Senior programme officer jobs
Employer: Community Rail Network
Salary: £43k-£51.5k pa, full time
Location: Home based / flexible or Huddersfield
We are seeking a dynamic director of policy and communications, to lead and develop our increasingly impactful external affairs activity. You’ll be sharing community insights and evidence with policy and decision-makers at national and devolved level, supporting a shift towards more inclusive and sustainable transport and mobility, while overseeing high-quality, inspiring member communications and thought-leadership, drawing on grassroots experiences.
About us
Community Rail Network is a national not-for-profit organisation supporting a growing ‘community rail’ movement, which helps communities get the most from their railways, promotes sustainable and inclusive travel, coordinates volunteering and place-making, and brings people together.
Community rail is made up of 76 community-based partnership organisations, and c.1,300 station friends volunteer groups and other community-led initiatives around Britain. Their activities range from creative projects for young people, to advising train operators on service improvements, to building travel confidence among marginalised groups, to biodiversity projects at stations, to promoting greener tourism by rail.
Our enthusiastic team of 24 works from home in different locations, but we come together regularly in person and online. We work collaboratively to support our members, provide training, events and resources, run campaigns, and champion community rail and its insights. We believe in developing our team and helping everyone reach their potential while having a good work-life balance.
About this role
This role is crucial for us, our members and their communities, especially at the current time, with our need to seize on the opportunities of rail reform and devolution, promote wider use of sustainable transport, and bring communities together. You will spearhead our external affairs strategy and plans, building political relationships, influencing decision-making and raising awareness of community rail and its insights, while ensuring effective communications with our members and helping them to have a voice locally and regionally. You’ll be striving to put community rail at the forefront of a shift towards more inclusive and sustainable mobility.
As a member of our senior leadership team, reporting to and working closely with our chief executive, you will manage a passionate team of four, ensuring collaboration with our other teams, partners and funders, and drawing on members’ insights.
Main responsibilities
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Lead the review, development and delivery of our communications, policy and insights strategy, working to position the community rail movement effectively, use its insights to influence policy change, and ensure our members are well-informed and have a voice;
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Further strengthen our advisory and influencing work with national, devolved and regional government, transport bodies, parliamentarians and other decision-makers, especially around rail reform, transport devolution and integrated, inclusive, sustainable transport;
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Ensure we’re engaging effectively with policy developments and opportunities, taking forward a programme of relationship-building, and identifying and engaging in relevant consultations, events and speaking opportunities, enabling community rail’s insights and experiences to be shared;
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Collaborate with partners in rail, government and the third sector to feed in our expertise on community engagement with rail, amplify our campaigns, and build opportunities for joined-up communications and policy work;
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Continually develop and disseminate our evidence base and insights on the social, environmental and economic value community rail delivers, and opportunities to create greater benefits for communities from rail and transport;
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Oversee high-quality, coherent and inspiring communications with our members and partners, promoting our work, and sharing news, opportunities, and good practice across the movement;
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Manage production of high-quality resources, case studies and reports that our members can use to enhance their impact and which showcase community rail’s impact;
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Lead and develop our media relations and awareness-raising PR, championing community rail and its messages on sustainable, inclusive travel and communities at national and regional level, while supporting members on local PR;
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Develop our online presence and reach, making full use of our website, social media, our Scenic Rail Britain campaign, and partners’ channels to celebrate and position community rail and grow its reach and impact;
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Oversee a calendar of creative and impactful campaigns that involve and empower our members, creating PR and engagement opportunities, including Community Rail Week;
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Play a key role in collective leadership, strategic focus and organisational development as a member of our senior leadership team, including through internal communications and cross-team working, annual planning, funder liaison and reporting, upholding our strategies and policies, and pursuing opportunities for continuous improvement.
Skills and competencies
- Strong leadership and management skills, including experience managing, developing and drawing on a multi-faceted team delivering complex campaigns or projects, and budget management;
- Excellent communication and external leadership skills; articulate, assertive, and with the ability to work diplomatically and persuasively with stakeholders at all levels;
- An understanding of public affairs, ideally in relation to community development, sustainability and/or transport, and a demonstrable ability to identify influencing opportunities, deliver thought-leadership, and engage with policy-makers, including sharing community insights;
- Politically astute, with awareness of and commitment to social inclusion, social justice and sustainability, and a good grasp of the importance of public transport sustainable travel, and community-led action, to these agendas;
- Understanding of political processes and experience of engaging with policy and decision-making, ideally at national, devolved and local levels;
- Sound knowledge of communication and marketing methods and channels, and ability to oversee messaging and targeting of public and professional audiences, and to align content across multiple channels;
- A demonstrable ability to think analytically and draw on statistical and qualitative research to construct robust, evidence-based arguments;
- Experience of working with the media and achieving coverage at national, regional and local level;
- Experience working collaboratively with partners and ideally funders to deliver communications and policy activity and forming professional networks;
- Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines while dealing with competing priorities, and to support team members to do so;
- IT literate with a good working knowledge of Office, the internet and social media;
- Appropriate qualifications and professional development demonstrating knowledge and skills in line with the above, and a commitment to ongoing learning and development.
Other information
As you will be home-based, we are flexible about your location. However, you will be expected to travel to in-person full team meetings quarterly (usually in West Yorkshire), and you will need to bring your team together (currently all West Yorkshire based) with similar regularity in between. Attendance at in-person events and meetings is also important. We therefore welcome applications from those with decent public transport links, not too far from a railway station, to enable journeys to be made sustainably.
This is a full-time position, 37 hours per week. We use a flexi-time system with core hours 10am-3pm, and are committed to being a flexible, supportive and understanding employer. This is a permanent position with a probationary period of six months.
Community Rail Network is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from disabled people and Black, Asian and other minoritised groups, who meet with the skills and competencies for this role. We will provide reasonable adjustments for interviews as required.
Championing the community rail movement | Connecting people and their railways | Creating inclusive, empowered, sustainable and healthy communities
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!
Job Purpose:
To support the delivery of WIPs housing programme in Manchester and Trafford, with a focus on women coming into contact with the police and women being released back into the community following a period on remand, providing trauma-informed specialist support to improve housing outcomes for women affected by the criminal justice system.
- To deliver an effective housing intervention for women impacted by the criminal justice system.
- To develop effective relationships with key stakeholders, such as housing departments, court-based and prison teams, to ensure a collaborative approach to women’s accommodation needs.
- To provide expert advice and support to colleagues, including upskilling through information and training sessions, and supporting system change activities.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Job Purpose:
To support the delivery of WIPs housing programme for unsentenced women, providing trauma-informed specialist support to women in HMP Bronzefield, and going through court processes, with a focus on improving housing outcomes for women affected by the criminal justice system.
Key Responsibility Areas
- To deliver an effective housing intervention for women impacted by the criminal justice system.
- To develop effective relationships with key stakeholders, such as housing departments, court-based and prison teams, to ensure a collaborative approach to women’s accommodation needs.
- To provide expert advice and support to colleagues, including upskilling through information and training sessions, and supporting system change activities.
For the full list of responsibilities, please download the recruitment pack.
Terms & Conditions:
Start date: 2nd February 2026
Salary:£30,640 per annum (including £3,990 London weighting)
Location: Primarily based in HMP Bronzefield with some travel to South London.
Working hours: 35 hours per week
Contract: Permanent
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Salary: £46,698 (London) / £42,373 (National) per annum
Hours: 35 hrs per week
Contract: Fixed term contract (until March 2027)
Benefits
· 27 days annual leave + statutory holidays + 3 closures days over the Christmas period;
· Flexible working for all staff including working from home / hybrid working, and flexi-time/TOIL scheme;
· Attractive family friendly policies;
· Private healthcare cover;
· Season ticket loans;
· Employee awards, and training and development opportunities.
For more information about our benefits please visit our website.
Office locations: London, Bristol or homeworker
The role will involve spending a substantial amount of time in the East of England (including early starts/late finishes and overnight stays where required) and regular travel nationwide for NHF events and meetings.
Please note, if office based, the successful candidate will be expected to carry out two days in-person working per week on average which will include attendance at your office location.
Flexible working arrangements can be discussed and agreed with the line manager subject to role and business needs.
An exciting opportunity has arisen at the National Housing Federation (NHF) to join our team of External Affairs Managers on a fixed-term basis to cover maternity leave. The NHF is the voice of housing associations in England. We are the trade body to almost 600 housing associations, who have grown from philanthropic roots to provide 2.6 million homes to around 6 million people. You can find further information about the NHF on our website.
Could you be our new External Affairs Manager, working closely with our housing association members across the East of England?
This is a unique and varied role which would appeal to someone with a background in areas such as stakeholder management, policy, public affairs, communications, programme management – or a combination of these areas! For example, you may be looking to step into a role to further develop your leadership and stakeholder engagement skills, whilst still building on your policy or programme management experience and knowledge.
You will operate at the heart of social housing by working with key decision makers across the housing association sector – including managing relationships with chief executives, chairs of boards and executive directors. Strong communication and influencing skills are essential to the role, as well as the confidence to work at the most senior levels.
It is crucial that you can work collegiately to lead key programmes of work across the NHF with colleagues in other teams, for example from our policy, press, events, and public affairs teams. Equally, you will be comfortable working autonomously and shaping your own work programme.
The core of the role involves being responsible for engagement with a whole geographic region of our membership; and working closely on or leading one of the NHF’s key themes of work, which include areas such as supported housing; devolution; developing new homes; decarbonising existing homes; ensuring the building safety agenda is delivered; or representing our rural or smaller housing associations.
The role is wide ranging and in addition to stakeholder management and programme leadership, will include running roundtables between our members and government, chairing sessions at NHF conferences, and presenting political and policy updates to senior teams within housing associations.
You will be part of a team of eight External Affairs Managers sitting within the member services directorate, which is there to ensure that we provide excellent value for money for our housing association members.
Key elements of the role:
· You will build and maintain brilliant relationships with housing associations leaders, using your well-developed communication and advocacy skills to maximum effect.
· You will develop knowledge, insight and understanding of housing associations to shape our policy and influencing work and to create structured programmes of member engagement on critical policy and political issues.
· You will be the contact point for housing associations in your region, ensuring they receive first class customer service on the issues which matter to them. Working closely with NHF members you will facilitate the organisation of regional chief executive or leaders forums and sounding boards.
· In addition to your regional work, you will lead on the strategic planning and delivery of a key NHF policy priority. This will require collaborative working with colleagues from across the organisation and working with members across every region and specialism. You will play a leadership role, creating structured engagement strategies to ensure members are able to influence policy as well as engaging key NHF stakeholders and sharing best practice.
· Your role will be to implement structured member engagement to ensure our policy priorities, positions and influencing work are member-led. This will include working directly with members to inform our policy positions and lead our influencing work.
· You will influence debates at the highest level and you will spot in advance and act strategically to mitigate the risk to our membership. As such, this role requires a high degree of political and organisational acumen and the ability to horizon scan.
· You will work with colleagues in our Commercial and Events teams to maximise commercial opportunities and help shape content at our conferences, as well chairing conference sessions.
· To be the face and voice of the NHF with members, stakeholders and the media.
· To ensure that as an organisation we deliver as a whole team, seamlessly, to members to achieve greatest impact in line with the business strategy.
· To maintain high quality standards and follow NHF policy and process.
The successful candidate:
The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate:
· A sound knowledge and understanding of housing associations and issues affecting the wider sector.
· A sound understanding of the political and policy landscape that housing associations operate in.
· Demonstrable knowledge and experience of establishing and maintaining relationships with senior stakeholders, demonstrating excellent customer service and value for money.
· Effective communication skills, in person and in writing, including the ability to credibly and confidently present at meetings and events.
· Ability to listen to and influence senior stakeholders, demonstrating diplomacy, effective communication and negotiation skills.
· Clear leadership skills, able to lead complex and strategic programmes of work effectively, including experience of matrix managing and motivating a team.
· Excellent analytical skills and strategic nous with the ability to summarise complex information effectively to aid decision making.
· A commitment to excellent customer service.
· A positive, energetic and agile approach to work.
Equality, diversity and inclusion
The NHF has published its equality, diversity and inclusion strategy, which was co-created with staff. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and we value the contribution each individual makes to our work.
We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and are working to increase the diversity profile of our workforce. We are currently under-represented by ethnic minorities, people with a disability or disabilities and LGBTQ+, and would particularly welcome applications from people in these groups.
Disability confident employer
We are a disability confident employer and if you are a disabled person who meets the skills and experience we consider essential for the role, we will offer you an interview.
Please note: there may be occasions where it is not practicable or appropriate to interview all disabled people who meet the minimum criteria for the job. In certain recruitment situations such as high-volume of applications, we may be required to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people.
In these circumstances the NHF will select the disabled candidates who best meet the minimum criteria for the job rather than all of those that meet the minimum criteria, as we would do for non-disabled applicants. This is in line with the Disability Confident guidelines.
We are happy to consider reasonable adjustments to our recruitment process if you have a disability or have a condition that you feel may affect your performance during the recruitment process. Please contact the People team with your request or to arrange a time to discuss in more detail.
Our role profile and job advert can also be requested in large print or in accessible format via this email address.
Completing our Application Form
To apply for this role, please complete our online application form. The application form includes your employment and education history plus you will be asked to answer questions in relation to your knowledge, skills and experience, why you are applying for the role and questions in relation to our values. The application form is anonymous and will not require you to upload a CV or cover letter. This will help us to shortlist candidates for interview based solely on their knowledge, skills and experience.
Right to work in the UK/UK VISA sponsorship
You must have the right to work in the UK and it is important to note that the NHF does not sponsor individuals to work in the UK.
Closing date for applications: 4 January 2026
Interview date: 14 and 15 January 2026
We are the voice of England’s housing associations.


The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Dancers’ Career Development (DCD), the national charity that enables and empowers dancers to thrive professionally and personally leading up to and beyond their performance careers, seek a Fundraiser.
DCD’s Fundraiser will work closely with the Executive Director and be instrumental in increasing fundraised and revenue income.
Our ideal candidate will be a creative thinker with an open mindset to propose and explore new avenues of fundraising and income streams.
This role is ideally suited to a self-starter with a passion for the performing arts, who is motivated to make a tangible difference to the quality of dancers’ lives.
If you are excited by this opportunity and resonate with DCD’s values, please get in touch; we would love to hear from you.
Contract: Full-time permanent role
Salary: £35,000 per annum, pro-rata
Start date: As early as possible
Location: This is a remote working role, with monthly in-person team meetings which take place in London or Birmingham. Due to additional in-person events and meetings, as appropriate to the role and usually in London, the Fundraiser should be either based in London or within commutable distance.
Benefits: 23 days holiday pro-rata plus Bank Holidays (increasing to 28 days with length of service), 5% Employers contribution to pension scheme, Health & Wellbeing package, Professional Development opportunities.
Deadline: Applications must be submitted by 9am, Thursday 22 January 2026
Info: Download job application pack from our website for full job spec and how to apply.
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!
Secretariat – Reading Students’ Union
Location: University of Reading, Whiteknights Campus, Reading, Berkshire
Salary: £30,981.64 per annum
Contract: Permanent, full-time (35 hours a week)
'Governance that matters - because students matter'
About Reading Students’ Union
We are a dynamic, student-focused organisation dedicated to empowering students and enhancing their university experience. Our vision is to be a place for everyone, we inspire and empower students to change the world.
The Role: Secretariat
As our Secretariat Officer, you’ll be the heartbeat of our governance and democratic life. You’ll make sure everything runs smoothly, transparently, and in line with our charitable purpose. From supporting our CEO and Board of Trustees to guiding student leaders, you’ll be our trusted expert.
What You’ll Do
- Act as the go-to expert for governance and democracy queries, providing timely, accurate advice an training to trustees, student leaders, and staff. You’ll keep us compliant with charity law and sector best practice, and lead governance reviews to drive continuous improvement
- Own the annual cycle of Board and committee business—schedule meetings, prepare agendas, write clear and accurate minutes, and track actions. You’ll also coordinate trustee inductions and training, building strong relationships that enable effective decision-making
- Facilitate democratic processes, from elections to policy development. You’ll guide student candidates and elected officers, ensuring they have the tools and knowledge to lead confidently. You’ll design and deliver induction programmes for our elected sabbatical officers, setting them up for success
- Provide high-quality support to the CEO and Senior Management Team—managing diaries, inboxes, and meetings, and ensuring smooth communication across the organisation
- Maintain governance records, policy schedules, manage statutory filings, and oversee the student complaints process
- Identify opportunities to streamline governance systems and introduce digital tools that make processes more accessible and efficient
- Analyse governance and democratic participation data to produce reports that inform strategy and improve engagement. You’ll turn numbers into actionable insights that enhance student representation
About You
You’re passionate about governance and thrive in roles where precision, integrity, and impact matter. You’ll bring a mix of expertise, confidence, and curiosity to help us deliver exceptional governance and democratic processes for our students.
You’ll have:
- Proven experience in governance, democratic processes, or charity administration
- Knowledge of charity law and governance best practice
- A track record of supporting senior leaders or Boards—minute-taking, meeting coordination, and managing confidential information
- Strong organisational skills with the ability to juggle calendars, inboxes, and complex projects in a fast-paced environment
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including clear, accurate minute writing
- Excellent stakeholder management skills
- Experience designing and delivering training in all things governance
Desirable:
- Experience managing complaints
- Charity experience in an education or student-focused environment
- Knowledge of Student Unions, university structures and student representation systems
Why Join Us?
- Inclusive and supportive team culture
- Flexible working options
- 35 days annual leave including Christmas and Easter closure days
- Professional development opportunities
- Unique working environment in the heart of a vibrant Student’s Union, set on a stunning, green campus
Ready to make an impact?
Apply today and help us bring our ambitious new strategy to life with sector-leading governance!
Committed to equality, celebrating diversity, and embedding sustainability — building an inclusive workplace and a brighter future for all.
To be a place for everyone, we inspire & empower students to change the world
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Designed by families, for families, The Ark was opened in September 2019 by the Mayor of London. The grounds offer wheelchair accessible outdoor experiences, including a Woodland Walk through a 7-acre nature reserve, a hydrotherapy pool and overnight suites for families to be close to their loved ones. At The Ark we are able to provide Specialist Care and Nursing for babies, children and young people, supporting their full clinical, emotional, social and practical needs. We have created a space where children who are seriously unwell are accepted as they are, safe to play, explore, express themselves and build confidence.
Rated as ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission, the charity has had a sustained period of growth over the last two years and we are looking for high quality employees to come and be a part of that success.
Our expert staff and trained volunteers provide clinical, emotional and practical support for families across North and Central London and Herts Valley. We carefully adapt our support for every child and offer it wherever it is required - whether in their home, their community or at our state-of-the-art children’s hospice building, The Ark, in Barnet.
JOB DESCRIPTION
We are seeking a Head of Partnerships & Events to join our highly successful Philanthropy team. In this role, you will work closely with the Director of Fundraising & Communications to develop and enhance our Corporate and Special Events Programme. This is very much a hands-on role of team leadership and direct account management. This includes six figure partners and our key relationships with Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, The Dorchester Hotel and international insurer Fidelis. Special Events include our Winter Ball which raises over £500k annual and our Golf Day at around £100k. The post-holder has a key role in the management of our Philanthropy & Corporate Board, which bring together industry leader to help move both these programmes forward. There is great freedom to innovate and a healthy pool of local business with an affinity to our cause. The post-holder takes a key leadership role across fundraising and marketing, working with their peers (Heads) and Director to take strategic decisions for wider benefit of the department. Having invested in the team’s capacity, we aim to grow income from c. £1.5m to £2m over the next few years. This in the broader context of a total voluntary income target for the charity of £5m-£6m.
The Head of Partnerships & Events leads a team of two currently, although this may increase. We have a Corporate Manager and Events Manger with support from the Philanthropy Officer. You will play a key role in building and maintaining relationships with existing and prospective partners of Noah’s Ark. You will ensure our partners have the best possible experience, making them feel engaged and motivated, valued and informed about the impact of their involvement and help them achieve their organisation’s objectives.
Please refer to the job description for more information on this role.
Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice is an equal opportunity employer and particularly welcomes applications from groups who are currently under-represented in our staff.
Our diversity council is working hard to construct positive changes within our organisation. We are a disability confident employer and part of our commitment is to interview all applicants with a disability who meet the minimum criteria for a job vacancy and consider them on their abilities.
We help children who are seriously unwell make the most of every day



Philanthropy Manager
We are seeking a proactive and relationship-led fundraiser to drive major donor and legacy giving for a growing and ambitious charity.
Position: Philanthropy Manager
Salary: £40,000
Location: Hybrid, with weekly office day in Kennington, London SE11
Hours: Full time
Contract: Permanent
Closing Date: 10am, Wednesday 7 January 2026
Interview Dates: 15 January (online) and 22 January (in person)
About the Role
This is a hands-on and rewarding role where you will lead the day-to-day delivery of major donor fundraising and help grow legacy giving. Working closely with the Development Director, senior leaders and trustees, you will oversee the major donor pipeline, build strong and meaningful relationships, and deliver personalised supporter experiences that inspire long term commitment.
You will line manage the Philanthropy Officer and work collaboratively with colleagues across the organisation to plan and deliver events, develop compelling donor communications and support data driven insight into supporter behaviour and opportunities.
Key responsibilities include:
- Managing and growing a portfolio of major donor prospects and supporters
- Developing tailored cultivation, solicitation and stewardship plans
- Planning and delivering high quality donor events and engagement activities
- Leading on legacy giving development, communications and stewardship
- Researching new prospects and preparing donor briefings
- Overseeing due diligence processes and ensuring compliance with fundraising standards
- Producing regular reports to support income forecasting and pipeline management
- Coaching, motivating and developing the Philanthropy Officer
- Supporting the implementation of improved CRM and data systems
About You
As Philanthropy Manager you will be confident, organised and proactive, with strong relationship management skills and the ability to communicate impact with clarity and warmth. You will be motivated by building meaningful supporter relationships and delivering exceptional experiences.
Essential skills and experience:
- Strong background in major donor or individual giving fundraising
- Experience securing five or six figure gifts
- Ability to manage pipelines and donor journeys using CRM systems
- Experience planning and delivering donor cultivation events
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Strong organisational and project management skills with attention to detail
- Ability to work collaboratively with senior leaders, trustees and colleagues
- Experience researching and cultivating new prospects
Personal qualities:
- Warm, engaging and confident working with people from all backgrounds
- A proactive mindset with the ability to spot opportunities
- Commitment to inclusion and belief in the transformative power of the arts
- A collaborative team player with a supportive leadership style
About the Organisation
This organisation works nationally to make music education equitable, inclusive and joyful for every child. Through long term programmes in partner schools, teacher training, advocacy work and sector wide initiatives, it supports thousands of children and young people each year. The charity is entering the next phase of strategic growth, scaling its most impactful work and strengthening its national influence.
Other roles you may have experience of could include; Major Donor Manager/officer, Individual Giving Manager/officer, Fundraising Manager/officer, Philanthropy Lead, Development Manager/officer, Supporter Engagement Manager/officer.
PLEASE NOTE: This role is being advertised by NFP People on behalf of the organisation.
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!
Summary
EduSpots is an innovative, dynamic, and community-orientated UK and Ghanaian registered charity which connects, trains, and equips grassroots voluntary educators (named ‘Catalysts’) to drive community-led change through education spaces named ‘Spots’. Our vision is of a world in which communities unite to create the futures they want to see, through education.
Since 2016, through collaborating with over 400 local voluntary community educators and actors – named ‘Catalysts’ – who take a central leadership role in the development of the network, we have supported 50 communities in creating and running community-led and owned education spaces named ‘Spots’’. Together, we are developing a model for a community-led education space with accompanying network engagement that could have global relevance.
Our Ghana-based team creates collaborative learning opportunities through three leadership programmes for Catalysts which are increasingly facilitated by the EduSpots app: the Ignite, Catalyse and Inspire Mentoring Programmes. These enable the Catalysts to lead EduKidz (early years education), DigLit (digital literacy), EcoSTEM (STEM and environmental education) and Ignite Equity (gender equity) clubs for learners typically aged 3-16, alongside locally designed education projects, reaching over 10,000 learners of all ages annually.
We are in an exciting period of our development, having more than doubled our income, programme breadth and reach in the last two years, with a recent independent evaluation by Expectation State offering further evidence in support of our model’s outcomes. We have been recently selected for two accelerator programmes, who are supporting us as we consider the scaling potential of our model. In the period, we are aiming to double our network reach, bringing an additional 50 Spots into the network.
We won the Tes International Award in 2018 and the Big Give Supporters’ Choice Award in 2022, and we were recently selected as a finalist for the 2023 Their World Scale-Up Innovation Prize. In 2021, our Founder was a Finalist in the UNESCO-backed $1 million Global Teacher Prize.
We are excited by our future.
About this role
The Global Head of Operations is a new role being introduced in 2026 with the core purpose of strengthening systems, processes and strategic delivery across both EduSpots Global and EduSpots Ghana, offering hands-on support to the CEO and wider staff across a range of areas.
In this senior role, you will work closely alongside the CEO, offering her the advice and skills needed to move EduSpots successfully through a complex period of growth in a challenging fundraising context, enabling more learners and Catalysts to participate in a unique community-led model of education, whilst sharing our practice more widely.
We are looking for an organised and empathetic strategic leader, ideally with strong or developing skills across project management, finance, HR and MEL skills and an ability to work independently in a fast moving work environment.
This role has the potential to grow into a Director of Global Operations or Deputy CEO role in time for outstanding candidates, and carries significant organisation-wide responsibility.
Candidates should hold a genuine passion for educational equity, a strong belief in the power of community-led models to transform lives at scale and a high level of flexibility in a fast-changing yet friendly and playful work environment.
Whilst this role is remote, and open to all global candidates, you will need to have understanding and experience of UK law, accounting and policy development, or a strong appetite to build experience in this area quickly.
Main duties and responsibilities
Systems
- Work with the CEO and staff to proactively strengthen systems and processes across the organisation, including monitoring, evaluation and learning frameworks and operations.
- Support the wider team with IT, including general skill development, leading the Google Space system.
- Monitor compliance to organisational policies and lead the quarterly review of the organisational risk register, working with the Ghana Head of Operations.
Finance
- Work with the Finance and Admin Officer to produce monthly and quarterly global management accounts, cash flow analysis and to complete the annual audit.
- Lead the financial planning of the organisation, working with the CEO and the Ghana Head of Operations to create the annual budget.
- Work with the Ghana Head of Operations to strengthen financial systems, processes, and training across the organisation.
- Work with the Ghana Head of Operations to prepare budgets for funding bids as needed.
- Work with the grants team to track grant spending and produce consolidated financial reports (including expenditure from the UK and Ghana) for donors.
- Ensure EduSpots’ new accounting software (QuickBooks) is fully embedded and utilised.
- Oversee bank account management, including payments, checking bank statements, and reviewing bank reconciliations for UK and Ghana.
- Ensure staff payroll (likely to be outsourced) and payments to freelancers / consultants are done accurately and in a timely manner.
HR
- Work alongside the CEO, Head of Operations, Safeguarding and Inclusion Managers and wider staff to develop strategies to sustain and strengthen a high performing and friendly work culture.
- Work across the team to strengthen HR and performance management structures, informed by best practice and legal frameworks.
- Lead the recruitment of staff, consultants and volunteers in the UK (advertising roles, drafting contracts, contacting referees and completing all filing and administration relating to recruitment).
- Onboard new staff, provide training on policies and procedures, and track key information (leave, appraisals, etc) for UK staff.
- Regularly review and keep the Staff Handbook up to date.
- Depending on skill-set, work with the CEO to lead professional development for staff across the organisation, liaising with trustees and advisory group members.
Administration & Governance
- Manage and maintain databases and our Google Drive system.
- Ensure compliance with GDPR and adherence to our child safeguarding and protection policy.
- Maintain insurance renewals, tracking and filing.
- Review and keep up to date all organisational policies in line with current legislation, working with the Trustees and Directors.
- Assist the CEO in the administration relating to EduSpots’ governance, including board meeting arrangements and minute taking.
- Support the CEO in all ad-hoc tasks that arise, working closely alongside her to ensure the smooth running of the organisation.
Strategic insight
- Work closely with the CEO and staff/Catalysts across the organisation to ensure all EduSpots’ decision-making is strategic and in the best interests of the Catalysts, Sparks and Communities we partner with.
Other areas
- Depending on experience, you may in time take on management responsibilities for some staff, but this role is principally a systems strengthening and quality improvement role, working closely with the CEO to offer advice and additional capacity.
- Depending on experience, you may support with grants writing / management and/or community fundraising. Experience of fundraising would be of significant benefit to the organisation in this key leadership role.
Personal Specification
Essential
- Minimum of 7 years’ experience of operations in a small/medium charity context.
- Self-starter with the ability to hit the ground running and work with minimal supervision with high levels of flexibility.
- Self-motivated, with an ability to motivate and energise others.
- High level strategic understanding, critical thinking and the ability to strengthen systems in a fast-paced high performance environment.
- Excellent communication, both oral and written.
- The ability to thrive and adapt in a fast-paced, creative and impact-driven culture.
- Strong administrative skills with a high level of attention to detail.
- Experience in creating user-friendly tools and processes to support project and quality management.
- Experience using Google Suite, with strong Excel skills.
- Tech savvy – ability to learn new tech tools efficiently.
- Experience coordinating others.
- Excellent interpersonal and teamwork skills with strong empathy and cultural sensitivity
- Strong personal alignment with the mission, vision and values of EduSpots.
Highly desirable
- Experience supporting charity Boards, and working with external bodies including auditors, tax authorities, and other official bodies is highly desirable.
- Experience complying and strong familiarity with UK charity regulations and requirements.
- Experience preparing budgets and financial reports for donors/grants.
- Experience of working in a cross-cultural team.
- Experience of working with an international charity would be advantageous.
Please send a tailored covering letter and CV addressed to the CEO Miss Cat Davison by Wednesday 31st December with a hope to meet shortlisted candidates for a first-round interview in the week starting Monday 12th January.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Dancers’ Career Development (DCD), the national charity that enables and empowers dancers to thrive professionally and personally leading up to and beyond their performance careers, seek a General Manager.
We are seeking an exceptional administrator who has experience in, or is interested in further developing, a broad knowledge of company management.
The main purpose of the General Manager role is to support the Executive Director, with the day-to-day operational management and administration of DCD.
The role will ideally suit a personable individual who enjoys varied responsibilities, working collaboratively within a highly productive, agile and supportive team.
If you are excited by this opportunity, resonate with DCD’s values and are passionate about making a positive difference to dancers’ lives, please get in touch; we would love to hear from you.
Contract: Part-time permanent role (24 hours per week)
Salary: £35,000 per annum, pro-rata
Start date: As early as possible
Location: This is a remote working role, with monthly in-person meetings which take place in London or Birmingham, with occasional additional in-person events and meetings as required by the charity.
Benefits: 23 days holiday pro-rata plus Bank Holidays (increasing to 28 days with length of service), 5% Employers contribution to pension scheme, Health & Wellbeing package, Professional Development opportunities.
Deadline: Applications must be submitted by 9am, Thursday 22 January 2026
Further Info: Please download the Recruitment Pack from our website for full job spec and how to apply.
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!
The Role
- To be the strategic lead for income, service, and performance management of Causeway’s Property portfolio. To support housing staff to achieve tangible social impact and/or recovery outcomes in line with Causeway’s mission and with funder’s contractual obligations.
- Provide inspiring leadership to the Housing Operations Team as a whole and develop opportunities for skills and knowledge development and understanding to enhance staff performance.
- To prepare and present accurate performance reports for the entire portfolio reporting on voids, rent management and tenant engagement outcomes to the CEO and local authority partners, identifying corrective action where needed.
- To ensure compliance of housing stock and tenancy matters within legal and statutory requirements.
- To ensure continuous learning and development across the Housing Operations Team by disseminating learning and sharing best practice.
- To develop and manage effective allocation processes for maximum occupancy and work closely with the other delivery colleagues across the organisation to ensure that housing is accessible and operates in line with any funding criteria.
- Champion client involvement and ensuring best practice in this area is embedded in policies and procedures.
- To be the primary point of contact for owning RP’s and private landlords, lead on landlord issues and disputes
- To represent the CEO at external events and meetings when necessary.
Our Organisation
You will work a combination of office, client-home, community, and home-based working. Causeway is a 4-day week employer, so you will work 32 hours over 4 days a week. Causeway is a London living wage employer. You will receive a 6% pension contribution, rising to 12% after two years service. We also offer an employee assistance programme that provides free financial, legal, and mental health advice and support to our employees. We provide core training, and continuous learning and development throughout your career with us. Travel schemes such as cycle to work and travelcard loans are also available.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Prospectus is delighted to be supporting a small, London based performing arts charity to recruit for a Head of Finance and Operations. This is a role based full time from their site in Islington and is a permanent vacancy. The charity works with care leavers and at risk young people using drama, staging high profile theatre and film productions.
Reporting in to the CEO, the Head of Finance and Operations is responsible for managing the day-to-day operational, financial and legal aspects of the charity, the work it produces and its staff, ensuring successful delivery of all services. Accountable to the CEO, this person must ensure that the right balance is achieved between a programme of activity and prudent financial management. Some of the key responsibilities include strategic and financial planning, leading in the development and management of business plans. You will ensure realistic financial targets are set, work alongside the CEO to develop a robust, deliverable business plan for financial partnerships and will lead on the development and implementation of HR strategy and staff management policies. You will support the Fundraising team alongside the CEO, working with them to develop and manage a realistic weighted pipeline of trusts and foundations. You will also monitor funding agreements and renewals, support the preparation of corporate sponsorship contracts and over see the management of the office space.
The successful candidate will have prior experience managing finances, ideally for a charitable organisation or not for profit, however you do not need to be a fully qualified accountant. You will have team management experience with the ability to motivate and support staff and bring experience of embedding policies and processes to ensure smooth running of the organisation. You will be a self starter with the ability and drive to learn aspects of the role that you are not as familiar. The charity is open to candidates looking to develop and broaden their experience on the job and therefore you will not be expected to have strong experience in every area.
To apply please submit your CV in the first instance. Following your application, you may be contacted by Prospectus for an informal discussion and may be asked to provide further information to assist with the recruitment process.
As a specialist Recruitment Practice Prospectus are committed to building inclusive and diverse organisations, and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Prospectus invest in your journey as a candidate and are committed to supporting you in your application.
Lead policy and research projects that shape national conversations on cohesion and integration. Join Belong and help create lasting change across the UK.
This is an exciting opportunity to take a pivotal role in delivering high-impact projects that inform practice and influence decision-makers. As Belong enters its next phase of growth, we are determined to deepen our impact, strengthen our resilience, and champion cohesion and integration at scale.
About Belong
Belong – The Cohesion and Integration Network is the UK’s leading not-for-profit organisation focused on building a more united and less divided society. Established in 2019, we work across sectors to strengthen trust, belonging, and resilience in communities. Through research, policy influence, and place-based programmes, we connect people, places, and organisations to share learning and drive systemic change. Our growing membership spans local authorities, charities, civil society, and businesses. Belong is collaborative, evidence-led, and committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion.
The Role
As Policy and Research Lead, you will design and deliver research and policy projects that inform practice and influence decision-makers. You will produce high-quality outputs, translate evidence into actionable recommendations, and contribute to Belong’s thought leadership. This role combines strategic insight with hands-on delivery and offers the chance to shape national conversations on social cohesion.
Key Responsibilities
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Policy and Research Leadership
- Lead the design and delivery of policy and research projects, ensuring quality, relevance, and impact.
- Produce policy briefings, reports, consultation responses, and thought leadership pieces.
- Translate research findings into actionable recommendations for policymakers and practitioners.
- Ensure projects are inclusive, participatory, and informed by lived experience.
- Monitor policy developments and contribute to strategic positioning and horizon scanning.
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Stakeholder Engagement
- Build and maintain relationships with policymakers, researchers, funders, and sector leaders.
- Represent Belong at external meetings, events, and networks.
- Support collaborative research and policy initiatives with partners and commissioners.
- Contribute to dissemination of Belong’s work through events, media, and digital channels.
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Internal Collaboration
- Support the Director of Policy & Research in developing Belong’s policy influencing strategy.
- Contribute to organisational learning and cross-team collaboration.
- Assist with proposal development and funder engagement.
- Line manage junior staff or associates as required.
About You
We are seeking a strategic and thoughtful leader with:
- Proven experience in leading policy and applied research programmes.
- Experience working in or with government, think tanks, or advocacy organisations.
- Strong analytical and writing skills.
- Knowledge of cohesion, integration, and community development.
- Excellent project management and organisational abilities.
- Familiarity with participatory and inclusive research methods.
- Experience in income generation or bid development.
- Relevant qualification in public policy, social research, or related field.
- Ability to translate complex ideas into accessible messages.
- Politically aware and intellectually curious.
- Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship-building skills.
Personal Qualities
- Passionate about improving cohesion and integration in the UK.
- Strategic and solutions-focused.
- Collaborative and inclusive.
- Practical, reliable, and detail-oriented.
- Committed to personal and professional development.
- Able to thrive in a fast-paced and evolving environment.
Why Join Us?
At Belong, you’ll be part of a dynamic, values-driven team united by a shared commitment to creating a more inclusive and connected society. We offer:
- 30 days’ annual leave (plus bank holidays)
- Hybrid working
- Enhanced sick pay and family-friendly policies
- Opportunities for professional development and growth
Join us and help shape policy and research that builds stronger, kinder, and more connected communities across the UK.
Our office is based in Manchester and we offer hybrid working for those able to travel there. However, this role is open UK-wide and can be worked remotely, with regular travel across England and Wales required.
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!
The Head of Partnerships and Systemic Change will lead MCF’s efforts to build strategic partnerships, drive systemic change, and influence policy to enable Muslim led charities to thrive in a more equitable, inclusive, and impactful civil society.
Job role: Head of Partnerships and Systemic Change
Employer: Muslim Charities Forum
Salary: £42,000 – 45,000 per annum
Hours: Full-time, 35 hours per week (4 days office-based, 1 day hybrid/remote)
Position: Fixed Term Contract, 3 years.
Location: London SE1. Nearest stations Waterloo, Lambeth North
Closing date for applications:16th December 2025, 5.00pm or until a suitable candidate is identified.
About Muslim Charities Forum (MCF)
Muslim Charities Forum (MCF) is the UK’s leading network for Muslim-led charities, strengthening the capacity, voice and impact of nearly 300 organisations. Guided by our pillars of Support, Connect and Represent, we champion excellence, transparency and social justice through resources, capacity-building, research and advocacy.
We work to tackle structural and funding barriers, influence government, policymakers and the wider sector, and build a more sustainable, equitable Muslim-led charitable landscape. Through strategic partnerships and collaborations, we drive systemic change and amplify the contributions of Muslim-led organisations across society.
Role Purpose
The Head of Partnerships and Systemic Change will lead MCF’s efforts to build strategic partnerships, drive systemic change, and influence policy to enable Muslim-led charities to thrive in a more equitable, inclusive, and impactful civil society.
The postholder will work closely with key stakeholders, including policymakers, government departments, funders, infrastructure bodies, and sector leaders, to address structural inequalities, unlock resources, and elevate the recognition of Muslim-led charities in British society. This role will involve both coalition-building and strategic campaigning to create lasting change within the sector.
Working in collaboration with MCF’s policy, communications, advocacy, and research teams, the Head of Partnerships and Systemic Change will ensure a coordinated approach that drives long-term, sector-wide capacity improvement and sustainable impact.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Systemic Change
- Develop and implement a comprehensive strategy focused on driving systemic change that enhances the impact and sustainability of Muslim-led charities.
- Identify and dismantle structural, institutional, and policy barriers that hinder the growth and success of Muslim-led organisations.
- Lead efforts to address disparities in funding, representation, and support for Muslim-led charities, advocating for more equitable resource allocation.
- Champion inclusive policies that promote equity in representation and resource distribution for Muslim-led organisations across the charity sector.
External Engagement & Partnerships
- Build and maintain impactful relationships with key stakeholders, including policymakers, funders, government officials, and sector leaders.
- Work with funders and mainstream sector partners to unlock resources and support for Muslim-led organisations, ensuring equitable access to funding and opportunities.
- Develop strategic alliances and coalitions with infrastructure and umbrella organisations across the charity sector to foster collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and systemic change.
- Collaborate with civil society partners to advance inclusive policy frameworks and advocate for equitable funding practices.
- Position MCF as a key voice in coalition-building efforts and as a strategic campaigner on issues affecting the Muslim charitable sector.
Policy, Advocacy & Communications
- Collaborate closely with MCF’s policy, communications, and advocacy teams to design and implement integrated strategies for policy influence.
- Contribute to the development of evidence-based policy briefings, consultation responses, and advocacy campaigns aimed at driving systemic reform and addressing sectoral inequalities.
- Lead strategic campaigns that amplify MCF’s core messages and policy priorities to diverse audiences, including decision-makers and key influencers.
- Represent MCF at parliamentary, sectoral, and public events to advocate for policy change and elevate the profile of Muslim-led charities.
Research & Insight
- Work with MCF’s research team to generate insights and data that inform systemic change and strengthen advocacy efforts.
- Translate research findings into actionable recommendations for funders, policymakers, and other influential stakeholders.
- Use research to identify emerging trends and challenges within the Muslim charitable sector, developing proactive solutions to address these issues.
Collaboration & Representation
- Represent MCF externally with professionalism, integrity, and a commitment to the organisation’s values of inclusion, collaboration, and faith sensitivity.
- Act as a thought leader and advocate for Muslim-led charities in both public and private sector forums, driving change through advocacy and coalition-building.
Management
· Lead designated members of the team, overseeing work and line management where appropriate.
Person Specification
Essential:
- Significant experience (minimum 5 years) in driving systemic change within the charity, public, or civil society sectors.
- In-depth understanding of the UK charity landscape, particularly the challenges faced by minority or faith-based organisations.
- Proven track record of building and nurturing strategic partnerships with policymakers, funders, and senior stakeholders.
- Expertise in policy development, advocacy, and influencing key stakeholders to achieve long-term change.
- Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
- Strong strategic thinking capabilities with the ability to connect research, policy, and advocacy to drive meaningful outcomes.
- A commitment to MCF’s mission, values, and principles of equity, inclusion, and collaboration.
Desirable:
- Experience in coalition-building or cross-sector partnership development.
- Understanding of frameworks for systemic change (e.g., systems thinking, collective impact).
- Familiarity with the British Muslim charitable ecosystem and its role in social change.
What We Offer:
- The opportunity to lead impactful change within one of the UK’s most dynamic faith-based networks.
- A collaborative, inclusive, and supportive working environment.
- Opportunities for professional growth, leadership, and innovation.
Application Information:
To apply, please send a CV (no more than 2 pages) and a covering letter (max 1,000 words) explaining how you meet the essential criteria and your motivation and suitability for the post. Please include two referees (one of whom should be a recent manager).
We are an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and are particularly keen to hear from candidates with lived experience of marginalisation and an understanding of Islamic ethos. Reasonable adjustments are available on request throughout the recruitment process.
We reserve the right to withdraw this role once a suitable candidate is identified.
If you have not heard from us concerning your application within 6 weeks, please assume your application has been unsuccessful.
Interviews: Initial online short interview (stage 1), face-to-face in-office interview (stage 2).
No agencies.
UK residents only. Sponsorship is not possible for this post. References will be taken up prior to appointment including relevant ID checks.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
This is a fascinating role for a dynamic commercial property professional with an appreciation of the property needs and experience of the voluntary sector. We are looking for a surveyor with a proven track record in revenue generation and new business development who can work with a small team of dedicated professionals.
ABOUT THE ETHICAL PROPERTY FOUNDATION
The Ethical Property Foundation (“EPF”) is unique: the UK’s only dedicated property advice charity for the voluntary sector. (Registered Charity number 1101812 in England & Wales) Incorporated in 2003, we have supported thousands of voluntary organisations to manage their premises successfully whether rented or owned. Since 2015, we have been the lead referral partner to the Charity Commission for land & property advice and preferred supplier to the Lloyds Bank Foundation.
Our mission is to equip voluntary organisations with the knowledge and confidence to make the most of the property they occupy and manage, for the benefit of their services and beneficiaries, without crises or compliance failures.
We are a small, dynamic, and enterprising not-for-profit. Our services comprise free, independent property guidance and support; affordable consultancy; plus online property education. Our combined expertise and unique perspective mean we are much in demand from policymakers, and sector thought leaders. Funding comes from philanthropic donations, grants, corporate partnerships and earned income from affordable consultancy. In 2023, we launched the voluntary sector’s first interactive online Weston Property Manual for which we were finalists in two major voluntary sector awards. In 2024 we celebrated the 21st Anniversary of our incorporation.
We employ four part-time employees: the CEO, Head of Property Services, Operations Manager, and Administrator - 2.45FTE, supported by a further nine self-employed Associates and Volunteers of whom eight are chartered surveyors. In addition, we run an expert Register of fifteen property professionals, primarily commercial property solicitors, who provide advice on a pro-bono and discounted fee basis.
JOB DESCRIPTION
The Head of Property Advisory is the lead member of the Property Advice Team comprising Associate Property Advisors. The team is supported by The Foundation’s Register of Property Professionals. The Property Advice Team provides advice, consultancy and educational services. This service is delivered by providing on-line information, free helpdesk guidance, training events and consultancy projects to assist organisations in making informed property decisions. The Head of Property Services will have the following key areas of activity and responsibility:
1. Developing the Affordable Consultancy
The Head of Property Services leads on all aspects of building our affordable consultancy and delivers sales income in line with agreed targets. This will include:
· Identifying potential clients and proactively seeking opportunities to bid for work.
· Responding to enquiries from potential clients, conducting initial meetings to ascertain support required and putting together carefully priced proposals tailored to client needs.
· Developing and maintaining relationships with key partners, including Lloyds Bank Foundation.
· Tracking of enquiries and work in progress with support from the Operations Manager; ensuring accurate records are maintained and providing information and reports to the CEO and Trustees for invoicing and fundraising purposes.
· Developing new products for the charity sector, making the EPF relevant and providing new and growing income streams.
· Ensuring EPF communication channels appropriately promote our services.
2. Management of Property Advice Team
The Head of Property Services directly line-manages the Associates in delivery of the Affordable Consultancy:
· Developing and maintaining appropriate processes and templates for development and delivery of work. Disseminating as necessary and ensuring processes followed by team members.
· Oversight of all support, advice and training provided by the team to ensure consistent high levels of content quality and customer care are maintained.
· Oversight of the free Property Advice Service, co-ordinating with the Property Advisors running the service and responding to enquires who may require affordable consultancy services.
· Ensuring consultancy projects are allocated to team members with appropriate knowledge, experiences and availability.
· Developing excellent working relationships with members of our Register of Property Professionals to introduce charities for effective support.
· Delivering excellent customer care by coordinating the Foundation’s support to charities until their project is resolved.
· Supporting the team to ensure property materials for training and online guidance are accurate and appropriate.
3. Additional duties may include:
· Representing the Foundation and presenting at external events.
· Working proactively to ensure that the Property Advice Team remains up to date with property and charity sector knowledge.
· Develop a broad knowledge of complementary organisations and services that can provide support to enquirers to the Property Advice Service, or opportunities for partnership working or collaboration with the Foundation.
· The Foundation requires all employees to work with due regard for the Foundation’s ethos and policies including health and safety, equality and the environment. All our team must have DBS clearance.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.