, empathy, kindness and understanding. In return, we understand people want to work in a supportive environment with friendly colleagues. We offer a flexible, hybrid approach to delivery wherever possible, annual leave of 25 days per year pro rata plus bank holidays and sick pay from the start (increasing with service), additional sick pay for planned operations and recovery, a pension scheme, bereavement leave, and managers who are available to you… plus a day off for your birthday!

Interviews will be held in Newhaven.

Closing date: 5pm on Sunday 27th September 2026

1st stage interviews: Wednesday 7th October 2026 / 2nd stage interviews: Wednesday 14th October 2026

You may think that you’re not a 100% match to what we’re looking for, but we recognise that some skills and experience may be transferable rather than an exact match.If you’re unsure about whether to apply, please do contact the HR team and we would be happy to arrange an informal discussion with the CEO or HRD.

SCDA includes: Employability; Community Advice and Wellbeing; Community Development & Health

Registered Charity Number: 1094905

Company Limited by Guarantee: 3387617