Senior designer jobs

This is an exciting role leading our committed policy team leading the fight to end child poverty in the UK. The development and implementation of a UK-wide cross-government child poverty strategy means this is a great time to join CPAG as we look to influence policy makers to adopt our evidence-based policy solutions to child poverty.

We are looking for someone to take a lead role in developing evidence-based policy positions to support CPAG’s influencing and campaigns work. You will have knowledge of political processes and how external organisations can effect change. You will have a track record of producing high quality research and analysis, including policy briefings, on social policy issues. You will have experience of managing a small team and working collaboratively to identify policy issues and develop solutions with colleagues across the organisation, as well as externally.

The postholder will be working in a fast moving, high profile and complex policy environment and will need to balance short term priorities with long term objectives. Current priorities include influencing the implementation of the forthcoming child poverty strategy, gathering and sharing analysis and expertise with the DWP as part of their review of universal credit, and monitoring the development of forthcoming changes to disability benefits.

We welcome applications from individuals with the skills and experience outlined and we can be flexible about working arrangements. We operate a hybrid working system and would be happy to discuss any flexibilities required. CPAG is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion which you can read more about in the job pack.

We welcome applications on a secondment basis.

For more information about this post and to apply download the Head of Policy job pack.

If you have questions or need specific arrangements or reasonable adjustments to take part in the selection process, please contact us.

Closing date for applications: Sunday 4th January 2026 (midnight)

Interviews will take place: Tuesday 13th January 2026

About us:
At St George's Hospital Charity, we're dedicated to making a difference in our hospitals and the communities we serve. Everything we do is framed by a commitment to improve the support we can provide to patients, staff and visitors who use our hospitals in the local communities across Southwest London, Surrey and Sussex. Every year, we transform hospital spaces, provide life-saving equipment, champion pioneering research and fund projects that support our NHS staff to perform at their best. We're looking for an ambitious fundraising professional to join our team and be part of the next stage in our charity's development. 

About the role:

Are you an experienced communications professional passionate about using your skills to improve patient care? We’re looking for a creative, driven Communications and Marketing Manager to join our team. This varied role is ideal for a communications all-rounder with a flair for storytelling and a desire to take the next step in their career.  

You’ll play a key role in raising the charity’s profile and celebrating the difference we make for 1 million patients and 10,000 hardworking NHS staff atacross St George’s NHS Trust every year. Reporting to the Head of Communications and Marketing, you’ll plan, manage and deliver a wide range of projects, from brand and awareness campaigns to digital content, video and design.   

You’ll collaborate closely with our grants, arts, and fundraising teams to promote key programmes, and work in partnership with the NHS Trust’s communications team to engage staff and external stakeholders across hospital channels.  

This is an ideal role for someone looking to take the next step in their Communications & Marketing career, joining a friendly, hardworking and ambitious team. 

Our staff benefits:

• Pension: contribute 3% of your pre-tax monthly salary and we add an additional 6% to your contribution
• Wellness days: you are entitled to two paid wellness days to focus on your wellbeing.
• Training and development: One-day (pro rata) per month to focus on your personal training and development
• Annual Leave: Enjoy 25 days holiday/year plus 8 bank holidays. This increases by one day per year, up to a maximum of an additional five days. This is on a pro rata basis.
• Enhanced maternity pay: Qualifying employees are eligible for enhanced maternity pay, calculated based on their current salary, after completing 52 weeks of employment.
• Extended time off: Employees with at least two years’ service can take between 4 to 6 weeks off unpaid for activities such as travelling, studying, pursuing hobbies or caring for an independent.
• Shared parental leave: This lets parents share up to 50 weeks of leave and 37 weeks of pay after the birth or adoption of a child.
• Season ticket loan: spread the cost of your commute with our season ticket loan.
• Employee Assistance Programme: Our health assured EAP offers confidential support and advice on a range of personal and professional areas including mental health, financial concerns and wellbeing.
• Blue Light Card: enjoy discounts both online and in store across various outlets

Purpose of the job

This role is responsible for the design of UK Youth’s support to young people, youth organisations and youth workers. This could include structured youth work programmes, funding and grants+ programmes, professional development programmes, and campaigns.

You will lead and oversee end-to-end design processes, ensuring that UK Youth develops fully packaged offers that respond to the evidence base and people’s needs, drive forward our strategy and achieve incredible impact. You will work across UK Youth teams, with external design partners, and meaningfully involving young people and the professionals who support them in the design process.

You will be experienced in developing high quality funding propositions (proactively and in response to new business opportunities). You will be confident in taking a human-centred design approach to tackle some of the youth sector’s knottiest problems.  You will design solutions to important problems, ensuring that they are feasible, equitable, impactful and scalable.

In 2026, our priority topics for youth work programmes and network development are: mental health and wellbeing, employability, social cohesion and community safety.

 As a leader, you will work closely with research, evaluation, policy, service delivery, network development, and fundraising teams. You will help to improve the skills and confidence of colleagues across UK Youth to apply design methods in their own work and collaborate effectively with the Design team.

Why work at UK Youth?

UK Youth wants all young people to be equipped to thrive and empowered to contribute at every stage of their lives. Youth work can be life changing (and even life saving.) In 2026, we will be launching our new strategy, positioning UK Youth to unlock youth work so that every young person in the UK can benefit. We work with others to ensure that the youth sector is strengthened and that provision is youth-led, evidence-informed, and delivers high-quality outcomes.

 UK Youth plays a unique role in addressing the lack of investment in the youth sector, the lack of cross-sector understanding in how youth work makes a difference, and the limited opportunities to embed effective solutions. These factors lead to mass inequality of access to youth services for young people. Come and be part of this change in a driven and supportive team that puts evidence at the heart of our work.

Role Responsibilities

• Designing Solutions

• Developing new business and funding propositions

• Embedding Human Centred Design

• Building a strong external network to support the Design team’s work

• Operations

Experience we're after

• Significant experience of leading and overseeing the development of new business propositions and proposals to time-limited funding opportunities

• Significant experience of designing interventions (digital and/or physical) for young people and/or those who support them 

• Experience using human-centred-design methods and mindsets; managing projects across the end-to-end design process

• Proven track record of inspiring and motivating diverse teams and improving collaborative ways of working across teams and departments

• Experience of developing high quality programme content and curricula for young people, youth workers and/or outdoor learning instructors (desirable)

• Experience of commissioning and managing external design freelancers and consultants (desirable)

• Experience of designing and/or delivering professional development programmes (desirable)

What we can offer you

We offer a competitive range of benefits, good work/life balance, excellent learning and development opportunities and vibrant organisational culture:

• Flexible/Agile Working

• 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays (pro rata for part time employees)

• Funded training provided in; Safeguarding, GDPR, Information and Cyber Security & Equality & Diversity

• Other training available in support of your personal and professional development

• Pension scheme (currently UK Youth match employee contributions up to 5%)

• Membership of our life insurance scheme which would pay-out up to 4 times your salary

• Employee Assistance Programme to support employees both professionally and personally

• 20% discount off bookings at Avon Tyrrell, our New Forest Outdoor Centre, including camping, lodges and outdoor activities.

• IT equipment provided for the duration of contract

• CycleScheme and TechScheme

How to apply

If you would like to be considered for this fantastic opportunity, please complete an application via our completely anonymised recruitment system provided by Applied which looks to create a fair and unbiased application process for all. Scroll to the top of the page and start your application.

Closing date: Sunday 4th January 2026 at 23:59pm

Provisional Interview Dates: 12th and 13th January 2026

As this role involves working in a regulated environment with young people, any offer will be conditional to satisfactory background checks, which include criminal record check and employment reference.