Strategic design lead jobs in Manchester

Location: London, UK, Remote.

Closing date for applications: 25th March 2026

Contract status: Global post, full-time

Start date: Late May - Early June 2026

Contract duration: 1.5 years fixed-term contract

Remuneration: £48,043 - £56,000 gross per annum (UK national band); £53,461 - £63,000 gross per annum (London, UK)

We rebuild tropical fisheries with coastal communities

Blue Ventures is a marine conservation organization that puts people first. We support coastal fishers in remote and rural communities to rebuild fisheries, restore ocean life and build lasting pathways to prosperity. Our work began two decades ago in Madagascar’s remote coastal communities and is growing globally. 

Across a dozen countries, we’re partnering with traditional fishers and community organizations to design, scale, strengthen and sustain fisheries management and conservation at the community level. We bring partners together in networks to advocate for reform, and share tools and best practices to support fishing communities across the globe.

Summary job description

The Senior Financial Accountant is a key member of Blue Ventures’ global finance team, responsible for supporting the delivery of accurate, timely, and Charity SORP-compliant financial accounting across our international operations. Reporting to the Head of Financial Accounting, this fixed-term role will play a hands-on part in month-end and year-end close, consolidation, balance sheet integrity, and statutory accounts preparation, ensuring high-quality financial reporting across multiple entities and jurisdictions.

As maternity cover for an 18-month period starting in May 2026 (early June at the latest), the postholder will provide continuity and operational stability within the accounting function. The role requires strong technical accounting capability, attention to detail, and the ability to work collaboratively with country finance teams in a globally distributed environment, helping to maintain robust financial controls and audit readiness in support of Blue Ventures’ mission.

About the role

We are looking for an experienced communications professional to drive and deliver our global communications strategy and maintain momentum across our target regions during a period of parental leave. This is an exciting role for someone who is passionate about improving global health and climate outcomes, enjoys activating a diverse range of stakeholders to achieve communications objectives and can support and motivate colleagues to deliver impactful work across different time zones.

Selection criteria

Essential:

• Experience designing and implementing successful communications strategies  that support the delivery of positive social, corporate or political change. We imagine the ideal candidate will have at least 8 years of experience, but we are open to consider candidates with less experience who possess the required skills. 

• A high level of strategic thinking and an understanding of how to leverage different campaigning approaches to achieve objectives, including community organising and knowledge brokering

• The ability to translate complex information into clear, compelling and nuanced messaging 

• A proven track record of crafting and landing compelling stories in high-impact media that advance campaign objectives

• Existing relationships with journalists in at least one relevant media area, such as news, health, sustainability or food

• Experience managing communications teams in a collaborative and effective way, and a willingness to support colleagues from other teams to develop relevant skills

• A general understanding of building decarbonisation and the energy transition

• Fluency in English

• The right to work in the country you live in (please note we are not able to offer sponsorship for a business visa or work permit at this time)

Desirable:

• Knowledge of Spanish and/or French

• A passion for food and cooking cultures

What we offer

• A role in which you can have a tangible impact on global health and climate outcomes

• The chance to join a supportive and inclusive team that combines their determination to improve health and climate outcomes with a rigorous and results-oriented approach to work

• A flexible and supportive work environment 

• A diverse network of influential stakeholders in multiple countries

• Competitive remuneration for the not-for-profit sector

Key responsibilities 

Strategy

• Deliver the existing global communications strategy, adapting where necessary in line with organisational priorities during the cover period, and develop associated implementation plans 

• Participate in broader campaign and organisational strategy development, contributing perspectives on the role of communications 

Media

• Build and maintain relationships with key media contacts

• Select, brief and liaise with media spokespeople 

• Develop key media messaging and oversee the development of pitch content 

• Lead on media liaison for both reactive and proactive opportunities

Knowledge brokering

• Coordinate the development and promotion of knowledge products, including case studies, research reports and toolkits

Management

• Hire and manage contractors and agencies as necessary for the implementation of the communications strategy

• Manage the Digital Communications Manager, and lead on the recruitment and management of any other communications professionals required as the GCC grows

Coordination

• Coordinate with the wider team and coalition stakeholders to oversee the implementation of the communications strategy and to continuously refine it to reflect new opportunities and challenges 

Reporting

• Oversee the global communications budget forecasting 

• Contribute to internal and external reporting of the GCC’s communications activities

How to apply

Your cover letter should be no longer than two pages and it should outline why you are interested in this role and how you fit the selection criteria.

Please indicate ‘Head of Communications (parental leave cover)’ in the subject line.

Applications close Monday 30th March 2026.   

We are committed to diversity and inclusion in our organisation. We strongly encourage candidates from historically disadvantaged or marginalised groups to apply.

This role covers postcodes KT, GU, SO, PO, BH.

Applicants must live in the region or a short commutable distance to cover the region. 

Mary’s Meals is a global movement supported by people from all walks of life and we are focused on one goal – that every child receives a nutritious daily meal in a place of education. We offer more than just a career, we offer the opportunity to support our global movement in a dynamic and inclusive environment with a real focus on personal development.

We are looking for a Regional Development Officer for South Coast, London. In this role, covering postcodes KT, GU, SO, PO, BH, you will be a warm, visible ambassador for Mary’s Meals – igniting enthusiasm, inspiring action, and helping people across your region join our mission and help feed more children.

By building genuine, values‑driven relationships and using insight to guide your priorities, you’ll nurture local networks, identify high‑potential opportunities, and confidently grow income, participation, and supporter engagement. Through strategic, outward‑facing work, you’ll turn first conversations into committed, long‑term support that strengthens our movement and fuels our mission.

Working closely with the London and South East Lead, you will co-create and deliver a tailored local growth plan that reflects your region's communities and opportunities. You will represent Mary’s Meals across schools, churches, corporates and community partners and play a pivotal role in activating supporters, mobilising volunteers, and sharing compelling local stories.​

Operating with high autonomy, you will use insights and data to focus on high potential and growth areas, and collaborate closely with our Philanthropy & Partnerships, Supporter Experience and Communications teams to deliver seamless supporter journeys and strong storytelling. Everything you do will reflect Mary’s Meals’ warmth and dignity, helping us reach more children through relationship-led growth.

Key responsibilities include

• Work with the London and South East Lead to design and deliver a clear, insight‑driven local growth plan with defined priorities, income drivers, volunteer mobilisation efforts, and visibility activities.​

• Use data, local insight, and regional understanding to focus your time where growth potential is strongest.​​

• Balance relationship‑building with a proactive, opportunity-led approach, identifying new supporters, networks, and partnerships and developing them from prospective supporters into committed donors.

• To create the conditions for a volunteer Deputy and a motivated volunteer network to confidently lead talks, events, introductions and other activities that broaden our reach.​

• Empower volunteers through clear delegation, coaching, and recognition, ensuring they feel confident and aligned with Mary’s Meals’ mission and values.​

• Inspire and back volunteers to own the mission. Spot people with energy and networks, invite their ideas, give light-touch support and tools, and celebrate their impact so they bring others into our movement.

• Represent Mary’s Meals throughout your region with confidence and authenticity, engaging schools, parishes, community groups, businesses, and local networks.​

• Deliver talks, small events, parish visits, school assemblies, partner meetings, local networking engagements, and other targeted activities that grow income, participation, and visibility.​

• Make confident, values-led asks that move supporters from interest to action across giving, volunteering, and awareness raising.​

• Actively network across your region to identify new prospects, initiate first meetings, and follow up quickly and purposefully.​

• Collaborate closely with the Philanthropy & Partnerships team on key opportunities and ensuring the donor is at the heart of each stewardship decision.​

• Build a diverse pipeline of leads, opportunities, and partnerships reflective of your regions communities and faith landscape.

• Work closely across the organisation to ensure your regional activity feels seamless and aligned, collaborating with Supporter Experience so that journeys, thanking and stewardship feel warm and timely; with Creative Communications to deliver compelling local storytelling; with Philanthropy & Partnerships to coordinate opportunities for major donors and corporates; and with the Volunteer Manager to strengthen mobilisation and development across your region.

• Proactively translate and tailor national messages and campaigns for regional audiences using templates, supporter stories, and local successes.​

• Spot and share regional stories, images, results, and moments of advocacy to enhance national storytelling.​

• Strengthen local visibility by cultivating community connectors and being confident in supporting and delivering appropriate local media engagement in coordination with Comms colleagues.

To apply for the role of Regional Development Officer based at Mary’s Meals UK, please follow instructions on the Charity Job website.

Applicants must hold full right to work in the UK and be based in or within short commutable distance of the region covered in the role. ​

We welcome applications from candidates of all different backgrounds and identities to apply. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse charity providing a supportive place for you to do the best and most rewarding work of your career.

Closing date for application is Thursday, 26 March at 5pm.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.​ Interviews will commence week beginning 30 March. 

Please note: If you have any special requirements or adjustments before an interview, please let us know. 

This role is remote however we require someone to be based in or a short commutable distance to cover the region.

Mary’s Meals is a global movement supported by people from all walks of life and we are focused on one goal – that every child receives a nutritious daily meal in a place of education. We offer more than just a career, we offer the opportunity to support our global movement in a dynamic and inclusive environment with a real focus on personal development.

We are looking for an enthusiastic Regional Development Officer for North East Scotland. A recent reshaping of our Regional teams means this role will sit under our newly appointed Head of Scotland and be part of an exciting new chapter in Mary's Meal UK's fundraising vision.

You will be a warm, visible ambassador for Mary’s Meals – igniting enthusiasm, inspiring action, and helping people across your region join our mission and help feed more children. By building genuine, values‑driven relationships and using insight to guide your priorities, you’ll nurture local networks, identify high‑potential opportunities, and confidently grow income, participation, and supporter engagement. Through strategic, outward‑facing work, you’ll turn first conversations into committed, long‑term support that strengthens our movement and fuels our mission.​

Working closely with the Head of Scotland, you will co-create and deliver a tailored local growth plan that reflects your region's communities and opportunities. You will represent Mary’s Meals across schools, churches, corporates and community partners and play a pivotal role in activating supporters, mobilising volunteers, and sharing compelling local stories.​

Operating with high autonomy, you will use insights and data to focus on high potential and growth areas, and collaborate closely with our Philanthropy & Partnerships, Supporter Experience and Communications teams to deliver seamless supporter journeys and strong storytelling. Everything you do will reflect Mary’s Meals’ warmth and dignity, helping us reach more children through relationship-led growth.

Key responsibilities include

• Work with the Head of Scotland to design and deliver a clear, insight‑driven local growth plan with defined priorities, income drivers, volunteer mobilisation efforts, and visibility activities.​

• Use data, local insight, and (Region-specific) understanding to focus your time where growth potential is strongest.​

• Balance relationship‑building with a proactive, opportunity-led approach, identifying new supporters, networks, and partnerships and developing them from prospective supporters into committed donors.

• To create the conditions for a volunteer Deputy and a motivated volunteer network to confidently lead talks, events, introductions and other activities that broaden our reach​

• Empower volunteers through clear delegation, coaching, and recognition, ensuring they feel confident and aligned with Mary’s Meals’ mission and values.​​

• Inspire and back volunteers to own the mission. Spot people with energy and networks, invite their ideas, give light-touch support and tools, and celebrate their impact so they bring others into our movement.

• Represent Mary’s Meals throughout your region with confidence and authenticity, engaging schools, parishes, community groups, businesses, and local networks.​

• Deliver talks, small events, parish visits, school assemblies, partner meetings, local networking engagements, and other targeted activities that grow income, participation, and visibility.​​

• Make confident, values-led asks that move supporters from interest to action across giving, volunteering, and awareness raising.​

• Actively network across your region to identify new prospects, initiate first meetings, and follow up quickly and purposefully.​​

• Collaborate closely with the Philanthropy & Partnerships team on key opportunities and ensuring the donor is at the heart of each stewardship decision.​​

• Build a diverse pipeline of leads, opportunities, and partnerships reflective of your regions communities and faith landscape.

• Work closely across the organisation to ensure your regional activity feels seamless and aligned, collaborating with Supporter Experience so that journeys, thanking and stewardship feel warm and timely; with Creative Communications to deliver compelling local storytelling; with Philanthropy & Partnerships to coordinate opportunities for major donors and corporates; and with the Volunteer Manager to strengthen mobilisation and development across your region.

To apply for the role of Regional Development Officer (0.6 FTE) based at Mary’s Meals UK, please follow instructions on the Charity Job website.

Applicants must hold full right to work in the UK and be based in the North East of Scotland.​

We welcome applications from candidates of all different backgrounds and identities to apply. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse charity providing a supportive place for you to do the best and most rewarding work of your career.

Closing date for applications is Wednesday, 25 March 2026.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible. 

Interviews will commence week of 30 March. If you have any special requirements or adjustments before an interview, please let us know. 

Unifrog’s mission

We’re on a mission to level the playing field when it comes to young people finding and applying for their next step after school. We're achieving this by bringing all the available information into one single, impartial, user-friendly platform that helps students to make the best choices, and submit the strongest applications. We also empower teachers and counselors to manage the progression process effectively.

Our outlook is global - we work with schools and universities all over the world, from the US to New Zealand, and from Italy to Hong Kong. We want to make it so that young people can compare every opportunity taught in English, wherever it is in the world, and have all the support they need to make successful applications.

We have a clear social purpose, and we’re hugely ambitious. We already work with over half of UK secondary schools, and over a thousand international schools. We are growing rapidly in terms of the number of our customers, in terms of how much they use our platform, and in terms of the breadth of products we offer.

We recently expanded our impact with Unifrog for primary schools. By bringing our platform to younger learners, we’re supporting schools in delivering a comprehensive careers and PSHE curriculum from Reception through to Year 6. Our mission is to start early; breaking down barriers, challenging stereotypes, and ensuring every child, regardless of background, believes that every future pathway is within their reach.

Our team is at the heart of our business and is integral to our success. We work hard to foster a culture of openness, happiness and innovation, and we commit to helping every individual learn and grow so that they can reach their full potential. We want to hire talented people, whatever their background. If you are excited by our mission and are ready to work hard, please don’t hesitate to apply. We look forward to hearing from you!

We believe in the power of diversity. If you are from an ethnic minority background, we would like to strongly encourage you to apply. In advance of applying, if you have any questions about working at Unifrog, please contact our Recruitment Lead (details on our jobs page). 

What you’ll do

Joining our small, high-energy team, you’ll play a key role growing our newest partner base and supporting primary school partners to make the most of the Unifrog platform and resources. Excellent customer service is at the heart of what we do, and you’ll make sure that all interactions with Unifrog are positive and successful. 

Your key responsibilities:

Sell Unifrog subscriptions to primary schools

• Design and deliver impactful prospecting campaigns and marketing collateral aimed at engaging potential new partners, tracking campaign performance and continually improving your approach to secure demonstrations and drive partnership growth.

• Meet with potential partners on video calls (and sometimes in-person). Understand their priorities, demonstrate the Unifrog platform and resources, and secure their subscription.

• Identify and attend conferences and events to promote Unifrog to primary school audiences, while networking and cultivating relationships for future partnership opportunities.

• Develop a sound awareness of Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) and the PSHE Association Framework within the UK. You’ll need this to confidently navigate conversations with relevant contacts at primary schools.

Support primary school partners to make the most of Unifrog

• Set up new partner schools for success. Help them to embed Unifrog across their staff, student and parent community. You’ll deliver an initial staff training session then provide ad-hoc support.

• Proactively work to foster a sense of community amongst our primary school partners and think of ways to promote the sharing and embedding of Unifrog best practice between partners.

• Achieve sky-high resubscription rates by securing partner renewals when their subscriptions come to an end.

What we’re looking for

• Resilient, and motivated to exceed targets

Our sales and resubscription targets are achievable but ambitious. You’ll need to be determined to meet and exceed them.

• Sales experience

You’ll be responsible for meeting sales targets so sales experience is desirable but not essential.
 

• Strong communication skills

You’ll be in frequent communication with lots of different people, both within Unifrog and externally – this will be in person, written, over the phone and via video call. You’ll need to be an outstanding communicator.

• Strategic and innovative 

You’ll be strategic in your approach to driving growth within the newest team at Unifrog and be innovative and creative in your solutions to any barriers along the way.

• Personable, with a track record of excellent relationship management

At Unifrog we’re known for our excellent customer service. You’ll need to provide fantastic support for your partner schools.

• Sector insight

You will be working with schools that have different contexts and priorities; you’ll need to be quick to understand how we can support them.
 

• Attention to detail

It’s important you have the skills and discipline to carefully check your communications to schools, your prospects and contacts in your network.

• Proactive attitude and willingness to get stuck in

You need to be excited about going beyond the core responsibilities detailed above to improve what we do and make it a success.

You will be one of two members of our newest team at Unifrog, with the opportunity to be at the forefront of building an exciting and impactful offering for primary schools across the UK. If this excites you and you’re an energetic person who is willing to learn, we’d love to hear from you.

Working together

You’ll work alongside one other Primary Schools Partnership Manager and be line managed by our Partnerships Director (UK schools and Employers). You will also have daily contact with the wider Unifrog team, including our Marketing, Content and Finance teams.

Key benefits

Head to our jobs page for a full list of the excellent benefits we offer our team.

• Join one of Escape the City’s top 1% employers and help transform careers and destinations in schools.

• Become part of a committed, dynamic, and growing company. We want to build our team for the long term: if you do well, we will do our best to make sure you want to stay at the company for a long time.

• Professional development is important at Unifrog. You will define your own 6-month objectives and will be supported by your line manager and the rest of the team to achieve them. You will have an annual training allowance to spend on what you need to grow and progress.

• Influence the company’s direction: we love to promote great ideas, wherever they come from.

Key details

• £39,047 per annum (Grade B), plus:

  • Unlimited commission, OTE of £50,000.

  • Bonuses linked to strong performance against KPIs.

• Full-time

• 28 days paid holiday per year (plus bank holidays). 

• Working hours are 9am to 5pm, Monday to Thursday, and 9am to 4:30pm on Friday – some days you may need to start earlier but you can finish earlier as a result.

• The role is remote (or hybrid for candidates in London or Edinburgh).

• Start date: as soon as possible (but not later than w/c 22nd June).

• We can only consider candidates who have the right to work in the UK.

• To discuss reasonable adjustments or any details about the role before applying, please contact our Recruitment Lead (details on our jobs page). 

Application process

• Deadline: 10:00am (BST) on Wednesday 1st April 2026.

• Stage 1: Application form (~1 hour)

• Visit our website to upload your CV and complete the questions and tasks below. Please note that we do not review CVs at this stage of the application process so please be as specific as possible about your experience.

i) With reference to examples of your recent experience, what would make you an excellent candidate for this role? (250 words)

ii) A school we are hoping to partner with have concerns about the budget available for Unifrog. What would be your approach to securing a partnership with them for this academic year? (250 words)

iii) Tell us about a time when you had to manage conflicting priorities whilst meeting targets. What was your approach? (250 words)

• Stage 2: Phone task (15 minutes) 

• A short role play task over the phone. We will schedule these tasks throughout the application window so we encourage you to apply early.

• Stage 3: Video call interview (1 hour) 

• Short pre-prepared presentation (15 mins) 

• Standard Q&A from a panel of three, including questions about your experiences and how these relate to the role, and scenario questions based on common situations you might face (plus time for your questions) (45 mins).

• Video call interviews will be held w/c 13th April 2026.

• Your answers are an opportunity to let us know more about your motivations and experience. While we understand that candidates might want to use AI to improve parts of their application, we strongly encourage you to write your answers independently. 

Please note, we compare all answers to an AI generated answer. Where we suspect AI has been used to write the majority of the answer, this will be taken into consideration when scoring

Find more detail and our full policy on AI in applications here.

Inclusion and diversity at Unifrog

• Within the company we try to foster a culture of innovation, and a happy working environment, both because this is the right thing to do, and because we think this results in the most effective team. To this end we believe in open communication, celebrating successes, supporting each other, not being afraid to be wrong or to fail, and promoting good ideas wherever they come from.

• As a platform that supports teachers and students from a huge variety of backgrounds it’s important that our team and leadership reflects this diversity. This is something we are actively working towards and prioritising. We want to embed diversity, equity and inclusion across everything we do, continually evaluating policies and practices to make sure they are inclusive and equitable.

• To make sure everyone’s voice is heard and people have the opportunities to learn to be better allies in the workplace, we encourage the team to share what they’re celebrating, facilitate training and group discussions, and seek regular feedback about what more the company could do to help people feel included.

• To ensure that our recruitment process is consistent and fair, we anonymise your application and therefore do not see your name, personal, educational or professional background. We also randomise the order of responses so that it’s less likely that a candidate is advantaged or disadvantaged by where their answers appear compared to other candidates.