Strategic communications manager jobs in mill hill, greater london

Product Owner - Dynamics (Charity)

Understanding Recruitment NFP is proud to be working exclusively with one of the UK’s largest and most respected international charities to recruit a CRM Product Manager. This is a key leadership role at the heart of a major transformation programme, focused on delivering a best-in-class CRM experience to support ambitious fundraising and supporter engagement goals.

You'll lead the CRM product strategy, owning the roadmap and prioritisation process, and ensuring the platform meets the evolving needs of both technical teams and fundraising stakeholders. Managing a small team, you’ll work across departments to shape and deliver impactful CRM solutions using Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Power Platform technologies.

This role is ideal for someone who combines strategic product ownership skills with deep CRM experience, ideally in a complex or mission-led environment. You’ll be a confident communicator, passionate about driving income growth and supporter value through well-designed digital tools and data-led decision-making.

Key Requirements:

• Strong experience as a Product Owner or CRM Manager in large-scale CRM environments (e.g. Dynamics 365, Salesforce)

• Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills across technical and non-technical audiences

• Experience managing a product roadmap and backlog aligned to strategic goals

• Proven ability to lead a team and work within Agile or hybrid delivery frameworks

Salary: £57,000 –£61,000
Location: Hybrid – approx. 40% in-office (London HQ)

If you're interested in this opportunity and would like to learn more, please contact Harry Bullock at Understanding Recruitment

CEO (Chief Executive Officer)

Watford & Three Rivers Trust is seeking to appoint a new CEO to help steer the organisation through the next stage of its life.

Watford & Three Rivers Trust (W3RT) is a well-established infrastructure charity that works to strengthen community resilience and wellbeing across South West Hertfordshire.

Founded in 1974, W3RT partners with the voluntary, statutory, and business sectors to deliver essential services, provide sector support, and develop strategic initiatives that improve lives and build social capital.

Our CEO will:

· have great knowledge of the local voluntary sector

· understand the world of local commissioning

· possess a wide range of technical and business skills

· be committed to partnership working

· have a passion for community action

· be a great communicator

· be a great leader able to motivate and inspire

· have a clear moral focus

For the full person specification, please see the attachments (CEO job package) below.

Benefits:

• Enhanced sick leave
• Enhanced holiday allowance (25 days annual leave, additional day off following Boxing day + Bank Holidays)
• Flexible working arrangements
• Pension
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

# CEO # Chief Executive Officer # Chief Executive

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. Very sadly, 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 looking for an experienced fundraising leader to step into a key senior leadership role during a year of real momentum.

As Interim Director of Philanthropy and Partner Engagement, you’ll lead a high-performing team of around 15, covering major donors, principal giving, trusts and foundations, institutional funding, corporate partnerships, and gaming. Together, the team brings in around £10m of War Child’s £15–16m annual income.

You’ll report to the CEO and sit on the Senior Leadership Team, with shared responsibility for income generation, strategic planning, and organisational leadership. This is an opportunity to guide a strong team through its next phase of growth, support exciting developments already underway, and help shape the future of War Child’s fundraising.

We’re looking for a confident, strategic leader with experience at director level, or someone ready to step up from a senior head role in a complex organisation. You’ll bring a strong track record in high-value fundraising, with the credibility and judgement to operate at executive level and lead a diverse team through a period of delivery and growth.

As Interim Philanthropy and Partner Engagement Director, you will:

• Oversee and support a multi-disciplinary fundraising team spanning major donors, partnerships, gaming, principal giving, institutional funding, and events
• Lead strategic planning and budgeting across the function, ensuring strong performance, income growth and long-term value
• Maximise outcomes from Winter Wassail (December 2025), War Child’s flagship gala event with a £2m target and major stewardship opportunity
• Support and strengthen the corporate partnerships function, working closely with the Head of Partnerships to refine strategy and unlock potential
• Guide the development of the principal gifts function, with a new senior hire expected before the handover
• Shape next steps for gaming and digital partnerships, following an external review
• Take a strategic view of events-based philanthropy, identifying opportunities to evolve and diversify

Ideal skills and experience: 

• Significant experience in corporate partnerships, with the ability to develop strategy, support senior fundraisers and identify long-term opportunities
• Strong knowledge of high-value fundraising, including major donors, principal giving and events-led philanthropy
• Experience leading managers and senior fundraisers across multiple income streams, ideally within a similarly sized or complex organisation
• A strategic mindset, with hands-on involvement in planning, budgeting, forecasting and performance reporting
• A collaborative, emotionally intelligent leadership style that combines high challenge with high support
• The ability to influence across teams and departments; experience in international development is helpful but not essential
• The confidence to represent War Child with major donors, partners, and senior stakeholders, both internally and externally
• Willingness to take ownership of compliance areas, including GDPR, gambling regulation and trademark risk, with support from internal specialists

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

We are looking for an exceptional individual to join our busy team at LimeCulture.

The Head of Safer Cultures (Sport) is a senior leadership role within the organisation, responsible for driving high-impact safer cultures and safeguarding strategies and projects across a range of sectors, with a primary focus on Sport. This role requires a highly experienced professional who has led cultural change and safeguarding work at a strategic level, is confident working at executive and board levels, and brings a strong understanding of how safeguarding principles apply across different organisational cultures.

The postholder will play a key role in leading consultancy projects, influencing strategic cultural change and safeguarding decisions, and contributing to the development of content and resources

This is a full-time role and is primarily home-based with some planned travel and so candidates can be based anywhere in the country. 

About Us
The National Landscapes Association represents and supports the UK’s National Landscapes (Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty) – places where we want nature and people to flourish together. These living, protected landscapes are vital to the UK’s nature recovery, climate resilience, sustainable farming and wellbeing.

We work collaboratively and inclusively to ensure these treasured places are protected, restored, and accessible to all. Our policy work is central to this mission – and we’re looking for a proficient and motivated individual to help shape and drive it forward.

About the Role
As Policy & Advocacy Officer, you’ll be a core member of our dynamic policy team, helping to influence positive change at the heart of environmental, planning, and community policy in the UK. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who thrives on creating and communicating impactful policy positions, can build strategic relationships, and wants to make a real difference.

You’ll work across a broad range of issues – including agriculture and land management, planning and sustainable development, wellbeing and recreation and access and engagement – supporting National Landscape teams to engage effectively in national debates and policy processes.

Key Responsibilities

• Policy research & analysis: monitor emerging policy trends, conduct research and analysis, and develop robust evidence-based positions across key topics.
• Strategic advocacy: Help design and deliver targeted advocacy strategies; draft position papers, consultation responses and policy briefs.
• Stakeholder engagement: Build and maintain trusted relationships with government officials, partner organisations and local teams.
• Communication & outreach: Translate complex issues into clear, compelling messages for internal and external audiences, contribute to communication strategies and represent the organisation at external meetings.
• Monitoring & evaluation: Track policy impact and advocacy initiative progress, providing updates and insight to the Head of Policy & Advocacy.

See the role description for more information.

Why Join Us?
At the National Landscapes Association, you’ll be part of a passionate and forward-thinking team making a meaningful impact. You’ll gain exposure to a wide range of high-profile policy issues, work alongside experts across the UK, and help shape the future of our most valued landscapes.

This is an exciting opportunity to shape a new senior role within our organisation. The Interim Head of Research and Campaigns will lead our Research function and advocacy efforts, ensuring that evidence-based insights drive our campaigns, policy work, and public engagement.

Recently kicking off our new ‘Creating Positive Change Together’ strategy, coproduced by over 130 staff, volunteers, clients and partners, Groundswell has ambitious plans around influencing more change and amplifying voices to promote healthier lives and a better future for anyone who has experienced homelessness. This role directly aligns with these strategic plans, to refine and use innovative participatory research centring lived experience, share and amplify insight from people with experience of homelessness, and increase our campaigning activities to change systems and break down the barriers that stand in people’s way to a healthier life and more hopeful future.

This role has been created on an interim basis to assess its impact and effectiveness, with a key focus on reviewing the priorities, progression and support of our Research Team and making recommendations for the future regarding this new role. The role will sit within the wider Participation, Progression and Creating Change team. 

We anticipate that some form of Head of Research & Campaigning role will continue beyond this 12-month period, and this interim position will very much shape and inform that longer term role. 

Chief Executive Officer - NAFAS
Location: London (hybrid – 3 days per week at office in the City)
Salary: circa £65,000
Contract: permanent, full-time

Are you ready to lead one of the UK’s most cherished floral communities into a bold, new era?

The National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies (NAFAS) is a membership organisation and charity that has been enriching lives with flowers since 1959. With 30,000 members in 21 Areas, we unite amateur and professional florists, demonstrators, judges and teachers under one blooming banner. From gold-medal exhibits at Chelsea to county flower festivals, our mission, “Sharing the creative use of flowers through education, to bring joy and inspiration to all”, is at the heart of everything we do.

As our next CEO, you will:

• Strategic Leadership: Shape and deliver a strategy that will define the future of NAFAS.
• Governance & Finance: Provide strategic oversight of governance frameworks and financial operations, ensuring compliance, sound budgeting and transparent reporting.
• Operational Excellence: Strengthen organisational capacity through targeted recruitment and by further refining process to enhance efficiency and reduce reliance on manual effort.
• Membership & Education: Develop and roll out membership growth initiatives and a broad range of educational offerings to engage and inspire participants of all ages.
• Communications & Partnerships: Elevate communications strategies and cultivate strategic alliances to expand reach, bolster reputation and drive collaborative opportunities.

Who you are

• A seasoned senior leader, ideally CEO level, ideally in a membership organisation.
• Skilled in strategic planning, governance and P&L ownership.
• A confident boardroom presenter with the gravitas to inspire trustees, staff and volunteers alike.
• A hands-on, approachable team-player who balances respect for cherished traditions with appetite for innovation.
• (Desirable) A passion for flowers or creative arts, and digital marketing savvy.

Why NAFAS?

• Lead a specialist organisation with a £3.5 million reserve and a history of galvanising floral creativity.
• Work alongside a dedicated HQ team and hundreds of committed volunteers.
• Enjoy a competitive salary, hybrid working and the excitement of national flower shows.
• Make your mark by ensuring our legacy flourishes for generations to come.

If you would like to receive an Information Pack for this role with details on how to apply, please send an expression of interest and (optional but appreciated) a CV or professional profile in confidence to our consultant, Jenny Hills via the apply now button. For an informal and confidential conversation about this position, please contact Jenny at the above address with suitable times to speak.

Closing date for applications: 9am, Monday 1st September 2025

As leading charity recruitment specialists and a certified B Corp, Harris Hill is committed to high and ever-improving standards of equitable and inclusive recruitment. We actively welcome applications from all sections of the community regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexuality and other protected characteristics.

High Trees are seeking a thoughtful and experienced evaluator, with strong project management and excellent people skills. You will be joining us at an exciting time as High Trees continues to grow the scale and reach of our impact. This role is central to creating an evidence-based culture and embedding evaluation so that our work benefits the communities we work with. You will be responsible for delivering the monitoring, evaluation, and learning of our services and partnerships, utilising continual learning to improve our services.

Working across all High Trees services and our partnerships, you will need to be confident across a range of approaches to monitoring and evaluation and be able to assess and determine appropriate methods, dependent on context. You will be proficient in collecting and analysing quantitative and qualitative data and have experience in developing impact frameworks, including theory of change, outcomes, and indicators. As the Evaluation and Impact Lead, you will have oversight of monitoring systems and processes ensuring that impact data collected is to a high standard across the organisation and our partnerships.

Collaboration with colleagues is an essential part of this role and you will enjoy working with others and be a valued partner, peer and colleague. Supporting the Head of Community Research and Impact, you will actively contribute to ensuring our impact plan is effectively embedded within key strategic areas. You will need to be highly responsive to the needs of colleagues, partners and funders, and be able to provide practical solutions for a range of situations.

You will also be an outstanding communicator: experienced in facilitation, an engaging presenter, and a compelling writer, able to frame and share our impact with a range of audiences. You will have the ability to see the bigger picture, while at the same time being on top of the detail.

Benefits of working at High Trees

• 35 days annual leave (inclusive of bank holidays and 3 Christmas days) rising by 1 day each year after 2 years’ service (capped at an additional 8 days)
• Enhanced maternity/paternity/adoption leave after 2 years’ service
• Save money off a new bike with the Cycle to Work scheme
• Up to 7% contribution to the staff pension scheme
• 24/7 Employee Support Line
• Clear pay structure with yearly increments (based on performance)
• Annual Staff away day
• Premium eye-care vouchers through Specsavers and season ticket loans

Salary: £45,000 – £48,000 per annum
Contract: 12-month fixed-term (Maternity Cover), Full-time
Location: Hybrid – 2 days per week in Hampstead Head Office
Closing date: 4^th August
Benefits: 27 days annual leave (plus bank holidays), enhanced pension, medical cash plan, cycle to work scheme, employee assistance programme, and more

We are delighted to be working with the incredible Anthony Nolan to recruit a Corporate Partnerships Senior New Business Manager on a 12-month maternity contract. Anthony Nolan has been transforming lives since 1974, when it created the world’s first stem cell donor register. Today, the charity continues to lead the way in stem cell transplantation and cell therapy, giving four people a day another chance at life.

In this role, you will lead the acquisition of high-value, multi-year corporate partnerships that deliver both financial and strategic value. You’ll shape and drive the new business strategy, manage their pipeline, and work closely with senior stakeholders to co-create innovative partnerships that align with Anthony Nolan’s lifesaving mission.

To be successful in this role, you will need:

• A proven track record of securing five- and six-figure corporate partnerships from new businesses
• Experience leading pitches and engaging senior decision-makers
• Strong commercial acumen and strategic thinking
• Excellent relationship-building and communication skills
• Experience managing budgets and delivering insight-led reporting

If you’re passionate about using your expertise to help save lives and thrive in a fast-paced, purpose-driven environment, we’d love to hear from you.

If you would like to have an informal discussion, please contact Ashby Jenkins Recruitment and ask to speak to Harry.

Ashby Jenkins Recruitment is a specialist charity recruitment agency. We are committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion and take a relationship-led approach to recruitment in the sector. You can read more about our commitment to diversity on our website.

If enough applications are received, we reserve the right to close the application period early.

Please quote reference 2661HW when applying.
 

Could you be PLP’s new Senior Research Fellow and support our work improving access to justice for all?

  At Public Law Project (PLP), we work to champion fundamental rights and hold power to account. Our legal challenges have played a pivotal role in successful cases. In just the last year this includes:   

• The fight against the Rwanda deportation policy  
• The Government’s attempts to renege on Windrush commitments   
• Attempts to radically cut disability benefits to 100,000 people without lawful consultation   
• Intervention in the challenge against draconian and unconstitutional anti protest laws 

Our work is highly respected, impactful, and deeply valued across the legal and social justice sectors.

The Role

This Senior Research Fellow post offers the opportunity to join our team of researchers working to achieve PLP’s strategic objectives. This role will focus on ensuring that justice is accessible to all.

As a Senior Research Fellow, you will help us shape and deliver our research agenda. With support from PLP’s Research Director and colleagues across the organisation, you will develop and lead high-quality research. Your work will be central to our efforts to design and advance a fair and inclusive administrative law justice system and advocate for a better resourced and more effective system.

You will be a team player, who embodies PLP’s values and supports collegiate and inclusive working culture. Working closely with colleagues in casework, public affairs, communications, events and fundraising, you will bring a deep commitment to using research as a lever for change. You will use your expertise to represent PLP externally, collaborate effectively with external partners including people with lived experience and help advance our strategic priorities.

This is envisaged as a full-time role but we will consider part time arrangements for the right person.

As part of our commitment to recruit fairly we use anonymised-selection processes until interview, offer additional interview opportunities to the highest-scoring candidates from under-represented communities, and use ‘tie-breaker’ provisions at all stages of our selection process.

Head of Institutional Relations and Governance

About Charity Right
At Charity Right, we are a focused and passionate international food charity on a mission to free people from the devastating effects of hunger. Since our founding, we have provided over 40 million meals across 7 countries, serving those who need it most with dignity and care.

Our Mission
We believe that no child should go to school hungry. Our single-cause focus allows us to be exceptionally effective at what we do best: providing nutritious school meals that keep children in classrooms and give them the opportunity to break free from poverty through education.

About the Role

This is a newly created leadership role responsible for developing and embedding the governance infrastructure and strategic partnerships that will position Charity Right as a credible and competitive organisation for institutional funding. The Head of Governance and Institutional Relations will be responsible for cultivating relationships with institutional funders, multilateral agencies, and foundations, while also leading internal governance and capacity-building efforts to ensure Charity Right is fully prepared to secure and deliver such partnerships.

The role will build and oversee the development of international branch offices where appropriate, ensuring alignment with partner eligibility requirements and regulatory frameworks. This role is cross-functional and high-impact, sitting at the intersection of compliance, strategy, fundraising, and programme delivery.

Key Responsibilities

Institutional Fundraising & Relationship Management

• Identify and engage potential institutional funders and foundations both in the UK and internationally.
• Lead the full lifecycle of institutional donor relationships—from prospecting and due diligence through to application, stewardship, and renewal.
• Build a comprehensive pipeline of funding opportunities aligned with Charity Right’s mission and delivery capacity.
• Work closely with Programmes, Finance, and Fundraising teams to coordinate compelling funding proposals and aligned delivery models.

Organisational Governance & Capacity Building

• Lead the development and continuous improvement of Charity Right’s governance framework to meet international standards for institutional funders.
• Identify and implement structural, policy, and procedural enhancements that elevate Charity Right’s readiness to enter and sustain institutional partnerships.
• Conduct periodic organisational assessments and produce recommendations to close capacity gaps identified by funders or prospective partners.

International Presence & Localisation Strategy

• Design and oversee the establishment of Charity Right branch offices in key geographies.
• Ensure all international branches are compliant with local laws, reporting requirements, and brand/mission alignment.
• Collaborate with legal and operational advisors to manage entity registration, governance structures, and oversight models in each country.

Strategic Partnerships and Alliances

• Develop and implement a formal institutional partnering strategy.
• Identify and vet strategic implementation partners that complement Charity Right’s delivery capabilities.
• Negotiate, draft, and manage partnership agreements ensuring alignment with Charity Right’s values and strategic objectives.

Monitoring, Reporting & Evaluation

• Develop and implement a framework to monitor the performance and outcomes of institutional partnerships and funded projects.
• Ensure robust reporting mechanisms, including narrative and financial reporting, are in place.
• Regularly brief the CEO and Board on the status of funder relationships, branch development, and institutional readiness.

Essential Skills and Experience

• Significant senior-level experience in institutional fundraising, partnership management, or international development.
• Strong understanding of governance frameworks, compliance standards, and operational due diligence requirements for international NGOs.
• Demonstrated success in securing and managing funding from institutional donors.
• Experience in establishing and managing international offices, branches, or subsidiaries.
• Proven leadership skills with the ability to influence and collaborate across departments.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strategic thinker with strong project management and execution capability.
• Values-driven, with a commitment to transparency, accountability, and inclusion.
• Familiarity with safeguarding frameworks, donor audits, and risk registers.

Desirable Skills and Experience

• Experience working in humanitarian or faith-inspired development contexts.
• Legal, compliance, or public policy background.
• Existing network within institutional funding or global development sectors.

Success Indicators

• Institutional Fundraising & Relationship Development
• Number of institutional funder relationships established (UK and international)
• Number of funding applications submitted per quarter
• Total value (£) of secured institutional or foundation grants annually
• Application success rate (%) across funding proposals submitted
• Donor retention and re-engagement rate (%)

Governance & Organisational Capacity

• Completion and implementation of key governance policies
• Improvement in organisational assessments conducted by external funders or partners
• Internal audit readiness and compliance rate
• Number of governance or compliance gaps resolved each quarter
• Staff training or briefings delivered on governance-related improvements

International Branch Development

• Number of international entities registered or formalised in target geographies
• Time taken from initiation to legal establishment of each branch
• Compliance rate with local registration, reporting, and governance requirements
• Annual cost-to-benefit ratio of each registered branch (qualitative + financial assessment)

Strategic Partnerships

• Number of partnership MOUs or contracts formalised
• Partner performance satisfaction score
• Number of co-designed or co-delivered proposals with partners submitted per year
• Strategic alignment index – measured via internal SLT reviews

Reporting & Monitoring

• Reporting compliance rate (%) with donor reporting deadlines and formats
• Timeliness and quality score of narrative and financial reports submitted
• Quarterly internal partnership performance reports delivered to SLT/CEO
• Monitoring framework adoption rate across new institutional projects

Employment Type: Permanent, Full-Time
Location: Remote Working
Salary: £48,000 – 54,000 per annum, depending on experience
Reports to: CEO

Join us as a HR Business Partner and play a pivotal role in driving business success, enhancing the colleague experience, and shaping the future of our organisation through strategic HR leadership.

⌚ Hours: 35 hours, Monday to Friday

�� Contract type: Permanent, Hybrid

�� Salary: £42,213.23 - £51,078.01 (dependant on location and experience)

What is a HR Business Partner?

As a HR Business Partner, you will serve as a partner to the organisation's leadership and provide comprehensive HR support to drive business objectives, enhance our colleague experience and continually evolve our organisational effectiveness. You will collaborate with various stakeholders within your specific locations responsibilities, including our senior leadership, centre management, to develop and implement HR strategies, policies, and programs aligned with the company's goals and values.

A large part of the role will be based around managing employee relations with your key stakeholders. You will be expected to provide a first-class Employee Relations service to line managers and colleagues that embodies our company values and minimises impact to the day to day running of the company whilst being compliant with UK legislation and company policy.

As the HR Business Partner, you will contribute to the effectiveness of HR service delivery and will be an active participant and role model within the HR Team and wider organisation.

The HR function is responsible for ensuring the appropriate, sustainable, organisational structure is in place for MSI Reproductive Choices UK to achieve its mission, goals and objectives. As custodians of the values and culture of the organisation, the HR team are responsible for the employment policies, procedures, practices and systems that govern the full colleague life cycle.

About You

You will be CIPD (ideally level 7 qualified) or have relevant HR experience. Reporting to the UK HR Manager, you will be working within the HR department, working closely with other members of the HR team and Operational teams within the regions.

To excel in this exciting opportunity, you'll need to bring:

✔️ HR Experience & Employment Law: Strong background in HR with knowledge and application of employment law.

✔️ Employee Relations: Experience with managing and ability to demonstrate handling a number of ER matters consecutively including absence management, disciplinary actions, grievances, performance issues, and organisational changes.

✔️ Communication & IT Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication; proficient in IT and HR systems.

✔️ Self-Management & Discretion: Ability to plan, prioritise, make decisions independently, and handle confidential matters with discretion.

If you're ready to showcase your skills in a role where you can truly make an impact, then we invite you to join our team. Apply now and let's shape the future of HR together!

What we can offer you:

• Financial: Competitive salary with opportunities for progression, up to 5% employer pension contribution, expenses are reimbursed quickly, within just 10 days
• Work-Life Balance: Alongside 25 days annual leave, enjoy a Birthday Bonus with an additional day of annual leave dedicated to celebrating your birthday and family-friendly policies
• Reward: Long service rewards and perks and discounts on over 4000 retail and hospitality outlets through Blue Light card
• Health and Wellness: Access to Employee Assistance Programme and Doctor Line through Westfield Health – 24/7 access to a GP over the phone who can prescribe
• Career Development: Paid training and development, opportunities for accredited apprenticeship programs, and potential for career progression.

In addition to the perks outlined above, there are many more benefits alongside what is written above for you to enjoy. Find out more during your interview!

We're looking for a confident and compassionate Co-Director to lead our mental health charity using gardens, creativity & community for recovery.

**We offer mentoring support for applicants who might benefit from additional guidance - please see the full Job Description for further details**

About Sydenham Garden

Based in Lewisham in South-East London, Sydenham Garden is a unique wellbeing centre utilising its gardens, nature reserve and activity rooms to help people living with and recovering from mental and physical ill-health. We provide nature and arts based creative, social and therapeutic activities for co-workers (the name we give to our primary beneficiaries).

About the role 

Our Director has been in post since November 2021 and on returning from maternity leave in January 2026 she will be working 3 days a week.  We are seeking a Co-Director to jointly lead the organisation going forwards as we have made a positive decision to move towards a co-director model.  This is an exciting opportunity which can have benefits of increasing capacity, efficiency, and transparency and allow for a broader range of identities both to better reflect the diverse populations they serve and as a way to include more diverse leaders. It is a model that can also reduce burnout, build equity, and support flexible working.

As Co-Director you will be jointly responsible for leading and manage the day-to-day running of Sydenham Garden for the benefit of our co-workers.  This will involve overseeing implementation and regular review of Sydenham Garden’s strategic plan and to ensure all governance arrangements are in place to monitor the work of the organisation and to report to the Board of Trustees and to funders.

You will ensure fundraising and financial plans and processes are in place to deliver the agreed services, including fundraising from Trusts & Foundations, community fundraising and developing contracted services as necessary.

The Co-Directors will be jointly accountable to the Trustee Board for all aspects of the job description. You may take lead responsibility on particular areas which will be discussed and agreed with the existing Co-Director and Trustee Board.

About You

You are a confident and compassionate leader with a commitment to the mental health and wellbeing sector.  You bring a thoughtful, strategic and inclusive approach to leadership.

Your communication skills are excellent, and you’re able to build strong, trusting relationships with colleagues at all levels, as well as with external partners, funders, and stakeholders.  You are deeply committed to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, with a clear track record of putting these values into practice.

You have a proven experience in securing income for charitable work and are confident in financial management and planning. 

You also understand the value of co-production and have experience working collaboratively with volunteers and co-workers (service users), ensuring their voices are central to service design and delivery.

We’re looking for someone who is dedicated to the mission of Sydenham Garden and has relevant experience at management level in a mental health charity of similar organisation. 

How to apply

Candidates will be shortlisted based on:

· Experience of working at a management level in a mental health charity or comparable organisation. 

· An excellent strategic thinker with experience of input into strategic development and implementation.

· Good communication skills and the ability to build relationships with colleagues at all levels in an organisation and with external contacts and partners. 

· A proven commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.

· Experience of line managing and developing staff, including through appraisal systems. 

· Proven ability to secure income, manage fundraising processes and to manage and produce fundraising applications. 

· Experience of financial management and planning, including managing budgets. 

· Experience of working with volunteers and co-workers (service users). 

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Sydenham Garden is committed to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). We want to build a diverse and inclusive staff, volunteer and trustee team where everyone feels that they belong and that reflects the profile of the communities we serve. Therefore, we will welcome and consider applications from candidates of all backgrounds and protected characteristics, and we particularly encourage applications from people of African or Caribbean heritage to ensure our staff team represents the communities we serve.

To apply, please send us a CV together with a supporting statement (maximum 2 pages, minimum font size of 11) that addresses how you meet the Person Specification listed above.

Be the voice that amplifies others. Help shape change that saves lives.

At Samaritans, we are committed to ensuring that the voices of people with lived experience of suicide, self-harm, and bereavement by suicide are at the heart of everything we do. We believe that lasting change is only possible when it is shaped by those who’ve experienced these challenges first-hand.

We’re now looking for a passionate and experienced Lived Experience Lead to join our Performance and Insight team. In this influential role, you’ll be responsible for driving forward our Lived Experience Plan, ensuring people with lived experience are meaningfully involved in the views and voices of people with lived experience shape and inform key strategic organisational decisions on our services, policy influencing and campaigning work.

Full outline of the role available in the Job description file here.

Contract terms:

• Initially an 18 month fixed term contract

• £45,000 per annum with benefits

• Full time (35 hours per week) - we are passionate about flexible working, talk to us about your preferences

• Hybrid working: Linked to our Ewell (Surrey) office, with home working and an option to work from a shared office space in London Bridge.

• In-person working: Meeting in person and working collaboratively are things we value. As part of the Performance and Insights team, you will join three in-person retreats per quarter. Participation to other in-person meetings will depend on need.

About the role

You’ll work with teams across Samaritans to embed lived experience insight into strategic decision-making, ensuring our work remains compassionate, inclusive and reflective of the people we support. You’ll co-create training and support for staff, facilitate national and nation-based advisory groups, and develop best practice for involvement that champions equity, diversity, and inclusion.

This is a unique opportunity to lead change from within, to support and empower others, challenge systems, and make sure our work truly represents the communities we serve.

What you’ll bring

We’re looking for someone with:

• Lived experience of mental distress, suicidal thoughts or behaviour, or bereavement by suicide – and the ability to draw on that experience in a safe and sensitive way.
• A track record of empowering people with lived experience and using co-production and inclusion practices.
• Experience of designing and delivering learning and development opportunities relevant to lived experience involvement
• Excellent influencing and interpersonal skills – able to build trust, collaborate with staff and volunteers, and champion meaningful involvement at all levels of the organisation.
• Strong commitment to EDI

Why Samaritans?

You’ll be joining us at an exciting time of transformation. With a clear strategic commitment and strong support from our leadership, you’ll have the scope to shape how lived experience is embedded in everything we do - now and in the future.

We value lived experience and actively encourage applications from individuals who identify as having direct or indirect experience with mental health, suicide, or bereavement. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, particularly those currently underrepresented in the charity sector.

You’ll join a values-led organisation with a powerful mission and a collaborative culture. We offer flexible hybrid working, excellent benefits, and the chance to make a tangible difference in suicide prevention across the UK and Ireland.

For further information about Samaritans, including our charity structure, values, employee benefits, and application process, please read our recruitment brochure available here. You can also visit our careers website to access this.

We recognise the enormous benefits and the social justice imperatives of ensuring diversity at every level of our organisation. Samaritans is wholly committed to inclusion and diversity and to building a culture and environment where everyone is appreciated for the unique person they are. To ensure Samaritans is representative of those we support and who support us, we particularly welcome applications from candidates with disabilities, racialised minority candidates and LGBTQ+ candidates, as these people are under-represented at Samaritans.

Criminal record check (DBS)

We take safeguarding seriously at Samaritans and follow safe recruitment practices. As this role has direct contact with children and adults at risk, this role will require an Enhanced DBS check with Adults and Children’s Barred Lists.

At offer stage, as part of the conditional job offer, we will require the candidate to disclose in full, spent and unspent convictions by completing a declaration form. The declaration form will only be seen by those who need to see it as part of the recruitment process.

Ready to help shape a more inclusive future where every voice matters?

Apply now and be part of change that saves lives.

To apply, please complete the application questions including those below and submit your CV:

• Please give us an example of a time when you have you used your personal experiences to inform a service or a project of work safely and effectively. What did you do and what was the result? (250 words)

• Please give an example of a time when you empowered people with lived experience to shape a project or initiative. What approaches did you take to ensure meaningful involvement and what was the outcome? (250 words)

• A key focus of the Lived Experience Lead will be to build staff skills and confidence in involving people with lived experience in their work. What experience do you have around designing and delivering learning and development activities related to involving people with lived experience? (250 words)

We kindly ask that you don’t rely on AI tools for your application answers, or to generate interview answers. We want to see your own unique ideas and writing skills. We want your application to stand out from the rest and showcase your own strengths.

Applications close: Sunday 17 August

Interviews: week commencing 29 August

Please note, shortlisted candidates will be invited to prepare a short presentation that they will talk though during the interview (up to 10mins). They will be sent the questions ahead of the interview.