Senior legal counsel jobs in Cambridge, cambridgeshire

As Director of External Affairs across the Bild Group of four small charities (with collective turnover of approx. £3m/yr), you will have a deep commitment to human rights and improving people’s lives.

You will provide strategic direction and leadership to the External Relations function across all four charities in the group, taking overall responsibility for and providing thought-leadership on our strategic approach to policy, influencing, public affairs, stakeholder engagement. 

You will play a lead role in planning, developing, and implementing the communication and external relations and wider engagement strategic plan to grow awareness and profile of Bild, Respond, Restraint Reduction Network (RRN) and ACT.

By sharing the impact of our work and programmes in improving the lives of people with learning disabilities, autism and /or mental health conditions, you will support Bild in becoming the sector leading provider of organisational and workforce development (and RRN in becoming the leading charity in reducing restrictive practices globally – and Respond as leaders in trauma informed therapy).

You will champion Bild and RRN’s brand, vision, mission and values acting as an ambassador for the organisation both internally and externally to partners, stakeholders and media.

Key Responsibilities and Duties: 

Strategic Leadership:  

• Develop and implement an integrated communications and external relations strategy across the four charities in the group to raise our profile and to influence change which positively impacts on our beneficiaries, aligning media, campaigning, and public affairs with the charity’s mission and strategic priorities 

• Lead and inspire a high-performing team including Membership and Events Officer, Resources Coordinator and comms team as required 

Comms & Marketing:

• Plan, develop and implement strategic communications and marketing plans to maximise awareness of the Bild Group of charities across the broad spectrum of communications disciplines including media relations, stakeholder management, influencer engagement, ethical (impact focused) marketing, social and new media and the production of new materials and resources 

• Write, develop and produce materials such as infographics, press releases, briefing documents, media statements and online information suitable for stakeholders, including people with lived experience

• Ensure effective marketing across all four charities focusing on impact and including ensuring we attend a range of external events and that all four websites are best practice. 

Influencing & Public Affairs:  

• Working with the CEO, you will drive policy change by developing strategies to influence key decision makers through building relationships with parliamentarians, government departments, and sector stakeholders to ensure the charity's policy agenda is impactful 

• Lead proactive and reactive media engagement, calls and requests for information in order to capitalise on suitable opportunities for maximising the reach and impact of all four charities

• Build our credibility as a thought leader in the sector 

Stakeholder Engagement & Partnerships:  

• Build and sustain strategic alliances with senior civil servants, civil society groups, and community partners to increase the organization's influence and impact 

• Develop effective stakeholder relationship management processes that ensure partnerships of all levels are provided with a rich, immersive engagement experience with the organisation and the work that we do 

• Identify, liaise with and ensure positive relationships with key stakeholders – internal and external including media, government departments, partners, charities, providers, customers, other relevant parties to secure maximum impact for all four charities and their beneficiaries

Reputation, Brand Management & Marketing:  

• Champion the Bild group brands, promoting the mission, values and impact of the organisation and ensuring consistent, engaging narratives and high-quality storytelling across all external channels

• Shaping the charity's profile and protecting its reputation through media relations, digital engagement, and consistent key messaging and building our credibility as thought leaders in sector. 

Membership, Events & Communities:  

• By ensuring appropriate, effective and engaging communications to all relevant audiences and stakeholders, your role will support the growth and development of our membership, Communities of Practice and the event programme (including webinars and conferences).

• Effectively plan, manage and lead a range of events for the Bild group of charities and associated marketing and communications

• Develop framework for Communities of Practice and strategy for engagement and growth 

• Supporting Bild and RRN spokespeople with PR and media outreach

• Keep abreast of communications and engagement activity within the sector and demonstrate an awareness of the impact these may have on existing and future communications activity

General Responsibilities 

• Contribute to evaluation and assessment of results against KPIs and tracking activity

• Allocate, manage and evaluate budget spend

• Identify resource requirements for activity across Bild group

• Develop and maintain systems, databases and procedures to support Bild group communication activities

• Plan, monitor, appraise and report progress of activity regularly with an innate understanding of how this supports activity across the Bild group

• Plan, manage and oversee budgetary spend related to outsourcing specialist activities such as video editing and design

• Ensure communications and marketing work complies with data protection and other legal, professional and agency requirements, standards and policies

• Support the senior leadership team on any activity as required. 

Personal Development  

• Be part of a culture of quality in all areas of communications, PR and marketing

• Participate and contribute to individual performance appraisal and supervision sessions

• Keep abreast of relevant initiatives and developments within the adult health and social care, education & disability sector and the wider communications / engagement profession

• Undertake relevant training, as necessary including accessing new systems and software as required to support the role.

Organisational Responsibilities: 

• Access and work within Bild’s policies and procedures.  

• Attend internal cycle of team meetings relevant to this role.  

• Engage with line management, supervision (where appropriate) and appraisal process.  

• Comply with data protection regulations, ensuring that information on clients, employees, volunteers and other stakeholders remains confidential.  

• Take responsibility for personal learning and development with support from line manager.  

• Work in a manner that facilitates equal opportunities and inclusion for all.  

• Remain professional and respectful at all times, promoting positive relations with all those we encounter in our work.  

• Maintain health and safety and risk awareness for self and others across the organisation.  

• Undertake any other duties that Bild may require within the remit of this role.  

This job description does not form part of the contract of employment. It is intended as a guide to the general scope of duties and is not definitive or restrictive. It is expected that some duties will change over time and this description will be subject to review with the postholder at their annual appraisal.  

Person Specification  

Job Title 

Director of External Relations 

• Exceptional copy writing and verbal communication skills

• Good presenting, negotiating and influencing skills

• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to build mutually beneficial relationships

• The ability to work effectively within a small team

• Ability to work under pressure, and plan, manage, and adapt own workload

• A flexible, proactive and problem-solving approach to work

• A motivated attitude and ability to work on own initiative 

• A commitment to human rights and modelling accessibility and inclusion throughout activity

• Willingness to travel and work flexible hours as demanded by the post

• Fit to undertake the duties of the post. 

Experience/Skills/Competencies 

Essential 

• Significant experience working in communications, policy and PR with demonstrable success

• PR and media management experience, including both online and traditional PR

• Experience of managing and implementing social media plans, including post development, scheduling, evaluation and monitoring feedback

• Experience of overseeing the design and production of print and electronic publications, including website management and development

• Experience of managing CRM systems and ensuring effective data capture and utilising data to inform decision making

• Ability to analyse data and shape results into reports that inform decision making

• Ability to build effective relationships and networks and establish credibility for Bild, RRN, Respond and Bild ACT 

• Ability to work collaboratively and develop positive relationships with colleagues, members and wider stakeholders

• Demonstrated digital comms / social media skills and understanding of emerging digital marketing tools and platforms

• Ability to use a variety of IT packages/databases including CRM systems.

• Experience managing budgets and associated reporting

• Ability to work remotely and regularly travel to in person events

• Time management skills and ability to prioritise workload under pressure as part of a small but vibrant team

• Strong awareness and interest in news/current affairs/politics and the broader third sector, social care and education sector. 

Desirable 

• Experience working in the not-for-profit sector, preferably in another disability and/or membership charity

• Strong understanding of education, health, social care, disability and not for profit environment

• Strong media contacts within relevant trade sector publications

• Ability to use externally managed media databases (such as Agility etc.)

• Experience with conferences, webinars and hybrid events. 

• Experience supporting and manging a remote team

Education and Qualifications: 

Other Requirements: 

• Commitment to anti-discriminatory practice and equal opportunities and able to apply awareness of diversity issues to all areas of work.  

• Regular travel to attend meetings and events. 

• Occasional evening meetings.  

Legal requirements: 

• Enhanced DBS check. 

About Spear

We launched the award-winning Spear Programme over 20 years ago, and there are now 18 Spear Centres across the country, equipping unemployed 16–24-year-olds facing barriers to employment with the skills and mindset they need to secure work and thrive in the workplace.

Spear operates a joint venture model with churches across the UK to run our Spear Centres. Some Centres operate in collaboration with independent charitable trusts, while others are run directly with the local church (both referred to below as ‘Spear Church Partners’ or ‘Church Partners’).

About the role

We’re looking for a new Church Partnerships Manager to join us for this northern based role, with travel across the region.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in driving national growth by developing and nurturing partnerships with churches across the North of England. You will be at the forefront of developing new relationships with potential early-stage partners, inspiring churches to engage with our mission, and supporting them through the pipeline, and helping to establish a diverse and thriving network of church partnerships.

We are looking for a confident relationship-builder who can engage and influence a wide range of stakeholders, particularly church leaders, and who is comfortable working in a dynamic and evolving environment.

Key information:

• Salary: £37,000
• Location: Remote with once a month travel to London for team meetings and regular travel in the North of England
• Full-time, 12-14month Fixed Term Contract, with the possibility of extension
• Closing date: Friday 10th April, 09.00am (we interview on a rolling basis and will close the role early if we find the right candidate)

For more information please read through our Job Specification and Work with Us Pack.

If you require any reasonable adjustments as part of the recruitment process, please let us know.

Person Specification

• A practising Christian, passionate about personally representing the values and beliefs of Spear, and our mission to equip and support young people facing barriers to employment
• Strong leadership ability with the confidence to make effective decisions
• Outstanding people skills and emotional intelligence, capable of quickly winning trust and confidence, as well as network, influence and negotiate with church leaders and a range of audiences, internally and externally
• An understanding of the needs and workings of churches and their leaders, and the ability to innovate, build our growth strategy and generate new partnerships
• An excellent communicator (both written and verbal)
• Excellent initiative and a self-starter, with the ability to operate flexibly in a changing and dynamic environment and in response to the support needs of each partner
• Strong organisational skills including the ability to establish appropriate processes and structures and to manage multiple priorities to meet targets and deadlines
• Strong quantitative skills including ability to work with and interpret impact data, fundraising pipelines and basic financial information
• Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint competent and experience of/ability to use databases

Location: Remote (UK only) or Hybrid (Brighton/Sussex) 

Salary: £35,787 (pro rata), 4 days £28,629.60 (actual) plus statutory pension contributions 

Hours: Part-time, 30 hours a week

Contract: 12 month contract, with the intention to renew if the role makes a positive impact 

Start: As soon as possible 

Who we are: 

Grassroots Suicide Prevention (GSP) is a national charity committed to the timely intervention and prevention of suicide. We work to empower people to help save lives through connecting, educating, and campaigning nationally. Our vision is a future where more lives are saved from suicide. 

About the role:  
We are seeking a highly organised and driven Project and Operations Manager to help streamline processes, deliver key initiatives, and support our continued growth in our Training team. In this role, you will bring together complex communications, requests, and ideas, translating them into clear plans, structured workflows, and effective processes that ensure the successful delivery of multiple projects. You will combine strong planning and organisational expertise with a practical, hands-on approach to implementation. Comfortable managing competing priorities, you will remain flexible and adaptable, responding effectively to unforeseen challenges while keeping projects on track. 

Your excellent communication skills will set you apart. You will be an active listener who can clearly convey ideas, build alignment, and confidently influence colleagues, stakeholders, and external partners. With a strong business mindset and a passion for operational excellence, you will play a key role in ensuring both projects and day-to-day operations run smoothly. 
 
This is a highly rewarding role with significant real-world impact. Candidates should demonstrate resilience, as the role involves remote working, engaging with complex subject matter, operating in a fast-paced environment, and managing multiple priorities. You will also be responsible for overseeing the simultaneous delivery of multiple training courses, requiring flexibility, strong organisation, and the ability to multitask effectively. You will be working in close collaboration and guided by the Training Manager and senior leadership staff. 

Your welfare is the utmost priority; before applying, please consider carefully whether the demands and requirements of the role and subject matter could impact your wellbeing. 

Main Duties and Responsibilities:  

• Lead the project management of all training programmes and services, ensuring effective planning, coordination, delivery, evaluation, and reporting 

• Provide day-to-day coordination and effective leadership, including clear direction and support to the training team (currently three reports) 

• Oversee all aspects of contract delivery, including project planning, timelines, budget management, communications, and reporting to clients, partners and internal teams 

• Manage and maintain updates of a training calendar identifying activity, allocating trainers to training courses to ensure quality delivery of courses 

• Working with managers and team in Training, oversee the Assistant Trainers (freelance trainers) communications, allocations, contracts, feedback and allocation of work 

• Build, develop, and maintain strong relationships with external partners and clients, ensuring all interactions reflect the strategic direction and protect the reputation of the charity 

• Work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders, using strong negotiation and influencing skills to ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to a high standard 

• Monitor and report on project progress and performance, ensuring the efficient and effective delivery of all training activities and identifying and raising risks or issues early 

• Working with managers in Finance and Training, set realistic targets, manage budgets, cross-checking invoices, and capacity, and track project performance against agreed KPIs 

• Support quality assurance across training programmes, including accreditation requirements, reviewing and proofreading materials, adherence to brand, copyright and maintaining high standards of training materials 

• Working with managers in Marketing and Training. oversee and provide reports on training evaluation data and feedback to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for improvement 

• Working collaboratively with the Marketing team to ensure a consistent flow of content to promote the courses, such as upcoming training, feedback quotes and data, website updates, training videos and raising courses that align with campaigns 

• Working with managers in Communications, implement improvements to systems, processes, and workflows to enhance operational efficiency and the client experience from initial enquiry through to evaluation 

• Support the growth of the organisation’s training offer by identifying and assessing opportunities for new partnerships, services, and income generation 

• Maintain oversight of the effective and consistent use of operational systems and platforms across the team (such as Salesforce, Eventbrite, SurveyMonkey, Monday), recommending improvements where appropriate 

• Working across the training team, ensure activities comply with relevant policies and regulations, including health and safety, safeguarding, suicide prevention, and ethical standards 

• Undertake additional duties as required to improve the function of the Training team, as directed by your line manager. 

To succeed and thrive in this role, you will be: 

• Confident, adaptable, and highly organised, with exceptional attention to detail 

• Eager to learn and develop, welcoming guidance and feedback from senior managers to continually improve 

• Hands-on and comfortable engaging with operational detail, while maintaining a strategic mindset 

• Proactive and solutions-focused, able to suggest improvements and independently resolve challenges when needed 

• Able to prioritise your own workload and that of your team 

• Reliable in meeting deadlines and maintaining consistently high standards of work 

• Skilled at communicating tasks clearly to project teams effectively and efficiently, with the ability to adapt communication styles to suit a range of audiences 

• Comfortable working in a fast-paced training delivery environment, able to prioritise effectively and manage multiple responsibilities 

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively adapting to rapidly changing needs and working flexibly across multiple projects 

• Self-motivated and capable of working independently and remotely, while also contributing positively as part of a team 

• Willing to act as a brand ambassador and consider and raise any risks to the charity’s reputation and profile within Training activity 

• Represent Grassroots Suicide Prevention on external groups and promote our services and expertise 

• Willingness to travel occasionally if required 

• Passionate about your part in delivering high-quality online and in-person training courses that help save lives. 

Essential Skills and Experience: 

• A recognised project management qualification or equivalent practical experience 

• Proven experience managing multiple projects simultaneously, delivering them from initiation through to completion across cross-functional teams 

• Strong ability to analyse quantitative and qualitative data, identify risks, and recognise emerging trends to inform decision-making 

• Experience writing high-quality reports for clients, clearly demonstrating project progress, outcomes, and impact 

• Demonstrated ability to lead, manage, and motivate teams, fostering collaboration and high performance 

• Highly self-motivated and resilient, with the ability to work effectively in a remote or distributed environment 

• Evidence of developing and improving processes and procedures to increase organisational efficiency and effectiveness 

• Advanced working knowledge of Microsoft Office, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, CRM systems, and email marketing platforms 

• Proven experience building and maintaining strong relationships with colleagues, clients, and key stakeholders 

• Strong negotiation, influencing, and diplomacy skills, with a track record of achieving positive outcomes, including growing client engagement 

• Experience representing and communicating with senior stakeholders and decision-makers internally and externally 

• Experience in operational, financial, and business planning, including budget management and monitoring 

• Understanding of accessible communications, brand consistency, key messaging, and reputation management 

• Commitment to safeguarding, confidentiality, and ethical practice. 

Desirable Skills and Experience: 

• Project management experience within teaching and learning environments, including e-learning development or delivery 

• Understanding of quality assurance processes, including reviewing and maintaining training or educational materials 

• Experience using AI tools responsibly and effectively, with awareness of both the opportunities and potential risks 

• Experience working in the non-profit or charitable sector 

• Experience collaborating with a diverse range of clients, such as non-profit organisations, county councils, corporate organisations, and the Civil Service 

• Knowledge or experience in health and social care, mental health, or suicide prevention 

• Experience with design principles and accessibility in communications, ensuring materials are inclusive and user-friendly 

• Familiarity with platforms such as Eventbrite, Salesforce, SurveyMonkey, Mailchimp

• Awareness of marketing and promoting training courses 

• Experience conducting competitor research and analysing data to inform improvements and decision-making. 

Why Grassroots Suicide Prevention: 

GSP is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community and workplace - a place where we can all be ourselves, and each have the equal opportunity to succeed and be recognised for our unique contribution. We value the experiences, skills and perspectives of all individuals and actively encourage applications from people with diverse backgrounds. We make recruitment decisions based on applicants’ skills, experience, and knowledge, ensuring all applicants are treated fairly. 

Our employee benefits include: 

• Hybrid/Flexible working – we offer our team a split of home and office working, or fully remote working in some roles 

• Health Cash Plan and employee assistant programme offering a contribution to the costs of everyday healthcare needs (dental, optical, wellbeing) and counselling support, plus legal and financial support 

• Learning and development opportunities

• A creative, friendly and collaborative culture. 

Please note that we are looking for a start as soon as possible, so the selection process begins immediately and will close when we fill the post with the right person.

GSP is in a period of transition and development, and the post holder should be aware that their Job Description and line management may evolve to meet the future needs of the charity. 

The Director of Charitable Impact is a senior leadership role responsible for defining, driving, delivering (operating), and evidencing Ben’s charitable impact. The postholder will lead the strategic and operational delivery of health, wellbeing, and support and specialist services, ensuring the charity demonstrably improves lives while strengthening its position as a credible, trusted health and wellbeing charity and thought leader for the automotive community.

Job Title: Director of Charitable Impact
Organisation: Ben – Motor & Allied Trades Benevolent Fund (The Automotive Industry Charity)
Location: Home Based, UK (with regular travel)
Salary: c. £80,000 – £90,000 per annum + £5,000 car allowance
Reports to: Chief Executive Officer
Direct Reports: Support Services Lead and Specialist Services Lead

This role combines strategic leadership, operational performance, service innovation, impact measurement, and external influence to ensure Ben delivers meaningful, measurable, and visible outcomes for those who need it most.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Impact

• Lead the development and delivery of Ben’s Charitable Impact Strategy aligned to organisational vision and priorities.
• Ensure the charity delivers clear, measurable, and demonstrable outcomes for individuals, families, and the wider automotive workforce.
• Embed an outcomes-driven culture focused on evidence, learning, and continuous improvement.
• Translate strategy into operational delivery plans, KPIs, and impact frameworks.

Service Delivery & Operations

• Oversee the effective delivery of all charitable programmes and services, ensuring they are high quality, accessible, safe, and impactful.
• Drive service innovation to meet emerging health, financial, and social wellbeing needs across the automotive sector.
• Ensure services are delivered efficiently, sustainably, and in line with regulatory, safeguarding, and quality / clinical governance standards.
• Use insight and data to inform service design, resource allocation, and performance improvement.

Health & Wellbeing Leadership

• Lead Ben’s evolution into a recognised, credible health and wellbeing charity for the automotive industry.
• Ensure services reflect best practice in mental health, physical wellbeing, financial resilience, and social support.
• Build partnerships with health, wellbeing, and sector specialists to strengthen service quality and credibility.
• Champion prevention, early intervention, and whole-person health and wellbeing approaches.

Impact Measurement & Evidence

• Develop and embed robust impact measurement, evaluation, and reporting frameworks.
• Ensure the charity can clearly demonstrate social value, outcomes, and return on investment to stakeholders.
• Lead production of impactful insight, data, and evidence to inform decision-making and external positioning.
• Strengthen the charity’s ability to use evidence to attract funding, partnerships, and sector influence.

Thought Leadership & External Influence

• Position Ben as a leading voice on health and wellbeing in the automotive industry.
• Develop insight, campaigns, and sector engagement that raise awareness of issues affecting automotive people.
• Represent Ben externally with credibility and authority across industry, health, and charity sectors.
• Contribute to policy, research, and sector dialogue to influence positive change.

Leadership & Culture

• Provide inspiring leadership to multidisciplinary teams, fostering a high-performance, values-driven culture.
• Build organisational capability in impact, service delivery, and wellbeing.
• Promote collaboration across the organisation, particularly with fundraising, engagement, and communications.
• Lead through change, ensuring services evolve with need and strategy.

Governance & Risk

• Contribute to Executive Team leadership, organisational strategy, and governance.
• Ensure services operate within legal, regulatory, and safeguarding frameworks.
• Manage operational and reputational risk relating to service delivery and impact.

Person Specification

Experience

• Significant senior leadership experience within the charity, health, social impact, or related sector.
• Proven track record of delivering measurable social impact and leading outcome-driven services or programmes.
• Experience of overseeing complex service delivery / operational functions.
• Demonstrable success in leading organisational or service transformation.
• Experience developing impact measurement, evaluation, or evidence frameworks.
• Experience influencing external stakeholders and building credibility within a sector or field.
• Experience leading and developing high-performing, multidisciplinary teams.

Knowledge & Understanding

• Strong understanding of physical and mental health and wellbeing, psychology and emotional wellbeing, prevention, and whole-person support.
• Knowledge of impact measurement, social value, and outcome frameworks.
• Understanding of safeguarding, quality, and regulatory considerations in service delivery (e.g. clinical governance requirements).
• Insight into the challenges affecting working people and communities (financial, health, social).
• Understanding of the charity sector, charity governance, and funding environment (desirable).
• Awareness of the automotive industry or willingness to quickly develop industry insight.

Skills & Capabilities

• Strategic thinker with strong delivery focus — able to translate vision into measurable outcomes.
• Operationally strong with ability to drive performance, quality, and improvement.
• Evidence-driven and analytical, able to use insight and data to shape decisions.
• Credible and influential communicator, internally and externally.
• Strong leadership presence with ability to inspire, engage, and lead through change.
• Collaborative and partnership-oriented.
• Strong judgement, integrity, and commitment to safeguarding and ethical practice.

Personal Qualities

• Passion for improving lives and delivering meaningful social impact.
• Purpose-driven, values-led, and mission aligned.
• Resilient, adaptable, and outcome focused.
• Curious, forward-thinking, and committed to learning and innovation.
• Empathetic and people-centred in approach.

Key Relationships

• Chief Executive and Executive Team
• Service Delivery and Impact teams
• Fundraising, Marketing & Communications teams
• Trustees and Board Committees
• External partners / organisations including automotive stakeholder or employers, health and wellbeing, welfare and charity, etc.

Success Measures

• Clear, demonstrable improvement in measurable charitable impact.
• Strong, high-quality, accessible health and wellbeing services.
• Recognised credibility as a health and wellbeing charity for the automotive industry.
• Robust impact evidence used to inform strategy, funding, and influence.
• Positive service outcomes, reach, and stakeholder confidence.

Our focus is on creating libraries of tomorrow with children and young people today.

We want all children and young people to feel at home at the library, to be understood, empowered and inspired. Our collaborative network is made up of member, partners and supporters. We believe in the need for safe spaces and real-life connections to support the demands of modern life. Together, we’re creating change, and you can be a part of it.

This is a pivotal moment of growth and development for Libraries Rising as a young charity. We’re seeking a passionate, skilled manager to join our team. We’re looking for someone to bring the energy and expertise to help us develop and grow over the next 12 months.

We’re looking for:

An experienced project manager who enjoys a flexible and iterative approach.

A proactive leader who is energised by variety, and able to work effectively across diverse topics and themes.

A values led bid writer who has experience of co-creating successful grant funding bids.

A creative thinker who enjoys a productive and responsive environment.

An enthusiastic collaborator who will build strong relationships with our team, members and partners.

We’re looking for someone who lives our values - progressive, collaborative, kind, aspirational and inclusive.

What’s important to us needs to be important to you too. We want to focus on impact, to work openly, to collaborate with and learn from others, to take the time to care for ourselves and each other, and to have fun together. We want to build an environmentally sustainable charity, and we want to be celebrated as an inclusion changemaker in the sector.

About the work

We are an Arts Council England Investment Principles Support Organisation. Our members are leaders in children and young people’s public libraries and schools library services (SLS). 

The Development and Delivery Manager (Projects) is a new role for the charity. You will work with a small and growing team, who are passionate about our mission and vision. You will also work with our members (leaders of children’s public library and School Library Service leaders) and sector partners.

We are in the final stages of creating our strategy for the future. You’ll be supporting us with organisational and sector development across all pillars, with a particular focus on our Thriving Charity goals.

Job purpose

To lead and deliver a range priority projects and funding bids for the charity.

The purpose of the role includes:

• To scope and deliver a range of projects to support both organisational and sector developments.
• To convene members and young people to participate in events and workshops, ensuring projects and developments are co-created with stakeholders.
• To compile reviews, reports and options appraisals to aid effective decision making.
• To lead the development and submission of grant and trust funding opportunities.
• To support the shaping, and delivery, of a funding plan to enable delivery of our new charity strategy.
• To ensure creative and flexible use of resources.

What you’ll bring to the role

• Strong project management skills, with experience delivering complex, multi-stakeholder work.
• Track record of delivering to achieve strategic goals and outcomes.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise, plan and manage risk.
• Ability to negotiate and influence.
• Experience of identifying funding opportunities and successfully bidding for grant funding.
• Able to work on own initiative and collaborate within a team.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Excellent listening skills with the ability to take diverse opinions into account.
• Digitally literate and technologically curious, with experience of Microsoft Office and project software.
• Experience managing and monitoring budgets.
• Experience of facilitating events and workshops.
• Committed to engaging and co-creating with children, young people and families.
• Understanding of the role of libraries within communities.
• Experience of managing partnerships, subcontractors or commissioned work.
• Awareness of GDPR implications and requirements.

Personal qualities

• Empathetic, able to understand a variety of viewpoints that are different to their own.
• Calm under pressure and able to manage multiple priorities while maintaining quality.
• Confident in building relationships and constructively challenging where needed.
• Thrives when working collaboratively and taking responsibility for delivery.
• Trusts others and inspires trust.
• Ambitious for our charity, the library sector and for children and young people.
• Strategic thinker who can also absorb and analyse detailed information.
• Entrepreneurial, with the ability to spot opportunities and develop them.
• Asks for feedback and is able to accept and act on it to improve their own performance.
• Understanding of inclusion and its importance within a diverse society.
• Commitment to own continued professional development.

Our application process is open to everyone and anyone with the experience we’re looking for. We have a diverse board of trustees, but we know our staff team is not as diverse as we need for the future, as we grow. We particularly welcome applications from people from racialised communities, men, trans or non-binary individuals, and those with hidden or visible disabilities.

Employee benefits include:

25 days annual leave (pro rata) plus Bank Holidays

5% employer pension contribution

Employee Assist Programme – including 24/7 counselling, health support and legal helpline.

A range of discounts on retail, entertainment, travel and wellbeing.

If you have any questions about the role, or want to chat Tabitha, Chief Executive before applying, please get in touch.

All applicants must have an existing Right to Work in the UK. Please also note that appointment will be made subject to collection of two references and a satisfactory DBS check or evidence of a current DBS certificate.