Senior programme officer jobs in Charing cross, greater london

Are you a proficient copy-writer who is passionate about the natural world and communicating stories and impact to funders?

Synchronicity Earth is looking for a Senior Philanthropy Marketing Officer to create, curate, and design compelling materials to showcase Synchronicity Earth’s programmes and partners around the world and promote our distinct philanthropic approach. You will help us to engage new and current audiences including prospect donors, and philanthropy and conservation specialists across the UK and Europe, the US and Asia.

While the role is embedded in the Philanthropy team, you will work closely with Communications colleagues to ensure consistency across written materials (funding reports, slide decks, information sheets) and digital content (newsletters, targeted content for social media).

You will enjoy working collaboratively with colleagues across the organisation (including our Engagement, and Programmes teams) to deliver high-quality materials that engage donors and supporters and contribute to our mission to protect and restore biodiversity where it is most at risk.

PLEASE NOTE THAT IF YOU USE AI IN YOUR APPLICATION, YOU ARE MUCH LESS LIKELY TO BE SHORTLISTED. WE WANT TO SEE YOUR UNIQUE, BRILLIANT SELF. We do not use AI in any part of our recruitment and selection process.

Closing date: 16th February 2026 10am

First stage interviews (Zoom):  23rd – 27th February 2026

Second stage interviews (at our office in-person): 2nd – 4th March 2026

Synchronicity Earth’s mission it to bring conservation to life through our work, championing effective approaches and increasing funding for Earth’s overlooked species and ecosystems and the communities working to protect them.

By joining, you’re not just taking part; you're contributing to our vision of a world in which biological and cultural diversity are valued, celebrated, and flourishing.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds for this role, particularly non-graduates, and are happy to discuss flexible working arrangements. We also welcome candidates who may have taken a career break. Your unique experiences and fresh perspective will only enhance our team's diversity and strengthen our ability to tackle the complex challenges facing our planet.

Candidates from Black, Asian, and Minority-Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds and people with disabilities who meet the criteria (in the section of the job description headed ‘What you will bring to the team’) and opt-in to our Guaranteed Interview Scheme will enter the first recruitment stage, see more information below.

Application and Recruitment Process

Inclusion is a priority throughout our workplace culture and is embedded in our recruitment process. To support this, the first stage of recruitment will be anonymised by Charity Job to mitigate against unconscious bias. Please let us know at any stage during the recruitment process if you have any accessibility requirements and we will do what we can to accommodate these for you. Please also let us know which pronouns you would like to be referred by, if you wish.

How to apply:

· Complete the application questions, upload your CV, and submit your application through Charity Job.

· Fill in our candidate survey. Whilst this survey is optional it is the way to opt in to the Guaranteed Interview Scheme (information below) if you would like.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme

We recognise that people from Black, Asian, and Minority-Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds and people with disabilities are under-represented in our sector, and that there are often additional barriers present for people from these groups when applying for roles in the charity sector and beyond.

As part of our commitment to attract and retain talented individuals from under-represented groups to the conservation and environment sector, if you belong to these groups, you can opt in to the Guaranteed Interview Scheme (GIS) in our candidate survey. See the attachment which outlines how to do this and includes the link to the survey. If you meet the essential criteria for a role, you'll be guaranteed a first-stage assessment. The results of this assessment will be used to select candidates for the first-stage interview.

Team: Philanthropy & Partnerships

Location: Remotely, UK

Work pattern: 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday with occasional work required outside standard hours to support events

Salary: Up to £37,565.95 per annum

Contract: Permanent

We are the UK’s largest cat welfare charity. All over the country, our passionate employees, volunteers and supporters are using their kindness and expertise to make life better for millions of cats and the people who care for them. Will you join us and make a better life for cats?

Responsibilities of our Philanthropy and Partnerships Senior Events Officer:

This role is responsible for designing and delivering a varied programme of impactful high value engagement events for the Philanthropy and Partnerships team ranging from large-scale special events to bespoke private gatherings that inspire, engage, and encourage greater levels of support and long-term relationships with Cats Protection.

The post holder will lead on all aspects of event management, from strategy development, concept and planning through to delivery and post-event evaluation, ensuring all events are executed to the highest standard

About the Philanthropy & Partnership’s team:

• Philanthropy and Partnerships are a dedicated and motivated team who all believe strongly in our mission and values. We have ambitious growth plans with a large focus on growing and diversifying our pipeline
• We sit within the Marketing & Income Generation Directorate and are a currently a team of 19

What we’re looking for in our Philanthropy and Partnerships Senior Events Officer:

• Extensive experience of high value fundraising event creation, management and associated evaluation
• Experience of developing and delivering a range of event formats, including large-scale and bespoke events.
• Project Management experience, ideally within a fundraising or charity context, managing high profile events
• Experience of tracking and monitoring spend within a budget
• Experience of planning ahead e.g. planning an events programme

What we can offer you:

• range of health benefits
• 26 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing with length of service
• Salary Finance, which empowers you to take control of your financial wellbeing
• and much more, which you can learn about

Interested? Here’s how to apply:

Application closing date: 8th February 2026

Virtual interview date: 17th & 18th February 2026

Applications may close before the deadline, so please apply early to avoid disappointment. Please note, applications received after the closing date may not be responded to.

If you’re enthusiastic about this opportunity but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every requirement, we encourage you to apply anyway and demonstrate how your experience is transferrable.  You may be just the right candidate. 

If successful, your recruitment journey will include:

• Anonymised application form
• Virtual interview via Microsoft Teams
• Final stage interview (dependent on first stage interviews)

Please note, the process may change slightly dependent on application numbers. We will inform you of any relevant changes.

We are looking for someone with excellent communication and organisational skills to support with developing and communicating policy positions that contribute to the charity’s key strategic objectives.

In this dynamic role, you’ll work as a core part of the team and across the wider organisation to coordinate and draft responses to consultations and lead on responding to policy enquiries.

Your ability to influence and work together with others will help you to succeed as Policy Officer to learn from colleagues and external networks in order to contribute to policy positions, confidently represent Diabetes UK and influence others appropriately.

You will also be keen to seek out opportunities to develop your knowledge and skills and have an appetite to develop expert knowledge in particular policy areas.

Join us and be a part of something truly transformative. Together, we can change the narrative around diabetes and make a positive difference to the lives of people impacted by the condition.

We’re hiring a Director of Communities, Health and Partnerships.

Hackney CVS is in an exciting new phase and we’re looking for a senior leader to help shape it.

Following a major restructuring and redesign of our support offer, we’re focusing more sharply on our core mission: strengthening, connecting and championing the voluntary and community sector (VCS) across Hackney and the City of London.

Our Director of Communities, Health and Partnerships will:

• Lead our networks, forums and engagement work.
• Amplify community voice in local decision-making.
• Build powerful cross-sector partnerships.
• Support the voluntary sector to influence systems change.

You’ll join our Senior Leadership Team at a pivotal moment, helping us embed new ways of working and secure a brighter future for the VCS.

If you care deeply about equity, collaboration and the potential of the VCS to transform lives, and if you thrive in complexity, influence and relationship building, we would love to hear from you.

For the full job description and person specification, please see the attached recruitment pack.

#director #community #health #partnership

Keychange is a Christian charity with a proud history of supporting people invulnerable situations for over a century. We believe that everyone has dignity and worth, and that people thrive best in communities where they are known, valued and supported. Across our care homes and housing communities, we seek to provide support that goes beyond compliance and is rooted in compassion, excellence and Christian values.

We are now seeking a Director of Operations to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our services and ensuring that our vision is lived out every day across the organisation.

The role

As Director of Operations, you will be a key member of the senior leadership team, working closely with the CEO and Board to translate strategy into high-quality, sustainable delivery with exciting future developments ahead.

You will provide strategic and operational leadership across 7 care homes and 3 housing communities in the south of England, leading and supporting a talented operations team to deliver safe, effective and person-centred services.

Key responsibilities include:

• Providing visible leadership that embeds Keychange’s Christian vision, values and culture across all services
• Leading and overseeing multi-site operations, ensuring consistently high standards of care, safeguarding and support
• Holding accountability for regulatory compliance, quality assurance and service improvement
• Driving operational excellence, innovation and efficiency through effective systems and processes
• Ensuring services are financially sustainable, working closely with finance colleagues on budgets and resources
• Developing, coaching and inspiring senior managers and leaders to perform at their best

This is a senior role with real influence – both on the strategic direction of Keychange and on the lives of hundreds of people we support.

About you

We are looking for a values-led, strategic and credible leader who brings:

• Senior leadership experience within social care, housing, homelessness or a closely related sector
• A proven track record of leading multi-site services and managing senior operational leaders
• Strong experience of working within regulated environments and delivering high-quality, compliant services
• Sound financial and commercial awareness, with experience of managing budgets and resources  of a similar scale to Keychange (250 staff across 10 sites)
• A passion for developing people, culture and values-driven practice
• A personal commitment to the Christian faith and active agreement with the Keychange mission, vision and faith basis. (This is a genuine occupational requirement under the Equality Act 2010)

You will be someone who combines strategic thinking with practical delivery, and who leads with integrity, humility and purpose.

What we offer

This is a rare opportunity to take on a senior leadership role where your professional expertise and Christian faith can make a lasting and meaningful difference.

The role involves regular travel across our sites in the south of England with flexibility around base location.

This is a senior, trusted role at the heart of the organisation, responsible for the smooth running of the CEO and Executive Office and for providing high quality governance and administrative support to our Boards and committees. Working closely with the Co Chief Executives, the role supports strategic delivery, organisational planning and cross organisational projects, while also playing an important part in shaping how we work together as a values led organisation.

Based in Covent Garden, the role would suit someone with experience of working within a senior executive or private office environment who brings sound judgement, discretion and a collaborative approach. A background in theatre is not essential, but an appreciation of the social and cultural value of the arts and a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion are important.

For full details of the role, please see the job pack. 

Young Citizens is seeking a Business Development and Special Projects Lead to support a critical year of fundraising, income generation and partnership development. This role supports the special projects work with the CEO and will work with the senior team to lead on the income and visibility opportunities that unlock our delivery for our three-year strategy.

Your Role’s Purpose

Year 1 of this role will be focused on business model development, income generation and strategic partnerships. Working closely with the CEO and senior management team, you will help shape, test and secure new funding and commercial opportunities that position Young Citizens for long-term sustainability and impact. The special projects element includes supporting the developmental design of our future business model, charity strategy and public affairs work.

This role is ideal for someone who enjoys building, creating and working at pace to achieve great results within a small team. You will be rapidly developing propositions, forging partnerships and converting ideas into credible, funded initiatives. You will play a central role in strengthening our relationships with funders, institutions, corporates and sector partners, while supporting wider organisational development projects.

Young Citizens works at the intersection of education, democracy and civic life, and this role offers a unique opportunity to influence how active citizenship is funded, delivered and embedded across the UK.

In Year 1, your primary focus will be to:

• Develop and drive income/fundraising with existing channels, including grant funding, partnerships and commercial activity.
• Build a strong pipeline of income opportunities, working closely with the CEO to convert prospects into funding
• Produce high-quality business cases, funding bids, proposals and presentations of our work
• Design and execute new funding models and partnership opportunities alongside the CEO’s updated strategic plan
• Lead staff member for strategic engagement with funders, corporates, policymakers and sector stakeholders.

Alongside this, you will contribute to priority special projects that support Young Citizens’ organisational growth and external positioning.

Who We’re Looking For

This role is not just open to traditional fundraisers or partnership managers. As long as you have the seniority and expertise leading results, you might come from a charity, social enterprise, consultancy, policy or start-up background. What matters most is your ability to confidently progress a pipeline of opportunities, build partnerships, generate income and deliver results.

We are interested in a wider pool of candidates with 5+ years in the working world, possibly from other start-ups or programme design focus instead of 'trad' fundraising roles'. If you are a high-performer who wants to focus on corporate partnerships, external relations and business success, this role may be right for you—talk to us.

We’re looking for someone who is:

• Entrepreneurial and proactive, with a strong interest in business development and income generation
• Confidently able to design and deliver on their ideas, instilling confidence and get results with high-level stakeholders
• Highly professional writer and communicator, able to produce strong proposals and pitch deck materials
• Commercially aware, with an ability to spot and shape fundable opportunities
• Excels at working closely with senior stakeholders including the CEO, able to predict needs and are responsive to what gets the best results
• Organised and adaptable, able to own multiple priorities in a small, fast-moving organisation
• Technically capable, making data systems like Salesforce easily integrated into their workflow
• Distinctly motivated and/or experienced in social impact, education, democracy or civic participation

Please note the pay scale of this role is determined by the demonststrable strategic seniority the person brings in managing others and organisational outcomes alongside technical role skills above.

Success in the first six months of this role will look like:

• Immediate management and confidence securing existing income contracts with corporate and funding partners of £200,000+
• Tactical, high-volume stakeholder engagement campaigns to increase sponsorship and new income opportunities
• Leading the development of improved business modelling, pricing structures and income streams that create a more sustainable base
• Operating with professionalism, improving processes and keeping organisational priorities at the forefront

Why join us?

• Make a real difference by helping deliver inspiring citizenship experiences to young people nationwide.
• Shape and strengthen the delivery of our flagship national programmes.
• Join a supportive, purpose‑driven team that values collaboration, flexibility, and doing great work together.
• Grow with us as we deliver our new three‑year strategy and embed smarter, stronger delivery processes.

If you're excited about making a tangible impact through high‑quality programme delivery, and want to contribute to a mission‑driven organisation, we’d love to hear from you.

A few useful notes to apply:

This is a 12 month fixed contract starting as soon as possible. 

• The closing date for applications is 11pm on Sunday 22 February 2026. We encourage you to apply ahead of the deadline, as shortlisting will begin on Thursday 12 February. However, as long as this advert remains live, first‑round interviews have not yet been finalised.
• Please submit a covering letter of no more than two pages outlining your interest in this role. Applications without a covering letter cannot be reviewed. We are unable to progress applications that do not demonstrate direct or clearly transferable experience.
• If you have any questions before applying, please contact our HR team.

For a full overview of the role and responsibilities, please see the job pack for more details.

About SPANA

SPANA (The Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad) is the global charity for the working animals of the world. Since our foundation in 1923, we have worked where they work, to support the welfare of working animals, including horses, donkeys, mules, oxen, dogs and camels.

About this role

The Programmes Quality and Delivery department is a key unit within SPANA’s Global Programmes Directorate (GPD). The team ensures effective oversight of the design and delivery of working animal health and welfare interventions in collaboration with a range of national NGO partners across more than 20 countries in Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Central and South America. SPANA is strengthening the GPD to support partners to develop and deliver transformational and sustainable improvements in working animal welfare. 

Reporting to a Senior Programmes Manager, the Programmes Officer provides essential grant administration and project management support to a portfolio of partners, ensuring effective oversight across the lifecycle of grants. This involves developing effective working partnerships remotely and identifying risks and issues that need to be escalated. The Programmes Officer works closely with technical colleagues responsible for Monitoring Evaluation Accountability and Learning (MEAL), animal health and welfare, education and behaviour change and the wider organisation (e.g., communications, fundraising, advocacy and policy). 

Contract, location and salary

This role is a full-time (34.5 hours per week), permanent role. This is a UK based position, with 1-2 days per month (or more if preferred) worked from SPANA's office in London. 

The salary for this role is c.£32,000 subject to skills and experience. Applicants must have the current right to work in the UK.

Further information and how to apply

Please review the job description for full details including a person specification and information on how to apply. The deadline for applications is 23:59 GTM on Sunday 8 February 2026. 

Senior Programme Manager (maternity cover)

Hours:  35 hours per week

Contract: 9 to 12 months maternity cover

Salary: £37,800 + 7% pension contribution

Location: mainly remote, with in-person working from a central London location as required

Reports to:  Interim CEO 

Direct report: line managing a small team of 2 to 3

Is this you? If so, this job may be for you…

• Do you want to make a mark in the first year of a brand new programme?

• Do you have a passion for supporting young people to access professional careers?

• Do you have experience leading learning sessions and events for young people, both online and in person?

• Are you adaptable, capable of transitioning between direct engagement with young people, and focusing on the project management and administrative aspects of the role?

About The Brokerage

The Brokerage is an award-winning, social mobility charity. For 30 years, we have supported over 87k less-advantaged young people to fulfil their potential through improved awareness and access to professional career opportunities.  Together with our talented young people and top UK companies, we are breaking down barriers to a more diverse and talented workforce.

Our mission is twofold - to empower working-class and ethnically diverse young people (16-25) to recognise their strengths, gain skills, and access opportunities to reach their career potential. We are also building a dynamic alliance with forward-thinking employers to support them in accessing and retaining this talent. Together, we develop an inclusive and equitable workforce, one that authentically mirrors the rich diversity of our society.

The Team

The Brokerage is starting a new chapter with our Next Gen Talent Career Programme, embarking on a renewed journey that will see us work with our young people and partners in a deeper and more impactful way.

We are an interconnected, diverse, mission-led team that truly lives our values. As such, we are bold and dynamic in our approach to our work whilst fostering a trust-based environment that provides freedom, flexibility and autonomy. We take a people-centred approach when it comes to our team, young people and corporate partners and we make decisions and develop programmes that are insight-led. 

Our Programme

This is an exciting time to join The Brokerage and play a vital role in rolling out our brand new Next Gen Talent Programme. The programme is a two-stage career progression initiative designed to equip working-class young people with the employability skills and guidance necessary for success in the corporate world, with the ultimate aim of supporting our young people to secure and sustain a professional career. 

Role purpose and main responsibilities

To lead our work on the Next Gen Talent Career Programme and support our other programmes helping young people (aged 16 to 25) access careers in professional services, banking, insurance and property. 

Through our programmes, we help to develop young people so that they are equipped with the professional insights and skills needed for the workplace. We do this via a high-quality curriculum of events, including masterclasses, bootcamps, career coaching  and mentoring that involve our corporate volunteers.

The Senior Programme Manager will take the lead on delivering the programme and outcomes across the Next Gen Talent Career Programme; whilst working in a highly collaborative and flexible way alongside our other senior programme managers, career coach and the volunteering and events manager.

Main Responsibilities

• Project manage the Next Gen Talent Career Programme to ensure that participants develop the skills and knowledge needed to access professional careers in Engineering.

• Manage the recruitment process for the Next Gen Talent Career Programme, including advertising the programme to our existing pool of students and wider stakeholders, managing the application and interview process. 

• Work with young people, corporates, funders and consortium delivery partners to develop and enhance programme delivery.

• Manage the promotion and delivery of high-quality in-person and online events; facilitating sessions where necessary, working with the career coach, volunteering and events manager and freelance staff.

• Develop engaging programme collateral to maintain relevance and quality, working alongside the communications team and incorporating participant feedback and sector insights

• Manage relationships, communications and briefings for funders, corporate partners and volunteers.

• Oversee and deliver one-to-one guidance for candidates, working with the career coach to ensure their engagement with the programme and to support placement applications. 

• Contribute to the retention of all corporate partners by overseeing the creation of engaging, responsive and cost–effective project plans, working alongside the partnerships team

• Set, track and monitor targets and KPIs, working with the interim CEO to ensure programme deliverables are monitored and achieved. 

• Provide regular information reports and updates for The Brokerage Senior Management Team, Board of Trustees, funders and consortium delivery partners.

• Play an active role in the planning and delivery of The Brokerage’s strategic objectives and participate in events and activities for The Brokerage as required.

• Maintain up-to-date records on our CRM system (Salesforce).

• Contribute to the development and implementation of our employer products working closely with the Interim CEO,  and relevant team members.

• Line Management of a small team of 2 to 3.

• Lead on discrete tasks outside of day to day job as appropriate. 

We are looking for someone with:

• Experience working with young people and building relationships with a range of stakeholders. 

• A strong understanding of early careers recruitment/application processes.

• A dynamic personality with strong written and verbal communication, combined with empathy and patience, to effectively engage with diverse individuals.

• Highly organised, with excellent attention to detail and the ability to manage competing priorities, including administrative aspects. 

• The ability to balance firmness with sensitivity when necessary, particularly in managing relationships and safeguarding the well-being of young people.

• Relevant lived and/or professional experience (i.e. experience of the challenges faced by those from less-advantaged backgrounds)

• A growth mindset, open to feedback, learning and development 

• Excellent IT skills, including demonstrable usage of  CRM databases (e.g. Salesforce or equivalent) and other tech tools.

If you think that you are the right candidate for this role but don’t quite meet 100% of the criteria, be bold, apply anyway!

Other benefits: 

• 28 days’ paid annual leave (3 to be taken at Christmas) plus Bank Holidays plus one day birthday leave

• Employee Assistance Programme

• A collaborative, diverse, mission-led team that works within a flexible,  trust-based environment

How to apply: 

Please complete the application form along with an upload of your CV.

Closing date: Friday 13th February 2026 at 12 noon. 

Please note that interviews will be taking place on a rolling basis, and vacancies may be filled prior to the closing date if we find the right candidate.

Interview process: We will conduct a two-stage interview process that will include competency and scenario-based questions, alongside practical skills-based assessments. 

If you would like to find out more about this role, please get in touch!

The Brokerage is committed to providing equal opportunities to prospective and current employees. It is the policy of The Brokerage to ensure that access to employment, training and career progression is determined solely by the application of objective and legitimate criteria and individual merit. If you require specific adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know, and we will do our best to support you. 

The Talent Set are delighted to be partnering with the Royal Free Charity to recruit an experienced Senior Individual Giving Manager to lead and grow a high-performing Individual Giving and Legacy programme at a pivotal moment for the organisation.

The Royal Free Charity supports over two million patients and 17,000 NHS staff across four hospitals and 30+ NHS services, funding life-changing equipment, research, staff wellbeing and patient care. With ambitious plans for growth including a forthcoming multi-million-pound cancer appeal, this is a fantastic opportunity to make a meaningful impact.

The role

This senior role sits within the Public Fundraising team and leads on developing and delivering a sustainable individual giving strategy, covering regular giving, cash appeals, in-memory and legacy fundraising. You’ll drive supporter acquisition, deepen engagement, and lead innovative approaches to income growth, while managing and developing a talented team.

What you’ll do

• Lead the strategy and delivery of individual giving, regular giving and legacy programmes.
• Develop ambitious growth plans and identify new income opportunities and channels.
• Drive acquisition and retention through insight-led, multi-channel campaigns.
• Lead the charity’s in-hospital face-to-face programme and legacy strategy.
• Build powerful supporter journeys and deliver best-in-class stewardship.
• Manage budgets, forecasts, reporting and KPIs.
• Line manage and inspire a Senior Individual Giving Officer and Supporter Care Officer.

About you

• Proven experience leading successful individual giving and legacy programmes.
• Strong track record of income growth, supporter acquisition and retention.
• Excellent leadership, project management and stakeholder engagement skills.
• A confident communicator, who is comfortable working across NHS and charity environments.
• Data-driven, strategic and highly organised.

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.

Mind in Haringey is an independent charity organisation providing vital mental health services to our community in Haringey since 1989.

We have a broad and exciting range of services and projects running in a dynamic, evolving environment. We are constantly striving to develop and improve our services through listening to our community, peers, and staff team to evaluate and deliver the best possible projects for our community.

Working with Mind in Haringey will give you the opportunity to join a small, creative team with many opportunities for learning and progression. We are a diverse and passionate team, who welcome experiences and perspectives from all backgrounds. 

We particularly encourage applications from those with lived experience of mental health, from racialised communities, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and residents of Haringey who are passionate about changing things for the better in the borough. 

Haringey is a melting pot of culture, history, and resilience. Though there is much that needs to be improved, we are proud to work as part of a community that has displayed great strength in hardship both in the past and in more recent years. Interested in joining us in this work? We look forward to receiving your application for the role.

The Programme Manager will coordinate and drive delivery of the North Central London Gambling Harms Reduction Alliance, a major two-year initiative involving partners across all five NCL boroughs, NHS, Thrive LDN, voluntary and community sector partners, King’s College London, and people with lived experience.

This role is central to delivering an ambitious, innovative, and highly collaborative public health programme aimed at preventing and reducing gambling-related harms across NCL.

Longer working lives and ongoing economic transitions are reshaping careers: how we start them, and how we move through them. But too many people remain paid in low-paid, low-quality work – with damaging consequences for them personally, and our economy as a whole. We’re seeking a senior, policy-oriented research leader to help us and our partners generate insights that enable more people to move into and progress through better work.

You’ll have a proven track record in scoping and securing funding for research and influencing activity, with significant autonomy to lead your own programme at L&W. You’ll be supported by committed researchers and managers whom you will coach, lead, and develop—alongside a peer group of Deputy Directors working across other key pillars. We welcome quantitative expertise, but most important are the skills to design and deliver high-quality, impactful research programmes.

You’ll join an organisation with a national reputation for driving policy change—and a friendly, highly capable, delivery-focused team. 

Location: Hybrid working: 40-60% in an L&W office. Our offices for this role are currently in Leicester and London, but if you are based elsewhere, please contact us to talk about how the role could work for you.

Team:Research and Development

Salary:£64,450 -£77,880 per annum (pro rata), dependent on experience and location

Duration:Permanent

Working hours:0.8 to 1 FTE, with flexible working supported (e.g. condensed hours, flexible start and finish times)

Main Purpose

The Deputy Director, Policy and Research (Better Work and Progression) will have overall ownership of the ‘Better Work’ pillar of our strategic plan at L&W: overseeing all projects and activity in this area and generating new work (including developing project ideas and securing funding).

While there is significant scope to shape the ongoing programme of research and impact work, we anticipate that key areas of focus in this area going forward will be: understanding & better supporting career change; understanding and improving policy to increase employer investment in skills; high quality and fair access apprenticeships and technical education; understanding how to better support progression from low pay.

They will be a senior leader for the organization – helping to continuously shape our strategy and the plans we are implementing to deliver it.

Duties and Responsibilities

Leadership and management

• Intellectual leadership of the Better Work pillar: developing and owning policy positions, messages, theory of change and research priorities, and supporting the wider team to feed into and understand them
• Line management of senior and mid-level staff
• Act as a senior leader at L&W – including taking on specific organization-level responsibilities where appropriate

Income

• Write and/or co-ordinate responses to reactive research and evaluation tenders in the areas of employment, better work and progression
• Develop pro-active proposals that will drive change in your area, and respond to the interests of funders and partners
• Build relationships with current and potential funders and research partners

Impact

• Act as an external expert on the issues of better work and progression: writing press quotes, articles and blogs;speaking on platforms
• Building relationships with practitioners, policymakers and partners to improve our insights, and get our recommendations implemented
• Develop appropriate means of tracking impact towards our better work goals, and monitor against them. 

Delivery

• Deputy Director/Project Director-level oversight of projects being delivered in your and related areas: supporting project team to shape research plans, deliver sharp insights and manage funder relationships
• Quality Assurance of research proposals and outputs
• Use your research skills and experience to support the wider development of the Learning and Work team

Person Specification

Experience

Experience of developing, overseeing and delivering programmes of policy-relevant research at a high level - Essential

Experience of business development in a policy/research context: developing ideas, writing bids and building relationships with funders- Essential

Experience of building senior-level relationships with external stakeholders for impact and influence -Essential

Track record of delivering national and/or local policy change - Essential

Experience of senior organisational leadership as part of a team - Desirable 

Experience of responding to tenders- Desirable 

Skills

Advanced research skills (qualitative of quantitative) -Essential

Quantitative skills: experience of using key national research and administrative data sets to generate insights into the labour market -Desirable 

Clear and direct written communication style - Essential

Knowledge

Knowledge of, and commitment to, L&W’s charitable aims and purpose.- Essential

Demonstrable knowledge of employment and/or skills policy in the UK - Essential

Demonstrable knowledge in the specific areas of Better Work and/or progression -Desirable 

Learning and Work Institute works across the UK. Our work in Wales is led by a Cardiff based team, but all staff are required to follow the guidance set out in our Welsh language scheme when working in Wales.

Working closely with the Director of Fundraising and Partnerships and programme delivery colleagues, you will support senior-level engagement where appropriate and lead the progression, follow-up, and delivery of opportunities across the corporate and foundation pipeline. You will play a key role in shaping fundable opportunities with donors, translating organisational, programme delivery and research priorities into compelling, donor‑aligned funding propositions. You will help turn interest into commitment by building trusted relationships, identifying new opportunities, and producing high-quality, persuasive funding proposals and delivering partnership goals.

This role is suited to someone who enjoys relationship-building, has excellent writing skills, understands the motivations of corporate and foundation donors, and is energised by seeing opportunities move forward and convert into income. We are a small and collaborative team, and so you will be happy engage in all aspects of the fundraising cycle and to provide support colleagues across the team as required.

Please note that care-experienced applicants who meet the essential criteria will be guaranteed an interview. 

We are actively trying to increase the diversity of our team and we encourage applications from people from minoritised ethnic backgrounds. We are dedicated to being a workplace where everyone feels a sense of belonging and where diversity is celebrated. In our last staff survey, 95% said they feel a sense of belonging at Settle. Please see our website for more information on our approach to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.

Benefits

• Flexible working arrangements around 10am-4pm core hours
• 40 days paid leave per year: 25 days annual leave (pro-rata), 8 bank holidays, 3 days between Christmas and New Year and 4 wellbeing days (pro-rata)
• Strong commitment to professional development with a dedicated training budget
• Up to 5% pension contribution
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme offering access to free therapy
• Work phone and laptop
• A supportive and inclusive culture with regular team social events

We’re looking for someone to join Settle in a new and exciting role, working to grow and develop our community of young people and oversee the coordination of our participation work, sometimes referred to as youth involvement or lived-experience involvement.

We believe that lived experience would be particularly valuable to this role so applicants with experience of the care system are strongly encouraged to apply. Care-experienced applicants who meet the essential criteria will be guaranteed an interview (see the experience needed for this role for a clear definition of what we mean by 'care-experienced').

As Senior Community and Participation Officer you will play a key part in creating strong two-way communication with young people, increasing engagement in our community programme and helping to improve our offer through feedback. You will lead in designing, coordinating and facilitating community workshops and getting to know our community of young people. You will work closely with other teams across the organisation to support them to coordinate involvement and participation opportunities for our Settle Community as well as young people who are active on the programme.

We are looking for a compassionate and collaborative individual who has previously led or been involved in community organising or the development and management of communities of interest and shared action. You will have a good understanding of the needs of care experienced young people and will feel comfortable managing risk and safeguarding concerns to ensure that the young people you are working with receive high quality support.

You’ll feel comfortable working with people from a range of backgrounds and will enjoy building relationships with colleagues and organisations outside the direct Settle team. You are a great connector, able to draw connections between the stakeholders you are building relationships with to source opportunities for the different ways they could engage with the Settle Community and the wider organisation. You will utilise creative thinking to ensure our community offer is engaging and of value to the Settle Community.