Senior research advisor jobs in belfast
At Alzheimer's Society, we're a team of advisors, supporters, fundraisers, researchers, and advocates - united by one purpose: to make life better for everyone affected by dementia.
We're looking for a Company Secretary and Governance Lead to play an important leadership role in ensuring our charity operates to the highest standards of governance, transparency and integrity.
Reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer and working closely with the Chair of the Board of Trustees, Chief Executive, Executive Leadership Team and Board Committees, this role will shape and strengthen our governance framework to enable confident, informed decision-making that supports delivery of our strategy and impact. This is an outstanding opportunity for a strategic governance leader who can combine technical expertise with strong relationship management and a genuine passion for driving good governance that supports our mission.
Key Responsibilities
- Act as Company Secretary for Alzheimer's Society and its subsidiaries, ensuring compliance with Charity Commission and Companies House requirements.
- Provide trusted advice to the Chair, Board of Trustees and Executive Leadership Team on their legal, fiduciary and regulatory responsibilities.
- Oversee governance arrangements, ensuring effective information flow and clear decision-making structures across the organisation.
- Develop and lead a team of Governance professionals, promoting a culture of high performance, collaboration, accountability and inclusivity.
- Lead the design and continual improvement of our governance framework, embedding transparency, accountability, and evidence-based decision making.
- Serve as Whistleblowing Officer for the Society, and champion integrity and openness in all governance processes.
- Support the governance team to deliver efficient Board and Committee meetings, forward planning, and statutory reporting.
- Foster strong relationships across teams, embedding governance and compliance as enablers of effective, ethical leadership.
About You
You're a confident, collaborative leader who combines professional rigour with empathy, diplomacy and a values-led approach. You bring the strategic insight to advise senior leaders and the operational focus to ensure governance processes run seamlessly.
We're looking for someone who can:
- Demonstrate a strong track record of advising Boards and senior leaders on governance, compliance and organisational risk.
- Bring excellent knowledge of charity law, company law, and the UK governance landscape.
- Communicate complex information clearly and credibly to a range of audiences.
- Lead with authenticity and integrity, building trusted relationships across all levels.
- Drive continuous improvement — from simplifying processes to fostering a culture of learning and accountability.
- Lead and develop a small team, championing collaboration and professional growth.
- Model Alzheimer's Society's values of Determination, Better Together, Compassion and Trusted Expertise in all that you do.
This role is Home-based with occasional travel across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Important Dates:
- The deadline for applications is 23:59 on Sunday 30th November 2025.
- Interview invites will be issued from 8th December.
- Involvement (lived-experience) Panel will take place on 12th December 2025.
- Competency Panel interview will take place at our Crutched Friar's London Office on 16th December 2025.
- Candidates will have the opportunity to meet with our CEO and Chair of the Board of Trustees virtually on 17th December 2025.
About Alzheimer's Society
Dementia is the UK’s biggest killer. One in three people born in the UK today will develop dementia in their lifetime.
At Alzheimer’s Society, we’re the UK’s leading dementia charity and the only one to tackle all aspects of dementia by giving help and hope to people living with dementia today and in the future. We give vital support to people facing the most frightening times of their lives, while also funding groundbreaking research and campaigning to make dementia the priority it should be.
Together with our supporters, we’re working towards a world where dementia no longer devastates lives.
Our values make sure that our focus is clear for the challenges and opportunities ahead and remind us of what we all stand for.
Our commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging
We need to ensure the voices around our table better reflect and understand the communities we exist to serve. We strongly encourage individuals to apply who have a disability, impairment or health condition or individuals who identify as Black, Asian or from another minority ethnic background, as these groups are currently under-represented at Alzheimer's Society.
We want everyone we work with, as a colleague, volunteer, supporter, or someone we support, to feel included and that they belong at Alzheimer's Society.
Our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy here along with our internal employee forum and Employee Lived Experience network groups help us promote inclusion and belonging, becoming an engaged and inclusive organisation for all our people.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
The Role
The Hummingbird Pollinator is a strategic and external-facing leader who combines vision with agility, precision with creativity. They will guide Canopy’s Philanthropic Partnerships team in cultivating high-value relationships, securing transformational funding, and embedding a culture of philanthropy across the organization.
As part of Canopy’s leadership team, the Hummingbird Pollinator will serve as a trusted advisor on fundraising strategy, donor relations, and organizational sustainability — ensuring every partnership fuels our mission and amplifies Canopy’s impact on the world’s forests and climate.
The Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Philanthropic Vision
- Develop and execute Canopy’s 5-year philanthropic strategy, aligning major gifts, institutional partnerships, and stewardship with Canopy’s bold goals.
- Set and achieve ambitious revenue targets, ensuring forecasting and pipeline accuracy.
- Collaborate across teams to integrate storytelling, communications, and immersive engagement into all donor interactions.
Team Leadership & Development
- Lead and mentor the Development Director and Donor Engagement Specialist.
- Foster a collaborative, innovative, and high-performing team culture.
- Partner with Grants, Research, and Analytics colleagues to ensure seamless execution and reporting.
Donor Engagement & Relationship Building
- Cultivate, solicit, and steward high-value donor and institutional partnerships.
- Lead high-impact donor experiences that inspire connection and long-term commitment.
- Represent Canopy externally as a trusted, strategic ambassador to our philanthropic partners.
Philanthropic Culture & Collaboration
- Champion a culture of philanthropy across Canopy — helping all teams understand and celebrate the power of donor partnerships.
- Equip colleagues with the tools and confidence to engage in meaningful donor storytelling.
- Work cross-functionally to ensure that philanthropic principles are integrated into all strategic planning and communications.
About Canopy
At Canopy, we partner with the world’s largest brands and innovators to protect the world’s forests, species, and climate. We’re a not-for-profit that makes the impossible happen — building market solutions to keep Ancient and Endangered Forests standing and scale Next Gen alternatives that change supply chains forever.
Why Join Canopy
This is a rare moment to join a movement on the rise. With a transformational foundation in place and a clear path toward long-term sustainability, the Hummingbird Pollinator will help shape the next era of Canopy’s philanthropic growth.
You’ll join a globally distributed team of innovators and advocates, united by the belief that bold collaboration can protect the planet’s most vital forests — and transform industries along the way.
About You
You are agile, curious, and creative. You see patterns others miss, forge connections that spark growth, and thrive in dynamic environments. You’re both strategic and relational, bringing energy, empathy, and excellence to every interaction.
You bring:
- 10+ years of experience in fundraising, major gifts, or institutional philanthropy, including leadership experience.
- A record of securing transformative gifts and managing complex donor portfolios.
- Experience leading and mentoring collaborative, high-performing teams.
- Strategic thinking paired with operational excellence.
- Creativity, curiosity, and a “Yes AND…” mindset.
- Excellent communication and relationship skills that inspire confidence.
- Resilience, adaptability, and humour.
- Passion for environmental impact, conservation, or systems change.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Submit your application as normal and our system will anonymise it for you. Your personal information will be hidden until the recruiter contacts you.
Are you passionate about upholding the rights of other Disabled people? Would you like to bring your whole self to work?
Inclusion Barnet is Barnet’s Deaf and Disabled People’s Organisation (DDPO), led by a board and senior management team of disabled people, and we’re passionate about using our lived experience of disability to work towards inclusive communities and greater social justice for all.
This role involves working with people across all of Barnet’s diverse communities. Therefore, we’re looking for people with a demonstrable commitment to the social model of disability and equality, with their own direct lived experience of disability, and an ambition to contribute to a fairer society for all.
The successful candidate will spend their time delivering a frontline welfare benefits triaging service with the support of a senior caseworker.
To succeed, you will need experience of advice work which includes using a benefits calculator and signposting. The role also involves managing our telephone and email inbox into the advice service and obtaining feedback about the service from clients alongside initial advice giving. The role will include some casework including concessionary travel claims when capacity allows and with relevant training.
You will need excellent communication skills and be unphased by people presenting with multiple issues, often in emotional distress. You’ll be excited by the challenge of learning new things and have a good knowledge of the services used by disabled people.
In return, we offer a supportive and friendly workplace, with a focused but flexible culture, where you can bring your whole self to work.
This is a home-based role, with some travel around Barnet needed, approx. 2 days a month. Most of the triaging work can be completed online or over the telephone, but there may be a need for some face-to-face client work from time to time. You will therefore need to live within a reasonable travelling distance of Barnet. Some travel to other venues in London may also be required, for example for staff away days or other meetings.
We encourage flexible working to suit your work/life balance preferences where possible; however, some working days might be determined by appointments. We also operate a Time Off In Lieu (TOIL) system.
To apply, please submit your CV with a brief covering letter clearly stating how you meet the person specification, and how you would use your lived experience of disability to inform your delivery of the role.
The successful candidate must be willing to undergo an enhanced DBS check and have the right to work in the UK.
Interviews will be held remotely w/c 8th December and will include a pre-prepared scenario question which you will need to submit before the time of your interview.
Registered Charity
21 - 50
Using our lived experience of disability to create more inclusive services and communities
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.