Service director jobs

Director of Services

c£60,000

Permanent

Full time

Birmingham

This is a new role that enables the successful candidate to make their mark strategically and operationally on an organisation that makes a real impact.

The remit of this role encompasses leadership, strategy, compliance, partnerships, service delivery and performance management. You will hold overall responsibility for a large team, manage complex budgets and operations and will work closely with other senior leaders and the Board of Trustees to shape this organisation moving forward.

This is a complex role and requires the successful candidate to possess proven experience working within a similar role at senior level, experience of managing services in the criminal justice, mental health, homelessness, young people or social work sectors is required. Experience of new business development is also key as you will play a pivotal role in developing and managing new and existing relationships and promoting service delivery across the organisation.

Experience of safeguarding and line management is also essential.

At Ambitious about Autism, we are looking for a Programme Director – Service Development to join our team. You'll develop Ambitious about Autism's and the Trust's education and care services for autistic children and young people.

You'll lead on key strategic projects to extend existing or develop new education and care services for autistic children and young people, providing strong project leadership, strategic integration and managing project-related governance. You'll identify and pursue new business opportunities to drive growth and expansion of our educational settings, including school bids.

You'll be involved in new service development, conducting thorough assessment to identify gaps and opportunities for new provisions or products, whilst developing innovative concepts for new services and seeking approval through business cases. You'll also provide leadership to the Service Development team, with line management of 3 direct reports, whilst upholding Ambitious about Autism's core values.

We are looking for someone who has:

• Extensive business development and project planning knowledge
• Working knowledge of the education, health or social care of children/young people with SEND
• Working knowledge of: The social, policy, regulatory issues affecting children and young people with special educational needs or Commissioning and service delivery for children, young people and their families
• Proven experience of leading the development and delivery of new services for children, young people and/or adults with special educational needs or disabilities either from a third sector, educational, health or local authority background
• Experience of developing strategic and business plans

In return, we offer great benefits including a generous holiday allowance and commitment to continued professional development (CPD), flexible, hybrid working and more!

This is a fantastic opportunity for an ambitious individual who would like to work for a forward-thinking, open and honest organisation and make a real impact to the young people we work with. Please find our full recruitment pack on the link below.

If you have any questions about the role or would like to have a confidential chat, please contact James Axford, Recruitment Officer.

Ambitious about Autism is committed to fostering equity, diversity, and inclusion at every level of our organisation. We warmly welcome applications from all qualified candidates, valuing the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives they bring. We encourage applications from individuals regardless of race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or parental status, disability, or age.

Our recruitment process promotes equal opportunities, and we are committed to providing reasonable adjustments for candidates with disabilities or additional needs throughout the recruitment process. Please contact our Recruitment Team for accommodations. We recognise disability as a physical or mental impairment that significantly and long-term affects a person's ability to perform day-to-day activities, as defined by the UK Equality Act 2010. All applications will be considered solely on merit, aligned with our mission to support autistic children and young people.

Ambitious about Autism is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and successful candidates will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check. As part of our Safer Recruitment checks, an online search maybe carried out in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education.

The Safeguarding responsibilities of the post as per the job description and personal specification.
Whether the post is exempt from the rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendment to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2021. This means that when applying for certain jobs and activities certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected', so they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. Further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS Filter Guidance.

Marie Curie is the UK’s leading end-of-life charity. We are the largest non-NHS provider of end-of-life care in the UK, the only provider across all 4 nations, delivering palliative and end of life care and support across the country, while providing information and support on all aspects of dying, death, and bereavement. Our leading research pushes the boundaries of what we know about good end-of-life, and our campaigns fight for a world where everyone gets to have the best possible quality of life while living with an illness, they’re likely to die from.

The care and support we provide is highly valued by the people we care for and their loved ones, but at present we are only reaching around 10% of dying people at the end of life. Right now, one in four people in the UK with a terminal illness, do not get the care or support they deserve at the end of their lives. 

We want a different society than the one we live in now. Our mission for the next five years is to close the gap in the number of people missing out on what they need at the end-of-life, through 3 ways:

• • Growing and transforming our direct care and support
  • Delivering more practical information and support
  • Leading in shaping the end-of-life experience 

As an Associate Director, Caring Services, you will play a pivotal leadership role in making that belief a reality—shaping, delivering and growing high-quality caring services across London and the Home Counties.

This is a senior, influential role for an experienced leader who thrives at the intersection of strategy and operational delivery, and who is motivated by impact, partnership and purpose.

Reporting to the Managing Director, you will be accountable for the strategic and operational leadership of Marie Curie’s caring services within your place, ensuring services are high quality, financially sustainable and responsive to the needs of patients and communities.

You will lead performance, planning and partnership development, translating national strategy into local delivery while identifying opportunities for growth, innovation and improved outcomes.

Salary: £77,000 - £85,500 per annum

Contract: Permanent

Hours: Full time – 35 hours per week

Base: Hybrid – Home + a minimum of 1 day per week in our London Head Office

Application Process

• • Close date for applications: 22nd April 2026
  • Interview Dates:
    • Stage 1 – 6th May 2026
    • Stage 2 – 12th May 2026
  • As part of your online application, you will be asked for a CV.  Please review both the advert and job description and outline your most relevant skills, experience and knowledge for the role. 

Please click here to view the full job description

What you’ll be responsible for

As a senior leader within Marie Curie, you will:

• Lead the planning, performance and delivery of services, holding accountability for quality, patient outcomes, financial control, income and contract compliance.
• Drive financial and operational sustainability and commercial performance, delivering balanced budgets and growing place based revenue in line with agreed targets.
• Build and sustain strong partnerships with commissioners and system partners, developing and negotiating proposals that expand service reach and impact.
• Lead service improvement and innovation, testing new models of care, responding to unmet need and sharing learning across the organisation.
• Provide visible, values led people leadership, creating a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement across large, geographically dispersed teams.

We’re looking for a leader with the credibility, judgement and drive to operate at a senior level in a complex healthcare environment.

You will bring:

• Extensive senior leadership experience in healthcare, ideally across multisite or place based services.
• A strong track record of operational delivery alongside strategic transformation, including service redesign and improvement at scale.
• Confidence in financial leadership, including budget management, income generation and commercial decision making.
• Proven ability to influence and partner with commissioners and system stakeholders across complex landscapes.
• Highly developed people leadership skills, with the ability to engage, motivate and develop senior leaders and large workforces.
• A strong understanding of quality, regulation and patient experience, using insight and evidence to drive improvement.
• A professional healthcare qualification is desirable, or equivalent experience in a health related field, alongside leadership or management qualifications (Master’s level desirable).

This is an opportunity to shape services that truly matter, working at scale, with autonomy and influence, in an organisation driven by compassion, collaboration and excellence.

You’ll join a senior leadership community committed to innovation, partnership and delivering meaningful impact for people at the end of life.

At Marie Curie, our values are central to everything we do. They guide how we care for people, how we work together, and how we make decisions every day. We are committed to creating a workplace that is safe for everyone — staff and volunteers alike — supportive, inclusive and rewarding.  We take stringent steps to ensure that anyone who joins our organisation are suitable for their roles and are committed to safeguarding all our people from harm. We actively consider our impact on the planet, embedding sustainability into everyday decisions to create a lasting, positive difference for the individuals we care for and the world we share.

We believe everyone should have the opportunity to thrive and fulfil their potential. Marie Curie is deeply committed to diversity, equity and inclusion, recognising both the social justice imperative and the strength a diverse workforce brings.  We actively encourage applications from people of all cultures, perspectives and lived experiences.

We are happy to make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process. If you require any support, please contact us at .

Every application we receive is personally reviewed by a member of our Talent Acquisition team, and in return, we ask that your application authentically reflects you — your experience, perspective and voice.

We are looking for a strategically minded and highly committed individual to lead our System Navigation Services.  This person will be responsible for developing exceptional services to help people seeking sanctuary navigate the systems they are forced to exist in and delivering these in solidarity with those seeking sanctuary.These System Navigation Services - The Sanctuary, The Drop-In, The Sheffield Project for Refugee Integration and Growth (SPRING), and our Volunteering Team - are exciting, joyful, and powerful city-wide services that are developed alongside the community of people seeking sanctuary.  They are both impressive in their current form and have so much potential for the right candidate to build and develop them further. 

Alongside this work, we also expect a successful candidate will also have a deep understanding of systemic change, understand our unique role in that work, and understand how their role contributes to systemic change. 

Ultimately, this is a position of leadership within a highly trusted and impactful organisation at the forefront of the movement for the rights of people seeking sanctuary.  We are truly excited about bringing on someone to join us on the journey we are all on together – towards a city that is safe and welcoming for those seeking sanctuary.  In a time when that vision seems to be receding from us, we believe this work is more important than ever.

Director of Commercial Services

Salary: £60,727
Location: University of Reading Students’ Union
Contract: Full Time – 37.5 hours per week (worked flexibly)

Are you ready to shape exceptional student experiences through vibrant and innovative commercial services?
Reading Students’ Union is seeking a progressive and values-driven Director of Commercial Services to provide strategic and hands-on leadership across all commercial services, helping to deliver outstanding spaces, services and experiences for the student community.

About Reading SU

Reading Students’ Union is an independent education charity led by, and for, students.

The Students’ Union is central to the University experience and works to support all aspects of student life for the 19,000 plus students studying at the University of Reading. Located in one of Britain’s top green spaces, the Students’ Union is an ambitious and diverse organisation, committed to supporting every student at Reading University in achieving personal success.

Reading SU sits at the heart of a thriving student community, with activities and initiatives inspired by students themselves. The Students’ Union is committed to promoting the interests and welfare of its members, representing their needs, and offering opportunities for personal development through a wide range of social, cultural, sporting and recreational activities.

This commitment to student experience also underpins the Union’s commercial activity. Reading Students’ Union’s venues, services and events are designed to be inclusive, welcoming and vibrant spaces where students can connect, feel a sense of belonging and create lasting memories. Guided by student insight, the commercial services play an important role in supporting the Union’s mission while enhancing student life across campus.

About the Role

Reading SU are thrilled to be searching for a Director of Commercial Services, a dynamic leader experienced in licensed trade, catering, events, and marketing. This role is not just about maintaining the status quo but about reimagining and diversifying the commercial services in line with student community needs.

The ideal candidate will be both strategic and hands-on, with an ability to develop Reading SU’s commercial services while also being involved in delivery of the operations.

The successful candidate will not necessarily come from the Higher Education sector but will be able to demonstrate a strong understanding of the trends, challenges and opportunities that shape student life and the Students’ Union sector. They will bring a sound understanding of charity governance and financial management, alongside the strategic and operational capability required to lead complex commercial services within a democratic, student-led organisation.

Reading Students’ Union offers an inclusive and engaging working environment and is passionate about developing its people. The organisation is committed to ensuring its workforce reflects the diversity of the community it serves, respecting individual identity and celebrating differences. Applications are encouraged from all candidates regardless of background, and Reading Students’ Union particularly welcomes applications from candidates from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds and from candidates with disabilities.

The SU offers a range of sector-leading benefits including enhanced leave, onsite nursery, occupational sick pay, access to campus facilities and winter shutdown over the Christmas period- a rare opportunity within the hospitality and commercial sector.

It’s a genuinely exciting time for Reading Students’ Union and we look forward to receiving your application.

Key Dates

Closing Date: Thursday 9th April, 12pm
First Stage Interviews (Remote): 20th April
Final Interviews (In-person): 27th April

Optional Q/A session with the CEO and Interim Commercial Director: 26th March, 12pm. Email to register (see below)

How to Apply

Please click 'Apply' to be redirected to our website, where you can download the Candidate Information Pack and apply.

For an informal conversation about the role and the application process, or to register to the optional Q/A session, please contact our recruitment partners at Atkinson HR Consulting. Their details can be found in the candidate pack.

Age UK Kensington & Chelsea (AUKC) is a vibrant, values led local charity dedicated to helping older people live well — staying connected, independent and fulfilled at every stage of life. We work alongside our community to codesign and deliver impactful services that promote wellbeing, tackle loneliness, influence local policy and ensure dignity and independence for people across the borough. 

As we look to the future, we are focused on innovation, growth and lasting impact. Building on the success of resecuring our two largest contracts in 2025 (for three and up to nine years respectively) we are seeking to strengthen our partnerships, diversify the ways we deliver support, and create new approaches to have even greater impact for older people in Kensington & Chelsea.

This is an exciting time to join a charity widely recognised for its compassion, quality and influence with a strong reputation among NHS, local authority and community partners.

We are now seeking an exceptional Director of Services & Deputy CEO to join our leadership team and help shape the next stage of our journey. 

Director of Services & Deputy Chief Executive Officer 

Kensington & Chelsea, London (hybrid working) 
Circa £75,000 FTE for 4 days per week (circa £60,000 for 4 days) 

The Opportunity 

This is a rare and exciting leadership role for someone who is passionate about community impact and aspires to become a CEO in the future. 

As Deputy CEO, you will work closely with our Chief Executive to provide inspiring, values driven leadership across the charity. You will help develop and deliver our new three-year strategy, steer organisational priorities, strengthen our culture, and ensure we continue to grow and thrive — as well as deputising confidently for the CEO when required. 

As Director of Services, you will lead our Health, Wellbeing and Community Services, ensuring they remain high quality, evidence based and financially sustainable. You will champion innovation, drive integration across programmes, and make sure our work delivers measurable outcomes for older people. 

A key part of your role will be building strong relationships with commissioners and partners, developing compelling proposals, and supporting the growth and diversification of our services. You will also lead our impact and quality agenda, embedding a culture of learning, continuous improvement and accountability. 

If you are an ambitious, strategic and collaborative leader who thrives on variety and purpose — and who is energized by working alongside communities — this is an exceptional opportunity. 

About You 

We are looking for a confident and compassionate leader who brings: 

• Significant senior leadership experience in the voluntary, community or public sector. 

• A strong track record of developing and delivering health, wellbeing or community services. 

• Expertise in impact measurement, quality assurance and evidence driven service design. 

• Experience of business development, including securing grants, contracts or new partnership opportunities. 

• Excellent relationship building skills across health, care, local government or community sectors. 

• A leadership style that is collaborative, inclusive and aligned with our values of kindness, respect and integrity. 

• Experience working within integrated care systems or commissioning environments

What We Offer 

• A rare career development opportunity for someone who may be aspiring to become a CEO. 

• A supportive and ambitious organisation committed to innovation, inclusion and impact. 

• The chance to shape high quality services that make a real difference to people’s lives. 

• Competitive salary, pension and ongoing professional development. 

How to Apply 

If you would like an informal conversation about the role, please contact our retained advisors Anna Gardet or Erica Ritchie at Prospectus. 

Recruitment Timetable 

Deadline for applications: Sunday 12th April 2026 

Interviews with Prospectus:  20-24th April 2026 

First stage interviews with Age UK Kensington & Chelsea:  7th May 2026

Second stage interviews with Age UK Kensington & Chelsea:  12th May 2026