Senior research executive jobs in romford, england

Supporting young people across the UK, STEM Learning is dedicated to improving lives through the power of STEM education.

By equipping schools, teachers and young people with the skills and confidence they need, STEM Learning helps open career opportunities, build knowledge, and enable young people to become thoughtful citizens able to tackle the challenges and opportunities of the future.

Fundraising at STEM Learning is at an exciting stage of growth. Income has increased from £3m to £3.5m this year, with ambitions to reach £5–6m in the near future. The team has expanded rapidly from 2 to 7 people, with clear organisational investment and board-level engagement to drive fundraising success. With attractive propositions such as the STEM Impact Fund, student engagement programmes, and unrestricted support, STEM Learning is well positioned to grow its high-value income.

The role of Fundraising Lead is to drive new donor engagement and secure sustainable, multi-year funding. You will develop high value 6- and 7-figure fundraising relationships, primarily with the private sector, but also with HNWIs in the future, bringing on board new supporters, so maximising income and sustainability.

With proposals already in play with leading brands, a supportive Head of Fundraising, and active trustee involvement, this is a rare opportunity to make a visible impact in an ambitious organisation.

As Fundraising Lead, you will:

• Lead corporate new business, with full responsibility for a £300k year-one target
• Build and manage a proactive new business pipeline, using prospect research tools, networking and trustee engagement
• Secure six-figure, multi-year corporate partnerships, developing creative offers across unrestricted, programme-based and blended opportunities
• Focus in the short-medium term on corporate new business, moving to incorporate HNWIs in time
• Work with the Head of Fundraising, SMT and board members to open doors and build senior-level relationships
• Collaborate with colleagues including the account management team and bid writer to ensure seamless handover and delivery of secured partnerships
• Represent STEM Learning externally, positioning the organisation as a credible and attractive partner for major corporate supporters

Ideal skills and experience:

• Proven track record of securing six-figure corporate partnerships, ideally multi-year
• Experience building a corporate pipeline from scratch, including research, prospecting and networking
• Strong understanding of how to package and position fundraising propositions to align donor interests with organisational priorities
• Confident and credible with senior stakeholders, including trustees, boards and senior corporate contacts
• Target-driven, entrepreneurial and proactive, able to deliver short-term results while building long-term income growth
• Collaborative and resilient, with the ability to represent STEM Learning externally and inspire confidence internally
• Experience in building relationships with HNWIs and major donor fundraising desirable, but not essential

Benefits include: 

• 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays (up to 5 days leave can be carried over to the following leave year)
• Excellent pension scheme with employer contributions of up to 15%
• Private health care via Benenden Health plus Healthcare Cash Plan and Dental Plan
• Annual salary review
• Electric Car Benefit Scheme via Tusker
• Interest-free season ticket loan
• Discounted gym membership and shopping discounts
• Gourmet Society and tastecard dining cards (incl. 2 for 1, 50% off food bill and 25% off total bill)
• Kids Pass
• Employee Assistance Programme

About the Role​

Social Development Direct is looking for a Finance Director to join our Senior Leadership Team and help shape the future of our global social impact consultancy. SDDirect is a values-driven, dynamic international development consultancy with a 25-year track record of delivering high-quality, innovative research and advisory services worldwide. As a social enterprise subsidiary of Plan International UK, we combine commercial agility with a deep commitment to social change.​

In this role, you’ll:​

•  Lead financial and commercial management, act as Company Secretary, and advise on project finance, pricing, and risk.
•  Collaborate across teams, using financial information and data to contribute to strategic growth, sustainability, and innovation.
•  Manage a small, dedicated finance team and work closely with our MD and Board.​​

This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a medium-sized, fast-paced organisation, brings proven senior-level financial skills, and understands the dynamics of commercial consultancy. Flexible and part-time working arrangements are available (min. 80% FTE).​​

We welcome applications from all qualified candidates, and wish to particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates, who are underrepresented at this level.

Please click below for a full description of the role's responsibilities, duties, and person specification.​​

Join The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity and help save the lives of people with cancer everywhere. With one in two of us expected to develop cancer in our lifetimes, our mission to fund the life-saving research and world-leading treatment and care at The Royal Marsden is more vital than ever.

We are seeking a visionary and strategic leader to join our Senior Leadership Team as the Associate Director of Marketing & Digital. This pivotal role will provide strategic leadership for our marketing, brand, content, and digital functions, shaping our brand presence, digital innovation, supporter experience, and public profile. You’ll work closely with senior colleagues across the Charity and The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, aligning strategies and strengthening shared storytelling.

The Organisation

ImpactEd Group supports education and purpose-driven organisations to maximise and realise their potential. A growing and skilled team of over 40 people, we help our partners to be consistently impactful and sustainable through a combination of specialist support and use of digital tools.This role is within our Evaluation Practice. The evaluation team works with schools and organisations, analysing the impact of programmes and interventions to help them do more of what works and less of what doesn’t.

The Opportunity

The Partnerships Director role is a new opportunity working across ImpactEd Evaluation. As Partnerships Director, you will be a senior leader of the evaluation practice and a statutory director on our Practice Board. Reflecting this, you will have a key role in the success of the practice, both commercially and in terms of social impact, and help to shape and deliver the strategy for ImpactEd Evaluation as a practice within ImpactEd Group, reporting to the Managing Director.

The role will focus on partnerships and business development, ensuring that ImpactEd Evaluation is positioned well as first port of call for schools and social purpose organisations. You will lead a number of sales and marketing campaigns, develop key propositions for our partners, scan and respond to relevant tenders and work closely with a team of evaluation experts to ensure we are able to continue to bring accessible expertise to our work and partners. You will also manage a small team, with two direct reports.

The role would be ideal for a candidate with deep understanding of the schools and MAT space, a track record in business development, and the ambition to shape the direction of a growing social enterprise.

About you

As a team focused on research and evaluation, we would also expect roles at this level to demonstrate:

• Alignment with our values and ability to demonstrate them in your work

• Act as a coach and role model for other members of the team

• Excellence in partnership management, particularly on proactive driving of partnerships forward, scope management and stakeholder engagement

• Leadership of business development for consultancy engagements and facilitation of evaluation design processes

• Understanding of our sector and ability to combine that with our offers as a practice

• Ability to listen to and synthesise partner needs to tailor evaluation reporting, quality assure others’ outputs, and help partners take action from research findings

Why us?

As well as a commitment to the organisations we work with, we have a commitment to our people and developing the next generation of leaders. Our employee experience is organised around four themes: 

• Trust: we support hybrid working, offer flexible hours, and provide responsive management. 

• Shared ownership: we are an employee-owned organisation and look to share ownership with our employees, including through ownership awards, EMI options and transparent governance. 

• Connection: we pay for your travel, provide termly company offsites, support informal clubs and societies, and provide opportunities for in-person and digital connection between colleagues.

• Health and fulfilment: we have an extensive professional development programme, provide an annual books and development budget allowance and offer 3 days of CPD leave per year in addition to annual leave. We offer all employees access to a healthcare plan and wellbeing advice. 

The FEA are recruiting a fixed term Director of Operations and Impact (maternity cover), who will have responsibility for FEA’s operations, culture, governance and impact and evaluation over the coming year.

Working closely with the co-CEOs and Senior Leadership Team, you will oversee the FEA's core operational functions while ensuring seamless continuity and momentum in this strategic direction. You will line manage key staff, steward relationships with external partners, and ensure that the FEA's culture and systems enable the whole organisation to thrive during this important transition.

This is a strategic leadership role that combines operational expertise with a strong focus on learning and impact, perfect for a leader who values the unique contribution that skilled interim leadership can make at key organisational moments.

Key dates

• Applications close: Monday 13 October (9am)

• First round interviews: Wednesday 29 October (online)

• Final interviews: Wednesday 5 November (in person at the Fair Education Alliance office in London)

• Start date: early January 2026

ImpactEd Consulting is acting as recruitment advisor to FEA on this appointment. 

The Centre for Progressive Change is looking for a Safe Sick Pay Campaign Director that will be part of the newly formed Executive Team. This is an exciting time to be joining the campaign, as we capitalise on our successes so far and plan for our next big policy gain - increasing the rate of Statutory Sick Pay.

The Centre for Progressive Change (CPC) is an organisation that builds campaigns for national policy change in the UK. Our focus is on making progressive gains that improve the lives of low- and middle-income communities. We want the UK to be a place where everyone has the financial resources they need, where people are treated as equals and are free to be who they are without persecution, and where we look after our environment.

To achieve this vision, our mission is to build proactive campaigns for progressive legislative change, do research on what works when campaigning for national policy change and offer training and consultancy to support other organisations to build effective campaigns. Our campaigns use an inter-disciplinary approach including community organising, mobilising, advocacy, business engagement, campaign research and press work.

The Campaign Director will be in charge of our campaign for Safe Sick Pay, so that everyone has the Statutory Sick Pay they need. The Campaign Director will form the campaign strategy to see an increase in the rate of Statutory Sick Pay, fundraise to implement the strategy, hire campaign team members, support the team to implement the strategy, hold the key stakeholder relationships, drive the campaign, and deliver parts of the campaign where needed.

As a member of the Executive Team, the Campaign Director will be part of the team responsible for the strategy, structure, team, culture and finances of the organisation.

Join Operation Smile UK as our new Communications & Content Officer, where you’ll craft powerful stories that elevate our mission, spark fundraising, and shape our brand across digital and print channels. If you’re passionate about storytelling, campaign coordination, and making a real difference, we'd love to hear from you.

Job Purpose

The Communications and Content Officer supports the delivery of engaging and effective communications across Operation Smile UK’s channels. The postholder will create and coordinate content that raises awareness, supports fundraising, and strengthens the organisation’s profile in the UK.

Key Responsibilities

Content creation and content management

• Working with the Senior Communications Manager, research, draft, and edit compelling content for the UK website, newsletters, and print materials.
• Support the reimagining of existing content to ensure messaging is fresh, relevant, and audience-led.
• Collate and maintain a library of case studies, stories, and assets for use across teams.
• Ensure brand voice and tone are consistently applied across all communications.

Digital and organic social media

• Develop and maintain a social media content calendar which supports our Communications Strategy and liaise with our Social Media Freelancer to plan and approve posts.
• Contribute to the delivery of multi-channel campaigns, liaising with internal stakeholders and suppliers to create assets and meet deadlines.
• Assist with monitoring and reporting on content performance, identifying opportunities for growth and engagement.

Campaign coordination

• Support the planning and scheduling of communications campaigns like World Smile Day and advertising events like our annual carols concert.
• Manage feedback processes to ensure the timely delivery of content and materials.
• Act as the first point of contact for all content requests from across the organisation.

Administration and finance

• Collate quotes for expenditure and liaise with suppliers as required.
• Track invoices, ensuring coding is accurate and amounts match agreed quotes.
• Maintain organised systems for content workflows, approvals, and campaign schedules.

Monitoring and evaluation

• Gather engagement and performance metrics from all channels.
• Provide regular reports to the Senior Communications Manager.
• Suggest improvements to optimise performance and impact.

Recruitment

We are actively interviewing for this role on a rolling basis as suitable applicants apply. If you're interested in this role, it is advisable to apply as soon as possible.

Disability Confident Committed Employer

We're a Disability Confident Committed employer, so we guarantee an interview to any disabled applicant who meets the minimum requirements for the job.

At Operation Smile UK, we value individuals based on their performance and potential. We're dedicated to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace that supports everyone's needs. We're happy to make reasonable adjustments throughout the application and employment process, and we particularly welcome applications from diverse backgrounds.

If you need this document in a different format, require any adjustments, or need help with your application, please contact us (further details contained within the job description).

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

Operation Smile UK knows fundraising could better reflect the diverse backgrounds and experiences of the people the charity sector supports. If you don’t meet every requirement but believe your transferable skills align with the role, we encourage you to contact us for a conversation. 

We want our team to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve, offering equal opportunities to everyone regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

We celebrate diversity and encourage you to bring your authentic self to Operation Smile UK. We are committed to supporting all applicants and ensuring a fair hiring process. All appointments will be made solely on merit, and we are happy to make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process. 

War Child’s mission is to reach, protect, educate, and stand up for the rights of every child living in conflict zones. They want a world that is safer for children to live in. At the moment, 1 in 5 children are living in or fleeing from conflict – that number is too high, and War Child wants to change it.

War Child is known for bold fundraising, innovative campaigns, and a culture of creativity. Their ambassadors, high-profile supporters, and superbly connected networks among investors and philanthropists give them a unique platform to engage influential donors. With a reputation for high-profile events and strong stewardship, they are now investing in a dedicated Head of Principal Giving to take this work to the next level.

Reporting into the Director of Philanthropy and Partner Engagement, you will build and lead a bold, high-impact strategy focused on cultivating deep, long-term partnerships with influential philanthropists. Working closely with senior leadership, you will be central to unlocking significant funding opportunities that align donor values with the lasting change we deliver for children living through conflict.

If you are motivated by the chance to unlock transformational support for children affected by war, this is a rare opportunity to establish and lead a new programme with the full backing of War Child’s leadership, networks, and global influence.

As Head of Principal Gifts, you will:

• Lead the development of a high-impact Principal Giving programme
• Build deep partnerships with philanthropists capable of making transformational gifts of £500k+
• Operate at the highest levels across War Child UK (WCUK) and our global alliance, engaging CEOs, trustees, ambassadors, and programme leaders to connect donor values with War Child’s most urgent priorities
• Shape major funding propositions rooted in WCUK’s ten-year strategy, inspiring exceptional support for their mission
• Benefit from strong internal backing, and new dedicated prospect research that will strengthen your pipeline and give you the insight to target opportunities with confidence
• Leverage existing pipelines of prospects and introductions, deepening relationships and converting warm networks into lasting partnerships
• Partner with the Heads of Philanthropy and Trusts & Foundations, programme directors, ambassadors, and trustees to deliver donor engagement at the highest level

Ideal skills and experience: 

• A track record of securing gifts of £250k+ from UHNWIs
• Sophisticated relationship management skills, with the confidence and credibility to operate alongside CEOs, trustees, programme directors, ambassadors, and family offices
• Experience shaping ambitious, values-driven cases for support and stewarding long-term philanthropic partnerships
• Strategic insight, entrepreneurial drive, and the ability to build a new programme from the ground up
• A collaborative approach, able to work closely with colleagues in philanthropy, trusts and foundations, and partnerships
• Strong advisory skills, able to support and guide fundraisers across the organisation on managing principal-level partnerships
• Well versed in developing and assessing different financial models to structure transformational giving opportunities
• Ideally, a broad understanding of international philanthropy and donor motivations, with the ability to connect global priorities to transformational giving opportunities.

Employee benefits

Benefits include: 

• Flexible working – War Child recognise the considerable benefits that flexible working can bring and are happy to discuss any possible flexible working options with employees from hiring. For most roles, the following types of flexibility are usually possible: flexible hours, an element of working from home, compressed hours
• Annual leave – 28 days per year (full-time), plus UK bank holidays
• Pension – all eligible employees automatically enrolled into a Group Personal Pension Plan with a 5% employer contribution, with minimum employee contribution on a salary sacrifice basis
• Health & wellbeing – employees may take advantage of a healthcare cash plan and a range of wellbeing initiatives and training. In addition, all employees have access to free, confidential one-to-one wellbeing consultations with trained counsellors.
• Learning & development – dedicated to the investment in learning and continuing professional development for all our employees
• Range of flexible benefits such a Cycle to Work scheme and season ticket loans

The Talent Set are delighted to partner with Breast Cancer Now on the recruitment of their new Director of Brand, Marketing & Communications.

At Breast Cancer Now, we’re here for anyone affected by breast cancer – providing world-class research, trusted information, specialist support, and determined campaigning. By 2050, we believe everyone diagnosed with breast cancer will live – and be supported to live well. To make that future a reality, we need bold leadership and powerful voices.

We are now seeking a Director of Brand, Marketing and Communications to lead our strategic direction and inspire a department of almost 60 people to deliver brilliant, integrated brand and communications work that will engage millions and accelerate progress towards our 2025–2030 Change Happens Now strategy.

About the role
As Director, you’ll:

• Lead the development and delivery of Breast Cancer Now’s brand, marketing, and communications strategy, ensuring our voice is clear, powerful and consistent.
• Drive innovative and inclusive campaigns that grow awareness, trust, engagement and income – across digital, media, PR, ambassadors, and supporter communities.
• Work closely with senior colleagues across the Engagement Directorate to deliver ambitious fundraising and engagement growth, including a £50m major campaign.
• Inspire, empower and develop a high-performing team, embedding collaboration, creativity and boldness.
• Act as an influential ambassador, building strong relationships internally and externally to maximise impact.

About you
You are a dynamic and strategic senior leader with:

• Significant experience leading brand, marketing and communications at scale, ideally within healthcare or the charity sector.
• A strong track record of delivering innovative, audience-first, multi-channel strategies that grow awareness, engagement and income.
• Proven ability to inspire and develop high-performing teams through change and growth.
• Excellent relationship-building skills, with the confidence to represent Breast Cancer Now at the highest levels.
• Curiosity and courage to champion new ideas, from digital innovation to inclusive storytelling.

Why join us?
This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of one of the UK’s leading charities. You’ll play a central role in driving our vision that by 2050, everyone diagnosed with breast cancer will live – and live well. In return, we offer a supportive and ambitious culture, hybrid working, and a chance to make a lasting difference for people affected by breast cancer.

What's on offer?

• Location: London with hybrid working (3 days from home)
• Contract: Permanent, full-time (35 hours per week)
• Closing date: 3rd October

Recruitment timeline

• Closing date: 3rd October
• First stage interviews: w/c 13th October
• Final interviews: w/c 20th October

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).

Commitment to Diversity
Alongside Breast Cancer Now, The Talent Set are committed to diverse and inclusive recruitment practices, ensuring equal opportunities for all applicants regardless of race, sexual orientation, disability, age, or gender. We actively encourage applications from a wide range of backgrounds and are always happy to make reasonable adjustments to ensure a fair recruitment process.

Join The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity and help save the lives of people with cancer everywhere. With one in two of us expected to develop cancer in our lifetimes, our mission to fund the life-saving research and world-leading treatment and care at The Royal Marsden is more vital than ever.

We are seeking a visionary and strategic leader to join our Senior Leadership Team as the Associate Director of Public Fundraising. This pivotal role will accelerate income growth across mass fundraising channels including Community Fundraising, Individual Giving, and Legacy programmes. You will drive innovation, supporter engagement, and product development to grow sustainable income and support transformational projects.

The Talent Set is delighted to be partnering with Breast Cancer Now to recruit to this career-defining Head of Philanthropy & Principal Gifts position, a key senior role within the high value fundraising team. 

Head of Philanthropy & Principal Gifts
Salary: £62,000 - £65,000
Location: Hybrid working – 2dpw at the office in Aldgate

Breast Cancer Now is entering an exciting new phase of development, with significant investment taking place across the high value fundraising team. As they prepare to launch their biggest campaign to date, there is a need to recruit a skilled principal gifts fundraising leader who can enable this critical function to further develop the BAU philanthropy programme while also driving critical fundraising activity with (U)HNWIs linked to the campaign. 

As Head of Philanthropy & Principal Gifts you will manage 3 direct reports, advocating for the team at a senior level cross-organisationally and empowering them to deliver against in year BAU and Campaign targets. You will drive a culture that focuses on elevating the portfolio, securing principal gifts and uplifting the support of existing donors. The Campaign offers a unique and compelling opportunity to connect with an impressive new network of prospective donors – driven through connections of the Campaign Board, of which you will personally manage a number of members, maximising reach through their networks to identify new prospects. 

For some prospects there is an expectation their motivations will align with the Campaign, but for others there may be greater connection to the charity’s support services or broader research commitments. You will be adept at understanding donor motivations to establish which propositions best align with their philanthropic goals. 

We are looking for a skilled, senior philanthropy fundraiser who brings a wealth of knowledge with regards to best practice and philanthropy fundraising principles who is keen to put their own stamp on things and establish a truly unique programme of activity, reflective of Breast Cancer Now’s culture and approach. 
You will join an established and high performing peer group, closely collaborating to ensure greater efficiencies and cross-team working. 

As Head of Philanthropy & Principal Gifts you will:

• Strategically lead philanthropy and principal gifts fundraising on behalf of the charity, maximising opportunities presented via the upcoming Campaign while considering programmes of activity that also support BAU fundraising.
• Personally manage and deliver a portfolio of (U)HNW prospects, focusing on long term relationships to secure transformational gifts at a 6-8 figure level. 
• Work closely with the Associate Director of Campaign and Campaign Board Members to ensure philanthropy fundraising strategies align with campaign strategy to maximise network opportunities, establishing strong relationships that drive principal giving activity. 
• Lead a skilled team, supporting their development and driving a culture of high performance to build strong, committed donor relationships. 
• Lead cross-organisational engagement for philanthropy, working closely with senior stakeholders to ensure strategic cultivation and solicitation of prospects. 

The role would best suit:

• An experienced principal gifts fundraising professional, with expertise of securing 6-figure+ and multi-year support.
• A strategic leader with experience of developing high-performing teams and maximising the potential of reports. 
• An individual who is confident engaging a wide variety of senior stakeholders (including trustees, (U)HNWIs, senior volunteers and their associated networks). 
• A knowledgeable fundraising professional with a deep understanding of donor motivations, major gift solicitation and long-term stewardship to ensure of best practice. 
• A collaborative senior leader, proactively driving and participating in a culture of cross-team working with senior peers to maximise network connections. 

Please get in touch as soon as possible to express an initial interest, the deadline for applications (CV and cover letter) is Tuesday 30th September with first stage interviews scheduled to take place 7/8th October. 

To be considered for this position please apply with your CV as soon as possible.

We are committed to diverse and inclusive recruitment practices that ensure equal opportunity for everyone, regardless of race, sexual orientation, mental or physical disability, age or gender. We encourage applications from all backgrounds and will happily make reasonable adjustments to always ensure a fair process.

BookTrust – Head of Fundraising

Location: Based in either Farringdon, London or Leeds offices. Hybrid working, with at least eight in person meeting days per month. S[SG1] ome UK travel to meet with prospects, donors and colleagues.

Salary: £75,000 per annum.
Contract: Permanent, full-time.

BookTrust, the charity that champions the power of reading, is seeking a Head of Fundraising in a new senior role to oversee the strategic development and management of their voluntary income, to help them deliver their goals to shape a national reading culture.

BookTrust is the UK’s largest children’s reading charity, reaching over 1.3 million children and families across England, Wales and Northern Ireland each year and delivering evidence-informed programmes that make a measurable difference to children’s reading behaviours. Their work is rooted in the belief that every child deserves the chance to enjoy reading and all the lifelong benefits it brings. In recent years, the charity’s work has focused on helping children from low-income and vulnerable family backgrounds to become regular readers.

The Head of Fundraising will be responsible for stewarding an existing portfolio of major statutory and voluntary funders, and managing BookTrust’s high value and individual giving portfolio. This includes trusts and foundations, statutory funders and corporate partners from the publishing sector and beyond, from Waterstones to Build-A-Bear. The post-holder will build on significant fundraising growth over the last three years, and will work to further grow and diversify fundraising income to meet the goals of the charity’s recently launched 2025-2030 strategic plan.

The successful candidate will be engaging, experienced and have a proven record across high value fundraising (with a preference for major donor/philanthropy, trusts and corporate partnerships), as well as having a good knowledge of Individual Giving.

They will have experience of operating at a senior leader level with a charity, with responsibility for liaising with, and reporting to, the SLT and the Board, and will be able to show demonstrable success in achieving personal and team income targets.  Commercially and politically astute, candidates will also be emotionally intelligent and natural collaborators, willing to work with others on bringing income generation ideas to life in an organisation with a diverse funding model including mixed models of trading and philanthropy.

This is an exciting opportunity to help secure the financial support needed to get even more children reading and fulfilling their potential in life, with strong backing from BookTrust’s leadership and a commitment to supporting the team to growth, thrive and achieve success together.

This role would be ideal for a senior leader who has managed a significant income stream or small multi-disciplinary team who is looking for a broader challenge and a chance to make real impact.

Please download our Candidate Pack for further information [PDF], which includes details on how to apply.

Closing date: Monday 13th October, 9.00 am. 

The Youth Endowment Fund 

Head of Change – Children’s Services  

Reports to: Assistant Director for Change – Children’s Services, Neighbourhoods & the Youth Sector

Salary: £67,900

Contract: 2 year fixed-term – potential to extend. Open to 0.8FTE for the right candidate

Location: Central London, Hybrid*  

Closing date:12pm on Wednesday 8th October 2025

About the Youth Endowment Fund

We’re here to prevent children and young people becoming involved in violence. We do this by finding out what works and building a movement to put this knowledge into practice. 

Last year, 244 people in England and Wales tragically died after being assaulted with a knife. Of these, 32 were children. Every child captured in these numbers is an important member of our community and society has a duty to protect them. Even when violence doesn’t strike directly, we know that the fear of violence has a terrible effect on children’s lives.

The Youth Endowment Fund exists to try and permanently change things. To succeed, we must build an exceptional body of knowledge about violence affecting young people and how we reduce it. This knowledge has to be both rigorous and highly relevant to those making decisions about how to support vulnerable young people. We need to find out what works and what doesn’t through evidence synthesis, data analysis and qualitative research into children’s lives. We need to convert this into highly accessible content on what works, how delivery organisations need to change their practice and how the systems they operate in need to be reformed. We then need to work with the right people that can make change happen, across systems, policies and practice, to have a real impact on reducing violence affecting children’s lives.

Key Responsibilities 

We build demand and interest in evidence across the Children’s Services sector 

This will include: 

• Running events, speaking at conferences and curating webinars to bring evidence to life for practitioners 
• We have great relationships with the people who can make change happen.  

This will include:

• Developing great relationships with senior policy makers, sector leaders and experts, including representing YEF in external meetings and speaking at events.
• Managing a Strategic Advisory Board of leading experts across the children’s services sector and keep members onside and excited about our work.

We deliver our children’s services system recommendations. 

This will include:

• Helping to identify the right recommendations at a system level (such as changes in policy, regulation, inspection, funding, or guidance) that make it more likely highly vulnerable children get access to the right support at the right time. 
• Work out the best way to make our system recommendations happen (due for publication in December 2026) and then do it – persuading the key people to make changes that make a difference.
• Tracking progress carefully, being thoughtful and creative about when and how to change the plan.

We work out the most effective ways to connect people with the evidence, then make those things happen. 

This will include:

• Helping children’s services leaders change how they plan or provide services to better protect children from violence, based on the YEF Children’s Services Practice Guidance – due for publication in May 2026. 
• Creating a plan to get people to follow our guidance, using what we know about how they think and behave. 
• Creating practical tools and resources that help leaders put evidence into action 
• Continuously testing and improving our approach to get better results. 

As a senior member of staff in the organisation you also: 

• Build a culture where it is natural to perform well and support colleagues brilliantly.
• Contribute to setting the strategy, delivering results, and building and modelling the culture that we need to succeed.

About You

You are this sort of person: 

• You know how to make change happen. You combine analytical sharpness with emotional intelligence and real-world experience. You understand why people resist change – and how to move them through it. You’re curious about human behaviour and what drives decision-making. 

• You bring deep experience of the children’s services system. You’ve worked at a senior level in or with children’s services – potentially commissioning support for young people at risk of or involved in violence. You understand how Directors of Children’s Services and other senior leaders think and know how to navigate and influence within the system. 

• You communicate complex ideas clearly. Whether speaking or writing, you break down complicated concepts in ways that make sense to different audiences – without oversimplifying. You bring clarity where others bring jargon. 

• You get things done. You’re organised, delivery-focused, and produce high-quality work, even under pressure. You work independently and to a high standard. 

• You build trust and connect with people. From government ministers to social workers, CEOs to 15-year-olds – you know how to listen, build rapport, and make people feel heard. You’ve led meetings, made strong introductions, and bring people with you. 

• You think big and adapt fast. You’re a strategic thinker who can see the big picture without losing sight of the detail. You’re logical, creative, and open to challenge – always testing and refining your ideas.  

• You understand young people. You get what life can be like for vulnerable young people and you understand the systems and organisations around them. Ideally, you’ve seen this first-hand, whether professionally or personally. 

• You’re committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion. Not just in theory – but in how you work, who you listen to, and what you prioritise. 

You must have this sort of experience. 

• Delivering concrete change in practice or systems that improved children’s lives. You have significant experience in leading behaviour, practice or policy changes within a children’s services setting. You can show how these have been effective in delivering tangible change.  
• Leadership experience in the children’s services system. You’ve worked at a senior level in or with children’s services - especially local authority children's services, commissioning and/or children's social care policy, and you understand how to navigate and influence within these complex systems.

• Firsthand knowledge of the system that supports highly vulnerable children, particularly those at risk of or involved in violence. You understand the barriers these children face and what it takes to get them the right support.

While it’s not a criterion, we’re especially interested to hear from applicants who have lived experience of youth violence.   

It’s also important to us that the people we hire do not discriminate. We believe in being inclusive and giving everyone an equal chance to succeed. Applications are welcome from all regardless of age, sex, gender identity, disability, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, religion or belief, race, sexual orientation, transgender status or social economic background.   

Hybrid Working Details 

The office is based in Central London. Those living in and around London are expected to be in the office for a minimum of 2 days per week. If you live outside of London and work remotely, you’ll be expected to work from the London office 2 days per month.     

As part of our commitment to flexible working we will consider a range of options for the successful applicant. All options can be discussed at the interview stage. 

To Apply

To apply, please send a CV, your answers to the three questions below and complete the monitoring form by clicking on "Apply for this" button by 12pm on Wednesday 8th Otober 2025.

When applying for this role, please ensure that your cover letter can answer, within a maximum of 1000 words, the following questions:   

Improving practice or systems 
1. Can you describe a time when you successfully supported children’s services leaders to improve practice or systems? Please include the scale and context of your experience. (maximum 500 words) 

 Developing strategy 
2. Please provide an example of a strategy you developed from scratch and implemented independently. What did you do, what was the impact, what did you learn? (maximum 500 words) 

 Personal and professional experiences in violence prevention 
3. What personal and professional experiences have shaped your understanding of the children’s services sector’s role in preventing violence? (maximum 500 words) 

Interview Process 

This will be a 2-stage interview process. The first stage interview will take place on week commencing  20th October 2025

The second stage interviews are currently scheduled for the week commencing 27th October 2025. 

PLEASE NOTE: We do not sponsor work permits and you will be required to provide proof of your eligibility to work in the UK. 

Benefits Include 

• £1,000 professional development budget annually 

• 28 days holiday plus Bank Holidays

• Employee Assistance Programme – 24hr phone line for free confidential support • Volunteering days - 4 half days per year

• Death in service - 4 times annual salary

• Flexible hours. Core office hours 10am – 4pm

• Financial support including travel and hardship loans

• Employer contributed pension of 5% 

Personal Data   

Your personal data will be shared for the purposes of the recruitment exercise. This includes our HR team, interviewers (who may include other partners in the project and independent advisors), relevant team managers and our IT service provider if access to the data is necessary for performance of their roles. We do not share your data with other third parties, unless your application for employment is successful and we make you an offer of employment. We will then share your data with former employers to obtain references for you. We do not transfer your data outside the European Economic Area.   

Salary                             £31,500 - £33,570 per annum - subject to skills and experience 

Hours of work               37.5 hours a week over five days (we wlcome flexible working requests)

Base                               Hybrid working for the foreseeable future, with attendance in the office

                                        two days a week, including  one day being a Thursday at our central office:

                                       · Pears Building, Pond Street, London, NW3 2PP

                                       Other office days may be worked from our other sites at:

                                      · Barnet Hospital, Wellhouse Lane, Barnet, EN5 3DJ

                                      · Chase Farm Hospital, 127 The Ridgeway, Enfield, EN2 8JL

The role

The trusts fundraising officer will report to the trusts dunfraising manager.

We are seeking an enthusiastic trusts fundraising officer to join our team to help deliver our ambitious plans for growth. This new role involves managing a warm portfolio of trusts and foundations and finding new prospective donors, submitting compelling applications and providing exceptional supporter experience.

You will be proactive and passionate about building strong relationships with charitable funders and have previous experience of securing gifts from trusts and foundations or institutional donors. Additionally, you will have experience of identifying and assessing new prospects and have excellent written and verbal communication skills, as well as strong organisational abilities.

The role will offer significant scope for development, giving you the opportunity to grow your relationship-building, communication, and prospect research skills in a supportive, ambitious, and high-performing team.

The team

Our dynamic fundraising department generated £4.5m through donations in 2023/24, and we are now preparing for an ambitious multi-million-pound campaign in support of a ground-breaking cancer centre on the site of the Royal Free Hospital.

We pride ourselves on being a supporter focused and agile function, working at the heart of the charity to deliver impact for patients and staff across our hospitals.

Responsible for attracting and retaining donors, and delivering an outstanding supporter experience, the fundraising department comprises two teams which work closely together to achieve our shared objectives:

• Our philanthropy & campaigns team builds relationships with individual philanthropists, trusts, foundations, corporate organisations and intermediaries, giving or facilitating donations of £10,000 or more to the charity each year. They lead major appeal activity for the charity, currently focused on our forthcoming cancer campaign, and special events to support these activities.

• Our public fundraising team harnesses the support and energy of individuals and groups, helping them to give back in the way that works for them. This includes committed giving, in memory support, gifts in wills, and fundraising events and challenges.

• Our database and supporter care colleagues underpin and support the entire department.

Organisation

The Royal Free Charity stands at the threshold of its most important period of development.

Our vision is for everyone served by the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust (RFL) to have access to world-leading healthcare, delivered by a thriving workforce, and driven by medical research that has a global impact. We support the 17,000 staff of the RFL and their two million patients across Barnet, Chase Farm, North Mid and Royal Free hospitals and more than 30 NHS services.

Through the services we provide, and the programmes and equipment we fund, we make a profound and immediate difference to patients’ experiences of care.

The recruitment process

To apply for this post please send your:

•  CV (please include your last employer and dates of employment)
• Cover letter addressing how you meet the criteria set out in the job description and person specification,

Please note, that applications submitted without a cover letter may not be considered for this role.

Closing date for application: 2 October 2025,12 noon.

Interview date: Monday 13 October 2025 

Please kindly note that we may close the job advert before the closing date if we receive a large volume of applications.

• You must be eligible to work in the UK

We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that candidates may require during the recruitment process. 

As an equal opportunities’ employer, the Royal Free Charity is committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective employees and does not condone discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership.

We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply and join the Royal Free Charity and act in line with our values of dedication, innovation, partnership, energy and respect.

Benefits:

Core benefits

· 25 days of paid holiday, plus three-day office closure rest period between Christmas and New Year, and UK bank holidays. This increases to 30 days leave after five completed years of continuous employment (all leave is pro rata for part time employees).

· A contributory pension scheme, where we match your 4% contribution towards your pension. If you choose to increase your payments into your pension scheme, we’ll match your contribution up to 9%.

· A sick pay package that offers one month’s full pay and one month’s half pay in any 12-month period if you’ve been with us for less than two years. This rises to two months’ full pay and two months’ half pay in any 12-month period after two years of continuous employment.

· Occupational maternity pay and paternity pay packages that provide more generous support than statutory pay alone.

· A flexible working policy to support our employees’ work/life balance.

Support for your financial wellbeing

As a member of the Royal Free family, you’ll be entitled to benefit from:

· Expert financial advice from our financial partner, the London Credit Union

· Savings on purchases with the Blue Light Card

· Our Death in Service benefit

Support for your health and wellbeing

· Subsidised gym, pool and classes at our Rec Club in Hampstead

· Secure bicycle parking and shower facilities at our Hampstead site

· Fortnightly guided meditation

· Free massage therapy from our complementary therapy team

· Menopause peer support group

· Employee Assistance Programme offering 24-hour access to free confidential advice and support on work and personal issues.