Senior development officer jobs

Volunteering Development Senior Officer (Learning and Development)
 
Type: Full-time (35 hours per week), Permanent
Location: Office-based in London, with flexibility to work remotely (Hybrid)
Salary: £33,044 per annum, increasing to £35,109 after 6 months’ service and satisfactory performance, and to £37,174 after a further 6 months
Closing date: Please send all applications in one batch by Sunday 4th January 2026
 
Make a real impact in volunteer development!
 
Are you passionate about empowering volunteers and creating innovative learning experiences? We’re looking for a Volunteering Development Senior Officer to lead the design, delivery and evaluation of learning solutions for over 3,000 volunteers and volunteer managers. This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of volunteering development and foster a culture of continuous learning.
 
What you’ll do:

• Design, implement and evaluate engaging learning programmes for volunteers and managers.
• Deliver induction sessions and training that inspire confidence and capability.
• Collaborate with teams across the organisation to embed best practice in volunteer learning and development.
• Analyse data and insights to continuously improve resources and processes.
• Support community hubs and local teams to deliver training programmes.

What we’re looking for:

• Experience with virtual learning environments or learning management systems.
• Proven ability to develop and co-produce learning solutions, including eLearning and online activities.
• Strong understanding of volunteering and volunteer management.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with a proactive and innovative approach.
• Tech-savvy and confident using digital tools to deliver learning.

Why apply?
 
You’ll play a key role in ensuring volunteers feel supported, confident and equipped to make a difference. This is more than a job - it’s an opportunity to create meaningful change and support volunteers who change lives every day.
 
We want you to have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills, ability and potential; please contact us if you require any assistance or adjustment so that we can help with making the application process work for you.
 
We look forward to receiving your application.

We want you to have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills, ability and potential; please contact us if you require any assistance or adjustment so that we can help with making the application process work for you.

Senior Practice and Research Development Officer (Adults)
Salary £32,684 per annum, actual for 0.8 FTE (£40,855 per annum FTE)
Contract: Fixed term for 18 months, with the potential to extend
Hours: Part-Time 28 hours per week (0.8 FTE)
Location: Hybrid working from Devon TQ12 or Sheffield S1 Office. Home based within UK for the right candidate.

The Vacancy

For over 60 years the National Children’s Bureau (NCB) has been building a better childhood for all.

Research in Practice has supported evidence-informed practice in adult social care for twenty years and for almost thirty years in the children and families’ sector. We are now seeking a Senior Practice and Research Development Officer to join our adult’s team.

This senior role is ideal for someone with excellent facilitation skills and substantial experience in adult social care or related sectors. While the position requires engagement with and understanding of research it is not a primary research role.

The successful candidate will have experience designing and delivering resources, workshops, webinars, and events for a range of audiences, including senior leaders. The role requires a strong understanding of research, policy, ethical and legal frameworks relevant to practice and the ability to translate complex evidence into accessible learning. Strong leadership, communication, and collaboration skills are essential.

The post holder will lead a small team of committed Research and Development Officers developing and delivering high-quality learning resources in various formats.

The role involves:

• having substantial experience in adult social care or related sectors
• presenting, chairing, and facilitating a range of sector-wide discussions, workshops, webinars and other learning events,
• supporting the team to develop their facilitation skills,
• scoping, commissioning, writing and editing, event materials and written resources, and supporting the team with this,
• quality assuring learning programme materials and written resources.

About Research in Practice

Research in Practice is part of the National Children’s Bureau (NCB) family. For over 60 years, the NCB has been building a better childhood for all.

Research in Practice works with organisations across adults’ and children’s social care, health, criminal justice, and higher education, supporting evidence-informed approaches to improve policy, services, and outcomes for people of all ages. By bringing together research evidence, practice wisdom, and lived experience, we collaborate with professionals and experts to develop tailored resources, learning opportunities, and specialist support that meet the needs of our partners.

About NCB

For more than 60 years, the National Children’s Bureau has championed the rights and amplified the voice of children and young people in the UK. We interrogate policy and uncover evidence, blending in lived and learnt experience to shape future legislation and develop more effective ways of supporting children and families.

Bringing people and organisations together is fundamental to how we improve the systems that babies, children, young people and their families rely on to thrive. We push boundaries, even looking beyond childhood itself to consider transitions into adulthood and the impact of childhood issues on an entire lifespan. We are united for better childhoods and brighter futures.

The Benefits

• 30 Days Annual Leave
• Winter Holiday Closure & Break
• Generous Pension Scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Flexible Working
• Employee Assistance Programme

Applications close at 08:00am on Wednesday 14th January 2026.
Successful applicants will be notified by Thursday 22nd January 2026 and invited to interview. Assessment and interviews to be conducted on Tuesday 27th January 2026.
Please note that we reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive a high volume of applications. We encourage interested candidates to submit their applications as soon as possible.

Interested?

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

We are actively seeking to broaden the diversity of our staff group and warmly welcome applications from candidates underrepresented in the charity sector, including those from Black and Global Majority communities, disabled people, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people with lived experience of the issues NCB works on.

No agencies please.