Job Profile
Reporting to the Managing Director, you will lead on the recruitment, retention, and value growth of Afghanaid’s supporter base by directing and implementing communications, fundraising and engagement strategies, aligned with broader organisation goals. Designing and managing a tight budget, you will direct the Communication and Giving unit to maximise their success.
You will provide strategic and supervisory oversight of fundraising income from individual giving, regular giving, major donors, trusts and foundations, corporates, community and student fundraising and events, managing annual fundraising appeals and driving organisational unrestricted income growth.
You will lead on communications for Afghanaid, overseeing print, digital, and paid marketing activities and the growth of communications channels. You will execute Afghanaid’s organisational brand strategy which ensures the integrity of the brand and maximises awareness. You will manage all public relations including crisis communications, as well as the growth of strategic media placements and high profile relationships. You will drive the success of organisational impact storytelling and communications for both internal and external stakeholders. As a member of the executive department, you will collaborate and synergise with other departments to promote organisational success.
Key Responsibilities:
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Drive organisational strategy, culture and cross-department collaboration to advance Afghanaid’s mission and objectives.
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Lead development and delivery of Communications, Engagement and Fundraising strategies and work plans.
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Line manage and develop a high-performing team, including staff, volunteers and interns.
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Build and maintain relationships with consultants, agencies and pro bono partners.
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Oversee budgets, reporting and data-driven performance management to ensure efficiency and impact.
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Promote a positive and cohesive London team environment, coordinating hybrid working, inductions and HR support.
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Oversee public fundraising strategy across multiple income streams.
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Lead design and delivery of internal and external appeals, campaigns and donor stewardship.
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Identify new funding opportunities, partnerships and innovation in engagement.
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Oversee the full range of Afghanaid’s event portfolio, and attend relevant events to represent Afghanaid;
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Ensure effective CRM management, data integrity and financial reconciliation.
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Serve as brand guardian, ensuring consistency and evolution of Afghanaid’s identity.
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Oversee creation and execution of integrated communications and marketing plans.
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Direct production of engaging digital and print content, including newsletters, social media, and fundraising collateral.
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Manage website optimisation, SEO and analytics to drive engagement and conversions.
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Lead innovation in digital marketing, email campaigns and supporter journeys.
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Advise leadership on reputation management and crisis communications.
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Develop media policies and act as spokesperson when required.
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Manage proactive and reactive media relations, building relationships with journalists, influencers and advocates.
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Promote Afghanaid’s thought leadership through strategic storytelling and public commentary.
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Commission and direct multimedia content to strengthen organisational storytelling.
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Lead content planning, production and performance analysis.
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Champion participatory storytelling approaches and creative innovation.
Undertake any other duties as and when required by the line director.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
You will be an experienced and dynamic communicator with significant demonstrable experience in fundraising and/or communications at a senior level, coupled with an awareness and up to date knowledge and experience of the tools that would maximise the success of our communications and fundraising activities. In addition, you will have excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to confidently build and maintain strong relationships with a diverse group of stakeholders. Possessing strong management skills, you will have experience of managing small multi-disciplinary teams, providing direction and leadership to enable development and high performance, and the ability to role-model a culture of equality, diversity and inclusion.
Education/ Training
Master’s Degree in communications, marketing, public fundraising or another relevant field (or at least 5-years’ experience).
Work Experience
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At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in fundraising, supporter engagement or communications, with at least 2 years’ experience directly managing staff.
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Experience developing and leading integrated multi-channel and multi-stakeholder communications, engagement and/or fundraising strategies.
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Experience in growing audiences, engagement and/or income streams.
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Experience communicating about and/or fundraising for and/or maintaining engagement with Afghanistan or a similar context.
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Experience using KPIs and data to make data-driven decisions to improve efficacy and efficiency.
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Experience managing and monitoring a tight budget.
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Experience conceptualising, producing and commissioning multimedia content, from marketing and fundraising collateral to audiovisual content.
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Experience running full-funnel, multi-channel marketing strategies including paid advertising.
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Understanding of risks associated with communications, public fundraising, and NGO operating contexts, and experience in mitigating those risks.
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Experience supervising, organising, motivating and developing staff.
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In depth knowledge of trends in storytelling, brand, PR, marketing and fundraising.
Professional Skills, Competencies, Values and Attitudes
Afghanaid’s core values are creativity, fairness and honesty. Our staff is passionate about and proud of Afghanaid. Teamwork is fundamental to our standards and demonstrated by taking initiative, assisting others and taking on additional responsibilities and tasks if necessary. We are results driven, committed and motivated to achieve targets and take accountability for our own actions.
Specifically, the holder of this position should also demonstrate the following:
Essential
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Fluent in spoken and written English.
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Track record of increasing audiences, fundraising totals and engagement metrics from multiple different sources, with a strong business development mindset.
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Experience securing five or six figure gifts from funders;
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Solutions and results orientated; energised by thinking outside the box, and by finding and pursuing novel or innovative approaches and solutions.
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Experience using Salesforce CRM and Marketing Cloud
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Skilled at spotting and prioritising opportunities and synergies, and effective in securing wide-ranging forms of engagement and partnership.
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Excellent listening, speaking and writing skills; strong capabilities of persuasion and a proven track record of uniting people around a common goal.
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Multimedia skills, with knowledge, experience and enthusiasm in driving digital innovation.
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Highly organised with strong leadership and project management skills, able to collaboratively manage competing priorities with senior and junior colleagues.
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Demonstrably skilled brand custodian, able to mitigate risks, anticipate and capitalise upon opportunities, and strengthen reputation.
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Capable of working independently as well as collaboratively, both in leading a team and as part of the team.
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Passionate about driving change, and inspiring individuals and groups to support a cause to deliver that change.
Desirable
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Experience working within an international development or humanitarian context, particularly with causes related to Afghanistan
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Strategic understanding of UK and global fundraising landscapes and emerging giving trends.
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Proven ability to represent an organisation publicly with confidence, professionalism and credibility.
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Experience guiding senior leaders or trustees on media, communications and reputational matters.
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Skilled in crisis communications and reputation management.
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Understanding of inclusive and ethical storytelling practices, with sensitivity to safeguarding considerations.
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Experience developing high-value corporate or media partnerships.
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Comfortable working in a fast-moving, resource-limited environment and adapting to changing external circumstances.
The Organisation
Afghanaid is a British humanitarian and development organisation. For over forty years, our dedicated personnel have worked with millions of families in some of the poorest and most remote communities in Afghanistan. We build basic services, improve livelihoods, strengthen the rights of women and children, help communities protect against natural disasters and adapt to climate change, and respond to humanitarian emergencies. We are headquartered in Kabul, and operate provincial and district offices across Afghanistan, as well as a Marketing and Fundraising office in London. We employ around 500 personnel, 97% of whom are Afghans.
Other Information
Afghanaid’s core values are creativity, fairness and honesty. Our staff are passionate about and proud to work at Afghanaid. Teamwork is fundamental to our standards and demonstrated by taking initiative, assisting others and taking on additional responsibilities and tasks if necessary. We are results driven, committed and motivated to achieve targets and take accountability for our own actions.
Our remuneration and benefits package is competitive with other similar organisations.
This position presents an excellent opportunity for someone who has the ambition and determination to move up in their career.
Please submit a cover letter (no more than two A4 pages) and CV (no more than two A4 pages) via CharityJob or to the email address provided by 23:30 on the 17th December 2025, including your name and the job title in the subject line. The precision and style with which you present yourself in your cover letter and CV will be given significant weight in shortlisting candidates. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered. Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we are unable to respond to every application. If you have not heard from us within 2 weeks of the deadline, then you have not been successful for shortlisting.
Registered Charity
101 - 500
Working with communities in Afghanistan to find long-lasting solutions and provide life-saving support to those in crisis.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
The Mental Health Foundation is recruiting for a Fundraising Assistant (6-month contract) to support our Public & High Value Fundraising team.
Deadline: 5pm on Monday 5th January 2026 [we reserve the right to close recruitment earlier than this date if we receive a suitable calibre of application so we we advise that you submit your application as soon as possible]
Location: London
Salary: Starting salary £27,170, plus £4,000 London weighting
Hours: Full-time (32 hours per week)
Contract type: Fixed term for 6 months
This exciting role involves working in a busy and fast paced fundraising team, with a focus on Supporter Services, but also supporting the Individual Giving and Events team. This role plays a crucial part in ensuring supporters receive exceptional service, processing donations accurately and maintaining data integrity. You will also help the Individual Giving and Events team with creating email journeys for supporters.
What does the role involve?
- Support across the Public & High Value Fundraising team by providing excellent supporter care to a range of supporters.
- Oversee donation processing and supporter care operations.
What skills, knowledge and experience are we looking for?
- Strong organisation skills
- Demonstrable excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, and experience of working in a public facing role or providing customer care
- Skilled at using Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint
- Experience of working in an administrative role
Safeguarding is Everyone’s business – Mental Health Foundation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of all its beneficiaries, those who surround them, its staff, volunteers, and anyone else who comes into contact with its services and expects all trustees, staff, and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful applicant will be subject to appropriate vetting procedures (proof of eligibility to work in the UK, proof of residency and satisfactory employment screening, including a Disclosure check and two most recent references) along with 3-year renewals of Disclosure checks. We are unable to provide sponsorship for this post, you must be able to demonstrate your eligibility to work in the UK.
How to apply
If you think your skills match and you’d like to be part of a dynamic and growing organisation, please complete and submit your application via our website. Please ensure you attach an up-to-date CV and statement of suitability answering all points of the person specification. Applications will close at 5pm on Monday 5th January 2026 and we are unable to accept late applications. Interviews are planned forWednesday 14th & Thursday 15th January.
We believe our people should represent the communities, organisations and individuals we work with. Diversity and inclusion is a strategic priority for us as an employer and mental health charity, and we are proud to be signatories of the Business in the Community Race at Work Charter and the Disability Confident Committed Scheme. Applications from under-represented sections of the community are actively encouraged.
If you have a disability, require any additional support or have any questions regarding the role, please contact us. We make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process and during employment. Disabled candidates who meet all the essential person specification criteria will be offered an interview. Therefore, please do ensure you tick the relevant box on the application form and clearly indicate in your application/covering letter if you consider yourself to meet the requirements of the Equality Act 2010 / Disability Discrimination Act 1995.
We are currently operating mostly digital recruitment (including interviews via video conferencing). We have moved to a hybrid working model of a minimum of 2 days per week in the office and the rest working from home.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Registered Charity
101 - 500
Our vision is good mental health for all.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
This is a new role within our client following functional changes over a number of years. The Head of Supported Living is a senior leadership role responsible for overseeing and developing supported living services for adults with learning disabilities within the charity including our client's Shared Lives schemes and their residential home.
The role ensures that services are person-centred, high-quality, and compliant with regulatory and organisational standards, while empowering individuals to live independently and achieve their goals.
Leading culture and change with experience, integrity, collaboration and transparency sits at the heart of the role.
The role responsibilities will ensure that our client is able to support more people with learning disabilities, autism and mental health problems to lead healthy, active and equal lives. Their ambition is to become a leader in social and green care integration through the alignment of the personalisation agenda, technological enhancement and advancement and holistic health and wellbeing.
To achieve this ambition, they will transform their services to ensure that they are effective, efficient and impact and outcomes focused. There will be clarity of the offer, understanding of the financial modelling in a very challenging political environment and respect of the unique culture and history of the Charity whilst innovating through the power of accessible technology.
The post will be responsible for ensuring that services are targeted at people who will gain the most benefit from the Trust’s community (campus) offer within rural and urban contexts. The role will create an “expert driven” provision which is evidence based and provides independent living and a life of opportunity through an ethos of co-production, health and wellbeing.
The role will implement agreed strategy, developing delivery plans that are executed with high quality communication and engagement ensuring that the voices of both staff, people supported and families are heard.
The role will be responsible for continuous value for money service enhancement and will deliver significant growth ensuring close and meaningful relationships with authorities, commissions and private markets resulting in increased funding and healthy waiting lists for the homes and services provided. The post will be responsible for a significant budget and will require the financial acumen to manage this effectively.
As a direct report to a member of the Executive Management Team (EMT) the role becomes a member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and will be pivotal in delivering an ambitious transformation agenda and delivering the charity’s Brilliant Future Strategy.
Location & Travel
West Midlands, Gloucestershire and Hertfordshire
The role will cover our communities at Stourbridge (West Midlands), Grange Village & Oaklands Park (Gloucestershire) and St Albans & Delrow, Watford (Hertfordshire).
You will be based at one of the communities within the region, with regular travel between communities.
You will be required to attend quarterly leadership away days and other meetings which will require overnight stays.
Duties & Responsibilities
Leadership
- Lead, manage, inspire and develop high performing, highly respected and skilled supported living teams across three communities, supporting and line-managing direct reports to achieve agreed objectives, which will in turn support the delivery of the wider strategic objectives of the Trust.
- Foster a culture of excellence, inclusion, and respect.
- Actively contribute to the Senior Leadership Team, sharing collective responsibility for the development, delivery and evaluation of cross-departmental projects and activities.
- Implement the operational delivery plan that delivers the strategy for supported living services, aligning with the charity’s mission and values.
- Drive continuous improvement and innovation in service delivery to meet the evolving needs of service users with a particular focus on an ageing population and integration of younger people’s services.
- Monitor and respond to sector trends, legislation, and best practices to maintain a leading-edge in-service provision.
- Lead evidence based, high quality communication and engagement opportunities at community level that support the Trust to become an irresistible employer, measured through agreed annual and pulse survey results, positive feedback and clear understanding of the Trust’s direction of travel and objectives.
- Understand, contribute and support the fundraising needs of the charity to ensure added value for those that we support.
- Working with peers, people supported and practitioners; develop digital innovation and technology solutions to create a modern, flexible service and opportunities to support and evidence healthy lifestyle choices that align to the Trust’s Green Care goals.
- Support the development of a Theory of Change for Supported Living and Housing Management across the region and be responsible for implementation of agreed outcomes.
- Ensure effective recruitment, training, and professional development of staff.
Supported Living Operations
- Ensure the delivery of measurable and high performing supported living services. Manage and drive improvements in the performance and quality of all services by setting clear objectives, targets and KPIs, evidence regular monitoring and implementation of actions to address under performance.
- Ensure all supported living services meet or exceed regulatory standards (e.g. CQC or equivalent) and internal quality benchmarks.
- Develop and implement systems to measure and report on service outcomes and impact.
- Lead on contract negotiations with funding bodies and across the region to maximise income for the delivery of supported living services.
- Ensure services are co-produced and that co-production is central to the work of the supported living teams and services are delivered in line with the ‘I-statements’.
- Through the Theory of Change, develop a clear model of active support that enables independence and clarity of needs led provision.
People We Support Advocacy
- Promote a person-centred approach, ensuring that people we support have choice, control, and opportunities to achieve their Life of Opportunity aspirations.
- Establish systems for gathering and responding to feedback from those supported and their families.
- Embed the Family Charter and support a culture of transparency.
- Ensure safeguarding policies and procedures are rigorously implemented and adhered to.
Housing Management
- Ensure properties are fully let to minimise void loss to the target groups identified in the approved strategy.
- Work with colleagues in the Property and Land Services to secure alternative use for unlettable properties to maximises income aligned to agreed plans, tenure and opportunity.
Strategy Implementation, planning, budgeting, and reporting
- Contribution to and implementation of the approved strategies and tactical plans that support the delivery of a Brilliant Future (e.g. Older People, Community Development, Stakeholder Engagement) .
- Develop and manage a significant and comprehensive operational annual budget and set of KPIs in line with income constraints and create evaluation & monitoring systems that drive value for money and agreed delivery objectives.
- Develop and manage budgets for supported living services, ensuring financial sustainability recognising that the Charity does not fundraise for statutory provision.
- Monitor and control expenditure, ensuring cost-effectiveness without compromising quality.
- Provide monthly insights, performance reports and analysis using proportionate systems appropriate to different audiences and including Executive, Board of Trustees and Trust strategic documents (such as Annual Report and Impact Reporting).
- Ensure contracts are approved and in place for the delivery of all commissioned services.
- Ensure the service procures goods and services in line with the established governance frameworks in place at the Charity.
Stakeholder Engagement
- Lead on the development and maintenance of purposeful operational relationships with key stakeholders within the region including funders, commissioners, health services and other partners.
- Work with stakeholders to develop and transform services to meet evolving needs of the local community.
- Support fundraising activity by providing impact reporting as required by the fundraising team and our supporters and local development of volunteering programmes that add value to the unique services of the trust.
- Build meaningful relationships with families in a way that is transparent and aligned to good practise and safeguarding/MCA principles.
- Advocate for the needs and rights of adults with learning disabilities within local and national forums.
- Represent the charity at key events, meetings, and networks.
- Identify and pursue relevant funding opportunities including grants, contracts and partnerships ensuring that key stakeholders are informed and aware of relevant opportunities.
Transformation and Change
- Contribute to, and support, the Theory of Change development of the current model for delivery of supported living
- Lead the services across the region through transformational leadership and collaborative implementation of the new model for supported living
Governance, Regulation and EDIB
- Ensure that all supported living activities adhere to charity and housing legislation and meet contractual obligations
- Ensure supported living services comply with the regulatory requirements of the Care Quality Commission.
- Represent the charity internally and externally, including Trustee meetings, as required.
- Observe and comply with all Camphill Village Trust policies, including the key policies and procedures on Confidentiality, Data Protection, Health & Safety, Safeguarding and Information Technology Policies and Procedures.
- Own, develop and review the suite of policies and procedures and delivery frameworks for Green Care and Education and Skills.
- Ensure the development, implementation and review of risk registers and business continuity plans for communities and services in the region.
- You will champion a culture of equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging ensuring all team members feel valued, respected and empowered to carry out their role successfully and support the delivery of our strategy.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to degree level or equivalent.
- Leadership in Health and Social Care level 5 or equivalent.
Desirable
- Safeguarding Adults level 5 or equivalent.
- Professional Housing Qualification level 5 or above.
Knowledge & Experience
Essential:
- Experience of working and leading teams in not for profit and voluntary sector organisations which deliver services for adults with learning disabilities and autism.
- Can demonstrate a strong understanding of the needs and rights of adults with learning disabilities.
- Experience in coaching and mentoring for success.
- Experience in significant budget management responsibilities.
- Experience in seeking new growth opportunities that are aligned to business strategy.
- Significant experience of managing change, successful service redesign and transformation, in particular lean thinking and other typical models.
- Experience of successfully leading teams to affect and embed change through powerful communications and engagement.
- Knowledge of housing management and housing legislation.
- Experience of leading housing management services within a context of delivering supported living.
- Experience in the development and implementation of policy and procedure.
- Knowledge of Care Quality Commission regulations as they relate to supported living, residential care and shared lives.
- Experience of leading teams over a wide geographical location combining hybrid working styles.
- Know what constitutes excellent safeguarding practice.
- Track record of successful contract negotiation.
- Experience in developing and implementing systems that evidence performance, outcomes and impacts.
Desirable:
- Experience of developing digital transformation opportunities and the implementation of innovation and digital systems.
- Experience in the development and implementation of Theory of Change methodology.
Personal Attributes
- Excellent communicator – who can communicate with a wide range of people and using a variety of methods.
- Excellent interpersonal, rapport building and active listening skills.
- Good organisational and project management skills.
- Strong leadership skills.
- Able to support and coach others.
- Good team player - able to lead teams and be part of a team.
- Be an ambassador for the Trust and represent the Trust at events and meetings.
- Ability to manage complex information and present it in a coherent manner.
- Ability to travel between communities and stay overnight as required.
Our client is an equal opportunity employer.
Our client is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all adults who use their services and as such expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Successful applicants will be required to complete the relevant pre-employment checks including a DBS check
They reserve the right to close this advert early if they receive a sufficient number of applications.
