Special events officer jobs in Cardiff

Action Medical Research is the leading UK-wide charity dedicated to funding vital research to help sick babies and children. We’re on a mission to save and change children’s lives through medical research, developing treatments, vaccinations and cures. A UK-wide charity, we’ve been funding medical breakthroughs for over 70 years, helping to beat polio, fight meningitis, prevent stillbirths and develop ultrasound scanning in pregnancy. Our work is now needed more than ever. To help achieve this, we are seeking to recruit an Individual Giving Officer (internally titled Direct Marketing Officer – Individual Giving) to join the Direct Marketing Team. In this exciting new role, you will support the delivery of our Individual Giving programme to help recruit and steward supporters through regular giving, lottery, payroll and cash giving programmes.

You’ll be responsible for creating compelling content that inspires people to support our work, while also working closely with suppliers and internal teams to ensure the smooth planning, delivery, and analysis of campaigns across multiple channels—including direct mail, face-to-face, and digital.

The ideal candidate will bring direct marketing experience, preferably within the charity sector, along with excellent creative and project management skills, and a genuine passion for helping to save and change children’s lives through medical research.

Action Medical Research funds a range of medical research, including genetic, stem cell and, in some cases, animal research. The use of animals is limited and only permitted where no alternative methods are available, and all research is conducted in accordance with strict UK regulations and welfare standards. The majority of the projects we fund do not involve animals. Full details can be found in our research policies on our website.

If you have not heard from us by 29 April 2026, then unfortunately, you have not been shortlisted for interview.

Role Overview

This is an exciting opportunity to shape Shine’s strategic direction while managing the operational delivery of our services for children, young people, and families aged 0–25. Building on the success of our Little Stars/Ser Bach programme for members aged 0–12 and the development and extension of the FIRE (Friendship, Independence, Resilience, Empowerment) programme for those aged 13–25, you will play a key role in shaping the future of our support for children, young people and their families.

Working across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, you will lead the delivery of an established, evidence-based programme that improves health, social, and emotional outcomes for those living with spina bifida, hydrocephalus, and associated conditions.

You’ll lead a passionate team and work closely with Shine’s Adult Services Team (25+), Health Team, Wales and Northern Ireland Managers and wider colleagues across the organisation to ensure work is coordinated, complementary, and beneficial to members. At the same time, you’ll forge strong partnerships with NHS professionals, statutory services, and voluntary organisations—driving collaboration that will support our vision of providing consistent, high-quality support for children, young people and families nationwide.

Key Responsibilities:

• Leadership & Team Management
• Programme Development & Delivery
• Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting
• Member Support & Engagement

Please see the full Job Description & Person Specification below and on our website. 

Benefits to working at Shine:

• Competitive salary: Review due April 2027
• Regular working hours, and no shift work (some very occasional weekends or evenings)  
• 3% pension contribution
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, with additional discretionary leave between Christmas and New Year
• Additional annual leave awarded for ‘long service’
• Opportunity to purchase additional annual leave
• Broadband allowance for home-based roles
• Life insurance after 12 months’ employment  
• Access to our Employee Support Programme and Mental Health First Aiders 
• Support to learn and develop 

How to apply 

Shine is a Disability Confident employer and will offer guaranteed interviews if a disabled applicant meets the minimum criteria for the job. 

If you would like to discuss the role with our Deputy CEO, Gill Valentine, please contact Shine to arrange a convenient time for a call. 

To apply please submit your CV and supporting statement, which should outline your interest and explain how you meet the role criteria. 

We understand that you may wish to use AI tools to help you with some aspects of your application but we do expect tailored applications which are personalised to your experiences and not generic applications which are completely AI generated. We encourage candidates to be transparent about AI usage in their applications. 

*Please note applications without a supporting statement will not be accepted* 

Closing date: Thursday 16th April 2026 at 11pm 

Interviews:  Monday 27th April 2026  

Please note: we reserve the right to interview suitable candidates before the closing date, therefore we encourage applications as soon as possible. 

We are seeking a dynamic Head of Housing Support to lead our national Housing Support Services, ensuring clients receive exceptional, trauma‑informed care in safe, compliant and high‑quality homes. This is a pivotal role that influences service delivery, operational performance, and the long‑term vision for Life’s housing provision.

As Head of Housing Support, you will:

Lead & Inspire

• Provide strategic leadership for Housing Support Services across the UK.
• Manage and motivate Support Services Managers and Tenancy Sustainment Officers to deliver outstanding client‑focused support.
• Embed a culture of collaboration, high performance and trauma‑informed practice.

Drive Operational Excellence

• Oversee the implementation of the Housing Strategy, ensuring the safety, compliance and quality of all homes.
• Work closely with the Estates Team to maintain high housing standards and meet regulatory obligations.
• Oversee tenancy management, rent setting, arrears management and income recovery.

Shape the Future

• Influence policy, develop best‑practice procedures and contribute to organisational strategy.
• Build strong partnerships with local authorities, housing developers and external stakeholders.
• Represent Life at networking events and act as an ambassador for the charity.

Lead with Purpose

• Champion safeguarding, ensuring training, oversight and adherence to all safeguarding policies.
• Produce reports and KPIs for the Board, Senior Leadership Team and Operational Leadership Team.
• Support the financial sustainability of the Housing department, including budget management and cost‑saving initiatives.

About You

We’re looking for someone who is:

• A values‑driven leader committed to Life’s mission and vision.
• Experienced at senior management level within supported housing (multi‑million‑pound scale desirable).
• Skilled at leading high‑performing teams and developing individuals.
• A confident communicator with excellent relationship‑building and presentation skills.
• Knowledgeable in tenancy support, housing compliance, safeguarding and quality service delivery.
• Highly organised, strategic, creative and able to work under pressure.
• Passionate about trauma‑informed practice and delivering outstanding client outcomes.

Relevant housing or management qualifications (such as CIH Level 4) are desirable but not essential with strong experience.

About Life:

Life is a national pregnancy support charity that helps over 60,000 people a year. Through our services, we help people – whoever they are – to meet pregnancy or pregnancy loss with courage and dignity so they can flourish.

Our services include

• Supported housing and community support
• Counselling and skilled listening
• Free pregnancy tests and baby supplies

Our values

All our work is underpinned by the following universal human values:

• Humanity – All people are special and equal
• Solidarity – We’re with you and for you
• Community – We’re better together
• Charity – Doing good for one another
• Common good – Building a better world

Information about the role:

For further information, please see the attached job description.

Please note, driving licence and own vehicle are required.

Salary: £45,655 per annum

Hours: 35 hours per week, 5 days per week

Location: Home Based with Extensive Travel across Midlands and South East

Benefits

At Life we are passionate about providing our employees with a supportive and engaging environment. As well as ongoing development and training, we offer our:

• Generous holiday allowance, starting at 25 days per year, plus 8 Bank Holidays (pro rata for part time hours)
• Birthday Leave (applicable after 1 years service)
• Extra annual leave for long term service
• Company Pension Scheme
• Signed member of the Menopause Workplace Pledge

Safeguarding and Equality

Life is committed to protecting all staff, volunteers and service users from harm of any kind. Life expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct.

We are committed to ensuring diversity and equality within our organisation by encouraging applications from all backgrounds.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks. Life takes its obligation to protect the rights of children and vulnerable people very seriously; therefore, the successful candidate for this post will be also subject to extensive background checking, including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check (DBS) which is paid for by the Charity.

A fairer and greener economy for Wales means a real Living Wage for everyone and support for the local businesses that help meet our everyday needs. We have already helped over 600 Welsh organisations guarantee 170,000 employees’ access to a real Living Wage, and we have supported local businesses pioneering food, energy, housing, transport, nature and health services. We want to do more – can you help us as our new Head of Fair Economy?

You will need to be passionate about building an economy that works for everyone, with the skills and experience to lead and build programmes and teams, work collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders in our areas of work, and to be proactive in identifying new opportunities for funding and impact.

You will be leading the Fair Economy team to deliver against impact targets in our annual business plan. This involves:

• Leading the Fair Economy team (30%) 
• Supporting the real Living Wage (rLW) Programme (30%) 
• Supporting the Foundational Economy (FE) Programme (40%) 

You'll play a key role in helping individuals and organisations benefit from our expertise, while growing our reach, income, and impact as a forward-thinking charity. This includes lifting individuals out of in-work poverty and supporting local businesses that provide our everyday needs.

We are a lively and progressive charity at an important stage in our development. If our mission resonates with you and you share our aims, we would love to hear from you.

Pennaeth Economi Deg

Mae Economi decach a gwyrddach i Gymru yn golygu Cyflog Byw Gwirioneddol i bawb a chefnogaeth i’r busnesau lleol sy’n ein helpu i fodloni ein hanghenion bob dydd. Rydym ni eisoes wedi helpu 600 a mwy o sefydliadau yng Nghymru i sicrhau bod 170,000 o weithwyr yn cael Cyflog Byw Gwirioneddol, ac rydym ni wedi cefnogi busnesau lleol sy’n arloesi ym maes bwyd, ynni, tai, trafnidiaeth, natur a gwasanaethau iechyd. Ond rydym ni eisiau gwneud mwy - allwch chi ein helpu ni fel Pennaeth newydd yr Economi Deg?

Bydd angen i chi fod yn frwd dros greu economi sy’n gweithio i bawb, a meddu ar y sgiliau a’r profiad i arwain ac adeiladu rhaglenni a thimau, gweithio mewn partneriaeth ag amrywiaeth eang o randdeiliaid yn ein meysydd gwaith, a bod yn rhagweithiol wrth fynd ati i ganfod cyfleoedd cyllido ac effaith newydd.

Byddwch yn arwain tîm yr Economi Deg wrth iddynt gyflawni targedau effaith ein cynllun busnes blynyddol. Bydd hyn yn golygu: 

• Arwain Tîm yr Economi Deg (30%) 
• Cefnogi’r Rhaglen Cyflog Byw Gwirioneddol (30%) 
• Cefnogi Rhaglen yr Economi Sylfaenol (40%) 

Byddwch yn chwarae rhan allweddol yn y gwaith o helpu unigolion a sefydliadau i elwa o'n harbenigedd — ar yr un pryd â chynyddu ein cyrhaeddiad, ein hincwm a'n heffaith fel elusen flaengar. Mae hyn yn cynnwys helpu unigolion allan o dlodi mewn gwaith, a chefnogi’r busnesau lleol sy’n bodloni ein hanghenion bob dydd.

Rydym ni’n elusen fywiog a blaengar ac rydym ni mewn cyfnod pwysig yn ein datblygiad ar hyn o bryd. Os yw ein cenhadaeth yn taro tant a’ch bod chi’n rhannu’r un nodau â ni, byddem wrth ein bodd yn clywed gennych chi.