Senior innovation executive jobs in Edinburgh

The Bikeability Trust is entering a new exciting phase of our strategy to 2035 to ensure more children can cycle with confidence. A year into our strategy we have reviewed Executive Team roles and responsibilities and are now looking for a creative Communications and Fundraising Director to lead our mission driven communications, income generation and impact reporting functions.

You will be an experience senior leader in communications, who has the drive to take our strategy to the next level. A key member of the Executive Team, working across the home based diverse staff team to bring together the impact of our work through corporate communications and influencing. We recommend reading our annual reviews on the Bikeability website to see a flavour of the work you could be leading.

Our income generation work is focussed on small impactful corporate partnerships, we have tested some individual giving and are planning to host a fundraising Ball in 2026. Experience in fundraising is desirable, with communications experience as essential as this role will ensure strong relationships with Government. 

If you would like to have a short discussion with the CEO before applying please contact Emily Cherry CEO. We are looking to interview shortlisted candidates on the 23rd or 25th February. We are looking for a candidate to start from 1st April or sooner. 

We are seeking a leader with a hands-on approach to lead our small team of administrative staff and support our Board of Trustees and members to help shape and implement our strategy for the future. You will manage the day-to-day operations of the organisation, translating the strategy into practice to help the organisation grow and deliver real value to our members.

About Us
ACAT is a charity dedicated to advancing Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT) through training, accreditation and the provision of continuous professional development to CAT Therapists. Also, through research and promotion of CAT as a valuable and valued talking therapy.

About you
We are looking for someone who is an experienced leader with a knowledge of and understanding of CAT who is:
A strategic thinker
Able to set, manage and report on budgets
An excellent communicator with a proven track record of implementing change

Why Join ACAT
The opportunity to work with dedicated professionals to develop CAT training and the governance of CAT therapists
30 days annual leave for FTE (Pro Rata)
Flexible working arrangements with both home working and some team-based hours each month at the office in Dorchester, Dorset, and attendance at ad hoc meetings and events in person within the UK from time to time.

This is a permanent contract; part-time flexible 14 hours per week subject to successful completion of a 6-month probationary period.

Closing date: Wednesday 11th February 2026

The Talent Set is thrilled to partner with a leading UK children’s charity to recruit a Senior Individual Giving Executive. This exciting opportunity plays a key role in delivering impactful, multi-channel fundraising campaigns. The successful candidate will manage high-value projects across channels such as digital, direct mail, DRTV, and telemarketing, supporting income growth through regular giving, lotteries, cash appeals, raffles, and more.
This is a fantastic role for someone with strong campaign management experience who’s ready to step up and help shape future planning, guide junior team members, and work collaboratively with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
If you're passionate about creating powerful supporter journeys and driving fundraising success, this could be your ideal next step.

Key Responsibilities:

• Plan and manage end-to-end fundraising campaigns across a range of channels including digital, direct mail, DRTV, dialogue, lottery, and raffles—ensuring compliance, timely delivery, and budget management.
• Support strategic development by evaluating campaign performance, contributing insights, and making data-driven recommendations to inform future Individual Giving strategy.
• Oversee campaign budgets, including forecasting, processing invoices, monitoring variances, and supporting the development of annual income and expenditure plans.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders, ensuring campaigns align with brand guidelines, fundraising strategy, and organisational goals.
• Mentor and support junior team members, providing guidance on campaign delivery, professional development, and internal processes.
• Champion continuous improvement, staying up to date with sector trends, contributing to team planning, and actively supporting diversity and inclusion within the organisation.

Person Specification:

• Proven experience managing campaigns across at least two fundraising channels (e.g. face-to-face, telemarketing, direct mail, DRTV, or digital), with strong understanding of creative processes, data segmentation, and campaign evaluation.
• Skilled in setting and monitoring budgets, working to KPIs, analysing campaign performance, and supporting data-driven decision making.
• Ability to plan, prioritise and manage multiple projects simultaneously under pressure, ensuring timely delivery and accuracy in all aspects of campaign delivery.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with experience liaising with internal stakeholders and external suppliers, and ability to give clear, constructive creative feedback.
• Confident using Microsoft Office (especially Word, Excel, Outlook), with analytical and numeracy skills and familiarity with database and data briefing tools.
• Proactive in personal development and supporting others, demonstrating flexibility, team spirit, and problem-solving capabilities in a fast-paced, changing environment.

What’s on Offer:

• Salary circa £30-33k
• Enjoy a healthy work/life balance with a supportive working policy, flexible hours, and travel only when required for essential team meetings or key events.
• Contribute to the planning and development of the charities Individual Giving strategy, with opportunities to shape future campaign direction and innovation.
• Benefit from tailored learning and mentoring opportunities, including overseeing junior team members and collaborating across specialist teams and external partners.
• Be part of a mission-led organisation making a tangible difference across the UK, with values of hope, respect and inclusion at its core.

How to Apply
To apply, please submit your CV demonstrating your suitability for this role by clicking the 'apply now' button (please do not apply via email). We aim to get back to all successful candidates within 48 working hours.

Commitment to Diversity
The Talent Set are committed to diverse and inclusive recruitment practices, ensuring equal opportunities for all applicants regardless of race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, disability, or age. We actively encourage applications from a wide range of backgrounds and are always happy to make reasonable adjustments to ensure a fair recruitment process.

Reporting to, and working closely with, the Head of Fundraising and Engagement, the Senior Philanthropy and Partnerships Lead will shape and implement innovative strategies, driving growth in philanthropic giving, secure corporate partnerships and obtain critical funding. With a focus on cultivating mutually beneficial, long-term relationships, you’ll craft compelling proposals, develop tailored stewardship plans, and create sponsorship opportunities that inspire ongoing support.

You’ll lead the way in securing multi-year corporate partnerships and nurturing donor relationships to meet ambitious income targets. As a key player in the senior fundraising team, you’ll contribute to strategic planning, represent the charity at events, and champion new approaches to fundraising.

With our newly formed Development Board, the Senior Philanthropy and Partnerships Lead will identify and utilise key networks to grow our philanthropic supporter base across corporate and major donor income streams. With strong writing skills, this person will also craft tailored and compelling corporate proposals and trust and foundation applications.

Who are we looking for?

To support our vision and ensure the achievement of ambitious income targets to support children and families affected by neuroblastoma, we are looking for a strategic and results-driven high-value fundraiser to join our team.

We are particularly keen to speak with interested candidates who enjoy cultivating high-value relationships from scratch and stewarding five- and six-figure corporate partnerships, and/or major donor relationships.

Person specification:

• Demonstrable significant experience working in corporate fundraising (experience in major donor and trusts & foundations fundraising would also be of benefit).
• Strategic thinker with significant experience at a managerial level, developing strategic plans to grow and optimise high-value fundraising.
• A proven record of being results-driven and working to achieve income targets, KPIs and outcomes.
• Proven ability to proactively identify, cultivate and secure new corporate relationships, demonstrate strong new business development acumen and confidence opening new opportunities.

See our Recruitment Pack for the full role description and specification and for information about Solving Kids' Cancer UK. 

Location: Home-based within England with regular travel to London and elsewhere in the UK as required
First stage interviews: Thursday 26th February
Second stage interviews:  Wednesday 4th March

As a safeguarding charity whose work and practice are underpinned by safeguarding principles to protect children and young people and enhance their welfare, we always work in accordance with legislation, statutory guidance, and best safeguarding practices. All our roles require a basic criminal record check.

Humane World for Animals is committed to creating a better world for animals by tackling the root causes of animal cruelty. We believe in the power of philanthropy to drive change and are looking for someone who shares our vision and dedication.

About the Role

As Fundraising Manager, you will lead the development and stewardship of strategic relationships with key corporate partners, stakeholders, and clients, playing a central role in driving corporate income. You will design and implement strategies that support business growth, strengthen corporate engagement, and deliver revenue and operational targets for the organisation in the UK.

Working closely with senior leaders, you will help expand the organisation’s income and impact through high‑value corporate partnerships. You will also develop strong connections with our HQ corporate team and collaborate with programme staff to ensure they understand organisational priorities and can effectively connect internal work with external partners.

This role requires an ambitious self‑starter with strong business acumen and confidence operating within the corporate sector. You should be skilled at presenting a compelling business case for partnership and securing high‑value contracts and initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy and Planning

1. Develop and implement strategies for the organisation’s growth in the corporate sector, ensuring a strong ROI and setting appropriate KPIs to monitor progress and measure success.

2. Build the UK corporate partnership portfolio: identify, cultivate, and secure significant relationships and business opportunities.

3. Formulate and implement individual strategies for developing key partnerships and initiatives around business priorities, mobilising necessary internal and external resources to ensure all partnerships are effectively executed and partners’ needs are fully met. Includes proposal and contract development.

4. Contribute to internal collaboration on innovative solutions that can deliver business impact at scale for complex corporate relationships.

Program Management

5 Develop working relationships with programme staff to identify business opportunities and access information that can be used to cultivate and steward corporate partners with the aim of attracting multi-year partnerships.

Influence and Representation

6 Effectively represent the organisation to external audiences for both business development and profile elevation.

7 Engage strategically with senior stakeholders to support corporate engagement.

What We're Looking For:

Education and experience

1 Demonstrated experience in high-level corporate management or business development, including at least five (5) years of direct frontline experience withing the corporate/corporate charity sector.

2 Demonstrated track record of success at a high-value level, including building strategic partnerships that maximise value for both the organisation and external partners, and building profile with external audiences.

Necessary knowledge, skills and abilities

3 Knowledge of the corporate charity and business development sectors.

4 Experience mobilising executives and senior stakeholders for strategic engagement.

5 Strategic and forward-thinking, with the ability to develop and lead an ambitious growth strategy.

6 Demonstrable success in proposal preparation and securing business contracts.

7 Strong experience in collaboration to develop business proposals and other partnership opportunities.

8 Degree-level or equivalent education in business, finance, management, or related disciplines preferred.

Why Join Us?

At Humane World for Animals, you'll be part of a passionate and dedicated team working towards a common goal. You'll have the opportunity to make a real impact on animal welfare and be part of a forward-thinking organization that values innovation and collaboration.

If you're ready to take on this exciting challenge and help us drive change, we want to hear from you!

Apply now and be a part of something truly meaningful.

Humane World for Animals is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Contract:  12-month fixed-term contract

Salary:  £60,000 per annum 

Location: Home-based with regular travel 

Closing date:  Wednesday 28 January 2026 

Interview date:  4 & 5 February 2026 

Blue Cross is seeking an experienced and ambitious Head of Philanthropy to lead and make an active contribution to our High Value Fundraising project, a key initiative designed to grow our future income. This 12-month fixed-term role will focus on delivering high-impact fundraising activity while managing and inspiring a talented Philanthropy team. 

More about the role

You will support in the delivery of the 2026 Philanthropy plan across trusts, foundations, and high-net-worth individuals, with a particular focus on the High Value Fundraising project. Leading high-value fundraising activity, you will manage your own portfolio, create income pipelines, develop key performance indicators, and work closely with internal and external stakeholders to maximise philanthropic support. You will ensure the charity’s Case for Support remains current and compelling and deliver high-standard donor reporting. 

This is a home-based role with a contracted base site. Travel to your base site is considered normal commuting, while travel to other Blue Cross locations or partner sites will be reimbursed. 

About you

You are a credible senior leader with a strong track record in philanthropy fundraising, capable of translating strategic priorities into tangible outcomes. Motivated by ambitious goals, you thrive on building relationships, inspiring teams, and influencing at the highest level. You are resilient, creative, and aligned with Blue Cross’s values of compassion, courage, and inclusion. 

Essential Qualifications, Skills, and Experience 

• Extensive experience developing strategies that increase income from major donors and institutional funders, including personally securing five- and ideally six-figure donations 
• Proven experience of meeting and exceeding ambitious income growth targets 
• Experience of building and managing funder relationships 
• Strong financial monitoring, target setting, and reporting skills 
• Excellent written and verbal communication, including the ability to analyse and present data tailored for different audiences 
• Highly developed influencing and negotiation skills 
• Track record of leading, managing, and inspiring a team, encouraging innovation and improving ways of working 
• Experience working at senior organisational levels and managing relationships with Directors, CEOs, and Boards 
• The ability to demonstrate, understand, and apply Blue Cross’s values 

Desirable Qualifications, Skills, and Experience 

• Experience of fundraising for significant capital projects 
• Knowledge of CRM systems and data management 

How to apply  

Click Apply to submit your application. Please note that applications may close early if we receive a high volume, so we encourage early submission. 

The Organisation

Family Fund is the UK’s largest charity supporting low-income families raising disabled or seriously ill children and young people.

We help thousands of families every year with essential grants, services and practical support. But we do much more than that. We champion families’ voices, challenge inequality and help shape the conversation on disability, childhood illness and disadvantage. 

The Role 

This is an exciting opportunity to shape how Family Fund connects with people across the UK. As a newly created role, it offers real scope to define and develop the function, while playing a central role in strengthening the organisation’s voice and influence.

We are looking for a bold, creative Group Director of External Affairs to join our Senior Leadership Team. At a time when families need us more than ever, you will raise Family Fund’s national profile and influence, positioning the organisation as a trusted, evidence led voice on childhood disability, serious illness and the broader challenges facing low-income families. You will build and sustain strong relationships with policymakers, funders, and the public ensuring the organisation secures the visibility, support, and resources needed to drive lasting change for the families we serve.

You will lead an energetic, specialist team spanning communications, media, public affairs, partnerships and research, bringing these areas together through a joined up external engagement strategy that delivers real impact.

Some key responsibilities include:

• Lead our communications, media, public affairs, partnerships and research teams
• Raise Family Fund’s profile as a trusted national voice 
• Build strong relationships with policymakers, media, funders and partners 
• Help drive real change for families through influence and insight

Who we’re looking for 

We are looking for an experienced leader who loves the power of communication, influence and connection.

Key attributes will include:

• Senior experience in external affairs, communications or public affairs 
• A strong track record of influencing policy and engaging senior stakeholders 
• Experience leading teams and working at senior level 
• A warm, confident communication style and great relationship skills 
• A real passion for Family Fund’s mission and social justice

This is an exciting, high impact role with the chance to make a genuine difference to families across the UK. 

Candidate Briefing Pack

For comprehensive information about Family Fund, the role responsibilities and the person we are looking for, please download the Candidate Briefing Pack.

How to Apply

If you would like to apply for this fantastic opportunity, please provide the following with your application:

• An up-to-date CV
• A supporting statement of no more than 2 sides of A4, outlining your experience, motivations and suitability for the role.

All applications are being handled by our recruitment partner, Russam. All applications should be uploaded via the Russam website.

If you have any difficulty uploading your application or if you would like to have an informal and confidential discussion about the role, please contact Melissa Baxter - Managing Partner, Charities at Russam.

Closing date for applications: Monday 2nd February 2026
Initial interviews with Russam: 17th and 18th February 2026
Interviews with Family Fund: 4th, 5th and 6th March 2026

Flexibility will be provided if needed - do let us know as soon as possible if you are unavailable on these dates.

We commit to inclusion, equality and diversity and we welcome applications from all parts of the community. Family Fund is a Disability Confident Leader. We will invite to interview all disabled applicants who meet the requirements for the role. If you have a disability, and are happy to let us know, please highlight this in your covering letter. We have also signed the Armed Forces Covenant, and we welcome applications from the Armed Forces Community. 

Protect the technical foundation that enables vital support, research, and hope for people affected by dementia. What if your cybersecurity expertise could safeguard the services, research, and sensitive information that supports 900,000 people living with dementia across the UK?

Why this role is important:

As Head of Cybersecurity, you'll be the guardian of Alzheimer's Society's technology ecosystem. In a role where trust is everything, you'll develop and lead our cybersecurity strategy, ensuring that the systems powering our support services, research programmes, and advocacy work remain secure, resilient, and compliant.

Every day, vulnerable people trust us with their most personal information. Families reach out for support during their darkest moments. Researchers depend on secure infrastructure to advance vital dementia science. Your work will protect these relationships and enable our mission to continue without compromise.

You'll be part of our Technology directorate, reporting to the Associate Director of IT and joining our Technology Leadership team. Working collaboratively across the organisation, you'll translate complex security challenges into clear strategies that enable colleagues to work safely and confidently, knowing that the systems and data they rely on are protected by best-in-class security practices.

This is also a leadership role where you'll build and develop a high-performing cybersecurity team, creating a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and shared accountability. Together, you'll role-model best practice, stay ahead of emerging threats, and embed security awareness throughout the Society.

About you:

You're an experienced cybersecurity leader who understands that excellent security combines technical rigour with strategic thinking and clear communication. You're comfortable working across organisational boundaries, translating technical complexity into business context, and building trust with stakeholders at every level.

You'll have:

• Significant experience in information security management, risk assessment, and incident response.
• Proven experience ensuring regulatory compliance, particularly with GDPR, NHS Toolkit, and PCI-DSS, as well as alignment with recognised cybersecurity frameworks such as NIST and information security standards like ISO27001.
• Proven track record in cloud security, network security, and security architecture design.
• Knowledge of penetration testing, vulnerability assessment, and security technologies.
• Experience building and leading high-performing security teams, guiding them through change with compassion.
• Excellent communication abilities, translating technical detail into clear business insights for stakeholders at every level.

What you'll focus on:

• Developing and executing a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy aligned with our mission and risk appetite, serving as a trusted advisor to senior leadership across the Society.
• Leading and developing a talented team of cybersecurity professionals, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.
• Conducting thorough risk assessments, implementing effective controls, and ensuring full compliance with GDPR, NHS requirements, and relevant security standards.
• Overseeing security technologies and collaborating with Technology teams to integrate security throughout our infrastructure, including regular security testing across all IT services.
• Developing and maintaining comprehensive incident response and disaster recovery plans, monitoring systems for breaches and investigating suspicious activities.
• Building cybersecurity awareness programmes across the Society, fostering a security-conscious culture where everyone understands their role in protection.

Are you ready to...

Lead cybersecurity for one of the UK's largest charities, ensuring the systems and data that support people affected by dementia remain secure and trusted?

Build a team that's valued not just for their technical expertise, but for their ability to enable the Society's mission through strategic security leadership?

Important Dates

• Deadline for applications: Sunday 15th February 2026
• Interviews: Candidates will take part in a four-stage interview process across the end of February and early March 2026 where they'll get to meet a variety of colleagues and stakeholders.

There will be a scenario-based exercise as part of the interview process.

About Alzheimer's Society

Dementia is the UK’s biggest killer. One in three people born in the UK today will develop dementia in their lifetime.

At Alzheimer’s Society, we’re the UK’s leading dementia charity and the only one to tackle all aspects of dementia by giving help and hope to people living with dementia today and in the future. We give vital support to people facing the most frightening times of their lives, while also funding groundbreaking research and campaigning to make dementia the priority it should be.

Together with our supporters, we’re working towards a world where dementia no longer devastates lives.

Our values make sure that our focus is clear for the challenges and opportunities ahead and remind us of what we all stand for.

Our commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging

We need to ensure the voices around our table better reflect and understand the communities we exist to serve. We strongly encourage individuals to apply who have a disability, impairment or health condition or individuals who identify as Black, Asian or from another minority ethnic background, as these groups are currently under-represented at Alzheimer's Society.

We want everyone we work with, as a colleague, volunteer, supporter, or someone we support, to feel included and that they belong at Alzheimer's Society. 

Our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy here along with our internal employee forum and Employee Lived Experience network groups help us promote inclusion and belonging, becoming an engaged and inclusive organisation for all our people. 

Our hiring process

During your recruitment process we want to make sure that you bring your whole self and can be at your best. We are working hard to ensure our recruitment process is as inclusive as possible, so please do inform us of your experience and anything you think we could do better by completing our candidate survey when you apply.Please also contact Alzheimer’s Society Talent Acquisition Team for application support or any adjustments you might need.

To ensure fairness and consistency to select the best candidate for this role, all our applications are anonymised up until an interview has been confirmed. We recognise the benefits of AI, but if you're considering using it to submit your application, we encourage you to reflect on the value it truly adds. AI tools often lack the personal touch and authenticity that set candidates apart. We want to hear your unique perspective, experiences, and skills, so we encourage you to showcase them in your own voice.

We try to avoid closing roles early where possible, however if we receive a high volume of applications, we may close earlier than the advertised closing date. Should this occur, we will aim to provide you with at least 48 hours' notice.

We are committed to safer recruitment and ensuring the welfare of those we work with, due to the nature of some of our roles, we might need to carry out a DBS check at the relevant level.

Giving back to you

Our employees work hard every day to make a true difference in people's lives. We are proud to support them with a range of benefits, recognition and many options for working agilely, all contributing to a strong work life balance. We also have various learning programmes to support you in your development and help you grow to realise your potential and shape a career with Alzheimer's Society. 

You can also visit our Working for Us pages, which give you more information about what it’s like to be an employee at the Society.

My client is a global not-for-profit organisation working across multiple regions, partnering with governments, civil society, and philanthropic donors to improve public outcomes. With a diverse international team and operations spanning several charitable entities, it operates at the intersection of public service reform, innovation, and systems change.

At present they are looking to appoint an interim Chief Finance Officer to lead its finance function through a period of transition and systems development.

Reporting directly to the CEO, this role requires a senior finance leader who can quickly stabilise and oversee core financial operations while making early, practical recommendations on systems, structure, and commercial strategy.

A short handover with the current CFO will be provided, after which the successful candidate will be expected to operate with a high degree of autonomy.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide leadership to Finance and Operations teams during a period of change
• Produce high-quality financial information for the Board and relevant sub-committees
• Make early recommendations on upgrading financial systems, building on an existing pilot
• Lead a budget reforecast, including advice on cost controls and improved commercial discipline
• Identify and implement improvements to financial controls, reporting, contracting, and core finance processes

Candidate Profile

• Proven experience operating at CFO or equivalent level, ideally in complex, multi-entity or international organisations
• Strong technical finance background with hands-on interim capability
• Experience leading audits, cash management, and board-level reporting
• Track record of finance systems improvement or transformation
• Comfortable working in values-driven, mission-led environments
• Able to start quickly and deliver impact within a defined timeframe

My client offers a fully remote working pattern. This role has been assessed as inside of IR35.

Responsible for all Continuous Professional Development (CPD) resources and activity of the Royal College of Paramedics, The primary role of the National CPD Lead will be overall responsibility for all CPD delivered by the Royal College of Paramedics, including ensuring the quality of content across the current and future range of platforms, (including video, webinars, events, podcasting). 

The National CPD Lead is responsible for the efficient and effective management of specific pre-agreed workstreams aligned with realisation of the Royal College’s strategy objectives, this will require budget awareness along with supervision and management of team members. 

As a senior member the College team – the National CPD Lead will provide a leadership presenceacross the organisation, contributing to policy and planning, staff development and membershipengagement and growth. They will be an able, confident and competent communicator, engagingeffectively at all levels, from student members to the Royal College of Paramedics Board and Council to national partners and colleagues. 

The primary role of the National CPD Lead is to provide assurance, support and leadership in the provision of face to face and virtual CPD delivered by the College of Paramedics, including: 

• Ensuring the quality of content across the current and future range of platforms (including events, video, webinars, courses, and podcasting). 

• Reviewing and developing CPD activities which meet the needs of members and the profession

As an employee, the National CPD Lead will promote the Royal College, and its aims and objectives by building effective relationships with members, other healthcare colleagues, employers and other stakeholder bodies. 

The Person: 
We are looking for an enthusiastic and highly motivated individual to work directly with the Head of Education to drive innovation and change and deliver the Continuous Professional Development and Education objectives as part of the overall College strategy. 

The National CPD Lead will act with integrity, positivity, and adaptability, using their skills to build effective relationships and work within a shared vision.

Closing date: 23:59hrs on 30.01.26 
Interviews: w/c 16.02.26 in the area of Leeds/Bradford 

ESPE is Europe's leading and largest charity focused on improving the clinical care of children and adolescents with endocrine conditions.  We aim for excellence in clinical care, research and education through innovation, collaboration and technology. Our charity is growing its membership and activities at pace, and we are now searching for a Finance Manager who will be the first member of the permanent staff team who is a qualified accountant. 

The Finance Manager role will make a significant difference to how we manage our finances, at an operational and strategic planning level.  We are looking for an individual who is excited by the prospect of transforming our financial governance and management. 

Role overview:

The Finance Manager will work closely with the CEO, Treasurer, and bookkeeper to manage daily financial functions, ensure regulatory compliance, and drive financial performance - including budgeting and forecasting. 

• Contract and working conditions: This is a fixed-term role (initially 18 months) which we envisage will transition to a permanent position. Hours will initially be 17.5 hours per week with remote and flexible working arrangements. Candidates must have the right to work in the UK and be based in the UK.

• Strategic responsibilities: The Finance Manager will support financial target delivery, ensure robust financial systems, and align financial processes with organisational growth and strategy. 

• Operational duties: Responsibilities include preparation of management accounts and all financial reporting, cash flow forecasting, grant management, VAT and tax compliance, audit support, and process improvements. The role also involves liaising with external suppliers and stakeholders and overseeing payroll and pension scheme implementation and management.

• Governance and compliance: The Finance Manager will ensure adherence to the requirements of the Companies Act, Charities Act, and HMRC regulations, ensuring we prepare and submit our statutory accounts on time.  You will coordinate the annual audit, review internal controls, and report financial risks to the ESPE leadership.

• Leadership and collaboration: The role includes providing financial guidance to coordinators and teams to support informed decision-making. 

• Required experience and skills: Candidates must be a qualified accountant (ACA/ACCA/CIMA/AAT/ICAEW) with at least three years experience in financial or management accounting, preferably in a professional body or learned society. Proficiency in accounting software, and having significant knowledge and understanding of VAT (ideally across Europe), analytical skills, communication, and project management skills are essential. 

• Personal attributes: The ideal candidate will demonstrate strong attention to detail, resilience, collaborative skills, ability to manage multiple priorities, and alignment with ESPE’s mission. You should be proactive, enjoy challenge, be capable of working under pressure, and skilled in influencing and strategic thinking. Must be willing to travel to Europe as required (2-4 times per annum).

Benefits:

• 30 days annual leave, plus UK Bank Holidays
• Flexible working
• Matched pension scheme (up to 7% of salary) 
• Employee assistance programme
• European travel

First interview date: 20th February, online.

Remote (UK-based) | Full-time | £123,969 + benefits

Oak is a fully remote, mission-driven organisation offering high levels of flexibility, autonomy, and purpose. We’re a national not-for-profit organisation working in partnership with teachers to create high-quality, sequenced curriculum and lesson resources for pupils across all subjects and age groups.

Our culture has been independently recognised through:

• Flexa verified (93% overall score, including 95% for working hours and 97% for role modelling)

• Escape the City's Top 1% Employers – based on anonymous colleague reviews of culture, development, and impact

• Investors in People Gold - through external accreditation and colleague feedback

 About the Role

Oak is entering a critical new phase. Over the next three years, we will support the implementation of a revised national curriculum, deepen adoption of our digital products across schools, and play a leading role in shaping the safe and ethical use of AI in education.

We are now seeking a Director of Engineering to lead the technology that underpins this work.

This is a senior leadership role with responsibility for Oak’s engineering strategy, technical architecture and platform delivery. You will lead engineering teams to build and operate reliable, secure and scalable systems that support teachers at scale and enable innovation across the education sector.

You’ll work closely with product, design, data, teachers and content leaders to ensure our technology choices are grounded in real classroom needs, strong pedagogy and value for money, while also pushing forward what’s possible with the latest approaches and tools. You’ll empower teams to get solutions built and products and features shipped.

We welcome applications from candidates with senior engineering leadership experience across technology, digital or public service environments, including those who have not previously worked in education.

If you’re excited by the challenge of building dependable systems that quietly do the heavy lifting for teachers, and shaping how safe AI is used across the sector, we’d love to hear from you.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Develop and manage a high-performing Engineering department, leveraging internal and/or external relationships

• Manage the Engineering department budget (minimum of 6-figures)

• Accountable for the department's delivery against division and organisation-wide KPIs.

• Set and lead Oak’s technical direction, ensuring secure, scalable and high-performing platforms aligned with organisational and product priorities and public sector digital standards.

• Oversee software engineering, architecture, embedding engineering excellence, operational reliability, strong SDLC practice and continuous improvement, and ensuring compliance with relevant digital, security and data standards (including GDS and GDPR).

• Lead the implementation of data-intensive and emerging technologies (including AI/ML), ensuring production-ready systems and compliance with Oak’s technical and safety requirements.

• Member of the Senior Leadership Team.

• Lead the strategy and planning, and model the culture of the organisation.

• Work in cross-functional and product-oriented squads with colleagues from across the organisation, as required.

• Deputise for the CEO and take on other general responsibilities as required.

What We’re Looking For

• 3+ years’ experience overseeing engineering or technical capabilities of a department or division.

• Experience of being part of a senior or wider leadership team.

• Experience of recruiting, developing and managing a high-performing department

• Experience of managing a 6-figure budget and ensuring value for money.

• Extensive experience delivering secure, scalable, high-quality digital services in production environments.

• Experience implementing and operating data-intensive or emerging technologies (e.g., AI/ML), ensuring safe, reliable and responsible deployment.

• Experience leading the evolution of engineering systems over time, including evaluating new technologies, scaling cloud-based services, and ensuring high availability, CI/CD maturity and long-term platform resilience.

• Experience having deployed production ready AI technology (desirable).

• You will be comfortable working at pace, with a range of digital systems (including proprietary ones as required) and you will continuously look at ways that the team can keep getting better. You will be excellent at working as part of a remote team, building relationships and managing your time effectively.

Our Benefits

• 25 days annual leave, plus one extra day for each year of service (up to 28)

• Additional Oak closure days over Christmas/New Year

• 11% employer pension contribution (with no minimum employee contribution)

• A 36-hour working week, with half-days on Fridays or every other Friday off

• Fully remote working — we’ll support your home set-up and offer coworking options if preferred

• Twice-yearly in-person offsites to collaborate, connect, and have fun

• A culture that genuinely supports flexibility, autonomy, and trust

Inclusion and Belonging

We believe diverse teams build better products. We warmly welcome applicants from all backgrounds, particularly those who are underrepresented in the tech and education sectors.

We use the Applied recruitment platform to help reduce bias in our hiring process.

Key Info

• Location: Remote, but you must be based in the UK with the legal right to work here

• Sponsorship: Unfortunately, we’re unable to offer visa sponsorship at this time

• Closing date: 23:59 on Wednesday, 4 February 2026. We’ll be reviewing applications as they come in, and may close the role early

If this sounds like the kind of role and team where you could do your life’s best work, we’d love to hear from you.

Next Steps

We aim to run a fair, inclusive process that helps people show what they can really do.

Stage 1: Apply (via Applied)

You’ll apply through the Applied platform. Your application will be scored anonymously against the published criteria and reviewed by more than one assessor.

Stage 2: Short practical exercise (video)

If you progress, we’ll send you a short brief and a few suggested technologies you could use. You’ll then have time to go away, create a simple prototype or generate an insight in response to the brief, and record a short video walking us through what you have produced and why.

For this role, we will be looking for evidence of technical judgement and engineering thinking, for example, how you approach system design, reliability, security, data or AI safety, rather than production quality or polished demos. The exercise is designed to be accessible to candidates who lead engineering teams and may not code day to day.

Videos will be scored by a small group of assessors using clear criteria.

Stage 3: Interview

A shortlist of candidates will be invited to a competency-based interview, assessed against the criteria set out in the job description.

We’ll share full details, timelines and support as you progress. We’re happy to make reasonable adjustments at any stage.

Use of AI in applications

You can use AI to help draft your answers, but remember, we are looking for your experiences and insights, not generic or AI-generated responses.

We score for specific, real examples and your own judgement. If your answers read like AI output or could describe anyone’s experience, they will score poorly.

We are receiving excellent responses to our job advertisements. This may lead us to close the role early, so if you are considering applying, then please get your application in early to avoid missing out.

Do you have what it takes to be part of the Walking With The Wounded team? We have a fantastic opportunity for a Financial Controller with experience of running the day-to-day financial operations of a dynamic charity. We are an ambitious charity with ambitious goals that needs a Financial Controller to support the charity in achieving these goals. If your attitude matches this, you will find a perfect home within our Finance team.

This is a broad role that will include a wide range of responsibilities. The Financial Controller is responsible for managing the daily and weekly tasks of the Finance team, as well as periodic tasks that are less frequent.  These tasks include (but are not restricted to) all aspects of bank and cash, raising of invoices, generating BACS payments, all Finance input into payroll, VAT returns, Gift Aid claims and response to ad hoc queries from our front-line staff.  The Financial Controller managers one Finance Assistant and reports into the Head of Finance. The Head of Finance leads on budget setting, forecasting and monthly / quarterly / annual reporting, and the Financial Controller will support where needed.  The Financial Controller will also be the lead contact with external auditors following year end.

 The tasks outlined here and in the job description will not remain static and can be tailored to the experience of the successful applicant, therefore this role is ideal for someone who is looking for a challenge and to develop their skills in a supportive and dynamic environment.

For an informal discussion please contact Marc Brady, Head of Finance.