Senior special events manager jobs in Birmingham

Help us protect the legal rights of children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and strengthen SEND Support in law

Job title: Head of Finance and Resources

Location: Home-based or Hybrid (with occasional travel to our office in Takeley, Essex, and other locations in England for events and meetings)

Reports to: Chief Executive

Contract type: Permanent

Hours: Part-time (up to 28 hours per week considered)

Salary: £48,000 – £55,000 per annum (FTE, pro-rata for part-time)

Who we are

IPSEA is a national charity working to ensure that children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) receive the educational support they are legally entitled to. Since we were formed in 1983, we have helped to improve the education experience of thousands of children and young people across England. We do this by providing free and independent legal advice and casework support for families, undertaking policy work and delivering training on the SEND legal framework.

What you’ll do

We are seeking a Head of Finance and Resources to provide strategic leadership and operational management across IPSEA’s finance, HR and Fundraising functions, ensuring the charity has robust financial management, effective systems, and sustainable infrastructure to deliver its mission. This role focuses on organisational management, financial integrity and coordination across functions, rather than providing specialist Fundraising or HR expertise.

This is a hands-on role. While the postholder leads on financial strategy, planning and control, they are also responsible for delivering key financial processes and day to day operations. The role oversees key organisational functions including HR and fundraising.

They line manage the Finance Administrator, HR Manager and Fundraising Manager, ensuring alignment, coordination and effective use of organisational resources across the organisation.

Professional expertise and delivery within HR and fundraising remain the responsibility of the relevant managers. The role does not carry responsibility for income generation targets but ensures robust financial and operational support for fundraising activity.

As Head of Finance and Resources, you will be responsible for:

• Financial systems, control and operations
• Financial reporting and Management Accounts
• Budgeting, forecasting and financial strategy
• Restricted funds, compliance and governance
• Fundraising and income support
• Leadership, resources and organisational operations

This role offers the opportunity to make a real difference as part of a small, friendly, and dedicated team. If you are passionate about helping children and young people with SEND and have the skills and experience needed, we would love to hear from you.

Who are we looking for?

You’ll need to be a fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA or equivalent) with a strong understanding and experience of charity finance, SORP, compliance, risk management and governance.

Significantly experienced in charity finance and financial management or organisational resources, you will be able to prepare management accounts, budgets, forecasts and financial reports and support budgeting and longer-term financial planning.

You will have experience of managing and motivating staff while working with senior leadership teams and/or trustees.

You have strong organisational and analytical skills and can analyse financial information and translate it for non-financial stakeholders. Experience improving systems, processes or digital infrastructure would be preferred but is not essential.

It would be desirable if you had experience overseeing HR, fundraising or wider operational functions, or managing multi-disciplinary teams.

IPSEA should also reflect the communities we support. We would particularly like to hear from candidates from ethnic minority backgrounds, LGBTQIA+ people, under-served communities and disabled people, as well as those with lived experience of the SEND system, either as a child or as a parent/carer.

What we can offer you

• 5% employer pension contributions
• Healthcare cash plan
• Flexible working arrangements
• 5 weeks annual leave plus bank holidays and an additional day off for your birthday

To apply

Please visit our website to download a recruitment pack and application form. 

Deadline for applications: 9am on 15 June 2026

First-round interviews: week commencing 22 June 2026 in either London or our offices in Takeley (to be confirmed)

Job Title:  Commercial Partnership Manager

Location(s): Home-based with attendance at AdviceUK office in London and at meetings as required. 

London office: AdviceUK, 83 Victoria Street, London, SW1H 0HW 

Status: Fixed term for two years (potential to become permanent) 

Reporting to:  Head of Membership and Services 

Responsible for: n/a 

Pay range:  £42,000 to £47,000 full time equivalent. £33,600 to £37,600 actual salary, dependant on experience. 

Working hours: 28 hours per week within normal operating hours (35 hours full time equivalent). Normal operating hours are 8.00am - 6.30pm, Monday – Friday. Lunch and other breaks are unpaid. 

Special conditions: Some evening and weekend work may be required for which time off in lieu (TOIL) will be granted. Some travel will be required which may entail some overnight stays. 

We are committed to diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from all backgrounds, particularly encouraging those from underrepresented groups. If you require any accessibility support or reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know. 

JOB PURPOSE 

The postholder is responsible for securing, managing, and growing commercial partnerships with organisations that support AdviceUK’s mission, values and strategic priorities. These partnerships should significantly increase AdviceUK’s commercial income, extend AdviceUK’s reach, and achieve measurable social impact. The postholder will ensure that commercial partnerships both comply with relevant legal and regulatory requirements and contribute positively to AdviceUK’s reputation and influence. 

KEY TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES  

1. Partnership development 

• Identify, research, and secure new commercial and corporate partnership opportunities aligned with AdviceUK’s strategic and income generation priorities. 

• Develop compelling partnership propositions, including sponsorships, strategic alliances, product/service developments, cause‑related marketing, corporate social responsibility, and other commercial collaborations. 

• Identify and develop new products and services that benefit members, grow income, and support member recruitment and retention. 

• Shape new products and services with user and sector insight, applying structured approaches to testing, evaluation and scaling. Ensure that pricing, return on investment and other financial modelling is completed to demonstrate how new products or services deliver agreed objectives. 

• Bring external market insight into AdviceUK’s strategic planning and decision making, ensuring that commercial partnership propositions are clearly differentiated in the markets they are targeting. 

• Work with the Head of Membership and Services, other colleagues at AdviceUK, and AdviceUK’s existing commercial partners to develop a commercial partnership strategy, business plan and pipeline. 

• Lead negotiations and contract discussions in partnership with the Head of Membership and Services, Finance and where relevant, AdviceUK commercial partners and subsidiaries. 

• Ensure all partnerships align with the charity’s mission, values and ethical standards.  

• Carry out appropriate due diligence and risk assessments on commercial partners

2. Partnership management and growth 

• Act as the primary relationship manager for AdviceUK’s current commercial partners and subsidiaries to ensure they feel valued, informed, and engaged throughout the partnership lifecycle. 

• Maximise the value of established partnerships through renewals, extensions, upselling opportunities, and agreed new income generation activity. Support cross‑team collaboration and knowledge sharing. 

• Identify opportunities for innovation and growth within AdviceUK’s commercial partnerships portfolio. 

• Support the communication of impact to partners, including reporting on outcomes enabled by their support. 

• Represent AdviceUK at events, conferences and networks relevant to the commercial partnerships portfolio.

3. Income generation and performance 

• Ensure all partnerships deliver against agreed financial and non‑financial objectives. Contribute to departmental budgeting and forecasting. 

• Monitor partnership performance and provide accurate reporting on partnership income, engagement, and impact. 

• Contribute to the ongoing review of existing commercial partnerships and service level agreements, making recommendations for change as required. 

• Share learning, insight, and good practice to continually improve commercial partnership approaches.  

• Ensure compliance with Charity Commission and Companies House guidance, relevant fundraising regulations, and internal governance policies.  

• Work closely with AdviceUK colleagues to deliver integrated partnership activities.  

4. Data and evidence

• Support the delivery of performance reports as required to evidence the extent to which commercial partnerships are achieving required KPIs. 

• Work with colleagues to ensure that partnership datasets are accurate, timely and support decision making. 

• Ensure any partnership activity that requires data sharing adheres to data protection and cybersecurity requirements. 

5. General responsibilities

• Ensure you effectively communicate AdviceUK’s vision, mission and objectives to staff, members and external stakeholders. 
• Ensure you demonstrate AdviceUK’s values and behaviours in all aspects of your work. 
• Build and maintain positive relationships with key stakeholders including staff, trustees, members, partners and suppliers. 
• With support from your manager, deliver your agreed personal objectives and undertake any agreed development or training. 
• Maintain a strong understanding of our members and the advice sector more generally, by reading internal reports; accessing relevant data reports; following our social media channels; and, where possible, attending member and other relevant events. With the agreement of your line manager, ensure you make time to speak to members and visit their services. 
• Adhere at all times to AdviceUK’s policies and procedures. 
• Carry out any reasonable duties compatible with the post assigned by the Head of Membership and Services.