Senior legal advisor jobs in Bristol
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Who we are
IPSEA (Independent Provider of Special Education Advice) is a national charity working to ensure that children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) receive the educational support they are legally entitled to. Since we were formed in 1983, we have helped to improve the education experience of thousands of children and young people across England. We do this by providing free and independent legal advice and casework support for families, undertaking policy work and delivering training on the SEND legal framework.
What you’ll do
Reports to: Chief Executive
Location: Home-based or Hybrid (with frequent travel for events and meeting with parliamentarians and other stakeholders)
We are seeking a Policy Manager to lead IPSEA's policy and influencing work to achieve positive change for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their families. Working closely with the Chief Executive, Head of Legal and Training, trustees and colleagues across the organisation, you will set strategic policy priorities and develop evidence-based influencing plans that support IPSEA's mission and long-term objectives.
Drawing on insights from our advice and tribunal services, legal expertise and the experiences of families, you will identify systemic issues within the SEND system and develop policy solutions that improve children and young people's access to the support and education to which they are entitled. You will ensure that IPSEA's policy positions are credible, legally robust and informed by the lived experiences of those we support.
You will lead IPSEA's engagement with government, Parliament and other key decision-makers, identifying opportunities to influence legislation, policy and practice at both national and local level. This includes overseeing responses to consultations, parliamentary inquiries and calls for evidence, as well as preparing briefings and strategic advice to support senior-level engagement and advocacy.
Working collaboratively with colleagues across legal, communications, fundraising and training teams, you will ensure IPSEA's policy, campaigning and public affairs activities are aligned and maximise the organisation's impact. You will also monitor developments across the political, legal and policy landscape, helping IPSEA respond proactively to emerging opportunities and challenges affecting the rights of children and young people with SEND.
This role offers the opportunity to make a real difference as part of a small, friendly, and dedicated team. If you are passionate about helping children and young people with SEND and have the skills and experience needed, we would love to hear from you.
Who are we looking for?
You will have significant experience in a senior policy and campaigning/public affairs role and have good knowledge of local and national government structure including the legislative process.
You the ability to build and maintain relationships with a range of stakeholders including MPs, civil servants, campaigners and parents. You exhibit tact and diplomacy and can be impactful with people of varying levels and experience.
Your research and critical thinking skills enable you to analyse policy and data to produce relevant reports and position papers. You have experience of drafting organisation responses to government consultations and parliamentary calls for evidence.
IPSEA should also reflect the communities we support. We would particularly like to hear from candidates from ethnic minority backgrounds, LGBTQIA+ people, under-served communities and disabled people, as well as those with lived experience of the SEND system, either as a child or as a parent/carer.
What we can offer you
- 5% employer pension contributions
- Healthcare cash plan
- Flexible working arrangements
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays plus an additional day off for your birthday (pro-rata if part-time).
To apply
Visit our website to download a recruitment pack and application form.
Deadline for applications: 9am on 7 September 2026.
First-round interviews: on 15 September 2026 in our offices in Takeley, Essex, with second-round interviews (online) on 18 September 2026.
NO AGENCIES PLEASE.
We help children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) get the education they are entitled to by law


The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
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!
NCT is the national charity for pregnancy, birth, infant feeding and early parenthood.
Our vision is simple: a society where everyone who becomes a parent feels confident, connected and safe.
Through our For Every Parent strategy, we're working to make that vision a reality. We support parents with trusted information, practical help, local communities and a stronger voice in the issues that matter to families.
For 70 years, we've been by parents' sides through the excitement, uncertainty, wonder and challenges of becoming a parent. Today, our volunteers contribute more than 70,000 hours of community service each year, helping parents build friendships, find support and feel less alone.
We educate and empower parents with evidence-based information and support. We advocate and act by listening to parents' experiences, raising their voices and campaigning for change. No judgement. No exceptions.
About the role
- We are seeking an experienced People and Inclusion (P&I) professional to join our passionate team and contribute to the meaningful work that transforms the lives of parents and families. Your role will work within a small P&I team, which is part of our overall Organisational Services Directorate. Key duties include:
- Deep and proactive partnering with our charity’s managers as a trusted advisor on People and Inclusion matters across the employee lifecycle. We rely on our talented staff team to deliver a range of important services for all parents so need our people to feel included, connected and supported to do their best work;
- Efficient management of People administration and the operational People function to deliver an excellent employee experience. This will include ensuring our HR System (IRIS Cascade) is optimised for our teams, delivering timely and accurate management data to inform decision-making and ensuring our People policies and practices operate at a minimum in line with employment legislation and aspire to be best practice throughout. You will manage our People and Inclusion Coordinator and will partner with the Payroll team;
- Leading the delivery and continuous development of employee equity, inclusion and wellbeing initiatives that support diversity and create belonging for all of our people. Ensuring that equity, diversity and inclusion (ED&I) is embedded across all of our work is one of our Charity’s key strategic aims;
- Taking a remote first approach as we have a home-based workforce and working in in partnership with the communications team to deliver motivational, supportive and informative updates alongside connection and engagement opportunities;
- Build focussed management development, learning and community-building opportunities for our People managers.
About you:
- You will relish the opportunity to work in a values-driven, collaborative and parent focussed organisation where our commitment to ED&I is central to all of our work;
- You thrive in a busy operational environment with multiple priorities, and you enjoy taking a pragmatic and strategically detailed approach to improving imperfect processes and systems. You also prioritise building positive relationships and collaborating with colleagues.
- You will have a CIPD Level 5 Qualification (or demonstrable equivalent) and will demonstrate an interest in continuing professional development, including ensuring you are up-to-date with the practical implementation of UK employment legislation and People best practice;
- You will have significant previous experience operating as a People Business Partner, People and Inclusion Manager or senior HR/People Advisor or similar across the full employee lifecycle. Your key experience will include: overseeing the efficient and effective deployment and development of an HR system; effective partnering with managers; analysing People data and trends; developing and embedding ED&I principles and practices; and supporting organisational change projects.
We are the charity supporting people as they become parents. Here through pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood.



Position: Global Head of Finance
Location: London or Bath, with a minimum of 3 days per week in the office
Contract type: Permanent
Salary range: £56,000 to £62,000 per year, dependent upon experience
Applications: Please apply via the application form linked in this job posting by 10 August.
About EJF
The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) is a global non-profit organisation working to protect the natural world and our fundamental human right to a secure environment. We work at the frontlines of environmental injustice, alongside communities most affected by climate breakdown, biodiversity loss, and exploitation - transforming evidence into action, and injustice into lasting change.
Through field investigations, rigorous research, and strategic international advocacy, we expose environmental crime, challenge impunity, and catalyse systemic reform. Our work delivers real-world impact, shaping policy, strengthening governance, protecting vital ecosystems, and defending those who risk their lives to safeguard them.
Our campaigns span four interconnected areas: oceans, climate, forests and wetlands, and the training, protection, and empowerment of environmental defenders and investigative journalists. From illegal fishing and plastic pollution to deforestation, land grabs, and climate breakdown, we confront some of the most complex and urgent crises of our time - always with a focus on accountability, equity, and durable solutions.
EJF has a diverse team of campaigners, filmmakers and community mobilisers working across four continents, united by a shared ambition: to protect people by protecting the planet. We are bold, evidence-led, and impact-driven. We speak truth to power - and we build pathways to a fairer, more resilient future. Join Us.
About the role:
This is a rare opportunity for an experienced, precise and conscientious qualified accountant to join a dynamic, high-impact team working to protect the global environment and defend human rights. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, you'll lead the international finance team and provide financial insight and analysis to the CEO and Senior Management Team to support a fast-growing, ambitious charity.
This role is right for you if you're an energetic, meticulously organised finance professional with a strong commitment to protecting the environment and the people who depend on it. You'll work globally to ensure EJF's financial administration runs efficiently in every country where we operate, securing value for money so that resources are focused on delivering impact.
Key responsibilities:
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Maintaining and improving EJF's global financial policies, systems, controls and processes, ensuring they are applied consistently in every country where EJF operates.
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Managing six finance staff working in the UK and overseas.
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Ensuring the production of accurate, accessible and insightful monthly and annual global financial reporting for internal and external audiences.
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Providing strategic financial forecasts, insights and advice to the CEO, Senior Management Team and Trustees to inform planning and decision-making.
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Preparing budgets for funding proposals and ensuring accurate and timely financial projections of spend against grants and reporting to funders.
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Leading the annual organisational budget process, including multi-year financial plans.
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Mentoring team leads on financial budgeting, tracking and expenditure oversight.
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Monitoring and ensuring value for money in expenditure, identifying and removing inefficiencies and waste.
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Developing and executing EJF's treasury strategy, including managing currency risk and reserves.
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Overseeing payroll and pensions, working with external providers where relevant.
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Completing regulatory returns as required by the Charity Commission and statutory bodies in the countries of operation.
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Leading the annual external audit and overseeing the preparation of statutory accounts.
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Managing financial risk, including safeguarding EJF against fraud, and maintaining relationships with auditors, banks and other professional advisers.
Essential skills and experience
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Demonstrable commitment to EJF’s vision, mission and values and a determination to change the world for the better.
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Qualified accountant with a superb eye for detail.
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Minimum of six years' work experience, preferably in the international charity sector, including responsibility for managing a finance team.
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Demonstrable experience designing and implementing financial controls and securing good value for money through procurement and commissioning.
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Strong IT skills, and experience managing IT systems and/or databases.
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Excellent communication skills, in writing and in person.
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Proactive and solution-oriented, highly organised and self-motivated.
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Enthusiastic, outgoing and friendly, able to work in a growing, diverse, international team with minimal supervision.
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Experience of working with the UK Charity SORP and the production of the annual report and accounts.
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Experience with multi-currency income & expenditure and management of the processes around sub-grants to overseas partners.
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Ability to travel to EJF's countries of operation to assess the development and implementation of financial systems and to manage finance staff.
Desirable skills and experience
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Employment or volunteer experience in the not-for-profit sector.
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Experience using Iplicit.
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A track record of producing budgets and financial reports for successful international projects in the Global South funded by bilateral donors.
We strongly encourage candidates from underrepresented backgrounds in the environmental and human rights sectors to apply. If you believe you would be a great fit but don’t meet every requirement, we would still love to hear from you.
What we offer
We offer a rewarding package designed to support your well-being, flexibility, and professional growth:
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22 days’ annual leave (exclusive of bank holidays), increasing with each year of service, plus additional paid leave between Christmas and New Year.
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Private healthcare package.
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Generous pension scheme, with employer contributions increasing over time.
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Flexible working hours and hybrid working (typically 3 days in the office / 2 from home).
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Cycle-to-work scheme.
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A dynamic, supportive, and inclusive working environment, with genuine opportunities for professional development and career progression.
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The chance to contribute to an organisation delivering real-world impact for people and planet.
Application process
To apply, please complete the application form linked in this job posting. This includes:
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A personal statement outlining your suitability for the role (max 2 pages)
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Your CV (max 2 pages)
The deadline for applications is 18:00 BST on 10 August, 2026.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Candidates must have the legal right to work in the UK.
EJF is an equal opportunity employer, committed to diversity within the workplace.